Bowser Given 4 Year Extension By Allendale School Board

At the February 21, 2018 Allendale School Board meeting held at the main office of Allendale School, the board:

Approved a 4-year extension of the contract for Superintendent/Principal Robert Bowser.  The contract extension is good through June 30, 2022.

Adopted a Resolution of honorable non-renewal for Pre-K & Title I Aide/Parent Coordinator Alyssa Hopper, which is state grant funded. This will be effective at the end of the 2017-2018 school year. This position will be re-considered next school year based on new grant funding.

Adopted a resolution of honorable non-renewal for Individual Aide Melissa Gilil. This will be effective at the end of the 2017-2018 school year. This position will be re-considered next school year if needed.

Approved the use of the building for the All-School Reunion, which is to be held July 21, 2018.

Approved a 4-year extension of the contract for Superintendent/Principal Robert Bowser.  The contract extension is good through June 30, 2022.

Storm Sirens Readied For Spring Tornado Season

With the Spring tornado season right around the corner, Wabash County commissioners took action last night to make sure all storm sirens are ready to go. WEMA Director Gerald Brooks told the county board that two sirens were recently found to be inoperable. Those were the ones on Division Street and the other at 6th and Mulberry in Mt. Carmel. Brooks said it’s not known when the sirens were damaged either by a lightning strike or power surge. Commissioners approved the purchase of surge protectors for all storm sirens in the county as well as repairing the damaged sirens that Brooks said exceeded his budget.

WVC HOSTING ARCHERY SENIOR SHOWCASE MARCH 3rd

Wabash Valley College is pleased to announce that they are hosting an Archery Senior Showcase, NFAA Indoor 5-Spot Target, in the Spencer Sports Center Gym at 10:00 a.m. Line Time on Saturday, March 3. This is your opportunity to earn a scholarship spot on the team!

Wabash Valley College has become a member of the United States Collegiate Archery Association and will compete nationally against colleges and universities. They are actively recruiting for the Fall Team. If you are interested and have questions about the Archery Program, go to the athletics website www.wvcwarriorathletics.com where you can fill out a form indicating your interest in the team. You will then be contacted directly to talk about the team. If you have immediate questions or would like to register for the Senior Showcase, contact Katie Hinderliter at 618-263-5537.

WVC Scholarship Info

FRESHMAN SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE AT WVC

Mt. Carmel, IL – Wabash Valley College’s 2018-2019 Freshman Scholarship applications are now available online by clicking Scholarship listings at www.iecc.edu/wvc or by visiting the Guidance Office at area high schools. For questions or more information, students should contact their Guidance Office or the Financial Aid Office at Wabash Valley College. Due date for submitting applications is March 12, 2018.

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WADI SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE AT WVC

Mt. Carmel, IL – The Wabash Valley College Financial Aid Office has announced that one WADI Scholarship per county in the amount of $1150 is to be made available to income-eligible students in each of the following counties: Edwards, Gallatin, Hamilton, Saline, Wabash, Wayne, and White for use during the 2018-2019 school year. Applications are available in the Financial Aid Office. Deadline is 5:00 p.m., April 26, 2018.

WVC HOSTING 7TH ANNUAL GUNSMITHING DAY

Wabash Valley College has announced that it will be hosting the 7th Annual Gunsmithing Day on Thursday, March 22, from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon in the (Gunsmithing) Industrial Studies Building. Lunch will be provided.

Gunsmithing techniques will be demonstrated by current students. Instructor Brian Wick will be available to answer questions and provide information on Gunsmithing. Financial Aid and Registration information will be provided.

If you are looking for a DIFFERENT career path, one you can set your “Sights” on and have a clear “Shot” at Success, then the Gunsmithing Program at WVC can get you the “Bullseye!”

For questions or to RSVP, contact Tim Zimmer at 618-263-5024, or Cindy Kruse at 618-263-5043.

