Community says goodbye to Chester Superintendent Keim.

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[On Thursday June 30 the community of Chester said goodbye to Rebecca Keim, District # 139 Superintendent of Schools. Keim has served as Superintendent for the past six years and retired June 30 to return to her former residence of Columbia, Illinois. A reception was held at the District Office for anyone who wanted to stop by and say goodbye. The event lasted for five hours from 10:00 a.m. till 3:00 p.m. Guests were treated to finger sandwiches, a vegetable tray, chips, punch and cake. The farewell party was organized by District secretaries Jeannie Golding and Krista Howie and Donna Clendenin, District Treasurer. The event ended with a surprise visit from about a dozen friends and colleagues from the Waterloo School District where Keim was formerly the principal. The group then took Keim to the Chester Eagles for an early dinner and more celebration. Keim will begin her retirement July 1 in Columbia. Her immediate plans are to travel after which she intends to enjoy reacquainting herself with friends from the area. Pictured here are colleagues who were at the farewell event shortly after lunch to bid Keim a goodbye. (Sitting, left to right): Jonelle Evers, Chester High School Guidance Secretary, Rebecca Keim and Rich Clasen, District System and Network Coordinator. (Back row, standing, left to right): Vicky Beers, District # 139 School Board President and Donna Clendenin, District Treasurer.