Days Gone By In Staunton

 


Thursday, March 29, 1990 -- RESIDENCY OF STAUNTON STUDENTS QUESTIONED -- Decreased Livingston school enrollment and subsequent loss of state aid has spurred a taxpayer with property in both districts to ask questions about students residency. Illinois gives financial aid to a district based on the number of children enrolled.

Due to financial problems and cutbacks in programs, Livingston has experienced a drop in enrollment and loss of state funds. Livingston resident Alan Libbra estimates more than 20 former Livingston students are now attending Staunton public school without paying tuition.

Libbra said the reason he is interested in where Livingston children are attending school is because "The bulk of my land is in Livingston, but I pay taxes to the Staunton district also." He said it was not fair to the Livingston district for state aid to be taken away because of Livingston children attending Staunton public schools illegally. He said at the same time the aid is being taken from Livingston, these students are not paying tuition to the Staunton district. "They are hurting both districts," he said.

Besides Staunton's loss of tuition he also cited the increased demands placed on the Staunton system by the increase in students.

Libbra said he has watched a Staunton school bus bring children to their homes in Livingston. He said he has requested information from the Staunton school board about the situation and they have provided it. Libbra said he asked three questions:

1, How many tuition paying students are there in the Staunton public school?

2. If former Livingston students are not paying tuition are they claiming residency?

3. Are they claiming to be under someone else's legal guardianship?

In response to Libbra's questions the Staunton school board has directed their attorney and their superintendent of schools to investigate the allegations and take appropriate action.

Staunton Area Recyclers Closer To Permanent Site -- Recognizing the growing interest in recycling the Staunton City Council has agreed to work with Staunton Area Recyclers in establishing a permanent recycling center in town. While plans for a permanent site arc being made the recyclers will continue to collect glass at the parking lot between the water department and street and alley garage.

Last week representatives of the City Council's Civic Improvement Committee and Staunton Area Recyclers met to discuss possible expansion of hours and materials collected.

Members of the Civic Improvement Committee are Dennis Johnson (Chairman), Fred Graves, Wayne Heinemeyer and Jim Grabruck. Officers of the recycling group in attendance were Sherry Rondi, Clem Less, Harry LaRosa and Holly Steinmeyer. Contact with local haulers, a landfill operator, other municipalities, and the county board indicate that no one else is in a position at this time to provide a recycling avenue to local people.

In December the City Council passed a resolution directing the City Attorney to draw up a lease with the recyclers for a parcel of land to be used as a permanent recycling site. To expedite the writing of a lease the recyclers made a list of specific needs and rules that would apply to the permanent site. The lease was presented to the Civic Improvement Committee for consideration.

The recyclers arc faced with handling an increasing amount of glass in a limited time, specifically three hours on a Saturday morning each month. Access to a permanent site would allow the group to accumulate a larger quantity of glass before it was removed, thus making each trip to the processor more efficient.

Without a permanent site the recylers cannot consider increasing recycling in the community. But from the increasing amount of glass received over the last six months it is clear that more people in Staunton are willing to recycle.

The willingness to recycle has also become apparent in the amount of aid the Staunton Area Recyclers is receiving from local businessmen. Not only have they given verbal support, but they have sent vehicles and assistance. Recently one local businessman offered the use of two semi-trailers for the storage of other recyclable materials. The recyclers plan to use these to assist the community in its efforts to preserve the environment through recycling.

By Sherry Anschutz Rondi

Thursday, April 5, 1990 -- EARTH DAY...STAUNTON STYLE -- Area residents are invited to participate in a variety of local activities scheduled on Sunday, April 22, to coincide with the international observance of "Earth Day."

Staunton's festivities begin with special church services acknowledging the significance of environmental awareness. Staunton Area Recyclers will provide green ribbons to wear in recognition of local efforts at improving our environment and in celebration of Earth Day.

Then, ceremonies begin at 1 p.m. at the Staunton City League complex during which trees will be planted on city property in coordination with the city park board.

Also during the ceremony, Staunton Area Recyclers logo and slogan contest winner, Heather Jean Sparling, will be presented with a $50 U.S. Savings Bond. Heather is the eight year old daughter of Dana and Debbie Sparling of Staunton. Her winning entry was selected by a panel of judges from a quantity of entries submitted by area youngsters earlier this year.

Earth Day...Staunton Style continues at 1:30 p.m. with a city-wide clean-up competition. Teams made up of children and adults will compete by trying to collect the most trash from city-wide public property. Bags will be provided for team collection of glass, plastic, aluminum and paper. Non-recyclable litter will be allowed, but teams cannot submit leaves or sticks with their findings. Staunton Area Recyclers recommends that teams include at least one adult for every five children, and that a vehicle be available for hauling bags of trash and weary team members.

Teams will return to the Staunton City League Complex for the 3:30 p.m. judging. All participants in the city-wide clean-up competition will receive a certificate for a free regular ice cream cone from the local Dairy Queen. Winning team members will receive a certificate for a free Dairy Queen waffle cone.

 

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