Mercer County superintendent dies

By J.C. Taylor | Monday, December 24, 2007

A Mercer County school district is dealing with tragedy this holiday season.

Robert Haskell, the superintendent of the Westmer School District, died Friday night of an apparent heart attack. He was 58.

Haskell had been superintendent of the Westmer School District for two-and-a-half years, after being hired in the summer of 2005.

The Westmer School Board will now consult with the Henderson-Mercer-Warren Regional Office of Education to see what steps are necessary to find an interim superintendent to finish the school year.

The Westmer School District is involved in consolidation discussions with Aledo as a committee of 10 has just been formed. The merger is expected to be on the ballot in November 2008.

The Westmer School District encompasses western Mercer County and includes Keithsburg, Eliza, New Boston and Joy.