Christian County Interagency Council Holding Meeting December 2nd

11/14/2009

The Christian County Interagency Council will meet on Wednesday,
December 2, 2009 beginning at 11:45 a.m. in the
University of Illinois Extension Christian County office, located at 1120 N.
Webster St., in Taylorville.

Individuals representing agencies serving Christian County will be
able to share upcoming programs, discuss issues critical to their needs and
network with other agency representatives. The meeting is open to the
public and will adjourn by 1:00 p.m.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in the
program, contact the U of I Extension Christian County office at
287-7246.

Blagojevich Requests Trial Delay

11/14/2009

(Chicago, IL) -- Impeached Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has asked a federal judge to delay the start of his trial next summer. Attorneys for Blagojevich asked the judge to move the trial from June to September so they can review an expected U.S. Supreme Court ruling next spring on the "honest services" provision in the federal mail fraud statute. Lawyers say the Supreme Court decision could have an impact on Blagojevich's case because it could make the "foundational underpinnings" for the majority of his charges invalid. A status hearing in the case is scheduled for Monday.

Winter Weather Preparedness Week Begins Sunday

11/14/2009

You may not be thinking about hunkering down just yet, but state emergency management officials says now is the time to get ready for winter storms.

Illinois averages about five severe winter storms each year. Whether that comes in the form of high winds, ice, or piles of snow, IEMA spokesperson Patti Thompson says you need to be prepared.

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According to the National Weather Service, there were 16 severe storms, tripling the yearly average, during the 2007-2008 winter season.

Multiple Pana Residents Hurt During Leaf Burning Accident

11/13/2009

(Pana) Multiple people were injured, and numerous properties were damaged during a leaf burning accident at Lake Pana Wednesday morning. Pana Fire Chief Rod Bland says a woman named Sherry Dell was responsible for the fire.

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Bland says Pana has a leaf-burning ordinance, and its possible Dell could receive a citation as a result of the fire.

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Bland says there are three basic safety tips everyone should keep in mind when burning leaves.

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Dell suffered minor burns. The fire also resulted in structural damage to Dell’s property, and neighboring properties.

United Way of Christian County Fund Drive Comes To an End

11/13/2009

Hard to believe, but the United Way of Christian County wrapped up its 2009 Fundraising Drive (Thursday.) The theme for this year’s campaign is ‘Live United,’ and the fundraising goal was 128 thousand dollars. UWCC Executive Director Joanie Byers says even though the drive is over, money will continue to trickle in for the next few weeks.

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Byers explains some of the services that the 22 agencies that the United Way partners with provide to the community.

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Even though the drive is over, donations are still being accepted, as they are year round. For more information or to donate, contact the United Way of Christian County at 824-8404.

Annual YMCA Auction Set For Tonight

11/13/2009

For procrastinators who waited to finalize their Friday Night plans, there are still a ‘few’ tickets available for tonight's Christian County YMCA Auction. The annual event begins at 5:30, and will be held at the Stonington American Legion. YMCA Executive Director Chris Wiettenhiller explaisn the event will feature a social hour, dinner, as well as silent and live auctions.

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Wiettenhiller highlights some of the featured items that will be up for bid tonight.

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The annual auction is considered to be the chief fundraising event for the Christian County YMCA. Wiettenhiller says the proceeds help offset costs for the ‘Y’s’ programs.

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Tickets are $65 dollars a piece for the event. Again, there are still some tickets available, for more information, visit the Y or call 287-7271.

Shrine Circus Returns To Springfield

11/13/2009

A tradition more than six decades in the making returns to Central Illinois this weekend, as Royal Hanneford presents the Ansar Shrine Circus to Benefit Ansar Temple Operations. The circus will feature six shows, and take place Friday thru Sunday at the Prairie Capital Convention Center in Springfield. Ansar’s Carol Sutton explains there are still plenty of good seats available.

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Sutton explains Shriners is an organization that helps folks throughout Central Illinois and the region through the network of the Shriner’s Hospitals.

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Again Showtimes are tonight at 7 o’clock, Saturday at 11am 3pm and 7:30, and Sunday at 11:30 and 3:30.

