Alexander County Crash Kills Missouri Man

ISP TRAFFIC CRASH ALERT

The Following Preliminary Information is Being Released by Illinois State Police

District 22

WHAT:                      Two Vehicle Fatal Traffic Crash

WHERE:                   Illinois 127 approximately ½ mile south of Elco, Alexander County      

WHEN:                      Oct 20, 2020 at 2:39 p.m.

VEHICLES:              Unit 1- 2013 White Dodge Truck      

                                    Unit 2- 2018 White Mack Truck Tractor Semi Trailer Combination

DRIVERS:                 Unit 1- James Bruenderman, 65 year old male from Charleston, MO – Pending notification of next of kin, Deceased                        

                                    Unit 2- David Berry, 34 year old male from Willisville, IL – Uninjured

PRELIMINARY:      A preliminary investigation indicates the following occurred: Unit 1 was traveling south on Illinois 127 approximately ½ mile south of Elco, Alexander County. Unit 2 was traveling north at the same location. For unknown reasons, the driver of Unit 1 crossed the double yellow center line and struck Unit 2 head on. Both Unit 1 and Unit 2 left the roadway and came to rest in the west ditch. The driver of Unit 1 was pronounced deceased on scene. The driver of Unit 2 was uninjured. The crash is under investigation and no further information is available at this time.

IECC Board Of Trustees Meeting Recap

 The Board authorized issuance of $2,325,000 in Taxable General Obligation Community College Bonds for the purpose of paying claims against the District.  The bond issuance was approved by the Board of Trustees at the regular meeting held Tuesday, October 20, at Frontier Community College, Fairfield. 

Trustees approved an application for FY2022 capital renovation projects to be completed throughout the District.   The district wide project application was developed to meet compliance requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  The application will now be submitted to the Illinois Community College Board for consideration in future capital funding. 

A bid by Supertech, Incorporated was approved in the amount of $26,100 for the purchase of a Whole Body Phantom Manikin.  The instructional equipment will be used by the District’s Radiography Program located at Olney Central College.  

Under a new agreement with Carle Richland Memorial Hospital, IECC’s Associate in Applied Science Radiography students will be allowed to use new, energized radiography equipment in a laboratory setting.  Access to Carle’s modern energized radiography equipment will allow students to get valuable hands on experience in a laboratory setting that will enhance the program. 

The trustees approved a service agreement for enrollment management services to be provided by the Ruffalo Noel Levitz company.

In an on-going effort to ensure district policies remain in compliance with state and federally approved laws, trustees approved revisions to the current Family Educational Rights and Privacy policy.  The policy addresses student records and information; especially as related to the District’s obligation to release certain information, when a formal request is made by military recruiters.   

The Board accepted the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act Biennial Review Report and authorized its submission to the Department of Education.  The District is required to report every two years on compliance to specific requirements set by the U.S. Department of Education.    The report certifies that requirements have been met for the creation of programs that IECC has adopted and implemented to prevent the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by students and employees.   

An agreement was approved between the District and the company Nelnet to act as the district’s tuition payment software system.  The partnership goal with Nelnet is to ease the tuition payment process. 

James Brenneman was employed as Interim Head Baseball Coach at Frontier Community, effective October 23, 2020.

A special assignment was approved for Nixie Hnetkovsky as Athletic Director at Frontier Community College, effective January 1, 2021.

              Resignation ratifications were approved for Jayson Hoffman as a Workforce Education Instructor, effective October 24, 2020; Scott Correll, a Maintenance and Operations employee at Olney Central College, effective October 24, 2020; and for Christopher Brandon Benton, as Head Baseball Coach at Frontier Community College, effective October 23, 2020.

              Retirement ratifications were approved for Deanna Chrysler as Administrative Assistant to the President at Lincoln Trail College, effective December 1, 2020; Vicky Bonelli as Director of the Learning Resource Center at Lincoln Trail College, effective January 1, 2021; and for Merna Youngblood as Director of the Learning Resource Center at Frontier Community College, effective January 1, 2021. 

              Next regular meeting of the Board of Trustees will be Tuesday, November 17th, at 7 p.m. at Lincoln Trail College, Robinson.

CONCEALED CARRY COURSE TO BE OFFERED AT WVC NOVEMBER 12, 13, 14

If you are interested in obtaining your Illinois Concealed Carry License, why not enroll in the next Concealed Carry course being offered by Illinois Eastern Community Colleges which will be offered at Wabash Valley College at the Advanced Technology Center on Thursday and Friday nights, November 12 and 13, from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m., and on Saturday, November 14, from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Jay Carter is the instructor for this class.

