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PAID Jerseyville, IL PERMIT NO. 204
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P.O. Box 407 Jerseyville, IL 62052
JERSEY COUNTY
JERSEYVILLE, IL 62052
INSIDE NEWS Town hall addresses lack of post-flood road access. See page A2 Got Faith Festival to feed the hungry. See page A3
JCH Healthcare Star Award named. See page A6
SCHOOL County students on university honors list. See page B6 Correction Kinley White, 9, was the petite youth winner in Jerseyville D.A.R.E Car Show Pin-Up contest last week. Information in the story,“Jerseyville car show features pin-up contest for first time,” was incorrect.
WEEKEND WEATHER FRIDAY, AUG. 16
84 69 High
Low
SATURDAY, AUG. 17
90 72 High
Low
SUNDAY, AUG. 18
90 71 High
Low
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JOURNAL VOL. 17, NO. 33 - 75¢
AUGUST 14, 2019
Developing business park named state ‘Super Site’ Designation already piques business interest passed over.” By JARAD JARMON This effort to be seen is already Jersey County Jouranal proving fruitful. A first for the state is also a first “We are already getting inquifor the St. Louis Metro-East region ries,” Albrecht said. as Illinois has designated a major The park will be geared to make economic development project way for distribution or manufacturlocated in rural Jersey County to be ing-type companies to come in. among 16 “Super Sites,” according David Pierson with Illinois’ to a news release. DCEO provided further insight: As one of Illinois Gov. J.B. PritzPierson said in a news release that ker’s newly-introduced initiatives, the purpose of the Illinois Super the state’s Department of Commerce Sites program is to provide a stateand Economic Opportunity (DCEO) wide inventory of very large indusrecently reviewed 19 applications trial sites that meet a consistent set before selecting 16 community of standards. The program is said economic development projects as to reduce the risk associated with Illinois’ first designated Super Sites. development by providing detailed Jerseyville’s ongoing major and current information about a site industrial development project was including availability, utilities and among that group. access. Super Sites are listed on Stonemont Financial the Illinois Department Group, an investment “We are of Commerce website, as firm based out of Atlanwell as on local economic ta, Ga., has been work- already development websites. ing with Jerseyville The park will be geared Economic Develop- getting toward making way for ment Council, Inc., and inquiries.” distribution or manufacKansas City Southern turing-type companies to Rail in bringing longcome in and run business discussed development Shari Albrecht out of the county. known as the Mid“The designation Jerseyville Economic American International improves the odds of Development Council Gateway Business Park attracting site selectors to the St. Louis metroseeking locations for politan region. major industrial projects,” said PierThis development project is just son, who serves as the statewide site outside Jerseyville’s city limits on selection coordinator within Illinois’ US Highway 67’s southeast side at DCEO Office of Business DevelopCrystal Lake Road. The site encom- ment. passes approximately 1,600 acres, For Stonemont, this designation with roughly 1,200 acres being further validates the potential that developed. the firm saw for this project at the This newly-made designation will inception. serve to better highlight the park as “Projects of this size and scope a place for business, Shari Albrecht, require many pieces to come togethdirector of the Jerseyville Economic er for success,” Markwell said. Development Council, said. She “Stonemont stands dedicated to proadded it is a stamp of approval that viding the capital needed to make the site is ready and open for busi- it happen. Now with the Super Site ness. designation, site selectors across the Stonemont CEO and managing globe will know the project stands principal William “Zack” Markwell ready for business. The roads and elaborated. infrastructure are the final pieces of “To keep up with the economic the complex puzzle that is being put demands, site selection firms for together.” large corporations across the globe Albrecht said the developer will are required to move at the unprece- be responsible for the infrastructure dented speed today,” Markwell said. inside the park. It will be up to the “Without the State’s ‘Super Site’ stamp of approval, sites often get (See, SUPER SITE, A2)
Sherry Fraley/Jersey County Journal
JERSEY COUNTY REPRESENTED AT ILLINOIS STATE FAIR Beef exhibitors Emily Moore Adcock, formerly of Jerseyville, and Dennis Moore parade their Simmental heifers during the open Simmental Show at the Illinois State Fair on Sunday, Aug. 11. Dennis Moore is a Jersey County resident who had the lead on the Simmental junior yearling heifer CMB Fiona F271. Moore placed second in the class to Adcock’s heifer All Precious 823F, who went on to win the Grand Champion Simmental Heifer at the Illinois State Fair in the open division.
Block near East Elementary school to be closed By JARAD JARMON Jersey County Journal The 400 block of E Exchange Street between the Jerseyville East Elementary School and the school’s playground will be closed during school hours following a Jerseyville City Council vote Tuesday. The council voted on the closure at their meeting that evening. The measure was said to curb concerns from school staff that children might be hit by oncoming traffic on the street when they cross to go to the playground. “The only thing I really dislike about East Elementary is the thought of kids crossing that road,” said East Elementary Principal Kim Anderson, who was at the meeting. “We haven’t had in problems, but I just really feel like it’s a very scary, a very dangerous situation.”
