Days Gone By In Staunton

 


Thursday, July 5, 1990 -- NO SMOKING AT COMMUNITY MEMORIAL -- Patrick B. Heise, Executive Director, has announced that as of July 1, 1990, Community Memorial Hospital, Staunton, is a smoke-free facility. The new policy applies to everyone except the in-patient population. As a healthcare provider, the hospital could no longer ignore the harm smoking causes to the public and the hospital employees.

A smoking cessation class was held in the spring for interested employees, their spouses and hospital auxiliary members. A smoking cessation class will be held in the fall/winter for the general public.

Club owner Asks for Extended hours -- Last Saturday the Staunton Liquor Commission heard Tony Bellovich's request for extended hours at his private club, and said they would seek legal advice prior to any further discussion. Bellovich, who owns "Tony's" at 423 W. Henry, asked the commission to change the ordinance governing private clubs to allow him to remain open until 4 a.m. instead of 2 a. m. Present at the meeting besides Bellovich were Mayor Fred Brauer and Aldermen Gene Libbra and Jim Grabruck.

Bellovich purchased Mahota's tavern from Brian Mahota in April 1988, and converted it to a private club in June 1988. When the club opened it had 34 members, today "Tony's" has 294 members. Bellovich said 90% of the membership is Stauntonites, and ages range from 21 years up. Bellovich said the club's door is locked, but members and their guests can gain admittance with their key by knocking and being admitted by the bartender.

Bellovich said the club's record speaks for itself and has been the subject of only minor complaints. He said on the three occasions that there have been complaints of loud music, a single phone call has corrected the problem. Bellovich said he was willing to increase the amount he paid for a city liquor license. He acknowledged that if the city ordinance were changed the extended hours would apply to other similar clubs. Also discussed was the possibility of limiting the days with extended hours to Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Thursday, July 12, 1990 -- HEARING ON VALIDITY OF THREE SCHOOL PETITIONS -- The Madison County Regional Educational Board of Trustees has scheduled a hearing on the validity of three petitions they recently received regarding the dissolution of Livingston School District. The hearing will be held Monday, July 23, in the Regional Superintendent's office at 201 Hillsboro Ave. in Edwardsville. Assistant Regional Superintendent Nancy Krchniak said the hearing is to establish the validity of the petitions, not to decide the final outcome of the Livingston issue.

If the petitions are found to be valid, the board would have to take some action in the future. Krchniak said, "There are procedures for handling the petitions that are laid out by law. In the future the board would have to act, but that is down the road.

Because Harry Briggs, Regional Superintendent, was on vacation, Krchniak presented the three petitions to the Regional Board on Monday, July 2, at its regular business meeting.

Generally similar petitions and correspondence are presented to the board by Briggs, who serves as secretary of the board. Krchniak said the three petitions are all related to the issue of dissolution of Livingston School District. Last month a petition requesting the dissolution of Livingston School District and annexation of the related property to the Staunton School District was delivered to Briggs. Madison County Clerk Evelyn Bowles certified that the petition contained signatures of at least 51% of Livingston voters.

The second petition the Regional Board received was in opposition to the first. It was accompanied by affidavits from 35 signers of the first petition requesting that their names be removed from the first petition.

The third petition, signed by all members of the Livingston School Board, objected to the petition for dissolution, and cited reasons for their objection.

Krchniak said the hearing on July 23 could be continued if the Regional Board needed more time to establish the validity of the petitions. She said whether or not it is continued, the outcome of the Livingston School District question will not be determined at that time.

Looking For Money For Civic Center -- Dwight Brackman, Chamber of Commerce Project Chairman, said the first step in establishing a civic center in Staunton is financing the project. Staunton City Council recently voted to spend $80,000 if grants to finance a civic center could be secured. To accomplish this Brackman plans to meet with members of the West Central Illinois Valley Regional Planning Commission in August. He said he is also interested in meeting with the Staunton Senior Citizens who have expressed interest in such a center.

Brackman said there are two alternatives to consider in establishing such a center. One is to buy and rehabilitate the building on West Henry Street formerly known as The Alleys. The estimated cost of the project is about $275,000. The other alternative is to demolish that building and construct a new building about the same size, 9,000 square feet, for about $325,000. Brackman said he got the impression at the City Council meeting that several aldermen favored demolition and building a new structure. He said "It seems to be more economical in the long run to build new."

Brackman said as a member of the Chamber of Commerce he is interested in seeing the Chamber active and positive in the community.

Brackman thinks the Chamber wants to show Staunton has something to offer to people." He said a committee could be formed at some point to accomplish the goal. Brackman said he wants to see this project through. He also said he feels strongly that, "We can't do everything. We have to take one step at a time."

WINNERS IN THE KIDDIE PARADE -- Prizes in the Kiddie Parade held July 3rd in Staunton were awarded in two categories - Floats and Bicycles.

First prize for floats went to Kyle and Lindsey Eiler in their red,white and blue bi-plane. Second prize in floats went to Ryan Portugal in his Uncle Sam float with his dog. Third prize in floats went to Hillary Odorizzi, Joshua Odorizzi and Vanessa Musick, for their float The Littlest Mermaid.

In the bicycle category, first prize went to Shauna and Philip Mott. Second place in the bicycle division was won by Jimmy and Elizabeth Smith. David Braman won third prize for bicycles.

 

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