JCJ 8.26.15

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OPINION: Enterprise zone provides business boost: Page A4 NEWS: Grafton's Art in the Park coming soon: Page A3

CURRENT RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER

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PAID Jerseyville, IL PERMIT NO. 204

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JERSEY COUNTY

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INSIDE NEWS Gas stations adapt to falling gas prices. See page A2 JPRD Fall Flea Market Sept. 26. See page A10

FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS

Sackmans celebrate 60th anniversary. See page A6

SPORTS

Fall sports preview. See pages B2-4

WEEKEND WEATHER FRIDAY, AUGUST 28

84 65 High

Low

SATURDAY, AUGUST 29

87 63 High

Low

SUNDAY, AUGUST 30

86 65 High

Low

Visit us on the web at

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TOP STORIES ONLINE Week of Aug. 20-26

1. High-five for firsts 2. West Nile Virus high in Jerseyville 3. Quarry Township removed from port district 4. Officials eye enterprise zone 5. Gas stations adapt to falling gas prices

INDEX Court. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C5 Editorial . . . . . . . . . A4,A5 News . . . . . . . . . . A2,A3,B5 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . . . A8 Our Town . . . . . . . . . . B10 Public Notice . . . . C4,C5 Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1 OBITUARIES: BENNETT, MOURNING, RUETTER, WRIGHT.

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VOL. 13, NO. 34 - 75¢

AUGUST 26, 2015

Senator McCann lone GOP vote against governor By MARk PACE AND JUSTIN A. COBB Jersey County Journal One Republican state senator sided with the Democratic Party in the senate’s decision to override Governor Bruce Rauner’s veto of Senate Bill 1229, a bill aimed at hiring an arbitrator for union negotiations. Illinois Sen. Sam McCann, R-Carlinville, was the only Republican to vote against the governor, siding with the Democrats, stating the vote came at the will of his constituents. “I think that’s my job, to listen to the people and speak and vote accordingly,” McCann said in an interview Friday. The override vote passed the senate 38-15, and Rauner issued a statement following the vote. “Every Senator who voted to overturn our veto chose special interests

over the taxpayers,” Rauner said in the statement. “They made it abundantly clear that they’d rather raise taxes than stand up to the politically powerful. It is now up to House members to take the responsible, pro-taxpayer position and uphold our veto.” The measure, if passed, would enable a third party arbitrator to resolve a dispute should the state or its unionized employees be unable to reach an agreement and become deadlocked in continuing contract talks. Under the bill, known as the “nostrike-no-lockout bill,” labor arbitrators are only given the option of picking between the state’s proposal and the union’s proposal in conflicts between the two sides. The amount of spending in this case is over $7 million, according to Rauner.

“Financial decisions of that magnitude should be decided at the bargaining table or by elected officials, not unelected labor arbitrators,” Rauner said in a statement. However, McCann said he received many contacts about the bill. “There were a couple of reasons [I voted in favor of the bill],” McCann said. “Number one, I would say over 99 percent of the phone calls and emails and face-to-face contact that I received from constituents … asked me to vote ‘Yes.’ I represent more state employees than any other member in the general assembly.” McCann made it clear he voted at the will of his constituents rather than any political party. “I have a large number of state employees [in my district] who go to work every day. They answer an alarm clock every day. They trade their time, their talent and their sweat

and their tears in exchange for a paycheck to feed, clothe and shelter their families. They respectfully asked me to cast this vote,” McCann said. Under the bill, once an arbitration hearing begins, a strike or lockout would be prohibited. Rauner called the bill “one of the worst pieces of legislation in Illinois history” and believes it paves the way for a massive tax hike. The independent arbitrator would only be needed if impasse is reached, McCann said. “Out of respect for my constituents, again, almost all whom asked me to vote ‘Yes,’ I voted the way they asked me to vote,” he said. The bill was sent to the Illinois House of Representative for action Aug. 25. Details on the outcome were not available by press time, but Democrats would need 71 votes in the House to override Rauner’s veto.