Anderson said the school follows strict rules requiring its 462 students to be with an adult to cross the road, but it does not remove concern among school staff. “There is always that chance,” Anderson said. “When you take your kids to the park, there is always a chance they are going to run out in the road. Second, third and fourth grade; if they have to go to the bathroom, there is a chance they are going to forget they have to be with an adult to cross the road.” Councilman Nick Bexheti, who is in charge of streets and public improvement, mirrored those sentiments. “We don’t want to wait for something bad to happen,” Bexheti said. Closing off this street will close off access to 10 to 14 parking spots along this section. Anderson said the school (See, BLOCK CLOSING, A2)
TOP STORIES ONLINE Aug. 7 - Aug. 14
County flood damage assessments to start soon
1. Jersey schools see improvements ahead of school year 2. Jerseyville car show features pin-up contest for first time 3. Rt. 16 to Joe Page Bridge could open soon 4. Rehabbed eage released at wildlife refuge 5. Local woman attends Fourth of July celebrations in Washington
INDEX Court . . . . . . . . . . . . .B5 Editorial . . . . . . . . . .A4 News . . . .A2-3, A5-6, B6 Obituaries. . . . . . . . . . A5 Our Town. . . . . . . . . .B5 Public Notice . . . . . . .B3 School . . . . . . . . . . . .B6 OBITUARIES: GIMLIN, HILL, MOORE, READY. JERSEY COUNTY
JOURNAL
Jarad Jarmon/Jersey County Journal
FORMER SONIC
GETS LEVELED
Excavator sits next to debris Friday on the property of what once was a Sonic Drive-In. Over the next couple of weeks, crews will level the building and other structures on the property. Terry Hansen, owner of the property, said this will be making way for a new business, possibly a car wash, in the coming months. He stressed nothing has been set in stone as of yet. Sonic closed several years ago. Following the closure, a vape store set up shop in the property for a couple of years before relocating.
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Joe Page Bridge is open By JARAD JARMON Jersey County Journal It has been more than two months since the Joe Page Bridge has seen traffic outside of service vehicles, but it was announced Tuesday that the major throughway between Calhoun and Greene counties is now open, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. According to an IDOT news release, the Illinois Route 16/100 from the Joe Page Bridge intersection in Hardin to
Eldred Road in Jersey County and the bridge itself has been opened. The bridge has been closed since Monday, June 3, in the wake of historic flooding in the area. For weeks, much of the area has returned normal, but the same could not be said for East Hardin near the bridge, which still had inches of water that had no place to drain to. There were still thousands of acres still underwater. One such place underwater was the pump house, a necessary site to pump water out of
the area. After 152 consecutive days of impacts to the transportation system in IDOT District 8, all roadways, facilities and services impacted by the flood have been restored, according to the release. It was noted that roads in Madison County had been closed as a result of recent heavy rains. The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office stated in a Facebook post Tuesday that the Kampsville and Brussels ferries will (See, BRIDGE, A2)
By KYLE CUNNINGHAM Jersey County Journal Acting Jersey County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Morgan provided an update on flood damage assessment during the Jersey County Board meeting on Aug. 13. The original flood declaration was proclaimed 97 days ago and has morphed into what is now the recovery phase. “We have made progress from the health life safety phase to the recovery phase,” Morgan said. Morgan stated that flood damage assessment teams from both the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Agency will be in the county this week to conduct assessments. According to Morgan, the assessments will be divided in two groups, public (government entities and businesses) and individual (homeowners). Currently, there are a lot of expenses and damage evaluations that have been logged and will be submitted to FEMA for possible assistance. Jersey County Sheriff Mike Ringhausen was on hand to honor several officers, faculty and members of the community that have either served the county distinguishably or have helped contribute monetary donations to help purchase equipment for training purposes. Among those was County Officer Dave Womack. Womack was also honored by the Sheriff’s Office for his 20 years of service upon retirement. Earlier this year, Womack rescued an individual from a partially submerged vehicle in high flood waters near the Illinois Youth Correctional Facility in Grafton. Womack waded through chest high waters to retrieve the individual and help carry him to safety. As part of the ceremony, representatives from the American Sons of the Revolution General George Rogers Clark chapter, which oversees Jersey, Calhoun, Madison, Bond, Montgomery and Macoupin counties, were on hand to present Womack with a plaque and a medal in light of his heroic actions. In addition, Cindy Wagner was also recognized for her 30 years of service. Also, Anthony Fuhrmann, director of the Local Workforce Innovation Area 22, summarized what the (See, ASSESSMENTS, A2)