St. Elmo News

By Editor | November 30, 2017 |

Announcements
Saturday, December 2
• Clothing Giveaway. See info following the announcements.
• RNA #5784 annual Christmas luncheon, noon, in the First Church of God S.H.E.D. for those who made reservations with Della Stewart by Dec. 2. Those attending are reminded to take items for the Caring and Sharing Program being sponsored by the St. Elmo Lions Club.
Sunday, December 3
• Ministerial Alliance Christmas Service, 6 p.m., First Assembly of God Church. Jeremy Smith of the First Church of God is the speaker.
Monday, December 4
• Mothers of Preschoolers. 6:30 p.m., St. Elmo Public Library. Snacks and child care will be provided.
Tuesday, December 5
• Council of Catholic Women’s Christmas party, 6:15 p.m., Mary Ann’s Restaurant.
Wednesday, December 6
• Wright’s Corner Unit of Home and Community Education.
• St. Elmo City Council, 6:30 p.m., city hall.
Thursday, December 6
• St. Elmo Business Association, noon, Mary Ann’s Restaurant.
• St. Elmo Women’s Civic Club Christmas social, 5:30 p.m., Mary Ann’s Restaurant.
Santa’s Secret Helpers
This event, sponsored by the City of St. Elmo, provides new Christmas gifts to needy children who are age 15 and under and residing in the St. Elmo School District.
If you would like to sponsor a child, stop by the Santa’s Secret Helpers Christmas tree in the city of St. Elmo office, take a tag from the tree and purchase the gift(s) labeled on the tag. Each tag provides the age and gender of the child, clothing sizes, and the desired gift(s).
Be sure to return the tag with your unwrapped Christmas gifts no later than Monday, Dec. 11 at 4 p.m.
If possible, you should place the tag inside the gift box or affix it to the top with tape. The tag must be returned with the gift so the city can identify the child for whom it has been purchased.
If you are able to sponsor more than one child, please feel free to take more than one tag from the tree.
Over the years, many children have received toys, clothes and gifts through the Santa’s Secret Helpers Christmas Project. Contact the city of St. Elmo office at 829-3319 with any additional questions.
Thank you for participating in this worthwhile project. You will be helping to bring blessings and smiles to many children’s faces this Christmas season.
Clothing Giveaway
Freedom Reigns in Christ Church on Route 40 east of St. Elmo is having the annual clothing giveaway on Saturday, Dec. 2, from 8 a.m.-noon. There will be hot dogs, cookies, coffee and Kool-Aid provided free of charge.
The church will start accepting clothing, furniture, knick-knacks, etc. through Friday, 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. daily.
Do not leave clothing outside; they will be disposed of.
Television sets of any kind no longer will be accepted.
For questions, call Melissa Carson at 271-663-0795 or the church at 829-9757.
Future Event
American Red Cross blood drive, 2-6 p.m., Monday, Jan. 10, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church Parish Hall.
St. Elmo Community Park Board November Meeting
Board members present at the St. Elmo Community Park Board meeting at 7 p.m. on Nov. 14 in the Centennial Building were Kim Baron, Daryl Calvert, Ricke Gillespie, Leona Gottman, Danny Tish and Karen Wegscheid. Visitors were Sarah Beasley and son, and Lloyd Stanley.
Beasley, a Tupperware representative who showcased her wares at the recent Fall Festival in the park, expressed interest in being on the board; however, she does not live in the district, which is Avena Township.
Stanley, local representative of Tri-State Carports, donated $100 to the park for “whatever purpose needed.” He recently assisted the park in installing a metal pavilion.
Other awnings and shades were briefly discussed.
Calvert presented the treasurer’s report that included deposits of tax monies, building rentals and the current bank balance. Tish and Gillespie conveyed issues with the manner that Calvert presents the report. Discussion followed. Tish now will be assembling the report.
Calvert presented the bills, including the IPARKS insurance of $3,405, due Dec. 15. A motion by Baron, seconded by Gillespie, to pay the bills carried.
The deteriorating tennis court was discussed. It is on the insurance to-do list. A motion by Gillespie, seconded by Tish, to have Baron write an ad to receive bids for removal of the asphalt carried.
A Narcotics Anonymous group has contacted Baron about holding weekly meetings in the Centennial Building. The group has limited funds and the building rental would be a hardship. Discussion of public responsibility in regards to the park’s facilities was held. A motion by Gillespie, seconded by Tish, to allow NA to use the building for a month, with community service from the group to pay for the use of the building, carried. Baron is to communicate with the NA group.
There are stains in the ceiling tiles of the Centennial Building denoting the need for roof repair. Discussion followed. Calvert searched the records for the last roof repair to no avail. Past board members Mitchell and Porter believe that the last work was done approximately 10 years ago and would not be under warranty. Board members will try to get a local contractor to check out the roof, give recommendations for repair and estimates of a new roof.