Attorney General Warns Of Internet Flu Scams

11/13/2009

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan warns there’s been an increase in online flu scams.
Only two medications, Tamiflu and Relenza have been approved by the FDA to treat the H1N1 virus. But Attorney General Spokesperson Natalie Bauer says there are a number of other products being pitched online that most likely don’t work.

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Bauer says your best bet is still talking to your doctor. The FDA says even products marketed as Tamiflu on the Internet might not be the real deal.

Operation 'Save 100' Aims To Keep Illinois Roads Safe

11/13/2009

State transportation and police officials are setting a goal for 2009, which may end up being one of the safest years ever on Illinois roads.
IDOT Traffic Safety Director Mike Stout says in hopes of reaching a new benchmark in safety, they are launching operation save 100.

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Stout says operation save 100 will include public awareness campaigns about driving safety, more police on the roads, and teen safe driving programs. He attributes the decline in fatalities to tough driving laws and more people buckling up.

Petition Objection Alleges Fraud Against State's Attorney Tom Finks

11/13/2009

Just hours after Christian County State’s Attorney Tom Finks withdrew his candidacy to run for Circuit Judge in the 4th Judicial circuit Monday, an objection signed by nine people alleging fraud and deception on Finks’ part was filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections.

Page ten of the 12-page document reads “Your objectors state that there will be presented substantial, clear, unmistakable and compelling evidence that established a “pattern of fraud and false swearing” with an “utter and contemptuous disregard for the mandatory provisions of the Election Code.”

The objection alleges that on several signature sheets, the signature of the petition circulator was forged, and other signature sheets were not properly notarized. Other allegations say Finks’ petitions were changed after signatures were gained, a violation of the circulatory rules.

Finks originally indicated he would run for the seat left vacant by the retired Judge John Coady, but later filed to run for a similar seat left vacant by retired Judge Kathleen Moran. The objection says some signatures were obtained under the pretense that Finks would run for Coady’s seat, with that information later “whited out” and changed.

The state election board will not investigate the objection since Finks has withdrawn his candidacy, but sources say he may be subject to sanctions from the Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission of the Illinois State Supreme Court. In similar past cases in which the accused was found to have fraudulently obtained signatures, a two-year suspension was imposed by the Commission, barring the person from practicing law for that period of time.

In a statement issued this week, Finks cited concerns of his family’s peace as the reason for his decision to withdraw from the race, making no mention of the objections. Multiple messages left for Finks seeking further comment have not been returned.

Signers of the Petition include Stephen Friedel of Vandalia who is running for 4th Judicial Circuit Judge; Zachary Roeckeman of Centralia; Amanda Ade-Harlow of Taylorville; David Fines of Taylorville; Edward C. Eberspacher of Shelbyville; Randall Becker of Watson; Louis A. DePaepe of Taylorville; John R. Warner of Shelbyville and Charles R. Rose of Kinmundy.

Taylorville School Officials Hope Stimulus Funds May Offset State's Financial Woes

11/12/2009

As Taylorville School’s Superintend Dr. Gregg Fuerstenau indicated during Monday Night’s Board of Education meeting, the State of Illinois’ budget woes continue to hamstring school districts across the state when it comes to planning for the upcoming fiscal year, and Taylorville is no exception. During an appearance on WTIM’s Inside Central Illinois this week, Fuerstenau went into detail just how dire that state’s financial situation has become, as it is 70 days behind paying its bills, including more than 600 million owed to school districts statewide.

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Fuerstenua says experts predict the state could fall into a nearly 3 billion-dollar hole before the next fiscal year begins. Furstenau says that translate into a need for careful planning from school boards to work around what is expected to be a shortage of funds for education.

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Fuestenau says he believes one option for helping the Taylorville School District stay afloat is to apply for Federal Stimulus funds, when are continually being made available by national lawmakers.

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Fuerstenau says the State’s School Superintedent has indicated an application is being made available for school districts to apply for funds. So far, the School district has received about 2.4 million dollars in stimulus money over the past two year.

Sen. McCarter's Presentation To Focus On Human Resources

11/12/2009

Investing in People. That will be the focus of a presentation tonight from 51st District State Senator Kyle McCarter in Shelbyville. The Lebanon Republican took over the seat from retired longtime State Senator Frank Watson earlier this year. McCarter says the best way to rebound from a struggling economy is working together to produce jobs.

