Thursday June 15, 2017 Vol. 5, No. 16
The Weekly Post
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Knox County foundation facilitates projects, giving By BILL KNIGHT
YATES CITY – People planning their estates, dealing with new or unexpected assets, or just feeling generous toward their communities can be concerned that their donations to good causes may not completely serve their wishes. Twenty years ago, the Knox County Rural Improvement incorporated as a charitable foundation under Internal Revenue Service rules to be a passthrough vehicle to protect the value of benefactors’ generosity. It origins are traced to the late For The Weekly Post
banker Glen Rogers and his wife Madelyn, who helped set up the non-profit corporation. “We’re a facilitator,” says foundation president Wayne Wrage, 56, vice president at the Bank of Yates City. “We don’t own anything.” Incorporated to promote citizens, organizations and local governments to improve and create needed community services and facilities, the foundation was set up to accept contributions to be used in fulfilling charitable goals of the foundation or uses directed by donors. The foundation’s mission projects could
range from creating population growth, affordable housing, accessible local medical facilties, improved schools, business development, parks and recreation, fund local infrastructure, or just encouraging public participation and generally to benefit and enhance the quality and enjoyment of life. “We wanted to provide an option for people to use our 501(c)(3) [status] to donate money to some project,” Wrage says. “Contributions can be earmarked to be spent only for a certain project, or be ‘undesigContinued on Page 8
BENEFIT RAISES $124,968.92
Wayne Wrage, vice president at the Bank of Yates City, is also president of the Knox County Rural Improvement foundation. Photo by Bill Knight.
New super hired Farmington hires Dunlap principal Zac Chatterton as superintendent By BILL KNIGHT
FARMINGTON – The Board of Education on Monday unanimously approved Dunlap Middle School Principal Zac Chatterton as District 265’s new superintendent and unanimously OK’d an amended budget presented by outgoing Superintendent John Asplund. Chatterton starts July 1, with a contract through 2022. A Fulton County native who attended Valley High School and Monmouth College, Chatterton, 40, and his wife Julie and their son and daughter plan to relocate to Farmington as soon as practical. Chatterton started his career in education as a Galesburg teacher and coach, eventually becoming head football coach. After earning his Master’s degree, he went to Macomb in 2006, serving as an assistant principal and high school principal until 2009, For The Weekly Post
A sizable crowd turned out for the annual auction at last Saturday’s My Place St. Jude Fund Raiser, as did plenty of happy kids (lower right). The event raised a record $124,968.92. Photos by Tom Hayes.
Another My Place success
YATES CITY – The steady string of success continued last Saturday for the 15th annual My Place St. Jude benefit. The one-day gathering raised a record $124,968.92 for St. Jude Hospital – up from last year’s then-record total of $122,245. That’s part of an overall progression that has seen the total raised increase every year since a $1,000 inaugural event.
Adding attractions over the years has broadened participation. Consider that Saturday saw 162 motorcycles in a ride, 24 runners in a 5K, 14 walkers, 12 bags team and 7 tractors in a ride. The backbone, though, are volunteers, donors, eaters, drinkers and folks who raise their hands at the auction. For a list of all those who donated to the event, see the ad on Page 5.
Zac Chatterton met with parents after being approved as superintendent at Farmington CUSD 265.
when he moved to Dunlap and earned his Ph.D. through Aurora University. As to what Chatterton, the Board and District are facing financially, Asplund said a lack of state aid for “mandated categoricals” such as six special-education funds, transportation and other services forced a budget update. “This is not our fault,” Asplund said. “We’re doing the right thing by taxpayers. Continued on Page 2