OPINION: Humane Society needs saving: Page A4 NEWS: Fire departments receive equipment grants: Page A2
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JERSEY COUNTY
JERSEYVILLE, IL 62052
JOURNAL VOL. 12, NO. 10 - 75¢
MARCH 5, 2014
Waning funds endanger Riverbend Humane Society SPRING fORWARD ThIS WEEKEND
INSIDE NEWS
By BOB CROSSEN Jersey County Journal The harsh winter has strained the pockets of many trying to heat their homes, but it may be the final straw for the Riverbend Humane Society which is struggling to pay for utilities. Started in 2006, the local chapter of the society takes in abandoned and abused animals in hopes of finding them an adoptive home, but funding has fallen short and the humane society is looking at closing its doors. Heating the facility has become a massive financial burden because propane prices have risen due to a shortage around the U.S. The most recent bill, Bill Stuart, Riverbend Humane Society director, said was around
$3,500 for a month. “I probably won’t be able to keep it open for more than a month if I don’t get some help from the public for the utilities and stuff,” Bill Stuart, Riverbend Humane Society director, he said. Stuart said he worked with the Humane Society in Alton for many years before noticing a need for a shelter in Jerseyville. “At the time when we were bringing it up, everything was good. Funding was good,” Stuart said. “About a year-and-a-half after we purchased the property and everything, it’s kind of when the bottom fell out of everything.” He said the floundering stock market hit its two major funders and the money began to become tight, even with all employees at the
“I probably won’t be able to keep it open for more than a month if I don’t get some help from the public for the utilities and stuff.”
Bill Stuart Riverbend Humane Society director shelter working on a volunteer basis. The no-kill animal shelter, located at 23402 Crystal Lake Road in Jerseyville, is still home to around 30 cats and 40 dogs seeking own-
ers for adoption. Stuart said he’ll work with surrounding humane societies so the animals aren’t sent to kill shelters. He said the shelter has seen reductions in funding from its major contributors, noting every individual who works at the shelter is a volunteer worker, including himself. He said the shelter accepts donations of any kind, but noted monetary donations are needed to keep the shelter open until warmer weather when it can hold its fundraisers. The nearest fundraiser is March 15 at TriCounty Bowl in Jerseyville where proceeds will benefit the Macoupin County Adoption Center as well as the Riverbend Humane Society. (See, RiveRbend, A2)
JERSEYVILLE
Council leaves federal loan motion hanging
Freedom fighter speaks at Principia. See page A3
FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS
Local Boy Scouts hold Arrow of Light Crossover ceremony. See page A7
SPORTS
Robert Lyons/Jersey County Journal
ONE
INJURED, AIRLIFTED AFTER
See page C8
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1) One driver injured, airlifted after Thursday crash 2) History made: Critchfield fourth at state tournament 3) Steckel sets career assist record as Panthers approach postseason 4) TV show features Jerseyville officer’s commentary 5) Board names ball diamond after Schell
INDEX Court. . . . . . . . . . . . . D4 News A2, A3, A6,B4,C2,D3 Obituaries . . . . . . . . B1 Editorial . . . . . . . . . . A4 Our Town . . . . . . . . . B2 Public Notice . . . D1,D4 Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . C8 OBITUARIES:
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CRASH
Emergency personnel work the scene of an accident Thursday, feb. 27, involving a tractor trailer and passenger vehicle on U.S. 67 at Stagecoach Road. The driver of the car – a 2007 Lexus – was not wearing a seat belt and sustained serious injuries. The car's driver, later identified as Ralph h. Baahlman, Jr., was transported to Jerseyville and then airlifted by an ARCh helicopter to a Barnes Jewish hospital. According to a crash report issued by the Illinois State Police, the driver of the Lexus crossed the center line while traveling south on the highway and crashed into the northbound 1996 Peterbuilt semi. The driver of the tractor trailer was not injured. Baahlman was charged with improper lane usage and failure to wear a seat belt.
