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Serving Bureau County Since 1847
Thursday, September 26, 2013
BV adopts ‘conservative’ budget Board hears plea for fine arts program By Goldie Currie gcurrie@bcrnews.com
MANLIUS – The Bureau Valley School Board adopted their Fiscal Year 2014 budget on Monday. Superintendent Dennis Thompson called the budget a conservative look at the year’s anticipated expenses and income. The total expenditures are projected at $13,994,632, while revenue shows a total of $13,272,305, which falls short by $722,327. The district plans to make up the deficit using money from working cash bonds. While the district was in a scramble last year after having sold $3 million worth of working cash bonds and having to find ways to make it last three years, Thompson confirmed the district only used $600,000 of that money last year, and after this year, it’s anticipated that about $1.54 million will remain in the working cash fund. The good news is the district has increased its tax rate from $3 million to $3.175 million. “That’s primarily contributed to flat increases in real estate and increase in farming land values,” Thompson said. “(We) are one of the only districts that has had an increase in income from their own taxing body.” Other good news for the district is state aid is anticipated to increase from $2.73 million to $2.76 million. In other news, during public comment at the meeting, BV North kindergarten teacher Valerie Peterson spoke out about her concern with the district’s financial situation.
See BV Page 4
Mineral incident investigated Anthony dies of injuries associated with case By Donna Barker dbarker@bcrnews.com
MINERAL— Brandon R. Anthony, 20, of Mineral has died from injuries received in a Saturday incident in Mineral. On Wednesday, Bureau County Sheriff John Thompson confirmed he had received a telephone call Tuesday morning that an autopsy would be performed
that afternoon on Anthony’s body. The Mineral man had been pronounced brain dead Sunday at St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, but he was being kept on life support until an organ donor process could be completed. That organ donor process was expected to take a day or so. Thompson said he did have officers attending Tuesday’s autopsy. Some assessment results were immediate, while other test results, such as toxicology reports, are
pending. The time of Anthony’s death and cause of death would need to come from Peoria County Coroner Johnna Ingersoll, the sheriff said. However, the autopsy results did not change the direction of the department’s ongoing investigation into the incident and Anthony’s death, Thompson said. Ingersoll did not return a phone call from the Bureau County Republican by press time.
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BCR photo/Goldie Currie
Siamese twins on the prowl for LaMoille Homecoming LaMoille High School students participated in “twin day” during their homecoming spirit week on Tuesday. Students came dressed alike with friends and teachers. Junior Griffin Kozeal (left) came to school sporting the same cat printed T-shirt as his cousin, senior Garrett Anderson. Other fun spirit days included Neon Day, Throwback Day and White Out Day. The AmboyLaMoille football team will play the Morrison Mustangs Friday night.
Looking for a safe harvest Farm-related deaths on the decline By Donna Barker
Year 167 No. 116
dbarker@bcrnews.com
Three Sections - 48 Pages
PRINCETON — The number of laborers and others killed in Illinois farm accidents is the lowest it has been in 35 years, according to statistics compiled by the Country Financial insurance firm.
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According to Country Financial, 12 farm-related deaths were reported during the 2012-13 year, which ended June 30. For the same time period one year ago, 20 farm-related deaths were reported. On Monday, Bureau County Coroner Janice Wamhoff said she would agree with the recent statistics on the decline
of farm-related accidents. It’s been quite a while since she’s handled a farm accident death, she said. As far as any possible reasons for those declines, Wamhoff said the farm machinery being produced now would have more safety devices on them, and people may be more aware of the dangers of
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