(Springfield, IL) -- If you are out of work in Rockford, you're facing the toughest job market in all of Illinois. New city-by-city unemployment numbers show Rockford is the hardest hit by Illinois' slumping economy. Statewide unemployment hit ten-point-five-percent in July. In Rockford the jobless rate hit 15-point-one percent. The Illinois Department of Employment Security says the loss of manufacturing jobs in and around Rockford have taken their toll on the city and its surrounding communities. Chrysler, John Deere, and other manufacturers have seen their troubles impact workers in cities across northern Illinois. The Chrysler plant in Belvidere has started making cars again, but its months long shutdown also idled suppliers and companies that do business with the auto plant. Manufacturing job losses are also being blamed for a jump in the jobless rate in Peoria. The river city saw its unemployment numbers double from this time last year. Caterpillar has layed off thousands of workers at its plants. Peoria saw a 12-point-three-percent unemployment rate in July, in the summer of 2008 Peoria's jobless number was five-point-nine-percent. But Peoria is not alone, state officials says every other Illinois metro-area also saw a jump in unemployment since last summer.

In addition to Rockford and Peoria; Kankakee-Bradley, Decatur, and the Chicagoland area also reporting double digit local unemployment rates for July. The lowest jobless rate in the state is in Bloomington-Normal with just seven-point-two-percent of workers on the unemployment line.

(Champaign, IL) -- It is the reality of this back to school year. The University of Illinois says more than a dozen students have been diagnosed with the swine flu. But Dr. Robert Palinkas, who's in charge of the U of I's McKinley Health Center, says none of the students are sick enough to require a hospital stay. Palinkas says most of the students likely brought the flu with them from home. The school warned students to stay home if they were sick, and wait to report to campus. Most of the sick students have been sent back home. A few others are still on campus, but have been ordered to stay out of class and away from other students until they are better. Colleges and universities across the state are making plans to deal with what they expect to be a flood of flu cases this fall and winter. State officials are also sending out specific guidelines for college campuses.

Taylorville City Leaders continue to speak out following Tuesday evening’s special city council meeting called to address the proposed annexation of Lake Bertinetti area properties into the city of Taylorville. Estimates indicate the city stands to gain about 270 thousand dollars in annual tax revenue if the annex. However Alderman Bruce Jones says he feels expenses incurred from an annexation by way of an increased need for city services to Bertinetti would wipe out most of the tax revenue. In addition, he says city residents expressed their opposition to the annexation loud and clear during Tuesday’s meeting, and feels aldermen should keep their wishes in mind when considering the issue.

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Some residents expressed a desire for the city to install sewers in exchange for annexation. Jones says that is fiscally unlikely to happen anytime soon, and says an annexation would mean further infrastructure upgrade costs as well

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Jones did he’s not opposed to the possibility of an annexation in the future, and feels it could benefit both the city and Bertinetti residents in the long run, but feels that now is not the right time to pursue the move.

As Rockies Express Pipeline workers are putting the finishing touches on the Blue Mound Compressor station to serve the local portion the recently installed 16 hundred mile pipeline that stretches from Colorado to Ohio, company officials are trying to leave a lasting impression on the community. Rockies express workers had used the South Fork Dirt Riders facility just south of Kincaid as a makeshift headquarters during the recently completely construction phase of their project, and now company officials donated a guard-shack used during construction to the dirt riders facility. SFDR Owner Leroy Harris says it was a pleasure working with Rockies Express, and is thrilled to have the guard shack.

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Rockies Express Spokesperson Allan Fore says the donation of the facility is a display of Rockies Express’ gratitude for the way they local communities embraced them.

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Earlier this year, Rockies Express donated unused pipe materials to the ‘Building Trades’ program of Taylorville High School. Rockies officials say they are planning a ribbon cutting for sometime in October at the Blue Mound Compressor Facility to celebrate the completion of the project.

