WINTER STORM WARNING

A winter storm warning has been issued for the Metro East area from 6PM Wednesday night to 6PM on Thursday night.  Temperatures are expected to be in the single digits Wednesday and Thursday night with wind chills 10 to 20 degrees below zero.  Snow is expected to start falling tonight with a possible 3-5 inches of accumulation.  An additional inch or two of snow is expected to fall on Thursday.  While the snow should stop on Thursday the temperatures will still be extremely low through the weekend.  Tune to WGEL Radio 101.7FM for the latest weather forecast.   

VILLAGE OF SMITHBORO MEETING

Smithboro Board members got out in the cold weather Monday night for their regular monthly meeting. Old business items included the sale of the sewer jet. It was sold for $25,000 and after expenses for repairs and miscellaneous the remaining $23,000 will be sent to Rural Development to go on the $168,000 bond. Mayor Kennedy announced that this would help knock down the interest and payments for the bond. She would get the new amortization and pass the information on when it was available. This was the agreement made before selling the sewer jet. John Kirsch reported that the termite problem would have to be dealt with in the spring. The building had previously been treated and if it needed more treatments it would cost around $800 but that any activity should be captured and analyzed before treating again. Mayor Kennedy concluded the meeting with information from a seminar she attended. She stated that the state law requires all public bodies to now have an information officer and an open meeting officer. These positions would require online training. Mayor Kennedy will be the open meeting officer and Sue Kirsch will fill the position of information officer.

FIRST BABY OF THE NEW YEAR AT ST. JOSEPHS IN BREESE

A new local celebrity was born recently. Addison Jolene Barriger made her first appearance on New Years day, at 1:01 p.m., at St. Joseph's Hospital in Breese and thus became the first baby born at the hospital in 2010. The proud parents are Anne Wuebbles and Erik Barriger of Germantown. Addison weighed 8 pounds and 4 ounces. In recognition of having the first baby of 2010, the parents received a multitude of gifts from area organizations and businesses including savings bonds, gift certificates a photo package and a stuffed teddy bear.