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Community Club spring card party Thursday, April 7
The Pleasant Plains Community Club will host its annual spring card party Thursday, April 7 at the Community Building, starting at 6
p.m. Get your friends together for a fun-filled evening of your favorite card or board games. Bring your own cards or games - everything
else will be provided. For table reservations, call Patti at 626-1623.
The Pleasant Plains Community Club will host its annual spring card party Thursday, April 7 at the Community Building, starting at 6
p.m. Get your friends together for a fun-filled evening of your favorite card or board games. Bring your own cards or games - everything
else will be provided. For table reservations, call Patti at 626-1623.
Murphy, Hughs, Wayda, Skeeters win seats
The puzzle that was the contested school board race with its seven write-in candidates was solved in Tuesday's election. The four
winners were, board president, George Murphy, 1059 votes; Kevin Hughs, 869; Brian Wayda, 717 and James Skeeters Jr., 650.
Incumbent Mark Gebhards actually ran third overall in total votes but because he was one of five contesting in Township 16N Range
6W and only two of the five could be elected he was third in that grouping behind Murphy and Hughs.
State law does not allow any more than three representatives in any of the six Congressional Townships that make up the Pleasant
Plains School District.
Skeeters nosed out incumbent Tracy Reiser Weiters 650-638 in Township 17N Range 7W. Because two members not up for election
were already serving only one of the two, Skeeters or Weiters could be elected. Wayda was the only candidate in Township 17N Range
6W and could be elected as long as he was one of the top four vote getters. He ran third overall. The complete vote totals are: George
Murphy 1059; Kevin Hughs 869; Mark Gebhards 723; Wayda 717; Tom Gustafson 686; James Skeeters 650; Tracy Reiser Weiters
638; Jerry Hicks 621; Mark Sprehe 402; Darrel Patrick 123.
The puzzle that was the contested school board race with its seven write-in candidates was solved in Tuesday's election. The four
winners were, board president, George Murphy, 1059 votes; Kevin Hughs, 869; Brian Wayda, 717 and James Skeeters Jr., 650.
Incumbent Mark Gebhards actually ran third overall in total votes but because he was one of five contesting in Township 16N Range
6W and only two of the five could be elected he was third in that grouping behind Murphy and Hughs.
State law does not allow any more than three representatives in any of the six Congressional Townships that make up the Pleasant
Plains School District.
Skeeters nosed out incumbent Tracy Reiser Weiters 650-638 in Township 17N Range 7W. Because two members not up for election
were already serving only one of the two, Skeeters or Weiters could be elected. Wayda was the only candidate in Township 17N Range
6W and could be elected as long as he was one of the top four vote getters. He ran third overall. The complete vote totals are: George
Murphy 1059; Kevin Hughs 869; Mark Gebhards 723; Wayda 717; Tom Gustafson 686; James Skeeters 650; Tracy Reiser Weiters
638; Jerry Hicks 621; Mark Sprehe 402; Darrel Patrick 123.
Trivia Night to benefit Veterans Memorial May 1
The Pleasant Plains Veterans Memorial Association will hold a Trivia Night Sunday, May 1 at the Gardner Township Hall, 1266
Bradfordton Road in Springfield. The doors will open at 4 p.m. with trivia staring at 5 p.m. Food, snacks and soft drinks will be sold for
dinner, including Italian beef, hot dogs, chips, desserts and drinks. No alcoholic beverages are allowed at this facility. The cost of the
trivia is $10 per person. A 50/50 drawing will be held along with grab bag prizes, and "freebies" for purchase to help with trivia
answers. Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams. This event is a fundraiser for the Veterans Memorial, located in Pleasant
Plains at 200 West Fourth Street. Plans are being made for new work at the memorial, including the addition of two granite stones that
will be engraved with names of those who served. For more information or to reserve a table for this event, call Nancy Miles at
883-9511.
The Pleasant Plains Veterans Memorial Association will hold a Trivia Night Sunday, May 1 at the Gardner Township Hall, 1266
Bradfordton Road in Springfield. The doors will open at 4 p.m. with trivia staring at 5 p.m. Food, snacks and soft drinks will be sold for
dinner, including Italian beef, hot dogs, chips, desserts and drinks. No alcoholic beverages are allowed at this facility. The cost of the
trivia is $10 per person. A 50/50 drawing will be held along with grab bag prizes, and "freebies" for purchase to help with trivia
answers. Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams. This event is a fundraiser for the Veterans Memorial, located in Pleasant
Plains at 200 West Fourth Street. Plans are being made for new work at the memorial, including the addition of two granite stones that
will be engraved with names of those who served. For more information or to reserve a table for this event, call Nancy Miles at
883-9511.
