CALHOUN NEWS-HERALD
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INSIDE NEWS Local girls have fun, dance with their “guy.� 6HH SDJH A7
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St. Mary's contends at regional Mathcounts competition. 6HH SDJH A8
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HARDIN, ILLINOIS 62047
FEBRUARY 19, 2020
VOLUME 147 - ISSUE 8
CHS’s plan to move off Hardin water underway Interest stems from water main breaks
By JARAD JARMON Calhoun News-Herald The city and the school district are in the early stages of transitioning Calhoun High School’s water off of the City of Hardin’s water systems. At the Village of Hardin meeting last week, Mayor Dave Hurley was OK’d to continue negotiations with the school on how to go about the transition. It has been previously reported that the school district was looking to put the high school on to Calhoun Rural Water (CRW) systems following disruptive water main breaks. “Because of these breaks, we had to either cancel school or have school start late or leave early. It is getting to be an issue,� Hurley said. The high school has been affected by four water main breaks this school year, Calhoun Superintendent Kate Sievers said. “Since there have been several water main breaks, the district
has looked at possibly switching to Calhoun Rural Water- who currently serves Calhoun Elementary School,� she said. “However, we are trying to make the most ‘cost-effective’ switch to Calhoun Rural Water.� There were two possible options. In the first option, the village allows Calhoun Rural Water to take over ownership of the existing Village’s water lines that go down Poor Farm Hollow Road. CRW would then serve Calhoun High School and the residents who live down Poor Farm Hollow Road. Sievers said the obstacle to this option is that the village has several customers that live on Poor Farm Hollow Road, and if the village allowed CRW to take ownership of the lines, those customers would be forced to switch over without any say in the matter. For these reasons, the Village decided not to pursue that option, she said. Instead, they have opted to go with the second option, which includes having the high school connect to CRW
through the elementary school. In this case, piping will have to be run from CES to CHS. “We are just now in the early stages of this project,� she said. While both options came with a price tag, Sievers indicated that this is a cost the district is hoping to cover with potential grant funding. Issues surrounding the village’s water were addressed as a whole during the meeting. “We have a lot of issues with the water,� Hurley said. “Quite frankly, I think the board agrees that we have to do a water replacement system.� The city has and continues to seek out grant funding to remedy the issue, but it was noted that this takes funding the city does not have currently and that it will take a lot of money to get the project done. Hurley said discussions regarding a fix to the city’s water main breaks are continuing. “People just need to understand that we are working to improve (the city’s) water systems,� Hurley said. “It takes time and it takes money that we do not have available.� At the meeting, the purchase of soft
starters for the village’s water systems at roughly $8,500 was OK’d in an effort to alleviate some issues with water main breaks. Hurley said the soft starters would lessen the chances of a break; however, it does not completely eliminate the potential. “I personally think it is a no-brainer at this point,� Hurley said. “Even if you had the funding today to replace all of the water lines, it would take a long time. It is certainly not going to happen overnight.� Chris Schuze with the public works department in the village said it would also help ease the water system’s reaction should a break occur. From Schuze’s perspective, if the soft starters prevent one break, “it is worth it.� More recently, on Feb. 10, there was a water main break in the village which left Hardin customers without water during the day. Schuze said the breaks have been largely concentrated where the town was flooded last season. Last year’s flood for some, rivaled what area residents experienced in ’93. (See, WATER, A2)
Area woman finds adventure in Virgin Islands By CONNOR ASHLOCK Calhoun News-Herald Calhoun youth impress with free throw prowess. 6HH SDJH A8
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WEEKEND WEATHER FRIDAY, FEB. 21
39 24 High
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SATURDAY, FEB. 22
47 34 High
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SUNDAY, FEB. 23
41 33 High
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hen Jill Brackett moved from the Midwest to St. John in the Virgin Islands, it was a culture shock that presented both challenges and rewards. Growing up in the countryside of Hardin with a family that included three brothers, the adventurous Jill wasn’t built for anything less than a challenge. “I always knew I wanted to move out of the Midwest, so I took every chance to explore different towns along the East and Gulf Coasts,� Brackett said. One day, her exploring led her to Florida and an interesting encounter that would change the course of her life. “While on a trip to Fort Lauderdale, I met a couple who worked for Kenny Chesney. They told me about the Island of St. John where they and Chesney lived. I thought the island sounded familiar and realized I had a local friend from Carrollton that also lived there, so I called him after my vacation and was offered an awesome opportunity to move to the U.S. Virgin Islands,� she said. Just six days after returning from Florida, Jill did exactly that. She packed up her life and moved down south. She had reservations though. “I didn’t know what I was getting myself into and it’s a little scary
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(See, VIRGIN ISLANDS, A4)
Illinois funding shortfalls constrict local law enforcement By JARAD JARMON Calhoun News-Herald The combinations of an increase in mandated training passed on to police and diminished funding for this training has prompted frustration among state groups and local law enforcement.
