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Western Illinois Today News is broadcast at 7:00 AM, 12:00 PM, and 5:00 PM Monday through Friday
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March 9, 2010--The Aledo City Council's Public Property Committee will meet later this week to discuss the former Aledo Junior High property. Three proposals have been submitted for the site. They are from Dick Maynard, Frye Development, and Accurate Demolition from Bloomington, Illinois. The special meeting is Thursday night (March 11th) at 6 PM at Aledo City Hall.
March 9, 2010--The Sherrard School District staff has been reduced by ten positions. The Sherrard School Board officially approved the RIF's last night says superintendent Becky Rodocker. Overall, Sherrard is cutting $1.5 million from their budget.
March 9, 2010--The Rockridge School Board has approved moving forward with $629,000 in budget reductions. The action was taken last night and is less than the $840,000 figure that was originally proposed. Among the programs spared was $212,000 for Pre-Kindergarten. Unit 300 superintendent Jack Bambrick says the cuts are the result of the state's financial situation and if people want a change, they need to contact their local legislators. Among the cuts were 4-certified staff positions totaling $174,000 and also random drug testing at a savings of $38,000.
March 9, 2010--The Citizens Utility Board is speaking out against a request for a $130-million rate hike for downstate Illinois' largest utility. Jim Chilsen of CUB says the Ameren Corporation doubled its profit over last year and should not be asking for more. Last month a judge recommended Ameren's rate increase request should be cut to $56-million. A final ruling on the request will be made by the Illinois Commerce Commission in May. CUB teamed up with AARP in a press conference yesterday in Peoria urging residents to fight against the request.
March 8, 2010--Genesis Health Systems will continue to manage Mercer County Hospital. A one year agreement has been extended another year with a long term arrangement in the works says Mercer County Hospital interim CEO Jeff Cooper. Cooper expects a permanent CEO for MCH to be in place by April.
March 8, 2010--A Mercer County woman wins the 2010 Miss Blackhawk Valley title. Briley Bollinger of Viola was crowned over the weekend in Moline. The Sherrard High School graduate will now compete in the Miss Illinois pageant in June. Bollinger is a junior at Columbia College in Chicago and was a character intern at Disney World in Florida. She is also a former Mercer County Fair Queen.
March 5, 2010--It appears there is not enough support to remove the properties of the mayor and two aldermen from the City of Aledo's TIF district. Bob Rillie, Rich Maynard and Dick Hunter wanted to be disconnected from the TIF boundaries so they could vote on and discuss TIF matters, but TIF Committee Chairman Barry Cooper says that would not be a good idea. He also believes instead of removing residential properties from the TIF, the city council could do a better job of declaring a surplus and giving some of that TIF money back to the taxing bodies. An individual resident earlier this week had also requested removing her property from the TIF district.
March 4, 2010--Aledo City Administrator Janice Green will not be leaving her post. Green telling WRMJ this morning that she has reconsidered and will stay on the job. She says it's an important time for the city right now because they are in the middle of their audit. Green became upset and left this week's city council meeting after being questioned by Alderman Bob Rillie over a TIF matter. At the time, she said she would be submitting her resignation, but has since decided against that. Green has been with the city since June of 2006, being appointed city administrator last year.
March 4, 2010--The Rockridge School District is looking at slashing over $800,000 from its budget and that will include eliminating three teaching positions says superintendent Jack Bambrick. The Rockridge School Board will take action on the cuts next Monday, March 8th.
March 3, 2010--The Mercer County School District will continue with its current transportation system as Johannes Bus Service will continue to operate the former Aledo School District routes says superintendent Alan Boucher. In addition to handling the former Westmer routes, the Mercer County School District busses will also handle all extracurricular transportation.
March 3, 2010--Mercer County residents are taking advantage of electronics recycling. Tri-County Solid Waste Coordinator Chad Braatz says items like TV's and computers are being kept out of landfills. For more information, contact Aledo City Hall at (309)582-7241 or Sherrard Village Hall at (309)593-2415.
March 3, 2010--If Mercer County government doesn't soon get money from the State of Illinois, tax anticipation warrants will be the result. That hasn't happened in over 10 years says Mercer County Treasurer Mike Bertelsen. The county has had to transfer money from its liability fund to general fund to meet payroll, but Bertelsen says the liability fund is now down to $77,000.
