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NEWS
Pike Press
pikepress.com
VOL. 178, NO. 17
White succeeds Bradshaw as G-P High School varsity boys basketball coach By DAVID CAMPHOUSE Pike Press
Farm Bureau distributes pork to food pantries. See page A2
Western board approves facilities work, receives updates on online learning. See page A3
103 years nets Barry woman a parade. See page A3
WEEKEND WEATHER FRIDAY, APR. 24
63 48 High
Low
SATURDAY, APR. 25
54 41 High
Low
SUNDAY, APR. 26
60 43 High
Low
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INSIDE Classified . . . . . . . A8 Community . . . . . A3 County News . . . . . A2-5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A7-8 Court . . . . . . . . .None Marketplace . . . . . A6 Obituaries . . . . . . A5 Opinion . . . . . . . . A4 Obituaries in this issue: Godfrey, Harwick, Nestrick, Walton.
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At the district’s Wednesday, April 15 board meeting, Griggsville-Perry school board members named G-P boys middle school basketball coach Garrett White as the high school boys basketball coach for the 2020-2021 school year. After leading the junior high boys to several successful seasons since joining the district in 2011, White replaces outgoing Submitted photo coach Todd Bradshaw Garrett White, crouching at center, was named who announced that he would not reapply for to be the Griggsville-Perry High School boys the position following basketball coach for the 2020-2021 season at the Wednesday, April 15 G-P school board meeting. this year’s season. “I had been offered White, who has coached at G-P middle school the position after the since 2011, replaces Todd Bradshaw. Standing 2015 season, but it behind White, left to right, are Rory Phillips, didn’t feel it would be Eli White, Wade Lipcaman, Colby Tate, coach the right time,” White Matt Hansen, and Garrett Woodward. Seated in said. “Todd and I had front of White, left to right, are Flint Kirk, Dayne talked for several years McCallister, Lane Lipcaman, and Wyatt Lipcaman. about my interest in moving up, and we decided this would be a good year to make the transition.” White went on to complement Bradshaw’s tenure as G-P high school boys basketball coach. “Coach Bradshaw has always been supportive of me, and kind to me and my family since we came here in 2011,” White said. “He’s a classy individual, who has had a lot of success over 20 years.” According to White, there is much to be optimistic about regarding the future of the high school boys basketball program. “I’ve coached every one of these kids before, and we’ve been very successful in the past,” White said. “I’ve run my junior high program like a high school program, so I’ll just be working on adapting and making that jump up. I’m very excited about getting started, hopefully once the quarantine is lifted, and getting kids in the gym.” To accommodate White’s move to the high school, current high school athletic director and junior high assistant boys basketball coach Matt Hansen (See, COACH, A3)
Seniors react to closing By BETH ZUMWALT Pike Press Students across Illinois learned Friday what many had been dreading hearing for the past month – school is cancelled for the remainder of the year. Students have been out of school since March 13 and had two times set to return. The first, March 30, was extended through April 30 and Friday, April 17, the school year was pronounced finished. No extra curricular activities or class room settings for the remainder of the year. “I understand why they are doing it,” Dalton Sheurman, a senior at Griggsville-Perry, said. “But I’m sitting at home bored. I miss my friends and the opportunities I could be having.” School work continues for students and school officials warn the packets with assignments are not optional. “We are requiring work be completed and turned in before credits are given,” Jessica Funk of Western School District, said. “If it is not turned in, an incomplete will be given and that student will not graduate or move to the next grade.” Funk said Western has made every effort to provide students with the tools and resources they need to continue their school work at home and the work load as been decreased. “It is not overwhelming,” she said. “If a student needs help, teachers are available for virtual individual assistance if it is needed.” Paula Hawley, superintendent at Pikeland, said she expects the state
to change graduation requirements, probably this week. “For example, a student is required to have four credits in English to graduate,” she said. “I’m thinking that might go to three and a half. Seniors are required to have consumer education for one semester and American History for one semester. That may be waived. We just don’t know yet. Once we get those and study our district policies, we can make a decision.” The academic concern is one that weighs heavily on Jennifer Bingham, a senior at GriggsvillePerry. “I miss my friends and my teachers,” she said. “I had close relationships with all my teachers. I worry about missing education. I know we are not getting all the education material we need. We need to have that so we can do well on our AP exams which determines our college courses.” Pikeland will have another work packet pick-up and library book drop-off Friday, May 1. Details will be announced later in the week. Meanwhile at all schools, at the least, prom is postponed, sports seasons finished, band and chorus concerts not on the schedule and most of all graduation ceremonies. “I had looked forward to walking down the aisle,” Gavin Anderson, a senior at Pleasant Hill High School said. “I know they are going to try to do something, but I wanted to walk down the aisle and then walk across the stage to get my diploma.” Sheurman said he and his class(See, CLOSING, A2)
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David Camphouse/Pike Press
GREAT DAY FOR A WAVING PARADE
Prior to Griggsville-Perry school district’s staff/faculty waving parade, from left to right, G-P fifth grade teachers Cody Freeman and Courtney Sargeant decorate Sargeant’s truck alongside G-P superintendent Kent Hawley and Pike County Sheriff’s Office school resource officer Chass Anderson. On Monday, April 20, G-P faculty and staff made their way through Griggsville and Perry in their vehicles honking and waving at students and families as a way for the district to stay connected through the COVID-19 school closures.