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The presentation is free an open to the public. It starts at 5pm at Shelbyville’s City Hall

Crop Report: Warm, Dry Weather Gives Farmers A Much Needed Window of Opportunity

11/12/2009

Finally. A week of dry weather in Illinois to start the week of November has allowed farmers across the state to catch up on harvests, delayed by rain and a late planting season. In fact, lighted combines were not an uncommon sight, as farmers worked well into the night to bring crops in. As USDA Chief Crop Statistician Brad Schwab tells us in this week’s crop report, soybeans were the biggest beneficiaries of the dry week.

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Brad Schwab Reporting. Tune in for weekly crop reports from the Illinois Field Office during Regional Radio News Reports through the end of harvest.

Train Vs. Semi Wreck Spills 40 Tons Of Corn

11/11/2009

No one was injured, but there sure is a mess of corn to clean up after a train versus semi truck accident just outside Morrisonville (Wednesday Afternoon). Veteran truck driver Raymond Sherren of Havana Illinois was hauling about 950 bushels of corn from a Christian County farm to East St. Louis. He says he did not see a train coming as he sat with his trailer the tracks waiting for traffic to clear so he could pull onto Route 48 from Township Road 300 North. Before he knew it, he says it was too late to get off the tracks to avoid the 50 plus car Norfolk Southern Freight Train.

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The southbound train actually drove through the trailer, sending debris and the 80 thousand poun load flying. There are no arms or lights on the tracks indicating a train was coming. Luckily, Sherren says he was not hurt at all in the crash.

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There were no injuries to anyone aboard the train. Sherren says the conductor told him there was only minor damage caused to the train’s engine.

Taylorville Veterans Day Services Held At American Legion

11/11/2009

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The Taylorville Municipal Band under the direction of conductor Jim Smith kicked off Veteran’s Day Services (Wednesday) at the Taylorville American Legion, with a series of patriotic marching numbers, concluding with a sterling rendition of ‘America the Beautiful. A crowd of hundreds then watched as past and present members of the American armed forces were recognized and honored. The keynote speaker for the service was Morrisonville American Legion member and past commander Bruce Hallam, who reminded attendees the meaning of patriotism, and the value of veteran’s to America.

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Hallam went on to remind the crowd that it is in times of crisis and greatest need that Americans seem to rally together most to defend their country.

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The Veteran’s Day ceremony also included an invocation by Reverend Tiny Walker, and a 21 gun salute from the VFW Honor Guard. Following (Wednesday’s) ceremony, attendees were treated to a free lunch at the American Legion.

Pictured: Top Left: The Taylorville Municipal Band Plays Under the Direction of Jim Smith
Middle Right: Bruce Hallam (Retired Navy, Morrisonville American Legion) Delivers the Keynote Address
Bottom Left: The Taylorville VFW Honor Guard Pays Tribute to Veterans with a 21 Gun Salute

4-H Christmas Workshops Return To Christian County

11/11/2009

After a one-year hiatus, the 4-H Christmas Workshop is coming back to Taylorville. The shop is scheduled to take place on Saturday December 5th, on the same day as the citywide Christmas Home Tour. 4-H Community Worker Jodi Heberling says the workshop gives its participants an opportunity to get those creative juices flowing for a fee of just 10 bucks.

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Despite the one-year hiatus, Heberling says the Christmas Workshop is a tradition like none other.

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The workshop will take place at the University of Illinois Extension Christian County, located at 1120 N. Webster Street in Taylorville.

Ameren Unveils Energy Saving Kroger Initiative

11/11/2009

The Ameren Illinois Utilities announced the successful completion on Tuesday of a high-efficiency lighting project that is sharply reducing energy consumption in the frozen and refrigerated food cases at the Kroger store in Taylorville. The Kroger initiative involved replacing fluorescent lighting with high-efficiency LED lighting. Ameren Spokesperson Leigh Morris says it’s anticipated the lighting switch will result in annual savings of about $10,000 for each of the 30 Kroger stores that participated in the program.