BRUBECK ARTS CENTER GALLERY EXHIBIT “ARE #SELFIES ART?” EXPLORES SOCIAL MEDIA

Standing before a wall covered in selfies, patrons may pause to wonder if this art exhibit in the Brubeck Arts Center Gallery on the campus of Wabash Valley College is art. Or one might contemplate if his or her Facebook pictures are technically art either.

In Arthur Fields’ exhibit in the Brubeck Gallery, which is now on display through March 18, the artist asks just that question: “Are the pictures snapped on our cell phones and posted online art?” Using social media platform Instagram, Fields points out that those #beachday, #foodporn and #selfie uploads are really just landscapes, still-lifes, and self-portraits.

Fields believes that we may not be using oil paints to replicate and memorialize the world around us, but we haven’t lost our need to do so. His exhibit takes us through his own Instagram feed, showing us how that snapshot at the barber shop and the selfie with friends are just pixels of a much larger photo. The larger image is one that shows our history and culture…in just one frame.

Arthur Fields holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Photography from Texas Woman’s University. He is a Board member of two photographic arts organizations: Ticka-Arts and The Texas Photographic Society. Also, he is an active member of the Society for Photographic Education where he served as Chair of the Multicultural Caucus and Student Volunteer Coordinator of the SPE National Conference for several years. Fields is an Assistant Professor of Art and currently teaches photography and runs the Shircliff Gallery at Vincennes University in Vincennes, IN.

The community is invited to “Meet the Artist” on Sunday, March 18, from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. before the final performance of the spring musical “OVER THERE.”

WABASH VALLEY COLLEGE ANNOUNCES FALL SEMESTER HONORS LIST

Wabash Valley College is pleased to announces its Honors List for Fall Semester 2017. To be eligible for the CEO’s Honors List, a student must have a GPA of 3.90—4.0 based on a 4.0 scale and must have been enrolled for at least twelve (12) semester hours for the Fall Semester. Students on the CEO’s Honors list include: ALBION: Katherine Embry, Kaitlyn Hnetkovsky, Felicia Moutry, Amy Steele; ALLENDALE: David Evans, Jonas Trimble; BARNHILL: Kristina Major; BRIDGEPORT: Dylan Pentell; CISNE: Janet Billington; CROSSVILLE: Anthony Blankenberger; FAIRFIELD: Kenlee Bramlet, Donnita Scott, Virginia Williams; GRAYVILLE: Caua Fume Ferreira, Madison Ferreira, Gavin Martin, Thomas Potter; LAWRENCEVILLE: Slayton Dorney, Cailyx Ice, Shayla Lockhart; MOUNT CARMEL: Dennis Baumgart, Austin Beavers, Justin Berberich, Jazzmun Blair, Merrik Eddington, Megan Eder, Kyndell Ethridge, Sampson Folsom-Margelin, Lauren Goodson, Kracell Guard, Christy Haase, Megan Hanson, Jannik Hesener, Mackenzie Jackson, Zachary Kemper, Sara Kullberg, Alex Mason, Shelby McKnight, Osvaldo Mendez, Gorvanice Mercado, Taylor Miles, Joseph Molstad, Vy Hoang Nguyen, Daxton Peach, Wesley Pearson, Kara Price, Emma Robinson, Haley Shewmake, Maximum Smock, Alexis Thomas, Evan Thread, Clayten Traub, Mason Vinyard, Nina Wall, Jacob Webb, Julia Whittler, McKenna Zimmerman; NEWTON: Jeremy Herman; NOBLE: Blake Rogers, Luke Shan, Garrett Williams; OLNEY: Maci Graves, Matthew Herman, Derek Ochs; ROBINSON: Katelyn Hatfield; SALEM: Zachary Rose; ST. FRANCISVILLE: Tina Long, Alejandra Ravellette; SUMNER: Mark Boren, Susan Boren; WEST SALEM: Jacey Schwarzlose, Caitlynn Summerfield, Marla Swartzbaugh; BOONVILLE, IN: Taylor Miles; EVANSVILLE, IN: Brandon Nance, Erin Niederhaus, Timothy Peterson; MT. VERNON, IN: Kyle Lang; POSEYVILLE, IN: Nolan Gibbs; PRINCETON, IN: Kaylee Epperson, Tyler Marshall.

