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Saturday, February 28, 2015 ■ The Voice ■ www.mcdonoughvoice.com
Our County QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? Contact us at jsmith@mcdonoughvoice.com or (309) 833-2114
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26 West Side Square Macomb, Ill. 61455 Phone (309) 833-2114 Fax (309) 833-2346 www.mcdonoughvoice.com
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that purpose." The new section went into effect on Jan. 1 and school districts have 90 days to comply. Under West Prairie's school board policy, the district's superintendent or a designee will also provide the board with all emails received through the oneclick link and any feedback regarding them. Board members contacted individually will refer the person to the appropriate level of authority, and board member's questions or communications to district staff will be directed through the superintendent's office.
MRC Continued from A1
Tony Scott REGIONAL PUBLISHER tscott@gatehousemedia.com
Tom Martin REGIONAL EDITOR tmartin@register-mail.com
Jackie Smith EDITOR jsmith@mcdonoughvoice.com
Lainie Steelman LIFESTYLE EDITOR lsteelman@ mcdonoughvoice.com
Scott Holland SPORTS EDITOR sholland @mcdonoughvoice.com
Marilyn Thompson BOOKKEEPER mthompson@mcdonoughvoice.com
to the project for search and rescue efforts," Sperry said, "and if you can envision a team of searchers out looking for a missing person and this technology would enable team members, not only track their individual locations but the locations of all of the searchers." The light tower is now posted, generators have been tested, and other "ball rolling" deeds have been tended to as of Feb. 26. "It all just started rolling in," Anderson said, after the funds were dispersed early January. Communication, information and speed, Ander-
The policy also states that electronic communications — defined as email, electronic chat, instant messaging, texting and any form of social media — among a majority or more of board quorum shall not be used to discuss district business, as required by the Open Meetings Act. Permissible electronic communications include agenda item suggestions, reminders of meetings, meeting agendas, and individual emails to community members. The board will hear a second reading of the policy and adopt it at the March 26 regular meeting. Following an executive session, the board set a public hearing on a reduction in force for personnel
for 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, at the West Prairie Middle School in Colchester. A special meeting for district personnel will follow the hearing. Under state statute, school district must notify certified staff of termination before the end of the school year. Heerboth said budget constraints and projected enrollment for next year will lead to some reductions in staff, but declined to elaborate until a final plan is in place and affected personnel are notified. Heerboth also said the retirements of four staff members provides an opportunity to "rethink" those positions. In other business Thursday, the board: 1.) approved a request
son said, are vital components in disaster response efforts. He said that with aid from the FMCO, GIS operators are able to acquire "accurate and realtime information" – more adequate briefing for MRC members, first responders and the Incident Command Center. "We are able to view hazards, topography, and land features," Anderson said. "Thus, we can make more informed decisions and create a solid plan that has science and technology to back it up. … It is amazing how quickly technology is becoming more essential to preparedness and response efforts in regards to disasters." The McDonough County Medical Reserves – described as, "Individuals with
a common interest, community preparedness," by Anderson – was one of four MRCs in the western Illinois region to receive this grant, or 140 applications out of the 1,009 MRC national units. Sperry, who is not involved with the MRC, said that Anderson was chosen because he offered pioneer technology to one field, and an original idea in another. "Like I said, I don't think anyone is doing this in the search and rescue arena, that I am aware of," he said. Anderson said the idea came to him when he and his MRC unit were joined in search and rescue classes at Lake Argyle last November. They participated in a ground search and rescue course directed by the Illinois Search and Rescue
of Oak Park was cited for purchase, acceptance, possession or consumption of alcohol and misrepresentation of age by a minor/possession of a false ID on Friday. Taylor Nicole Williams, 21, of Galva was cited for disorderly conduct.
paraphernalia and disorderly conduct on Monday. Markus Scott McKee, 48, of Macomb was arrested for driving while license revoked/suspended on Tuesday. Stephanie Breann Lafalce, 19, of Springfield was arrested for possession of fewer than 2.5 grams of cannabis on Friday. Contavious Lewayne Kidd, 26, of Springfield was arrested on a foreign warrant on Friday. Taylor Jayne Lawson, 21, of Springfield was arrested for driving while license revoked/suspended and on foreign warrants on Friday.
