Rich Honored on Retirement from Sheriff's Office

Members of the Effingham County Board Monday took time to honor Sergeant Rob Rich on his retirement after 31 years of service with the Effingham County Sheriff's Office.

Those doing the math were surprised about the number of years the youthful Rich had completed with the department. He reminded that he was 18 when he began work at the jail before becoming a deputy. 

(RETIRED SERGEANT ROB RICH AND EFFINGHAM COUNTY BOARD CHAIRMAN JIM NIEMANN)

County Board Chairman Jim Niemann, a retired city police officer, made note of working with Rich's father, Bob, on the city police force.

The Board Monday also added the $9,200 cost of insulation to replacing the air handler valves for the HVAC system in the County Office Building, bringing the total cost of the work to $24,200. The Board also named Dr. Robert Einhorn to fill a vacancy on the County Board of Health, and formally appointed Michelle Shoot as Chief Animal Control Warden after serving as the interim warden the past year.

It was also agreed to set the public defender's salary to conform with State law, which requires the salary to be 90% of the State's Attorney's salary. The State reimburses 90% of that amount. 

The Board approved a bridge aid petition for a structure on 900th Street, two miles south of Dieterich, in Bishop Township with the County going halves on the project cost. 

County Chief Election Authority Kerry Hirtzel reminded that anyone who has voted in any of the past three elections will be receiving a vote-by-mail application for the November election. It's a state law. You can still vote at a polling place as in the past, but due to COVID-19, the vote-by-mail application is being provided.

Niemann reported on the storm damage done Sunday night in Beecher City, including a tree falling on a mobile home. He said one person inside the mobile home at the time had to be taken to Carle Hospital in Urbana for treatment, and said that Effingham County EMA were still there as of Monday afternoon providing assistance.

(THE SCENE FROM BEECHER CITY MONDAY IN THE AFTERMATH OF SUNDAY NIGHT'S STORMS INCLUDING A TREE ON A MOBILE HOME)

County Board member Heather Mumma was not present for Monday's meeting.