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Thursday, June 23, 2016
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Princeton bird tests positive for West Nile Health department urges residents to be cautious By Goldie Rapp grapp@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — A bird from Princeton tested positive for West Nile Virus, meaning the virus is present in the local area. The Bureau County Health Department
(BCHD), which also serves Putnam and Marshall counties, sent out a press release this week confirming the Illinois Department of Agriculture had notified the health department the bird had been submitted for the virus testing and was found to be positive.
The health department is urging the public to take precautions to prevent mosquito bites. Diana Rawlings, CEO, said people who believe they are showing symptoms of West Nile should contact their medical provider. She said in rare instances West
Nile infections can be fatal. “Mild cases of West Nile may cause a slight fever or headache. More severe infections are marked by a rapid onset of a high fever with head and body aches, disorientation, tremors, convulsions, and in the most severe cases, paralysis
or death,” she said, adding symptoms will occur from three to 14 days after the bite of an infected mosquito. Those at the highest risk of serious illness are those 50 years of age or older. Also, the Centers for Disease Control and Preven-
tion (CDC) states people with certain medical conditions such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease and those who have received organ transplants are also at greater risk for serious illness.
West Nile Page 4
Talk’s cheap ... Princeton’s phone audit finds $19,000 in savings
By Goldie Rapp grapp@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — Following an audit of its telecommunication devices, the city of Princeton has found a way to generate a savings of about $19,000 a year on phone services alone. At the Princeton City Council meeting on Monday, June 20, Princeton City Manager Rachel Skaggs reported The SpyGlass Group reviewed the city’s telecommunication invoices from Frontier, TTI, IV Cellular and Connecting Point. Following the audit, it was determined many of the city’s services could be reduced or cancelled, according to Skaggs. Under landline connections, the city was able to eliminate one unused line, caller ID for one phone, eliminate an analog data circuit and eliminate some wire maintenance. The savings will total about $1,600 per year. Under IV Cellular connections, Skaggs said the city’s cellular service was given a clean bill of health. She said SpyGlass was surprised by this as it is rare
they find a provider with unlimited data at the price the city is receiving. There were some cost savings from the elimination of four cell phone lines that were no longer in use and the cancellation of some duplicate phone insurance. The cost savings for the cellular connections is about $3,000 a year. In addition to the phone audit, the city is getting a new phone system. The system, which is a PRI (primary rate interface) network, will be one line going into city hall that will be able to be dispersed over the city’s fiber. All numbers at city hall will remain the same. According to a handout released by the city, there will be a total of 200 lines to utilize, if needed. The system will be able to be maintained in-house and save on costs of outside vendors coming in to repair the phone system. With the new phone system alone, the city will save about $1,200 a month compared to the current phone system at city hall. In other news:
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BCR photo/Eric Engel
Little motorists learn the rules of the road Future motorists rolled out back of St. Louis School during Safety Town June 13 to June 24. Princeton Police officer Rob Jensen, teachers and volunteers helped the kids recognize traffic signs and how to stay in their proper lane on the blacktop behind the school. The event is sponsored by the Princeton Junior Woman’s Club.
Better for everyone
Spring Valley concerned with serving all citizens equally By Eric Engel eengel@bcrnews.com
SPRING VALLEY — The Spring Valley City Council wrapped up its meeting Monday, June 20, by discussing many matters pertinent to public cohesion in the city. Mayor Walt Marini said Hall High School’s life skills and transitions class sent a letter to the council concerning the condition of city streets for people with disabilities. Marini said Spring Valley Year 170 No. 75 One Section - 24 Pages
is trying its best to address those issues with the money available — using video gaming money and the Safe Routes to School Grant for sidewalk repair, but they all know the finances acquired through the city’s motor fuel tax is not enough to keep up with all the road repairs needed. “That’s the reason we’re putting a .5 percent sales tax increase on the ballot in November. All the money raised from this increase will go to repairing the streets
and handicap ramps in the city,” Marini said, adding the increase is desperately needed to keep up with the work in Spring Valley, not only for the handicapped but for everybody. “In addition to that, this tax will not be on food, drugs, vehicles, boats or any of these big ticket items, and it will be paid not only by the residents of Spring Valley but by everyone that shops in Spring Valley. I’ll probably say this several times before November,
but I’m asking everybody to get out and vote and pass the sales tax increase for the betterment of our community.” In other business, Spring Valley Police Chief Kevin Sangston said the police force picked up a shipment of Narcan Friday, June 17 from the Bureau County Health Department and received a grant to pay for it from all the Bureau County agencies. “Narcan is the drug first responders use to reverse the
effects of heroin overdoses, which is a huge issue we’re having. All of our squad cars will be equipped with it,” Sangston said. Also, Superintendent of Public Works Jeff Norton said the city’s bucket truck was fixed last week, and the city is working hard to clean up tree debris throughout town. Economic Development Director Debb Ladgenski gave a reminder the Spring Valley Outdoor Expo is
Spring Valley Page 4
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