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NEWS Sampley agrees to stipulated bench trial. See page A2

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See page A9

CNB supports food bank. See page A9

WEEKEND WEATHER FRIDAY, JUNE 12

84 59 High

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SATURDAY, JUNE 13

77 52 High

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SUNDAY, JUNE 14

75 55 High

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INSIDE Classified . . . . . . . A7 Community . . . . . A6 County News . . .A2, A4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A6-9 Court . . . . . . . . . . A7 Marketplace . . . . . A5 Obituaries . . . . . . A4 Opinion . . . . . . . . A3 Obituaries in this issue: Ashley, David, Erke, Lawber, Penrose.

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VOL. 178, NO. 24

City prepares to take action on former Temptations salon building

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Nebo youth achieves grand slam of turkey hunting.

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In downtown Griggsville Saturday, June 6, left to right, Taylor Lunge, Bailey Powers, Lexi Kessinger, Kaylie Scoggins, and Kimberly Grimes held signs in support of Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests throughout the country. In BLM civil rights protests — the scale of which haven’t been seen since the late 1960s — BLM protestors in cities and towns across the country are demanding police reform following the death of George Floyd, while in police custody in Minneapolis, May 25.

George Floyd remembered in downtown Griggsville By DAVID CAMPHOUSE Pike Press Following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis Police custody, cities and towns throughout the United States have been the sites of protests and demonstrations demanding civil rights and police reform. In solidarity, a group of Griggsville women gathered to make their voice heard Saturday, June 6. Taylor Lunge, Bailey Powers, Lexi Kessinger, Kaylie Scoggins, and Kimberly Grimes held signs in support of Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests throughout the country. According to Scoggins, many local residents were skeptical of the demonstration, but she is proud of making a stand on the issue. “It’s okay to have a different opinion than

other people,” Scoggins said. “People in Pike County need to see there is a world bigger than theirs. The older generation drove by and gave a blind eye. It was kind of a mixture of responses.” Scoggins felt compelled to spear-head the demonstration due to her relationships with people of color and her sense of fairness. “What prompted me to do this is that I have a lot of African American friends,” Scoggins said. “If white people were treated the same, what would people do? We wouldn’t be able to do it ourselves.” Scoggins added that Pike County residents need positive leadership toward racial equity. “Griggsville definitely needs change,” Scoggins said. “They just need somebody to push them to be kind.”

Pleasant Hill approves IHSA ‘return to play’ by DAVID CAMPHOUSE Pike Press Pleasant Hill’s school board met Monday, June 8 to discuss district athletics and finances. The board approved the Illinois High School Association’s (IHSA) guidance for “return to play” of sports for the upcoming school year. “We can have 10 kids at a practice at a time,” Pleasant Hill superintendent and football coach Ron Edwards said. “We can’t have any balls or sportspecific equipment. The focus is on conditioning to get players ready.” Edwards also said that student-athletes can lift weights at school as long as they maintain six foot social distancing. Edwards added that the most valuable lifts for football strength can’t be accomplished without a spotter. “You can’t have a spotter for lifting,” Edwards said. “You can’t do Olympic lifts without

3LNHODQG WR GLVFXVV ,+6$ UXOHV WRQLJKW By BETH ZUMWALT Pike Press Pikeland Unit 10 in Pittsfield will discuss their approach to getting athletes back on the field at a special meeting tonight, June 10 at 6 p.m. in the media center at the high school. They will have to find a way to comply with the same guidelines, Pleasant Hill addressed at their meeting Monday night. “We can start with the conditiona spotter. I’m not interested in how many curls you can do.” According to Edwards, the most valuable part of the recent IHSA announcement is allowing cardiovascular training. Edwards also said he is encouraging his team members to get back to basics to build strength. “It’s more running than anything,” Edwards said. “We’re

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PIKE COUNTY’S HISTORY OF CIVIL RIGHTS

Clayton Lindley of Mt. Pulaski, left, and Michael Clark of Aledo put the finishing touches on a mural featuring John Nicolay, Abraham Lincoln, and John Hay on the corner of Madison and Washington in Pittsfield on Friday, June 5. Nicolay and Hay, who spent significant portions of their lives in Pittsfield, were both private secretaries to President Lincoln and were instrumental in several of Lincoln’s accomplishments — including the abolition of slavery. Nicolay was an immigrant who edited the Pike County Free Press newspaper. Hay moved to Pittsfield to attend school and to live with his with his uncle, Milton Hay. The mural was created and installed by CSL Studios of Mt. Pulaski. The mural was commissioned by Picture Pittsfield with funding from the Pike County Economic Development Corporation with local hotel tax dollars.

ing and strength training Monday, June 15,” Jarrod Heinz, athletic director at Pikeland Schools, said. “We have met with all the coaches and will have a plan in place as soon as possible.” Heinz said a conference call with athletic directors and the Illinos High School Association was schedule to clear up any “fuzzy” areas. “There are some place where the language needs to be clarified,” he said. also more about body weight exercises like pushups.” The board also approved the district’s risk management plan, which outlines the actions and responsibilities of the district and district staff to reduce risk to students, staff, and the public. According to the plan, (See, IHSA, A2)

By BETH ZUMWALT Pike Press Mayor John Hayden told the Pittsfield City Council he was fearful if something wasn’t done about the former Temptations Beauty Salon building at 122 E. Adams, the whole north side of the square would be lost. He made is declaration at the June 2 city council meeting. “He said the due to the damage the Irving building had done to the Temptation’s building it was pulling away from the next building, Serenity Day Spa,” Ann Moffit, city clerk, said. “The city wants to try to buy Temptations, tear it down and try to save the rest of the north side of the square.” The Irving building was demolished last year after falling into a state of deterioration and deemed unsalvageable. But according to officials at city hall, the wall connecting the Irving building and the Temptations building was never repaired as part of the demolition so now that building is also deemed a hazard.

“The city wants to try to buy Temptations ...and try to save the rest of the north side of the square.”

Ann Moffit City Clerk Kelly Jones, owner of the Temptation building, has argued with the former owners of the Irving building for years about the deterioration and leaking issues. Part of the agreement in the Irving building being torn down was repair to Jones’ building and a stairway rebuilt to provide access to an upstairs apartment. Those terms were not met. If the city does purchase the building, Moffit said they would no doubt demolish the building. No plans were announced for the lot that would remain. The council also voted to offer the position of mechanic to an individual,but as of press time, the individual had not accepted the job. If they do not, the council will offer it to the second applicant. The city wide clean-up is postponed until further notice. The pool project is waiting on materials and it is hopeful it will be finished by mid-jury. The council also approved a $264,680 payment towards having a big portion of Jackson Street and Washington Street resurfaced and other improvements such has handicapped accessibility at all intersections. The council had originally approved $173,650 for their portion of the project but bids came in higher than expected and in order for the project to proceed, the city had to pay a bigger portion. Based on the recommendation of the zoning committee, the council approved a variance for Eric and Diane Miller to extend a deck and put a roof over it at their home on Jefferson Street. With the addition, the deck will be closer to the street than the ordinance allows. The council also approved a special use permit and zoning variance for ISCOC of Central Illinois to erect a tower in the 100 block of East Jefferson Street. The tower will be 120 feet and with lightening rod will extend to 125 feet. City ordinance has a limit of 30 (See, TEMPTATIONS, A2)


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