Wheeling honors Hein for years of service

Bill Hein says serving the village of Wheeling is in his blood, and as he was honored Monday night at his last village board meeting as trustee, he promised he would continue working with the community.

Hein announced his resignation from the village board at the Jan. 18 meeting due to medical issues in his family.

"Mr. Hein's the historian of this community. Drive through a neighborhood, and he can tell you who lived in what house, what business was on this corner," Village President Dean Argiris said. "The history is what I appreciate and I've learned a lot through the years."

Hein has lived in Wheeling since 1955 and started with the Wheeling volunteer fire department in 1964. He served as member and the chairman of the Wheeling Board of Fire and Police Commissioners.

The Hein family has owned Hein's Pub and several other Wheeling businesses through the years.

"As long as I've known him he's been trying to sell me something," Trustee Ken Brady said. "You're good to this community, and everything you've done you've worked for. I've got nothing bad to say about you."

Hein served one term as village president from 1977-1981. He's also held leadership positions in the Wheeling Historical Society.

Hein founded the village farmers market and served as the "Market Master."

He said he will miss working with Wheeling residents as a trustee but still has a few projects up his sleeve.

"I've still got some things I want to do," Hein said. "I want to do work with getting schools up to par."

He said he plans to work with the Wheeling schools with higher poverty and lower achievement levels.

"I've got a few ideas of how to sort out all of that," he said.

Mary Papantos will be sworn in as the village's newest trustee on Feb. 1.