GREENE PRAIRIE PRESS '(&(0%(5 – Vol. 150, No. 51 – &DUUROOWRQ ,OOLQRLV
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Carrollton TIF expected to be voted down By CARMEN ENSINGER Greene Prairie Press Carrollton residents packed city hall Thursday night for the December meeting of the City Council anticipating a vote on the proposed TIF district for the city. The proposition has stirred heated controversy among residents and officials. Namely, the Carrollton School district leaders and other local educators have been vocal critics of the move, pointing to the loss of revenues should a TIF District be accepted in the county. Business owners and other advocates including some on the coun-
cil argued that development in the area is stagnating and that a TIF would spur growth. Attendees waiting for a vote at the latest meeting were disappointed to learn that discussion of the TIF was not on the agenda. Less than 4 minutes into the regular meeting, the council went into closed session to discuss litigation and personnel issues. Around 30 residents packed the hallway and remained for the duration of the two-hour closed session. Upon re-entry into open session, City Attorney Bill Strang made the following announcement: “As the mayor announced before the
closed session started, there will be no public vote on the TIF since it is not on the agenda,� Strang said. “However, the mayor and council did ask me to announce that the consensus of the council in closed session is that when they put it on the agenda at the next regular meeting that it will be voted down.� This elicited a round of applause from the audience. Also, the city’s Comprehensive Plan, prepared by Moran and Associates that also prepared the TIF proposal, was up for a vote Thursday night. Following the closed session, the council, by a 5-1 vote, passed the Comprehensive Plan.
Alderman Larry Gillingham was the only dissenting vote. Alderpersons Tim Reif, Shane Carter, Maria Cox, Dewain Freand and Kevin Scoggins voted for the adoption of the plan. The plan sets out business and general improvement goals for the city. In other council action, the council approved: Q A payment of $20,000 to Benton and Associates for drawing up plans for the city’s new water tower and water treatment plant. Q Paying Scheffel and Boyle auditing services $9,990 for the city’s audit. Q Paying an invoice to Moran and Associates in the amount of $8,655.80.
SPORTS
Snowfall aftermath in county relatively mild Tigers lose to Hornets, 27-49 in Spartan Classic Tournament. See page A7
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WEEKEND WEATHER FRIDAY, DEC. 20
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Regional Championship winners Carrollton seventh grade girl’s basketball team won the IESA Regional Championship Nov. 26 at Pleasant Hill, defeating Jerseyville St. Francis/ Holy Ghost, 32-7. Back row, from left to right: Keeley Varble, Kelmaya Tally, Lauren Flowers, Abby Flowers, Daci Walls. Front row, from left to right: Carlene Stendeback, Riley Day, Vanna Holmes and Calie Field. The Lady Hawks are coached by Luke Nolan, Tiffany Flowers and Chris Webb.
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The snowfall continued intermitBy JARAD JARMON tently throughout Monday into early Greene Prairie Press Tuesday, but McMillen said most used According to local officials and the common sense when heading out on the National Weather Service, the second roads or simply did not go out — even major snowfall of season brought more more so because snow started falling snow than it did on Veterans Day, and on Sunday, when many had more of an yet it was largely unexciting — a sigh of option to not leave their homes. relief to local snow removal crews and Unlike earlier this season, the emergency personnel. roads were clear enough to respond to Greene calls with not County Sheriff “We’ve had much worse.� much trouble. Rob McMillen McMillen said said the snowroad crews storm was were ready and David Marth “uneventful� the snow did Greene County Engineer for the duranot pack itself tion of the on the roads as snowstorm. much. Sunday evening when the snow “Crews were on top of it,� McMillen accumulating on the roads, McMillen said. said there were calls to four or five David Marth, Greene County engislide-offs the roadway, but, for the rest neer, said it really was not that bad of a of the night along with Monday and snowfall, in terms of clearing up road Tuesday, police officials did not have conditions. Marth said by Tuesday many incidents, especially so in con- road conditions were back to 100 pertrast to the first major snow event of cent bare pavement. the season. “We’ve had much worse,� he said. Notably, on Monday, Nov. 11, a Had Greene County experienced Jacksonville woman died in a head- high winds as they have seen in preon car collision in Roodhouse. It was vious instances, it would have been snowing and the roadway was covered much more difficult to clear up, he with snow at the time of the crash, added. police noted at the time. This time around, the weather McMillen theorized the lack of appeared to allow for fun in the snow activity often associated with a snowfall for some, while not being to much of had to do to timing, at least partly. burden for drivers and local officials. “I chalk it up to it being on a Temperatures are forecasted to Sunday,� he said. shoot up into the 40s on Thursday.
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White Hall Library receives $5,000 grant By CARMEN ENSINGER Greene Prairie Press
Greene Prairie Press
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t is known by some that DOT Foods, through their charitable organization, The Tracy Family Foundation, is a large supporter of early childhood education. With that being said, the White Hall Township Library announced that it has been awarded a $5,000 grant to provide programming for the birth-to-five programs at the library through the Tracy Family Foundation, DOT Foods’ charitable organization. “We currently provide a birth-tofive story time and play opportunity every Monday morning at 10 a.m.,� White Hall Township Library Head Librarian Penny Eilers said. “We have families who come in regularly to play with the kitchen and building opportunities we currently have.� While the focus is on the birthto-five age group, other children benefit as well. “Our hope is that the library will be a place for families to gather, spend time and grow,� Eilers said. “While these opportunities are being provided for the birth-to-five age range, most of these activities are suitable for those of varying ages.� Funds from this grant will be used to create a stay and play passive program. “We will provide educational toys and dramatic play opportunities for children,� Eilers said. “These opportunities will be changed out each month. We will create dramatic play opportunities in the area of a bakery, vet clinic, fire department, police station, food truck, florist shop and more.� They will also provide music, art and movement programming and other opportunities. Instructors will come in and lead monthly specialized programming that will benefit the parents as well.
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Parents, along with their children, take part in the birth-to-five story time and play opportunity that takes place at the library every Monday morning at 10 a.m. Thanks to a $5,000 grant from the Tracy Family Foundation, the library will be greatly expanding its education opportunities for this age group.
“During these programming sessions parents will learn the importance of Process Art as well as how art improves early writing skills and letter recognition,� Eilers said. “As well as how music enriches early literacy by slowing down language allowing children skills that are easy for caregivers to implement at home.� A portion of the funds will be used to provide passive STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) kits for educational
enrichment. “Each month, we will set up a STEAM display with supplies, instructions and related books,� Eilers said. “These will include magnets, gardening, force and motion, weights and measures, fossils and five senses. In addition, a light table and manipulatives will provide other STEAM activities including building and color.� Finally, the library will provide infant playtime activities to engage the youngest patrons. These will
include activities to encourage gross motor sensory exploration. Based on Science Direct research, Eilers said that people of all ages remember best when they do. “People remember 10 percent of what they read, 20 percent of what they hear, 30 percent of what they see, 50 percent of what they see and hear and 90 percent of what they see, hear and do,� she said. “We want to create an environment where we do more.