PCR-12-25-2103

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Record 1 Front

The Putnam County

Volume 146 No. 17

Putnam County’s Only Newspaper

Single Copy Cost 50¢

“PRSRT STD.” US Postage Paid No. 486 SHAW MEDIA POSTAL PATRON LOCAL R.R. BOXHOLDER CARRIER ROUTE PRESORT

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Putnam County Schools talk levy Tax rate holds at 3.96 percent By Ken Schroeder kschroeder@putnamcountyrecord.com

GRANVILLE — Putnam County Schools Superintendent Jay McCracken gave the school board an early Christmas present with a tax levy projection maintaining the current rate of 3.96 percent. McCracken added the rate might even be

lower — at 3.87 percent — depending on the district’s equalized assessed valuation. In other action, the board: • Appointed high school Principal Bob Peterson as alternate member of the Starved Rock Area Vocational Training and Education Board and the Area Career Cen-

ter Board. McCracken is chairman of both boards and proposed the designation to enable those boards to have a quorum present in case of his absence. Peterson will not act as chairman in his place. • Heard the latest report from McCracken regarding state financial support. As of Dec. 10, the state of Illinois owed the Putnam County School District

$223,776.54. Most of the shortage was attributed to the transportation and special education funds. • Heard the annual school library report from district media Director Annette Davis. The report included news of grants to the library of $250, $1,500 and $150 from various private organizations. • Received a gift of a poster-sized photo from

Quentin Buffington; the photo is of the Putnam County High School boys baseball team which advanced to the 2013 Class 1A State finals and received runner-up. • Recognized board member Jim Gibson for being appointed to the board of the National Association for Workforce Improvement. • Hired Jerrod Moore to fill the remainder of Judy

Looking back at 2013 By Ken Schroeder kschroeder@putnamcountyrecord.com

Editor’s note: This is the second in a series looking back at 2013. July 3 Putnam County Emergency Management Agency supervisor Jim Goldasich was recognized by the Putnam County Rotary during its annual awards banquet June 27 at Ray’s Place in Hennepin. Goldasich received the chapter’s Service Above Self Award, one of the highest honors given to a non-Rotary member. Music, art and lots of fun was on the agenda at the third annual Bigfoot Band Camp on July 25-28 at the Putnam County Conservation area in rural McNabb. More than 30 national, regional and local acts performed live on two stages throughout the four-day and three-night event. July 10 The Federal Emergency Management Agency added Putnam County to the list of Illinois counties allowing private citizens to file for reparations due to the April 19 flooding. Rural Granville resident Trent Griffith brought his concerns about the 50-acre annexation of the land east of Granville to the Granville Village Board at its meeting on July 2. His worry was the possible increase of traffic on Silverspoon Avenue and the safety of children on that road.

July 17 The oldest courthouse in the state was found to be in need of some major renovations. The Putnam County Courthouse was built in 1839, with later additions in the 1870s. However, repairs to the building’s exterior over the years have primarily been aimed at solving the shortterm problem instead of long-term solutions. Diseased mosquitoes infected with the West Nile Virus were found in Putnam County. Kurt Kuchle, director of health protection for the Bureau/ Putnam County Health Department, said the sample was collected and tested on July 9. July 24 The village of Granville received more bad news about the water system during its regular board meeting July 16. Water pump No. 3 failed to operate three times in a short amount of time. Property issues were the topic of the day at the Hennepin Village Board meeting on July 17. Problems from property lines to drainage problems were brought before the trustees. July 31 The Illinois General Assembly passed Senate Bill 2356 to Gov. Pat Quinn’s desk, which will increase speed limits on Illinois’ rural freeways and certain highways from 65 miles per hour to 70 miles per hour.

See 2013 Page 3

Recycling in Mark Board hears of $2,000 recycling grant By Dixie Schroeder dschroeder@putnamcountyrecord.com

Putnam County Record photo/Dixie Schroeder

Toys in the Pantry helping others this holiday season Zachary Popurella helps wrap a present for the Toys in the Pantry on Dec. 18. Working with the Putnam County Food Pantry, the organization made the holidays brighter for more than 150 families this season.

Inside

Vol. 146 No. 17 One Section - 12 Pages The Putnam County

Record Putnam County’s Only Newspaper

© The Putnam County Record

Gedraitis’ year as English teacher in the high school. McCracken said Moore comes to the staff with “impeccable” commendations. • Named new coaches for sixth-grade volleyball and fifth- and sixth-grade girls and boys basketball. Thea Schwab will take on volleyball duties, and Jason Lenkaitis will work with Scott Curry on the basketball assignment.

Polar Express Day

Birthday donation

See Page 2

See Page 4

MARK — The Mark Village Board heard about recycling at its bi-monthly board meeting on Dec. 18. Board member Ray Veronda was voted in to run the meeting in Mayor Frank Niewinski’s absence. Kendall Cramer, community development coordinator of North Central Illinois Council of Governments (NCICG), explained to the board his organization had obtained a $2,000 grant to be used on behalf of recycling efforts in the Putnam County area. “We were kind of limited in what we could do with the grant,” Cramer said. “So we had brochures made and reusable bags.” The brochures, Illinois Electronic Products Recycling and Reuse Act, explain in great detail as to how and what Putnam County residents can do to recycle old electronics. The list of electronics which can be recycled as of January 2012 includes: TVs, monitors, printers, computers, electronic keyboards, fax machines, videocassette recorders, portable digital music players, digital video disc players, video game consoles, small scale servers, electronic mice, digital

See Recycling Page 2


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