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The Kroger project is part of the ‘Act on Energy’ program, which aims to help businesses cut down on energy costs. Morris says the Kroger stores in total are receiving an incentive payment of 129,000 dollars for participating in the program. Morris adds that many other businesses throughout the state are taking advantage of the ‘Act on ‘Energy’ incentives.

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Morris says residential customers can also take advantage of the ‘Act on Energy’ incentives, and make their energy bills significantly lower.

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For more information on the ‘Act on Energy’ program, visit the website ActOnEnergy.com.

Kiwanis Learn About 'Response To Intervention' Program

11/11/2009

The Taylorville Kiwanis Club learned about the Taylorville School District’s new “Response to Intervention” academic program, at Tuesday’s weekly meeting at the Taylorville Memorial Hospital auditorium.

Pam McConnell, who is the district’s Title I and Technology coordinator, told Kiwanis members about the new initiative, which began on a limited basis in the Taylorville elementary schools this year, and will be a full-fledged program come next school year.

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The “Response to Intervention” program changes the way the school district handles students academically, according to McConnell. In the past, McConnell said the teaching system waited until students failed before taking action. With the new “Response to Intervention” program, the Taylorville district will intervene to help students academically before they fail.

Also at Tuesday’s Taylorville Kiwanis Club meeting, it was decided that Kiwanis members would bring in non-perishable food to their meetings each week from now thru the end of the year, to assist the Taylorville Food Pantry. The Pantry is reportedly facing a shortage of food to assist needy families in the Taylorville community.

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 at the Taylorville Memorial Hospital auditorium, on Tuesdays at noon.

Feds Extend Homebuyer Tax Incentives

11/11/2009

Prospective homebuyers who thought they had run out of time to take advantage of tax credits aimed toward reviving a slumping housing market, have been given a little extra time. The first time homebuyers tax credit, which had been set to expire this month, has been extended through April of next year. As Laurie Henry of H & R Block in Taylorville explains, the tax credit offers an 8 thousand dollar government rebate for qualifying 1^st time homebuyers.

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Henry explains there is a similar credit of up to $65 hundred dollars for current homeowners looking to move.

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Henry says the tax credit does apply to multi unit rental properties, as long as the homebuyer lives in one of the property’s units.

Mitchell: Free Phones For The Poor A 'Stupid Idea'

11/11/2009

State Representative Bill Mitchell is filing a House Resolution condemning the Federal Communications Commission action of providing a free cell phone along with minutes to those on public assistance.
Mitchell says the government is paying a subsidy to companies that are giving out free cell phones and providing free cell phone service to low-income households.

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Mitchell says at least two companies are currently marketing this service heavily in Illinois. The government estimates that there are more than 1 million households in Illinois -- 450,000 in Cook County alone -- that are eligible for free cell phone service.

Tom Finks Withdraws From Judge Race

11/10/2009

Christian County State’s Attorney Tom Finks has withdrawn his candidacy for the position of at large circuit judge in the 4th judicial circuit, which encompasses nine Central Illinois counties including Christian. In a written statement, Finks said (quote) “I have reached the point where the pursuit of this position has come at too high a price for my family and our collective peace. It is time for me to lift these pressures and burdens from my family and enjoy them and the life I have. I am very happy serving as State’s Attorney and look forward to continuing to serve the people. My family and I are very appreciative of the many people who have helped and supported us. We are very blessed”(end quote). Finks filed his petition to run for the seat left vacant by the retired Judge Kathleen Moran earlier this month, after originally indicating he would seek a similar seat left open by the retired Judge John Coady.

Local Teams Look To Make Noise In Football Quarterfinals

11/10/2009

The IHSA football quarterfinals get underway this weekend across the state of Illinois. Regional radio has their eyes on three local teams in particular; the Rochester Rockets, the Central A&M Raiders, and the Pana Panthers.

After finishing at 6-3 in the regular season, and earning a 10 seed in the 2A bracket, the Central A&M Raiders have pulled off back to back upsets to secure a quarterfinals match up with Okaw Valley foe Maroa-Forsyth. The Raiders took down Flora 19-7 in the first round, and then blanked the PORTA Blue Jays 23-0 in Moweaqua last Saturday. In their match up during the regular season, the Maroa-Forsyth Trojans defeated the Raiders 42-35 in a shootout. Tune into Newstalk 97.3 WTIM this Saturday for complete coverage as the Raiders travel to Maroa to take on the Trojans; coverage begins at 12:45 pm.

