Cancellation of co-op program examined
Mike Henry addressed the Red Bud school board at their July 15 meeting with his concerns about the cancellation of the high school’s co-op program.
“There are businesses in town that have asked why and I don’t know why,” he stated. “You’re going to need unskilled laborers and these kids are going to need somewhere to go.”
Henry went on to say that the co-op program is a very good program, teaching students skills and giving them on job experiences and training that they can use. He added that he has also employed several co-op students at his dairy over the years.
“We looked hard at co-op,” was the response from Board President Larry Gielow. “We only had six students last year and most were employed by the school. It got to be an expensive program for us to run. Businesses aren’t hiring them due to the economy, they’re laying off their own.”
He continued by stressing that the main reasons for the cancelation of the program were the low participation numbers and having trouble placing the students.
Henry told the board that he knows of students who wanted to participate, but when they asked about it, they were told they missed the deadline and could not participate. He then asked when students needed to sign up for the program.
High School Principal Sarah Imhoff stated that students interested in the program need to apply when they register for classes and need to be scheduled for it by March. She also added that the students, not the school, are responsible for finding their own employment.
Henry expressed that many businesses, students and parents were unaware of how the program worked. He added that in the past he had been called and asked if he wanted co-op students to work for him.
“Maybe it’s been our fault for not making the community more aware of this,” commented board member Rick Stenzel.
He went on to address Henry’s concerns, “The numbers have been dwindling for years, but we have an industrial arts program now which can give them skills. And if we can get the numbers, this board will support bringing back the co-op program.”
High School Librarian Deb McCutcheon and Elementary School Librarian Pam Seals gave their annual state of the library address.
McCutcheon happily reported that circulation at the high school is way up. She believes this is because they have invested in an annual program with Amazon that allows her to pre-order new books, and she often receives them on the day they are released.
She noted that many teachers are requiring outside reading for their classes, and with the current economy, more students are borrowing books instead of buying them.
McCutcheon also stated that more students are utilizing the library’s computers before and after school, as well as during their lunches.
She told the board that currently she and her aide, Sarah Morganthaler, are working on program ideas and incentive programs. McCutcheon stated that many students using the library are there to read, which is a good thing, but some do not have good grades. She is looking for ways to encourage them to improve their grades.
At the elementary school, Seals stated that while there is a strong emphasis on attaining higher test scores, she strives to instill a love of reading in students.

New trustee for Evansville board
The Evansville Village Board may have started Monday night’s meeting with only three trustees in attendance, but they quickly remedied that situation.
Village President Mark Otten called the meeting to order then quickly moved on to making two appointments. He appointed Denise Holmes as the village treasurer and Tony Schenk as a new trustee.
Schenk was sworn in by Village Clerk Cindy Kueker and quickly took his spot at the table with the other trustees. Schenk is filling the spot left vacated by the death of Trustee Danny Schilling, while the spot left by Trustee Nick Schoenberger when he resigned last month is still open.
The good feeling that the board had from adding a new trustee was short lived though as the board progressed with their meeting.
Police Chief Brian Thomas briefly addressed the board. He simply informed the board that he has spoken to his attorney and he will not be resigning from the position. Additionally, the board cannot remove him from the position as he is on medical leave.
As for finding additional officers for the village, he is still working on finding some, but is not having much luck.
“Nobody wants to come up here and be part of the circus,” he stated. “No one will return calls.” Thomas also added that others have turned down the job due to “the same reason why the other two officers resigned, all the backstabbing.”
Citizen Tom Peterson asked the board what they were going to do about the police matter, as well as for a code enforcer.
“We need someone to get out here and do what they’re supposed to do, even if you need to call in the state police,” he stated. “Evansville Days is coming and we need somebody here to take care of it if there’s a problem.”
Otten stated that the board would discuss the matter in executive session and they scheduled a special meeting for Monday, July 26 at 8 p.m. to discuss the police personnel matters.
Citizen Debbie Thompson addressed the board with several concerns, mostly about the water bills.
“I want to know why the water bills were sent out when they weren’t correct. I think there was enough time for them to be corrected,” she said noting that a second bill was eventually sent out, but she never received it.
Trustee Ron Heinen asked her what the difference between the two bills was. Thompson said she did not know as she never received the second bill and Kueker did not tell her. Heinen said that the matter would be resolved on the next bill and if she overpaid, she’d receive a credit.
Thompson then moved on to the matter of the bills being estimated. She did not like the fact that the bills were not always marked when they were estimated and she wondered how some meters in town could even be read when they are inaccessible.

Two injured in Ruma motorcycle accident
An accident that reportedly involved a high speed police pursuit after two motorcycles, left two seriously injured Sunday night in Ruma.
According to witness reports, two motorcycles being pursued by a state police officer came northbound into Ruma around 9:30 p.m. Sunday night, July 18. While one bike was able to negotiate the “Y” where Route 3 meets Route 155, the other bike did not.
According to the Illinois State Police official accident report, Dennis L. Seidel, 31, of Waterloo, was driving a motorcycle northbound on Route 3 and left the roadway and crashed at the intersection with Route 155.
He was reported to have major injuries and was transported to Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. His passenger, Stacy E. Brooks, 27, of Waterloo, also received major injuries and was airlifted to St. Louis University Hospital.
Seidel was issued a ticket for driving under the influence and additional charges are pending.
What happened to the other motorcycle is unknown at this time. According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department, Randolph County advised of a reckless male driver on a blue sports bike traveling at a high rate of speed on Route 3 that left the scene of an accident.
They added that the Red Bud Police attempted to stop the motorcyclist, but he fled. Waterloo Police officers searched, but were unable to locate the bike or driver.

- Births -
 

Jan. 15, Jeff and Jaclynn Welten, Steeleville, boy. June 28, Tim and Sarah Crow, Chester, girl.

- Area Deaths -