CALHOUN NEWS-HERALD
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INSIDE SOCIAL
Carter’s 5th birthday. See page A4
NEWS
Holiday tournament time. See page b1
NEWS
HARDIN, ILLINOIS 62047
jANuARY 1, 2014
VOLuME 141 - ISSuE 1
IDOC recommendations may allow prisoner housing By bOb CROSSEN Calhoun News-Herald The Calhoun County state’s attorney is awaiting word from the Illinois Department of Corrections regarding its recommendations which may allow the county jail to house prisoners. Though the county would not pay Jersey County to house the prisoners if it could house them in Calhoun, it would incur its own costs to man the jail with qualified guards with a 24/7 watch. During a regular meeting of the Calhoun County Commissioners Dec. 16, State’s Attorney Rick Ringhausen said he conferred with officials from the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) about the requirements to open the jail and got mixed opinions. “They decided to have the department of corrections attorney call to discuss that issue and I have not heard from them yet,” Ringhausen said. As of Dec. 23, Ringhausen said he had still not heart from IDOC on the issue. The state’s attorney said the issue boils down to how many people need to be on duty to man the jail and how much it could cost to pay those individuals who must be certified to guard the cells. Ringhausen said preliminary estimates indicate that constant watch of four prisoners – requiring at least two individuals on duty at all times – could cost the department around $160 per day for a single shift. He said adding a second shift would cost the department a heftier sum of money. “They recommend that. You can’t get a
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firm answer on whether that’s required or not,” Ringhausen said. He indicated dispatchers could be trained to stand watch over the cells, but mandates require them to remain at their dispatching post while fulfilling those duties. He said a road deputy could fill in as the second qualified candidate to save money as well, if allowed by IDOC. “Assuming we can get by with that, then I think it would be financially worth our while to open at least two of the cells,” Ringhausen said. “You can still use two of them for storage if need be. It just hinges on [having a second shift].” If the county cannot staff the jail due to financial concerns, he said all the other recommendations for the jail are a moot point as it would not be operational anyway. The sheriff’s office is a relatively new building, built as an addition to the old school building in the center of Hardin which is the subject of a courthouse renovation project. The construction of the office – paid for with a grant – also included the construction of a small jail which has been used more for storage of evidence than prisoners. Commissioner chairman Doug Wilschetz said he would like to see the jail utilized for prisoners if possible. “It seems like such a waste to have it and not do anything with it,” Wilschetz said. Other recommendations by IDOC include having a day room and a recreation area outside for the prisoners. Ringhausen said the county may not need to meet those recommendations if the jail can be fit to house prisoners.
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Submitted photo
Six-month-old Bradley Bonner, son of Bryan and Sarah Bonner of Brussels, would like to wish Calhoun News-Herald readers a Happy New Year! Bradley and the entire Calhoun News-Herald staff hopes that 2014 brings health, happiness, peace and prosperity to everyone.
Peace of Mind. See page A3
SPORTS
Robert Lyons/Calhoun News-Herald
Hardin resident Gary Bell removes the Christmas lights from the eave of his home Thursday afternoon, the day after Christmas. Bell said he would normally leave his decorations up longer past the holiday, but wanted to take advantage of the mild lateDecember temperatures.
2014 may be a banner year for bald eagle viewing Lady Warriors finish third in Jerseyville. See page b6
NEWS
What's happening between the rivers. See page A5
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By RObERt L YONS Calhoun News-Herald The early winter’s bitter cold temperatures have made the region more welcoming for some annual visitors. Scott Isringhausen, urban fishing coordinator and former Pere Marquette site interpreter, said he believes this will be a great winter for bald eagle viewing. “It got so cold so early and we got ice, it just pushed the eagles into the area earlier. The potential is there to be a great year,” Isringhausen said. “I think this could be one of the best we’ve had in the last several years, to be honest with you. It’s setting up
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like that.” The state park’s Bald Eagle Days programs resume Jan. 3, with six dates in the first month of the year. There will be 11 days of the program in February and two more in March. The program, led by Isringhausen, teaches participants about bald eagles while embarking on a viewing tour of the birds in their natural habitat. The bi-state region is the second largest home of wintering bald eagles in the United States, behind only an area encompassing northern California and southern Oregon. Alaska has the largest bald eagle population in the nation. “The eagles that we’re seeing here
THE WALLS
CALHOUN NEWSHERALD • Index • Obituaries . . . . . A3 Our Town . . . . . . A6 News . . . . . . . . . A2 Public Notice . . . b4 Real Estate . . .D6-7 Correspondence A5 Social . . . . . . . . . A4 Sports . . . . . . . . b6 Obituaries in this issue: Taylor
© 2014 Calhoun News-Herald
Robert Lyons/Calhoun News-Herald
Dennis Vogel, of Vogel Bros. Painting, applies a coat of white oilbased paint Thursday to a corner in the office shared by Country Insurance and the Calhoun County Farm Bureau.
