Breaking News
CUSD #7 Breaks Ground on New Elementary
The BES Children wait anxiously for the ceremony to begin.
A crowd of over 100 visitors plus over 750 students were all smiles when school board members and elected officials broke ground on the new 26 million dollar new elementary school. Superintendent Paul Skeans welcomed everyone to the ceremony. “The new school will be completed by December of 2012,” Skeans addressed the crowd.
After the high school band and choir opened the morning ceremony, Superintendent Skeans reminded the crowd what the school district has been the recipient of. On Sunday, March 28, 2009, the school district lost the brand new elementary school in neighboring Benld. Just four days later, Skeans said, the school district was operating under double shifts in the high school and middle school. “That is why all the students are here, they were all apart of it,” Skeans mentioned. In November of 2009, the district was able to move the elementary students into modular building with the help of Phil Hare and Deanna Demuzio. Then, with the help of Governor Pat Quinn, the school district was able to receive 19 million dollars in grant money to help replace the elementary school. “The school board then matched 7 million dollars to help make the project possible,” Skeans said.
A committee of 26 members selected the Kelly street site on July 19, 2010. Then, in August of 2011, the school board awarded the first sitework construction bids. “In the next months, the school board will be awarding construction bids,” Skeans forcasted. It has been a long process, according to Skeans, but this community has joined together and overcame the obstacles and that has led us where we are today, “that is why we are here today.”
Superintendent Skeans said the school will be complete in nearly 16 months.
School board president, Mark Hayes, went on to thank numerous faculty members and elected officials for their attendance. “On behalf of the board of education, I would like to welcome all dignitaries and school children to this special day,” Hayes said. Today is a day to celebrate our children’s future and to celebrate what we have overcome, Hayes addressed. “We survived mine subsidence, we survived tornado damage to our secondary campus, and we survived modulars. We survived a state budget crisis, we lost an excellent school board president: Rusty Billbruck, and we lost one of the most dedicated individuals to our community: Matt Turcol,” Hayes stated. We, as a community, are strong and this is very exciting for us.
In 16 to 17 months the school district should be cutting the ribbon to open the new elementary school, according to the tentative plan.
Senator Deanna Demuzio spoke of “this very, very special day.” This day is the day we have waited for since the day in March of 2009, Demuzio said. “It is hard to believe we are starting a new journey just two and a half years later,” Demuzio stated, “It is very special to me, and to everyone else who was affected – this day is only the beginning.” It was hard to see the sadness in all the faces as I toured the destructed building for the very first time, Demuzio said as she wiped her eyes. “I would like to say congratulations as we embrace this day and many more exciting days to come,” Demuzio closed, “God bless all.”
Regional Superintendent Larry Pfeiffer got the children chanting “new school” as he gave his speech. “I was the individual that had to condemn the school building,” Pfeiffer said. I saw all the destruction and much of the damage that the mine subsidence brought, but I will always cherish something I thought was very motivational and that is the district’s efforts of continuing to provide the service to this community that I would consider epic, Pfeiffer stated. “This is exciting,” Pfeiffer closed with.
Students release their balloons as the school board members watch.
John Fassero, from the partnership for education excellence, spoke of the very exciting day. The Partnership for Education Excellence will be in operation for 20 years after this year. The Partnership started with nothing but desire, but since that time, the Partnership has given over 600k to the school district in forms of many grants and scholarships for the students. All members of the Partnership are volunteers and are completely dedicated to the success of the district. “On this momentous day, I want to congratulate the school district on the birth of a new school and want to reassure everyone of our support and our continuing support for the future,” Fassero added.
In closure, Skeans said this day means it is the start of a new future for our children. “It is a day we recognize what has occurred over the last two and one half years as we begin the process of rebuilding and moving into a new school.”
To view more pictures of the event, click here!
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Another major winter storm is forecasted to blanket the BenGil area in heavy rains, flooding and snowfall starting Wednesday night through Thursday.
The mixture of precipitation and rapidly changing weather likely will produce the potential for sudden icing on roads, with high winds leading to blowing snow and reduced visibility.
“The Illinois Department of Transportation’s snow-and-ice teams will be prepared and out in force, but the public needs to be ready for conditions to change quickly and worsen if they are out on the roads,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. “As always during periods of extreme weather, the safest option is to postpone any unnecessary trips and stay home. If you must travel, prepare for very slow and potentially hazardous conditions. And please slow down around our plows and other emergency vehicles, giving them plenty of room to do their jobs.”
The National Weather Service is predicting a wintry mix of precipitation to start with thunderstorms and heavy rain in much of the state this evening, converting to freezing rain overnight before turning to snow Thursday morning. In addition to localized flooding, ice and sleet accumulations are likely, creating extremely slippery surfaces and slick conditions.
Due to the rainy conditions ahead of temperatures falling overnight, the effectiveness of pretreating and salting surfaces in advance of significant snowfall will be limited. The public should anticipate icy conditions even when roads appear clear and greatly reduce speeds.
“As the Illinois State Police plans to take on the unpredictable Illinois weather, we would like to remind motorists to do their part in keeping the roads a safe place,” said Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly. “ISP, alongside IDOT and other agencies, will be working in hazardous weather conditions. Please remember to slow down, stay vigilant and move over for ANY vehicle on the side of the road.”
Statewide, IDOT has available more than 1,800 trucks and equipment to plow, treat roads and respond to weather emergencies. If you encounter a plow or any maintenance vehicle during your travels, please slow down, increase your following distance and remain patient. Do not attempt to pass – conditions in front of the plow will be worse than behind it.
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Police are investigating the death of a Bunker Hill woman who was found dead at the end of her driveway near the roadway on Monday morning, January 31.
Nancy Blycker, 91, had multiple injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police. The Macoupin County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call to the 2900 block of Wood Hill Lane around 7:40 a.m. on Monday.
The initial suspicion was homicide, according to a release by the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis who said approximately 20 investigators were working the investigation, but the autopsy contradicted that suspicion.
The Major Case Squad said on Tuesday it is “highly unlikely” Blycker’s death was the “result of homicidal means.”
The Major Case Squad turned the case back over to the Macoupin County Sheriff’s Department. The official cause of death is pending further lab analysis.
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The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the BenGil area, southwestern Illinois, and the St. Louis area.
The warning was issued early Tuesday taking effect at midnight tonight until noon on Thursday, February 3 calling for a “wet, heavy” snow. The forecast also calls for ice prompting a warning about possible power outages.
“All indications continue to point to a disruptive, impactful, and dangerous winter storm impacting the region starting late tonight and lasting through Thursday night,” the National Weather Service said in its Area Forecast Discussion.
The BenGil area is expected to receive heavy mixed precipitation including snow accumulations between 6 and 10 inches, sleet accumulations around three-quarters of an inch, and ice accumulations around two-tenths of an inch. Wind gusts will be as high as 35 mph on Thursday.
The storm is expected to start with rain most of the day today before transitioning into a mixture of freezing rain and/or sleet Tuesday night, then all snow Wednesday morning or as late as Wednesday afternoon continuing until about noon on Thursday.
