Old state phones to be used by Cairo schools, senior citizens and
domestic violence victims
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[DEC. 23, 2005]
CAIRO -- Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich's office and Team
Illinois are donating more than 60 used cell phones to Alexander
County for use by the Cairo School District 1, the Cairo women's
shelter and for Alexander County senior citizens. Rather than
discarding the outdated state phones, the administration is donating
them to Cairo-area service organizations for use in emergency
situations.
"In times of crisis, a cell phone can sometimes mean the
difference between life and death," Blagojevich said. "These phones
are just part of our commitment to assisting the people of Alexander
County, and we will continue to work until their needs are met."
Frederick D. Nettles Jr. of the Illinois Department of Human
Services delivered the phones, chargers and batteries to members of
the Alexander County steering committee on Monday.
Some of the phones are to be used by service workers for the
Cairo School District 1. The Cairo women's shelter will receive
phones that will be programmed to dial 911 in case of an emergency.
Senior citizens in the county will also receive phones to be used to
dial 911 for emergencies.
"Communication is critical in times of an emergency," said Carol
L. Adams, Ph.D., secretary of the Illinois Department of Human
Services, Team Illinois' lead agency. "We are pleased that these
surplus phones could be put to good use in Alexander County, where
many people are without immediate access to a telephone."
Team Illinois -- a partnership among state agencies, the private
sector and community stakeholders -- is bringing infrastructure and
opportunity to Pembroke Township, Savanna, Alexander County and
Aurora's east side.
"We are very grateful to Team Illinois and the Department of
Human Services for providing this mode of communications to
Alexander County," said Vernon Stubblefield, secretary of the Team
Illinois steering committee. "With much of the county being rural,
we have seniors and others living in areas without access to
individual telephone service. We believe that these phones will
greatly enhance access to emergency services for elderly and
victimized populations.
"We would like to thank the Team Illinois agencies for the
development they have initiated in this county -- most recently the
demolition and removal of the abandoned school building in the
Thebes community," Stubblefield added.
Since its inception two years ago, Team Illinois has invested
almost $4 million in four impoverished communities. The results are
tangible -- the first county health department in 35 years,
infrastructure repairs, employment opportunities and other
capacity-building mechanisms.
In all four communities, Team Illinois works closely with
steering committees and has assisted local stakeholders to secure
numerous grants, develop youth apprentice initiatives, as well as
partner with KaBoom to design and construct new playgrounds.
Team Illinois accomplishments in Alexander County include:
A new steering committee is modifying bylaws to update the
steering committee's 501C-3 status and prioritize Team Illinois
goals in Alexander County.
Team Illinois donated 34 computers to various community
service agencies in Alexander County.
Alexander County's SMART Transportation system received a
Federal Reverse Commute Job Access Grant of $125,000.
The University of Illinois-Springfield and a local sporting
goods store assisted the Cairo girls' basketball team with the
purchase of 30 equipment bags.
Team Illinois is playing an active role in assisting the
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Fort Defiance
Initiative. Plans include the establishment of a Civil War
museum, statue of Gen. U.S. Grant and a proposed replica of the
USS Cairo ironclad vessel. The project received a Tourist
Attraction Development Program Grant for $60,873 from the
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and is expecting
to receive an additional $119,127. There is also a pending grant
application to the Illinois Department of Transportation for
$673,174.
Team Illinois Alexander County was instrumental in the
razing of the Thebes High School and the removal of asbestos
material. The cost of the project was $650,000. Timeline: 1.
Removed source of airborne asbestos, October 2005. 2. IEPA seal
order, October 2005. 3. Razed the high school building, November
2005.
