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- Written by: Matt Wilson - Breese Journal Reporter
Ben Huels is pictured with his black lab hunting dog Ginny. Ginny got inducted into the United Kennel Club Hall of Fame this year and the American Kennel Club Hall of Fame last year. Carlyle resident Ben Huels and his black lab hunting dog have reached a status few dogs have.
Huels' female black lab hunting dog, named Ginny, got inducted into the United Kennel Club (UKC) Hall of Fame this year and the American Kennel Club (AKC) Hall of Fame last year.
Huels was told that less than 100 dogs have ever accomplished dual Hall of Fame status.
"I'm extremely proud of this accomplishment," Huels said.
The organization for the UKC Hall of Fame is the hunters retriever club and the organization for the AKC is the master's national Hall of Fame.
The Hunter Retriever Club Hall of Fame was established in 2017 to honor dogs that exemplify the ultimate hunting retriever. To qualify for this prestigious designation, a dog must have passed the HRC International Grand four times and accumulated a total of 1,000 championship points. The Hall of Fame recognizes the dedication and performance of hunting retrievers in various events.
Black lab hunting dog Ginny is pictured with one of the ducks she found during a search. Ben and Ginny have been going to hunting competitions since 2017. The AKC Hall of Fame was established in 1973 and recognizes exemplary people and dogs that made a significant contribution to the advancement of the breed in America.
Huels has had Ginny since 2017 and she will be 8 years old in December.
Huels said Ginny reaching the Hall of Fame was not even in his thought process until she was close to achieving the goal. At the beginning of June, she was within 180 points of getting in the Hall of Fame.
"That is when it became a goal," Huels said.
To be inducted into the UKC Hall of Fame, a dog must pass the grand hunt test four times and have an accumulative of 1,000 points. Huels said the grand hunt test has about a 20-28% pass rate.
A hunting dog gets 15 points per finish test.
At a finish level test, there will be marks where a dog has to sit still with its owner and watch three dead ducks get thrown out. They have to proceed to the area of the fall, establish a hunt, find the bird, and return the bird to the owner.
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- Written by: Matt Wilson - Breese Journal Reporter
Mayor Kevin Timmermann Mayor Kevin Timmermann announced during the Breese City Council meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 7, that the city was notified by Henry, Meisenheimer and Gende Engineering Services that the city received a $1.1 million grant from the state to repair Mine Street.
The grant goes back to the engineers and the engineers send the grant to the Illinois Department of Transportation. They hope to take care of the project before next spring.
"We were lucky enough that we got this grant," Timmermann said.
In this past year, the city has received a grant for the water tower and now for Mine Street. He said the grant for Mine Street is very good for Breese and it takes care of Gateway FS and the people living on Mine Street.
"This repair has been something that has been needed for a long time," Timmermann said.
Also during his mayor's report, Timmermann said in the last year owners at Logo's and More, PJ's Diner, and Town and Country Florist have sold out their businesses to other people. Timmermann recognized the owners for all of the years of business they have had in Breese.
"Each one of them did a very good job," Timmermann said.
The council thanked the previous owners and wished good luck to the new owners.
During the health portion of the meeting, Alderman Luke Essenpreis said fall clean-up day will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18, at the street department.
The leaf dump will be open from Oct. 25 to Dec. 21 on Wednesdays and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
During the public safety portion of the meeting, Alderman Steve Hellige said trick or treat will be 6-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31.
Breese Police Chief Mark Berndsen said there has been a few vehicles stolen in the county within the last week. None of those incidents happened in Breese. Berndsen reminded residents to keep stuff hidden or out of the vehicle and their keys in the house with their vehicles locked.
