Cutline: Eureka College is expecting an enrollment increase for the 2015-16 school year. (Photo Courtesy of Eureka College)

Eureka

Eureka College professor elected MBAA International Program Chair

Eureka College associate professor of business administration Harry Fisher recently was elected the post of 2016 MBAA International Program Chair at MBAA’s 52nd annual conference at the Palmer House Hotel in Chicago. The election marks a commitment by Fisher to plan and develop the 2016 program in coordination with the 11 disciplinary organizations within MBAA International. MBAA International holds annual conferences for academics, members of governmental agencies, nonprofit institutions and businesses to share research about management, finance, accounting, marketing and other business disciplines.  The 2015 conference included more than 700 registrants from 23 states and three foreign countries. Fisher has been employed at Eureka College since 2004.

Eureka

Enrollment projected to go up at Eureka College

Eureka College is expecting more students when classes begin Aug. 26. Enrollment will be approximately 695, an increase from 664 last fall, according to the college. The highest enrollment was 782 in 2010. The number of new students will be higher, reflecting a 20 percent increase in transfer students and a 2 percent increase in freshmen, according to Dean of Admissions Kurt Krile. There will be a record number of approximately 445 students living on campus. The previous high was 400 last year. Approximately 85 percent of freshmen and 67 percent of all students will live in campus housing. Last year, 61 percent of students lived on campus. Freshmen and first-year transfer students who choose to live on campus receive a $1,000 grant, Krile said.  The college has room for all the students, Director of Residence Life Lisa Fischer said. Official enrollment numbers won’t be available until the tenth day of classes.

 Tri-County Region

Assistance to low-income residents in doubt

State officials are telling local and county service agencies to stop taking applications for energy assistance and some agencies have already laid off employees because of the state budget stalemate. A state budget must be adopted in order for the state to get federal funding to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Most of  Illinois LIHEAP’s funding comes from the federal government, but it cannot be distributed without a budget in place. One of the roles of the program is to provide reconnection assistance or one-time annual payments on energy costs for residents. Tazwood Community Services, which serves low-income residents in Tazewell and Woodford counties, is having to refer residents to churches and other agencies for assistance, according to reports. Officials estimate around 14,000 Tri-County households are having major difficulty in trying to regularly pay their utility bills, according to reports.

State

IDNR offering trapper education course at Pekin Center

An Illinois Department of Natural Resources Trapper Education Course will be offered to those wanting to learn more about state requirements for fur  trappers. The course will be held from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 29 at  Pekin Park District’s Soldwedel Program Center, 207 McNaughton Park Road. The course consists of eight hours of  instruction, covering the basics in equipment and trapping techniques; trap and pelt preparation; wildlife and furbearer management; reporting requirements; trapper ethics; game identification and state regulations. This course is designed to teach new or inexperienced trappers the most ethical and humane procedures for trapping Illinois furbearers.  Persons successfully completing the eight-hour course and final examination will receive a State of Illinois Certificate of Competency and graduate patch. First-time trappers, born on or after January 1, 2015, are required to complete a trapper education course before purchasing a license.  To register for the course, call 1-309-347- PARK (7275).  Participants should plan to pack a sack lunch and their own beverages. This course is free, but advanced registration is required.  The registration deadline is Monday, Aug. 24.

University of Illinois

Board reverses position on resignation of former chancellor

The University of Illinois Board of Trustees is not accepting the resignation of  Chancellor Phyllis Wise and reversed its position on a resignation deal it accepted that included a  $400,000 bonus. The board Aug. 12 instead reassigned her position and initiated formal dismissal proceedings against her, according to reports. Wise announced Aug. 6 she would no longer serve as chancellor, and at the time Gov. Bruce Rauner criticized the bonus. With this latest move, the  board will try to fire Wise from her administrative role, but she will keep a  tenured faculty appointment. Barbara Wilson, dean of LAS, will serves as both dean and acting chancellor according to announcements made by the board. President Timothy Killeen recommended Wilson on Aug. 12, and her appointment was approved later that day by the board. Wise will report directly to Killeen.

Washington

Blacksmith’s Steakhouse open for business

Blacksmith’s Steakhouse recently held its ribbon cutting and grand opening but the restaurant is still working on its web site.  Blacksmith’s opens at 11 a.m. for lunch with dinner to follow, Tuesday through Friday, 4 p.m. Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday for the brunch buffet. Closed on Mondays.  Blacksmith’s owners also  own  Kep’s Sports Bar and Grill in Washington. More information can be found, for now, on the Facebook page a at www.facebook.com/blacksmithsteaks.

Woodford County

 4-H and Prairie Aviation Museum host Science Sleepover

University of Illinois Extension 4-H Youth Development staff members are teaming with Prairie Aviation Museum to offer two 4-H Science Sleepover events to help girls and boys in fourth, fifth and sixth grades experience science in a fun way. The 4-H Girls’ Science Sleepover will be held on Sept. 25 and 26 at the museum. The 4-H Boys’  Science Sleepover will be held on Oct. 2 and 3.  The program is open to youth in Livingston, McLean and Woodford counties. Registration fees for attending the overnight are $20. Space is limited and registrations will be taken on a first come first serve basis until Wednesday, Sept.10. Registration forms are available online at www.web.extension.illinois.edu/lmw/ or you may call your local University of Illinois  Extension office.

— Woodford County news briefs