STANFORD - Olympia High sophomores, juniors and seniors talked with local business people during a career day.

Olympia's Tech Prep team and the economic development group Triangle of Opportunity provided four career presentations.

"It's a great idea," said speaker Bruce Otto of Genworth Financial Services. His three children graduated from Olympia.

"The students see real people sharing their life and experience," he said. "They realize there is a real person with that real career."

The event, held Oct. 16, focused on the business and computer field. Along with Otto, there was an accountant, loan officer, software developer from State Farm Insurance Cos., and a small business owner who provides software and Internet support. The presenters discussed their job responsibilities, career path, average salary, and a typical day. Some gave general career advice as well.

"Success will follow you if you're happy with what you're doing," emphasized accountant Dorsey Packard.

Business teacher Connie Schroeder, who was involved in the start of the program last year, feels there is a tremendous benefit to students.

"When I was in high school, we never had anything like this. We graduated and had no clue about any career out there," she explained.

Students previously learned about medical professions from the Hopedale Medical Complex. Upcoming days will feature the fields of science/engineering, labor, and design/fine arts.

Winning Community - Tremont has become the first certified Winning Community in Illinois. The community planning and consulting partner helps communities and organizations envision the future and develop action plans.

Tremont's plan focuses on arts, recreation and leisure, community development, economic development, image and appearance, infrastructure, and technology and contains 36 projects.

"In our minds, the biggest achievement of this entire process was being able to facilitate a true inter-governmental effort among our village, the school, library district, fire department and other groups," explained Tremont bankers Jim Shafer and Rick Jameson in a letter encouraging other banks in their association to become "Winning Communities" as well.

Olympia audit - The recently completed audit of the Olympia School District resulted in a 3.9 score on a 4.0 scale for its financial profile. In 2007, district revenue was $16,742,724 and expenses were $16,323,355.

"That's commendable - you're living within your means," said auditor Tom Peffer of Gorenz and Associates. "This whole page [of totals] shows fiscal responsibility."

Sewer fix - The sanitary sewer line on Monroe Street between Lincoln and Wood in Washington will be replaced. The 200-foot line is crushed in several locations and has at least one section where the side of the pipe is missing. Feazel Excavating of Washburn will do the work for $48,520.00.

The council also approved buying two in-car laptops for the Police Department's patrol fleet. All seven cars have computers, thanks almost entirely to state grants.