GREENVILLE SCHOOL BUS INVOLVED IN MINOR ACCIDENT
A Greenville School Bus was involved in a minor accident Tuesday morning, about 7:45 am, as it was picking up students. According to the Bond County Sheriff's Deputy who responded, the accident happened at 802 RC Cardinal Lane. An S-10 pick-up truck, driven by Kayla Hays of Greenville, was backing from a private drive when the truck struck the stop arm of the bus. Bus driver Kent Kesner, saw the truck in time to stop the bus so only the stop arm received damage. There was also minor damage to the rear of the truck. No students on the bus or any other people involved, were injured.
911 PAGING SYSTEM GRANT UPDATE
At the 911 Emergency Telephone Service Board (ETSB) meeting last Thursday, Director Alan Davis, informed the board of the need for improving communications among emergency services in Bond County. Federal grant funds, of about a billion dollars, are available to assist with purchase and maintenance of equipment, and Illinois should receive about 46 million dollars of this amount. According to Davis, individual jurisdictions will not receive grant funding. Only regional grants will be allowed. As a result, Bond County is working with at least two surrounding counties in writing and submitting this grant proposal.
Davis also told the board of tests he and others have been doing with radios from Motorola using the STARCOM system. He recommends using STARCOM for all emergency paging in the county combining fire and EMS paging systems. All paging would then be done from the same tower, on the Red Ball Trail, using one frequency.
WGEL spoke with Alan Davis, Tuesday, concerning the status of the grant application. He said the grant is in the process of being written. It should be ready to submit in a month or two, with notification, of which regions will receive funding, anticipated by the end of the year. Funds should be released after the first of the year, 2008.
MULBERRY GROVE VILLAGE BOARD MEETING
At its meeting Monday evening, the Mulberry Grove Village Board welcomed John Goldsmith from the National Road Association. The village is getting a sign, identifying Mulberry Grove as a National Road Association Member. At their September meeting, the board will complete contractual agreements with the National Road Association for the erection of a 3-panel kiosk, displaying information about the village. The location of the kiosk and the installation date will be decided at a later meeting.
Mayor Jana Willis, reported that the rough draft of the liquor ordinance, written by the board and mayor in special session, was reviewed by a representative of the Illinois Liquor Commission who recommended changes to the draft. A re-worded draft of the ordinance should be ready for consideration at the September meeting.
The board approved a request for the installation of a "Slow - Children Playing" sign at the corner of Church Street and Banks Lane.
KASKASKIA COLLEGE BOARD MEETS
The Kaskaskia College Board of Trustees met Thursday, August 16, for their regular monthly meeting. Interim Dean of Instructional Services Tim Hood, reported that a committee has been established to stabilize and maintain the unprecedented enrollment growth at Kaskaskia College over the past six years. Better services and academic support are planned for current students, developmental students, high school students, the business and industrial workforce, and adult learners. Programs are also being offered which provide more opportunities for working adults to complete KC degrees at their work sites.
Four industrial plants; one in Salem, two in Greenville, and one in Vandalia, are currently involved and several more companies are eager to participate in this new initiative. Donations of automobiles, an engine, and an engine cradle were gratefully received for the Automotive Technology Program. Naming rights for rooms and other areas in the new Sports and Wellness Complex, tuition and fees for the Truck Driving Program, and the tentative budget for 2007-2008 school year were all approved.
