Chester Chamber hears solar eclipse, courthouse presentations

EDITOR'S NOTE: To see a video of Cynthia Lawder's solar eclipse presentation, see the Herald Tribune's Facebook page and website.

With the March 15 primary election rapidly approaching, Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker issued another plea in regard to the badly-needed repairs at the county's 42-year-old courthouse.

Speaking to members of the Chester Chamber of Commerce last Thursday, Walker gave his justification for voters to approve the $2.95 million referendum on the March ballot.

He said the necessity of the issue is why it is on the March ballot instead of the November general election.

"I can't stress to you enough my own personal opinion, but this is something we desperately need," he said.

Walker gave a list of significant issues an engineering study from Honeywell International revealed, including roof replacements on the courthouse and jail; heating and cooling systems that have exceeded their useful life; hard water issues with domestic plumbing and badly-needed jail cell plumbing improvements due to needed repairs and failures.

"That A/C system at any point could go out and what happens when it does?" Walker asked.

If the referendum fails, Walker said he isn't sure how the county could afford the project.

"I truly don't know how we, as a county, would pay for it," he said. "The money just isn't there."

Walker also spoke on trash cans being placed in the courtrooms during heavy rain to collect water from leaks in the roof and water even shooting out of an electrical outlet in his office.

"We have a major roof problem that's needed to be fixed," he said.

Walker added that pinhole leaks in the plumbing have caused problems in the circuit clerk's office.

"There's stuff from the 1700s in that office," he said.

To pay for it, the county would borrow the money over 10 years at an estimated 12 cent bond levy. Taxpayers are currently paying 14 cents for bond payments that will be completed in two years.

The upgrades and replacements would save the county $60,000 annually in reduced energy and repair costs.

Linda Sympson, executive director of the Chester Chamber of Commerce, asked Walker about the worst-case scenario.

"It will be doing what we're doing right now, which is the band-aid approach," he said.

Walker stressed that other judges and attorneys from outside the county have commented on the beauty of the courthouse and its uniqueness to Randolph County.

"We have a very beautiful facility," Walker said. "Any time lawyers come in from out of county, the first thing they say is 'By gosh, you have a beautiful courthouse.'"

The presentation was also attended by Circuit Court Judge Richard A. Brown and Associate Circuit Judge Gene Gross.

"It's really personable for me because I'm on watch and it's time to fix it," Brown said.

The second half of the lunch program consisted of Chester Tourism Commission member Cynthia Lawder speaking about next year's total solar eclipse, which will cross Southern Illinois on August 21, 2017.

"It's only about a hundred-mile stretch that is the best that you can get," she said. "This last happened in 1878, so I feel confident that most of you have not seen it."

The point of greatest duration will be around Cedar Lake, west of Makanda and will last for two minutes and 41.6 seconds. In Chester, it will be 2:40.

Lawder said Best Western Reids' Inn in Chester already has bookings for the event and the Chester City Council has previously approved camping in Cole Memorial Park for it.

"There's just eclipse chasers, from around the world," Lawder said. "So who knows?"

Lawder noted there were other possibilities, including a collaboration with the Chester High School science classes and local scouting troops. The American Queen riverboat could also be docked during the event.

"There's a lot of opportunity for us, don't let it slide by," she said. "It's going to happen, people are going to be here."<span class="s1">

</span>Roundup

The chamber also announced its winners of the Dine Out Chester gift certificates. They are as follows:

Barb's Bounty

Steve Sympson

Ken Wagner

Domino's

Rick Wofford

Carolyn Schwent

Chester Country Club

Susan Vasquez

Rick Schulein

Chester Eagles

Max Blechle

Doris Decker

Jodie's Ol' Farmhouse

Margaret Knop

Bob Buckham

Knights of Columbus

Christina Rayburn

Alisa Herrell

Reids' Harvest House

Gwendy Garner

Donald Welge

Subway

Phyllis Moutray

Cindy Meyer

Tequila's

Curtis Thornton

Mary Alice Welge

VFW

Charles Hirte

Russ Rader