BURNING OF THE PRAIRIE, 2006
Wednesday morning, March 1, 2006, SIUE groundsworkers started a fire in the fields located on the northeast corner of Whiteside and Stadium Drives, the annual burning of the prairie areas on campus.  Weather conditions were ideal and all went well.  The burning takes place under very controlled conditions and the fire department is always aware of the plan.

Long misunderstood or opposed by the public, prairie fire is now recognized as an important, natural management tool for maintaining the prairie environment.  Many plants have evolved to adapt to the presence of fire and thrive in it.  Though fires have been all but removed from it, in perpetuating the ecosystem, fire is a necessary management tool.  SIUE Grounds personnel understand the relationship of fires and the ecosystem, and how to safely and properly apply those principles.

GOOD-BYE, JAY
Many folks on campus have worked with Jay Riley, Project Coordinator for Facilities Management, over the last 3+ years and found him to be extremely competent and congenial.  Recently, an opportunity presented itself, Jay felt it was the right time to move on, and he has left Facilities Management, effective March 3, 2006.  FM has been grateful for his design abilities and many customers have expressed their appreciation of his solutions to their needs.  Jay is wished much success with his job change and his new wife and baby daughter.

KEY REMINDER
Key inventories should have been returned to Campus Box 1039. Questions should be directed to extension 3200 or 3201, or e-mailed to kmurphy@siue.edu.

IN THE WORKS

EAST ST. LOUIS HIGHER EDUCATION CAMPUS (ESLHEC)
Update March 5, 2006:  The Small Projects Contractor has completed the punch list work for the electrical project.  The major exterior renovation project will start the programming and design development now that CDB and the A/E firm have agreed to a contract.
 
ADA PROJECT
Update March 5, 2006:  The architects have promised to deliver revised drawings during early March.  FM is checking to see if they are on schedule.
   
SIUE SDM ALTON CAMPUS/DENTAL CLINIC FACILITY EXPANSION
Update March 5, 2006:  A single side casework was delivered and partially installed in time for the bi-weekly construction meeting.  The unit is nicely constructed and conforms to the design.  The casework supplier has promised delivery of eight double-sided units next week during Spring Break.  The timing is great as the contractor has to remove portions of the temporary wall in order to transfer the units into the new clinic area, and the break allows for moving the wall during normal hours.  The construction schedule has been revised and calls for completion by the end of April; hopefully, that schedule can be met.  Meanwhile, the School of Dental Medicine has postponed their planned celebration from the first of May to a date near the end of September.
 
MASONRY RENOVATION
Update March 5, 2006:  Though the nice weather is most enjoyable, the contractor needs a few more weeks before he can resume work.  Another spell of cold weather is to be expected, though they are shorter in early March; hopefully, by the end of March, masonry repairs will resume.
 

So THAT’S What It Takes…

A Sunday School teacher was testing the children in her class to see if they understood the concept of getting to heaven.  She asked them, “If I sold my house and my car, and had a big garage sale and gave all my money to the church, would that get me into heaven?”  “NO!” the children answered.

“If I cleaned the church every day, mowed the yard, and kept everything neat and tidy, would that get me into Heaven?”  Again, the answer was, “NO!”  Hey, she thought, this was fun!  “Well, then, if I was kind to animals and gave candy to all the children, and loved my husband, would that get me into Heaven?” she asked them again.  Again, they all answered, “NO!”  She was just bursting with pride for them.  “Well,” she continued, “then how can I get into Heaven?” 

A five-year-old boy shouted out, “YOU GOTTA BE DEAD!”