East St. Louis district to close 5 schools

EAST ST. LOUIS - The East St. Louis school system says it will shutter five schools because of declining enrollment and in an effort to pare the district's roughly $12 million budget deficit.

The Belleville News-Democrat reports that the schools will close by June 30. Officials say that, along with related layoffs, could save the district $2.5 million to $3.7 million next school year.

School board President Lonzo Greenwood says the panel is saddened. But he says the closures are necessary because of a lack of federal funds that can't be replaced by local taxes.

A public town hall meeting is scheduled for April 26 at Mason-Clark Middle School to discuss attendance boundaries for the elementary schools that students will attend next year. - http://bit.ly/HDDHtn

Free vehicle inspections to be offered Saturday

MOUNT VERNON - A free 41-point vehicle inspection will be available Saturday at Times Square Mall in Mount Vernon, courtesy of Rend Lake College, the mall and Mount Vernon NAPA.

The event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the mall parking lot between Wendy's and Verizon.

Inspections include checking fluid levels, tires, lights and other system components. After the inspection is completed, volunteer automotive stu-dents will review findings with the motorist and provide information about proper vehicle maintenance and repair.

Hot dogs and other refreshments will be provided by Mount Vernon NAPA; participants also can register to win door prizes. Donations will be ac-cepted for Angel's Cove in Mount Vernon.

Rend Lake College Project CHILD and the Jefferson County Health Department will provide free child passenger safety seat inspections.

April is National Car Care Month, an effort to educate motorists about the importance of vehicle care and maintenance.

For more information, contact Nigel Thompson, RLC automotive technology professor, at 618-437-5321 ext. 1806, or email thompson@rlc.edu

Donor pledges match grant to Lifeboat Alliance shelter

MT. VERNON - An anonymous donor has pledged $75,000 to the Lifeboat Alliance shelter if the organization can match the number.

The second matching grant to the shelter, the funds will go toward the construction and renovation being conducted by the Habitat for Humanity of Jefferson County, said Lifeboat Alliance Executive Director Jenny O'Daniel.

"Any funds left over will be dedicated to the operation of the facility," O'Daniel said. "First and foremost, we've just got to get the doors open."

O'Daniel said she and others on the Lifeboat Alliance board found out about the additional matching grant Wednesday.

"It's overwhelming," she said. "It's touching. I think what a lot of people might not realize is that even though our doors are not open, we're working with folks right now, and every day."

She said one woman found herself with no place to go and nothing but the clothes she was wearing, and came to Lifeboat Alliance asking for help.

"I sent a few e-mails, and now we have the lady equipped with kitchenwares, she's in an apartment, and we got a bed picked up for her," O'Daniel said. "I think it's just a matter of if people know there is a need, they will help, they will come forward, and there are so many compassionate people in our commmunity."

The shelter is already $10,000 deep toward its goal of $75,000 thanks to a different donor, she said, and Lifeboat Alliance has until October to attain the $75,000 total. - http://bit.ly/HD2Ns7

Mount Vernon needs housing to keep up with job growth

MOUNT VERNON - Mount Vernon needs hundreds of new housing units in order to keep pace with job growth in the city.

"Between now and 2016, we need 300 to 700 new housing units to support the people we are creating jobs for in the community," Mount Vernon City Manager Ron Neibert said.

The numbers come from a study undertaken to determine whether the city was having housing issues, he said.

"There were several indicators that we have a housing problem in the community," he said.

For instance, the city lost almost 1,000 people from 2000 to 2010, according to U.S. Census numbers. The city also looked at the regional impact of a Continental Tire expansion and found employees at the plant come from 122 zip codes in Illinois and Kentucky.

"We are creating jobs for people in other communities. That's all well and good, but if we are spending money on job creation in Mount Vernon, we'd like some of the people in those jobs to live in Mount Vernon," he said.

The study was based on the perceived needs for housing in the city, the number of new jobs anticipated and the existing housing market.

The city expects some 1,000 new hires in the next few years at businesses and industries like Continental Tire, Magnum Steel Works Inc. and Good Samaritan Regional Health Center.

The study looked at housing in the $120,000 to $130,000 range and found only 35 to 40 units on the market in all of Jefferson County.

"We're creating a thousand jobs for people who can afford a house in that range and we just don't have the housing available," he said.

The results of the study will be used as the city prepares a promotional program to entice residential housing developers to build in the city. - http://bit.ly/IDEJEa