IECC Board Adopts $34.3 Million Budget

The Board of Trustees of Illinois Eastern Community College District No. 529 adopted an operating fund budget of $34,306,650 for fiscal year July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022, at the regular meeting Tuesday, July 20th at Olney Central College.  The budget was adopted following a public hearing.  The budget includes $30,240,879 in the Education Fund and $ 4,065,771 in the Operations and Maintenance Fund.  These are the two principal operating funds of the IECC district.

Trustees approved the recommendation of the bid committee to accept a bid in the amount of $208,300 from Grunloh Construction for a natatorium remodeling project at Lincoln Trail College.

Board members John Brooks and Jan Ridgely were appointed to the Board audit committee.  The committee is charged with oversight of the District’s annual audit.

            Affiliation agreements were approved with SSM Health Care Corporation and with Crawford Memorial Hospital. 

            To maintain compliance with accrediting agencies and to ensure the protection of participants in human subjects research, Trustees adopted a Human Subject Research Policy. 

            Updates to the 2021-2022 IECC catalog were approved.  The catalog is considered a contract with the IECC student.  Catalog revisions approved by the Board throughout the year were reviewed and approved for posting to the IECC website and for publication. 

            IECC must have confidential advisors available to a student or employee who experiences sexual violence, should they choose to seek their services. To meet this requirement, trustees approved agreements with the CAISA organization and with the SAFE organization to provide counseling to those who are victims of sexual violence. 

              Under Personnel actions the Board approved employment of the following individuals.

Kimberly Wellen as an English Instructor at  FCC effective August 10, 2021;   Clare Roosevelt as a Nursing Instructor at WVC effective August 10, 2021; Julie Dehart as Health Sciences Specialist in the Medical Laboratory Technician Program Director at FCC effective July 22, 2021; Cassandra Goldman, Program Director of the International Student Program for the District effective July 26, 2021;  Cole Carter as Broadcast Services Specialist at WVC effective July 26, 2021;  Nickie Daniel as Office Assistant at the District Office effective August 2, 2021; Collyn Jewell as Maintenance Groundskeeper at LTC  effective July 22, 2021;  Brittany Longbons, Student Services Specialist at FCC effective August 2, 2021.

            A change in status was approved for IECC employees.  Laurel Taylor, Director of Business & Finance, Workforce Education to Associate Dean, Business &

Industry at FCC effective July 21, 2021; for Tosha Baker from Coordinator, TRIO Upward Bound, DO, to Marketing Business Management Instructor at WVC

effective August 10, 2021;  Jonathan Leach from TRIO Upward Bound Counselor for the District to Retention Coordinator at WVC effective August 9, 2021; Brandi

Rich-Beard from Student Services Specialist at OCC to Advisor/Recruiter at OCC effective July 21, 2021.

                        Resignation ratifications were approved for Dana Hart as Coordinator of Employment & Benefits at the District Office effective July 24, 2021; Rebecca Carmack as Vocal/Instrumental Music Instructor at LTC effective August 1, 2021; for Linda Shidler as Director of Academic Success Center at OCC effective July 22, 2021; and for Tracy Chastain as Maintenance/Custodian at OCC effective July 13, 2021.

              The next regular meeting of the Board of Trustees will be Tuesday, August 17, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. at Wabash Valley College.

Rules Change For Remote Learning For New School Year

Education officials are hoping a staple of the last school year will be next to non-existent during the new school year that starts three weeks from today. Remote learning became the two words many students, teachers, and parents dreaded. But Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer told the District #348 school board Monday night that remote learning looks to be rare going forward…

In addition, Bleyer said the state has ruled that simply having a fear of contracting COVID while at school is not a valid excuse to stay home.

COVID Spike Draws Scrutiny Of IDPH

The recent spike in COVID-19 cases isn’t limited to just Wabash County. In fact, health department administrator Judy Wissel told county commissioners this week that she participated in a conference call Friday with IDPH director Dr. Ngozi Ezike who is concerned about the spiked numbers downstate…

Wissel said all three vaccines continue to be available at the health department and testing is being done every day between 11 and 3.

Wissel Tells County Board That COVID Cases Still On The Uptick

Positive cases of COVID-19 are still on the rise in Wabash County. At yesterday’s county board meeting, health department administrator Judy Wissel reported there have been 59 new positive cases since the last county board meeting two weeks ago, including 15 new cases yesterday alone. Over the last month, Wissel said there have been 90 new cases compared to just 7 the month prior. Increased COVID testing over the last few days has lowered Wabash County’s positivity rate from 17.2% last week to 8.5% currently. Wissel said all three vaccines continue to be available at the health department and testing is being done every day between 11 and 3.

City Officials Say They're Doing The Best They Can In Combating Mosquitos

With all of the rain we’ve seen in the last couple of weeks, you can bet the mosquito population is about to explode. And Mayor Joe Judge says the city is already on top of the mosquito war…..

City officials also have repeatedly urged residents to eliminate any standing water around their property to cut down on mosquito breeding areas.

