The Ayer Public Library was closed on Friday, March 6, to allow staff members dedicated time for building maintenance and professional development. Library Director and staff used the day to complete a thorough cleaning of public and work areas, ensuring the facility remains welcoming and safe for patrons. The closure also provided uninterrupted time for staff training, including updates on library procedures, technology use, and upcoming program planning.

Library officials said the periodic staff day helps the team stay current on best practices while keeping the building in good condition for the community. Regular hours will resume on Saturday, and patrons are encouraged to check the library’s website and social media for updates on spring programs and services.

The Ayer Public Library thanks residents for their understanding as staff work to maintain a high standard of service for all who rely on the library’s resources.

A Delavan Dispatch subscriber has questioned whether the city council should consider adding accountability for golf carts and other low‑speed or motorized vehicles permitted on city streets: a clearly visible permit tag with an identifying number, similar in function to a small license plate.

The suggestion comes as Delavan, like many small Illinois communities, continues to see increased use of golf carts, UTVs, and other alternative vehicles for short‑distance travel. While the city already requires an annual permit for such vehicles, the current stickers are typically placed on the front windshield and can be difficult to read from a distance.

The subscriber who raised the idea said a more visible identifier would help both the public and law enforcement quickly determine whether a vehicle is properly permitted and, if needed, identify the owner. “It’s not about policing neighbors,” the subscriber noted in their message to the Dispatch. “It’s about making sure everyone who uses these vehicles is following the same rules and that there’s a way to report unsafe or reckless operation.”

Communities across Illinois have adopted similar systems, often using small metal or plastic plates with bold numbers mounted on the rear of the vehicle. Supporters say the approach improves safety and compliance without adding significant cost.

City officials have not yet discussed the proposal publicly, and no formal request has been placed on an upcoming council agenda. However, the suggestion aligns with broader conversations happening in many municipalities as alternative vehicles become more common on local roads.

The Dispatch will continue to follow this topic and report on any future city action or public discussion.

Local officials are urging residents to help spread the word: the Delavan Ambulance Service is fully operational and has been transporting patients for more than a year.

The service briefly halted transports after a sharp drop in EMS volunteers left too few personnel to meet state staffing requirements. During that period, responders could stabilize patients but had to wait 20–40 minutes for ambulances from neighboring towns.

Creative staffing solutions, and dedicated volunteers have allowed Delavan to resume transports—and the service has remained active ever since.

Leaders emphasize that if residents call 911 today, Delavan’s ambulance can respond and take patients directly to the hospital.

Delavan residents now have increased access to home-delivered meals through the regional Meals on Wheels program, which is already serving several clients in the community and is prepared to welcome more.

Program representatives say they are eager to support additional Delavan seniors or adults with mobility or nutrition challenges. Enrollment begins with a simple referral process. To get started, prospective clients—or a family member or caregiver—should call 309-674-1131, ext. 231, which connects directly to the office of Meals on Wheels Director Amanda McCoy.

To initiate a referral, callers will be asked to provide basic information:

• Name
• Address
• Phone number
• Date of birth
• Any known food allergies
• An emergency contact

Once the referral is submitted, a third party assessor contacts the potential client or their representative to complete a nutritional assessment. This conversation reviews the individual’s nutrition needs, any risks related to diet, and mobility or daily living challenges that may affect their ability to prepare meals.

There are no financial requirements to qualify for Meals on Wheels. If a person is not approved through the assessment but still wishes to receive meals, they may choose to participate privately at a cost of $8 per meal.

If approved, clients can begin receiving home-delivered meals shortly after the assessment is completed.

Program staff also noted that Delavan could explore establishing a Congregate Meal Site, similar to the one operating in Tremont on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Congregate sites offer free meals to adults aged 60 and older and provide a social setting designed to reduce isolation and strengthen community connections. Local leaders or organizations

Long before grain elevators dotted the prairie skyline, Delavan’s earliest entrepreneurs were already trying to turn the region’s rich farmland into a thriving milling industry. Their efforts—some bold, some costly, all ambitious—laid the groundwork for a chapter of local history that would eventually send Central Illinois flour across the globe.

The town’s first attempt came in 1839, when Deacon Henry R. Green established a steam-powered custom mill. It was a forward-looking venture for a frontier community still finding its footing. A second effort followed in 1861, when John L. Orndorff opened another mill. That project proved far more painful: Orndorff reportedly lost $10,000, a staggering sum for the era.

Despite these early setbacks, the idea of Delavan as a milling center never fully disappeared. It simply needed the right combination of timing, technology, and tenacity.

That moment arrived 29 years after Deacon Green’s first mill, when Frederick Starz, along with partners Fred Lehman and Arthur Stubbs, founded the Delavan City Mills in 1868. Their operation marked a turning point—not just for the town’s economy, but for its identity.

The Delavan City Mills blended locally grown wheat with western hard wheat, producing a high-quality flour that quickly found buyers far beyond Illinois. With a capacity of 100 barrels per day, the mill shipped its product to England, Ireland, Scotland, and even Cuba, placing Delavan on an international map few small towns could claim.

Success bred expansion. In 1870, just two years later, a second major operation opened: the Young America Mills, launched by Arthur Stubbs and John B. Starz, Frederick’s son. With a daily capacity of 150 barrels, it surpassed its predecessor and solidified Delavan’s reputation as a regional milling powerhouse.

For a time, the rhythmic hum of grinding stones and steam engines became part of the town’s soundtrack. Farmers brought in wagonloads of wheat. Railcars carried out barrels of flour stamped with Delavan’s name. And a community that once struggled to sustain a single mill found itself home to two flourishing enterprises.

Today, the mills are gone, but their legacy remains woven into Delavan’s story—a reminder of the persistence, partnership, and quiet ambition that helped shape the town’s early economy. In the span of just a few decades, Delavan went from hopeful experiments to global exports, proving once again that even small towns can leave a wide footprint when opportunity meets determination. interested in this option are encouraged to reach out for further discussion.

The mystery of the 1940 postcard featured in the February 22 edition of the Delavan Dispatch is beginning to clear, thanks to early translation work from readers and regional history enthusiasts.

The postcard, mailed from the Delavan Post Office on April 27, 1940, and addressed to Mrs. Otto Gries, 10040 Aberdeen St., Chicago, contains a short message written in German. The first decipherable lines translate to: “Everything is going well so far, I hope Roselle is too, and that you are all well. Greetings to Mr. Gries.”

Additional fragments are now legible, including phrases that appear to read: “Could write a letter today. Delavan Armory, Delavan, Illinois. I am here.” The reference to the Delavan Armory remains the most intriguing element, raising new questions about the sender’s purpose in town and their connection to the Gries family in Chicago.

While the handwriting is still challenging in places, these early breakthroughs offer the first real glimpse into the postcard’s intent — a friendly update, a travel note, or perhaps something more.

The Dispatch will continue sharing translation progress and invites readers with German‑language expertise to join the investigation.