GREENE PRAIRIE PRESS MARCH 19, 2014 – Vol. 145, No. 12 – Carrollton, Illinois 62016
INSIDE LOCALS
ELECTION 2014
Voter turnout low in Greene County By CARmeN eNSiNGeR Greene Prairie Press
Birthdays, births and more. See page A3
NEWS
Forensic art featured at historical society meeting. See page A4
The lack of any major contested races in Greene County resulted in a dismal turnout at the polls. With 8,642 registered voters in the county, only 1,530 or 17.7 percent of those voters cast their vote in this primary. The only semi-local contested race was that for Democratic candidate for Regional Office of Education for Greene, Jersey, Calhoun and Macoupin counties. Incumbent Larry Pfeiffer defeated his opponent David Schwartz with 64 percent of the vote tallying 298 votes to Schwartz’s 167. There really wasn’t any race for county board as only three Republicans were on the ticket along with two Democrats, and voters could vote for three in either party. On the Republican side, longtime board chairman Joe Nord garnered the top vote with 621 votes to incumbent Alan Graham’s 615 votes. Newcomer Mark Boston brought up the rear with 563 votes. The race in November on the Democratic side could become quite interesting. While there were only two candidates on the ticket – current Bluffdale Trustee Joyce Clark and incumbent Mike Kiger – there will be a third candidate on the ballot in November after John Goode received enough write-in votes to
Carrollton FFA members recognized. See page A8
SPORTS
New spring seasons underway. See page B1
When Greene Gables Inn closed two years ago a lot of people were saddened, but none more so than LuAnn and David Mansfield. In fact, they were so saddened to see the historic home sitting empty that they bought it and for the past few months have worked feverishly to open by the March 22 deadline they have set for themselves. The Mansfields, of White Hall, purchased the home from Jan and Terry Price. While it is not known who originally built the home, it was once owned by Shelly and Hazel Greene, who were quite prominent in White Hall at the time. Jan Price grew up in White Hall and when she and her husband, Terry, moved back to the United States from England, they purchased
the Victorian home and completely restored it inside and out, making it into a bed and breakfast with rooms centered around an English theme. LuAnn Mansfield, who is a kindergarten teacher for the North Greene School District, worked for Jan and Terry cooking for the many events held in the outdoor pavilion. “Jan and I have been friends for a long time – in fact she taught me baton lessons when she was the head twirler at the high school,” LuAnn Mansfield said. “When they moved back to England the place sat empty for two years until she approached David and myself about buying it. It was what we could afford and we both needed something to do when we retire.” LuAnn said they changed very little on the interior. “We did paint three of the rooms, but other than that everything is pret-
after the Mansfield’s own tastes and is painted all red because that is their favorite color; the Nathanial Greene Room is named after the man who Greene County was named for and contains Greene County memorabilia; the Huntsman Room is themed around the various forms of hunting which takes place in Greene County and the Founder’s Room is named for the two families who made the home what it is today – the Greenes and Prices. The Founder’s Room has a story behind it. “We call it the Founder’s Room because we have furniture in there from both the Greene family and from Jan and Terry Price,” LuAnn Mansfield said. “We have things from both the people who made this home what it is.” While the Prices left a few pieces in the home, the majority
of the antiques were taken back to England with them, which meant the Mansfields were challenged with the task of filling the huge home with period pieces to make it authentic. They have spent the past several months going to auctions and scouring antique stores for furniture. “We go to Cox’s Antique Auction every month and we have also bought several pieces from Widow on Windsor in Springfield,” LuAnn Mansfield said. “We have also gone through Three French Hens in Wildwood, Mo., who have helped us pick out the colors in the living room and the furniture.” Some of the furniture has been custom made by Greene Prairie Woodworks to match the vintage interior of the home. The Mansfield’s own bedroom, on the bottom floor, also doubles as an (See, GREEN GABLES, A2)
Cooperative Extension going strong in Greene County By CARmeN eNSiNGeR Greene Prairie Press Greene County Cooperative Extension Youth Development continues to thrive in Greene County according to County Director Aaron Dufelmeier who addressed the Greene County Board on March 12. Dufelmeier said they have been doing some programming with the alternative school in White Hall with some very successful results. “We have been going in and doing some life skill training with them with our ‘Welcome To The Real World’ program, which they thoroughly enjoyed,” he said. Students create a scenario in which they are 24 years old. They are allowed to choose a career and the salary which goes along with that career. They are responsible for paying off stu-
dent loans for college, purchasing a vehicle to get back and forth to work, rent on a home, etc. In other words, they are an adult responsible for everything from their food to a mortgage. They are also taught how to maintain a checkbook and balance it at the end of the month. “We let them live the dream that day – they can be whatever they want to be,” Dufelmeier said. “Some of them pick doctor or attorney because of the high salary but most of them are realistic and choose what they truly want to become.” It’s a reality check for most of the students. “At the end of the day, some of them walk away with a positive account balance, but others don’t,” Dufelmeier said. “It allows us to come back and discuss what choices they might make differently. They realize that some of those things that they at first considered needs
were really just ‘wants.’ All in all, the program went over very well.” The Extension recently implemented a shooting sports component and this program is up and running with its first meeting March 8. So far, 12 boys and nine girls have signed up for the program. “It took Illinois a little while to adopt the shooting component into their program,” Dufelmeier said. “But since they have it has continued to grow.” The Extension has also been doing some customer service training with Boyd Hospital which includes the discussion of the implementation of a leadership academy or program. “We want to know from you if you think it is necessary to move forward with this and how we should move forward,” Dufelmeier said. “Should we gear it more towards the young
professionals or should it be geared toward anyone and everyone? Ideally, we want to maintain good leaders at the local level in those roles like those of you on this board.” Regional Office of Education Superintendent Larry Pfeiffer also addressed the board with news from the ROE. Pfeiffer said in the last four years the ROE has moved every office and school. The latest move involves the ROE main office and Adult Learning Center in Jerseyville, which is moving to 201 West Exchange St. where the ROE sharing space with the University of Illinois Extension, a move Pfeiffer sees as very beneficial. “We are going to be able to collaborate with the Extension more with training and professional development now,” Pfeiffer said. “It is (See, COOPERATIVE, A2)
Carrollton enrollment growing By CARmeN eNSiNGeR Greene Prairie Press
greeneprairiepress .com
Greene Prairie Press Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A6 Court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B6 Local . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A3 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . B7 Our Town . . . . . . . . . . . A10 Public Notice . . . . . . . . . B6 News . . . . . . . . . . . A4, B8 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . B10
Obituaries in this issue: ChurChman, CraftOn, COx, Davis, PrOffer, Wyatt
Submitted photo
Carrollton facility recognized as 'Wastewater Plant of the Year' All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Carmen Ensinger/Greene Prairie Press
A full range of emotions was shown Saturday morning at the AWANA Grand Prix held at the Greenfield First Baptist Church . Braden Roberts throws his arms up in celebration of his win while Naomi Lansaw cringes when she realizes Roberts car has come in ahead of hers .
