PAVE Community Breakfast Shines Spotlight on Dieterich

(CHANNEL 3 METEOROLOGIST AND DIETERICH NATIVE SETH BOHNHOFF)

The PAVE Community Breakfast Thursday shined the light on Dieterich.

PAVE is the acronym for Promoting a Vision for Effingham County. Dieterich had plenty to promote.

Village Clerk and Economic Director Brittny Gipson spoke about the efforts that have resulted in two residential subdivisions as well as Industrial Parks on the east and west sides of the village.

That has occurred in conjunction with a growth in enrollment in the Dieterich Unit #30 School District. Superintendent Cary Jackson said enrollment has increased from 410 students in about 2010 to 631 this year. Jackson also talked about the recently-completed six-classroom addition, improvements to the gym lobby, new and renovated restrooms and a renovated Science lab. He shared the results of a district survey that indicated residents wanted a return of Family and Consumer Science classes, so that is happening this school year.

Jackson also spoke to the County School Facility Sales Tax to be on the November ballot. He reminded that the Dieterich Board has committed to lowering the school district's property tax rate by 14% if the sales tax question passes, from $3.91 to $3.36. 

Cory Niebrugge, who serves as Dieterich Business Association President as well as president of the Dieterich School Board, shared about upcoming events in Dieterich, the sales tools available in Dieterich busineses, new and expanding businesses in the village, adding that "Dieterich has immense potential for growth."

PAVE President Courtney Yockey shared about the activities of the five spokes of the group...Workforce and Education, Festivals and Events, Parks and Rec, Childcare, and Housing. Yockey also reviewed the Summer Build-It Camps that were offered through the Teutopolis and Effingham park districts, as well as their partnership with Bench Worx. 

The breakfast guest speaker was Seth Bohnhoff, a meteorologist for WCIA Channel 3 in Champaign. Bohnhoff is a Dieterich High School graduate and was Valedictorian of his class. He said after his presentation that there are pressures doing the weather knowing that his hometown is watching, but said that same knowledge helps him to want to do his best.