5-29-2007

SOME OFFICES IN THE BOND COUNTY COURTHOUSE ARE BEING MOVED

The Regional Superintendent of Schools office in the Bond County Courthouse is going to be moved in the near future to the Goggin Building on North Second Street. This is being done to free up space needed for the court system. In June, Judge Keith Jensen will be in Bond County three days a week and there is a need for judge chambers or a court reporter office, as well as conference areas for attorney’s and their clients.

The renovations to the Gogging building is hoped to be completed by June 1st, and will be paid for by the courts operation fund under the direction of Judge John Knight.

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SCIGA IS NOW MEMBER OF WORLD ECONOMIC ALLIANCE

The South Central Illinois Growth Alliance has voted to become a member of the World Economic Development Alliance. SCIGA Director Art Borum says that the Alliance will provide additional resources in reaching potential companies to locate in the five-county region. SCIGA members also heard from Fred Walker who is the Executive Director of the South Central Illinois Regional Planning and Development Corporation. He highlighted potential economic opportunities being developed in the region.

Drummond Company, Inc. and its partners are considering the development of a coal mine and coal to liquid facility within an 11-county region in South Central Illinois that includes Fayette and Marion counties. If the project gets started, it could create thousands of jobs in the region.

ADDRESS DISPLAY GUIDELINES BEING SENT TO RESIDENTS IN MAIL

Bond County residents will be receiving their tax bills in the mail in the next few weeks and included in the notice will be a letter pertaining to their addresses. Under a county ordinance, residents must have their address numbers posted in a location that is visible from the road. The numbers must be 4" tall.

According to 911 Coordinator, Alan Davis, displaying your numerical address this way can help emergency personnel identify the correct house when responding to a scene. He recommends placing the numbers on a mailbox or post if your house is set far off the road. He also said that it's helpful to have numbers on each side of the mailbox so that your address can be easily identified from both directions.

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METRO EAST APRIL UNEMPLOYMENT RATES LOWEST SINCE 2001

The Illinois Section of the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area shows a drop in the unemployment rate for April 2007 to 4.9%, down from 5.1% last year. In Bond County the rate was 4.8%, down from 5.0% one year ago, with Clinton County at 3.9%, down from 4.2% in April 2006. Madison County dropped slightly from 4.9% this time last year to 4.8% currently.

April's over-the-year payroll gains included Educational and Health Services, Wholesale Trade and Financial Activities.

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ACCIDENT WITH INJURIES ON MILLERSBURG ROAD

The Bond County Sheriff’s Department responded to an accident with injuries early Saturday morning around 3:00am on Millersburg Road and Airport Ave. According to the report, 22 year-old Patrick D. Kelley, of Greenville, was driving northbound on Millersburg Ave when he allegedly lost control on the ‘S’ curves and traveled through the south curve and onto private property. His 2006 Ford truck struck several trees, causing the vehicle to turnover, totaling the vehicle. Kelley was taken to Greenville Regional Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.