Mardi Gras in Metro-East
The Hayner Public Library District and the Lewis & Clark Community College Music Department will present their Annual Fat Tuesday Concert, featuring department faculty member Bud Shultz and “You Can’t Beat Experience” Jazz Band at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 9, in the college’s Trimpe Building, Room 141. Reservations are recommended. For information call (800) 613-3163. (Photo courtesy: Lewis & Clark Community College)

Madison County flood costs to top $10 million

Federal and state officials this week begin working with local officials to assess damage in nearly two dozen Illinois counties devastated by record or near-record flooding and severe storms in late December and early January.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) personnel were scheduled to start work with the state and local officials Feb. 1 on formal assessments of storm-related costs incurred by local governments in Alexander, Bureau, Calhoun, Cass, Cumberland, Iroquois, Jackson, Jersey, Madison, Marion, Mason, Menard, Monroe, Morgan, Moultrie, Pike, Randolph, St. Clair and Vermilion counties.

Madison County officials last Thursday (Jan. 28) submitted an initial disaster impact statement to the state, indicating local government entities there have incurred more than $10 million in flood-related costs over the past two months.

Representatives from FEMA, the state, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and local emergency management agencies are expected to begin assessing damage to privately-owned homes and businesses in Alexander, Christian, Clinton, Douglas, Iroquois, Jersey, Madison, Randolph, Sangamon and St. Clair counties on Feb. 4.

Madison County officials believe several hundred businesses and residences in their jurisdiction sustained at least some damage, with more than 150 damaged severely.

The formal damage assessments are a step in the application process for federal disaster assistance.

In addition to helping private property owners recover from flooding, federal assistance is available to help local governments cover costs for material and labor utilized for emergency protective measures, debris removal, and damage to road and bridge systems, water control facilities, buildings and equipment, utility systems, or parks and recreational areas.

Area’s first medical marijuana dispensary opens

HCI Alternatives opened the St. Louis area’s first medical marijuana dispensary at 1014 Eastport Plaza Drive, Collinsville, Jan. 25; serving about 50 customers on its first day in business.  The dispensary, near the Illinois State Police District 11 headquarters, offers medical cannabis products for Illinois residents with a diagnosis of a qualifying medical condition and a recommendation from a doctor. Constructed to meet state security requirements, the facility has interlocking doors, bulletproof windows and security cameras.  However, the brightly lit shop also offers creature comforts including complimentary coffee, bottled water and energy bars for customers. HCI also opened a dispensary in Springfield this month. Denver-based Green Solutions is expected to open a dispensary in Sauget shortly.

East St. Louis 189 gets $4 million to transform elementary school

The Illinois State Board of Education has awarded the East St. Louis 189 School District a $4 million School Improvement Grant (SIG) to convert its Gordon Bush Elementary School to a performance-based education model.

The federally-funded SIG program is designed to help the lowest-performing schools in the state. Qualifying schools must demonstrate the greatest need for grant funding among underperforming schools in the state, as well as the strongest commitment to using grant dollars to provide adequate resources that will substantially raise their students’ achievement levels, according to the award announcement.

Bush Elementary is among five schools awarded Illinois SIG grants this year.  Each will receive grant money for five years, through fiscal year 2020, pending reapplication and state approval each year.

For eligible schools to receive funds through the competitive grant process, each district must plan to implement one of six school intervention models approved by the U.S. Department of Education: Transformation, Turnaround, Restart, Closure, Early Learning Transformation, Evidence-Based Whole-School Reform, or Rural Flexibility.

All of this year’s grantees will implement the Transformation model, which includes replacing the principal and using a rigorous evaluation system that incorporates student growth and rewards teachers who are effective in improving student achievement, according to the state board of education.

Bush Elementary will receive more than of $4.8 million  over the five-year period.

Power outage strikes 16,000 in region

Problems at an Ameren Illinois substation, Jan. 26, resulted in the loss of power to as many as 10,400 Ameren customers in Clinton, St. Clair, Madison and Bond counties, as well as almost 5,600 Clinton County Electric Cooperative members. Service was restored to all areas by 6 a.m. the following morning.  Affected communities included Albers, Aviston, Bartelso, Carlyle, Centralia, Highland, Mascoutah, New Baden and Trenton.

Breese food distributor closing

Haag Food Service, allegedly in arrears on more than $8.4 million in loans, is in the hands of a receiver and reportedly preparing to close.  HG, Inc. (Harmon Group) took over operations of the fast-food processing plant, after Midland States Bank filed suit against Haag in December, alleging the company is in default on a $7.9 million loan.  As of last month, Haag Food is also in default on $551,000 in loans that it borrowed from the city of Breese through the town’s revolving loan fund.

Layoff notices were issued to Haag’s more than 70 employees two weeks ago and the sale of assets is underway; however, about 16 people continued to work at the plant last week. Founded in 1944, Haag has provided food products to various fast-food restaurant franchisees.

Illinois American seeks 18 percent rate hike

Illinois American Water has filed a request with the Illinois Commerce Commission for an 18 percent statewide rate increase. That would increase the average customer’s base water and sewer service rate by $7.57 per month, from $41.57 to $49.14.  The proposed rate hike was filed Jan.21. The commission is expected to rule on the proposal by year’s end, after soliciting public comment. The rate would take effect in January 2017. All Illinois American customers are to receive information packages by mail, detailing the proposed rate change and the public comment process.

Man dies recovering drone

A Granite City man died Jan. 24 when he apparently felt through the frozen surface of a Chouteau Island pond, attempting to retrieve a toy drone, according to the Madison County Coroner’s. Mark A. Miller, 54, and his 11-year-old son had been playing with the drone when it malfunctioned and struck the ice. The boy, who had been instructed by Miller to wait on a family vehicle, was uninjured.

–Metro East Area News Briefs–