Latest news with #EffinghamHighSchool
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
High school students learn about city jobs on Law Day
Dozens of juniors and seniors from Effingham and St. Anthony high schools learned about what happens behind the scenes at the city's water treatment plant, wastewater treatment plant, police department and fire department on Thursday during the 68th Annual Elks National Law Day. The day began at city hall, and after a brief introduction, city officials and students split into two groups: one started at the water treatment plant and the other began at the wastewater treatment plant. Water Treatment Plant Chief Operator Mike Ziegler gave the students a tour of the plant and explained how water is cleaned through filters, chemistry and more. 'I think it's cool to see that they have to put tablets, that they have so many funnels, and how much water they push out for all of us because they are taking care of such a large population of people, and without them, all those people would have dirty water, polluted water,' said St. Anthony High School senior Jackie Niebrugge. 'It's kind of like something you don't think about, so when you see it, you're like: Oh, without them, we'd all be showering in not very clean water. We'd be drinking not very clean water. When we make stuff, it wouldn't have clean water in it. So it's very important to have that in our community.' Niebrugge plans on going into the medical field but learned how important water treatment plants are for communities. 'I do think it's just a very respectable job to have, to be able to provide for such a large community, and it's overlooked… I think it's vital for our community to have them,' she said. At the fire department, Captain Jeffrey Landrus taught the students about different fire equipment, let students spray a fire hose and ride on the landing of a ladder fire truck. At the police station, the group split in half: half went on a tour with Police Chief Jason McFarland and the other half experienced a police training simulator with Deputy Chief Kurt Davis. After the tour, the groups switched places. McFarland showed students many of the rooms in the department including the 9-1-1 call center, booking and the gym. The simulator allowed students to practice being a police officer by using an unloaded gun with Deputy Chief Davis. He taught students about the high stakes, pressure and very little time officers have when responding to emergency calls. Wastewater Treatment Plant Chief Operator Joe Williamson gave students a tour of the wastewater treatment plant and also explained how water is filtered and cleaned. Effingham High School seniors Adam Flack, Aaron Hill, Max Flack and Jaxon Bridges were surprised to learn how much water the city is responsible for managing. 'That's what a lot of what we learned was water and how it flows, and we get it all the way up from Shelbyville and places like that,' said Max. 'That's kind of crazy that we're a source of water for [somewhere] over thirty miles away.' They were also surprised to learn how much money is spent in each department. Although Adam Flack, Max Flack, Hill and Bridges don't want to go into public service work either, they gained a deeper appreciation for people in those roles. 'The people take their jobs very seriously,' said Adam. 'We're in good hands.'
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bids for Effingham projects open soon
City Engineer Luke Thoele informed the Effingham city council on Tuesday that bids will open on April 29 for several city projects, such as street resurfacing, sidewalk replacements, pavement patching and crack sealing. Bids will also open on April 24 for the Santa Maria Extension project, which includes a half mile of street, water and sewer. The streets being resurfaced are Circle Drive, Temple Avenue from Willow to Healy, Minnie Hills Drive, Lustig Lane and Steger Drive. 'That sidewalk replacement program is a huge asset and component in reducing liability costs for the city big time, and when you don't have that done on a regular basis, you'd be amazed at how many more trips you'll have in a potential liability claim for the city,' said Deputy City Administrator Dennis Presley. 'It's all critical, and I think a lot of people don't realize how all that is critical and what it means directly to the residents.' 'This is great because there is a homeowner out there that is in dire need of a new sanitary sewer right now,' said City Administrator Steve Miller. 'This is going to help fix some of that stuff. It's a big deal if you're in that block.' Public Works Director Jeremy Heuerman presented the low bid of $96,195 from Illinois Meter Company Utility Supply to replace the water main on West Jefferson from Maple Street to Oak Street. The work will be performed by the water department, and the materials will be paid for with the water funds. Heuerman also announced the city was awarded about $19,000 from the Illinois Department of Transportation for a truck access route program to extend McGrath Avenue. This grant along with the other $960,000 in grant money will help the project move along. 'We could extend the roadway about 1,100 feet out there almost entirely by grant funding,' said Heuerman. 'So that's almost zero tax dollars that would be used for this.' In other news, Tourism Director Jodi Thoele requested street closures for Fourth of July fireworks at Effingham High School. Thoele asked for the street closures of West Grove Avenue at Rainey Street, West Grove Avenue at Schwerman Street and Schwerman Street at Route 40 from approximately noon to 10:30 p.m. Thoele said they'll be working closely with the Effingham Police Department since they've had issues previously with people attempting to go through their barricades. Thoele also requested street closures for Outdoor Movie Nights on Friday, June 20 and Saturday June 21, hosted by the Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Business Group. For June 20, she requested Jefferson Avenue from Third Street to Fourth Street be closed from approximately 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., and for June 21, she requested Jefferson Avenue from Third Street to Fourth Street, Washington Avenue from Third Street to Fourth Street and Fourth Street from Washington Avenue to Jefferson Avenue from approximately the same time. Effingham Noon Rotary Club member Amanda McKay requested $20,000 from the city's tourism fund to help fund the city's Fourth of July fireworks, while the Club will raise the remaining $7,000. The next Effingham City Council meeting is scheduled for May 6 at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chambers.
