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WedNeSday, AUGUST 24, 2011

Construction update Circus in Metamora Police News

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These features youll find only in this weeks print edition of the Washington Times-Reporter. For details, see page A3.

your Hometown News Since 1840 CITY COUNCIL

www.WashingtontimesReporter.com

Vol. 171 No. 34

City looking for new administrator, again

Downey spent no more than 45 days on job before resigning
By BRaNdoN ScHatSieK
TimesNewspapers

Whats going on here?

Construction central
By Brandon Schatsiek | Staff Writer

WHat it iS With so many different construction projects going on at the same time in Washington the high school, Dallas Road extension, the police department and Sunnyland Plaza it is time for an update on all of them.

WcHS

Citing pressing personal and family matters, newly hired Washington City Administrator Richard Downey has turned in his resignation. The City Council unanimously approved the resignation at its Aug. 15 meeting. Downey, who took over folRichard lowing the redowney tirement of Bob Morris, spent no more than 45 days on the job. He recently moved his wife and two children, ages 3 and 6, to Washington well ahead of the December deadline. Its just one of those unfortunate things, Mayor Gary Manier said after the meeting. When you have to take action on something like this, its disappointing and difficult. The decision to accept Downeys resignation followed a 30-minute executive session where details of his employment were discussed. Those details are what Manier classified as personnel issues, and something he was not at liberty to discuss. Details available to the media were given in a short press release stating the tendering of the resignation and that the city wishes Downey well in his future endeavors. Downeys contract was for an annual salary of $100,000 up from the $67,000 he was earning in the same capacity in Rock Falls. When asked about the buyout options and early termination clauses in Downeys contract, Manier said those details can
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construction crews work aug. 19 behind Washington community High School digging out trenches where electrical wiring will run under where the new multipurpose room will stand. For more photos of construction see page a5.
BRANDON SCHATSIEK/TIMESNEWSPAPERS

As the school year draws near, asbestos abatement and construction as part of the $10.2 million referendum for a new multi-purpose room is well under way at WCHS. The band and chorus rooms coupled with the art rooms have seen the most change with asbestos abatement and the band and chorus room receiving new windows, lights, ceilings and floors. The back parking lot will change here quickly (where the new multi-purpose room will connect every building on campus), said Superintendent Dr. Jim Dunnan. Construction will be going on throughout the school year and we expect by mid-October to see some steel coming up out of the ground.

2 3 dallas Road
According to City Engineer Ken Newman, if everything stays on track, Dallas Road should reopen by the end of the first week of September. The first binder layer of asphalt is down and most of the concrete sidewalk construction is finished. At this point we are just waiting for a little work needs to be done on the bridge deck and the final surface to be placed, he said. Then just some final grading and seeding ... and traffic pavement marking.

Washington Police chief Jim Kuchenbecker stands in front of one of the new features a car sally port on aug. 18; it is part of the $1.6 million renovation at the police department. BRANDON SCHATSIEK/
TIMESNEWSPAPERS

construction crews are already cleaning up the store fronts at Sunnyland Plaza as seen here aug. 17. developers have begun phase one of the plans to improve the plaza in hopes of attracting tenants.
JEANETTE KENDALL/TIMESNEWSPAPERS

2 Washington police station

The upper portion of the police station has been under construction for a few weeks now and operations including dispatch and administrative offices are set to move upstairs for good by midOctober when phase one of construction is finished. Two weeks later, construction on the lower level will begin. It will house everything to do with the operations of the police department: booking, detention, officers quarters, etc. The whole project is approximately scheduled for a mid-June 2012 finish date.

Sunnyland Plaza

the dallas Road project seen here looking north on aug. 20 is almost done and includes brand new sidewalks, which Mayor Gary Manier said will make an area of increasing development much safer.
BRANDON SCHATSIEK/TIMESNEWSPAPERS

A member of the Sunnyland development team, Ray Poe said the group closed on Sunnyland Plaza Aug. 3 and work is under way, which he hopes will attract new tenants. In addition to the parking lot being repaved, a new stucco exterior will be applied above the windows as well as a crown with cornice detail. Canopies will be put over the windows and phase two plans call for the largest building to be split and subdivided into smaller shops. Jeanette Kendall, managing editor

WCHS student trains with the FBI

By Holly RicHRatH

New dean of students at high school excited to get to work

By Holly RicHRatH
TimesNewspapers

chester Griffith, in front, runs during morning Pt at the FBi National academy associates youth leadership Program June 22 in Quantico, Va. SUBMITTED PHOTO

TimesNewspapers

Chester Griffiths fascination with the human mind all started with a Christmas gift. In seventh grade, my mom got me a book called Psychology for Dummies, said 16-yearold Griffith. She would always use reverse psychology on me and I didnt really know what it was, so she got me the book as a joke. But Griffith is no dummy. He started reading the book and it sparked his interest. The Washington Community High School sophomore hopes to study criminology in college and someday become a criminal profiler.
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When school begins Aug. 29 at Washington Community High School, a new face amber will grace the Heffner deans office. I am looking forward to

the upcoming school year, said Amber Heffner, the new dean of students at WCHS. The start of the school year is always exciting and this year especially with the opportunity to be a part of WCHS and the community. While Heffner is new to the District 308 team, she is no stranger to education and administration.
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