CURRENT RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER
OPINION: It’s 4 a.m., the birds are singing: Page A4 NEWS: Jersey County admin building re-opening soon: Page A6
PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE
PAID Jerseyville, IL PERMIT NO. 204
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
P.O. Box 407 Jerseyville, IL 62052
JERSEY COUNTY
JERSEYVILLE, IL 62052
INSIDE NEWS Jerseyville library expansion future looks more clear. See page B2
Bringing back the music. See page B2
FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS
Hurleys celebrate 60 years. See page A6
WEEKEND WEATHER FRIDAY, JUNE 26
93 72 High
Low
SATURDAY, JUNE 27
85 70 High
Low
SUNDAY, JUNE 28
87 72 High
Low
ONLINE Visit us on the web at
jerseycountyjournal.com
TOP STORIES ONLINE June 17 - 24 1. BLM, counter protestors flood Jersey courthouse corner 2. Group of faithful pray for peace ahead of protest 3. Helping Hands, Angel Ministries help Sonshine Kids reopen 4. Duck Draws canceled this year
INDEX Opinion . . . . . . . . . . .A4 News . . . . . . A2, A5-6, B2 Obituaries . . . . . . . . .A3, A5 School. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A5 Court. . . . . . . . . . . .B2, B4-5 Public Notice. . . . . . . . .B4 OBITUARIES: DARR, KLUNK, MARSHALL, MCADAMS, MCDONALD, MUNSTERMAN, PEARSON, RAY. JERSEY COUNTY
JOURNAL
© 2020 All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
JUNE 24, 2020
JOURNAL VOL. 18, NO. 26 - 75¢
Some Jersey fireworks still a go for launch By JARAD JARMON Jersey County Journal It appears many of the major summertime events people look forward to each year are getting canceled one by one because of COVID-19, or more specifically, COVID-19 related guidelines. One area though that has been less impacted by this virus is that of the Fourth of July festivities — namely the fireworks. Certainly, some area fireworks celebrations have been canceled. The firework shows and associated events in Greenfield, White Hall, Fieldon, Alton, Godfrey and Brighton are among others that will not be happening this year. But, others are still a-go for launch, such as the that of the Grafton and Jerseyville fireworks. In Grafton, Mayor Rick Eberlin has been adamant the fireworks will happen July 2. “I have been receiving a lot of inquires in regard to fireworks,” Rick Eberlin said. “We still plan on going forward with July 2.” Eberlin believes the guidelines can still be adhered to without having to cancel the event, pointing to years past. Oftentimes, he said, people are watching from their cars or the beds of their trucks. “I don’t see a real issue with this, so we are going forward,” Eberlin said. “I think this town needs it. I think that the region needs it, and I don’t see anything that would stop us from going forward.” The Grafton Riverfront sky will light up with fireworks at dusk, July 2. This year, the
“I think this town needs it. I think that the region needs it, and I don’t see anything that would stop us from going forward.”
Rick Eberlin Grafton Mayor roughly half-an-hour worth of fireworks will be launched west of the ball diamond near canal street. The mayor noted there is plenty of space around the area to accommodate those coming to see the fireworks. Eberlin said you will be able to see the fireworks from various spots in town. This will be the first year fireworks will be greeted by one of the largest American Flags on the Mississippi River. Just two days later, another fireworks display will be put on, this time in Jerseyville. The Jerseyville Parks and Recreation Department made the announcement that there would be fireworks, as is the case annually, at the Jersey County Fairgrounds on the north end of the city. More specifically, the fireworks will launch at dark on the Fourth of July near the American Legion at 300 Veterans Memorial Parkway. In accordance with the current State of Illinois guidelines, the parks and recreation depart(See, FIREWORKS, A2)
Meagan McGlasson/Jersey County Journal
The marquee at Stadium Theater has changed after months of inactivity. Stadium Theater is set to start showing movies Friday.
Jersey entertainment, activites re-open as restrictions lift By JARAD JARMON Jersey County Journal Certainly, it is the case that among the many summertime activities Jersey residents have come accustomed to, many have been halted or outright canceled — namely the Jersey County Fair — in relation to the COVID-19. This does not mean all of them were canceled, though, and some, with the relief of loosening restrictions, have found creative means of organizing these events to ensure locals do not miss out on the summer fun. Across the county, specifically in Grafton and Jerseyville, people have been working with the health department to bring back those events that locals associate with the sun and break from school. The state is expected to transition into Phase 4 of Gov. JB Pritzker’s Restore Illinois Plan June 26, and
Terrapin Pizza plans slow, steady opening By MEAGAN MCGLASSON Jersey County Journal The name Terrapin Pizza is one that’s been floating around the county for some time. Now, five years into the venture, owners are hoping that their “slow and steady” namesake will bring them success when they are finally able to open this fall. The part-owner and face behind the restaurant, Rick Edwards, is the first to admit that he’s a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to this project. “I was always told by my grandfather, ‘How come there’s always time to do it a second time, but not time to do it right the first time?’” Edwards said. “I always had this thing that I had to do it right.” Perhaps nowhere in the business is that attitude more evident than the massive wood-fire pizza oven, which Edwards bought online — after vetting a handful of companies that couldn’t help him achieve his vision — and then added more than 1,000 lbs. of mortar himself until he achieved the turtle shell shape he envisioned. “Was this way harder than just going online buying one? You dang betcha!” he said. “It’s definitely different than most… but the idea was to give people something to look at when they came in that represented everything we’re working for.” That attitude has been both a blessing and a hurdle for the project, which goes far beyond the pizza parlor. In fact, it has spread to more or less an entire rehab of the historic buildings making up Terrapin Place, including the pizza parlor at 101 S. State St., the bar and coffee shop in the building adjacent at 104 E. Pearl, an outdoor patio and the apartments above. While the project is putting a new face on old spaces, according to Edwards, it has also exposed the history of the buildings in the process. It’s apparent that the excitement of rediscovering the buildings’ history has been a huge motivation in rehabbing and designing the space. “How neat are these?” Edwards asked, showing off a small bucket of
Meagan McGlasson/Jersey County Journal
Rick Edwards, owner of Terrapin Place, which includes a pizza parlor at 101 S. State St., a coffee shop and bar at 104 E. Pearl, a patio area and the apartments on the upper levels, cuts a pizza baked in his custom built wood-fired pizza oven.
