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Vol. 175, No. 35
Grant to boost victim witness coordinator pay By JUSTIN A. COBB Pike Press
T
he office of victim witness coordinator in Pike County will now receive $4,485 more in salary in benefits each year, thanks to a grant from the Illinois Attorney General’s Office. Pike County Board adopted a finance committee recommendation to apply the raise, retroactive to July 1, when the board met Monday evening, all board members voting in
favor except Fred Bradshaw, who was absent and did not vote. The $25,000 total amount the county receives through the grant is $4,485 more than what was awarded the previous year, according to board member Jim Sheppard, finance committee chair. Citing a letter from the attorney general’s office, Sheppard said the county must put the entire increase toward the position’s compensation package and not use any amount to offset the county’s contribution or else lose the entire grant. State’s Attorney Zachary Boren told the board the ratio-
nale was to increase the salary and stature of the position
“We want to build the position and increase the salary for the position.”
Zachary Boren Pike County State’s Attorney to help attract well-qualified candidates. “We want to build the position and increase the salary for (See, grant, A2)
County to hire ambulance chief Sept. 13 By JUSTIN A. COBB Pike Press The county board will hire a permanent ambulance administrator in about two weeks. Board member Carrie Martin, chair of the public safety committee overseeing the countyowned ambulance service, announced the committee’s recommendation to hire Josh Martin when the full board met Monday evening. However, the board could not act on the recommendation because it was neither on
that night’s meeting agenda nor mentioned in the committee’s report. Under the Illinois Open Meetings Act, the public must be given sufficient advance notice of final action to be taken at a meeting. The board will take up the matter at its first budget meeting, scheduled Sept. 13, 7 p.m., in the upper courtroom of Pike County Courthouse in Pittsfield. Josh Martin currently serves as director of the Pike County Emergency Management Agency.
Sunday Run-day
society
Galati-Iadanza engagement.
See page B3
WEEKEND WEATHER friday, Sept. 1
80 59 High Low
Saturday, Sept. 2
83 62 High Low
Sunday, SEpt. 3
87 63 High Low
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INSIDE Classified . . . . . . . . C4 Community . . . . . . B3 County News . . . A2,A3, . . . . . .A6,B1,C6,D1,D3
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Several runners and walkers participated in Perry Pioneer Days Rainbow Run Sunday. Mandy Daniels, right, douses Kaylee Spender with a handful of purple coloring. Proceeds from the event will be donated to the Griggsville-Perry PTO. For more Perry Pioneer Days photos, see page D3.
Court . . . . . . . . . . . C4
Apps opting for retirement
Marketplace . . . C2-3 Obituaries . . . . . . . B2 Opinion . . . . . . . . . A4 Op-Ed . . . . . . . . . . A5 Our Town . . . . . . . D2 Public Notice . . . . . C4 Sports . . . . . . . . . . C1 Obituaries in this issue: Beaty, Flock, French, Rodhouse, Taylor.
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Beth Zumwalt/Pike Press
Brian Haefner, a MoDot representative, shows the artist rendering of how the new bridge will look at last week’s public meeting. An official ground breaking for the bridge will be held Sept. 8 in Louisiana with work expected to begin very soon after the event.
Ground breaking set for new bridge Sept. 8 By BETH ZUMWALT Pike Press The public is invited to celebrate the beginning of construction on a new Champ Clark Bridge. A groundbreaking ceremony will be held on Friday, Sept. 8 from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. at the riverfront in Louisiana. The groundbreaking ceremony was announced Thursday, Aug. 24, in conjunction with a job fair and public meeting concerning the bridge, both of which were well attended by both Missouri and Illinois residents. Several dignitaries are expected to attend the ceremony to either speak or help break ground. Incorporated into the ceremony is participation from both Missouri and Illinois, as well as local talent. “We are pleased to bring together so many people and organizations who have helped make this project a reality,”
Missouri Department of Transportation Northeast District Engineer Paula Gough, said. “It will truly be a memorable occasion for all in the region.” According to Keith Killen, P.E., Champ Clark Bridge project director, area residents will see construction beginning at the U.S. Route 54 and Missouri Route 79 intersection. “There will be curb, gutter and sidewalk work, as well as new lighting and pavement installed in this area,” Killen said. “Although the design of the entire project will continue to be developed, we are pleased no businesses are being displaced in that area,” he said. The only displacement is the sign at the Ayerco convenience store. “The new bridge will tie in very close to where the old bridge does, and that construction will be at the very end of the project,” he explained. (See, bridge, A2)
By BETH ZUMWALT Pike Press Donnie Apps, Pike County Clerk for the last 16 years, says he is not running for re-election next year. “I’m just ready to retire,” Apps said. “I’ve had several friends die and others who are sick and unable to enjoy life. Life’s just too short.”
“I would never run and then resign in the middle of the term.”
Donnie Apps Pike County clerk Apps says if he were to run again, it would be a commitment until he was 67. “I would never run and then resign in the middle of the term,” he said. “And I don’t want to work until I”m 67.” Apps says he has enjoyed his years serving as the county clerk and serving the people of Pike County, adding that he is grateful to the people of Pike County who kept electing him and most of all to his staff. “They have been great,” he said. “My advice to whoever decides to run is to remember the people who put you in that office and your staff. There is a great staff in this office and if you take care of them, they will take care of you.” Apps said with the exception of computerization, his office hasn’t changed much except for elections.
Donnie Apps
“The state changes something every year,” he said. “No election is the same as the one before it.” The county clerk office is responsible for filing vital statistics; births, deaths and marriages are recorded in that office as well as land deeds, transfers, mortgages, liens, etc. Other duties include voting, elections and handling the county’s business including issuing payroll checks, organizing bills for payment by the county board and other tasks to keep the county going. Apps said he recently had a new granddaughter and has other grandchildren who are in activities that he wants to enjoy. “I’ll probably golf some and fish some,” he said. “And most of all, enjoy my family.”