are primarily coming from northern Minnesota, northern Wisconsin and Canada,” Isringhausen said. He said the giant birds, with wingspans up to seven and a half feet, draw visitors to the area from all across the United States. Local residents, however, don’t have far to travel to get a glimpse of the magnificent creatures. “People don’t realize how fortunate we are, this truly being the second best place in the lower 48 states,” Isringhausen said. “To have the bald eagle here in its natural habitat and setting, we truly are blessed.” He said the Riverbend area receives a shot in the arm from the tourism industry that picks up with the arrival
of the eagles. He said there have been studies done which give an average of how much each visitor spends at local businesses. “I don’t know a dollar number, but the economic impact is great,” he said. In 2013, Isringhausen became the Illinois Department of Natural Resources urban fishing coordinator for southern Illinois. But, he said IDNR hasn’t filled his position as Pere Marquette’s site interpreter, so he had the opportunity to lead the Bald Eagle Days program once again. “At the very least, I want to be involved in training that person [hired as site interpreter],” Isringhausen,
who has been with Pere Marquette since the inception of Bald Eagle Days, said. “But, I like it and am real excited about doing them again this year.” All programs begin at 8:30 a.m. and reservations are required. Because of Isringhausen’s role as urban fish coordinator, the eagle programs will only be offered on weekdays. For more information, contact Pere Marquette State Park at (618) 786-3323. Isringhausen said the park is hoping to have its live eagle cam up and running soon, also. Since 2011 a live video feed from a nearby eagles’ nest has been broadcast onto a screen in the Pere Marquette visitor’s center.
January Sievers steps into superintendent role Teachers have to answer to a new administrator in the Calhoun Community Unit School District No. 40 Jan. 1, and she is anxious to get into the thick of it. Kate Sievers, a Hardin native who started her teaching career in CCUSD, said she is excited to begin expanding her work environment to include the teachers and staff at the elementary school. “We have a wonderful teaching staff at District Unit 40,” Sievers said. “I look forward to working with all those people. They are genuinely good people who are here to make lives better for students, not only academically, but as a whole child, too.” A graduate of Calhoun High School, Sievers attended Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville where she completed a bachelor’s degree in finance and went on to finish a master’s degree in reading, as well.
logo that will distinguish and promote Calhoun County’s peaches, apples and perhaps other produce,” Reed said. “We are aware other sellers are using our quality name for their products. Anyone can make a sign that says Calhoun produce in quotes.”
Services (CMS). Barb Ledder, administrator for the Hardin facility, said she is honored and excited the rehabilitation center has been recognized for all the hard work she and her employees have put into providing the best possible care to their residents. A few years ago, she said the federal government began rating nursing homes with the highest possible score being five stars, an achievement met by the Hardin nursing home. “They look at all sorts of quality of care issues, staffing, care,” Ledder said. “They look at whether you’ve received any violations in the last six months … and so they ranked us pretty high.”
CNH year in review: part one
Farm Bureau looking to protect Calhoun name The Calhoun County Farm Bureau is looking into creating a trademark with a unique logo to designate true Calhoun County produce from impostors using the county’s name to sell their produce. Robert Reed, president of the Farm Bureau, said by creating a logo or seal, Calhoun county farmers – most notably peach, apple and other fruit growers – can protect the Calhoun name and what differentiates their product from others. “Calhoun County Farm Bureau is interested in meeting with Calhoun County producers to develop a unique C
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February Kampsville cuts water to delinquent billpayers The village of Kampsville announced it will turn off water to those who have not paid their water and sewer bills to the city in three months due to a numerous lot failing to pay their bills on time. Millie Schumann said when she took on the position of village clerk, issues with water bill payments were terrible. She said very few people would pay them, but added eventually the village got to a sustainable position. However, in the past two years, she said the problem has gotten out of hand with numerous people failing to pay the bills on a regular basis. Schumann said she estimates around 50 households are delinquent, or have not paid their water bills in at least three months. “We have 16 that are completely out of control,” Schumann said, “and then I’d say 50 of the others. They come in once in a while, but they don’t come in like they should.” March Nursing center awarded five stars from CMS Calhoun Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Hardin was the recipient of a five-star recognition issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Board dismisses Kieffer in 5-0 vote After voting to dismiss Brandi Kieffer as Calhoun County supervisor of assessments during a special meeting March 12, the Calhoun County commissioners approved to hire former Jersey County Supervisor of Assessments Tom Glynn in an interim capacity at its regular meeting Monday. The vote to dismiss Kieffer was approved by all five commissioners – Doug Wilschetz, Phil Robeen, Larry Wieneke, Gene Breden and Pat Droege – and Glynn’s hiring was approved by all but Wieneke, who was absent from Monday’s regular meeting. Regarding the dismissal of Kieffer as the supervisor of assessments, State’s Attorney Rick Ringhausen issued a press release stating Kieffer was dismissed based “upon a failure to timely publish the notice of assessment changes on Dec. 31, 2012; failure to perform the (See, year iN review, A2)