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Single Copy Cost 50¢ Volume 147 No. 17
By Dixie Schroeder
GRANVILLE — The Putnam County School Board met in regular session Dec. 15. The board heard reports on the Vision 20/20 program, state payments and the tax levy. The board held a public truth-in-taxation hearing before the regular meeting. Superintendent Jay McCracken explained how the process for the tax levy in Putnam County works. “The reason for the levy extension, as I have explained before, is that our levy extension is what we receive in tax dollars. If it exceeds the 105 percent, then we must hold a truth-in-taxation hearing. We really do not expect to have a tax increase this year, as a matter of fact ... We believe the tax rate will stay at approximately 3.95 percent, which is not an increase in percent. The difference is between the extension and what we have to ask for to receive that extension,” McCracken said. The board approved the tax levy in the regular session of the meeting. McCracken also informed the board that not only is the state behind in its payments to the district, the federal government is as well. The state owes the Putnam County School District $220,372.24, spread over the early childhood education, the vocational agriculture, the special education and transportation funds. The federal government owes the district $36,149 spread over the federal lunch and breakfast programs. Jennifer Smith and Amy Kreiser, teachers at Putnam County Primary School,
Here’s a look back at the year’s highlights By Shannon Serpette Shaw Media Service
Jan. 1 With a new calendar year came new laws. Public Act 98-0506 was aimed
gave a presentation to the school board on the family reading night held at the primary school. The theme for the night was “Pete the Cat.” Students and families were able to go from station to station to enjoy activities based on the book series. Pete the Cat was on hand to take pictures with, and high school volunteers did face painting for the students. McCracken also reviewed the executive summary of Vision 20/20, an educational system that stands behind public education in Illinois. The mission statement of Vision 20/20 has been reviewed by Putnam County staff in teacher in-service workshops. Vision 20/20 has four pillars that include an equitable and adequate funding pillar. McCracken expressed concern to the board on this pillar. “If there is one area that concerns me, this is the pillar. There is a pillar about education funding reform in Vision 20/20. That pillar is based upon research, and they have had superintendents across the state sit in on the funding aspect of this. We still have more to learn about that. Whenever I talk about Vision 20/20, I am very much a proponent of it. However, I am somewhat reserved in this area because I’ve yet to see how it impacts our district,” he said. “I don’t want it to look anything like Senate Bill 16. I know it’s a better formula than Senate Bill 16, but we don’t know how the formula for Vision 20/20 totally impacts us.” The district is also placing a certificate of deposit (CD) out for bid that is currently at North Central Bank. The amount of the CD is $334,405, and it will mature on March 5, 2015.
Play ball ... in Hennepin By Ken Schroeder
kschroeder@putnamcountyrecord.com
HENNEPIN — The Hennepin Village Board opened its Dec. 17 meeting with a moment of silence and remembrance for Hennepin resident Eric Ciucci. A member of the Hennepin Businessmen, finance office at North Central Bank and golf coach at Putnam County High School, Ciucci died on Dec. 12. “We express our deepest sympathy to the Ciucci and Boggio families at this time of loss,” village President Kevin Coleman said.
The board received a request from the Putnam County High School baseball program asking for a donation of $500 in the name of Hennepin athlete Austin Biagini. That request did not go over well. “I don’t oppose supporting Austin, if that’s what they’re asking for,” Coleman said. “But as the letter reads, all of the money collected will go to Jenkins Field in Granville for improvements. It was just under five years ago that the village put over $40,000 into improvements to that ball diamond.”
The ball diamond in Hennepin is also used for high school baseball, but Coleman noted only three games were scheduled at the Hennepin diamond, all during March. There are 11 home games scheduled this year. “There’s an 80 percent chance those games will be canceled due to weather anyway,” Coleman said. The Hennepin diamond was the main field for the high school baseball program before the Jenkins Field diamond was finished, according to board member Quentin Buffington. Although the school
pays for maintenance on the Hennepin field, board members noted that maintenance seems to be less than optimal. “You can see all the crabgrass,” Buffington said. “We used to fertilize it, and it was fine. Last year we didn’t, and here comes the crabgrass.” The Granville field does not have lights, while the Hennepin field is set up for night games. “In my opinion, let’s support Austin. I think he’s a great kid. I have no problems with that,” Coleman said. “But it goes
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PCR photo/Ken Schroeder
A blessed holiday to you and your family St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Hennepin is home to Father Patrick DeMeulemeester’s Christmas creche display. Members of the church, Donna Holevoet of Arlington, enjoy looking at the display DeMeulemeester puts out in the Mother’s Chapel of the church each year. Holevoet is formerly from Mark and looks forward to seeing the display each year.
Remembering 2014 at making the roads safer in Illinois. It banned drivers from using hand-held cell phones while behind the wheel. Law enforcement and first responders are exempt from the law, as are drivers who are calling to report an emergency. The Putnam County Food Pantry thanked the community for banding
together for the greater good. It announced Christmas baskets were distributed to 158 families, helping 497 people. That figure included 198 children and 70 seniors. Jan. 8 Axline Pharmacy opened its doors in Granville, bringing a pharmacy back to the village after the closure of Granville Drug.
Isaiah Roberts of Magnolia became the youngest person in history to graduate from Illinois State University in December. Roberts, who was home schooled, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in marketing sales. Jan. 15 Putnam County Clerk and Recorder Dan Kuhn announced he is running
Vol. 147 No. 17
for re-election. Kuhn said he has been honored to work as clerk for the past 11 years. The Putnam County Food Pantry released its 2013 statistics. The pantry served 18 less people during 2013 than it did in 2012, according to Judy Hopkins, food pantry volunteer. The number of Christmas baskets dis-
tributed in 2013, however, was the highest it has been in the food pantry’s 26-year history. Jan. 22 When Hopkins and Associates needed more space, they moved to the building next door, the former Granville Drug building, when it became
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