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RICHLAND COUNTY JUNE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING RECAP
(OLNEY) The Richland County School Board of Education met last night in Olney for its regular monthly meeting in June. The Board : approved the May financial report worth $400,860 : after a public hearing was held, approved the amended budget for Fiscal Year 2024 : approved the Student Fees, Bus Driver Handbook, and ERBA Head Start Agreement for the 2024-2025 school year : approved the insurance proposal with Illinois Counties Risk Management Trust through Blank’s Insurance with the premium at $330,798 : approved the $109,700 bid from J.B. Esker & Sons for work associated with ADA renovations at RCHS : agreed to sell unneeded kitchen & fitness equipment : and in personnel matters – approved resignations from Assistant Superintendent Kyle Klier, JROTC Instructor Martin Holtz, Richland County ELC Pre-K Teacher Rachel Foerster, RCHS Teacher Matt Music, and RCHS Assistant Baseball Coach Terry Puckett – agreed to transfer Christina Renfrow from part-time RCHS Food Service Staff Member to full-time RCES Food Service Staff Member – hired Hannah Howe as RCES Teacher Assistant & Heidi Inskeep as RCES Art Teacher – approved extra duty assignments of Paula West as RCHS Pep Club Sponsor, Courtney Roth as RCHS Assistant Girls Soccer Coach, & Christy Berger as Nurse Team Leader – approved a 5% wage increase for all District educational support staff for Fiscal Year 2025 – approved the 2024-2025 substitute pay rates – approved all Administrator Contracts for 2024-2025 – and said “thanks” to long-time employee Chad LeCrone for his service, wishing him well in his new job : the Richland County School Board of Education’s next regular meeting is July 18th.
RICHLAND COUNTY FATAL ACCIDENT
Reports out of neighboring Richland County say an Olney man was killed in an early morning truck-motorcycle collision Tuesday west of Olney on U.S. 50. The Illinois State Police indicate the fatal mishap occurred just before 4 a.m. at the entrance to the Walmart Distribution Center. A 2019 International Truck-Tractor Semi being driven by 49 year old Loghman Maroufi of Smyrna, Tennessee pulled out of the entrance to the center and turned into the path of a 2003 Suzuki being ridden by 25 year old Aaron Hunt of Olney. The two collided. Hunt was pronounced dead at the scene while Maroufi was uninjured. U.S. 50 in the area of the accident had to be closed for two hours to allow for wreckage cleanup and accident reconstruction. After investigation, Maroufi was ticketed for Failure to Yield (Oncoming Traffic), Failure to Yield (Turning Left) and Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid An Accident.
RICHLAND COUNTY JUNE BOARD MEETING RECAP
(OLNEY) The Richland County Board had its regular monthly meeting for June last night in Olney. The Board : approved the payment of all bills for the month of May – $382,184 for non-county claims and $237,164 for county general claims : approved the agreement with the University of Illinois Extension : approved two raffle licenses, one for the St. Joseph Stringtown Picnic and the other for the Richland County Pride Festival : approved two culvert aid petitions, one for Denver Township and the other for Decker Township : heard an update from the Richland County Development Corporation : approved the Student Resource Officer contract with the Richland County School District as presented : heard and reviewed other reports and updates : and in action after an executive session to discuss negotiations and personnel, set the salary for the Richland County Circuit Clerk, set the salary for a full-time Animal Control Officer, and agreed to hire an Assistant Animal Control Officer : the Richland County Board’s next regular meeting will be July 11th, 2024.
RCHS STUDENT ELECTED STATE FFA PRESIDENT
(SPRINGFIELD) Congratulations to a Richland County FFA member who was elected as the 2024 President of the Illinois State FFA yesterday at the 96th Annual Illinois FFA State Convention up in Springfield. Trenton Payne, the son of Shad and Diane from Olney, was among ten candidates chosen for the top Major State Officer positions. To become eligible, Trenton completed a rigorous series of practicums including a general interview, a group activity, a prepared speech, an impromptu scenario, a facilitation exercise, a letter writing exercise, and a test about Illinois agricultural education and FFA. Congratulations again to Trenton Payne of the Olney FFA Chapter at RCHS, the new President of the Illinois FFA.
AUTOPSY RESULTS RELEASED ON DROWNING VICTIM
Richland County Coroner, Steve Patterson has released the autopsy results from an incident that occurred on Sunday, May 19th regarding an accidental drowning death on Borah Lake in Olney. Patterson says 33-year-old Emare Evans died from asthma and cannabis intoxication as contributing factors in his death. Patterson said that Evans had a history asthmatic episodes and the pathologist’s report mentioned that cannabis was a factor. The death has been ruled an accidental death during recreational swimming. Evans was with his girlfriend and others on that Sunday when he went swimming from the Borah Lake beach area on the afternoon of May 19th. When he was no longer seen on the water, emergency responders were called to the lake and a search eventually recovered the body from the lake.
RICHLAND COUNTY HEA “PRESSURE CANNING LID TESTING” THIS WEEK
(OLNEY) The Richland County Homemakers Education Association is again sponsoring a “pressure canning lid testing” coming up next week at the University of Illinois Extension Office at 306 South Fair Street in Olney. While the lids can be dropped off this Friday during regular office hours, the testing by Extension personnel will be done next Monday (6/17/24) morning from 8:00 to 12:00 or throughout the day next Tuesday (6/18/24) from 8:00 to 4:30. The lids will then be available for pick up on Tuesday, the 18th, during regular office hours. The “pressure canning lid testing” is free and open to the public. HEA membership is not required to take advantage of the testing next week. Call the office at 395-2191 if questions.
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