OPINION: JCUSD 100 board making tough decision: Page A4 NEWS: New arrivals in 2013: Page A5
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JERSEY COUNTY
JERSEYVILLE, IL 62052
INSIDE NEWS
JCH welcomes first baby of the year. See page A3
FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS
Mya's 1st birthday. See page A5
NEWS
SPORTS
School board reviews five-year plan for financial solvency
FREEZING
AND FLAKING
Bob CROSSEN Jersey County Journal The Jersey Community Unit School District 100 board reviewed a five-year plan meant to recover the district’s finances while also reducing its deficit. Superintendent Lori Hopkins presented the proposal during a special board meeting Jan. 6, which around 15 visitors attended along with the full board. “This is not the plan that is extremely egregious when we’re talking about 40 to 44 kids in a classroom. This is the plan that is not in the best interest of kids, but is doable,” Hopkins said. The proposal, which will go before the board during its next regular meeting Jan. 15, would require the district to purchase $5 million in working cash bonds that would be used over the course of five years. Since 2002, the district
“This is not the plan that is extremely egregious when we’re talking about 40 to 44 kids in a classroom. This is the plan that is not in the best interest of kids, but is doable.” JCUSD Superintendent has cut 71 employees from the district, and also closed three outlying schools – Delhi, Fieldon and Dow elementary schools. The students were consolidated into buildings in Grafton and Jerseyville, and the move saved the district more than $1 million. But due to state cuts to school funding in Illinois, the district was unable to capitalize on the savings. Proposed cuts and savings The first year of the proposal would reduce district expenditures by $1.3 million, cutting roughly 24 employees of the district. Up to seven of those employees would retire and the district would absorb the positions. (See, board, a2)
Robert Lyons/Jersey County Jounral
A cloud of snow blows from Josh Tonsor's shovel Monday morning as he clears out the driveway at his Jerseyville residence. Several inches of snow fell on the county Sunday, followed by temperatures below zero on Monday.
WEATHER
Snow, cold hamper daily routines in county by this commissioner,” Jerseyville street commissioner Andy Macias said. “We, the street department, appreciate everyone’s patience with getting their streets plowed, it does take time.” Jersey County Sheriff Mark Kallal said his office had responded to 13 reports of vehicles stuck or slid off the road between 6 a.m. Sunday and 9 a.m. Monday. He said one of his department’s vehicles got stuck while trying to help free another motorist. Kallal said people should stay off the roads when the weather gets as bad as it got early this week. “People, regardless of what the weather’s doing or what they’re told, they’re going to get out and try it,” the sheriff said. “With the temperatures going down, our concern is hypothermia.”
By ROBERT LYONS Jersey County Journal Several inches of snow followed by intense cold caused major disruptions to start the week. Schools, businesses, traffic and even the Jerseyville Post Office were hampered by the inclement weather. According to weather.com, Jerseyville received just less than seven inches of snow Sunday, which was followed by subzero temperatures on Monday. City, township and state snow removal crews were busy beginning early Sunday through at least Tuesday removing snow from the roads. “In addition to the street department, the water and sewer, and parks and recreation departments also assist in all snow removal needs for the city and it is greatly appreciated
Panthers eyeing MVC success.
The Jerseyville Post Office was open Monday, but did not deliver mail because it did not arrive on the truck from St. Louis, according to post office supervisor Pam Kirby who has been with USPS for 18 years. “That was a first for me,” Kirby said. “Everything’s back to normal now, but our truck was still late [Tuesday].” Kirby said rural route customers must clear the area around their mailbox before normal delivery will resume. Jerseyville Police Chief Brad Blackorby said the conditions did not result in much extra work for his officers. “Everyone is being halfway safe, I think,” Blackorby said. Still, slick roads covered in ice and snow (See, cold, a2)
Goetten plans on getting to the bottom of leaked letter
See page C8
ONLINE
By ROBERT LYONS Jersey County Journal Jersey County’s state’s attorney plans to investigate for as long as it takes to determine the source of a confidential letter leaked to the public. A letter from the county’s workman’s compensation and liability insurance provider containing confidential information related to current and former county employees has found its way to members of the public. State’s Attorney Ben Goetten said the letter had to have been leaked by a county board member,
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TOP STORIES ONLINE Week of Jan. 1 - 7
1) County website coming along, may debut in about a month 2) TreeHouse receives another injured bobcat 3) Jersey repeats as Classic champion 4) Southwestern second, Lady Panthers fight hard at JCHS tourney 5) Man dies in Fieldon tractor rollover
as no one else had access to it. “When the chairman makes it clear that this information was to remain confidential, and a board member completely ignores that request, it creates an environment of distrust,” Goetten said. “Whoever was responsible for the release of the letter obviously has zero concern about the financial wellbeing of our county and is more interested in serving their own agenda.” The distrust caused by the leak, according to Goetten, exists among board members and from the public. (See, letter, a2)
Concealed carry applications rolling in to Illinois State Police
INDEX Court. . . . . . . . . . . . . B2 News . . . . . . . . . A2, A3, B2 Obituaries . . . . . . . . C2 Editorial . . . . . . . . . . A4 Our Town . . . . . . . . . A6 Public Notice . . . . . . D1 Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . C6 OBITUARIES:
CARRICO, GILLILEND, KOCHANSKI, MOHR, PHILLIPS, SCOGGINS, SIMPKINS, STREET, SYNDER, YAEGER.
jerseycountyjournal .com Michael R. Weaver/Jersey County Journal
© 2014 Jersey County Journal
VOL. 12, NO. 2 - 75¢
JANUARY 8, 2014
Lori Hopkins Scheffel and Co. merges with J.W. Boyle. See page B2
JOURNAL
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Balloons fall over a packed Mulligan's West Wednesday morning as partygoers celebrate the New Year in Jerseyville. michaelrweaver.com C
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BY ROBERT LYONS Jersey County Journal More than 4,000 online applications for a concealed carry permit were received by Illinois State Police in the first 24 hours of availability, including 33 in Jersey County. The online application system went live to the public on Sunday and saw an onslaught of activity. Local sheriffs are being kept in the loop as to which of their county’s residents are applying for the right to carry a firearm. Concealed carry gives permitted individuals the right to carry a loaded firearm in public. Jersey County Sheriff Mark Kallal welcomes the right for citizens to carry a gun, but said that right comes with accountability. “They’re taking on a big responsibility by carrying one,” Kallal said. “You need to realize that guns are for one thing and one thing only, and that’s to save your life.” Bob Jones, a certified concealed carry instructor in Jerseyville, has been training individuals since October. As of the
beginning of January, 60 participants – including two from Greene County and one from Calhoun County – had taken and passed his classes. He said he’s had a mixed bag of participants varying between ex-military and private individuals. “I’ve had two women who are worried about their personal safety because
“There may be a few snafus, but I think for the most part [the ISP] have done their best to cover all the bases.”
Mark Kallal Jersey County Sheriff
of where they go to work,” Jones said. “They want to carry a gun with them just in case, because they’ve been confronted before.” (See, aPPlicationS, a2)