PHOENIX FINISH
The men’s basketball team fell to Green Bay Saturday, 81-72. PAGE 7
CHUCK VEGAS
The University Board will host a performance competition Saturday. PAGE 3
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Monday, November 30, 2015 “TELL THE TRUTH AND DON’T BE AFRAID” C E L E BRATI NG A CE NTUR Y OF COV E RA GE 19 15- 201 5
VOL. 100 | NO. 65 W W W . D A I L YE A S TE R N N E W S . C O M
City council to vote on energy resolutions By Mackenzie Freund City Editor | @mgfreund_news The Charleston City Council will be meeting Tuesday to vote on topics involving the consulting services agreement made with Good Energy, LP, as well as Geographic Information Support Systems. The City of Charleston entered an agreement with Good Energy, LP, located in New York, N.Y., in July 2015 and then renewed the contract in August. The city council will be voting on whether or not to approve the renewal of the original contract set up with Good Energy, LP. This resolution also states that the city manager will be authorized to receive and review bids. “The council of the City of Charleston finds that the best interests of the city are served by authorizing the city manager to receive and review bids and, in consultation with the city’s consultant Good Energy, LP, accept the bid most beneficial to the city,” the resolution says. Along with the approval of the contract, the city council will be voting on a resolution to authorize the extension of consulting agreement services with Good Energy, LP. The agreements set in the contract said first that the agreement should be automatically renewed and “extended for a term equal to that of the term of the electricity supply contract entered into or renewed by the city,” according to the resolution. The agreements also say the amendment will bind the parties and their successors. The document included in the resolution is included in the agenda packet and constitutes the agreements. “All other terms, conditions, and provisions of the agreement not in conflict with this amendment shall remain in full force and effect,” the resolution said. The Geographic Support System Services is a part of the city’s plans for the capital improvement program. The City of Charleston has a need to update its maps and records of the road, water, and sewer utility systems, as well as beginning preliminary work on a GIS system that includes the police department data and statistics. The resolution in regards to the GIS system says the system endeavor “can be implemented in a cost effective manner by an agreement with Eastern Illinois University.” The city council will also be voting on an ordinance to approve the annual tax levy for the next fiscal year. Along with the tax levy, the city council will also be voting on a resolution to approve the fire and police pension board fund report in regards to the tax levy. The city council will also be voting on the consent agenda, consisting of the approval of the Nov. 17 meeting minutes, the Dec. 4 bills payable, and the payroll for the pay period ending on Nov. 14. The city council will be meeting in Charleston City Hall at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Mackenzie Freund can be reached at 581-2812 or mgfreund@eiu.edu.
MOLLY DOTSON | THE DAILY EASTERN NE WS
Two-year-old Dean Hazelrigg, whose father Todd Hazelrigg is a junior physics major, stands next to Santa for a picture Saturday at the Festival of Trees.
Sarah Bush hosts Festival of Trees By Sydney Edwards Copy Editor | @DEN_News The Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center hosted its 17th annual Festival of Trees featuring 30 decorated trees, centerpieces and live wreaths. The Festival of Trees is a family-friendly event, with Santa Claus there to greet the children. As the children came into the room to meet Santa, they were greeted by his elves. Kids were able to have cookies with Santa and sit on his lap for a quick photo. While they were with Santa, the children also read some holiday stories. One of the people who attended the event, Matt Jones, a Charleston resident, said he and his family have come to the festival every year for the past five years. “We are here to see Santa,” Jones said. “I always enjoy coming because it gets me in the mood of the season.” While the children had their fun with Santa and face painting, there were things for adults to do too. Adults could enjoy many of the decorated
"I always enjoy coming because it gets me in the mood of the season." Matt Jones, Charleston resident trees that were featured at the event. As people walked through an aisle of trees and into a room of Christmas items, they were greeted by the smiles of the Sarah Bush Lincoln employees and volunteers while piano music played in the background. All of the 30 featured trees were decorated with a variety of themes ranging from Minions from the film “Despicable Me” to a construction themed tree entitled “Constructing Hope.” Each tree was also auctioned off in a live auction at the Saturday night gala. Kathy Clark, the chairwoman for the Festival of Trees, said the gala was sold out earlier in the week before the Festival of Trees event began. However, those who attended the Festival of Trees did not have to wait until Saturday night to get trees or other items. The event also included a silent auction
for the 4-foot tall trees and the centerpieces throughout Friday and Saturday. There was also a cash-and-carry option on items such as 2-foot tall trees and wreaths designed by Sarah Bush Lincoln employees and volunteers. Other holiday decorations were offered at the Merry Marketplace. The Festival of Trees also had one special tree, the Lincolnland Hospice Memory Star Tree, which people could dedicate in memory of loved ones they have lost. People were able to pay to receive an engraved Memory Star with their loved one’s name on it. The star could remain hanging on the Memory tree once he event was over, the stars could be taken home for their families to hang on their tree.
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Student community service director resigns Staff Report | @DEN_News Rachel Fisher, the founding director of student community service, has stepped down from her position to pursue “education and career opportunities,” according to a press release from Dan Nadler, the vice president of student affairs. As director of student community service, Fisher created and organized service projects ranging from 40 to 1,500 volunteers. “Significantly increasing the number of EIU students performing community service, building meaningful partnerships with human service agencies, and enhancing our overall programmatic efforts are hallmarks of
Rachel’s legacy,” Nadler said. During her time as director, Eastern was named one of the top 600 universities in the country for long-term volunteer efforts through the President’s National Honor Roll for Community Service in 2012 and 2013. Eastern was also chosen as one of 50 institutions to be nationally recognized as a lead institution in the civic engagement work by National Association for Student Affairs Professionals. Fisher has a master’s degree in corporate communication, and has worked as a corporate trainer for Marriott hotels in the Los Angeles area. She has worked in public relations for
both non-profit organizations and corporations. Fisher currently serves as a board member for the Eastern Illinois Food Bank, Coles County American Red Cross of Coles County Salvation Army, and Central Illinois Stage Company. She has previously served as a board member for the Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois, and was a member of the Charleston Rotary and Public Relations Society of America. “Rachel’s leadership, enthusiasm, and steadfast concern for our students and our community will be missed,” Nadler said. “I am absolutely confident Rachel will continue to “Make the Difference” in the future.”