March 3, 2010--New floodplain maps have been produced for Mercer County. The Mercer County Board adopted an ordinance last night that allows the county to remain a participating community in the National Flood Insurance Program, according to county board chairman Maxine Henry of Keithsburg. The new floodplain maps become effective June 18th.
March 2, 2010--Sherrard High School head football coach Jason Kirby is a casualty of a reduction in force. Kirby has been notified that he will not be brought back as a social studies teacher because of budgetary reductions within the Sherrard School District. The Sherrard Board of Education made $1.5 million in cuts last month. Kirby was the head football coach for four years at Sherrard, leading the Tigers to an Olympic Conference title last fall.
March 2, 2010--A feasibility study currently being conducted to see if there is enough support to proceed with a capital campaign for improvements to Mercer County High School's Pratt Memorial Field. Superintendent Alan Boucher says there are a number of people being interviewed throughout the district. The high end goal for the capital campaign would be $2-million to install an artificial playing surface, new lights, new bleachers and an all weather track.
March 2, 2010--At least one Aledo resident wants their property removed from the city's TIF district. The city council received a request from Vicki Bull this week to have her home disconnected from the TIF boundaries. Aldermen took no action on the request, but the council's TIF committee will review the matter. City Attorney Mark Walton says legally, individual properties can be removed. The city council's TIF committee will meet Thursday night (March 4th) at 6 PM City Hall to discuss the issue.
March 2, 2010--Mercer County government is waiting for nearly $200,000 from the State of Illinois. Treasurer Mike Bertelsen says there's been a delay in getting state income tax disbursements. To make up for the difference, the county is forced to transfer another $150,000 from the liability fund to the general fund. They had already previously transferred $300,000 from the liability fund.
March 2, 2010--Aledo City Administrator Janice Green walked out of Aledo City Hall last night and said she would be resigning. Green told WRMJ she would give her 30-day notice tomorrow in written form. Green was visibly upset after being questioned by Alderman Bob Rillie over a $2,600 bill from TIF consultant Ehlers and Associates. Rillie argued there was not an approved contract for the bill, but Green contended the work was part of parameters okayed by the council's TIF committee. Just shortly before the regular session convened, Green stormed out of City Hall. Not all city council members were aware why she left and no official action has been taken on her resignation. Green has been with the city since June of 2006, first serving as finance manager and then becoming city administrator shortly after the late Jack Doherty was elected mayor last April.
March 2, 2010--The Aledo City Council has received three proposals for the former Aledo Junior High property. Aldermen briefly reviewed the proposals last night but took no action says City Attorney Mark Walton. One of the proposals was from Dick Maynard, who was previously deeded the property. He has offered five different uses for the site, including apartments, charter school, antique mall, assisted living facility, and retail mall. Frye Development and Bloomington, IL based Accurate Demolition also submitted proposals. Accurate would demolish the property for $124,580 and the city would be responsible for any environmental issues or removal of asbestos. Frye would purchase the property for $125,000 to demolish and construct a $3-to-$4-million public facility such as a library, community center, museum, or fire station along with parking lots. TIF assistance from $350,000 to $400,000 would be sought for asbestos and lead removal as well as demolition costs.
March 1, 2010--Warren County is just one merger away from having a county school system and that subject has now been broached. As part of deficit reduction ideas, the Monmouth-Roseville School District has mentioned consolidation. Nothing formal has been proposed, but United School District superintendent Jeff Whitsitt says it won't hurt to listen. United is also mulling deficit reduction ideas.
March 1, 2010--Sherrard High School's boys varsity basketball coach wants to teach in the district. Ryan Kelly currently teaches in the Rock Island school system, but he'd prefer teaching at Sherrard. Kelly says where he teaches will likely determine his coaching future. Sherrard was 19 and 10 under Kelly this season and 12 and 16 a year ago.
March 1, 2010--A Mercer County Junior High student wins a big livestock honor over the weekend. 14 year old A.J. Line of Seaton showed the grand champion steer at the Illinois Beef Expo in Springfield. Line is an 8th grader at Mercer County Junior High.
February 25, 2010--The Mercer County School District Board of Education and the Mercer County Education Association have ratified a two-year labor agreement. The deal covers wages, benefits, and working conditions for teachers, counselors, coaches and a nurse. A district press release says merging the labor agreements from the two former districts was challenging during difficult economic times and both sides worked diligently to establish fair and reasonable provisions that meet the needs of both organizations. The contract is posted on the district's website at www.mercerschools.org.