Not only will attendees learn the minimum information required by the Concealed Carry Act, but through the use of lecture and range drills, attendees will learn how to safely handle a handgun and hone their skills, as a marksman, and survive a real-world encounter. Whether you are new to handguns or more experienced, this course is designed to make everyone a more knowledgeable and accomplished shooter. Through the teaching of current trends and techniques, students will learn and understand how to maintain the proper mindset, skills, and abilities that come with “bearing arms” for the purpose of self-defense.

Pre-registration is required. The cost of the 16-hour course is $192 for in-District students, which includes tuition and fees, and must be paid in advance to reserve a seat in the course. The cost for enrollees over 60 years old is $92. For more information or to get registered, contact your local Student Services Office: Wabash Valley College-Mt. Carmel, 866-982-4322. If you have questions concerning the program, contact the Concealed Carry Coordinator, D Ray Etzkorn, 618-262-6346, and leave a message.

Ball State Professor Says Black Friday Has Been Killed By Pandemic

MUNCIE, Ind. -- The coronavirus pandemic may have killed Black Friday, says one Ball State professor.

Steve Horowitz, a Ball State free enterprise expert, tells Inside Indiana Business that Black Friday as we know will be dead this year because of all the precautions that stores and retailers will be taking this year to negate the spread of COVID-19.

"There is just no way they can accommodate the typical kinds of crowds and crowding that we associate with Black Friday," Horowitz said. "So, they have to try and thin it out and make it work."

Horowitz says some stores are likely to close altogether both on Black Friday and Thanksgiving to keep people from standing in line. Major retailers like Walmart, Best Buy, Target, and Dick's Sporting Goods have already announced their intentions to be closed on Thanksgiving Day.

Horowitz said by closing on Thanksgiving this will discourage people from waiting in line for Black Friday deals the day before. He also expects retailers to extend their Black Friday deals beyond Black Friday itself.

"What they are going to do is socially distance their customers by stretching them out through time," said Horowitz. "Saying 'let's make those deals available for a longer period of time' so that there is no one point, one day everyone is trying to crowd in and get these things done."

Even with safety measures in place, Horowitz believes this year could be another nail in the coffin of Black Friday as we know it in the future.

"From what we've seen, at least this year, Black Friday as we know it will be dead," said Horowitz. "Online retail is not going to go away once the pandemic is over. So, I think Black Friday as we know it is probably gone for good."

He said this year's restrictions for in-person shopping will drive even more people towards online shopping, which is he says is bad news for brick and mortar stores that offer Black Friday deals every year.

OCC Adds Evening Welding Certificate for Spring 2021

Olney Central College is excited to announce it will offer an evening Welding and Cutting Certificate starting in Spring 2021.

“This is such a great opportunity,” said Welding Specialist Maverick Fisher. “It’s a chance for high school seniors to get a jump on college. And, it’s especially helpful for someone who is working full-time and would like to pursue a career in welding, but can’t afford to give up their day job to come to college.”

Classes will start at 6 p.m. and meet Monday through Thursday. Courses available for spring include Combination Welding, Metal Cut and Prep and Shielded Metal Arc Welding. The evening certificate will take three semesters to complete.

Beginning next fall, OCC will offer a new Welding and Fabrication Associate’s Degree.

“Students who begin classes this spring will be able to go directly into the degree’s second-year courses in Fall 2022,” Fisher said. “Those classes will also be offered 100 percent in the evenings and students will be able to graduate with their associate’s degree in Spring 2023.”

For more information or to register for courses, call 618-395-7777. Spring classes start Jan. 11.

The Welding and Fabrication Associate’s Degree is a Title III program that is supported in part by a five-year grant awarded to Olney Central College from the U.S. Department of Education effective October 1, 2018. The estimated total cost for all

project activities is $2,506,775 financed by the grant award of $2,249,968 (90%) and $256,807 (10%) by Olney Central College.

Registration for Spring semester at WVC now in progress

Wabash Valley College is now scheduling registration appointments for the upcoming spring semester.

To make an appointment, call WVC Student Services at 618-262-8641 or email wvcregistration@iecc.edu. Current students may also contact their advisor to register.

The Spring schedule is available at www.iecc.edu/schedules. The spring semester begins on Monday, Jan. 11.

