The Jasper County Soil & Water Conservation District held a general election of directors on February 4th.  Voting took place at the SWCD office at 1403 Clayton Ave. in Newton.

Keith Bailey, Eric Eubank and Mike McKinney were re-elected to serve two -year terms.

Directors can officially take office after the first Monday in March.  District board meetings are held the first Thursday of the month and are open to the public.

With all of the members present, Jasper Unit One School Board voted to approve several reductions which they are hoping will help with the district's budget problems.

Although reductions for the 2010-2011 school year had been discussed during recent board meetings, no decisions had been made until this meeting.

Before discussing and voting on reductions, Unit One Superintendent Ron Alburtus made some comments.    Alburtus told the board  that as of February 10th the State owes the District $471,020 for mandated categoricals which includes special education, transportation, reading improvement, and early childhood block grant. 

"These have been vouchered by the ISBE and sent to the comptroller, but have not yet been paid," Alburtus said.

A Robinson businessman has asked Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office to take action against the Illinois Eastern Community College board for an alleged violation of the Open Meetings Act at their Feb. 16 meeting. At that meeting, the Board voted 5-1, with one abstention, to go into closed session to discuss budgetary layoffs.
 
The district has sent letters to 20 teachers notifying them of a pending layoff due to a reduction in state aid.
 
Eric Gubelman, a former newspaper publisher who is now president of Eagle Theater Corp. in Robinson, has alleged the board violated the state law that requires meetings to be be held in public unless they meet narrow statutory exemptions.

Keller Grain and Livestock, owned and operated by the Keller Family, was recognized by the Illinois Pork Producers Association (IPPA) at the 2010 IL Pork Expo in Peoria. The Keller Family, which includes Art and Alice Keller, Bob and Donna Keller, and Jason and Anna Keller and their daughter Brittany all of who live near Sainte Marie, IL, received the 2010 Illinois Pork Producer Family of the Year at the IPPA Awards Banquet on February 2. This award recognizes a pork producer family who has done an outstanding job in promoting pork and has exemplified leadership skills at the county, state, and national levels. The award is sponsored by Elanco Animal Health.

 "The Keller Family is the epitome of IPPA's tagline - 'Illinois Pork Producers. Generations of Commitment' for their commitment to their community, the environment, their farm, and their family for three generations," said Brent Scholl, pork producer from Polo, Ill. and current IPPA President. "Like many successful family businesses, the Kellers have had to adapt their farm to changing market conditions to remain efficient and viable, while being good stewards of the land and a valuable member of their community."

The 74th Annual Meeting of the Jasper County Farm Bureau was held Monday, February 8th, at the Sunrise Community Center.

Joe Bierman, President at Large of the Jasper County Farm Bureau, opened the meeting by welcoming those who had come.  Preceeding the catered meal by Martin's IGA, Keith Matson, A Director of the Jasper County Farm Bureau Board, gave the invocation.  The flag was presented by Newton FFA member Dominic Ginder.  Marissa Kautz, also a member of the local FFA chapter, led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Following the meal, Bierman introduced the members of the Jasper County Board of Directors and their wives.  He also introduced two special guests, both Jasper County natives.  These were  State Representative David Reis and Richard Ochs, who is Illinois Ag Association Director for the District. 

Members of the Jasper County Board held their monthly meeting on February 11th.  During the meeting the board members heard several committee reports. 

One of the committee reports, Economic Development Committee, was given by committee chairman Bill Weber.  Weber commented that they had had two meetings - one on January 19th and the second on February 9th.   Weber said that the committee had talked with school officials regarding the budget problems that the district is facing. 

He also talked about the Extension budget and how it is being hurt by the lack of state support.  He said that Extension is lookng for feedback at a regional meeting which will be held February 26th from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Effingham Extension Center.  He added that Travis Farley had agreed to serve as the spokesperson.