Tri-County Antique Club pays Officials eye enterprise homage to the good ol’ days

zone feasibility

By MARk PACE Jersey County Journal The 25th annual Olden Days Festival took place last weekend in Dow. The Tri-County Antique Club’s festival aimed to commemorate a simpler time. “We’re trying to preserve a little bit of history in our community and teach kids that it hasn’t always been the way it’s been,” club member Juanita Eyers said. “That’s what we’re hoping we get across.” The event featured items new and old. Farming equipment, crafts and art were on display at the festival, and vendors handed out and sold items as well as food. Participants were greeted by music from several area bands

By MARk PACE AND BOB CROSSEN Jersey County Journal Local representatives are looking at the feasibility of an enterprise zone in Jersey and surrounding counties. The issue was brought to Jersey, Greene and Calhoun county boards in 2013 by then Jersey County Business Association CEO Alan Gilmore, but the matter fell to a lower priority during the election cycle. The Calhoun County Commissioners chose not to follow through with a tri-county partnership on an enterprise zone at the time, and the Greene County Board had not expressed a firm stance on the issue, either. Establishing an enterprise zone has made a return to area meeting agendas, and municipalities are beginning discussions on its feasibility. The details are still in the works, but local representatives, government employees and others met Friday, Aug. 14 to discuss the possibility of such a zone. Informational (See, enterpriSe, A2)

“We’re trying to preserve a little bit of history in our community and teach kids that it hasn’t always been the way it’s been.”

Jaunita Eyers

ONLINE

JOURNAL

Club member and sought shelter under the bands’ tent during rainy weather. People donate old items to the club to display for the festival each year for the community to learn about the past. “We do this for the satisfaction of carrying on the traditions from about 100 years ago,” club member Shirley Hall said. “We’re trying to preserve the old farming implements and equipment for people who have never seen it, how their grandma and

Mark Pace/Jersey County Journal

Ryan Mackintosh completes the children’s tractor pull at the Olden Days Festival. The festival was held Aug. 22 and Aug. 23 and was the event’s 25th anniversary.

grandpa used to live.” Kevin Green attended the event with his two young sons to enjoy the outdoor occasion and teach his sons about the history of farming. “The weather isn’t very good, but we wanted to come enjoy the festivities and the music and see the old-time tractors,” he said. “I think it’s important to preserve our roots and show our

children where we came from. We live in an agricultural area, and it’s good to see the way it used to be done.” Club members put on the event and manned the stations. The club is looking to recruit younger members to carry on tradition. The event was held on the club’s land located about halfway between Grafton and Jerseyville on Illinois Route 3.

New CVS exemplifies mayor’s vision

By MARk PACE Jersey County Journal The CVS opening in Jerseyville is the next step for the city’s growth, according Jerseyville Mayor Billy Russell. Since being elected, Russell has worked to bring business to the community. The store opening helps the city move forward from a stagnated housing market and progresses business growth, Russell said. “They’re going to hire people in the community to work there,” he said. “The impact is the progress that it brings. Hopefully, other businesses and retail businesses will follow suit, and we’ll gather more employment out of this.” (See, cvS, A2)

Local schools offer services for truants By BOB CROSSEN Jersey County Journal Truancy is not a significant problem for Jersey and Calhoun school districts, but they do provide resources to help students who struggle with attendance issues. According to state law, a student without valid cause for absences for five percent or more of the 180 regular attendance days of school is deemed chronically or habitually truant, meaning a student without valid excuses for nine or more absences is considered a chronic truant. School districts in the area follow state policy when it comes to addressing truant students, but provide leeway in the accepted reasons for an absence, like regular treatments for a chronic illness or disease. Truancy is important to a district’s funding – districts receive state money based on average daily attendance – but for Jersey CUSD 100 Superintendent Lori (See, truAntS, A2)

Bob Crossen/Jersey County Journal

ONE

STEP AT A TIME

Cierra Howell, right, encourages her son Matthew Howell to climb the steps to the slide at Lions Club Park in Jerseyville. Howell and her family took advantage of the clear and cool weather with a park excursion Tuesday afternoon.


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