The 12 seed Pana Panthers used a dominant defensive attack to upset the 5 seed Pittsfield Saukees (12-8) in the first round. The Panthers held home field in round two, defeating 13 seed Anna-Jonesboro 36-29 in a thriller, to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time in the program’s history. The Panthers square off against the number one overall seed in the 3A bracket, the undefeated Greenville Comets. The two South Central conference teams met in week 6, with the Comets coming out on top 21-13. Tune into the Easy Choice 98.3 WRAN this Saturday for complete coverage of the quarterfinals re-match between Pana and Greenville; coverage begins at 1:45 pm.

The number one overall team in the 4A bracket the Rochester Rockets, have been on cruise control during the first two rounds of their state playoff run. In round one the Rockets thrashed Mascoutah 57-32, and in round two the Rockets stomped the Golden Aces of Mt. Carmel 42-14. They’ll face a stiffer test this Saturday, as they take on an undefeated Quincy Notre Dame team. Quincy Notre Dame, the 4 seed, shutout a 9-1 Effingham team in the 2nd round 35-0. Tune into Newstalk 97.3 WTIM this Saturday as the Rockets look to move on to the semifinals; complete coverage of the game begins at 3:45 pm.

Taylorville Superintendent- '...Uneasy Times Ahead Of Us...'

11/10/2009

(Taylorville) The Taylorville school board reviewed the proposed 2009 tax levy during their monthly meeting. Taylorville Superintendent Dr. Gregg Fuerstenau spent most of the review session highlighting the state’s money problems, and the cold hard truth that those problems at the state level will ultimately have a major impact on downstate education. Fuerstenau told the board that going forward; district revenues will be zero or flat.

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Fuerstenau added that the 2009 levy is indicative of what next year’s budget is going to look like.

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Fuerstenau believes the state needs to take a serious look at how to fund education.

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Fuerstenau told the board- “moving forward, I can’t tell where it’s all going to end up, but I think that you can see…we’ve got some rather uneasy times ahead of us”. The proposed 2009 levy comes out to 7,721,764 dollars.

Twilight Parade Set For First Week Of December

11/10/2009

(Taylorville) The Taylorville square will light up three weeks before Christmas, with the annual Twilight Christmas Parade. The parade is scheduled to take place Saturday December 5th. This year’s theme is ‘Dreams of Christmas’. Taylorville Main Street Director Gary Merker says the festivities will kick off at 5 o’clock sharp.

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The parade traditionally yields good business for downtown merchants. As a result, Merker says those merchants have decided to stay open past regular hours.

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Merker says people from every corner of the community are signing up to be a part of this year’s parade.

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For more information or to register for the twilight parade, call the main street office at 824-3555, or visit their website downtowntaylorville.com.

Harvest Picking Up In November

11/10/2009

After a historically late planting season in Illinois followed by a supersoaked October, the weather finally gave farmers a long enough window of opportunity to make significant harvest progress last week. U of I Extension Natural Resources Educator Gary Letterly says locally, as much as 40% percent of the corn and bean crops have been harvested.

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There is rain in the forecast for Central Illinois this week. If that comes to fruition, Letterly says it will slow down bean harvests more than it will affect corn.

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With any luck Letterly says farmers locally should have the vast majority of the crops harvested by the end of November.

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As of Monday, Central Illinois has not seen any measurable precipitation in the Month of November, following the second wettest October in the history of the state.

Christian County Health Department Dishing Out H1N1 Vaccines

11/10/2009

(Taylorville) The Christian County Health Department will hold a community wide H1N1 flu clinic next Monday at the Taylorville Fire Department. The free clinic will run from 2 until 6 o’clock, and will provide H1N1 vaccine injections. Health Department Director Gerry Grigsby says the flu shots are only intended for people the Center for Disease Control has deemed, ‘priority patients.’

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Grigsby says once the health department is able to distribute vaccines to the priority populations, the shots will be made available to the general public.

