8-25-2006

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FAVORABLE AUDIT FOR UNIT 1 DISTRICT

Mulberry Grove Unit 1 Superintendent Greg Irwin is pleased with the results of the district’s 2006 audit.  A representative from Unit 1’s accounting firm gave the year-end report at Monday’s board meeting.  Irwin told WGEL that it was an “excellent report” which indicated that for a second year in a row the school finished in the black.  Irwin said that Unit 1 has been watching its pennies and trying not to overextend the district’s finances with extra borrowing. 

Prior to the meeting, the Unit 1 board held a public hearing on the tentative budget for Fiscal year 2006-2007.  A second hearing will be conducted prior to the September board meeting.

The board approved the purchase of a 1999 Grand Caravan as a replacement for the current district vehicle.  They hired two bus drivers for Special Education routes and accepted the resignation of Phyllis Bandy at the end of this school year.  Bandy has taught at the Mulberry Grove Elementary for sixteen years. 

PROFITS UP FOR HEALTH DEPARTMENT

The Bond County Board of Health received a good bill of health from its preliminary Fiscal Year 2005 audit.  Alison Sears from the health department’s accounting firm reviewed the audit during Monday night’s board meeting.  She indicated that there were significant increases in the major funds as profits were on the rise.  The County Health Fund was over $171,000 in the black or a 15% increase from Fiscal Year 2004.  The Hospice program generated a profit of nearly $129,000 while the Mental Health division was just over $33,000 in the black.  Sears said the audit demonstrated that the Health Department had done a good job budgeting.  Board chairman Darryl Bolen complimented Health Department Director Maxine Barth for her leadership. 





LAST MONTH'S STORM NEARLY DESTROY'S FAMILY BUSINESS

The storms that drove through Clinton County last month left large amounts of damage in the area.  One couple from south of Carlyle lost over half their business in a matter of minutes.  WGEL spoke with Karen Voss who, with her husband Ralph, has owned and managed a Pecan Farm for the last 20 years.  She said the orchard that was damaged in the storms is about 8 miles from their home down in the Kaskaskia River bottoms between German Town and Bartelso.  Over the years Ralph thinned out the timber area and was left with 900 pecan trees between 45-100 years old. Karen said the trees were big and were torn out by their roots from the wind. The storm damaged between 300-500 pecan trees that will have to be replaced.  There are roughly 25 acres where hardly any trees are left.

Karen said her husband Ralph was in another orchard when the storm hit that day.  Ralph said he realized it was getting dark and windy, so he gathered up his chain saw and got in his truck when it started raining.  And that's where he had to ride the storm out.  Ralph said it was the worst storm he had ever been through.  The Voss's estimate they have lost 30,000 lbs. of pecans each year for the next 20 years; until the 500-600 new trees can be ready for harvest.

FEMA DENIES AID TO SOUTHERN ILLINOIS

Illinois residents hit by storms earlier this summer have been denied federal aid.  The Federal Emergency Management Agency turned down the state's request for financial aid for five downstate counties that were hit by severe thunderstorms and tornadoes in July.  FEMA decided there wasn't enough damage to warrant federal funds.  Governor Blagojevich declared Madison, Clinton, Washington, Jefferson, and St. Clair counties state disaster areas.  Metro News Source is reporting that Madison County Board Chairman Alan Dunstan as saying the county's recovery costs have climbed past $1.4 million.  The Governor has indicated he will appeal FEMA's decision. 





SPORTS

COMETS RANK HIGH IN PRE-SEASON POLLS

When the Varsity Greenville Comets take the field for their season opener to night, they will be ranked in the top ten of a pre-season poll.  The Associated Press announced Tuesday its rankings for all eight football classes in Illinois.  The Comets, who finished 7-3 last season, are ranked eighth in Class 3A.  Hillsboro is ranked sixth in Class 4A.  Greenville opens the 2006 season on the road at Breese Central.  You can hear the game on WGEL. 

FRIDAY SPORTS

HS BASEBALL
The Mulberry Grove Aces were 14-13 winners over Ramsey at the Odin Tournament on Tuesday.  Garrett Blankenship got the win.  Reuben Betts had two hits including a triple and 2 RBIs.  Aaron Kendall and Mitchell Lewis also had 2 RBIs each.  Mulberry had lost its opener in the tourney 4-3 to Brownstown.

JR HIGH BASEBALL
The Mulberry Grove Eagles lost 11-10 to Brownstown.  Jesse Jernigan had two hits and 3 RBIs.  Stephen Redfern had 3 hits.

The Bluejays have split recent games.  The A team lost to Highland 13-2 then bounced back for a 10-9 win over Gillespie. 

HS GOLF
The Lady Comets recorded a 210 to finish fourth on Wednesday at Oak Brook.  Edwardsville won the match with a 147.  Stephanie Hoffmeier posted Greenville’s best score with a 47.

The Comets had a 168 and finished third as Collinsville won with a 161.  Scott Eaton paced Greenville with a 40. 

HS FOOTBALL
Tonight on WGEL the Varsity Comets open their season at Breese Central.  Tune in tonight for the play by play with Kent Kesner and Mike O’Boyle followed by our tape delay broadcast of the Highland Bulldogs at DuQuoin with Steve Lancy. 

OBITUARIES

No New Local Obituaries

 

WEATHER

Saturday: Parly Sunny-30% of Storms-High: 88-Low: 72

Sunday: Mostly Sunny-40% of Storms-High: 83-Low: 70

PUBLIC AFFAIRS
AUGUST 27, 2006

Join us this Sunday for WGEL's Public Affairs Program.  Our guest this week is Director of the Lem Rhodes Foundation, Geri Moore.  Geri will tell us about how the Lem Rhodes Foundation came to be, the purpose of the foundation, and also the goals of the foundation. That's Public Affairs this Sunday following our noon Bond County Area News here on WGEL.

 

IT'S FRIDAY AND WELCOME TO THE WEEK-END!!!

STAY IN TOUCH WITH THE LATEST LOCAL NEWS, SPORTS, AND WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND TOWN, BY TUNING INTO WGEL FM 101.7

 

 

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