Photos: It's National Paczki Day in the Illinois Valley

Dave Hepner, owner of the Spring Valley Bakery, removes a paczki from the display case Tuesday March 1, 2022. Paczki, pronounced "puhnch-kee" are deep-fried doughnuts that are traditionally Polish and made by bakers using up ingredients before Lent begins. Hepner made 4,500 Paczkis and was sold out by 9 a.m. (Scott Anderson)