from the Colchester Lions Club and the Colchester Community Organization to repair the playground fence at the South Elementary School in Colchester; 2.) approved a request from the South Elementary Parent-Teacher Organization to bring the PTO's funds into the school's activity fund; 3.) approved the addition of an agriculture communications course to the high school curriculum; and 4.) approved raising the middle school basketball and volleyball game ticket prices to $3 for adult and $2 for students.
dvaughn@mcdonoughvoice.com
Jan Blair
Council. "I wanted to show where we had search, what evidence we have seen of a person – clothes, trails, et cetera – and what areas have not been searched," he said. "I figured by having a map of areas covered would help to improve efforts and cut down on search time." Early spring into summer, Anderson expects to introduce the FMCO to the McDonough County corps. Then, he said, hopefully, the Search and Rescue Council may participate in another trial similar to last fall.
Reach Jacqueline Covey via email at jcovey @McDonoughVoice.com, or follow her on Twitter @jacquelinecovey.
REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF CIRCULATION jblair@register-mail.com
The McDonough County Voice (USPS 324-180) is published Tuesday through Saturday except holidays* Periodicals postage paid at Macomb, Illinois. POSTMASTER: Send change of address and address corrections to: The McDonough County Voice, 26 West Side Square Macomb, Ill. 61455. For subscription rates, please call the circulation department at (309) 833-2114. Subscription rates are transferable, but not refundable. * Holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Home delivery subscriptions reflect basic subscription rates before additional charges. Because of the added value of special editions there will be an additional charge for each special edition, which will accelerate the expiration of your subscription. There will be no more than 16 special editions per year. © 2008 GateHouse Media,Inc. All rights reserved.
POLICE BEAT MACOMB POLICE DEPARTMENT
Alex Jacob Bonner, 19, of Romeoville was arrested for driving under the influence of drugs on Tuesday. Walter Ronald Moore, 25, of Macomb was arrested on a McDonough County warrant on Tuesday. Donald William Coop, 50, of Macomb was arrested on a McDonough County warrant on Thursday. Spencer B. Smith, 23, of Carthage was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol on Friday. Mary Kate Mackey, 18,
MCDONOUGH COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
Julie Jaqualine Carranza, 20, of Joliet was arrested on a McDonough County warrant on Monday. Michael James Capps, 42, of Bardolph was arrested for possession of drug
Feb. 28 MACOMB WIU’s 42nd annual International Bazaar, noon-7 p.m., University Union Grand Ballroom. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children under age 10. Food tickets can be purchased in pages of $5, $10 and $20, and the $20 pack contains 23 food tickets. Winter Bazaar at Grand Prairie, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Grand Prairie Assisted Living, 1307 Meadowlark Lane. Chili sack lunch available for $3 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Proceeds go to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Reach Lainie Steelman via email at lsteelman @McDonoughVoice.com, or follow her on Twitter @LainieSteelman. First-ever open blues
Dusty Vaughn CIRCULATION MANAGER
CALENDAR
jam, 1 p.m., New Copperfield’s Book Service, 120 N. Side Square. Area musicians and music lovers can bring an acoustic instrument to this free event, similarly to the familiar hootenanny.
BLANDINSVILLE Spaghetti supper fundraiser for the 2015 Farmers Picnic, 5-8 p.m., Tinks on Main St. in Blandinsville. Free will donation. Take out orders available. Call ahead to 309-252-2155 for more than two orders.
RARITAN 59th annual Raritan Firemen’s Pancake and Whole-Hog Sausage Supper, serving starts at 4 p.m., St. Pat’s Community Center, one mile east and one and a half miles north of Raritan. Door prizes and take out available. Free will donation.
James Dennis Cain, 19, March 2 of Springfield was arrested for possession of fewer than BUSHNELL 2.5 grams of cannabis on Reservation deadline Friday. WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY
Trent William Sayers, 21, of New Lenox was arrested for domestic battery on Monday. Leanne Elizabeth Zazzetti, 18, of New Lenox was arrested for domestic battery on Monday. Jason Jamal JohnsonDavis, 19, of Chicago was arrested for domestic battery on Thursday.
for March 5 St. Patrick’s Day Dinner, event will be 5-7 p.m., Courtyard Estates of Bushnell. Cost will be $8 a person for corned beef and cabbage with trimmings. Call 309-7728000 to reserve a spot. Reservation deadline for March 4 Bushnell Chamber of Commerce meeting, event will be 1 p.m., Courtyard Estates of Bushnell. Cost will be $6 for lunch. Call 309772-8000 to make reservations.