50¢ JULY 1, 2020
PITTSFIELD, IL
Pike Press
pikepress.com
VOL. 178, NO. 27
Bruno the bear crosses I-72, continues south Submitted photo
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NEWS Health and Wellness Foundation of Pike County accepting grant applications. See page A2
Moose supports Pleasant Hill Fireworks. See page A10
WEEKEND WEATHER FRIDAY, JULY 3
By DAVID CAMPHOUSE Pike Press A black bear nicknamed Bruno has made his way from Wisconsin, through portions of Iowa, and on to Pike County — arriving in the county either Sunday, June 28 or Monday, June 29 after passing Beverly in Adams County. According to Pike County Sheriff David Greenwood, his department received a call Monday afternoon that Bruno was seen looking for a spot to cross Interstate 72 between mile markers 22 and 23, near Barry. “We got a call that he was in the area,” Greenwood said. “Sergeant Mike Lemons was the first to respond and saw him walking along a fence line on the north side of the road.” Lemons reported that the bear appeared to be looking for a gap in the fence in order to continue his journey south. “The bear was north of the interstate pacing back and forth, looking for a place to cross,” Lemons said. “He must’ve jumped the fence, and we shut the interstate down for about 15 minutes while he crossed.” Greenwood, Lemons, and other officers opened a gate on the south side of the interstate and were able to direct the bear in the direction of the opening. “I’ve never had to corral a bear before, that’s for sure,” Greenwood said. Lemons echoed Greenwood’s sentiment that dealing with the bear was an exciting and novel experience as a law enforcement officer. “It’s a first for me, the first I’ve seen here,” Lemons said. “It’s refreshing — one of the better days I’ve had in law enforcement.” From the interstate, Bruno continued south to El Dara. According to El Dara village president Cecily Edwards, the bear was spotted in the community at approximately 7 p.m. “I looked at the map, and it looked like he was going straight to El Dara,”
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INSIDE Classified . . . . . . . A8 Community . . . . . A6 County News . . . . . A2-5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A8, A10 Court . . . . . . . . . . A8 Marketplace . . . . . A7 Obituaries . . . . . . A4 Opinion . . . . . . . . A3 Obituaries in this issue: Allen, Capps, Dunham, Jenkins.
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El Dara village president Cecily Edwards saw Bruno the black bear trundling down Main Street in El Dara. Edwards captured this image of community members gathered as he passed a home near Louden and Main at about 7 p.m. on Monday, June 29. Pike County Sheriff’s Department (PCSD) personnel were present to ensure the safety of the animal and residents. PCSD and Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) officers and staff recommend allowing at least 100 yards between humans and the bear.
Edwards said. “He went through the middle of El Dara — went up Main Street. I’m excited, especially that he went through my property.” Edwards added that the bear attracted many visiting spectators to the community to view the bear’s passage through El Dara. “That’s the most people we’ve had in town since color drive,” Edwards said. Edwards reported that Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) staff said that Bruno bedded down Monday evening somewhere south of El Dara. According to IDNR wildlife biologist Stefanie Fitzsimons, the safe passage of Bruno depends on the public’s willingness to give him space. “The outcome of this bear is 100% dependent on how the public reacts around the bear,” Fitzsimons said. “If the public can follow the rules of the ‘Be Bear Aware Campaign’ and leave the bear alone it will be able to continue its journey safely. Stay 100 yards back and let him be. There have been no human/property conflicts in Iowa or Illinois that the bear has instigated. If you plan on going to see the bear please take your picture and leave. We need to protect the bear and our law enforcement who are assisting with the journey.” (See, BRUNO, A2)
Area swimming pools: open, opening soon and not opening By BETH ZUMWALT Pike Press The three area public swimming pools are in different places as the season approaches mid-way. The Pleasant Hill pool was scheduled to open today, July 1. Cleaning, painting and filling the pool took place last week and several young people reported for life guard training and certification Monday, June 29. “We are not selling season passes this year,” Tina Jones, manager of the pool, said. “We hope everyone will come out and enjoy the pool.” Pittsfield’s pool, at King Park, is nearly finished as workers were expecting the final shipment of sealer this week. Once it is received, the area can be finished and after the recommended curing time for the sealant, the pool will be filled. “We are hoping for July 13,” Darlene Corgiat, president of the Pittsfield Park Board, said. “ We don’t know how long we will be open. It depends on what date school starts, if it does start on time and the availability of life guards, the weather and a number of other things.” Barry has opted not to open their pool this years, citing the cost of doing maintenance items for a shortened season, only to have to repeat those next year, and the availability of life guards. “We didn’t have many veterans life guards returning this years,” Debbie Harshman of the pool committee, said. “And we had no way to have others take the class.”