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CALHOUN NEWS-HERALD
immersing yourself in another culture,� Brackett said. I had no idea where this place was even at until I moved down here.� But soon enough, Jill would come to fall in love with St. John. “I moved down there in May 2019,� the Calhoun native said. “My island journey started off by taking some time to explore the islands here, just to see if I wanted to stay. After jumping from island to island, I quickly fell in love with the island life and also realized I wanted to work as a mate on a boat.� Brackett enrolled herself in a fiveday course in captain school to get the necessary credentials to work on boats. Having moved to St. John in the late spring, a time that locals call “slow season,� there wasn’t much work to be found crewing on a boat, so she started off in property management. That opportunity led to some boat work on the side until vacation season kicked in. “Now I work full-time on boats,� she said. “I work on two 47 ft. long monohull sailboats and a 50 ft. Sea Ray, which is a powerboat. I work on day charter boats, meaning the captain and I take guests throughout the islands for one day (about eight hours). My job as a first mate is second in command to the captain. I’m responsible for helping the captain navigate and follow safety protocols. I also supervise and coordinate day-to-day activities of all passengers aboard.� She admits the nautical terminology is still difficult for her, but her work
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Bill Heffington Calhoun News-Herald Local authorities along with law enforcement groups across the state are calling for officials to close a funding gap that has led to the cancellations of law enforcement training across the state. Chief Deputy Gregory Weishaupt, who also continues to serves as the Hardin Village Police Chief, addressed the issue at the Hardin Village Council meeting Wednesday. “A lot of the mandated training is being canceled,� Weishaupt said. “If they don’t fix it before this summer, it becomes permanent. The reimbursements are not coming through.� Law enforcement agencies often send individuals to the academy or to mandated update trainings with an expectation of reimbursement from that state, but it appears that that expectation is not currently being met.
The Illinois Sheriffs’ Association (ISA) and Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police Feb. 14 called on the General Assembly and Gov. J.B. Pritzker to provide emergency funding to end “Illinois’ $5 million funding shortfall for police training.� According to a press release the two law enforcement groups issued, funding for the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB), which provides much of this mandated training through its 15 regional mobile training units, is down 16 percent this fiscal year. ILETSB also provides funding to local police academies. “Classes are being canceled and our mobile training units have been asked to consider plans to shut down due to the funding shortage. This makes our communities less safe and puts officers at risk,� ISA executive director Jim Kaitschuk said. “It should not come to this. Illinois owes its first responders the training they need to answer the call.� For local agencies, this has been especially troubling. As previously reported, local authorities have been struggling to fill in gaps in the police force in Calhoun County. This work has been further complicated by these funding shortfalls. Currently, Calhoun Deputy Zach Hardin will be going through the police academy with an expected graduation date in April. Calhoun County Sheriff Bill Heffington said for both academy and other training for current deputies, they will have to (See, FUNDING, A5)
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Gym owner shares advice to maintain health resolutions By CONNOR ASHLOCK Calhoun News-Herald As February draws to a close, people all across America are feeling the burnout from two months of trying to stick to their New Year’s resolutions. While getting exercise, losing weight and eating healthy is never easy, Nate Sagez, owner of the Calhoun Crunch, has plenty of advice for those trying to become or stay healthy this year. Like so many less-than-enthusiastic resolutioners, Sagez said he hasn’t always been athletically-minded. However, as he has gotten older, he has acquired a taste for healthy habits. “Growing up I wasn’t a naturallygifted athlete, but several years ago I went through the P-90X program and thought ‘Wow! This really works!’ And I think it works because it’s straightforward,� he said. Sagez has worked with residents across both Jersey and Calhoun County to set and meet weight loss and fitness goals. “One thing I always tell people when I first meet them is to focus on why they’ve started this journey,� he said. “It’s always hard taking that first step, so it’s good to remind yourself why you started.� The biggest thing, though, according to Sagez, is setting attainable goals. “In the gym, when people first start, they’ll work out five days a week then life happens and they’re only working out two days a week and then they start to think they’ve failed. So set goals that you know you can meet,� he said. “Those small
goals will build on themselves.� Sagez admits to being a big “habit guy� and believes they should be a major part of anyone’s weight loss or fitness journey. “You’re really trying to change your psychology when it comes to habits. Even if you just put your gym shoes on, you can still walk a short distance to put yourself in the habitforming mindset. You don’t have to feel like working out, but you should still try to work out, even if it’s just for ten minutes,� he said. “Maintaining your habits is the big thing.� Sagez also offered some of his most effective personal advice. “My personal rule is don’t miss twice. Then you feel like you have to start over and you have to go back to the beginning,� he said. “Consistency is so big.� Even better, Sagez said, is seeing how small changes you make in one area can have a domino effect into seemingly unrelated parts of your life. “If you’re working out, you’ll want to eat well to keep that weight off,� Sagez said. “Your energy, sleeping, and eating should improve. In the beginning, you get comfortable in your head with the whole ‘I can’t do this’ mentality, but you get confidence that shines through the other parts of your life.� If you’re trying to eat healthier, but you need some stepping stones to help get you started, it was advised to start small. “Chunk it down and start small,� Sagez said. “With diet, what I like to do is give someone three or four days (See, HEALTH, A5)