NEWS

Nursing Home Bill Would Heighten Care Levels; Impose Fines

2010-03-13T19:20:00.001-06:00

A new piece of legislation introduced in the Illinois Senate aims to improve care in Illinois nursing homes by enacting staffing requirements, mandating more training to caregivers and imposing fines for poor care. Senate bill sponsor Jacqueline Collins says abuse and neglect of the elderly has gone on for too long. The bill also aims to place nursing home residents with low-care level needs into other community based living facilities. Provisions to eliminate discrimination against minorities and poor people are also included in the bill. The legislation is supported by the AARP and other healthcare advocacy groups.

Peoria Middle Schooler Charged With Arson After Allegedly Torching Locker

2010-03-13T19:19:00.001-06:00

A Peoria middle school student is charged with aggravated arson for allegedly setting a locker fire in the school earlier this week. The 13-year-old Mark Bills School student has also been expelled. Another student has been suspended but not charged criminally. About 250 students were evacuated from the school Monday afternoon. No one was hurt and only minor damage was caused. The aggravated arson charge is a class X felony.

Edward Tenney Gets Death Penalty For 1992 Aurora Murder

2010-03-13T19:18:00.001-06:00

A DuPage County jury has decided to give Edward Tenney the death penalty for the 1992 murder of an Aurora man. It took jurors about three hours to make their decision on Tuesday afternoon. Tenney was convicted in February for fatally shooting Jerry Weber in the head over six-dollars. Defense attorneys unsuccessfully argued for life in prison saying Tenney is legally insane and was "destined for a life of crime." He's already serving two life sentences for murdering two Kane County widows in 1993.

Quinn Visits Schools To Promote Tax Hike Plan

2010-03-13T19:17:00.001-06:00

Governor Pat Quinn visited middle schools in Springfield and Chicago yesterday to drum up support for tax hike he introduced during his budget address. Quinn says bumping the state's income tax from three-percent to four-percent would bring in two-point-eight-billion dollars for schools. If lawmakers shoot down the plan, Quinn says schools across the state would share a one-point-three-billion-dollar funding cut. Officials say that could cost up to 17-thousand teachers and other school workers their jobs next year, resulting in bigger class sizes. During his Springfield Stop, local public school Superintendent Walter Milton said a funding cut could force Springfield schools to hire fewer new teachers next year but wouldn't say any would be laid off. Critics have said Quinn is bluffing on his threats to make the deep cuts and using schools to scare lawmakers into supporting the plan.

Rich Whitney Criticizes Quinn; Suggests Legalizing Pot

2010-03-13T19:16:00.003-06:00

The Green Party's candidate for governor laid out his platform yesterday but not before criticizing Governor Quinn on his budget address. Rich Whitney said Quinn should have been more forthcoming about his income tax increase. Whitney said if elected governor, he would support changing the state's current flat-tax structure to progressive structure, where those who make more money pay more taxes. Whitney also suggested legalizing marijuana to generate extra tax revenue for the state. He also proposed creating a state-run bank and an independent commission to identify and eliminate wasteful government spending on pork projects. This is the second time Whitney has run as the Green Party candidate for governor. He last ran in 2006, coming in third to Rod Blagojevich and Judy Baar Topinka.

Bill To Move Primary Back To March Heads To Governor

2010-03-13T19:16:00.001-06:00

The Illinois House passed a bill yesterday that would move the state's February primary date back to the third Tuesday of March. The primary had been in March for decades, but was moved to February before the 2008 presidential primary. The earlier date was heavily criticized after the record-low voter turnout last month. The bill was one of several that asked for a later date. It passed both the House and Senate overwhelmingly and now awaits the governor's signature.

Five Arrested In Connection To Decatur Kidnapping

2010-03-13T19:14:00.001-06:00

The arrest total continues to mount in connection with a double-kidnapping in Decatur that prompted an Amber Alert to be issued earlier this week. Five family members of infant J'Marcus Upchurch and his half-brother Terry Smith are now in police custody. Police believe little J'Marcus' father, Marcus Upchurch, and his uncle, Donavon Neylon, abducted the boys at gunpoint from a group home in Decatur Tuesday. In addition to Upchurch and Neylon, the boy's mother, Ebonie Neylon; grandmother, Doris Neylon; and another person have been arrested. The two men and three women are all being held on preliminary charges of aggravated kidnapping at the Macon County Jail with their bonds were set yesterday at 500-thousand dollars each.