A new law will help protect Illinois school districts struggling financially to late payments or a lack of payments from the state. State Representative Roger Eddy Sponsored the bill, says the State is mandated by statute to make General State Aid payments within the fiscal year. However, due to the financial outlook for the State of Illinois, Eddy says the new law is necessary to ensure that schools are not penalized due to other late payments by the state.

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Eddy say the new law provides that a school district must not be certified by the State Board of Education to be in financial difficulty solely due to the failure of the state to disburse payments relating to General State Aid and Mandated Categoricals before June 30th of each year.

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This measure is an attempt to remove the anxiety many school districts face each year about receiving all of their funds within the fiscal year and further, allows them to close their accounting books for the year without the fear of receiving a poor financial rating from the State Board of Education as a result of the late payment(s).

Governor Pat Quinn is vetoing a campaign finance reform bill, saying it needs more work.
Governor Quinn says although he supported the first cap on contribution limits to be passed in Illinois earlier this year, he knows it isn’t a finished product. He says no one seems satisfied with the legislation as it stands now.

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Senator minority leader Christine Radogno of Lemont is praising that decision of the Governor

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The plan is to keep negotiating with both parties and good government groups, and pass a new campaign finance bill when the legislature returns for the fall veto session in October.

A new state law will make it easier for kids who have gotten into trouble to get their records cleared.
The law aims to keep a mistake made as a teen, from hindering them forever into adulthood by simplifying the expungement process. Representative Dennis Reboletti of Addison says it will give kids a fresh start.

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The youth and their lawyer would have to appear before juvenile court to ask for the expungement, and it would only apply to misdemeanor crimes. Crimes involving murder, sexual assault and guns would not be eligible for expungement.

After allowing Bertinetti residents to speak their minds during a special Taylorville City Council meeting (Tuesday), Taylorville Aldermen are now expressing their opinions on the proposed annexation of the Bertinetti subdivision into the city of Taylorville. The annexation would bring an extra 270 thousand dollars in taxes for the city annually, but some residents feel they should receive some considerations from the city such as the installation of city sewers in return. Ward four alderman Sean Burtle said (Wednesday) that he is so far undecided on the issue, and feels the councilmen need to analyze more information before coming to a decision

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Ward four Alderman Earl Walters says he is ‘leaning’ toward voting for the city to annex the property, but also says he continue to study the cost effectiveness of the annexation, as well as concerns from residents. As for the sewers, Walters says he is open to the possibility of adding them to Bertinetti, but feels its too early to lay out a time table to residents for when that project could begin.

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Burtle asks residents to keep in mind they did sign agreements to allow the city to annex in exchange for city water service, and that sewers or other considerations were not part of the original agreement.

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Several hundred residents packed the Taylorville High School Tuesday Night, most expressing opposition to the prospect of the annexation and the tax increase that would go along with it. Taylorville Mayor Greg Brotherton says if the city does decide to proceed with the annexation, an additional public hearing would be scheduled to address remaining concerns from residents.

The Christian County YMCA will soon have a new Executive Director. The YMCA board of directors announced current Associate Director of the Bloomington Normal YMCA Chris Wiettenhiller will assume the post left by B.J. Wilken. YMCA Board President Dr. Gregg Fuerstenau explains how the board came to their decision.

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Wiettenhiller will take over as the new Executive Director of the Christian County YMCA on September 8th.

The C.E.F.S Economic Opportunity Corporation will begin taking applications for the 2010 Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (Liheap) this coming Tuesday September 1st, which is also the first day that appointments can be made for the program. Energy Programs Operation Manager Kathy Walk explains the program provides one time grants to income eligible homeowners and renters to help pay for winter energy bills and reconnection of energy service.

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Walk explains the income eligibility guidelines for this year’s LIHEAP program

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Walk encourages eligible residents to apply quickly, as she expects the struggling economy and high unemployment rate to result in an increased number of applicants

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Christian County LIHEAP appointments can be made in Taylorville by calling 824-4712, or 562-2311 in Pana. Walk says there is nearly 473 thousand dollars in one time grants available for Christian County residents.

