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Serving Bureau County Since 1847
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Hall breaks even By Barb Kromphardt bkromphardt@bcrnews.com
SPRING VALLEY – “It was better than last year,” Hall Superintendent Mike Struna said. “It was a break even year.” At Wednesday’s school board meeting, Struna reviewed the budget of the year just past and gave board members a preview of the upcoming year. For the Fiscal Year 2013 just completed, Struna said the district received $117,180 from the state than it did the previous year. General state aid continued to decline, as did transportation reimbursement. Better news was seen in the increase in corporate personal property replacement taxes, which Struna said was a good sign the overall economy was improving. While state revenues were down, local revenues were up by $154,101 from the previous year, largely because the Walmart Distribution Center came on the tax rolls. The district ended the year with a $28,395 surplus. “We broke even, which is great news,” Struna said. Actually, the surplus was even bigger. The bottom line included $184,000 in expenses for the new school, which will be repaid to the operations and maintenance fund after the bond money for the new school is received. Looking ahead, Struna said state revenue should remain fairly level, and he projected a 1 percent increase in local revenue. On the expense side, Struna said salary increases for the certified staff would be about 1.4 percent. “We are very lucky the teachers settled for a 1.4
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West Nile Virus confirmed By Donna Barker dbarker@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — Diseased mosquitoes infected with the West Nile Virus have been found in both Bureau and Putnam counties. Kurt Kuchle, director of health protection for the Bureau/Putnam County Health Department, said the Bureau County sample was collected June 25 and tested July 2. The Putnam County
sample was collected and tested on July 9. The health department usually tests on Tuesdays, he said. To date, the local health department has collected 26 mosquito samples this season for testing with 21 of those tests in Bureau County and five in Putnam County, Kuchle said. Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director LaMar Hasbrouck also confirmed the first dead bird testing positive for West Nile Virus (WNV)
in Illinois for 2013, reported by the Monroe County Health Department. To date, 17 counties in Illinois have confirmed positive bird and/or mosquito WNV tests this year, he said. “We are now starting to see West Nile Virus in both mosquitoes and birds, which means it’s only a matter of time before we start seeing West Nile Virus in people,” Hasbrouck said. “Remem-
See West Nile Page 4
Wyanet royalty Kara Roberson, 16, (seated) begins her reign Thursday night as Wyanet Summer Festival Queen. Joining her on-stage following Thursday evening’s pageant at the Wyanet Memorial Park are (standing from left) Jazmine Delbridge, named Miss Photogenic; Shelby Weborg, runner up; Kaylee Towne, named Miss Congeniality; and Samantha Splitt. The queen and her court will reign over this weekend’s festivities which include a 1 p.m. parade today, Saturday, as well as children’s games, food booths and entertainment throughout the day at the park. BCR photo/Becky Kramer
Concealed carry ... Where, when and why By Goldie Currie gcurrie@bcrnews.com
Editor’s note: This is the second story in a two-part series on concealed carry legislation. PRINCETON – Earlier this week, Illinois became the last state in the nation to allow public possession of concealed guns after lawmakers raced to beat a federal court deadline in adopting a law over Gov. Pat Quinn’s objections. The wait continues, however, before any concealed weapons will be floating around in public places. The Illinois State Police has been given a six-month deadline to set up a system to start accept-
Board split on appointments
ing applications for carriers to get a license. Terri Kramer, owner of Kramer’s Guns & Supplies in Ladd, is relieved the state finally took action on legislation but said it was “pathetic” Illinois had to be the last state to allow concealed carry. “We need it more than anybody because we have Chicago,” she said. Kramer expressed frustration in how gang members can carry guns where they want, and law-abiding citizens weren’t allowed to carry to protect themselves from poten-
PRINCETON — The Bureau County Board has made six appointments to the local Emergency Telephone System Board (ETSB), though not every appointment was made by a unanimous vote. At Tuesday’s meeting, Board Chairman Dale Anderson recommended the appointments of Keith Ackerman, Gaile Arnold, Dawn Dove, Kevin Sangston, Adam Lind and Todd Buckman to the ETSB Board. Lind would replace Josef Vasquez, and Buckman would replace Jeff Bitting.
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See County board Page 3
Dove’s appointment questioned B y Donna Barker dbarker@bcrnews.com
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