Local Schools Recognized for Helping Collect Phone Books

(Effingham and Sigel students worked to gather more than 10,230 phone books for recycling. Pictured at the check presentation are: Nick Niemerg, Mick Deters and Josie Niemerg of Sigel St. Michael School, Matthew Sturgeon of St. Anthony Grade School, Laura Connerly of Consolidated Communications, Cheryl James and Carsen Funneman of Effingham Junior High School and Brian Hayes of Sanitation Service Inc.)

Effingham and Sigel area students recently gathered 10,230 phone books for recycling and were awarded $2,500 for their schools from Consolidated Communications. This year’s recycling effort brings the total to 231,800 old phone books gathered since 2006.

The books were collected by students at St. Anthony Grade School, Sacred Heart School, Sigel St. Michael School and Effingham Junior High School during the month-long program. Consolidated Communications encouraged the schools and students to gather old phone books and bring them to school following the delivery of the 2017-2018 Consolidated Communications Phone Book.

Sacred Heart School earned top honors and a check for $1,000 from Consolidated Communications by gathering an average of 17 books per student, for a total of 3,984 books. St. Anthony Grade School students earned a $750 check for the second highest average with 11 books per student, for a total of 3,770 books. Students at Sigel St. Michael School gathered approximately about 4 books per student, for a total of 801 books, and earned a check for $500. Effingham Junior High School students received a check for $250 for gathering an average of 3 books per student for a total of 1,683 books.

Consolidated Communications also thanks Brian Hayes, owner of Sanitation Service Inc. of Effingham, for donating his company’s time to distribute bins for the books, pick up the books and arranging the recycling effort.