9-28-2006




BID ACCEPTED ON BEAUMONT AVE STREET REPAIR

In order to get a two week jump on starting work on Beaumont Avenue, the Greenville City Council held a special meeting last Tuesday night to discuss the contract for the work. To the pleasure of the council the only bid was from a contractor that has done work for the city.  The total bid was under the engineers estimate. General Contractors Inc. and Howell Paving Inc., of Mattoon, will be starting the Beaumont resurfacing project in several weeks. The Beaumont project is the first using the new half percent sales tax revenue that was passed by the voters several years ago. Once the work begins it should take no more than 3 weeks to complete

Also at last night's meeting the council passed several variances recommended by the Planning Commission including the approval of a height variance needed to construct new dorms at Greenville College.  After some council discussion and a 3 to 2 vote, Bill Donnell had his request that property he owns next to Donnell-Wiegand Funeral Home be rezoned from residential to business.  Although Donnell's request got no objections when it came before the Zoning Board, several neighbors spoke against the change.

MULBERRY GROVE UNIT 1 BOARD ADOPTS BUDGET

Following a public hearing, the Mulberry Grove Unit 1 School Board on Monday night unanimously passed their budget for the upcoming school year.  Superintendent Greg Irwin commented that the budget for Fiscal Year 2007 shows some improvement over last year.  He is attributing this primarily to the district ending Fiscal Year 2006 with positive balances.  Transportation expenses remain a concern as the state only sent three of four expected quarterly payments last year.  During the budget hearing, Irwin stated that any deficit in the transportation fund will likely be balanced through a loan from working cash. 

In other action the Unit 1 Board accepted the resignation of high school and junior high teacher Rich Ozment; accepted a three-year contract with Lifetouch Studios for school photography; and approved exploring the possible reorganization of the Bond/Fayette Special Education Co-op.  Superintendent Irwin told WGEL that Mulberry Grove’s participation in the co-op cost the district around $75,000 last year.  The co-op offers a variety of special education services, information, and a connection to new state laws. 

It was also reported that Mulberry Grove High School Principal, Mike Gauch, had received an $11,900 settlement from an Illinois Attorney General’s class action law suit involving artificially inflated prices for foods that contained sorbates.  The money has been earmarked for gymnasium and physical education improvements.

FAIR OAKS GRANTS RESIDENT WISH WITH HARLEY DAVIDSON RIDE

A resident of Fair Oaks in Greenville was granted a special wish on Sunday, September 17. Fair Oaks staff members meet with residents and their families on a regular basis to hold what is referred to as “care conferences” to discuss residents’ needs and any feedback they may have.  Resident Wilda Wideman told staff that she did not have any needs, but wished to ride a Harley Davidson one more time.  Wideman was an avid Harley Davidson rider throughout her youth.

Arrangements were made and a special event was planned.  Greenville Regional Hospital Anesthetist Gabe Gigliotti, himself an avid motorcycle rider, brought his Harley Davidson to Fair Oaks and granted Wideman’s request.

MOTORCYCLE 09_27_06

Wilda Wideman riding with Gabe Gogliotti

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GES HOSTING NASA FAMILY FUN NIGHT

An open house and NASA Family Fun Night is being held tonight at the Greenville Elementary School.  The event is tied in with GES becoming a NASA Explorer School.  Parents and the community are welcome to tour the school and visit classrooms from 6 until 7:00PM.  Pizza and soda will be served in the cafeteria from 5:30 until 7:00PM.  Other activities include rocket making in the cafeteria followed by rocket launches from 7 until 7:30PM on the school playground.  Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd graders will be making paper airplanes in the KRP Room.  Zero Gravity and Greenville Airport displays will be featured in the GES gym from 6 until 6:30PM.  A representative from NASA will share a presentation in the gym at 6:30PM.  Again, all the activities are tonight as part of the Greenville Elementary School Open House and NASA Family Fun Night.

MT. MORIAH HOSTS HISTORICAL GROUPS

The Mt. Moriah Baptist Church in southern Montgomery County on Tuesday night hosted a special program and potluck.  In recent years, the Bond County Historical and Genealogical Societies have held an annual rural church program.  Members of the Greenville Kiwanis Club and Hill's Fort Society joined the groups for a history lesson on the Mt. Moriah church, cemetery, and the area.  Historical Society member Kevin Kaegy talked about the infamous Clingman gang which terrorized the region during the summer of 1864.  Kaegy said Clingman had a hideout in the area of Mt. Moriah.  He also discussed a settlement north of Mt. Moriah known as New Boston.