To be eligible for the President’s Honors List, the student must earn a GPA of 3.75 to 3.89 on a 4.0 scale and must be enrolled in at least twelve (12) hours for the Fall Semester. Students on the Presidents’

Honors list include: ALBION: Makayla Shaw; BRIDGEPORT: Allisen Rhinehart; CISNE: Jayden Brown; ENFIELD: Jeremy Smith; GRAYVILLE: Cydnee Cummings-Evans; MOUNT CARMEL: Wesley Adams, Jonathan Allen, Keri Ankenbrandt, Lilly Benedict, Jesse Brown, Matthew Burch, Zachary Carney, Morgan Combs, Trevor Detherage, James Fullerton, Tegan Henne, Lucus Keele, Nicholas King, Collin Lollar, John Smalley, Kobe Stephens, Courtney Sutton, Tien Tran, Taylor Waggoner, Cameron Whaley; NEW BADEN: Dylan Frerking; ROBINSON: Timothy Blankenbeker; WILLOW HILL: Adriana Reis; BICKNELL, IN: Alexis Vieck; GRIFFIN, IN: Hannah Fifer-Gish; MOUNT VERNON, IN: Austin Sailer; NEW HARMONY, IN: Glen Alexander; LEXINGTON, KY: Regina Sears.

The Dean’s Honors List includes those students with a GPA of 3.50 to 3.74 based on a 4.0 scale who have been enrolled in at least twelve (12) hours for the Fall Semester. Students named to the Dean’s List include: ALBION: Haleigh Ellis; BONE GAP: Cassidy Jordan; CLAREMONT: Daniel Sager; CROSSVILLE: Emily Mahon; FAIRFIELD: Meagan Borah; FLORA: Ryder Collins, Taylor Schymick; GRAYVILLE: Kaylea Hout; KEENSBURG: Jennifer Isham, Fallon Ruby; LAWRENCEVILLE: Hannah Noble-Frey; MAUNIE: Ashley Youngman; MOUNT CARMEL: Frednesha Adams, Presley Bailey, Madison Bauer, Eduardo Bello Bermudez; Dylan Burris, Paige Byrd, Caroline Campbell, Anthony Christian, Ashley Downs, Brian Fuentes Reyes, Holly Hawkins, Abygail Hicks, Ryan Layne, Jessica Lewis, Chandler Madden, Richard McFall, Kathryn Migliarese, Destinee Miles, Jade Montgomery, Ashley Moore, Joshua Morgan, Zion Morgan, Noah Myers, Ryan OConnell, Deasia Outlaw, Miguel Rivera, Miranda Saltsgaver, Michael Scheinost, Blake Stipp, Miranda Wagner, Gregory Wall; MOUNT ERIE: Dalen Stopher; NEWTON: Colin Ochs; OLNEY: Matthew Lenear; ROBINSON: Hunter Givens; ST. FRANCISVILLE: Jeffry Siegle; SUMNER: Devin Brian; HUNTINGBURG, IN: Levi Hoffman; OWENSVILLE, IN: Rachel Byrns, Jack Steele; PRINCETON, IN: Ashley Sisk.

Uncertain State Situation Causes IECC Tuition Hike

The Board of Trustees of Illinois Eastern Community College District No. 529 met Tuesday night, February 20th at Olney Central College, Olney, Illinois.  

The continued uncertainty of the state to fund the community college system has required the District to review current tuition and fees.  Trustees approved an increase in tuition of $5.00 per semester hour bringing the tuition rate from $83 per semester hour to $88 per semester hour.  The tuition increase is effective Summer Term 2018. 