Judge To Consider Psychiatrist's Report In Murder For Hire Case

2010-03-13T19:13:00.001-06:00

A psychiatrists report suggests a woman on trial for allegedly hiring an undercover cop to kill her husband may have done so for a valid reason. A LaSalle County Circuit Judge is currently reviewing the psychiatrist's report of 29-year-old Christina Dent, of Ottawa. The report details Dent's mental state at the time she allegedly committed the crime. She's facing up to 40 years in prison after being arrested last June 3rd for allegedly trying to hire an undercover cop to kill her husband. Defense attorneys are considering entering an "affirmative defense plea" for Dent. That means Dent would admit to the charges but argue she had a valid reason for doing so. Dent is due back in court March 25th. She is held on 500-thousand-dollar bond at LaSalle County Jail.

Attorney's Ask Judge To Drop Accident Charges Against Illinois Trooper

2010-03-13T19:12:00.001-06:00

Defense attorneys for an Illinois State trooper charged with reckless homicide for a November 2007 crash that killed two Collinsville sisters on I-64 asked a judge today to drop the charges. Lawyers for Trooper Matt Mitchell presented their arguments for dismissal to Circuit Judge Jan Fiss yesterday. The defense says charges are inappropriate because Mitchell was answering a call when the crash occurred and Illinois didn't have a speed limit for law enforcement officers traveling in the line of duty at that time. Prosecutors say Mitchell was reckless because he was driving more than 120 miles per hour and had been talking on a cell phone and sending text messages moments before losing control of his vehicle. The Thanksgiving weekend crash killed 19-year-old Jessica Uhl and her sister, 13-year-old Kelli Uhl. Judge Fiss will rule on the dismissal request next week.

West Central Will Remain Closed Due to Continuing Sewer Work

2010-03-12T21:12:00.001-06:00

Due to the continuing work on the sanitary sewer main on West Central Boulevard, the street will remain closed to all through traffic until sometime next week.

Residents living on West Central Boulevard will still have limited access to their property and everyone is urged to use care when in this area.

If you have any questions, please contact City Hall at 852-2611.

Songbag Concert Series Continues March 27 at Carl Sandburg Site in Galesburg

2010-03-12T21:07:00.001-06:00

The popular annual Songbag Concert Series continues Saturday, March 27 at Carl Sandburg State Historic Site with a 7 p.m. performance of traditional folk and blues by Dan Zahn and Kate Moretti. The concert series is sponsored by the Carl Sandburg State Historic Site Association. A donation of $3 per person is suggested, and the concert takes place at the Carl Sandburg State Historic Site Barn at 313 E. Third Street in Galesburg.

Kate Moretti remembers listening to the music of the ‘40s on the radio in her family’s ’64 Studebaker - it was her Dad’s car, so she had no choice. She would rather have been listening to the music she later learned to play on guitar, the songs of Gordon Lightfoot, Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs, and Simon & Garfunkel. As her musical tastes grew she rediscovered the music that she had listened to in the old Studebaker and developed an appreciation for jazz players such as the legendary Django Reinhardt. As a soloist Kate performed her blend of folk and jazz at coffeehouses in northern Illinois, opening for such great performers as Joel Mabus, Tricia Alexander, Small Potatoes, and Sons of the Never Wrong.

Dan Zahn grew up listening to the music of the ‘40s when his parents would watch “Sing Along With Mitch." As a teenager, he too was influenced by the music of Gordon Lightfoot, Phil Ochs, and Bob Dylan. As time went by, he was also influenced by Tony Rice and Django Reinhardt. Over the years Dan has performed on the road as a soloist and in a variety of bands.

Dan and Kate met in 1995 and discovered how similar their musical tastes were. That year they co-founded and directed the first Lake County Folk Festival, which took place in Lake Zurich, Illinois, and ran for thirteen years. Over the years Dan and Kate have performed as a duo throughout the Midwest. Playing traditional folk, blues, country swing, jazz and Dan’s originals, they have performed at such notable venues as The No Exit Café, The Hickory Ridge Coffeehouse, The Lake County Folk Festival, The Fox Valley Folk Festival and Bill’s Blues to name just a few.

The Carl Sandburg State Historic Site is administered by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. For more information, visit www.sandburg.org.

Senate Passes Bipartisan Travel Promotion Act

2010-03-12T21:06:00.001-06:00

Travel Professionals nationwide welcomed news that President Obama has signed the Travel Promotion Act into law on March 4, 2010. The new legislation will create economic growth and thousands of new American jobs by welcoming millions more international travelers to the United States. Local representatives were among a majority of Congressional leaders to champion the Travel Promotion Act.