Baron recently met with the insurance loss prevention specialist Jason Johnston and reported that there nine items that needed attention. Tish is going to work on the few things of minimal concerns.
Ideas for placing shelves in the storage room and the shed for better organization and storage were discussed.
Baron gave a report on the Fall Festival that was held Nov. 4. Discussion of this endeavor followed, along with consideration for a similar event next year.
A Christmas Holiday Social was scheduled to be held in the Centennial Building on Sunday, from 1-5 p.m. with the serving of free coffee, hot chocolate, bottled water and cookies and featuring cookie decorating and Santa Claus.
Gillespie gave a report on a grant for playground equipment from KaBoom that his wife, Terri, has spent several hours researching and writing.
Calvert noted that United Fidelity Bank had provided free checks and that a representative from the UFB has expressed interest in assisting the board with any project that would be of benefit to the park and community as a whole. Discussion followed.
Calvert also reported that Julie Pryor, retail bank manager of Dieterich Bank, had informed her that the costs of the tree removal, labor and materials for the patio project were in and had been covered by the bank. A thank-you card was signed by all of the board members to send to Dieterich Bank for its contribution to the park’s improvement.
The long meeting ended at 10:30 p.m.
Historical Vandalia Inc.
Lack of a quorum was the reason Historical Vandalia Inc. Board had a short business meeting Nov. 20 in the Fayette County Museum. Those present were President Steve Durbin of Vandalia, Marilyn Beyes of Smithboro and Anna Jean Rhodes of St. Elmo.
The secretary’s report was accepted. There were good group tours last week – four groups of the Vandalia Community High School sophomores.
The outside wall repairs have not been started due to weather conditions.
For Christmas, the museum has been decorated with evergreens and red bows.
Artifacts donated to the museum since the October meeting are the following: a coal bucket and shovel; skate key; small garden cultivator from the 1930s or 40s; two old wrenches; glass kerosene lamp with chimney; eight framed David Miller prints of historical Vandalia places; three framed Lynn Reznick prints of Abe Lincoln (all different); a not-signed framed print of Abe Lincoln on a bench; framed Lynn Reznick print of Statehouse; framed Lynn Reznick print of Madonna; 1940 Illinois highway map; Shepherd of the Hills program booklet; Gettysburg booklet; framed 24-inch-by-28-inch picture of the Statehouse; two coloring books, from 1950s and ’60s; three crochet books, from the 1940s and ’50s; 24 various school books, copyrights from 1856-1937; Madonna handkerchief doll; two Vandalia Statehouse silver spoons; early 1800s Johnson family Bible; large Catholic Bible;1950 operator’s manual for Chevy trucks; Fayette Democrat newspaper, one sheet framed, from April, 23,1873; 1832 state treasurer’s receipt from Vandalia; 1831 letter from Secretary of State A. P. Field; Laws of Illinois 1834-35 book; and Laws of Illinois 1838-39 book.
There will not be a board meeting in December. The next one is Monday, Jan. 15, at 6:30 p.m., in the museum. The annual meeting will be in February.
School Board
The District #202 Board of Education met in regular session at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 21 in the unit office. The following consent agenda items were approved: regular Oct. 16 meeting minutes, bills and financial reports and administrative reports.
The board approved the senior trip to Orlando, Fla.
The first reading of the Oct. 2017 PRESS Policies were approved.
The board approved the annual School District Report Card and Building Report Card overview, as presented by Mrs. Healy, Mr. Garrard and Mr. Hannagan.
The board approved the projected aggregate property tax levy rates to be adopted at the December board meeting.
The board employed Jeffrey Maxey as fifth- and sixth-grade basketball coach for the 2017-18 school year; employed Abigail Fryer as fifth- and sixth-grade assistant basketball coach for the 2017-18 school year; and approved Kevin Maxey as the fifth- and sixth-grade volunteer assistant basketball coach for the 2017-18 year.
The board set a special meeting for an employment disciplinary hearing for Wednesday, Nov. 29, at 7:30 p.m. A few days later, the meeting was cancelled.
Ministerial Alliance Thanksgiving Dinners
The five churches in the St. Elmo Ministerial Alliance provided Thanksgiving dinners at noon Nov. 23-25 homebound or older people eating alone on Thanksgiving Day.
Freedom Reigns in Christ Church was the host church and cooked the turkey, gravy and dressing and provided the boxes and napkins. Mashed potatoes was provided by First United Methodist Church, mixed vegetables was provided by St. Elmo Christian Church, frozen fruit salad was provided by First Church of God and desserts were provided by First Assembly of God Church. Susan Jennings provided the rolls.
Several volunteers from the churches helped pack the lunches at Freedom Reigns in Christ Church and delivered the large bags of food to those on the list.
Those who received the Thanksgiving dinners are appreciative of being remembered.
The host church for the Christmas meal will be First Assembly of God.