Staunton Star - Times - Published in the Interest of the Staunton Community for Over 143 Years

Thursday, June 14, 1990 School's fate In Hands Of Regional Board -- The petition recently signed by 531 Livingston voters to dissolve the Livingston School District has been checked by the Madison County Clerk and given to Harry Briggs, County Supt. of Schools.

According to Dr. L. William Fever, Supt. of Livingston Schools, County Clerk Evelyn Bowles certified that 500 of the signatures on the petition were properly registered voters. As of June 4 there were 986 registered voters in Livingston School District.

The law requires that to be valid the petition must be signed by a simple majority of voters in the district. Of the petition signers, Fever said, "They have a simple majority... a hair over 50%." He said 50% plus 1 voter equalled a simple majority.

The dissolution law lays out the series of events which must follow the circulation of such a petition. Following the certification of voters by the County Clerk, the petition must be presented to the Madison County Board of Trustees by the Regional Supt. of Schools in Madison County. "Anything is submitted through the secretary," Fever said.

Harry Briggs, the Madison County Regional. Supt, is also the secretary of the Board of Trustees. According to Fever the Board of Trustees is made up of lay people in the county and meets quarterly. He said their next scheduled meeting is Monday, July 2.

Fever said the Board can vote to accept the petition. He said next, "It is a point of order," that the Board set a time for a public hearing. A public hearing gives anyone, whether for or against an issue, the opportunity to make a statement.

Fever said generally in such legal issues time is allotted after a public hearing for "administrative review" by the Board. He also said that during this time it was possible for other legal actions to be taken.

Staunton's ExpO Rated Successful -- Charlotte Maddox, member of the Board of Directors of the Staunton Chamber of Commerce, said the Business Expo held last weekend at the Staunton School was very successful.

Maddox said she was guessing "on the light side" that about 1,300 people attended the two-day affair. Admission for some people was free so Expo management could only estimate the number in attendance.

Maddox said there was a steady flow of traffic and most exhibitors were pleased with the turnout and the exposure they got. Attendees enjoyed the "Spin of Fortune" on Saturday and Fred Bird of the St. Louis Cardinals drew a large crowd on Sunday.

Maddox, Ross Beckman, Dennis Sticgemeier and Sharon Bcllovich chaired the Expo. "The weather was beautiful and all in all I was pleased with it," she said.

Many of the exhibitors awarded prizes at the close of the event. They included four $25 gift certificates from Ann's Fashions won by Elsie Guarienti, Darleen Opel, Ethel Courtney and Dave Kuerschner; the $100 gift certificate from Midtowne Photography was won by Kathy Moseley of Staunton. $5 gift certificates for Harold's Place went to Ron Masinelli, Vi Bird, F. Tiburzi, B. Sticgemeier, and John Caldieraro (S. Edwardsville) and the 35mm camera given away by Sullivan's was awarded to Derek Gunn.

Incomes Too High To Qualify For Grant-- Although the results of Staunton's recent income survey showed moderate to high incomes for 54% of the city's population, they eliminated the possibility of Staunton receiving a Department of Commerce and Community Affairs grant. Monday night city engineer Deborah Ramsey announced that approximately 46% of Staunton's residents were in the low-to-moderate income bracket according to the recent survey. The D.C.C.A. offers grants for improvements to community water supplies if 51% or more water users have low-to-moderate incomes. The survey was an attempt to refute information about income levels in the city gathered in the 1980 census.

If the survey had shown the 51% low-to-moderate incomes the city would have been eligible for up to $400,000 in grants. The city council had planned to use the money to defray costs in raising the present dam at Staunton Lake and increasing its capacity.

STAUNTON LIONS CLUB MARKED CHARTER NIGHT -- The Staunton Lions celebrated their 40-year Charter night on June 5, 1990. Special guests were present from surrounding Lions Clubs.

Charter Monarch Awards were presented to Lion John Bergen and Lion Alex Silvester by the Governor Thomas Stults. A Candy Day award was presented to Lion Dave Richardson by trustee Walter Potts.

Other events were the induction of new officers by Lt. Governor Frank Cramer and the induction of new members by Raymond "Beaver" Coatney.

The meal was catered by Cava-taio's Restaurant. The Staunton Lions would like to thank everyone who contributed the memorabilia for the event.

RECOUNTS TRIP TO POLAND -- Mr. and Mrs. Carl Madoux of Worden returned home on May 26th from a sixteen-day trip to Poland touring all the major cities sight seeing. They toured Auschwitz - Birkenau concentration camp where 15,000 persons were being killed daily. Four million people died during this horrible era. Carl was given the honor of driving a horse and open carriage to a picnic out in the forest. They visited the Black Madonna Shrine in the cathedral, toured Fredrick Chopin's home, visited Lech Walnsa's home and garden, the Baltic Sea in Westerplaite where a huge memorial is built in memory of where the Germans fired upon Poland in 1939 when WWII began, saw a museum where an 80-year-old man who had been there recapped the story.

A dinner in a Warsaw restaurant of roast beef, potatoes, salad, drinks and tip cost 49,000 zlotes, gave 50,500 zlotes which in U.S. dollars amounts to about $5.10 for the two dinners. The people of Poland were very kind to them and they both have brought back many beautiful memories. They have been asked to speak to the sixth grade class next year. While on the boat touring the Baltic Sea, Alice struck up a conversation with a school teacher with her sixth grade class on tour and gave the address to Mrs. Gloria Zupanci to correspond with those children in Poland.