With Illinois entering Phase 4 of the coronavirus disease Restore Illinois plan, swimming facilities licensed by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) can open at a maximum of 50% of capacity. This includes swimming pools, water parks, splashpads, and beaches. According to the Illinois Department of Public Heath, the virus can still spread between people while in the pool, playing at a water park, or in a spa. People are encouraged to distance from other people, especially if waiting in line or sitting around the pool. Swimming facilities are required to have plans that address maintaining physical distance for areas where people line up to use a water slide, lazy river, or other water features. This can include putting up signs, having attendants monitor people, or using markings. The plan must also address sanitization of all equipment, such as rafts, tubes, and lounge chairs. These must be sanitized between each use. Operators should limit group sizes to no more than 50 people. Operators, employees, and customers should wear face coverings when not swimming or using other water features. Exceptions can be made for children younger than two years or people with medical conditions or disabilities that prevent them from safely wearing a face covering. Pools and water parks should require temperature checks for employees and customers when entering the facility, as well as in-person screenings to verify individuals do not have symptoms of COVID-19.
Submitted photo
Many residents of communities outside Pike County have been following Bruno’s movement through Illinois, including Louisiana, MO’s Benjamin Cordes, who captured this image of dozens of onlookers watching Bruno cross North 100th Avenue outside Beverly as he prepares to enter Pike County on Sunday, June 28. Onlookers are held back by Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) officers, who remind residents that they are to maintain 100 yards between themselves and the bear.
What will the next school year look like By BETH ZUMWALT Pike Press While admitting, it is a moving target and everything is subject too change, local school administrators are working on plans for the 20202021 school year. “We have three options,” Kent Hawley, superintendent of the Griggsville-Perry District, said. “There is the traditional school year, where everyone will attend as normal but with social distancing and masks or shields, there is a blended option, where part of the students will attend school two days a week and another group, three. Then the next week, they will switch. Social distancing and masks will still be required.” The third option is remote learning, where students will be homeschooled with assignments handed out and on-line classrooms will be utilized. Hawley said he does not have any of the proposed plans finalized and at this time is not sure which one he is leaning toward. “There is so many things to be considered,” he said. “School buses, where masks will definitely be require and probably assigned seating how to use the cafeteria, gym and recess time all have to have their usages decided.” Hawley said while the Illinois High School Association has allowed athletes to condition for their sport, the
IDPH has not approved any plan for competitions yet. “Our situation here in Pike County and even in Scott is different than other places, because we’ve been isolated,” Hawley said. “But, we can’t let our guard down. Our responsibility it to keep out students and staff safe.” Hawley said he has been getting input from both the staff and parents but will probably hold off on a decision until closer to the announced start date of school as the situation has the potential to change. Ron Edwards, superintendent at Pleasant Hill, says his leadership team and transition team meet weekly to discuss the latest guidelines and how Pleasant Hill can make them work. “Our goal right now is to have an as normal school days as we can have,” Edwards said. “But we are preparing for other scenarios also.” Edwards said he thinks under current guidelines, groups of 50 in one place, socially distancing, wearing masks or shields his school can function as close to normal as possible. He is not in favor of the blended day and says if remote learning is implemented, the school will have to make some “tweaks” to what they did last spring. “We know we will have to change our grading policies,” he said. “There are other changes that will have to be made. We have nothing nailed down yet. It’s an ever-changing situation.”
David Camphouse/Pike Press
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PUBLIC ART IN PITTSFIELD
On Monday, June 29, left to right, Darlene Corgiat, Mallory Davidsmeyer, and Monica Beard paint a mural east of Pittsfield’s swimming pool in King Park. Corgiat and Davidsmeyer developed the plan for the original piece of art. The mural is intended to capture the spirit of fishing at the King Park lagoon. The mural is a collaborative effort of the Pike County Art Guild, Picture Pittsfield and the Pittsfield Park Board.