50¢ JUNE 26, 2019
PITTSFIELD, IL
Pike Press
County approves new security for courthouse The Pike Press office will be closed Thursday, July 4 in observance of Independance Day.
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Jacob Mast of Pleasant Hill, for subscribing to Pike Press!
NEWS Council accepts resignation from 30-year employee. See page A2
Heroics by fiveyear-old, police officers save woman’s life. See page A3
WEEKEND WEATHER FRIDAY, JUNE 28
88 71 High
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SATURDAY, JUNE 29 High
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SUNDAY, JUNE 30
91 72 High
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INSIDE Classified . . . . . . . .B5 Community . . . . . .B3 County News A2 - 3, A8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B1, B6, B8 Court . . . . . . . . . . B5 Marketplace . . . . . .B4 Obituaries . . . . . . A6 Opinion . . . . . . . . A4 Op-Ed . . . . . . . . . A5 Our Town . . . . . . .B2 Obituaries in this issue: Bonnett, Long, Niccum, Orrill, Springer.
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Florence Bridge remains closed indefinitely By BETH ZUMWALT Pike Press The Florence Bridge which carries highways 106 and 100 over the Illinois River, has been closed since Thursday June 20 and no date has been set for reopening. The bridge was inspected Monday and preliminary reports say there are two cracks on the north truss on the span immediately east of the lift span. The report says further inspections and repairs will be made as soon as possible. The scope of repairs and a more detailed schedule for reopening the bridge will be established when they become available. The bridge closed at approximately 4 a.m. Thursday, June 20 when some barges up river broke loose and floated down river. The barges struck a pier and then more barges struck a
section of the bridge, causing visible damage. Doug Daniel, owner of the River Bank, said his business, which had been closed for 40 days due to the flood, was open Tuesday and Wednesday before the barge hit the bridge Thursday morning. “That cuts off all of our Scott and Morgan county customers,” he said. “We had steak night Thursday and our crowd was about half of what it usually is. It’s really hurting my business.” Daniel said he had no inside knowledge but said crews were able to get under the bridge to make the inspection. During the height of the flood, the water came within inches of the bridge deck, making an under the bridge inspection impossible. Because of this indefinite closure, a detour has been posted that utilizes Illinois 106, Illinois 100, Interstate 72 and U.S. 54.
Pike County Board giving Stage Coach Inn another hearing By MICHAEL BOREN Pike Press A large crowd of people from Pleasant Hill attended Monday night’s Pike County Board meeting, which included on the posted agenda action on proposed zoning map changes in Pleasant Hill. The board discussed the matter at some length. Zoning Administrator Fred Ruzich led off with a general discussion of the situation. “Unfortunately, over the years, there had been some uses (in Pleasant Hill) not in accordance with the zoning ordinance,” Ruzich said. He also said that discrepancies about the village limits had slowed down any action on a new zoning map for the community. He said that the proposed zoning changes had been approved by the Planning Commission and the Pike County Zoning Board of Appeals, and have now been submitted to the county board for final approval. State’s Attorney Zack Boren reminded the board that an official written protest to the zoning change
had been filed with the Pike County Clerk by nearby property owners, which means that the change could not go into effect unless seven of the nine members of the County Board approve it. Board member Rodger Hannel said he had been informed of frustration by “neighbors not being allowed to express their opposition to the planned zoning change at
“We need to hear their concerns.”
Jim Sheppard Pike County Board member the public hearing.” Jim Sheppard agreed. “We need to hear their concerns,” he said. Amy Gates asked if the board could listen to citizen concerns during the current meeting. Boren said that the required legal notice for an official public hearing had not been given. Chairman Andy Borrowman said that any visitors would be able to comment
for up to five minutes at the end of the meeting, and he allowed some questions and comments from some of the visitors during discussion of the issue. Hannel then moved, and Mark Mountain seconded, that the county board approve all of the new zoning map except that portion that includes the Stage Coach Inn, and that the full board hold a public hearing on the matter. Hannel, Mountain, John Birch, Tom Lewis and Sheppard voted Yes; Gates, Derek Ross and Mark Sprague voted No, and the motion passed 5-3. The hearing is now scheduled for Tuesday, July 16 at 6:30 p.m. in the upstairs courtroom of the Pike County courthouse. After the vote, Sprague said, “Those who have (other) issues with the map, what can they do?” Chairman Mountain of the Agricultural Committee invited citizens to come to the next meeting of that committee, scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, July 8 in the Pike County Government Building.