City Acquires Land For Access And Future Development

The Mt. Carmel City Council has given Mayor Joe Judge and City Clerk Ryan Turner the go ahead to negotiate the purchase of property near Chandler Drive. Judge said the first priority with the purchase is to give the city utility easements they currently pay a royalty for. But, the second advantage could be a much bigger benefit to help ease the city’s housing crunch and invest in Mt. Carmel’s future… 

The 15 buildable lots are being purchased for $47,000 which will be paid for out of TIF funds. 

The wooded area between WVC & MCGS in this photo is the parcel of land purchased by the City of Mt. Carmel.

Niemerg Presents St. Francisville Woman Certificate Marking 100th Birthday

State Representative Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) recently presented Alberta Andrews of St. Francisville with a certificate to honor her becoming Illinois’ newest centenarian.

Born Alberta Taylor to Clarence Wilson and Nellie (Thackrey) Taylor in Mill Shoals on June 10, 1921, Mrs. Andrews, a twin, was the 5th oldest and one of fourteen children, nine boys and five girls.

 Her mom was a homemaker and her dad was a sawmill worker and ran a mobile timber mill in Mill Shoals, Louisville, and Golden Gate over the years.

 Alberta worked as a soda jerk at a local drug store when she was younger before she was married. Alberta also taught Sunday school at the Baptist Church several years and Vacation Bible School at the Mill Shoals Methodist Church. She married Ted H. Andrews on August 17, 1947 in Linn, Wabash County, and became a homemaker.

 Today she lives with one of her sons, Curt in St. Francisville. Alberta had a sister, Maxine Wells, who lived to be 101 years old in Carbondale and an aunt who lived to be 103.

 “Thank you to Alberta’s niece Judy Cole in North Carolina and her brother Don Taylor of Grayville, Illinois for providing background information on Alberta and her family,” said Rep. Adam Niemerg. “Alberta Andrews is like a living history book with experiences from a century of life here in Illinois. I am proud to help honor her longevity of 100 years so far in our community. I wish her many more years of good health and happiness.”

 Mrs. Andrews is one of three living children with a brother in Indiana and one in Illinois. One of her brothers, Loren Taylor, was a Mark Twain impersonator and her mother was a prolific hand quilter with over 350 quilts made from children’s clothes.

District #348 School Board Reiterates Masks Are Optional For New School Year

Wabash District #348 officials are again clarifying the issue of whether masks will be required to be worn by students when the new school year starts next month. At tonight’s District #348 school board meeting, board president Tim Schuler said masks will not be required…

Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer also discussed the status of remote learning for the new school year…

After the meeting, board member Ryan Peter, who has been critical of the district’s mask policy, issued a statement to WSJD:

“Today is a tremendous victory for our students. On behalf of concerned parents and community members, I would like to thank Dr. Bleyer and the 348 Board for absolute clarity regarding masks and vaccination tracking. We have gotten our freedom of choice back, as well as maintaining the right to privacy. I will fight for our community and parents should these rights be infringed upon in the future. May God bless our community with good health, prosperity, and wisdom moving forward."

saying last night was a tremendous victory for the district’s students. He thanked Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer and the board for the absolute clarity regarding masks and vaccination tracking saying the freedom of choice has returned along with maintaining the right to privacy..”

On the topic of vaccination tracking, Bleyer said last night the district would not be checking the vaccination status of students.

Judge: No Tree Cutting On Snap On Lot

Work is expected to start before the end of the month on clearing the former Snap On Tools property on Oak Street. But, if you think you might go on to the property and cut some of the trees beforehand for firewood Mayor Joe Judge says, “think again”…

Judge said City Hall has fielded calls from people requesting permission to go onto the property and cut the trees. Jeff Guisewite, Incorporated was awarded the bid to clear the property for $48,000.

Interstate 70 Semi Rollover Accident Claims the Life of One Individual

Vigo County - Sunday, at approximately 8:15 a.m., the Indiana State Police Putnamville Post investigated a semi tractor-trailer rollover near the seven-mile marker westbound, that claimed the life of one individual.

Preliminary investigation by Sergeant Kristopher Fitzgerald indicated that a 2016 Freightliner semi tractor-trailer driven by Shiraf Shafiullah, age 32, of Louisville, Kentucky, was traveling westbound on Interstate 70 near the seven-mile marker when for an unknown reason, Shafiullah’s vehicle ran off the interstate and into the median.  The semi tractor-trailer proceeded to get caught in the cable barrier located in the median and rolled over on the driver’s side.  Shafiullah was ejected and sustained fatal injuries.  He was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Vigo County Coroner’s Office. 

An autopsy will be conducted on July 19, 2021.  

The family has been notified.

Drugs and alcohol are not believed to be a contributing factor of the accident.

Assisting Agencies:  Vigo County Sheriff’s Department, Terre Haute Police Department, Vigo County Coroner's Office, and Peffley and Hinshaw Wrecker Service.