Plains Athletic Golf Outing set June
10
The 2011 Pleasant Plains Athletic Golf Outing will be held Friday, June 10 at Piper
Glen Golf Club. The event is an 18 hole, four person scramble with a 7:30 a.m.
registration and 8 a.m. shotgun start. Soft spikes are required. The entry fee is $75
per player which includes cart, lunch and three drink tickets. Players without
pre-arranged groups can be placed in a group. Registration and payment is due by
Friday, May 20 to Cliff Cameron, c/o Pleasant Plains High School, 2000
Championship Drive, Pleasant Plains, IL 62677 (phone 626-1044, 698-9585 or
622-3581) or Paul Kastner, c/o Pleasant Plains Middle School, 2455 N. Farmingdale
Road, Pleasant Plains, IL 62677 (phone 626-1061, 415-8000).
10
The 2011 Pleasant Plains Athletic Golf Outing will be held Friday, June 10 at Piper
Glen Golf Club. The event is an 18 hole, four person scramble with a 7:30 a.m.
registration and 8 a.m. shotgun start. Soft spikes are required. The entry fee is $75
per player which includes cart, lunch and three drink tickets. Players without
pre-arranged groups can be placed in a group. Registration and payment is due by
Friday, May 20 to Cliff Cameron, c/o Pleasant Plains High School, 2000
Championship Drive, Pleasant Plains, IL 62677 (phone 626-1044, 698-9585 or
622-3581) or Paul Kastner, c/o Pleasant Plains Middle School, 2455 N. Farmingdale
Road, Pleasant Plains, IL 62677 (phone 626-1061, 415-8000).
Reynolds elected board president
On a special meeting Tuesday, the Pleasant Plains School Board reorganized, elected new officers and honored those who are
leaving the board. Mary Reynolds, a board member since 2001, was elected president. Also elected were Kevin Hughs as vice
president and Brian Wayda as secretary. Hughs and Wayda along with James Skeeters were elected to the board in the April 5
election along with one incumbent George Murphy. Reynolds, Murphy and Larry Pankey are holdover members. The old board before
adjourning accepted the resignation of board member Mike Baumgartner, who is moving, and Wayda as a bus driver. The new board,
before setting a special meeting to interview candidates for the vacated post, presented plaques of appreciation to the outgoing
member, Baumgartner, Mark Gebhards, Jerry Hicks and Tracy Reiser-Weiters. The special meeting is slated for Monday, May 9 at 6:30
p.m. As of Wednesday, four persons have sent in resumes seeking the vacated post. The school district has set a Friday, April 29, 4
p.m. deadline for anyone interested in the two year position. Whoever is selected by the board will have to run for re-election in 2013.
The school board will continue to hold its regular monthly meetings on the third Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at Farmingdale
Middle School. If the Monday meeting falls on a holiday or another date when school is not in session, the meeting will be the next day
Tuesday.
On a special meeting Tuesday, the Pleasant Plains School Board reorganized, elected new officers and honored those who are
leaving the board. Mary Reynolds, a board member since 2001, was elected president. Also elected were Kevin Hughs as vice
president and Brian Wayda as secretary. Hughs and Wayda along with James Skeeters were elected to the board in the April 5
election along with one incumbent George Murphy. Reynolds, Murphy and Larry Pankey are holdover members. The old board before
adjourning accepted the resignation of board member Mike Baumgartner, who is moving, and Wayda as a bus driver. The new board,
before setting a special meeting to interview candidates for the vacated post, presented plaques of appreciation to the outgoing
member, Baumgartner, Mark Gebhards, Jerry Hicks and Tracy Reiser-Weiters. The special meeting is slated for Monday, May 9 at 6:30
p.m. As of Wednesday, four persons have sent in resumes seeking the vacated post. The school district has set a Friday, April 29, 4
p.m. deadline for anyone interested in the two year position. Whoever is selected by the board will have to run for re-election in 2013.
The school board will continue to hold its regular monthly meetings on the third Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at Farmingdale
Middle School. If the Monday meeting falls on a holiday or another date when school is not in session, the meeting will be the next day
Tuesday.