ty much the same as it was when the Prices were here,” she said. “We did turn what had been Terry’s office in the back into a bridal room which is going to be used for the attendants and bride to have their own room.” They also changed the theme of the rooms. “Jan had them themed around England because they lived there several years,” LuAnn Mansfield said. “We didn’t know anything about England, but we know a lot about Greene County and Illinois history so that is what we have our rooms themed as.” The six bedrooms each have a different theme. The Garden View Room is in the back of the house and overlooks the pool and gardens; the Lincoln Room contains a variety of Abraham Lincoln memorabilia, including a replica of his token top hat; the Mansfield Room is patterned
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THE THRILL OF VICTORY...THE AGONY OF DEFEAT
Greene Gables Inn reopens in White Hall By CARmeN eNSiNGeR Greene Prairie Press
SCHOOL
earn a spot on the ballot. “While it won’t show up on any of the lists generated by the computer, he did receive more than enough write-in votes to be put on the ballot in November,” Greene County Clerk Deborah Banghart said. Goode, who is currently serving as Greenfield’s Chief of Police, needed only seven write-in votes to earn a place on the ballot in November. In the Congressional race, Republican Rodney Davis handily defeated opponents Erika Harold and Michael Firsching garnering 632 votes to their 233 and 32, respectively. On the Democratic side, Ann Callis defeated opponents David Greene and George Gollin pulling in 271 votes to their 105 and 94, respectively. In the Republican race for Governor and Lt. Governor, Kirk Dillard and Jil Tracy led the voting with 44.5 percent of the vote. It was very close on the Democrat side with Tio Hardiman and Brunell Donald racking up five more votes than incumbent Pat Quinn and Paul Vallas, 236 to 231. In the race for US Senator on the Republican side, James Oberweis handily defeated Douglas Truax 515 to 267. Greene County native Josh Evans ran unopposed on the Democratic ticket for District (See, ELECTION, A2)
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The illinois Rural Water Association, the state's largest rural utility association, designated the city of Carrollton as Wastewater Plant of the Year at the 32nd Annual Technical Conference in effingham on Feb . 18 . This award is given to a plant dedicated to managing its wastewater plant to the highest of standards in appearance, record keeping, compliance and consistency of operations . Left to right: Alderwoman Sharon Butler, Plant Operator David Steinacher, Plant Supervisor Jeff Reif, Alderman Dewain Freand and Alderman Wayne Cunningham .
Reports of declining enrollment in the Carrollton School District are proving to be somewhat erroneous after the district submitted its latest Average Daily Attendance report to the state. Superintendent Dr. Kerry Cox reported at the Carrollton School Board meeting on Monday, March 17 that the Average Daily Attendance is up 3.65 students over this same time last year. Seven more students were enrolled that same day, and a total of 17 students have been added since March 1. “We are definitely going in the right direction,” Dr. Cox said. “We like to see it going in this direction and it will help increase our General State Aid (GSA) a bit.” The district has been the recipient of several grants. The ag program recently received a $3,000 Rural Youth Development grant through the National FFA organization which will be used to fund the aquaponics system for the greenhouse. The ag program also received a $1,400 Supervised Agricultural Experience mini grant from University of Illinois to purchase online record books for students’ STEM projects. The Driver’s Ed program received a $2,000 grant for the Operation Teen Safe Driving Program. Funding will be used to purchase automotive safety kits and incentives for students to enhance their awareness of safe driving and emergency preparedness. C
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Dr. Cox thanked the teachers of these programs, Christie Joehl and Nick Flowers, for obtaining these grants for the district. “These grants take time to write and submit and we appreciate the staff members for looking for them and for using those funds to enhance our programs here in the district,” Dr. Cox said. Faced with an aging bus fleet that has been having numerous breakdowns this winter, the district looked into purchase and lease options, submitting for bids from three different companies. Two of those companies, Midwest Transit and Midwest Bus Sales, met with board members with their proposals. The district decided to lease buses instead of purchasing them outright. “When we started looking at the lease versus purchase option, you are not coming out ahead by buying them outright,” Board Member Chad Craig said. “By leasing them we know we are going to get brand new equipment every three years and any large maintenance is going to be taken care of by the company. It’s really hard to make any sort of argument to own them – we are going to be money ahead by leasing them.” The district was looking to replace five buses which have begun to cost the district a great deal of money in maintenance. “We are starting to spend more money this year in maintenance fees in the last two or three years,” Board Member Rodney Reif pointed out. (See, CARROLLTON, A2)