February 25, 2010--No serious injuries reported this morning after a car crashes through the Mercer County Secretary of State's office in Aledo. Aledo Police Chief Mike Sponsler says a woman had just completed her driving test when she crashed her vehicle through the building. An examiner was still in the car and was being treated for minor injuries. No one inside the building was harmed.
February 25, 2010--Sherrard boys basketball coach Ryan Kelly looking forward to coaching against his alma mater. Kelly graduated from Alleman in the mid-1990s and his Tiger team will meet the Pioneers tomorrow night (Friday) for a regional championship. Kelly played for Larry Schulte at Alleman. Schulte's first head coaching job was at Sherrard.
February 25, 2010--A local coach says he's proud that three area wrestlers were able to get to IHSA state championship matches last weekend. Orion's Dan Diamond says he was excited for his 125-pounder Thorian Twyner, but he was also rooting for Sherrard's Derek Mizaur and Mercer County's Ethan Ball and he knows the Sherrard and Mercer County people were rooting for Twyner. Twyner is the sixth wrestler to become a state champion at Orion.
February 24, 2010--Bids have been opened for the proposed Mercer County Jail expansion. There were nine proposals says architect Tim Downing with Downing Architects of Bettendorf. He says the bids came in lower than the original estimated cost of the project. The bids were opened this afternoon at the Mercer County Board Room.
February 24, 2010--When the weather warms up the City of Keithsburg hopes to cure a rust problem with its water mains. Water superintendent Steve Nylin says it's been too cold to flush mains. Nylin says once temperatures reach above 34 degrees several days in a row they'll be able to flush dead end mains and then eventually the entire system.
February 24, 2010--The Lincoln Trail Conference will be well represented at the IHSA girls state basketball tournament this weekend. Not only will the Ridgewood Spartans be gunning for a 1A state title on the court, but the Mercer County Golden Eagles band will be the featured entertainment in the stands on Saturday, February 27th. Band director Rusty Ruggles says their audition tape was judged by the IHSA and they were awarded the gig. Ruggles says the Mercer County band will play during both the 1A and 2A sessions all day Saturday at Redbird Arena in Normal.
February 24, 2010--Nothing is free, says local State Senator Mike Jacobs, even the option to ban video gambling in a community. Current law allows municipalities and counties to opt out of video gambling with little penalty. A community that bans video gambling payouts loses the share of local tax revenue, but not the larger share of state tax money. Jacobs aims to change that with a bill he is sponsoring. The measure proposes that opt-out communities also lose the state’s share of video gambling tax money. That money is meant to pay for capital projects such as bridge and road construction. Jacobs had initially proposed a hefty tax for opt-out communities. So far, more than 50 communities have opted out, according to government reports. Jacobs is not sure how much support the bill will receive, but says the idea is to raise the question of fairness in the law.
February 23, 2010--Mercer County Hospital is celebrating its 60th year. The facility first opened its doors in February of 1950. Jo Lawson of Aledo remembers how important it was when she went into pre-mature labor in 1951. The Mercer County Board proceeded with construction of a new hospital in 1980.
February 23, 2010--Over 25-applicants have expressed interest in the Rockridge High School football job. Interviews are expected to begin later this week with the new coach likely hired next month says Rockridge athletic director Scott Daly. The Rockets are looking for a new coach after Jeremy Adolphson was let go by the Rockridge School Board last month.
February 22, 2010--A local development group moving forward with marketing prime commercial real estate on the east side of Aledo. With construction continuing on the new Midwest Bank of Western Illinois location, Rex Johnson with GDG says additional lots are available for commercial development. The City of Aledo offered a $200,000 TIF incentive to help fund the project.
February 22, 2010--A former employee at Sherrard High School will be back in Rock Island County Circuit Court later this week for a status hearing on theft charges. 47 year old Kelly Monson is facing a Class 2 felony, accusing her of stealing over $90,000 from the school district's activity fund between January of 2004 and last April. She was fired by the district last May. The district confirmed last spring that an investigation was ongoing involving employee theft and a forensic audit was eventually ordered. Monson served as a secretary for Sherrard High School. She was in court last week for a status hearing with another status hearing set for February 25th and a plea date scheduled for March 4th.
February 19, 2010--A top 10 ranking for Mercer County in terms of being one of the healthiest places to live in Illinois. Mercer is ranked 8th out of 101 counties and that's some great recognition says Carla Ewing with the Mercer County Health Department. The health rankings were conducted by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin's Population Health Institute.