Church member Stan Thacker said the first church was built on the site in 1891.  That church and the building that followed it both burned to the ground.  The current church conducted its first service in 1949.  Ice cream socials were held for years to fund the upkeep of the cemetery.  The first recorded burial at Mt. Moriah dates back to 1839 and was the body of a Revolutionary War hero who settled in the area. 

Reverend Wayne Pierce, who recently retired from Mt. Moriah, shared some stories about the church and then gave the closing prayer.

KPD IS ELIGIBLE FOR MORE GRANT FUNDING

The Kingsbury Park District could receive extra grant funding from the Illinois EPA’s Clean Lakes program.  KPD Director Jerry Sauerwein told WGEL that he learned Tuesday that additional money is available but would require a 50-50 match from the district.  Kingsbury originally received $183,000 in grants for the Clean Lakes project at Patriot’s Park.  Most of the work is underway or already complete.  Sauerwein commented during a special board meeting last week that he would like to use the funds for additional dirt work and dredging on the west side of the lake.  The park board will meet in special session again to decide how much of the grant money they would need if they accept the IEPA’s offer.

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NEW FIREHOUSE IN THE WORKS FOR POCAHONTAS

Plans are in motion to build a new firehouse in the Pocahontas-Old Ripley Fire Protection District.  Kathy Brink, EMS Director for Pocahontas-Old Ripley Fire, Rescue and EMS told WGEL about the need for a new building saying that as far back as she can remember, they have always been cramped for space.  The meeting room is not big enough for the over 30 volunteers on hand.  They are need of new fire trucks, but the current firehouse barely offers enough space for the ones they have.  And Brink believes that at some point in the future with the number of subdivisions going up in the area, there will be a need to staff 24-hour, full time EMS at the firehouse and provide sleeping quarters. 

The District has purchased a five-acre lot for the new firehouse on U.S. Rt. 40 across from the Pocahontas Elementary School.  With an estimated cost of over $500,000 for the new building, Brink explained how the volunteers are being very conservative in design and how they are preparing to move this project forward by touring firehouses in the area.  As soon as the plans are drawn up and submitted, Brink hopes to get approval by District.  At that point they will continue fundraising efforts such as private foundation grants and events like the Pocahontas Fall Festival scheduled for October 14th beginning at 10 a.m.  WGEL will have more on the Festival activities in a future newscast.

WOMAN SENTENCED FOR APRIL STABBING IN VANDALIA

A Vandalia woman has pled guilty to Aggravated Battery with a deadly weapon for stabbing a man with a steak knife.  The incident occurred in late April of this year when 26-year-old Tracey R. Brown stabbed 27-year-old Shane Clift in the sternum with the knife.  At the time, Vandalia police reported that the stabbing took place during an argument between the two at their residence.  Clift was treated and released from the Vandalia hospital.

The Fayette County State's Attorney has released a statement saying that the police investigation determined that Clift had struck Brown prior to the stabbing.  State's Attorney Friedel said that he believes the stabbing was an act of retaliation and not self-defense.

Brown was sentenced to 30 months probation and 144 days in the Fayette County Jail.  Clift subsequently pled guilty to Domestic Battery and was placed on two years probation. 

THURSDAY SPORTS

HS VOLLEYBALL
The Varsity Lady Comets earned their ninth win of the season on Tuesday with a 25-12, 25-18 victory over Litchfield.  Crystal Clanton had 9 points and Hannah Elliott 7 kills.  The JV Lady Comets were also winners over Litchfield 25-12, 25-14.  Karaleigh Dorries had 13 points and 8 aces.  The Freshman Lady Comets won 25-10, 25-20.  Kay Koonce had 13 points and 3 aces while Joni Hoag added 12 points and 7 aces. 

HS GOLF
The Lady Comets recorded a 190 to post a win over Litchfield, Staunton, and Alton.  Stephanie Hoffmeier led Greenville with a 44 followed by Kirstie Childerson with a 45.  They each had 3 pars.
OBITUARIES

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