bottles and glass fragments dug up at the site. Some, including an original Ware Druggist bottle, date back to the late 1800s. The Ware Drug Store was in operation from 1859 to 1872. In the same room as the bottle fragments, the exposed brick is dyed black from a fire that engulfed a neighboring pharmacy in 1939. In the upstairs apartment, Edwards and his team realized that there was more than 2 feet of space behind the walls. When they started tearing them down, they reached the original brick walls, one of which was painted with a large “GROCERIES” display, likely a remnant of the Jerseyville Mercantile Co., that is now being reconstructed by Edwards and his team. “It was the grocery store, but it was there before this building (101 S. State St.) was built, and it faced Main Street, and that’s how you knew it was a grocery store,” Edwards said. The vision for the apartment space is similar to The Cracker Factory apart(See, OPENING, A2)
with that, restrictions across the board have been relaxed for businesses and events, albeit not lifted entirely. Farmers market is a-go In Jerseyville, those at the Jersey County Business Association (JCBA) are getting ready to kick off the season for the Jersey County Farmers and Artisan Market Tuesday, June 30, from 4-7 p.m. in the Outrageous Outdoors parking lot, 902 South State St. “It is our plan to open on the 30th unless we receive word from the state that that is not possible,” Beth Bear, JCBA Director, said. “We don’t expect that to happen.” This was around the time the market would have been opened anyway, but the shift to Phase 4’s slightly relaxed restrictions will be welcomed. Under the current Phase 3 guidelines, farmers markets are permitted. Notably, Alton has been hosting a
farmers market for weeks. People will still be asked to wear masks and observe social distancing. At the market, hand sanitizer stations will be set up around the market. “We have some additional restrictions for our vendors as well to make sure that not only are the customers being safe but our vendors as well,” Bear said. Bear said they expect to see a similar number of vendors that were present at last year’s farmers market events. Also too, the expect big crowds — or at least bigger than in previous years. “An odd thing about coronavirus is that what are vendors that also work the Alton Farmers Market have found is the demand has significantly increased,” Bear said. And the Jerseyville market is expected to meet that demand in a safe manner. (See, ACTIVITIES, A2)
Riverbend Humane Society struggling following COVID closure By MEAGAN MCGLASSON Jersey County Journal Like so many other businesses, the Riverbend Humane Society has faced challenges brought on by coronavirus this spring. However, for the animals, the past few months have brought lots of good news, too. Unfortunately for the staff of Riverbend Humane Society, the closure of retail businesses meant their resale shop, Nancies Fancies, was closed for about two months this spring. This, coupled with the financial uncertainty brought about by layoffs and shutdowns, has meant revenue for the organization has virtually dried up. “Donations are down for us due to people being out of work or just the insecurity of not knowing what will happen,” Volunteer Jacque Peipert said. “Even though the shelter was closed, we still had all the costs associated with running and maintaining the shelter. We don’t make money on adoptions anyway so donations and fundraisers are our main means of support.” Adding further hardship, the annual April Chocofest and July fundraisers also had to be canceled, much to the dismay of organizers and staff. “The impact on our donations (and
revenue) in 2020 compared to 2019 has been very significant due in part to Nancy’s Fancies Resale Shop… being closed for many weeks due to the virus,” Peipert explained. “… [The July and Easter fundraisers] are two events that would have brought in a good deal of money.” In addition to the drying up of funding sources, the shelter faced further hardship when the water heater at the resale shop in Woodriver failed and required the purchase and installation of a new water heater, totaling over $2,000. “That may seem high, but timing and the need for a quick fix necessitated the situation to be resolved,” Peipert said. “As often happens, a bad situation can get worse… It was difficult to find anyone to work on it, and the size of the water heater was not common. Where it was located was difficult to work on and new piping was required.” The situation, when coupled with just two staff members working seven days a week to minimize potential exposure to coronavirus meant morale was at a low point for the shelter. While things certainly looked bleak, the last few months have also (See, STRUGGLE, A2)
Motorcyclist seriously injured during accident Tuesday By MEAGAN MCGLASSON Jersey County Journal A serious accident occurred just before 3 p.m. at the intersection of 109 and McClusky Road Tuesday afternoon when an SUV traveling northbound turned onto McCluskey Road, and a southbound traveling motorcycle was not able to stop in time, according to Jersey County Sheriff’s Department officials. The Jersey County Sheriff’s Department, Illinois State Police, QEM Fire Department, Jersey Community Hos-
pital Ambulance Services and Survival Flight responded to the scene of the accident. The motorcyclist was thrown from the bike by the impact and sustained serious injuries. A survival flight was called in for that driver and airlifted him to St. Louis. The Sheriff’s Department did not have an update on the motorcyclist’s condition at the time of publication. The SUV driver was not injured in the accident. Following the accident, Route 109 was shut down for scene reconstruction.