Cool Temperatures and more rain than usual slowed crop progress across the State this week. As USDA Chief Crop Statistician Brad Schwab tells us in this week’s crop report, the state continues to fall further behind in both corn and bean development for this growing season.

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Brad Schwab Reporting. Tune in for weekly crop reports during Regional Radio Newscasts and on Taylorville Daily News dot com through harvest in early November.

Two recent studies show that most American children and adolescents are getting too little Vitamin D. Dr. Craig Batterman, assistant professor of pediatrics at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield, says low Vitamin D intake can cause health concerns.

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Deficiency

Dr. Batterman says in the adolescent age group, physicians are seeing more patients with low calcium levels, high blood pressure, high blood sugar and obesity associated with low Vitamin D levels. It is especially prevalent in those who do not drink milk and who are sedentary – spending more time watching TV and playing computer games. He suggests some ways to increase Vitamin D.

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Dr. Batterman also suggests getting plenty of exercise and eating foods such as milk, fish, egg yolks, fortified cereals and breads to increase Vitamin D levels in children. Regular check ups for children should include a look at possible signals of low Vitamin D such as bowing of the legs.

Taylorville Kiwanis Club members got a sneek peak at the new 42,000-square-foot facility for Springfield Clinic Taylorville, at Tuesday’s weekly club meeting.

Dawn Willison of Springfield Clinic Taylorville, along with Taylorville Memorial Hospital CEO Dan Raab, escorted Taylorville Kiwanis members through the new facility. The new facility consolidates 3 different offices at various locations in Taylorville, into one. Willison gave Kiwanis members a rundown on the new building.

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Some local physicians have already moved into the 20-million dollar facility, while others will be moving in next week.

The new Springfield Clinic Taylorville has some 18 patient rooms for practicing physicians whose offices are in Taylorville, as well as providing space for outpatient physicians that come from Springfield.

Raab said this completes phase one of the planned expansion at the hospital campus. Phase 2 is a new outpatient clinic and new main entrance for the hospital. Raab added that hospital officials go before the state asking for permission to build that facility, next week.

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The Taylorville Kiwanis Club is part of a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time. Weekly meetings are held Tuesdays at noon at Taylorville Memorial Hospital auditorium.

The Central Illinois Community Blood Center is hosting a blood drive in Edinburg this Saturday. The drive kicks off at 10 am during the ‘Music in the Park’ event at the Edinburg Community Center. Jessica Becker, of the CICBC says O negative sits atop the Center’s most wanted list, but all blood types are welcome.

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Becker says this drive is especially important because blood donors tend to be dormant around the Labor Day holiday.

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It’s important to follow a few safety tips when donating blood. Becker gives a 101 on the basic safety precautions one should take.

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Becker says she will be on hand from 10am to 2 pm to answer any questions or concerns first time donors may have. Walk-ins are always welcome, however to schedule an appointment in advance call 1-866-GIVE-BLD. All donors will receive a free t-shirt.

For the better part of a decade, a couple of local gals have traveled all over the Midwest educating different groups on various topics, each peppered with their own personal touch. Nancy Briggs, who also serves as the U of I Extension County Family Nutrition Coordinator, along with her mother-in-law Bea Briggs, presented topics ranging from decorating tips to historical anthologies. Nancy Briggs explains that she and her Mother-In-Law, whom she calls ‘Aunt Bea’ have been showing off their most recent work for groups, entitled ‘Progressing through the century with Women.’

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Briggs explains some of the other programs that she and ‘Aunt Bea’ have presented recently.

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Any groups wishing to arrange a presentation from Nancy and Bea Briggs, can call the Christian County Extension Office at 287-7246.

Governor Pat Quinn signed a series of bills Tuesday to help improve child welfare services in Illinois.

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One of the measures, sponsored by representative Mary Flowers of Chicago lets DCFS work with families that are under investigation, to keep children in their own homes if possible.

