1 Front
Serving Bureau County Since 1847
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
NEWSSTAND PRICE 75¢
Are you dreaming of a white Christmas? There’s a better chance for a warm Christmas! By Goldie Currie gcurrie@bcrnews.com
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, but will it be white? After a back and forth guessing game last week, it seems the chances are diminishing as we count
down the final days before Christmas. A white Christmas is defined as at least an inch of snow on the ground on Christmas Day, according to a press release issued by the Illinois State Water Survey, Prairie Research Institute. “In general, the odds (of a white Christmas) are about
40-60 percent in the northern third of Illinois, 20-40 percent in Central Illinois and 0-20 percent in Southern Illinois,” Illinois State Climatologist Jim Angel predicted last week. AccuWeather also released a report later last week stating a major storm centered on Christmas Eve would affect the Midwest and East with areas of strong winds, heavy snow, torrential rain and thunderstorms. The report said
those with direct or connecting flights to New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit and Chicago should be prepared for disruptions and delays due primarily to wind, rain, thunderstorms, and in some cases, snow. On a local level, however, the WQAD News 8 is reporting a more mild prediction. Today’s (Tuesday) forecast is showing temperatures to reach the low
to mid-40s as clouds and showers hang around. On Christmas Eve, the temperature is supposed to drop back down into the upper 30s and we could see light showers, but they will be brief and quickly move out. On Christmas Day, WQAD’s forecast is showing sunshine with a high of 42 degrees Fahrenheit and only a 10 percent chance of precipitation. Bob Byrne of Princeton, who is with the National
Weather Service Cooperative Observer Program, is also predicting a green Christmas this year with the reports of temperatures lingering around the 40s. We may not get that white Christmas, but despite the small chance of snow, at least the dry weather conditions and sunny sky will allow for pleasant traveling in the area on Christmas Day. Comment on this story at www.bcrnews.com.
20/20 Vision for Illinois schools New plan being looked at by area districts By Goldie Currie gcurrie@bcrnews.com
School boards around the county are now being introduced to a new statewide education plan — Illinois Vision 20/20. Led by the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA), Vision 20/20 is a long-range blueprint for improving public education throughout the entire state. The education plan focuses on four policy priorities: 21st Century learning, highly-effective educators, shared accountability, and equitable and adequate funding. At last week’s Spring Valley Elementary School Board meeting, Superintendent Jim Hermes talked briefly about the plan to board members. Hermes explained statewide education organizations and several educators have come together to develop the plan. He also pointed out how SVE Principal Kim Lisanby-Barber was one of the local administrators who worked on the plan. “These are goals that we hope to get legislators to take seriously,” he said. Hermes said many education associations will begin writing letters of support for Vision 20/20, and many school boards will adopt resolutions to also show their support in the plan. “It’s a lot of really good ideas to help students in Illinois,” he said. Year 168 No. 154 One Section - 20 Pages
© Bureau County Republican
Hermes asked board members to review the plan and said he would be bringing it up again at the January meeting. Last week, Bureau Valley Superintendent Steve Endress also addressed his board briefly about Vision 20/20. “This is an effort led by IASA to put forth a forward thinking plan based on good decisions, good data and good motives,” he said. “They’re trying to have a positive voice for the future and taking back the positive direction of legislation, instead of legislation happening in public schools and we being reactionary.” Endress said state education organizations that have contributed to the plan would be presenting the legislation. He named many of the organizations involved including Illinois Association of School Business Officials; Illinois Principals Association; Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools; Illinois Association of School Boards and the Superintendents’ Commission for the Study of Demographics and Diversity. “They’re adding more organizations all the time,” he said. Endress compared Illinois Vision 20/20 to BVision 20/20, which is a new advisory committee within the district made up of 10 teachers and five administrators.
20/20 Page 4
BCR photo/Goldie Currie
With the countdown dwindling down to the last days before Christmas, Santa Claus took a couple of minutes to sit down with the Bureau County Republican to answer questions about his busiest night of the year.
Santa shares his secrets Prior to his trip around the world, Santa took time to chat with the BCR By Goldie Currie gcurrie@bcrnews.com
With only two days left until Christmas, Santa Claus is busy making final preparations before
his long ride around the world Wednesday night. The North Pole is full of excitement in the remaining hours before the grand takeoff. The elves are dashing around quickly wrap-
ping and packing the last bundle of gifts; Santa is making final adjustments to his naughty and nice lists; Rudolph and the other reindeer are getting in their last-minute naps before they saddle up to pull the sleigh; and Mrs. Claus has laid out Santa’s nicest red suit and is now sewing on new gold buttons to ensure he stays warm in the night sky. On Wednesday, Santa
will again set out to deliver toys to all the good girls and boys — it’s an annual tradition that began hundreds of years ago and yet one that Santa looks forward to more and more each year. With all that’s left to do, Santa recently took a few minutes from his home in the North Pole to answer some questions from the
Santa Page 4