New Baden Village Board holds first meeting in new village hall
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- Written by: Kelly Jo Ross - Breese Journal News Editor
During its first meeting in the new village hall and public safety building Monday night, the New Baden Village Board tackled resident concerns ranging from tournament parking enforcement to sidewalk maintenance.
One of the evening’s most discussed topics was parking citations issued during a recent baseball tournament at New Baden Community Park.
New Baden Park Booster board president Justin Dunning voiced concerns about the citations, saying numerous visitors received tickets for parking on the grass during the event, which featured dozens of baseball teams and attracted participants and spectators from across the region.
“I don’t think anyone should be ticketed in the park when coming to activities for parking on the grass,” Dunning said. “That includes sporting events, the Farmers Market, the chili cook-off and June Jamboree.”
Dunning noted that the Park Boosters have hosted events in the park for six years without parking issues and questioned why citations were issued during the tournament while grass parking has been common at other community events.
“At the park, you can park in the grass for the Farmers Market, and then the very next week, you can get a ticket (for parking in the grass) for supporting a Boosters sporting event,” he said.
Dunning said that it was “frustrating” that sponsors of the boosters, volunteers who prepped the fields, and grandparents of players coming to town all received tickets for parking in the grass when the same standards are not being held for all events.
“They park in the same spot they did for the Farmer’s Market yet receive a ticket because it is a sporting event,” said Dunning. “From my perspective, it seems like a direct shot at the Booster Club who has spent countless hours and hundreds of thousands of dollars making it a great place.”
He said he was told that he needed special permission and designated areas for the “overflow” parking, but their event did not need additional parking accommodations.
Dunning emphasized that his comments were not directed at organizers of other events, including the Farmer’s Market, but wanted there to be consistency in enforcement.
Dunning said he asked Mayor Bob Oster if the Farmer’s Market could stop parking on the sports fields.
“Mostly the corner fields by the four-way especially since the Booster Club has spent over $10,000 the last three years treating those areas for weeds and trying to make the park look better and attract more people to our town,” said Dunning.
He added that the Farmer’s Market is a fantastic event and is great for the community, however, there is really no need for overflow parking.
Dunning said he was seeking some “grace” from the Village regarding parking enforcement during a softball tournament that is scheduled for this weekend, and is expected to include over 70 softball teams.
Mayor Oster said he has attempted to reach out to Dunning about options for overflow parking, however, Oster said that no one has been willing to meet with him to discuss the matter.
Dunning responded that the Boosters have tried to have conversations with the mayor in the past, without success.
Following discussion among board members, Mayor Bob Oster said he planned to speak with the police chief about finding a reasonable solution and indicated he would meet with Dunning to further discuss the issue.
Sara Masterson-Holtgrave, speaking on behalf of the New Baden Lions Club, presented plans to construct a “Blessing Box” outside the O.W. Billhartz Civic Center.
A “Blessing Box” is a small, publicly accessible, outdoor cabinet used to distribute food and basic necessities to community members in need, similar to a “free library.”
The board was in favor of the project, and planned to approve the item at the next board meeting.
Wesclin High School student and Eagle Scout candidate Emmitt Biggs addressed the board regarding his Eagle Scout project, which will involve sanding and repainting picnic tables located beneath the pavilions at the community park.
The board was in favor of Biggs’ project, and will make the approval official at the next board meeting.
Resident Stephen Sinkey addressed the board regarding sidewalk maintenance during winter weather events.
Sinkey encouraged the village to take a more proactive role in clearing sidewalks following snow and ice storms, particularly to assist elderly residents and those with mobility challenges.
“I love this community and I love everything we do, but I’m trying to help provide a service for those less fortunate,” Sinkey said.
In other business, trustees approved a resolution adopting an updated Personnel Manual and Employee Handbook.
Village Administrator Ben DeClue said the handbook had not been fully updated or formally implemented since 2003.
“This revision marks a significant update, most of which is to current practice and to adopt requirements imposed by state law,” DeClue said.
Updates include modernized language regarding the role of the village administrator, as well as the inclusion of Victims’ Economic Security and Safety Act (VESSA) leave and Paid Leave for All Workers Act (PLAWA) provisions.
The board also approved participation in the ComPsych Employee Assistance Program through the Intergovernmental Personnel Benefit Cooperative (IPBC).
DeClue said the recent passing of New Baden Police Officer Dave Jordan highlighted the need for additional employee support services.
Aviston planning a big celebration for America 250
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- Written by: Matt Wilson - Breese Journal Reporter
American Legion members pose for a picture next to the 'Clinton County Celebrates Freedom 250' flag at the Aviston American Legion. Photo by Matt Wilson Members from American Legions throughout the county are busy planning for what they hope will be a county-wide celebration to celebrate America's 250th birthday.
The Clinton County Celebrates Freedom event will be July 5 at Aviston American Legion Post 1239. Doors open at 2 p.m. The ceremony honoring the heroes begins at 6 p.m. and will last about an hour.