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Quinn says one of the new laws lets young adults; ages 18 to 20 still receive support from the state. He says they still need guidance after leaving the foster care system.

     (Taylorville) The Taylorville city council heard the pleas of about 10 different speakers at Tuesday night’ special city council meeting, each offering concerns over the proposed annexation of Bertinetti area properties into the city of Taylorville, but most agreed they were against the move and the property tax increase that goes along with it, if it doesn’t include the installation of city sewers for the subdivision. The meeting drew several hundred Bertinetti residents to Taylorville High School, as the city attempted to gauge the level of support for the pending annexation. City reports estimate the annexation would bring in an extra 270 thousand dollars in annual tax revenue, meaning an added 458 dollars a year in taxes for Bertinetti homeowners, and 395 dollars a year for residents over 65 years of age. The city has the right to annex per an agreement signed by Bertinetti homeowners, but Bertinetti resident Ed Salisbury told the council that at the time they were signed, residents were advised an annexation wouldn’t happen without Taylorville providing full city services in return.

Salisbury, a former Taylorville Banker and decades long resident of Bertinetti, also posed concerns to the council over increased expenditures that an annexation would pose to the city, due to the need for increased services. He added the city’s current infrastructure problems gives Bertinetti residents little hope that putting sewer and other services in the city’s hands would prove beneficial for them.

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Pictured Above: Bertinetti Resident Ed Salisbury Addresses The Taylorville City Council Tuesday Night

After the meeting, Taylorville Mayor Greg Brotherton dismissed stated claims that some members of the city council already had their minds made up on the issue, and urged them to keep in mind the city is exploring many factors when considering the annexation.

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Brotherton also stated that if and when the council does decide to take action on the annexation, the city would hold a separate ‘Public hearing,’ to address any remaining concerns of residents.

Pictured Above: The Taylorville City Council listens as Bertinnetti residents express concern over the proposed annexation

Consolidated Communications switchmen are working to restore service to residents of Blue Mound, Stonington and Mount Auburn following an equipment outage in Taylorville.

As a result of the outage, residents of Blue Mound, Stonington and Mount Auburn, and surrounding rural areas, are unable to accept or place calls outside of their exchange.

The outage occurred while switchmen were completing a routine installation in the Taylorville Central Office this afternoon. There is no estimated time of restoral, but the company said it is working to restore service by late this afternoon.

Taylorville City Officials are looking forward to a spirited discussion (Tuesday night) at Taylorville High School, when they gavel in a special meeting to address concerns over the proposed annexation of Lake Bertinetti Properties into the City of Taylorville. The annexation would bring in extra 270 thousand dollars annual taxes, meaning an added 458 dollars a year in taxes for Bertinetti homeowners, and 395 dollars a year for residents over 65 years of age. Taylorville Mayor Greg Brotherton says he and the city councilmen are looking to gauge the interest among affected residents on the proposal.

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Brotherton admits there are pros and cons for residents as it pertains to the annexation, and he says he expects a wide range of opinions during the meeting.

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Brotherton explains the city has the right to annex any land contiguous to the city that uses city services, which pertains to Bertinetti because residents use the city’s water service.

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The special city council meeting regarding the proposed annex of Bertinetti property into the city of Taylorville begins(Tuesday) at 7pm at Taylorville High School.

  Road repairs at Manner’s Park in Taylorville took a big step towards becoming a reality at last night’s monthly Taylorville Park District Board meeting. The board received only two bids for the project, and voted 5-1 to accept the bid of over 13,500 dollars from PH Broughton and Sons in Springfield. Don Bragg supplied the lone no vote. Board trustee Larry Budd told the board the bid was a lot cheaper then he thought it would be.

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Budd also made the point that waiting any longer to fix the roads would make it more expensive. The roads would only continue to get worse over time, and as a result the cost to fix them would become higher.

