GREENVILLE COUNCILMAN BOYD RESIGNS POSITION
Greenville City Councilman, Will Boyd, resigned his position at this week’s meeting. Boyd said his resignation was necessary as his family is moving to Alabama to be closer to family members. WGEL spoke with Boyd about his resignation and his time in Greenville who said he enjoyed serving the community and will always have fond memories of Greenville as it was the starting point of his political service in Illinois. Boyd said they have parents who have reached retirement age and they want their children to be able to spend some quality time with them. Boyd thanked the community for the opportunity to sit with them, have coffee, eat lunch and talk about some of the issues facing the city and look at the vision for the future. Boyd concluded by wishing God’s blessings on the great city of Greenville. Boyd’s resignation will be effective August 1 or at a time deemed convenient for the council. The city council will appoint someone to the position within the next 60 days and that person will serve until the next municipal election in March 2013.
SENATOR MCCARTER SEEKS ELECTION IN 54TH SENATE DISTRICT
State Senator Kyle McCarter, a business owner and Republican lawmaker from Lebanon, is seeking election in the newly drawn 54th Senate District which includes all or parts of eight counties stretching from Effingham to O’Fallon. McCarter encourages you to get involved in the upcoming election because the stakes are far too high to sit on the guidelines. McCarter said, “There is hope for Illinois but it takes each and every one of us to get involved. You won’t get the responsible government you desire if you leave the work up to someone else.” To learn more about Senator McCarter and his plans to reform Illinois government, call 618-402-3363.
BOND COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH WELCOMES NEW MEMBER AND DISCUSSES LOSS OF GRANT MONEY
At the recent Bond County Board of Health meeting, the board welcomed new board member, Dr. Bill Ahern.
Dr. Ahern served as Professor Emeritus of Biology at Greenville College from 1966 until his retirement in 2008. Ahern received Bachelors and Masters degrees in Kansas and his D. A. degree from the University of Northern Colorado.
Much of the meeting was spent on preliminary budget numbers for fiscal year 2012. Several grant funds regularly received by the Health Department are being decreased by the state. Reduced grants include a 9% reduction in Family Case Management, a 3% reduction in Family Planning, a 28% decrease in Vision and Hearing, a 9.5% reduction in Substance Abuse, and a 40% decrease in Mental Health.
The loss of the grant money will present a challenge to the board as it strives to maintain services in spite of the grant cuts. The budget is to be completed by November, in time for the new year.
All local tests for West Nile virus have been negative but the first positive tests in the state were recorded in northern Illinois in late June.
