Days Gone By In Staunton

Thursday, December 1, 1966 -- REORGANIZATION OF S & L MOTOR PARTS -- At a recent reorganization of the S & L Motor Parts, Inc., whose principal office is in Staunton, some changes were made in the supervisory designations, Vincent J. McKay, who has been president and general manager of the firm, announces the following changes: Vincent J. McKay, president; Robert L. McKay, vice president; Reynold Voyles, secretary; Rudy Preloger, treasurer; Otto E. Fey, general manager; Robert L. McKay, stock control manager; Walter Belcher, sales manager, and Vernon Koepp, credit manager.

The changes were made because of the growth of the company, and the expressed desire of the president, Vincent McKay, to step down in the future to enable him to devote his time to other interests.

The store managers and other personnel will remain as heretofore.

S & L Motor Parts, Inc., has shown remarkable growth. Started in 1937 by Vincent J. McKay with a small store on East Main street in Staunton, the business has expanded year by year until now the corporation includes eight stores, the original one in Staunton, and others in Litchfieild, Hillsboro, Edwardsville, Bethlato, Nokomis, Gillespie and Carlinville, also a large warehouse in Litchfield. With the change in official personnel it is anticipated that the growth will continue as the younger men take charge.

The senior Mr. McKay states he is mindful of the help and loyalty of all the employes in having made possible the growth of S & L motor Parts and affiliated companies from its small beginning nearly 30 years ago.

Thursday, December 8, 1966 -- SUPERINTENDENT TALKS ABOUT PROPOSED SCHOOL DISTRICT -- Quite a bit of publicity has been given recently on a study which includes a proposal to create a new unit school district in the northeastern corner of Madison county. Inasmuch as this proposed district would take away portions of the Staunton, Edwardsville and Highland unit districts, the administrators of these districts are very much concerned about the study, and the effects of such a proposed new district, if finally organized, on the taxpayers who would be removed from the existing district into the proposed district. The Star-Times, in an attempt to ascertain the full extent of the proposed study, asked J. Harold Diel, superintendent of Staunton Unit School District No. 6, to give a version of the matter and how it would affect the Staunton district. Mr. Diel gave us the following article for publication:

Dr. Robert G. Andree and others of Southern Illinois University conducted a Feasibility Study of the possibility of forming a school district in the northeast corner of Madison County.

The "Study" states, "The final purpose of this report is one to provide support for the desires of parents who are now distressed by some problems they and their children face in attendance at other centers."

A. "The first step of the proposal to include only a strip of land on either side of Route 4 extending from the southerly township line North to Route 3-A. This action will make the petitioning districts contiguous and will involve not more than fifty families.

B. The second step will include an East-West expansion to include all of New Douglas and Omphgent Townships.

C. The third step will include a North-South expansion to include Hamel and Alhambra Townships,, or at least 60 percent of them."

It seems that the joining of Worden and Livingston would necessarily be step two with (b) and (c) as steps 3 & 4.

The study reports, "A preliminary inspection of the proximity of the Livingston and Worden School Districts revealed that in order to make them contiguous for purposes of reorganization some or all of the Staunton School District lying within Madison County would have to be annexed to or incorporated with one or the other of the school districts in the study. An arbitrary revised boundary line was proposed to remedy this."

The map included represents all territory presently in the Staunton Unit School District which lies south of Route 3A which runs west from the Livingston High School.

The report continues, "Within the approximate area of ten square miles were an additional fifty families. These families would impose an additional burden upon the educational facilities of the Livingston and/or Worden School Districts not necessarily proportionate to the increased valuation. The proposed reorganized school district would still have less than one-half the ability to support an educational program of its neighboring district, Staunton.

It is clear from the above that the key to the reorganization is whether or not the 10 square miles in Staunton Unit School District wishes to join with either the Livingston or Worden District. (This must be the first step.)

An I.E.A. Research Bulletin dated February 1966, gives the following school district valuation per pupil. Livingston $7,483.00; Worden $7,699.00; Staunton $13,773.00; Edwardsville $15,769.00; and Highland $20,613.00.

It seems evident that about 50 families in the Staunton Unit School District must answer the following and other questions for themselves.

• Do I wish to petition out of the Staunton district into one with little more than half as much taxes per student? (Can we be sure the two districts will combine after we join one of them?)

• If the two districts do join, where would our high school students attend school until a new building is completed? (The "Study" recommends a new building be built at the intersection of routes 66 & 4.

• If we decide to leave the Staunton district, what guarantee do we have that the planned new larger district will proceed beyond any of the planned steps suggested?

STORES WILL OPEN NIGHTS UNTIL CHRISTMAS -- We have been informed that many Staunton stores will remain open evenings until Christmas.

This will become effective tomorrow (Friday) evening (excluding Sundays) to enable shoppers to complete their Christmas shopping more conveniently.

HOLIDAY DECORATIONS UP -- The holiday decorations in the Staunton business district are now in place, and the lighted displays make a pleasing appearance, and add much to the Christmas spirit in the community.

The members of the Staunton Jaycee Chapter took charge of the work of installing the decorations with the assistance of some other interested persons. All those who helped should have the sincere commendation of every resident of Staunton. The tall artificial Christmas tree at the intersection of Main and Elm streets together with the lighted evergreens and other appropriate embellishments make our business district one of the more outstanding ones in this area.