FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS
Engagements
Burns ~ Hartley engagement Mr. and Mrs. Scott Burns of Jerseyville and Mr. and Mrs. Bert Hartley, also of Jerseyville, are pleased to announce the engagement and upcoming marriage of their children, Heather Burns and Zach Hartley. The couple are both 2010 graduates of Jersey Community High School. Heather is a senior at Blackburn College and will be graduating in May 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Zach is currently serving as a corpsman in the U.S. Navy. The couple will be wed in May 2014.
Birthday
Anna’s 5th birthday Anna Marie Phillips will be turning 5 years old April 26. She will be honored with a “Frozen” Themed party Saturday and will be celebrating with family and friends. She is the daughter of John and Lindsy Phillips of Jerseyville and has a little brother, Aiden, who is 1. Grandparents are Greg and Lind Burton of Jerseyville, Jane Davies of Alton and Barb Phillips of Elsah. Great-grandparents are Buzz Davis and Ethel Burton, both of Jerseyville.
Births
Jackson Gene Petty Doug and Ashley (Terpening) Petty of Kirksville, Mo., welcome a son, Jackson Gene Petty, 6 lb. 13 oz., 1:39 p.m. April 1, 2014, Northeast Regional Medical Center, Kirksville. Elder sibling is Laine, 2. Grandparents are Ken and Barb Terpening of Jerseyville and Janet Petty of Corydon, Iowa. Greatgrandparents are Warner and Mary Semetis of Englewood, Fla., Jim and Carole Terpening of Carrollton and Brenda Lindsey of De Soto. Cecilia Marie Peters Matthew and Michelle Peters of Jerseyville welcome a daughter, Cecilia Marie Peters, 6 lb. 10 oz., 8:20 p.m. April 6, 2014, Alton Memorial Hospital. Elder sibling is Huckleberry, 3. Grandparents are Gary and Janice Peters of Dow and Michael B. McNamee Sr. of Alton. Kylee Rae Ontis Kevin Ontis and Kara Gill of Nutwood welcome a daughter, Kylee Rae Ontis, 8 lb. 9 oz., 8:52 p.m. April 7, 2014, Alton Memorial Hospital. Elder sibling is Hailee, 4. Grandparents are Ray and Nancy Ontis of Nutwood and John and Shannon Gill of Carrollton. Greatgrandparents are Penny Shafer of Carrollton, Nelda Masiero of Cottage Hills, Richard Talley of Jerseyville and Lawrence “JR” Ontis of Nutwood.
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
JERSEY COUNTY JOURNAL
B1
Jerseyville, Illinois
Illinois schools win No Child Left Behind waiver After pushing for more than two years, Governor Pat Quinn and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has announced that Illinois has won approval from the United States Department of Education for its request for flexibility from parts of the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law to improve the quality of education for Illinois’ schoolchildren. The approved waiver gives Illinois needed flexibility to continue its progress in implementing a comprehensive strategy to improve education in Illinois by closing achievement gaps, supporting our most challenged districts and preparing all students for college, career and beyond. “Today’s approval is a big step forward that will allow Illinois to do what’s best for our kids and improve the quality of education throughout our state,” Governor Quinn said. “In 2011, we enacted landmark educa-
tion reform that made our schools stronger and more accountable. Now, with this federal approval, we will continue to improve the quality of education in Illinois and better prepare our students to be successful in college, career and beyond.” Illinois has moved forward already with many elements of the waiver, including the adoption of college and career ready learning standards in English, language arts and mathematics in the summer of 2010. In 2011, Governor Quinn signed landmark education reforms that strengthened accountability in our schools and training for teachers, administrators and school board members. The historic measure set clear standards for teacher evaluations and prioritized performance above tenure. These reforms represent unprecedented statewide agreement on issues that continue to be unresolved across the nation.
“The best economic tool a state can have is a world-class education system, and that’s why we have been fighting to get this done since day one,” ISBE Chairman Gery Chico said. “Schools across Illinois are already putting in place many elements of our plan for student success and this approval will allow us to fully implement our comprehensive plan to make Illinois’ education system the best in the nation.” The approved waiver also calls for a new state and district accountability system. Illinois will implement a multiple measure system that look at an entire school and district, not simply a test score. In addition, the Illinois accountability system calls for a renewed focus on closing achievement gaps, turning around the lowest-performing schools, building capacity for school improvement and enhanced transparency.
“We still believe that a top priority must be for Congress to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, but short of that, a waiver does allow us to move forward and work with local districts to do what’s best for students,” State Superintendent of Education Christopher A. Koch said. “Despite the delay in our waiver approval, Illinois educators have moved forward with elements of our plan and the commitment to college and career preparedness for all students, including the implementation of new, internationally benchmarked learning standards and 21st century assessments of student learning.” The federal education law has been due for Congressional reauthorization since 2007. In the absence of reauthorization, President Obama announced in September 2011 that the administration would grant waivers from NCLB to qualified states.
