CANDIDATES TO BE ON BALLOT IN FEBRUARY
Monday was the last day for candidates to file petitions for their names to be placed on the ballot in the February 2008 primary election. According to Bond County Clerk Randy Reitz, those running unopposed in Bond County for re-election to their office are State's Attorney Chris Bauer, Circuit Clerk John King, and County Board District 2's Joe Whalen.
Republican Incumbent Jack Langel, County Board District 4, is also up for re-election. He is being opposed by Democratic candidate Kevin Sybert. Democratic Incumbent Alan Young, Coroner, will be seeking another term. He is being opposed by Republican candidate, John Donnell.
Out of 25 local precincts, there are 11 democrats and 18 republicans running for precinct committeemen. The 2008 Primary Election in Illinois will be February 5, 2008.
DIVERS SEARCH CAR IN POND FOR INJURED PASSENGERS
Divers from an area fire department, responded to an injury accident Saturday morning around 11:15am in Montgomery County. According to the Illinois State Police, 42 year-old Kimberly White, of Panama, was traveling eastbound on Long Bridge Trail, near Fox Hunt Trail, when her 1995 Pontiac Grand Am left the roadway for unknown reasons. White lost control, slid sideways, rolled several times and landed in a pond. White was ejected from the vehicle. Divers from the Hillsboro Fire Department responded and searched the vehicle. No other passengers were found.
White was airlifted to St. John's Hospital in Springfield with serious injuries. As of Monday morning, she was still listed in serious condition.
TAOEP COUNSELORS AND RESOURCE OFFICER HIRED AT HIGH SCHOOL
It was announced at the September board meeting, that the Unit 2 School District would be receiving a TAOEP or Truants' Alternative and Optional Education Program grant, totaling almost $93,000. WGEL spoke with Melanie Allyn who said that they have hired two part time counselors for the program…Dawn Mulholland and John Young. Greenville Police Officer Rob Westfall will be the new School Resource Officer, under a partnership with the police department and the district.
The goal of the program is to allow the counselors and the resource officer to examine attendance procedures and work with students who are frequently absent and truant, in the hopes of improving the graduation rate among those students. Allyn also said that a few teachers will be attending special training on a program developed for students, who are behind in credits.
According to a report issued by the state Task Force on Re-Enrolling Students who dropped out of school, the jobless rate for adults who have dropped out of high school is 45%. They are also likely to spend more than twice as many years in poverty, versus those who have a high school diploma.
