Landon receives key to city

<p class="p1">In spite of a very light agenda at the Chester City Council meeting on Monday, the council chambers were full with Chester citizens who were there for one reason.

<p class="p1">Kyle Landon, a former Chester High School standout track athlete and honor student who now attends and competes for Southern Illinois University - Carbondale, received a key to the city on behalf of the council in acknowledgement of his accomplishments both on and off the track.

<p class="p1">Last week, Landon competed at the USA Track and Field Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore., where he finished second out of 24 high jumpers with a personal-best leap of 7 feet 5 inches.

<p class="p1">For his efforts Landon won the silver medal, finishing an inch short of the Olympic qualifying mark of 7-6 to make Team USA for next month's Rio Games.

<p class="p1">"We appreciate all that you have done for this city and wish to honor you tonight for your recent accomplishments," Page said.

<p class="p1">Before Page presented Landon with his gift, he asked Bob Koenegstein if he would say a few words about spending time with Landon at the Olympic Trials.

<p class="p1">Koenegstein was introduced as one of Landon's mentors, former coaches and good friends and he noted the huge fan support that Landon had earned from the thousands of fans at the trials and that they had embraced him from the start.

<p class="p1">"Kyle was naturally sad after not reaching the qualifying height of 7 feet 6 inches, but the crowd embraced him and quickly took his mind off the sad situation," Koenegstein said. "People were lined up to see Kyle.

<p class="p1">"Kids wanted to take pictures with him. He was a star."

<p class="p1">Koenegstein noted Landon's disappointment of falling short of making the Olympic Team, but how the support from the fans cheered him up quickly.

<p class="p1">"It was tough at the awards ceremony when Kyle realized that he missed the 2016 Olympic Team by just one inch," Koenegstein said. "It was the first time I have actually seen him cry. He did cry, however, until he saw the great crowd support from the thousands of fans who were waiting in line to meet him after the ceremony.

<p class="p1">"He was a hero to those people. Kids wanted his autograph and wanted to pose with him for pictures. Soon his pain was gone and Kyle was able to enjoy the day and all that went with it."

<p class="p1">In presenting the key to Landon, Page noted that while the key will not actually open any physical doors in Chester, "it may be a symbol of the key that opens many doors for Kyle in all of his future endeavors."

<p class="p1">Landon then asked to speak.

<p class="p1">"I want to thank all of you and the people of Chester for all of your support," he said. "I really appreciated all of the letters, prayers, kind words and belief in me that I could do the job at the trials.

<p class="p1">"I then realized that if you all believed in me that I had to believe in myself. I then got the confidence to do my part and to live up to your expectations. Thank you very much."

<p class="p1">Landon fought back tears as he finished by apologizing to those in attendance for falling short.

<p class="p1">"I am sorry that I fell short, but you all made it possible for me to accomplish what I did," he said. "I thank you for that and appreciate all of your faith in me and all of your support."

<p class="p1">At the conclusion of the meeting, Landon stayed for almost 30 minutes to meet and greet those who stayed to wish him well.

<p class="p1">He took pictures with fans and supporters and signed autographs for those who asked.

<p class="p1">The only agenda item of the evening was in regard to the purchase of new gas meters. The council approved the purchase of 240 new meters for a price of $25,682.40.

<p class="p1">The meters will be paid for when they arrive.

<p class="p1">Roundup

<p class="p1">- Chester Mayor Tom Page said the financial status of the city remains "status quo" while city officials wait for the release of funds as part of the recent passage of the stopgap budget.

<p class="p1">The City of Chester is owed roughly $1.5 million by the state for unpaid utility bills at state facilities.

<p class="p1">"Until the money goes in the bank, and we're hoping very, very soon, we're pretty much staying status quo," Page said.

<p class="p1">- Bills and payroll were approved in the amount of $119,978.79.