SUBLETTE – Northern Illinois has seen a new company within internet providers in the last four years, Surf Internet.

At the July 8 Village of Sublette City Council meeting, Jennifer Alvarez, Surf’s regional market manager, presented what the fiber optic broadband internet company offers.

She answered questions from Sublette President John Stenzel and other members of the council in terms of what construction Surf would need to do, how far the fiber signal reaches, how long the price points last, the equipment Surf customers would use, speed rates of the internet, and more.

At the end of the presentation, Stenzel asked Alvarez to send him more information about the company and its services. There wasn’t an exact date for a meeting or a return visit to put Surf Internet on an upcoming meeting agenda, but it seemed promising Surf Internet and Sublette will speak again to potentially offer Sublette residents another internet provider option.

Economic development coordinator Don Dinges spoke of the events in Sublette that either already happened or are scheduled.

The truck show in June didn’t bring in a big crowd, but they’re hoping next year will expand as some of the attendees from Waterman, Compton, and Earlville loved the show and vowed to bring more people with them next June.

The farmer’s market returns to Sublette on Tuesday, July 30. It will run from 4-7 p.m. on Main Street.

September 7-8 will be the annual events, Hops & Harmony and Pullin’ in the Park at the Ellice Dinges Center and Centennial Park. Hops & Harmony offers beer tasting and features country music band Diamond Rio.

Also inked in the Sublette calendar is the Sublette Country Car Show from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14 alongside U.S. Rt. 52.

Dinges also made the council aware of signs being made for Emma Dinges, a 2024 Amboy High School graduate, who was voted in as the Illinois FFA secretary for the next fiscal year.

Also discussed at the meeting, on June 24 a camera was ran through the tile under U.S. Rt. 52 to see the status of the foundation. The televising went approximately 300 feet. After the Sublette board viewed the footage, it was unanimously decided it wasn’t in the best shape and repairing may move up the priority list. 

One of the two LED speed signs Sublette received via federal grand money is installed and the second one was planned to be implemented the week of July 15.

Stenzel addressed the state of the generator at the Ellice Dinges Center, which was purchased in 2001, and said he received a quote for $200 to insure it.

Fire hydrants were replaced on E. Virginia Street and N. Wyoming Street on July 8. The damaged hydrants effected 11 homes in the village.

Concrete work was done outside of the Ellice Dinges Center and on sidewalks on Main Street. Stenzel said the the repairs look “pretty good” and the board agreed.

Chris Leffelman, the chair of the park board, is purchasing two benches for Centennial Park. The village has agreed to buy the benches and the park board will reimburse. There will be one bench added to the east side of the park and one to the west side of the park.