PROM COURT - Members of the PPHS Prom
Court are, from the left, Hannah Koehler,
David Hermes, Torie Bennett, Dan Reiser,
Savannah Little, Jace Vaninger, Laura
Maloney, Matthew Tomaw, Maddie Braasch
and Evan Lowen.
Court are, from the left, Hannah Koehler,
David Hermes, Torie Bennett, Dan Reiser,
Savannah Little, Jace Vaninger, Laura
Maloney, Matthew Tomaw, Maddie Braasch
and Evan Lowen.
‘Lights for Ron’ gala raises $11,000
Last Saturday’s “Lights for Ron” Gala raised an additional $11,000 for the final
portion of the High School Sports Complex, lights for baseball’s Ron Reiser Field.
The goal for the light project is $75,000. With $11,000 added to the previously raised
$32,000, a total of $43,000 has been raised, leaving $32,000 needed. Several more
fundraisers are being planned along with the pavers project. One of the fundraisers
will be the 11th annual Grainery Golf Outing, this year’s proceeds to be presented to
the “Lights for Ron Fund.” It will be held Saturday, July 23 at Edgewood Golf Club in
Auburn with a 1 p.m. shotgun start for the four-man scramble event. Cost is $75 per
golfer which includes golf, cart, drinks, lunch and dinner plus prizes. Information and
registration can be had at the Grainery Restaurant at 622-2508.
Last Saturday’s “Lights for Ron” Gala raised an additional $11,000 for the final
portion of the High School Sports Complex, lights for baseball’s Ron Reiser Field.
The goal for the light project is $75,000. With $11,000 added to the previously raised
$32,000, a total of $43,000 has been raised, leaving $32,000 needed. Several more
fundraisers are being planned along with the pavers project. One of the fundraisers
will be the 11th annual Grainery Golf Outing, this year’s proceeds to be presented to
the “Lights for Ron Fund.” It will be held Saturday, July 23 at Edgewood Golf Club in
Auburn with a 1 p.m. shotgun start for the four-man scramble event. Cost is $75 per
golfer which includes golf, cart, drinks, lunch and dinner plus prizes. Information and
registration can be had at the Grainery Restaurant at 622-2508.
The 42nd annual Madrigal Dinner is slated
for December 10-11 at the high school.
Making up the Madrigal Singers are, from the
left, front, Tess Tyler, Hayley Tolan, Emily
Shaw, Katie Ingram, Amanda Duff, Melissa
Baker, Francesca Paul; middle, Denmark
Foor, Marina Fokina, Hannah Siehr, Leah
Liebman, Sabrina Salvacion, Audrey Holmes;
back, Kevin Aldridge, Justin Coy, Michael
Holmes, Alex Gustafson, Tucker Good, Paul
Boucherie and Clifton Mahler.
for December 10-11 at the high school.
Making up the Madrigal Singers are, from the
left, front, Tess Tyler, Hayley Tolan, Emily
Shaw, Katie Ingram, Amanda Duff, Melissa
Baker, Francesca Paul; middle, Denmark
Foor, Marina Fokina, Hannah Siehr, Leah
Liebman, Sabrina Salvacion, Audrey Holmes;
back, Kevin Aldridge, Justin Coy, Michael
Holmes, Alex Gustafson, Tucker Good, Paul
Boucherie and Clifton Mahler.
The Webelos Den of Pack 302 recently
visited the Pleasant Plains Police
Department. Eight Webelo Scouts spent their
Saturday morning in jail. Fortunately they
were just visiting chief Kevin Kesselring of
the Pleasant Plains Police Department. The
chief showed the Scouts the department's
offices, computer systems, evidence lockers
and gun safe. The Scouts had many
questions for the chief and he gave them
good information about law enforcement.
Some of the Scouts even said they would like
to be policemen when they grow up. From
the left, front, Nick Sunley; second row,
Brandon Turner, Zack Eisenmann, Ben
Hutcherson; third row, Owen Aldridge,
Dakota Sunley; back, Webelos Scout leader
Shayne Alridge and chief Kevin Kesserling.
visited the Pleasant Plains Police
Department. Eight Webelo Scouts spent their
Saturday morning in jail. Fortunately they
were just visiting chief Kevin Kesselring of
the Pleasant Plains Police Department. The
chief showed the Scouts the department's
offices, computer systems, evidence lockers
and gun safe. The Scouts had many
questions for the chief and he gave them
good information about law enforcement.
