LOCAL STATE TROOPER RETURNS FROM COMPETITION IN AUSTRALIA
As reported earlier by WGEL, local Illinois State Trooper Mark Owensby went to Sydney, Australia to compete in the World Action Pistol Championships that took place October 31st - November 5th. Owensby recently returned home, and told WGEL that along with his team member, they won the Metallic Team Championship.
Individually there are four matches that make up a competitor's aggregate. Individually, Owensby won the moving event and placed 3rd in the barricade event. He placed fourth overall, but said that he could have had first. The "plates" was the last event on Saturday morning. Out of 48 plates to knock down, he missed two; therefore missing the overall individual title.
Once over there, Owensby learned from the German team, that he was considered to be their biggest competition during the match, as they had researched his scores and standings from previous shoots. In the end, Owensby was invited by the German team to compete in their championships in Germany next August.
In between matches, competitors had time to sight-see, but that too, wasn't easy. Owensby said the biggest thing was to learn to drive in Australia on the left side of the road. Their cars have steering wheels on right side and for the first couple days it was stressful. After finally returning home, he explained how he was trying to get the turn signal to work and the windshield wipers going because everything was backwards from driving over there for 10 days.
Even though the season is over this year for Owensby, it will start again in April. He said he is hoping to compete in more matches next year, especially the one in Germany.
POCAHONTAS AMERICAN LEGION LOOKING FOR LAND TO BUILD ON
A new building is in the works for the Pocahontas American Legion Post 1104. In fact, it's been several years since the post has had anywhere to call home. Started in 1946 by returning veterans of WWII, Post 1104's members built the lake in Pocahontas. Then with falling membership and not enough money, a building to house meetings and equipment was never feasible…until now. Post Commander Kent Weiss told WGEL that they are just getting started with the plans of the building. Tony Rench has volunteered to do all of the concrete work, and many members are construction workers, so if they can raise money for the building itself, they can do most of the work.
The Pocahontas American Legion Post 1104 is hoping to find a piece of land somewhere in Pocahontas. The post participates in many parades, color guards and events throughout the year and donates money raised to several veterans' organizations throughout the state of Illinois.
4TH ANNUAL COACHES CLINIC IS SATURDAY
A full roster of highly respected coaches is speaking at Saturday’s 4th Annual I-70 Baseball Coaches Clinic. These include University of Nebraska head coach Mike Anderson, Keith Madison who recently retired from the University of Kentucky, Indiana State head coach Lindsay Meggs, and Normal West High School’s Chris Hawkins. Nationally renowned speaker Bruce Brown will round out the day. Anderson led Nebraska to the College World Series in 2005 and has twice been named the Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year. Madison is all-time wins leader at the University of Kentucky and served as pitching coach for Team USA in 1999.
The clinic runs from 9am until 4pm Saturday at the Greenville Junior High and features not only the seminars but sporting goods exhibitors from around the Midwest. All area coaches are invited to attend. Details can be found on the web at www.i70clinic.com.
EQUALIZATION FACTOR ASSIGNED FOR BOND COUNTY
The property assessment equalization factor for Bond County remains the same as last year. The Illinois Department of Revenue announced Monday that Bond County has been issued a tentative factor of 1. Often called the "multiplier," this method is used to achieve uniform property assessments among counties, as required by law. Some local taxing districts overlap into two or more counties and without the multiplier, inequities among taxpayers with similar properties would result.
State law requires property in Illinois to be assessed at one-third of its market value. Farm property is assessed differently. The equalization factor is determined annually for each county by comparing the sales price of individual properties sold over the past three years to the assessed value placed on those properties by the county supervisor of assessments.
Assessments in Bond County are at 33.28 percent of market value, based on sales of properties in 2003, 2004, and 2005. The factor currently being assigned is for 2006 taxes, payable in 2007.
