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Record The Putnam County
Volume 145 No. 42
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Putnam County’s Only Newspaper
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Wednesday, June 26, 2013
‘Can you put a price tag on children’s lives?’ Board decides on bus company By Ken Schroeder kschroeder@putnamcountyrecord.com
GRANVILLE – After long and careful deliberation during the last several months, the Putnam County School Board signed a three-year contract for transportation services with Johannes Bus Co. at the regular meeting June 17. While the bid from Johannes was higher than the bid
from current provider Illinois Central School Bus Co., several issues were brought to the board concerning safety concerns and other incidents that had pulled administrators from their normal duties. “When your superintendent is spending almost a quarter of his time dealing with transportation issues, that’s not good,” said board President Vicky Nauman.
“That’s not what we pay him for.” School Superintendent Jay McCracken thanked representatives of Illinois Central Bus who were in attendance at the meeting, but also reiterated the issues of safety. “There is a difference in cost between the two, but can you put a price tag on children’s lives?” McCracken said. “If we had re-signed with Illinois Central and something happened to the
students, we’d be liable. It’s unfortunate.” McCracken would not state the details of the incidents in question but did say the financial committee felt the safety issues outweighed the savings the district would have received renewing the contract. The bid placed by Johannes Bus Co. was $645,829.45 for the first year of the contract, compared to Illinois Central’s bid of $583,903.50.
In other action, the board: • Received a report from McCracken on monies owed to the district by the state of Illinois. While the state currently owes the district $61,468.73, McCracken told the board the amount was substantially less than was owed last year. • Hired six personnel for the coming school year. Janet Schenum was hired to fill the recon-
figured position of special education director. Wendy Louis will serve as junior high special education teacher. Chelsi Straughn will teach third grade, while Monica Frund will be a fifth grade teacher. Samantha Casey and Amber Maggi were hired as co-sponsors of junior high cheerleading. • Heard a report from the PCHS FFA Club on group activities and achievements for the past year.
IV Alzheimer’s Group takes new direction By Ken Schroeder kschroeder@putnamcountyrecord.com
PERU – Due to conflicting views of how to serve the needs of the Illinois Valley and its residents, the Illinois Valley Alzheimer’s Group has severed ties with the Peoria Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association and will be providing its services locally. “There were ways we wanted to spend our money. We wanted to give $2,400 to research, but they wouldn’t allow us to,” said Peg Gonet, support group facilitator. “It’s been kind of a, ‘They need us and our funding, but they won’t help us.’ This has been a problem for us for the last year.” As a result of the break, the funding that the IVAG receives from donations and events will stay in the Illinois Valley to provide assistance for local residents. Many of the local volunteers of the IVAG have been working with the organization since 2000. Most started as the planning group of the Illinois Valley Memory Walk, a fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Association. This group planned several additional fundraisers throughout the year, including the Boo Milby Memory Run Vol. 145 No. 42 Two Sections - 40 Pages
which more than doubled the income of the Alzheimer’s Association that came from the Illinois Valley. “The Memory Walk itself only made about $7,500 the first year I was involved. After Joanne Milby organized the 5K run in honor of her husband, that amount tripled,” said Kelly Klobucher, former Memory Walk coordinator. “This effort was independent for the association, but the Milby family generously donated the entire proceeds of the run to it. It was amazing to see our community rally and support the Milby family. “The IVAG has repeatedly requested additional services and programs for this area to go along with the increase in funds raised. The Peoria Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association has instead reduced resources, citing the economy, staffing issues and the distance from their office,” said Klobucher. Klobucher said the IVAG also requested assistance to pay for speakers and support group meetings. This request was denied. “After our request was denied, we decided to use the funds raised from the
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Putnam County Record/Ken Schroeder
Neal Glover stands beside his long-time dream, recently fulfilled. The car is a circa 1920 Model T delivery truck that was restored and customized. Glover is working on more customization.
Everything old is new again By Ken Schroeder kschroeder@putnamcountyrecord.com
GRANVILLE – For years, Neal “Doc” Glover of Granville has been looking for “The Car;” that mythical antique vehicle to customize and turn into a showroom piece. Finally, last year he found it; after he had given up looking. “I’ve wanted one for years, and I finally gave up looking. Then last year I was online and decided to
just take a quick look, and there it was,” said Glover. “I first saw the car back in 2009 when the guy who refurbished it posted pictures of it because he was so proud of his work. I was shocked to see he was selling it.” Glover was not so shocked that he didn’t immediately jump on the opportunity. He purchased the car and had it shipped from California. The object of his obsession is
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a Model T delivery truck, circa 1920. The body has been redone with a fiberglass shell and most of the mechanical and electrical systems have been replaced. “I’ve done some work on it, but it really doesn’t look much different from when I bought it,” Glover said. “I’ve done phase one of my project on it. There’s three phases before I’m done.”
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