Ivan Markus, Bob Ottensmeier and Dale Rakers from the Aviston American Legion and Joe Langenhorst from the Germantown American Legion, along with others, are spearheading the event. They had a meeting on Tuesday, May 26, to discuss details of the event.
The committee members are hoping to make it a county-wide event and are inviting all of the Clinton County American Legions. They are sending invitations to all of the cities.
They are going to be placing 250 flags, about 10 feet apart, up and down Aviston/Albers Road. During the ceremony, they are going to be talking about LeRoy Raeber and Vince Rolves. At 105 years old, Raeber is a World War II veteran and is believed to be oldest living male in Breese. Rolves is a former World War II prisoner of war and is thought to be the only surviving World War II prisoner of war in Illinois.
They are unsure if Raeber or Rolves will be able to attend the ceremony on July 5, but they will still recognize them.
'Clinton County Celebrates Freedom 250' flag There will be posters listing all of the Clinton County soldiers who died during World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Civil War and the Middle East wars. Names were found at the Clinton County Courthouse and online. All of the posters will be put in frames and they are looking for tripods to stand them on.
Members will be speaking about the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Black Hawk War, Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War and major U.S. wars, conflicts and interventions since 1989.
There will be maps of the different wars that will be framed.
They are going to fire three canons off and there will be a 21-gun salute. The canons will be back in the trees behind the Legion, and there will be a path that people can follow to look at the canons.
The organizers are hoping to get a member from each Legion to be a part of the firing squad for the 21-gun salute. They can wear their Legion colors.
There will be a flag folding ceremony.
Military items and uniforms will be on display. They are hoping to get a lot of items on display so people can walk around and look at them.
They will be using the west pavilion in Aviston so there will be picnic tables where people can sit.
Father Von C. Deeke from St. Francis Church in Aviston will give the opening prayer.
"Taps" will be played following the gun and canon salute.
Two America 250 quilts will be raffled off at the event.
The Sons of the American Legion is taking care of all the food outside. The bar at the Legion will be open.
The event also will feature a 50/50 raffle and a band/DJ.
Those attending are asked to bring lawn chairs.
Cougars win Class 2A Father McGivney Regional title
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- Written by: Jeremy Chawgo - Breese Journal Sports Editor
Back-to-back — The Central baseball team celebrates after winning the Class 2A Father McGivney Regional title with a 10-4 win over the host Griffins on Saturday in Glen Carbon. The Cougars won the Central Regional last season. They have 50 wins over the past two seasons and they now have eight regional titles and they are searching for their first-ever sectional title. PHOTO BY JEREMY CHAWGO For the second-straight season, the Central baseball team had the honor of raising a Class 2A Regional title plaque after defeating host Father McGivney on Saturday afternoon in Glen Carbon.
The Cougars took down the Griffins and Greenville en route to their schools’ eighth regional crown.
With the win over FM, Central will now play in the Class 2A Greenville Sectional semifinal when they take on St. Anthony on Wednesday at 2 p.m. in Bond County.
The Cougars will enter that contest with a 28-9 record while the Bulldogs will check in at 20-9. The Dawgs beat Central 9-3 back on March 28.
Gut it out — Central junior righty Alex Athmer sends in a curve in the Cougars’ 2-1 win over Greenville on Thursday in Glen Carbon. Athmer went the distance allowing one earned run on two hits and 11 strikeouts. PHOTO BY JEREMY CHAWGO Central 10, Father McGivney 4: The Cougars answered every response the Griffins had on Saturday in postseason play in Glen Carbon.
It was a lengthy contest where the teams combined for 20 hits, four fielding errors and 15 walks by the two staffs.
“I’m so happy for this coaching staff and group of players,” said Central head coach Ryan Meyer. “This group has put in a lot of hard work and time and we played really well today.”
The home squad hit Central starter Bryce Wieter with a run in the bottom of the first when Ty Etcheson singled and later scored on a double from Scott Phelps.
It stayed 1-0 with Central stranding two runners in the second inning and Father McGivney hitting into a inning-ending double play to move to the third inning.
The top of the order went to work for the Cougars in the third frame when Conlan Haar beat out an infield single before Miles Browne singled to left. Alex Athmer singled in Haar with a shot to center while Browne scored on a throwing error for a 2-1 lead.
Wieter followed with a single before Craig Schroeder added an RBI single in a seven-pitch at-bat and a 3-1 lead. Wieter stole second and scored on a grounder from Max Albers with CHS leading 4-1.
McGivney put their first two runners on base in the bottom of the inning, but they ran themselves out of the inning.
Central added another run in the fourth inning on a single from Landon Toennies who later scored on a double play for a 5-1 score.
Jack Hunter hit a double for the Griffins in the bottom of the fifth inning to get them within 5-2.
“This season has had it’s ups and downs for me on the mound,” said Wieter. “But with my defense, I believed in my stuff and battled through it. Our defense is one of the best in the state and I think our shortstop is the best defensively in the state.”
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