Construction underway at the Stonington Monsanto processing plant will yield a new treating system and dust system when it is completed. Plant Manager Joan Burns explains the facility will be used to treat soybeans after they are harvested.

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Burns says she expects the project to be completed sometime before this fall’s harvest, which is tentatively scheduled for early to mid November. In the mean time, Burns says the project has created upwards of 80 construction jobs, and will create a few full time jobs as well.

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The Monsanto plant is located on Route 48 in Stonington, and has 19 other plant locations across central Illinois.

A new report from the state Department of Transportation shows Illinois roads are deadliest at night.
The data shows it’s the overnight hours, from midnight to three am, wh en the most people are killed. IDOT spokesperson Marisa Kolias says that seems to be the time drivers are least likely to follow the law.

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The second deadliest time of day on Illinois roads is from nine pm to midnight.

Illinois' largest public employee union wants an Illinois judge to stop Governor Pat Quinn from laying off thousands of state workers. In a suit filed in Johnson County, AFSCME says Quinn did not negotiate the layoffs before sending out 26-hundred pink slips, including 500 at state prisons. Union spokesperson Anders Lindall says laying off the prison employees endangers the health of the remaining workers.

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Targeted workers have been told their last day is September 30th.

 

Christian County Sheriff’s Deputies are investigating a string of vehicle break-ins in the Hillcrest Court Subdivision near Bertinetti, just outside of Taylorville. According to reports, at least three cars were illegally entered between Thursday night and Friday Morning. The reports indicate two pickup trucks were left unlocked, and a GPS system was stolen from one. The unknown suspect reportedly tried to steal a GPS from the second pickup truck, but was unable. A third complaint indicated that the owner of a car accidently dropped her keys next to her car while getting out of it Thursday night. Friday morning she realized that cash, and I-phone and an audio book were taken from the car, and the keys were thrown into a nearby bush. The believe one person or a group of people are responsible for all thee break ins. There have been no additional reports filed since Friday Morning.

*Note: Regional Radio originally reported the break-ins occured at the Hillcrest Park Trailer Court, in Taylorville. The occured in the Hillcrest Court Subdivision- Regional Radio Regrets the error.

A 73 year old Assumption man suffered serious injuries during a one car crash in Christian County Sunday afternoon. According to reports from the Christian County Sheriff's Department, 73 year old Norman R. Clucas was headed south on Route 51 just after 5pm when he told police he bent over in his van to pick up a napkin, and lost control of the vehicle. Clucas was taken to Pana Community Hospital for treatment of his injuries. There were no passengers in the vehicle at the time of the crash.

It’s crunch time for all those parents rushing to get their children ready for school. The Taylorville school district begins classes tomorrow (Tuesday), and students must have all their registration forms and medical check-ups completed. For any students that may be missing registration papers, Superintendent Dr. Gregg Fuerstenau says those forms can be tracked down online at the district’s website.

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Fuerstenau says all staff members are on the clock today for the district wide workshop. Fuerstenau adds that students will be dismissed early throughout the week.

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For more information on the 2009-2010 Taylorville school year, go to taylorvilleschools.com.

State officials are urging schools in Illinois to prepare for further outbreaks of the H1N1 flu virus.

Local health departments are working closely with schools to monitor the virus. Christian County Health Director Gerry Grigsby says she’s been having weekly conference calls with the state health department to discuss strategy for how schools should handle a potential outbreak. Grigsby says there are preventative measures now in place.

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US officials say up to 52 million doses of the swine flu vaccine will be available soon. Grigsby says she expects the vaccine to be available in Christian County by mid-October.

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According to Grigsby, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have established priority groups. When it becomes available, Grigsby explains that the vaccine will be distributed accordingly to those groups.

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By year’s end, US officials estimate that nearly 195 million doses of the vaccine will be available. Cases of the swine flu are forecasted to climb as the regular flu season approaches.