WIC celebrates 40 years of strengthening Illinois families The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) is celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), the nation’s public health nutrition program. WIC provides families with the knowledge and skills necessary to make healthful choices, which they can carry with them for a lifetime. “I applaud the WIC program in
their efforts to promote healthy lifestyles and for making a true difference every day in the lives of women, infants and children in Illinois,” said IDHS Secretary Michelle R.B. Saddler. WIC aims to improve the health of low-income women, infants and children by providing supplemental nutritious foods, nutrition education and counseling, breastfeeding promotion and support, health screenings and referrals to eligible
families. Nearly 40 percent of all babies born in Illinois are WIC participants and research shows that WIC has been successful in the reduction of fetal deaths, infant mortality, low birth weight rates, iron deficiency anemia in children and increased immunization rates. In addition, in Illinois, women who participate in the Breastfeeding Peer Counselor program offered by WIC tend to have high-
March unemployment hits five year low 8.4 percent lowest since January 2009 The March unemployment rate fell to 8.4 percent, the lowest level since January 2009, according to data released last week by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Illinois Department of Employment Security. The rate fell despite more people entering the labor force to look for work. As expected, however, the unseasonably cold and snowy weather in March dampened initial estimates for new hiring. Combined with continued job loss at the government level, the state recorded -3,200 fewer jobs than in February but +29,400 more than one year ago. The unemployment rate and job creation numbers can move independently of each other because they come from different surveys. “Today’s drop in the unemployment rate highlights significant progress in our state,” IDES Director Jay Rowell said. “Our monthly numbers will continue to show uneven but measurable progress. Consumer confidence and its
related spending remains a key driver of our economic growth, especially in construction and manufacturing.” Numbers from the independent Conference Board’s Help Wanted OnLine Survey show Illinois employers in March advertised for more than 195,000 jobs and 85 percent sought full-time employment. The Board is a global business membership and research association. The numbers measure new, first-time online jobs and jobs reposted from the previous month on internet job boards, corporate boards and smaller, niche websites. Illinois employers added +257,000 private sector jobs since January 2010 when job growth returned following nearly two years of consecutive monthly declines. Leading sectors are Professional and Business Services (+119,900, +15.3 percent); Education and Health Services (+56,600, +6.9 percent); and Leisure and Hospitality (+40,200, +7.8 per-
cent). Government (-26,500, -3.1 percent) continues to lead job loss. In March 2014, the number of unemployed individuals fell -17,100 (-3.0 percent) to 551,900. Total unemployed has fallen -201,600 (-26.8 percent) since January 2010 when the rate peaked at 11.4 percent. Since January 2010, when compared to the previous month, Illinois recorded job growth in 35 months and job loss in 15. The unemployment rate fell in 25 months, increased in nine and was unchanged in 16. The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and seeking employment. A person who exhausts benefits, or is ineligible, still will be reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seek work. Historically, the national unemployment rate is lower than the state rate. The state rate has been lower than the national rate only six times since January 2000. This includes periods of economic expansion and contraction.
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er rates of breastfeeding initiation (81.2%) and one month duration rates (73%) than those who do not participate in the program (61.4% and 61.3%, respectively). Women who participate in WIC while pregnant also have lower Medicaid costs than those who do not participate. As a result of these outcomes, the health of women, infants and children has been improved, infant mortality has decreased and
Medicaid expenditures have been reduced. Since its beginnings, the WIC program has strived to meet the needs of its participants and has served as a long-standing and important community nutrition program which will continue to serve the needs of its population for years to come. To learn more about the WIC program or to see if you may qualify, please visit www.fns.usda.gov/ wic or at your local WIC office.
THANK YOU
The family of Cora Spencer would like to extend our sincere thanks to all who have shown kindness and support at this most difficult time. Never underestimate the simplest act of sympathy, none go unnoticed. To Larry Alexander and Rev. Sonny Renken for helping us through. Megan Fish and Shannan Church, you took on the larger and hardest tasks for us. Please know how much you are loved and appreciated. Whalen-Hill Post 648 Grafton and the sisterhood of the Ladies Auxiliary, your kindness and generosity will never be forgotten. To John and Penny Morgan and John and Dawn Glover families for opening your hearts and homes to our family, we are eternally grateful. Blessed be to all who gave memorials, they are much needed and appreciated.
Coty, Maddelynn, Abigail, Susie, Tuck, Emily, Brittney, Patrick, and family.
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RABIES & HEARTWORM CLINIC
BRIGHTON Brighton Betsey Ann Fire House April 25, 2014 • 5:30pm - 7:00pm All vaccinations & heartworm prevention available Sponsored by:
Jersey Calhoun Veterinary Hospital 1201 S. State Street, Jerseyville, IL 62052