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OPINION: A happy Fourth of July: Page A4 NEWS: Third graders make signs for soldiers: Page A2
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JERSEY COUNTY
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INSIDE NEWS Columbus Ships Pinta and Nine unable to land in Grafton. See page A3 Food inspection scores announced. See page A3
FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS
Welcome baby Remington. See page A6
JULY 3, 2019
JOURNAL VOL. 17, NO. 27 - 75¢
Delhi Bypass secures $24.4 M in funding By RACHEL MCGLASSON Jersey County Journal July brings an increase in gas and tobacco taxes for residents across the state. And while many don’t seem too happy about the increase they’ll soon be seeing, part of Jersey County will be directly supported by the efforts. On Monday, July 1, Governor J.B. Pritzker signed into effect a capital improvement bill that calls for spending $45 billion over the next several years repairing and enhancing the state’s roadways, bridges and public transit systems as well as K-12 and higher education campuses, public health clinics and a number of other public facilities. One of those planned improvements is an approx-
“I think that anytime the highway is expanded north toward Jerseyville, it increases our ability to market to companies and helps our chances of growth.”
Shari Albrecht Executive director of Jerseyville Economic Development Council imate $24.4 million for the US 67 Delhi Bypass, which would work to expand US 67 as a four-lane highway further toward Jerseyville — something that Shari Albrecht, executive director of Jerseyville’s’ Economic Development Council has been pushing for for sometime. Now that the improvement plan has been signed, Albrecht said the benefits for Jerseyville also expand. “I think that anytime the
highway is expanded north toward Jerseyville, it increases our ability to market to companies and helps our chances of growth,” she said. The expansion is also one of the early steps for the MidAmerican International Gateway Project, the 1,400 acre, $500 million development near Crystal Lake Road that will bring goods from Mexico along the railway serviced by Kansas City Southern. Albrecht spoke on the impor-
tance of the highway expansion to the project at a transportation hearing last Spring. “I was blessed to be invited to testify at the Senate transportation Hearing this Spring at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and we talk about the potential for growth that will create easier access to the Mid-American International Gateway business park, the jobs that will be created and the financial investment is really valuable,” she said. “I
am very thankful [legislators] worked in a bipartisan fashion and across their district lines to get this included in the capital bill.” Not only did Albrecht note that the bypass will bring economic growth opportunities to the area, she also noted that the expansion may help alleviate some of the congestion problems on that stretch of highway that has lead to numerous accidents. “Most of all, it’s about public safety,” she said. “There’s been so many accidents in this last year, if we can minimize the congestion that would help bring that number down.” The number of accidents on that stretch of road has been high lately, with Sheriff Mike Ringhausen increasing patrols in the area in an attempt to slow motorists down.
SCHOOL
Grafton is open! Farmers State Bank awards $1,000 scholarship. See page B6
WEEKEND WEATHER FRIDAY, JULY 5
86 72 High
Low
SATURDAY, JULY 6
85 69 High
Low
SUNDAY, JULY 7
82 68 High
Low
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By RACHEL MCGLASSON Jersey County Journal After weeks of closed roadways and high waters, Grafton has re-opened just in time to celebrate the Fourth of July with fireworks above the river. The unofficial reopening will take place July 6 at 8:30 p.m. near The Loading Dock restaurant and bar. Part of the re-opening is due to efforts that took place Saturday, June 29, by volunteers to help clean the areas of town that are now clear of water. While all of the town is not yet in the clear, most of the roadways, shops and restaurants have re-opened. “While there will still be areas of Grafton that remain under water, the majority of Grafton’s unique restaurants, shops and businesses will be accessible,” a Grafton Chamber of Commerce press release stated. “We look forward to seeing you, your family and friends real soon. It’s going to be a great summer.”
This comes after a previously estimated drop of 80 to 100 percent of revenue for some businesses throughout Grafton, which have been forced to close or have seem mminimal foot traffic because of inaccessibility. The holiday will also bring the opening of the Illinois River Road, connecting Grafton to Alton once again. Crews with the Illinois Department of Transportation have been working to clean the roadway of mud and debris, and may still be working on some areas now that the highway is open. With the River Road opening, Raging Rivers is also finally ushering guests in after losing more than five weeks of business. The park has been fully cleaned and is operating from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends. While closed, Raging Rivers worked with the Jerseyville City Pool to allow season pass holders unable to take advantage of their passes to swim free.