Pike County Unmet Needs receives $20,000 to assist in COVID-19 response By DAVID CAMPHOUSE Pike Press Pike County Unmet Needs (PCUN) was the only Pike County organization among a group of nonprofits to receive grant dollars from the Community Foundation Serving West Central Illinois & Northeast Missouri to better respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, the Community Foundation has distributed $250,000 to 12 nonprofits to assist individuals and families in Adams, Brown, Hancock, and Pike Counties, IL. The grants were made in conjunction with the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund (IRCF). The IRCF, established by the Alliance of Illinois Community Foundation and the United Way of Illinois in collaboration with the Office of the Governor, prioritizes swiftly deploying resources to local nonprofit organizations across the state to supply essential resources to the individuals and households most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. “These funds are for the people of West Central Illinois, and the Community Foundation is grateful for the opportunity to steward them on behalf of the Illinois COVID19 Response Fund and partner with local nonprofits to quickly deploy them where and how they are needed most,” said Catherine Bocke Meckes, Community Foundation Chief Executive Officer. “This Fund illustrates how people and communities across the state can come together and help each other through unprecedented challenges.” Local grantee partners were selected by the Community Foundation in collaboration with Tracy Family Foundation, The Moorman Foundation, and John Wood Community College Foundation — known regionally as the Funder’s Collaborative. According to PCUN treasurer Helen Earls, the organization received $20,000 from the Community Foundation to assist Pike County residents and families, who are economically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. “We were grateful that they contacted us,” Earls said. “We were the only organization in Pike County to receive these funds. It’s important so we are able to address client needs in
Pike County who have been laid off, who are not working, behind on utilities, rent, and even in need of food.” Earls says that the Community Foundation dollars are important to PCUN, as the COVID-19 crisis will significantly increase the number of Pike County residents seeking assistance. “These additional funds will allow us to assist people that do not ordinarily find their way to us,” Earls said. “More and more people, through no fault of their own, have been thrust into strange situations.” Working adults, too, according to Earls have also been financially impacted by COVID-19 school shutdowns. “It really does change the financial dynamic having kids at home,” Earls said. “Families are responsible for extra costs of feeding several children throughout the day and paying for childcare.” Earls added that the full financial effects of the business and school closures have not yet been felt by the region, and COVID-19 related repercussions will likely strain families and communities for months. “Depending on how long this goes on, we have no idea what the impact will be,” Earls said. “We expect an influx of cases in June and July after the moratorium of utility shut-offs and some evictions have been lifted. The stimulus checks will only go so far, and not everybody has even received a check.” Chris Bruns, head of the Pike County Housing Authority and president of PCUN, says that the $20,000 Community Foundation donation is significant in PCUN’s ability to assist the public — especially because individual and church giving may be down in the wake of the COVID-19 economic crisis. “Last year we assisted in 149 cases and gave out just over $52,000,” Bruns said. “This year we have been fortunate to receive grants from the Community Foundation, the Tracy Foundation, and the Health and Wellness Foundation. Everything has gotten more expensive — rent, utilities, auto repairs — so receiving grants and donations are even more important.” (See, ASSISTANCE, A2)
Pike lagging in Census numbers By BETH ZUMWALT Pike Press Pike County is trailing the state average in percentages of those who have completed their 2020 census forms. “The state is at approximately 58 percent and Pike County is at 48 percent,” Dallas Thueringer. who is coordinating the census in Pike County, said. Residents of the United States are asked to be counted once every 10 years. The numbers gathered determine money that is awarded to states and local governments for schools, roadways, representation in both state and federal government as well as a number of other programs. Residents could start filling out the census from on-line effective March 12 and will have until Oct. 31 to complete the form.
“That date has been extended due to the virus,” Thueringer said. “People will be able to fill out the form by phone, on-line or by mail through August. After that, they will receive a phone call or an in-person visit. We are trying to cut down on those as much as we can and asking individuals to do it earlier.” Thueringer said the form is simple and takes less than 10 minutes to complete. “We had hoped to be able to have spots around the county, where WiFi was available and people could come there, log on and receive assistance,” he said. “Now that is not available, but we are still hoping people will use public WiFi if they don’t have Internet at home.” Theuringer said a map is available showing the response rates from around the county and the northern section is behind the rest of the county, although he would like to see a surge in all areas.
Submitted graphic
Pike County’s lowest response rate in the 2020 census so far includes the north east part of the county and the the souther section. Areas in the pale blue are those reporting return numbers along with the state average, while the darker brown, the upper northwest corner is much below state average and the pale tan color, the bulk of the county, is also below.