DEPUTIES SEARCHING FOR ALLEGED RESIDENTIAL BURGLAR
Bond County deputies are investigating a residential burglary that happened Sunday afternoon on Neathery Cemetery Road. Deputies told WGEL that Mark Blankenship saw a suspicious person exit the house and then drive away in a red Suburban with Illinois plates. Blankenship followed the vehicle while contacting the Sheriff’s Department with a
9-1-1 call. The Suburban was found abandoned in a field south of Tower Avenue and the suspect had apparently fled on foot. Deputies told WGEL that office and farm equipment allegedly stolen from the house were recovered. They are following leads in hopes of identifying the suspect.
UNIT 2 ADOPTS TAX LEVY FOR 2006
Following a Truth in Taxation hearing Monday night, the Unit 2 Board of Education adopted the tax levy for 2006. This will be a 7.83 percent increase from last year. Denny Grant and Jerry Gaffner, part of a strategic planning group designed to establish direction for the improvements in the district, presented their findings and suggestions to the board. They advised there is a need to increase career counseling at a high school level, increase instruction on “soft skills” in the workplace and an aggressive need to teach technology skills to students K-12. Meg File also reported a new T1 line has been installed for the Greenville schools and continues to research and find ways to make Unit 2 a more technological district.
The Unit 2 Board voted to contract the services of Acomp Industrial Therapy to provide thorough job descriptions and requirements throughout the district to potentially reduce workers’ compensation costs. In other business, the resignation of Scott Spencer was accepted as 8th grade girls’ basketball coach at the end of the current season and the 5th and 6th grade girls’ basketball coach at the end of the 2007-2008 season. The treasurer’s report was also approved along with the bills and consent agenda.
BOTH INCUMBENTS RUNNING UNOPPOSED FOR CITY COUNCIL
The filing period for candidates wanting to run for Greenville City Council for the April election ended at 5PM Monday. Incumbents Kenny Hampton and Lisa Stephens will both be running unopposed. Hampton filed his petition packet early last week. He is currently finishing his second term on the city council. Stephens filed her packet last Thursday for another four-year term. She was appointed in September of 2002 to fill a vacated seat and was then elected to a full term in April 2003.
MULBERRY GROVE BOARD ACCEPTS DOTY CONTRACT
After months of consideration, the Mulberry Grove village board has accepted a two-year contract for trash pickup with Doty Sanitation. Doty was the low bidder when the village advertised for the service earlier in the year. At the December 5th Mulberry Grove board meeting, the contract was discussed and several changes were requested and agreed to by Doty. During a special meeting, the board approved the final contract, which takes effect January 1st. The cost to Mulberry residents is $9 per month for pickup and $30 per month for a dumpster. The village hall is responsible for the billing. Trash pickup will be on Tuesdays.