ELECTION 2014
Panthers playing for regional title
U.S. 67
County board seat contested in primary By BOB CROSSEN Jersey County Journal Jersey County residents will decide which names they will see on the November ballot during the March 18 primary election. After the general election in November 2012, county board members drew pingpong balls out of a hat to determine the length of their terms. In District 1, Democrat Donna Moore’s term will come to an end during the upcoming general election. She is not seeking re-election. The race for Moore’s seat is highly contested on both sides of the aisle with Jarrod Hayes and Kenny Grizzle representing the Republican side while Don Walsh Jr. and Wayne Schell represent the Democratic ticket. Only one member from each party will make it to the November ballot. Incumbent John Houseman in District 2 is seeking re-election in an uncontested primary. He will square off against Sandy Hefner, former board member, in November for a seat on the board. Incumbents Rhonda Linders and Gary Hayes representing District 3 are up for re-election, as well, for county board seats. Former county board member Ron Henerfouth is also seeking a seat. Those voting on a Republican ticket in the primary may vote for both Linders and Henerfouth. Gary Koenig and Ed Koenig who represent District 4 on the county board are also up for re-election. Former board member Don Little is also running for the office, and voters
on the Democratic ticket may vote for both Gary Koenig and Little. The only other contested primary race for the county falls in the Republican camp for county sheriff. J.T. “Terry” Day and Ray Sinclair will battle for votes to achieve a slot on the ballot in November. Sheriff Mark Kallal will be the Democratic opponent later this year. As for state office holders, the gubernatorial race in the primary is the largest Republican contest on the primary ballot. Bill Brady and running mate Maria Rodriguez, Dan Rutherford and running mate Steve Kim, Kirk W. Dillard and running mate Jil Tracy, and Bruce Rauner along with running mate Evelyn Sanguinetti are all running on the Republican ticket. On the Democratic ticket for governor, incumbent Pat Quinn and his running mate Paul Vallas square off with Tio Hardiman and Brunell Donald for a spot on the November ballot. For U.S. Senator, two Republicans are fighting to get their name on the November ballot in James D. “Jim” Oberweis and Douglas Lee Truax. Dick Durbin is running uncontested on the Democratic ticket in the primary. Running for U.S. Representative are six individuals split evenly into contests for both parties. In the contested Democratic primary race, Ann E. Callis, George Gollin and David L. Green battle for a future in November. Incumbent Rodney Davis sees his chances contested by Michael Firsching and Erika Harold who are looking to take his (See, election, A2)
3-on-3 tournament to support D.A.R.E. back for sixth year By ROBERT LYONS Jersey County Journal Heading into its sixth year, organizers of the D.A.R.E. 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament see no reason to mess with success. The tournament will take place March 16 at Jersey Community High School, beginning at noon, and is open to boys, girls, men and women with divisions for sixth grade up to adults. “Our first five years have been great,” D.A.R.E. officer Sgt. Scott Woelfel, of the Jerseyville Police Department, said. “We had about 50 teams last year, and we’re hoping for that many again this year.”
“Our first five years have been great. We had about 50 teams last year, and we’re hoping for that many again this year.”
Sgt. Scott Woelfel D.A.R.E. officer He said the tournament has grown to attract teams from places like Triad, (See, touRnAment, A2)
By BOB CROSSEN Jersey County Journal A motion to apply for a federal loan was left hanging on the floor during the Jerseyville City Council meeting Tuesday after no other council members seconded the motion. Streets and public improvements commissioner Andy Macias made the motion to apply for a loan of up to $1.6 million, which would be used to build a street department building – referred to as the street shed – on West Fairgrounds Avenue in Jerseyville. During that same meeting March 4, Mayor Richard Perdun said he would not vote in favor of the loan proposal as it stands. “$1.6 million for a street shed is too much money whether it’s one year or 40 years” Perdun said. “I’m not going to be in favor of spending that much of the taxpayers’ money for a shed. … There’s no shed worth $1.6 million.” Macias iterated that the application creates no obligation for the city to accept the loan, nor would the city be required to pay any money during this part of the three-tier application process. The streets and public improvements commissioner noted the loan has a 40-year term with low interest and annual payments between $90,000 and $100,000 throughout the loan’s lifetime. “It’s free to check into this for low interest for a 40-year loan. No cost to the city whatsoever,” Macias said. Bob Manns, Heneghan and Associates president, said the application process alone could take six to nine months to complete, and in an ideal world, he said construction would be complete after six months, at which point the first payment would be due. Finance commissioner Yvonne Hartmann worried about the city affording the loan, noting it may be best to hold off on applying for it. “We have to get through at least a year because we’ve got other obligations we’ve got to take care of first,” Hartmann said. Tying into Hartmann’s opinion was the proposed project at the intersection of County Road and Highway 109, a nearly a $1 million project for which the city has acquired a matching grant. Manns said early estimates indicate the city will be liable to pay for half of the project with the other half coming from federal grant money. (See, council, A2)
Bob Crossen/Jersey County Journal
THE
RIGHT OF PASSAGE
Grace Myers feeds 11-month-old Mason Custer his first taste of McCarry's Dairyland ice cream on the business' spring opening day feb. 28. People, many of whom were students from Illini Middle School, crowded the ice cream shop's front window for their first taste of ice cream in 2014, while a line of cars ran into the 2nd Time Around Consignment Shop parking lot. C
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