February 19, 2010--The Aledo City Council's Public Property Committee discusses the future use of the Henderson Auto Sales lot. Aldermen heard from Aledo Fire Chief Dennis Litwiler last night as the department wants the site to build a new fire station. One of the first steps will be clearing the existing building on the lot says Public Works Director Steve Moller. The city purchased the Henderson site last December. Litwiler hopes construction on a new fire station can begin by this fall. No final action was taken at last night's meeting.
February 18, 2010--The Sherrard Board of Education approved cutting $1.5 million from its budget last night. Click here for interview with Sherrard superintendent Becky Rodocker discussing the cuts.
February 18, 2010--A 2006 Sherrard High School graduate will take over the Tigers baseball program. Sean McCollum was hired by the Sherrard School Board last night. He was a multi-sport standout at Sherrard and played on the Tigers 2006 state baseball team. McCollum played for two years at Carl Sandburg College and is finishing up his degree at St. Ambrose University. Click here for interview with Sean McCollum.
February 17, 2010--Less high school kids are using tobacco in Mercer County, according to a recent survey. The information was gathered by tobacco prevention specialist Kay Forret with the Mercer County Health Department. The survey also shows that 28-percent of high school kids have tried chewing tobacco, but only 1-percent chew regularly.
February 16, 2010--A New Boston man is facing six felony charges stemming from a weekend arrest in New Boston. 28 year old Dustin Puckett made his initial appearance in Mercer County Circuit Court this afternoon. He was taken into custody early Sunday morning, February 14th following a disturbance at a New Boston home. New Boston Police Chief Mike Defrieze responded to the call and was injured and required medical treatment. Mercer County Sheriff's Deputies also assisted at the scene. Puckett is charged with a Class X felony of home invasion, along with two Class 2 felonies of aggravated battery to a police officer, a Class 2 felony of escape, and two Class 4 felonies of criminal trespass and aggravated fleeing and eluding. Bond has been set at $250,000. He is being held in the Mercer County Jail with a February 23rd preliminary hearing scheduled. The Class X felony is punishable by 6-to-30 years in prison upon conviction.
February 16, 2010--Local governments in Mercer, Rock Island and Henry Counties will share over a half-million dollars in federal energy stimulus money. Denise Bulat with the Bi-State Regional Commission says the funds will be disbursed on a competitive basis. Bulat provided the information to the Aledo City Council this week.
February 16, 2010--Incumbent Western Illinois Congressman Phil Hare is already launching his general election campaign. The Rock Island Democrat says he’s not worried about a potential repeat of the Republican win in Massachusetts that put Scott Brown in the U.S. Senate seat previously held by Edward Kennedy. Hare says he will take on any policy question, such as health care reform. He's for it, including provisions to shake up the insurance industry. Hare is running against Republican Bobby Schilling in the November general election.
February 16, 2010--The days of Mike Sponsler as Aledo Police Chief are not numbered. It looks like his contract may be renegotiated. Aldermen Barry Cooper was upset that Sponsler received a letter saying the chief's contract would not be renewed effective April 30th. Cooper says he never agreed to that. Aldermen Randy Mattson also had issues with the letter sent to Sponsler. The council's police and personnel committee will meet February 22nd to discuss Sponsler's future.
February 16, 2010--For the time being, three Aledo City Council members properties will remain in the city's TIF district boundaries. Aldermen were scheduled to take action last night on removing properties of Aldermen Bob Rillie and Rich Maynard and Mayor Dick Hunter, but the matter was tabled to gather more information says Alderman Terry Bewley. Rillie, Maynard and Hunter want to be removed from the TIF district boundaries so there would be no conflict in them discussing or voting on TIF matters. The council's TIF committee will discuss the issue March 4th.
February 15, 2010--At least 40-percent of students at Mercer County High School received at least one "D" or "F" on their 1st quarter report cards. That number increased to 55-percent during the 2nd quarter. Mercer County superintendent Alan Boucher says a committee is evaluating the current grading scale and they'll have a recommendation to the Unit 404 school board by next month. The new district is using a grading scale that the former Westmer School District utilized--93 and up is an "A"; 85-to-92 is a "B"; 77-to-84 is a "C"; 69-to-76 is a "D" and below 69 is an F. The former Aledo School District used a 10-point scale--starting with 90 and up as an "A"; 80 and up a "B", 70 and up a "C" and 60 and up a "D". Anything below 60 was an "F".