Kyle Cunningham/Jersey County Journal
AT
FLOOD VICTIMS FIND HELP MULTI-AGENCY RESOURCE CENTER
Representatives from the red cross assist flood victims with information on their recovery process at the Multi Agency Resource Center (MARC) held June 30 in the Jersey Community High School cafeteria.
June 26 - July 3
1. Mayors along Mississippi discuss flood impact
Southwestern CUSD 9 welcomes new superintendent
2. Multi-Agency Resource Center to be held in Jersey Community High School
By KYLE CUNNINGHAM Jersey County Journal After nine years of service to the Southwestern Community School District #9, Brad Skertich’s tenure is coming to a close. His replacement was announced during the May school board meeting. Taking over the responsibilities as the new superintendent will be Kyle Hacke. Hacke was previously the assistant superintendent at Hillsboro CUSD #3 and was also the high school principal for two years and assistant principal for five years. Hacke has also served as the principal at Bunker Hill High School for three years and an assistant principal at Waterloo High School for one year. Prior to that, he began his career in education as a special education teacher at East Alton
3. Jersey Unit 100 undergoes personnel changes 4. Got Faith Ministry plans to clean Grafton 5. Cover crops and preventive planning insurance claims being utilized in Jersey
INDEX Court . . . . . . . . . . . . .B5 Editorial . . . . . . . . . .A4 News . . . . . . . . . . . . . A2-3 Obituaries. . . . . . . . . . A5 Our Town. . . . . . . . . .B2 Public Notice . . . . . . .B3 School . . . . . . . . . . . .B6 OBITUARIES: CAMPBELL, GALLAY, JONES, KRUEGER, MARSHALL, TOIGO. JERSEY COUNTY
Elementary School. Hacke got the call in May after the school board’s decision to officially hire him.
“I am very excited to learn all about what makes Southwestern CUSD #9 special.”
Kyle Hacke incoming Southwestern superintendent “Board President Andrew Bagley called me to share the good news,” Hacke said. “It was very exciting for myself and my family.” Upon receiving the call, he instantly shared the news with his wife, who was just
as excited as he was for this opportunity. “The first person I shared the news with was my wife, Amy, of 17 years,” he said. “I think she was just as excited as I was, as she knows how much it meant to me.” The intrigue of the superintendent opening was something he immediately gravitated toward, given both his familiarity with the area, having grown up in Macoupin County, as well as his knowledge of the district’s background. “I know Southwestern to have a good reputation among the districts in the area and I truly do love south-central Illinois,” he said. For him, being behind his mentor and Hillsboro Superintendent David Powell prepared (See, SUPERINTENDENT, A2)
JOURNAL
© 2019
Music in the Park continues for Grafton
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Rachel McGlasson/Jersey County Journal
POPPIN’ UP AT THE FARMER’S MARKET Eric Schwegel of Alton’s Schwegel’s is one of the staples at the Jerseyville Farmer’s and Artisan’s Market. His kettle corn is popped to perfect and bagged up so those attended the market can shop and snack at the same time.
By KYLE CUNNINGHAM Jersey County Journal With flood cleanup and the recovery process ongoing, Grafton’s annual Music in the Park event continues on in Red Hawk Park in the Grafton Hillls subdivision. Each Thursday from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. artists will put on a concert from a broad array of genres including eclectic acoustic, folk rock, classic rock, Motown, oldies, traditional bluegrass, classic country and hillbilly blues. “Each year we try to mix up the bands for Music in the Park,” Event Organizer
Carla Newton said. The event is free with those attending encouraged to bring their own lawn chair. Coolers and outside food are allowed and a playground is available for children. In additional to the musical entertainment, a 50/50 raffle will be held to benefit the Jersey Community High School band along with a canned food drive during all concerts. Steve Pegram from Got Faith also accepts canned and dry goods for donations to local food pantries throughout Jersey County and will be there during each concert
to serve lemonade and other treats for attendees. This year’s schedule includes the BellaBand (electric acoustic harmonic trio) on July 4, RiverTown (folk rock) on July 11, Nightlife ( classic rock, Motown and oldies) on July 18, George Portz and the Friends of Bluegrass (traditional bluegrass) on July 25, Hill Williams (classic country) on Aug. 1 and Jake Weber and the Lonesome Drifters (classic country and hillbilly blues). (See, MUSIC, A2)