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Thursday, November 13, 2014
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County OKs Gateway request A 14-11 vote gives Gateway more funds By Goldie Currie gcurrie@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — The Bureau County Board voted 14-11 on Tuesday to
raise the county’s tax levy from .033 percent to .046 percent at the request of Gateway Services Inc. Jeff Dean, president and CEO of Gateway, addressed the board before the vote and explained the agency’s request is to help expand and develop additional professional behavioral health services in the area. “We’re not asking for
more dollars in providing the same services, but rather the increase is for new services,” he said. Gateway’s new business plan will help increase quality of services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities by providing special services locally, and also help provide the needed behavioral health services that are not currently being
met or met well in Bureau County, Dean said. “I believe we can do a better job locally,” he said. Dean expressed his frustrations with the amount of time and resources it currently takes to drive a patient to Chicago for special services for a 15-minute appointment. “What are we doing to improve the life of that individual?” he ques-
tioned. “We’re here because we see people have behavioral needs that aren’t being adequately addressed.” The increase in the tax levy will generate around $74,000 for Gateway’s new expanded program. Dean explained he is building the program on a three-legged stool — which includes additional support from the county,
private pay insurances and increase in Medicaid funding and Affordable Care Act. Board member Mike Maynard questioned whether the $74,000 would be enough to support the program, or would Gateway be back next year asking for an additional increase?
Gateway Page 4
St. Paul Street project nears completion Parking issue comes before council By Goldie Currie gcurrie@bcrnews.com
SPRING VALLEY — The downtown demolition projects in Spring Valley are wrapping up. City Engineer Larry Good reported on Monday the last bit of work being done at the 200 and 202 E. St. Paul St. location was about complete. “I suspect most all of you have seen the repairs of the remaining wall of the Gold Mine Restaurant,” he said. “It looks a lot better than we all feared it might.” This came as good news to aldermen as they had previously expressed concerns about the cosmetic look of the restaurant’s remaining wall once the 200 and 202 building were taken
down. Also, at the 124 E. St. Paul St. property, Good reported most of the building had been torn down, and the final loads of debris are being hauled from the site. “If the weather cooperates, it should be finished up within the next few days,” he said. What’s going on with 126 E. St. Paul St. building? In the midst of discussing progress on the 124 E. St. Paul St. building, discussion arose about the status of the 126 E. St. Paul St. building, which the city also has hopes to purchase and demolish. City Attorney Jim Andreoni explained how he is at a current standstill on trying to track down an owner of the building. He explained the issue he has run into is that one of the judgment creditors for the building is now deceased. After talking
Repairs Page 4
BCR photo/Mike Vaughn
Honoring those who served Princeton veterans organizations gathered Tuesday at Veterans Park on South Main Street for a Veterans Day ceremony, which included a salute to all veterans, brief speeches and a flag ceremony. Several towns and villages around Bureau County held ceremonies in honor of Veterans Day. See more photos on Page 2.
The Center for Wounded Veterans
Former PHS grad/veteran Eric Swenson is instrumental in the process By Zita Henneberry zhenneberry@bcrnews.com
CHAMPAIGN/URBANA — On Tuesday, America reached out to thank its veterans for their service and sacrifices, remembering the wars and all those who were lost. However, a veteran’s battle does not Year 168 No. 136 Two Sections - 32 Pages
© Bureau County Republican
end when he or she comes home. “It’s difficult to return to civilian life after war, and especially so if you’ve been severely wounded. We must do what we can to ensure that the transition is smooth for those heroic men and women who have fought to secure our freedom,” said Ron
Chez, Chez Family Foundation president. The University of Illinois hopes to make the transition easier and more feasible for wounded veterans with the Chez Family Foundation Center for Wounded Veterans in Higher Education. “Because for any veteran returning to higher education is difficult,” said Eric Swenson, member of
the Center for Wounded Veterans in Higher Education Student Advisory Board. Opening in fall of 2015, the Center for Wounded Veterans is focused on helping wounded veterans and their families successfully navigate and transition into the academic world. With accommodating residential facilities that offer
24 hours a day assistance, individual and family counseling opportunities, access to adapted exercise equipment, rehabilitation services, and much more, the center is cable of assisting almost any University of Illinois student veteran. “The great emphasis of the center lies on helping veterans who have particularly great injuries or disabilities,” Swenson said. “And some of those veterans might not be able to pursue higher education at all, if it weren’t for the
Swenson
center that’s being built.” Swenson finds the strong history of serving people with disabilities
Swenson Page 4