Jasper County Board Hears About Ives Memorial

Jasper County's native son may be honored with a statue in downtown Newton.

The Jasper County Board Thursday heard from Jasper County Tourism Council Director Larry Casey about plans for a Burl Ives Memorial on the Courthouse square.  Board members saw a copy of the design for the memorial, which will include a bench with a life-sized statue of Ives, a native of Hunt City, holding his guitar.  The granite memorial would be placed on the lot south of St. Pierre Oil Company on the northeast corner of the square.

There would still be some parking spaces on the lot.  The approximate cost of the memorial is $35,000.  Details are being worked out with the City of Newton.  Fundraising ideas for the project have been discussed.

The monument would include a locked, weatherproof cabinet in which to display posters of upcoming events both in Jasper County and in the surrounding area.

Jasper board members approved work on a five-mile stretch of the Appleshed Road north road.  The stabilization project is to cost $605,000.  The Board also heard from County Clerk Linda Huth on the proposed CEO Program that Economic Development Director Ken Larimore sent the Board, and also were updated on Enterprise Zones used as an economic development tool in Illinois.