POWER BACK ON AT SORENTO SCHOOL
Power was restored to the Sorento School late Tuesday afternoon and was ready for students this morning. All Sorento students including the Sorento KRP class, which had previously been canceled, are back in school today at their building and running on their regular schedule.
All KRP classes in the Bond County Unit 2 School District are also in session again today and running on their regular schedules.
SWECI WRAPPING UP BOND COUNTY RESTORATION
Southwestern Electric work crews are wrapping up their efforts in Bond County. Linemen were concentrated near Pocahontas, Hookdale, and Reno on Tuesday. In Madison County, crews continued to repair damage near Collinsville, Edwardsville, Troy, Bethalto, Marine, and New Douglas. Most of the linemen working in Bond County will shift to Madison County today. Southwestern’s Joe Richardson said line crews from Ohio, Kentucky, and throughout Illinois are assisting. At the peak Friday morning, more than 7,000 Southwestern Electric customers were in the dark. That number was down to around 2,000 Tuesday morning.
SUNDAY'S HOUSE TOUR HELPS FUND COURTHOUSE LIGHTING
A several area homes were on display this past Sunday for the Greenville Women's Club Annual House Tour. Lucille Ireland said that despite the weather and many other things, the house tour was the best received in the 32 years of the Greenville Women's Club. She commented that the homes were historical, charmingly furnished, and beautifully decorated.
Three hundred and fifty tickets were sold and Ireland explained how the proceeds from this plus monies given from community will guarantee acorn lighting for the south and east sides of the courthouse lawn next spring.
There were five homes on the tour this year. Ireland said she received many compliments and was excited to see people attending not only from Greenville, but Highland, Vandalia and Hillsboro as well.
ELECTRIC RATES STILL TOPIC FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN JANUARY
The Illinois General Assembly concluded the second week of the 2006 Fall Veto Session on November 30 and failed to come to an agreement on the future of electric utility rates according to Senator Frank Watson. The 94th General Assembly will meet for one final week in January before the new 95th General Assembly is sworn into office on January 10, 2007. A 10-year rate freeze on electric utility rates is set to expire on January 1 and has prompted the legislature to try and resolve issues of utility rates. One measure approved by the Senate would phase-in the increase and place a cap on how much a rate can increase over the next three years. Ameren customers would be capped at an increase of 14 percent over the next three years.
Proponents for the legislation maintain that by phasing in the increase, Illinois residents will receive much needed relief from the threat of an increase all at once. Opponents argue that by extending the freeze, Illinois will become susceptible to an energy crisis. Still others lobbied for a longer phase-in to soften the blow for customers.
GREENVILLE HIGH SCHOOL HOLDS CICBC BLOOD DRIVE
The CICBC conducted a blood drive at Bond County Community Unit 2 High School on Wednesday, November 29. 73 students and teachers were present to donate blood with 60 units being collected. 45 new donors were recognized.
The CICBC is also inviting Bond County residents to participate in the "High School Challenge". It is a scholarship program established by the CICBC and the Memorial Foundation from Belleville Memorial Hospital to introduce high school students to the importance of donating blood and help a deserving high school senior continue their education of graduation. To help a senior win a $1,000 scholarship, attend any CICBC blood drive now through May 11, 2007 and tell the registrar that you would like your donation to be credited to Unit 2 High School. The CICBC is the sole blood supplier for Greenville Regional Hospital.
