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POSTAL PATRON LOCAL R.R. BOXHOLDER CARRIER ROUTE PRESORT
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
Education and enterprise Putnam County Schools to consider funding vs. enterprise By Dave Cook
news@putnamcountyrecord.com
GRANVILLE — The state of Illinois’ ongoing and ever deepening financial crisis has placed schools into a critical condition. Districts have no idea when, or even if, they’ll receive funding from
the broken system. Interwoven into this situation is the state’s declining industrial environment which has presented the Putnam County School District with a difficult decision. During the Feb. 21 board meeting, the North Central Illinois Council of Governments presented some general information regarding the new Bureau-Putnam Enterprise Zone. According to the NCICG website, the zone covers portions of Bureau and Putnam counties and is designed to attract growing industries by providing assistance along with state and local incentives.
One of the local incentives offered is a near 100 percent, 10-year property tax abatement on industrial/commercial real property improvements, a 6 to 6.25 percent local and state sales tax deduction on locally-purchased building materials, and a “zone project only” 0.5 percent investment tax credit on qualified property/ equipment investments. PC’s individual taxing districts, of which the school district is one, must approve the tax abatement which, while good for industry, would remove a potential source of desperately needed funding increases. “Our school board will be reviewing
proposals and financial numbers prior to any resolutions regarding the enterprise zone. With the insecurity and uncertainty surrounding funding, it’s critical our school district analyze all future financial matters closely. The district understands the long-term value the enterprise zone provides to Putnam County and the surrounding areas, and we’re supportive. However, we have to be conscious as to the long-term obstacles our district might be facing,” Superintendent Carl Carlson said.
Education Page 3
Coldnosed memories
Gaming at The Corner Store
PCCC therapy dog visit creates memories, smiles
Granville approves licensing upgrade
By Dave Cook
By Dave Cook
news@putnamcountyrecord.com
news@putnamcountyrecord.com
STANDARD — Dogs have been our companions for several years and have wellearned their title of man’s best friend. They are often inextricably woven into our lives, yet when many people get older, they may find themselves with no access to this important friendship. Therapy dogs can help fill this void to some extent. Pam Booras of Unleashed Potential in Ottawa is a dog trainer and behaviorist specializing in therapy dogs. She visited the PCCC on Feb. 23 with Tillie, one of her three rescued Cavalier King Charles Spaniels who is a certified therapy dog, and of course, a very good girl. After an introduction and description of what therapy dogs do; how they differ from service dogs; and how they’re certified; Tillie and Pam provided a more direct example of what they do by moving their way through the room and making new friends who shared the stories of the dogs they had once owned. “Programs like this are good because it increases people’s awareness of these dogs, and it’s good for the people here to see a dog again. It helps them share their stories, and it brings back good memories,” said PCCC site manager Shauna Greenwood, who laughed as she received a few licks on the nose as Tillie lay on her lap. Booras regularly visits several area nursing homes and hospitals, including the emergency rooms and intensive care units, and she was quick to explain why a visit from a friendly, calm dog can be of greater assistance than one might think. “It gets people’s minds off of why they’re there and helps put them in a different place temporarily. It’s a reprieve that brightens up their day,” Booras said.
GRANVILLE — Village of Granville residents will soon have another local option when they get the itch to play the odds and hopefully win some extra money. During the Feb. 21 meeting, the Granville Village Board approved the request from Steve Tonioni, owner of The Corner Store, to upgrade his liquor license to a Class A, so his establishment can operate gaming machines. Also at the meeting, the board spoke of the success of last year’s county-wide electronic recycling event, so the board agreed to be part of a collection event this year with the date still to be determined. Village Attorney Brad Popurella presented the board with a proposed drug and alcohol use/abuse policy for review. The board will discuss the proposal at the next board meeting on March 7. The board approved the Bureau-Putnam Enterprise Zone resolution. The board also approved a $100 donation to the 32nd annual Teen Showcase which will be held on March 30 at IVCC.
Therapy Dog Page 4
PCR photo/Dave Cook
Bill Steck greeted Tillie, a rescued Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who’s also a licensed therapy dog, with a warm hello and a friendly scratch behind the ears as she made her way through the PCCC while introducing herself to several new friends during her Feb. 23 visit.
Gaming Page 2 Vol. 149 No. 27 One Section - 16 Pages
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