“The United States is equipping itself to compete in the international travel market as so many other countries are successfully doing today by promoting our diverse destinations and travel policies abroad, all under a collective national brand,” said HCTB director, Cathy Foes. “Travel promotion legislation enacted in Washington will benefit every state across America and support the hundreds of travel-dependent workers in Henry County and neighboring counties. Our local leaders should be applauded for embracing travel as an economic stimulant.”

“This is a historic victory for the U.S. economy and the one in eight American workers whose jobs depend on travel,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. “The United States Congress has sent a clear message that travel is a high priority to our nation and that tangible steps must be taken to increase travel to and within the United States. We are extremely grateful to the bill’s champions: Senators Reid, Dorgan, Ensign and Klobuchar in the Senate and Representatives Delahunt, Blunt and Farr in the House.”

The Travel Promotion Act establishes a public-private partnership to promote the United States as a premier international travel destination and communicate U.S. security and entry policies. According to analysis by Oxford Economics, the bill is estimated to drive $4 billion in new consumer spending annually, provide $321 million in new federal tax revenue each year and create 40,000 U.S. jobs nationwide. Further, it is expected to reduce the federal budget deficit by $425 million over the next 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

Overseas visitors spend an average of more than $4,000 when they visit the United States.

The Travel Promotion Act is modeled after successful state-level initiatives and is funded through a matching program featuring up to $100 million in private sector contributions and a $10 fee on foreign travelers who do not pay $131 for a visa to enter the United States. U.S. taxpayers provide no money for this initiative and the money will come from a fee collected once every two years in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security’s Electronic System for Travel Authorization.

To learn more about tourism and 2010 activities throughout Henry County, please visit www.visithenrycounty.com .

Planting a Memorial Tree

2010-03-12T21:04:00.001-06:00

Beginning with Memorial Day and continuing into June and July, we are in a period of the calendar marked with graduations, reunions, and weddings. It is a time to remember, said a University of Illinois Extension unit horticulture educator.

“Planting a tree in someone’s honor can make a very long-lasting gift of remembrance,” said Jeff Rugg. “Trees that have a history known to the giver and recipient are even more special.”

Rugg gave this example of a tree gift that keeps on giving. In 1829 President Andrew Jackson planted a southern magnolia in the south lawn of the White House in remembrance of his wife who had died before his inauguration. The tree came from a cutting of a tree at their home plantation of The Hermitage in Tennessee. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan gave his retiring chief of staff former Tennessee Senator Howard Baker a cutting from the Jackson magnolia. In May of 1995, Baker planted a cutting from his tree at the Hermitage Plantation, which is now a museum.

“If you have an old twenty-dollar bill, look to the left of the White House portico and you will see the large southern magnolia tree,” he said. “The Jackson magnolia is still growing at the White House in spite of being hit by an airplane, at Baker’s residence in Tennessee, and at the Hermitage Plantation. The single tree is growing in three locations because of cloning.”

“Many plants have the ability to grow new roots, stems, and leaves starting from only one of those parts. If you start with a piece of a branch, known as a cutting, and take care of it so that it grows its own roots, you will have two individually separate, yet genetically identical, trees.”

The American Forests’ Famous and Historic Tree Program offers historically significant trees to the public. They have apple trees grown from the last remaining tree planted by Johnny Appleseed. They have around 100 historic trees from the homes of famous Americans and places like the gardens of Mount Vernon, the battlefield at Gettysburg, and sycamore trees from Ellis Island. There are cloned trees or seeds from the trees at Elvis’s estate, the Japanese cherry trees in Washington, D.C., and the oldest tree east of the Mississippi.

American Forest is working with a variety of organizations to plant trees internationally and across the United States. Operation Liberty Forest is a national program conducted by the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Forests. The goal is to plant one tree to honor each of the 1,384,000 members of the United States armed forces. Liberty trees may also be planted to honor any veteran. To order a historic tree or to join with them in one of their tree-planting projects, visit www.historictrees.org.

Rugg said that although you can purchase historically significant trees, you could also make your own history with a tree from your own yard or a relative’s property. “Most of our landscape trees and shrubs can be reproduced with softwood cuttings. Look at any tree branch and you will notice that the end of the branch that has leaves growing directly on it will be a different color than the section of branch growing closer to the tree trunk. The one-year-old section will have small side branches growing on it with leaves the same color as this year’s growth. The next section of branch closer to the trunk will again be a different color and have more woody bark,” he said.

The older sections of bark have more wood and are known as hardwood cuttings. The softwood cuttings still have the ability to grow roots. In many trees and shrubs, hardwood has lost this ability. Softwood cuttings taken before summer do not have enough woody cellulose tissue to remain upright when they lose water after they are removed from the tree.