The Loving Arms Crisis Pregnancy Center in Taylorville is partnering up with the statewide program ‘Rel8', to educate downstate teens about abstinence. Since its inception in 2006, the Rel8 program’s goal is to increase the percentage of teenagers choosing to practice abstinence. Director of Rel8, Julie Mayfield, says the partnership with Loving Arms came about when Rel8 received an education grant in October of 2007.

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Tiffany Daniel is a local abstinence educator for the program. Daniel made stops in 13 high schools across the regional radio listening area, including Taylorville and Pana High Schools. Daniel says she is looking to add more schools to her list.

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Daniel says abstinence is a topic that teens are interested in talking about. She adds that the Rel8 program has a variety of different messages that go far beyond ‘just saying no’.

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Loving Arms Executive Director Kathy Coker says having a full time abstinence educator is a wonderful thing, and allows Loving Arms to concentrate even more on other services like intervention and reconciliation.

For more information on the Rel8 program, visit the website: myrel8.com

Pictured: Top Right; Tiffany Daniel has served as the Taylorville Office Abstinence Educator since the Summer of 2008- Top Left; Loving Arms Crisis Pregnancy Center is located at 1011 N. Webster Street in Taylorville.

State Rep. Bob Flider (D-Mt. Zion) applauded Governor Pat Quinn for signing House Bill 3956, which raises the speed limit for large trucks. The bill was signed on Friday, August 14. Flider says the legislation makes Illinois safer and friendlier for commercial vehicles.

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The measure raises the speed limit on second division vehicles that are designed for carrying materials over 8,001 pounds or more. For these vehicles, the speed limit becomes 65 mph on interstate highways, compared to the 55 mph that it was. It also raises the speed limit for campers and recreational vehicles to 65 mph. However, this measure excludes the five counties around Chicago, including: Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will from the new speed limit.

The bill passed through the House with a vote of 77-35 and passed through the Senate 40-8.

For more information about this, or any of Flider’s legislation, please contact his constituent services office at (217) 428-2708 or toll free at (866)-453-2066.

The Taylorville Chamber of Commerce will hold their August ‘business after hours’ networking program this Wednesday at People’s Bank and Trust in Taylorville. Chamber President and CEO Fred Ronnow says People’s has a lot on tap for the event.

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For more information on this week’s program call the chamber at 824-4919.

Teen driving deaths are down so far this year, and traffic safety official credit a special program that gets kids to reach out to their peers.

State Safety Director Mike Stout says the operation teen safe driving program focuses on getting students involved in their own safety, by having them come up with catchy public service announcements.

So far this year, 45 teens have died in traffic crashes in Illinois. That’s down 10 percent from 2008. Schools interested in helping to bring those numbers down even further can visit the website: teensafedrivingillinois.org.

State Rep. Bob Flider (D-Mt. Zion) joined efforts with Operation Enduring Support, and the non-profit organization “Cell Phones for Soldiers,” to conduct a cell phone drive that began on Flag Day, June 14, and ran through the end of July. Businesses, churches, and libraries throughout the 101st district volunteered to be drop-off locations, where individuals could donate their old cell phone and electronic communication devices. The phones are to be recycled and used as calling cards for soldiers overseas. Flider says the drive amassed over 540 phones.

“Our service men and women dedicate their lives every day to protecting our country. As a small token of our appreciation for their dedicated service, we have the opportunity to provide them with the ability to contact their family and friends without expense to themselves,” said Flider. “Together with Operation Enduring Support, I want to sincerely thank those who volunteered to collect phones, and all the individuals who donated their phones. We have collected 543 cell phones as of today. This is the most successful cell phone drive I have had since taking office, and I believe it is a testament to how committed our community is to our servicemen and women.”
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For more information on the cell phone drive please contact Rep. Flider’s office at (217) 428-2708 or toll-free at (866) 453-2066. The 101st District includes all or portions of: Decatur, Long Creek, Mount Zion, Oreana, Allenville, Arthur, Bethany, Dalton City, Gays, Lovington, Sullivan, Findlay, Moweaqua, Westervelt, Oakley and Windsor.