FIRST MID INSURANCE GROUP PARTNERS WITH HEALTH INSURANCE ASSOCIATES TO ASSIST MEDICARE-ELIGIBLE CUSTOMERS

First Mid Insurance Group is pleased to partner with Health Insurance Associates to provide additional Medicare assistance during this year’s Medicare Annual Enrollment Period to customers in the Mt. Carmel, Lawrenceville, Carmi, and Harrisburg areas.

Clay Dean, CEO of First Mid Insurance Group, states, “There is a great need for senior health insurance education during the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period, so we are partnering with Health Insurance Associates to help us provide the assistance and resources needed to our Southern Illinois customers. Dennis Renner and his team at Health Insurance Associates have the same deep knowledge and friendly, helpful, and consultative approach to customer relationships when it comes to senior insurance. I am confident that the First Mid banking customers will be in good hands.”

Robin Dean, Regional Deposit Manager at First Mid Bank & Trust, adds, “Being able to provide our banking customers with a local agent for their Medicare questions says a lot about our commitment to great service. We want to make sure our Medicare-eligible customers are aware of this partnership and that it doesn’t remain the best-kept secret in the area. If you’re a First Mid customer seeking help with your Medicare choices and you’re not familiar with Health Insurance Associates, the First Mid team will be happy to introduce you to them.”

To get connected to a Medicare specialist at First Mid, please stop by your local First Mid banking center or call the Senior Solutions team at 800-373-7505.Additional information can be found at www.firstmid.com

WVC receives IGEN award for solar project

Wabash Valley College has been awarded an Illinois Green Economy Network’s sub-award for its proposed solar project at the college’s Industrial Studies building. The college has been awarded $150,597 to complete the project.

The award funds were made available through the Renewable Energy Resources Trust Fund through the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. WVC has several projects on the docket focused on the reduction of carbon emissions. WVC Dean of Instruction Robert Conn wrote the following in the proposal to IGEN:

“Wabash Valley College proposes measuring our total impact on the climate, identifying the largest activities contributing to this impact, and use this information to develop meaningful carbon reduction goals…. Three high-profile campus projects will be showcased to reduce carbon emissions: implementing Industrial Studies building solar array, installation of two electric vehicle charging stations, and LED lighting upgrades in the IS Building and WVC soccer field.”

In the end, WVC was awarded the necessary funds to implement the solar array intended for the Industrial Studies building.

Conn wrote that these types of carbon emission reduction projects will allow WVC to showcase its efforts to the community while significantly reducing its carbon footprint. Savings from these reductions will be reinvested into other energy solutions creating a snowball effect that will allow minor victories along the way to WVC’s energy sustainability.

WVC began planning for sustainability around 10 years ago with the formation of a committee known as the 255 Initiative.

The existing solar array on the Industrial Studies building was funded through a previous IGEN grant and was an incredible success.

“We were able to produce our own electricity to run the high-energy consuming equipment required to teach precision machining,” wrote Conn. “Expanding on this previously successful project through the addition of a proposed 49.28 kW DC solar project will allow WVC to showcase our efforts to the community and demonstrate the success of smaller size arrays can have on an organizations carbon impact.”

Initial studies show this new installation could reduce WVC’s energy consumption by nearly 68,000 kilowatt-hours in the first year, reducing the electric bill for the building from approximately $1,499 to $991 per month— realizing $207,828 over a 25-year period.

The college was informed that it has made it into the next round of funding consideration and that the college is eligible to submit additional information for consideration of the proposed electric vehicle charging stations and lighting upgrades.

Judge Rules Against Governor In Bailey Case

A Sangamon County judge denied Gov. J.B. Pritzker's motion to vacate the orders of a Clay County judge who had ruled against the governor. Monday’s order said the governor could still challenge the Clay County ruling for other reasons, but not over jurisdiction. A Clay County judge ruled this summer the governor exceeded his executive authority during the pandemic. Oral arguments in the case if the governor files a motion to reconsider is Dec. 7

Bleyer & School Board Agree On 5 Year Contract

The Wabash District #348 school board and Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer have agreed on a new five-year contract. School Board President Tim Schuler announced at the end of Monday’s school board meeting the two sides had agreed on the extension that will go into effect at the end of the current school year.

Bleyer was hired in February of 2018 to replace the retiring Tim Buss and his initial three-year contract expires at the end of the current school year. Salary terms of the new contract were not disclosed at the meeting.

WSJD File Photo