VOL. 177, NO. 26
Fun for all
include new doors, new exterior By MICHAEL BOREN stairs on the north, and removal Pike Press of part of an interior wall to At its regular meeting provide more room and greatMonday night, the Pike County er access to the elevator. The Board voted unanimously to elevator itself will have to be spend close to $160,000 for reprogrammed so that security additional security measures at personnel have total control of the courthouse. its usage. The reprogramming The option chosen was less will cost between $75,000 and expensive and less disruptive to $80,000, which is included in the the exterior of the 125-year-old nearly $160,000 price tag. courthouse than the three other In other action, the board options considered approved, with Gate by the building and voting No, an ordinance ground committee, “It is not establishing civil fees which ranged as perfect, but and criminal and trafhigh as $383,000. fic assessments to be New construction of it is much charged by the clerk of an add-on security better than the circuit court. Circuit entrance had been Clerk Bryce Gleckler discussed at last what we spoke briefly about the month’s meeting. legislation, which has have.” Judge Frank Mccome from the state Cartney made the of Illinois. Chairman presentation to the Judge Frank Andy Borrowman said board about the choif necessary, the McCartney that sen option, which he board “can amend it said, “made the most later on.” sense” and “should be easily Six month reports were prefunded.” sented by County Clerk Natalie “It is not perfect, but it is Roseberry, County Treasurer much better than what we have,” Scott Syrcle, and Circuit Clerk McCartney said. Bryce Gleckler. McCartney stated that it The Finance Committee would normally require two per- report included approval of a sons to staff a security screening provision by Roseberry which location and provide security, will save the county a few thoubut, “on occasions it could be sand dollars per year by raismanned by one person.” He also ing the number of hours that pointed out that the recommend- an employee must work each ed option would be within the year before they are required to footprint of the present court- contribute to the IMRF (Illinois house. Municipal Retirement Fund). Many people have expressed The number of required hours opposition to building onto the goes up from 600 to 1,000 per north front of the courthouse, year. McCartney noted, adding, “and The Road and Bridge I get it.” The option chosen will (See, SECURITY, A2)
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Above: Josie Bradshaw had the winning goat at the 4-H livestock auction hosted at the Western Illinois Fair on Friday, June 21. Brian Curless was auctioneer for the event. Bailey Scoggins/ Pike Press
Left: Cooper Smith, left, son of Casey and Michelle Smith, and Harper Schimpf, daughter of Kristana Kimber, were delighted with the rides at the Western Illinois Fair in Griggsville on Friday, June 21. For more photos from the fair, see page B1.
Barry develops plan to fill empty buildings By BETH ZUMWALT Pike Press There are at least five vacant buildings in the Barry Business District that the city council would like to see filled. And to that end, the council is developing a program to entice enterprise back to the area. “We have five buildings,” Jeff Hogge, city administrator, said. “They are full of potential. Two of them are move-in ready, two more would require a little work and the fifth, not a whole lot of work, but some.” Hogge said it is hoped the buildings will attract professional services and no businesses that will compete with existing businesses. “Retail is not a long-term answer,” Hogge said. “It is very difficult to compete in today’s market. But Barry doesn’t have a lawyer. There is no place to get a computer worked on. We are looking
more at service industries.” Hogge said Barry is willing to offer free water and sewer for year and free Internet service, as well as the possibility of assistance from both
“We want businesses that will come and grow here.”
Jeff Hogge Barry city administrator
the TIF program and the TIF facade program. Hogge said one building is 7,000 square feet, another is 1,300 square feet, 4,000 square feet and 6,000 square feet. Hogge does not have square footage on the fifth building. He is available to show any of (See, PLAN, A2)
Driver receives injuries in bus derby By BETH ZUMWALT Pike Press A broken radiator sent a Pittsfield man to Springfield with possible third degree burns on his leg. According to Brian Shoemaker of the Western Illinois Fair in Griggsville, the incident happened Sunday night during the bus derby that had been moved from Friday night due to weather. “Brady (Duke) had been eliminated and was sitting in his bus when something broke and blew hot water into the bus,” Shoemaker said. “Luckily, we had several fire departments and an ambulance crew on scene.” Duke was removed from the bus and paramedics provided first aid until Air Evac could land and transport Duke to Springfield to the burn unit. He was released later that night with an appointment to return June 25, yesterday.
“Luckily, we had several fire departments and an ambulance crew on scene.”
Brian Shoemaker Western Illinois Fair
“They told us that it was second degree burns but it could continue to burn and turn into third degree burns,” Jason Duke, father of the injured bus driver, said. “They said he had burns on 60 percent of his leg and they are concerned about the area behind his knee.” Everyone involved gave kudos to the fire departments who were on scene and the ambulance crews as well as Air Evac. (See, DERBY, A2)