Law Day an Educational Experience

Students from several county high schools had the opportunity to see up close how city and county government works Thursday during the annual Law Day observance.

Law Day is sponsored nationally by the Benevolent and Protection Order of Elks, and the Effingham Elks lodge sponsors the local observance. 

(MAYOR JEFF BLOEMKER WITH MAYOR-FOR-A-DAY JACKSON WILLENBORG PRESIDE OVER THE MOCK CITY COUNCIL MEETING)

Students from St. Anthony and Effingham high schools worked with Effingham city officials, while students from Beecher City, Dieterich and Teutopolis high schools were overseeing county offices.

City students participated in a mock City Council meeting where students assigned to particular City offices argued for or against proposals and hoped the Commissioners-for-a-day would support their initiatives.

As an example, the Council shot down a proposal from Student Economic Development Director Alex Jeffries to provide funding for a flying car factory, but agreed to purchase 40 new helmets for the fire department. On a split vote, the Council agreed to close downtown streets for an Effingham Music Fest.

(POLICE CHIEF FOR A DAY MITCHELL SAGER GETS INPUT FROM POLICE CHIEF MIKE SCHUTZBACH IN HOPES OF GETTING THE CITY COUNCIL TO PURCHASE TWO NEW SQUAD CARS)

At the Effingham County Government Center, Resident Circuit Judge Kimberly Koester spoke to the county students about how the court system works before the students went on a tour of the county jail.

Both groups of students got to go the firing range for a little target practice. All of the students and their parents were guests of the Elks at a midday luncheon.

(A GROUP OF COUNTY STUDENTS READY TO TOUR THE COUNTY JAIL AS PART OF THEIR LAW DAY ACTIVITIES)

A recurring theme, particularly at the County gathering, was the number of current County officials who were participants in Law Day as a high school student. County Sheriff Dave Mahon mentioned that he participated when he was a student at St. Anthony, and ironically, was sheriff-for-a-day under the late Kenneth Moore. County Board Chairman Jim Niemann was circuit clerk-for-a-day during his Law Day experience.

City office holders for a day include Mayor Jackson Willenborg of St. Anthony, Accounts and Finances Commissioner Garrett Stanfield of EHS, Commissioner of Public Health and Safety Bradley McHarry of EHS, Commissioner of Streets and Public Improvements Ryan Barnes of EHS, Commissioner of Public Property Morgan Kinkelaar of EHS, City Administrator Eli Buhrmann of EHS, Public Works Director Blake Walker of EHS, Jeffries, Building Official Katie Simmons of EHS, Public Works Operations Manager Byron Miller of EHS, EMA Coordinator Sarah Grove of EHS, City Clerk Megan Meyers of EHS, Police Chief Mitchell Sager of St. Anthony, Police Department Communications Manager Nate Gengler of EHS, Fire Chief Cole Bingman of EHS, Director of Tourism Jenna Workman of EHS, and City Attorney Tasha Sharp of EHS.

County students taking part include Mikayla Winters, Kallee Heuerman, Brandon Kuhl and Troy Niemerg of Dieterich; Rachel Mette, William West, Colin Beckman, Rachel Niemerg, John Tomlinson, Gina Westendorf, Shawn Zerrusen and Lane Koester of Teutopolis; and Clay Weber, Preston Ward, Sierra Kline, Kayla Krueger and Destiny Hans of Beecher City.