ACADEMIC FOUNDATION CELEBRATES SUCCESS

The 17th annual Bond County Community Unit #2 Academic Foundation dinner meeting held Monday, October 30 at the First Christian Church Fellowship Room, was a tribute to the foundation directors, school board members, faculty, and parents whose cooperation over the years has provided many educational opportunities to students.  After the welcome by Jerry McFarland and the invocation by Reverend Darryl Bolen, those present enjoyed a concert by the high school jazz band directed by Pam Goodenough while eating a delicious catered meal.  School faculty members then presented excerpts from the musical named "Nunsense," which they presented earlier as a fundraiser to help raise $4,000 for the Theater Patrons Fund.

President Carla Stampfli presented the financial report showing income of $34,037, expenses of $42,517 and a balance on July 30, 2006 of $87,284 in the endowment fund and $9,674 in the general fund. Vern Brewer, Carla Stampfli and Lester Harnetiaux presented Superintendent Melanie Allyn a check for $19,477 for teacher grants and Director Don Reed presented grant certificates to the teachers. Individuals can contribute funds to finance specific projects and that has happened in the Sorento School and in the Greenville Junior High School with the purchase of Smart Boards.

Directors elected for 2006-2007 are Lester Harnetiaux, Georgia Shank, Jerry McFarland, Pennie Slatton, Kevin Sybert, Jan Woker, Don Reed, Aimee Frey, and Penni Schreiber. Eric Ahern presented a PowerPoint presentation about the NASA Program in the Junior High School. Carla Stampfli listed foundation accomplishments since 1990. Membership funds total over $313,423 resulting in over $207,000 in teacher grants. The endowment fund has grown to $87,284, sponsoring four annual scholarships - Sara Cunningham, Kathy Haberer, Jan Nevinger Memorial and the Bradford National Bank scholarships, the Craig Baumberger Aviation Fund and the Fred Baumberger self-esteem Character education fund.  Stampfli concluded by saying, "So many exciting things are happening in our schools because of the Academic Foundation."

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PLANNING COMMISSION OKAYS REQUEST

The Greenville Planning Commission conducted a public hearing Monday night. After no negative public feedback and a positive recommendation from city staff they approved for City Council consideration a request by Walter Barenfanger. He wants the city to vacate an alley between several lots he owns west of his True Value Hardware store in Greenville. On another subject City Manager Dave Willey told WGEL the work on Beaumont Avenue should be finished this week.

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HISTORICAL SOCIETY OFFICERS ELECTED

The Bond County Historical Society’s annual banquet and officer election was held Monday night.  Officers for the coming year are John S. Coleman, President; Janet Eyman, Vice-President; June Wise, Secretary; Judy Schneck, Treasurer; Dean and Nelda Anthony, Historians; and Marie Reeves, Registered Agent.  Twelve directors representing the nine townships were also voted on. 

In his year-end report, President Coleman said there were 501 visitors to the Hoiles-Davis Museum in 2006 including several high school classes.  Other highlights included the Greenville home movie and soup supper, the Heritage Day quilt show, and the annual Muny Band and traditional country music nights.  The Bond County Historical Society’s new web site has attracted around 4,100 visits in its first year.

Dr. John Hallwas, a retired professor at Western Illinois University, shared a program on the “Notorious Lawbreakers of Early Illinois.”  WGEL will have more about this program in our Wednesday news.

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CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS LAW GOES INTO EFFECT JAN. 1

Beginning January 1, a new state law will go into effect requiring single family and multiple family residences be equipped with carbon monoxide alarms.  At least one detector must be within fifteen feet of each bedroom.  Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that is lethal to humans if it builds up.  The law states that it’s the responsibility of the owner of the building to supply and install the alarms.  In the case of rental property, the tenant is responsible for testing and maintaining the alarm. 

Failure to comply with the new law can result in a Class B misdemeanor.  Carbon monoxide alarms are usually available at hardware and home improvements stores with prices generally starting at $20.

LINCOLN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM UNVEILS NEW LINCOLN ARTIFACTS

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum has announced the acquisition of several new Lincoln artifacts.  Collector Kent Tucker donated one of the artifacts, the others were purchased from various collectors and dealers adding to the growing Lincoln collection at the museum. Among the new acquisitions include: a rare 1860 Lincoln campaign biography, for which this copy is only the fourth known to exist; A George Peter Alexander Healy portrait of Abraham Lincoln; four typescript drafts of a book by William E. Barton, one of the most prolific Lincoln biographers in the early Twentieth Century along with Barton’s marginal notes and corrections; and a letter of Robert Todd Lincoln to Henry White dated January 13, 1890 describing the latest doctor reports on his son Abraham Lincoln II whose nickname was Jack.

Since August 2004, with the donation of Lincoln’s portfolio, the Lincoln Museum has received private gifts of manuscripts, photographs, prints, books, and other items totaling over $1million in appraised value.

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UNEMPLOYMENT RATES FOR SEPTEMBER DOWN FROM LAST YEAR

The Illinois Section of the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area showed a drop in the unemployment rate to 4.7% in September 2006, the lowest rate since 2000.  In Bond County the rate was 4.3%, down from 4.9% one year ago. Madison County went from 4.9% this time last year to 4.4% currently.  However, Clinton County is at 4.1%, which is up from 3.7% in September 2005.  Employment gains in information, wholesale trade and financial activities showed the largest percentage job increases.  Other areas with job growth included manufacturing, construction, retail trade and other services, and education and health services.

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TENNESSEE COUPLE SENTENCED ON ODOMETER FRAUD SCHEME

A Tennessee couple has been sentenced in federal court after pleading guilty to mail and wire fraud involving a widespread odometer tampering scheme.  50-year-old James Boswell of Memphis was sentenced to five months imprisonment and five months home detention followed by three years of supervised release.  His wife, 52-year-old Mary Boswell, was sentenced to three years probation.  The Boswells are among 19 individuals from Memphis, Tennessee charged in the Southern District of Illinois with having engaged in trading vehicles with false odometer readings. 

The crimes took place in October and November, 2003 in Bond, Monroe, and Lawrence counties.  One of the victimized dealerships was Steve Schmitt Motors in Greenville.  Prosecutors say the defendants were charged in a scheme which involved buying a new vehicle by trading a vehicle on which the odometer had been disconnected.  Investigators pointed out that as these dealerships learned of the scam, they were quick to notify and make whole those customers who had purchased the tampered vehicles. 

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OCTOBER RAIN TOTALS

October has proven to be the wettest month so far in 2006. The October rain totals for Greenville were 4.61-inches at The Greenville Wastewater Treatment Plant, 4.66-inches at the old plant on 6th Street, and 5.13-inches at Route 140 and Idler Lane. October was over the 10-year average of 3.12-inches.  Rain was measured on 12 days during the month and the wettest October in the last 10 years came in 2004 with 5.57-inches.

OBITUARIES

GRACE A WILDERMAN

Grace A. Wilderman age 92 of Greenville, passed away Monday, October 30, 2006 at Gateway Regional Hospital in Granite City, Illinois. Graveside funeral services for 92 year-old Grace A. Wilderman will be held Saturday at 11AM at the Mt. Moriah Cemetery north of Greenville with Rev. David Klasing officiating.  The family will receive friends from 5-8PM on Friday at the Donnell-Wiegand Funeral Home in Greenville.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Greenville First Baptist Church or the Antigo Community Church in Antigo, Wisconsin.

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