Some of the Scouts even said they would like
to be policemen when they grow up. From
the left, front, Nick Sunley; second row,
Brandon Turner, Zack Eisenmann, Ben
Hutcherson; third row, Owen Aldridge,
Dakota Sunley; back, Webelos Scout leader
Shayne Alridge and chief Kevin Kesserling.
Eighteen seniors were recently named State
Scholars. From the left, front, Morgan Young,
Lauren Davidson, Sarah Ruwe, Paige
Graham, Nikki Steinwart, Amy Spencer,
Janna Potts; middle, Kitt Nika, Leanne Hahn,
Jordan Romager; back, Luke Reynolds,
Andrew Hamerlinck, Ryan Barnes, Alexander
Olivero, Josh Cornett, Will Kenney, Dyland
Robinson. Missing David Hecht.
Scholars. From the left, front, Morgan Young,
Lauren Davidson, Sarah Ruwe, Paige
Graham, Nikki Steinwart, Amy Spencer,
Janna Potts; middle, Kitt Nika, Leanne Hahn,
Jordan Romager; back, Luke Reynolds,
Andrew Hamerlinck, Ryan Barnes, Alexander
Olivero, Josh Cornett, Will Kenney, Dyland
Robinson. Missing David Hecht.
FAFSA Help Session February 13
On Monday, February 13 from 6-8 p.m., a workshop to provide help with the Free
Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will be held in the Pleasant Plains High
School computer lab. A representative from the Illinois Student assistance
Commission will be available to discuss the FAFSA form in detail. Following the 30
minute presentation, the computer lab will be open for families of seniors who would
like to process their FAFSA with a representative available to answer any questions.
The FAFSA application can be found online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. All FAFSA forms
should be submitted by March 1 for the current senior class. All Pleasant Plains
students and parents are invited to attend. The workshop is also open to area school
students and parents.
On Monday, February 13 from 6-8 p.m., a workshop to provide help with the Free
Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will be held in the Pleasant Plains High
School computer lab. A representative from the Illinois Student assistance
Commission will be available to discuss the FAFSA form in detail. Following the 30
minute presentation, the computer lab will be open for families of seniors who would
like to process their FAFSA with a representative available to answer any questions.
The FAFSA application can be found online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. All FAFSA forms
should be submitted by March 1 for the current senior class. All Pleasant Plains
students and parents are invited to attend. The workshop is also open to area school
students and parents.
Elementary school wins academic
excellence award
The Illinois State Board of Education has awarded Farmingdale Elementary
School with the Academic Excellence Award – 2011 Illinois Honor Roll. This marks
the third straight year Farmingdale Elementary School has achieved this award. The
Illinois State Board of Education commends the faculty and staff of Farmingdale
Elementary on all the good work required to sustain academic excellence. Across
the state, 438 schools earned the Academic Excellence Award for 2011. This places
Farmingdale in the top 10% in the state. To earn an Academic Excellence Award, a
school must meet the following criteria: Schools must have made Adequate Yearly
Progress in 2010 and 2011 as required by No Child Left Behind. In schools serving
grades 8 and below, 90 percent of students must have met or exceeded state
standards in both reading and math for the three most recent school years.
Farmingdale Elementary School received a certificate that is hanging proudly in the
school lobby to commemorate the achievement. At www.ilhonorroll.niu.edu you can
learn more about the award and the schools who earned the distinction this past
school year.
excellence award
The Illinois State Board of Education has awarded Farmingdale Elementary
School with the Academic Excellence Award – 2011 Illinois Honor Roll. This marks
the third straight year Farmingdale Elementary School has achieved this award. The
Illinois State Board of Education commends the faculty and staff of Farmingdale
Elementary on all the good work required to sustain academic excellence. Across
the state, 438 schools earned the Academic Excellence Award for 2011. This places
Farmingdale in the top 10% in the state. To earn an Academic Excellence Award, a
school must meet the following criteria: Schools must have made Adequate Yearly
Progress in 2010 and 2011 as required by No Child Left Behind. In schools serving
grades 8 and below, 90 percent of students must have met or exceeded state
standards in both reading and math for the three most recent school years.
Farmingdale Elementary School received a certificate that is hanging proudly in the
school lobby to commemorate the achievement. At www.ilhonorroll.niu.edu you can
learn more about the award and the schools who earned the distinction this past
school year.