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Prior to next week’s Flu Shot Clinic, there is a clinic scheduled for Thursday at Taylorville Elementary School.

State Expands Welcome Home Loans

11/10/2009

More soldiers will now be able to take advantage of a state loan program.

Previously, only service members on active duty could take advantage of the state’s citizen soldier loan program. But Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias says now, National Guard and reserve members returning home can take advantage of the program as well.

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Loans of up to 10 thousand dollars are available, carrying an interest rate of no more than three percent. Visit the website: treasurer.il.gov for more information.

Three Injured in Christian County Semi Crash

11/09/2009

Three people were injured in a weekend accident in Christian County. According to reports from the Christian County Sheriff's Department the accident happened around 7:30 Saturday morning. A semi-truck driven by 41 year old Ronald B. Jackson of Springfield was headed east on Township Road 1900 North approaching an intersection, when he was struck by a pickup truck driven by 66 year old Samuel R. Bowsher of Taylorville, sending the semi into a ditch. Jackson was taken to Taylorville Memorial Hospital for treatment of non life threatening injuries. Bowsher and a passenger were treated for injuries at the scene and released.

Crimestoppers "Shredding Day" Set For This Saturday

11/09/2009

Identity theft crimes are on the rise, even in a small town like Taylorville, and the Christian County Crime Stoppers are taking action. In conjunction with the Cintas Company, the Crime Stoppers are hosting a ‘Shredding Day’ for area residents this coming Saturday in the back parking lot of Palmer Bank in Taylorville. Taylorville Police Officer and Crime Stoppers Coordinator Alan Mills says the event will allow people to dispose of old documents in a safe and environmentally friendly manner.

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Mills says the idea for Shredding Day comes hand in hand with the fact that identity theft is one of the highest rising crimes in the area.

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Mills became a victim of identity theft over a year ago, and says he’s still dealing with the consequences.

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Shredding Day will take place between 11:00 am and 1 pm Saturday afternoon. The event is free of charge. All residents of Christian County are invited to take part.

4-H 'Shooting Sports' Program In Planning Stages

11/09/2009

The Christian County 4-H Club is hoping to introduce ‘shooting sports’ as its newest project area in the coming months. 4-H must go through a lengthy process with the state, before beginning the program. 4-H Community Worker Jodi Heberling says they are currently putting together a list of volunteers and program coordinators.

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Heberling says 4-H and the state are constructing a detailed risk management plan for the program, and as a result ‘shooting sports’ might not become a reality in Christian County until next spring.

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Heberling says there’s a handful of shooting ranges in the area that could house the program. She adds that the community has showed plenty of support for getting the concept off the ground.

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Volunteers and program coordinators would need to go through a 3-day training class. Heberling says all kids 8 to 18 would be eligible for the program, which would feature rifles, shotguns, and archery.

Community Continues To Mourn The Passing Of Randy France

11/09/2009

It’s been over a week, and officials in Taylorville are still reacting to the tragic passing of Randy France. France, who passed away last Saturday at the age of 57, was involved in numerous organizations, including the Taylorville Chamber of Commerce. Chamber President and CEO Fred Ronnow says France was one of the first people he met when he moved to town over a decade ago. Ronnow says France was a person who really believed in the community.

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France was an electric and gas supervisor for Ameren, and was also a member of the Taylorville Optimist Club. France suffered a heart attack the morning of Halloween, while getting ready to go hunting.

Sen. McCarter To Address Shelbyville Chamber

11/09/2009

Fifty First Illinois State Senator Kyle McCarter will address the Shelbyville community this coming Thursday, during the city’s Chamber of Commerce meeting at city hall. Members of the county board and the city council are expected to be in attendance. Shelbyville Chamber of Commerce President Tad Mayhall predicts a large turnout for the event.

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Mayhall says McCarter has a first-rate program planned, and he encourages all those interested in hearing from the senator to show up on Thursday at 5 o’clock.

Dee Krueger Appointed as EREC Assistant Director

11/09/2009

Dee Krueger of Taylorville has been appointed Assistant Director of Lincoln Land Community College's Eastern Region Education Center-Taylorville. She previously served as Administrative Assistant at that location and has been an employee of Lincoln Land since 1992. At her new position, Krueger says her duties will include advising current and future students as they select classes and explore career paths, and helping Executive Director Jim Brubaker in the daily operation of the EREC.

