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NEWS More rides, reduced fees at Western Illinois Fair. See page A2
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VOL. 177, NO. 24
Flood worries remain, minimizing every day By BETH ZUMWALT Pike Press Levees guarding Pike County from the Mississippi and Illinois rivers continue to hold back flood water. The crest on the Illinois was June 5 and was recorded at 26.7 ft. The record was 27 feet. According to Blake Roderick, executive director of the Pike-Scott Farm
Bureau, the water drops about a foot every two days and if that rate continues, the Illinois will be out of major flood stage Friday, June 14, the first time since May 5 “That’s 40 days of high water against the levees,” Roderick said. “It’s amazing any of them held. While the rivers continue to fall, we are by no means out of danger. It is still a dangerous place to
“We still have patrols on the levees because they are so saturated.”
Kris Koeller Sny area farmer be. Water has been up against the levees for over a month at high flood levels. They are saturated, leaking mounds of
sand and dirt.” The Mississippi River crested at 30.18 June 1 and 2 and also continues to fall.
“We still have patrols on the levees because they are so saturated,” Kris Koeller, a Sny Island area farmer who was instrumental in organizing the flood fight, said. “We will continue to do that until it gets a little lower.” According to the National Weather Service, the Mississippi River should have (See, WORRIES, A2)
Pleasant Hill zoning issue on its way to county board Amy Krusemark sees potential, doesn’t let it go to waste.
By BETH ZUMWALT Pike Press Despite the efforts of the Pike County Zoning Board to keep the meeting on task, its June 6 meeting turned into another argument between those opposing and those promoting the Stage Coach Inn. “This is not the place for that argument,” Roger Curfman, chairman of the board, told the crowd. “We are not here to settle community squabbles. We are here to see the map and decide if it should be forwarded to the county board or not.” The map has raised the ire of those supporting the Stage Coach Inn. The hotel/restaurant has been zoned B1, as were all existing businesses in residential areas. A B2 zoning is required to have a liquor licenses, which Stage Coach Inn owners would like to acquire. David Fuhler, a long-time opponent of the Stage Coach Inn, lives across the street and is opposed to the Stage Coach Inn even being B1. Fuhler produced paperwork and photos that he
See page A3
SPORTS
Who will catch it next time? See page B1
WEEKEND WEATHER
“We need to get this resolved so this community can start to heal itself.”
FRIDAY, JUNE 14
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Andy Barrowman, chair
SATURDAY, JUNE 15
Pike County Board
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SUNDAY, JUNE 16
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INSIDE Classified . . . . . . . A2 Community . . . . . .B5 County News . . . A2 - 3, . . . . . . . . . . . . .A6, A8, B3 Court . . . . . . . . . . B2 Marketplace . . . . . .B4 Obituaries . . . . . . A6 Opinion . . . . . . . . A4 Op-Ed . . . . . . . . . A5 Our Town . . . . . . .B6 Obituaries in this issue: Brangenberg, Fox, Scranton.
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NEW
Shelby Stroemer/ Pike Press
SAFETY PROCEDURE
Following a recent after-hours person in the Pike County courthouse, plus ongoing discussions about courthouse security, Pike County Sheriff David Greenwood has initiated a new entry procedure. Those entering the courthouse are checked outside by law enforcement officers using a wand prior to entering through the courthouse elevator entrance; bags are also checked. Employees with keys may still enter directly through the north entrance. Here, Deputy Matt Frazier and Bailiff A.J. Robinson check an entering citizen.
Pittsfield introduces new economic development director By BETH ZUMWALT Pike Press The city of Pittsfield introduced the city’s new economic development director at the June 4 meeting. Diana Hemlich will take the place of Megan Newman, who resigned due to her family moving from the area. “She has hit the ground running,” John Hayden, mayor, said. “She got to get in a couple of days with Megan showing her
“She has hit the ground running.”
John Hayden Pittsfield mayor the ropes.” Hemlich said she is a native of Missouri, growing up in a small town similar to Pittsfield. She currently lives in St. Charles.
said gave an example of the business practices and character of the owners of the Stage Coach Inn. Gina Johns, one of the Stage Coach owners, had rebuttals and explanations for each of Fuhler’s accusations but again the zoning board reiterated they were not there for something that should have been handled locally. “That’s up to your local community,” Curfman said. The arguments persisted for 45 more minutes until the zoning board said they were closing the public comment section of the meeting. Prior to the controversy, Randy and Becky Hill said they owned property that used to be the old lumber yard and they had converted it into a trucking business. They said they plan to build a building on the property to accommodate the business. “I came in and looked at the map when it was first posted and it said we were business and that was fine, but now the map says it is R1 and that’s different,” Hill said. Both Fred Ruzich, the county zoning administrator, and Craig Robinson, who was on the zoning committee, said the map was changed several times but the one presented to the public was the final version. No changes were made after it was posted at village hall. Both Hills disagreed but were amicable about it. “I’m not mad and I don’t want to fight, but I would like it changed,” Randy Hill said. Ruzich said the matter would be checked and if appropriate, remedied. Rick Fiedler, who lives in a residential area, said (See, ZONING, A2)
DIANA HEMLICH
(See, DIRECTOR, A2)
Myers promotes Pike County with service By BETH ZUMWALT Pike Press Ronald Myers of Griggsville is an ambassador for Pike County in a unique way. He tries to work toward improving the community, making people want to live here. He has served on the Griggsville School Board, the Pike County FS board, his church board and others. Myers has used his position as a board member on the Illinois Electric Cooperative board, formerly know as IEC, to promote and improve the county. “My father was on the board when I was younger,” Myers said. “My mother was from Winchester, so the first Monday of every month, we’d go visit Grandma, while my dad went to the meeting.” Myers’ parents were R.J.
“We are there to protect the members’ investments, set policy, look to the future…”
Ronald Myers Retiring IEC board member and Mary Elizabeth Roark Myers. When R.J. Myers announced his decision to retire, the nominating committee came to Ronald and asked him to fill his father’s spot. “After giving it some thought, I said Yes,” Myers said. Myers intends to retire at the June 15 annual meeting. His replacement on the board has not been announced yet, but Myers says it will be someone from within his dis-
trict, which covers the northeast portion of Pike County. The co-op serves all or portions of Calhoun, Pike, Scott, Cass, Greene and Morgan with small “slivers” of Adams and Schuyler. Myers says the duties of the board have remained consistent during his 43-year tenure. “The board has two duties: hire management and look after the fiduciary duties,” (See, MYERS, A2)
Beth Zumwalt/PIke Press
Carolyn and Ronald Myers of Griggsville look over a scrapbook containing many memories of Ronald’s 43 years of serving on the IEC board. Myers said the board has tried to stay ahead of the needs of the community and make it a better place to live. His retirement from the board will be official Saturday at the organization’s annual meeting/picnic in Winchester.