The IECC District’s Strategic Plan for 2018-2023 was approved.  The Plan includes goals to improve student education experience, expand educational choices and support services, increase student head count and reimbursable hours, improve student life experience, and decrease financial dependence on State reimbursement grants.

The Board approved 6 affiliation agreements with area health care facilities for the District’s Health Informatics Program and the Certified Medical Assistant Program. 

In preparation for approval of the catalog, a two year Academic Calendar for 2019-2021 was adopted by the Board. 

Board approval was given for revisions to the Student Military Policy to limit tuition charged to veterans using federal veteran benefits to the in-district tuition rate.    This revision to the policy reflects current practice. 

The board announced their intention to consider the renewal of contracts that run from September 1, 2018 to August 30, 2020 for the CEO, the four college Presidents, and the Dean of Workforce Education.  The contracts will be presented for consideration at the March 20th Board meeting and presented for approval at the April 17th Board meeting.

The Board accepted the Calendar Year 2017 Annual Report of the IECC 403(b) Plan.

In personnel matters, the Board approved the seniority list for faculty for 2017-2018 and for reemployment of Faculty for the 2018-2019 academic year.   Approval was given for change in Academic Rank from Instructor to Assistant Professor to 49 faculty members.

Change in status was approved for Kristie Kolb from Office Assistant to Program Support Specialist for the TRIO/SSS Program effective February 21, 2018. 

Resignation ratifications were approved for Joshua Lipe, Workforce Education Instructor, and effective February 28, 2018 and for Robin Pearson, Office Assistant at FCC, effective February 9, 2018 and for Laurie Perry, Administrative Assistant at the District Office, effective March 16, 2018.    

A retirement ratification was approved for James Tucker, Assistant Professor, Speech at OCC, effective September 1, 2018.  

The Faculty Seniority Lists for 2017-2018 were approved for both bargaining unit and non-bargaining unit faculty.

Bargaining Unit and Non Bargaining Unit faculty were employed for the 2018-2019 academic year.

Next regular meeting of the Board of Trustees will be held at Wabash Valley College, Mt. Carmel, on Tuesday, March 20th, at 7:00 p.m.  

Shooting Drill Held At St. Mary's School

Click the photos for a gallery from today's shooting simulation that included Mt. Carmel Police Department, Wabash County Sheriff's Department, and Illinois State Police.

Norris Electric Cooperative Annual Meeting

NEWTON -Norris Electric Cooperative celebrated its 80th anniversary during the organization's annual meeting of members held Saturday, Feb. 10, at Newton Community High School. During the meeting, members were provided results of the board of directors' election, and updated on the cooperative's finances, power supply and upgrades to its infrastructure.

Board President Gordon McClure thanked the audience for attending the meeting and explained that the purpose of holding an annual meeting is to announce director election results, hear reports regarding the co-op's activity during the past year and transacting other business. He also explained the role of the co-op's directors, who meet monthly and work to ensure the co-op's financial security, discuss and act on policy and procedures and provide strategic leadership. "The challenges today are more complex and numerous than ever before, and the best pathways won't always be clearly marked," McClure said. "It is therefore imperative that directors stay engaged, educated and enthusiastic to keep up with the changing of rural America today and tomorrow."

Treasurer Dean Dietrich reported that the cooperative is in good financial condition. The co-op's largest expense is wholesale power, which accounts for 63 percent of expenditures. The co-op allocated $3,254,122 in capital credits to members and returned $1.6 million in capital credits from various years to members. Capital credits are unique to cooperatives and represent each member's ownership of the co-op. They are funds that remain after a cooperative's financial obligations have been met and are returned to members in later years.

Manager Tamara Phillips looked back at the accomplishments the cooperative has made during the past 80 years. "As I reflect on the forward-thinking of those instrumental in pursuing rural electrification all those years ago, it is amazing to me how different our lives would be without those pioneers leading Norris Electric," she said. "I feel it is our duty to try to keep that memory alive, as we will forever be indebted to them."