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Krueger, a lifelong resident of Taylorville, is a graduate of Taylorville High School, Lincoln Land Community College and the University of Illinois Springfield, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in liberal studies. She holds a Master Online Teacher Certificate from the Illinois Online Network and the University of Illinois.

IDOT Program Featured In Public TV Series

11/09/2009

Illinois Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig announced Thursday that “The Global Learning Series,” an education-focused television program distributed to public television, will feature Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Division of Traffic Safety’s “Operation Teen Safe Driving” program in the first of a series of segments called, “Understanding Traffic Safety.” The “Global Learning Series” is expected to feature officials from IDOT’s Division of Traffic Safety, law enforcement, program participants including students from Lanphier High School and a student from a winning school.

The show will be distributed this winter/spring to public television stations and several cable television stations throughout the country and globally on both the web and U.S. Government Voice of America (VOA) Television.

Operation Teen Safe Driving is a statewide program made possible by sponsorships from the Ford Motor Company Fund and The Allstate Foundation, and enlists young people to teach safe driving skills to their peers.

Flider, McCarter Co-Host Breakfast at Sullivan Senior Expo

11/08/2009

DECATUR, IL- State Representative Bob Flider (D-Mt. Zion) and State Senator Kyle McCarter (R-Lebanon) will be providing an update from the state and breakfast to the seniors at the Sullivan Senior Expo on Tuesday, Nov. 10 from 8:30 a.m. to noon. It will be located at the Sullivan American Legion, 8 E. Strain St in Sullivan.

“Events like the Sullivan Senior Expo are excellent opportunities to listen firsthand to the thoughts and concerns of older Americans in our community,” said Flider. “Our dialogue is a great way for us to provide information to seniors on state programs and functions, and for them to provide insight into the real issues they are facing in their lives.”

The Sullivan Senior Expo is an annual event held at the Sullivan American Legion. It gives seniors a chance to come and learn about the many services available to them in a fun-filled atmosphere. There will be around thirty different booths at the event including those sponsored by banks, insurance agencies, and home care among others. Additionally, there will be a silent auction and a bake sale to help raise money for senior services in the area. Complimentary breakfast will be served starting at 8:30 a.m. and bingo begins at 9:30 a.m. This event is free and open to the public.

“As a citizen legislator, I put great value on the opportunities to meet with constituents,” said McCarter. “This is a wonderful opportunity for senior citizens to come to one location where they can find a wealth of information that can help them in their daily lives. I’m looking forward to attending the Sullivan Senior Expo.”

'Get Your Spook On' Raises Over 7,500 dollars For Breast Cancer

11/08/2009

TAYLORVILLE -- The Student Advisory Council at Lincoln Land Community College-Taylorville recently scared up some support by sponsoring “Get Your Spook On” for breast cancer awareness. Students, faculty and staff were asked to dress up in their prettiest, ugliest or most original costume. Photos were posted and the voting began, one penny at a time. The result was a total of 7,852 pennies that were donated to the American Cancer Society to help wage the war on breast cancer.

Winners of the costume contest were Kris Sanders, prettiest and Drew Althoff, most original.

Christina Turner and Katie Champion of the American Cancer Society spoke to the group on how college students can assist ACS in its fight to cure cancer, including forming a team for the Relay for Life scheduled for June, 2010 in Taylorville. More information is available from Ms. Turner at 217.523.4739 or christina.turner@cancer.org.

Parental Notification Bill On Hold

11/08/2009

(Chicago, IL) -- Thomas More Society officials say they're "disappointed" by a Chicago-area judge to put Illinois’ Parental Notification Bill on hold. The law, which was supposed to go into effect November 4th, required doctors to tell parents or guardians that their child 17 or younger planned to get an abortion. Society spokesperson Peter Breen says the law passes both the state and federal Constitutional.

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But ACLU lawyers claimed the bill violated the Illinois Constitution, which already lets minors make a variety of decisions when it comes to pregnancies which don't require parental involvement. A preliminary hearing on the case is scheduled for sometime in the future.