February 11, 2010--Even though a repeat drunk driver is scheduled to be released from prison in two months, that's still not stopping him in his quest for a new trial in Mercer County. 52 year old Bruce Fish is set to be paroled April 2nd, but he is seeking post conviction relief in a 2005 DUI case, claiming he did not receive a fair trial and also that there wasn't sufficient evidence to convict him. The former Sherrard man appeared before Judge Raymond Conklin this week with the matter taken under advisement and a ruling expected at a later date. The DUI conviction and 10-year prison sentence was in connection with a traffic stop near Fish's home in October of 2005. Two of his children were in the vehicle at the time of his arrest. The Illinois Supreme Court upheld the sentence in a ruling announced in September of 2008. Fish is most notably known for an alcohol related crash in October of 1998 that killed a Matherville woman and her grandson. He was sentenced to 13 years in prison in that case and was released in 2003.
February 11, 2010--The Sherrard Board of Education continues to work on reaching consensus on budget cuts. A working session was held this week says board president Jay Bizarri with final action expected next week. Bizarri says the board is looking at cutting between $900,000 and $1.2 million, but he says it could be less than that or greater. He says that figure will be decided by the full board, which meets next Wednesday, February 17th. Click here for interview with Sherrard School Board president Jay Bizarri.
February 11, 2010--WRMJ has learned that Aledo Police Chief Mike Sponsler's contract is not being renewed. Sponsler was notified via letter. His contract is up April 30th. He says the primary reason is "economic considerations". Sponsler is making $64,000 per year, but he says the city wants that salary to be between $45,000 and $50,000. Sponsler says he was told he can reapply for the position, but he says he's not interested in doing that. Sponsler has served as police chief since January 30, 2006. Mayor Dick Hunter declined to comment saying it's a personnel matter. Click here for interview with Mike Sponsler.
February 10, 2010--The Mercer County Board Chairman says the $5.1 million jail expansion will not increase taxes. Maxine Henry made the statement last night during a lease financing presentation by Jim Anderson with Municipal Capital Markets. She says the whole addition is based on revenue from housing foreign inmates and if that doesn't work out, the county can walk away from the project without any impact to the taxpayer or the county. Henry says the obligation--including debt service and operation of the addition, would then fall upon the institution that leant money for the project.
February 10, 2010--A statewide candidate will be the featured speaker at the Mercer County Republican Party's Lincoln Day Dinner later this month. The event is Saturday, February 20th says local party chairman Mike Bertelsen. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased by contacting Vicki Bull at (309)582-7040.
February 10, 2010--The timeline has been solidified for the $5.1-million Mercer County Jail expansion. Bid packets have been released and bids will be opened February 24th with the contract awarded March 10th by the Mercer County Public Building Commission with construction of the 72-bed addition completed by next year at this time. The Mercer County Board learned of the sequence last night from Jim Anderson with Municipal Capital Markets. He presented information on a lease financing agreement, which the board will take action on next month. Anderson says if the inmate count doesn't materialize, the county can opt out of the lease agreement, and the addition would be surrendered to the trustee--likely a commercial bank, who would then be responsible for renting it out to a party that would use the facility.
February 9, 2010--Even though a snow day today, a big announcement by the Mercer County School District. The Unit 404 Board of Education and Mercer County Education Association have reached a tentative two-year labor agreement pending legal counsel and final approval by the full board and association membership. The contract affects 116 teachers, counselors and school nurse. Wages, benefits, and working conditions were bargained over a period of eight months. Contract details will be shared after both groups ratify the labor agreement.
February 9, 2010--We're still months away from county fair season, but times are going to be tough for the annual summer time traditions. Premium reimbursements continue to be cut by the state and that's making things much more difficult says Mercer County Fair Board President Roger Grundstrom. He says one way the fair has made up for the premium reimbursement loss is through business sponsorships.
February 9, 2010--The chairman of the Mercer County Board's Law Enforcement Committee remains committed to seeing the proposed jail expansion through. Charlie Box of Sherrard says the issue has been the subject of open, public meetings at both the Mercer County Board and Mercer County Public Building Commission for well over two years and all citizens had opportunities to attend those meetings. He says it's a little late in the game to try and stop the expansion now. Box says the project has even won in court, with attempts to stop the expansion turned down by Judge Alan Blackwood.
February 8, 2010--The Mercer County School Board is looking at starting their meetings with a prayer. Superintendent Alan Boucher says he has checked with the district's legal counsel on the matter and they say it's okay. The Aledo City Council begins their regular meetings with a prayer by a local pastor.
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