As in the past, the cooperative is continuing to look forward. Last summer, co-op leadership conducted a two-day strategic planning session. Through the session, they established a long-range plan of goals and initiatives to analyze the headquarters facility and the distribution system to rebuild lines in the most crucial areas, while containing costs and keeping rates affordable.

Another way to keep rates affordable is through an 8-1/2-year power contract the co-op signed with Dynegy. Norris Electric has not raised rates since 2014, and no rate increase is planned for the foreseeable future.

Norris Electric completed line clearance work that will help reduce blinks and outages. "Last year we were able to complete 994 miles of tree trimming on our system," Phillips explained. "This is one quarter of our system. Our plan is to revisit each mile of line every four years."

Duane Noland, president/CEO of the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives (AIEC), thanked attendees for attending the meeting, and for the role they played in their co-op's democratic process. Noland commended the co-op's former and current leadership on its efficient use of resources, saying the co-op has the lowest rates of any cooperative in the state. He added that elected officials from the Norris Electric service area have been strong cooperative and AIEC supporters. Because of their support on the state level, both State Senator Dale Righter (R-55) and State Representative David Reis (R-109) have been recipients of the AIEC's Public Service Award, the association's highest honor.

State Representative David Reis addressed the audience, saying it's been a busy year in Springfield on many fronts. He discussed concerns over environmental regulations and renewable energy that are affecting base load electric power supply. Base load power represents 80 percent of electric power generated from coal, gas and nuclear plants. "We have to provide base load power in this state, and in this country, because the wind doesn't blow all the time and the sun doesn't shine all the time," he said. "We have to create an environment at a pricing standpoint on which plants like ours here at Newton can operate. In closing, Representative Reis presented Norris Electric Cooperative with an Illinois House of Representatives resolution congratulating members on the 80th anniversary of their cooperative.

In March 2017, 12 volunteer linemen, supported by 19 electric cooperatives, including Norris Electric Cooperative, traveled to Bolivia on a three-week project to help electrify four remote mountain villages in Santa Cruz. The linemen worked in conjunction with Bolivian electric cooperative linemen to electrify 62 homes and an orphanage. As part of the meeting, Norris Electric Journeyman Lineman Bill Fields gave an overview of the trip. Fields said, "Norris Electric is proud to be able to lend a helping hand to our sister co-ops, whether it be nearby, or far away." He was honored with a plaque for his efforts.

During the annual meeting, the following directors were re-elected or newly-elected. The re-elected directors are Gilbert Garbe of Dieterich, Gary Buser of Palestine and Gordon McClure of Newton. Scott Weiss of Sumner defeated Dan Scherer of Bridgeport. Scherer was honored with a plaque for his years of dedicated service on the board.

Norris Electric Cooperative is a member of Touchstone Energy - an alliance of 750 local, consumer-owned electric utilities around the country. Norris Electric is committed to providing superior service based on four core principles: integrity, accountability, innovation and commitment to community. The co-op serves more than 19,654 meters over 4,094 miles of line in parts of Clark, Crawford, Cumberland, Effingham, Jasper, Lawrence, Richland and Wabash counties. For more information,visit www.norriselectric.com. Norris Electric Cooperative is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

From left: Representative David Reis (R-109) presents Norris Electric Cooperative Manager Tamara Phillips and Board President Gordon McClure with an Illinois House of Representatives resolution congratulating members on the 80th anniversary of their cooperative.

During Norris Electric Cooperative's annual meeting, the following directors were elected, or re-elected: From clockwise lower right are Manager Tamara Phillips, re-elected Directors Gilbert Garbe of Dieterich, Gary Buser of Palestine and Gordon McClure of Newton; and newly-elected Director Scott Weiss of Sumner.