“Cut the cuttings from about six inches to one foot long,” he said. “When pruning the plant, leave a bud at the end of the branch so the branch can continue to grow. On many cuttings, the section of stem between buds will not grow, so it should be cut off. The bottom one-third to one-half of the stem should have the leaves removed. The stem is then stuck into sand, perlite, vermiculite, or peat. The cuttings are kept in a shady location with lots of humidity and moisture for several months.”

A greenhouse with automatic misters is what the professionals use. You can improvise with a cut-in-half milk jug. The bottom is filled with sand, and after the cuttings are in, the top is set back on. It can be held in place with a dowel running out the top and a clothes pin to hold it on. The pros also use rooting hormones that are often available in garden centers or in catalogs. The hormones increase the percentage of cuttings that will root and they increase the amount of roots the cuttings get.

“The more cuttings you take, the better your chance that some will root,” he said. “The longer you wait the more likely that some will root. Some trees will have lots of roots in only a month, and others will need all summer and fall to get enough roots to survive on their own.”

Stark County Health Department Offers Heart Smart Program Series

2010-03-12T21:03:00.001-06:00

   The Stark County Health Department reminds area residents that it is offering a new community-based exercise program. The Heart Smart for Women program is designed to help women find ways to fit physical activity in to their lives. The program will be held on Thursdays April 1st - June 17th from 6:00-7:00 p.m. at the Stark County Elementary School, Wyoming. There
is no charge to enroll in the program, but space is limited. Incentives and screenings are included for participants.
    According to Carrie Titus, Community Health Educator at the Health Department, the program is for couch potatoes who just can’t seem to find the time to exercise. ³Exercise provides so many health benefits. It helps prevent obesity, lowers risk for heart disease, contributes to stronger bones, helps improve mental health, plus many, many other health benefits.
The fact that so many people 85% of our population are irregularly active or not physically active at all is a major health problem in this country.
    Participants meet in the evening for one hour each week for 12 weeks. The sessions train participants to use lifestyle management strategies such as setting goals, getting support, preventing relapses, etc. to fit physical activity into their own, unique lives. In fact, participants don’t exercise during the weekly meetings. Instead, they find ways to be active each day,
at home, at work, while on vacation, when traveling, etc. Brisk walking, raking leaves, washing the car, and vigorous vacuuming are examples of ways participants can become more active. This way every individual designs the Oexercise program¹ that they enjoy most and works the best for them, says Ms. Titus.
    The Stark County Health Department is providing this state-of-the-art course because it sees the potential benefits to its members, their families, and the community at large. By helping people become more physically active, the Health Department is working to fulfill its mission to protect and improve the health of the community.
    To register or for more information, contact Carrie Titus at 309-852-7255 or visit the Health Department's website at
www.henrystarkhealth.com.

Freedom Writer Comes To Kewanee

2010-03-12T20:58:00.001-06:00

If you’ve seen the movie Freedom Writers (Richard LaGravenese, 2007), you know how the real‐life
teacher Erin Gruwell inspired 150 teens in Long Beach, CA, to “Change Themselves and the World
Around Them.” “Ms. G” believed in her students and saw past their “unteachable” label. Under Ms.
Gruwell’s guidance, those 150 students became writers, each one telling his or her own unique story.
Those stories were combined into a book, The Freedom Writers Diary, published in 1999. Kewanee High
School book club students are reading this book in preparation for a very special event.

Next Thursday, March 19, Kewanee will host a special guest. Manuel V. Scott, one of the original
students in Ms. Gruwell’s classroom, will be visiting Central Junior High, Franklin Alternative School, and
Kewanee High School. He will talk with students at assemblies and in small groups. Scott, represented
as Marcus in the movie Freedom Writers, tells his story of overcoming insurmountable odds. He
dropped out of school at age 14, lived in 26 different places by the time he was 16, and used drugs and
alcohol. He says, “When I look back, I now see that I was heading down a path that would have
destroyed me.” Scott’s experience in room 203 helped him realize the mistakes he was making and
change. Scott has now committed his life to reaching out to young people, educators, and entire
communities to share his message of hope. Scott says, “I do not share my story to impress people, but
to impress upon them some invaluable lessons that could literally change the quality of their lives
forever.”

Kewanee High School invites the community to attend a free viewing of the movie Freedom Writers in
the Peterson Auditorium Wednesday, March 17, at 6:30 pm. The community is also invited to hear
Manuel V. Scott speak on Thursday, March 18, at 6:00 pm in the Peterson Auditorium. This presentation
is sponsored as a joint partnership through Kewanee High School, Central Junior High, 21st Century
Community Learning Centers, J. Kyle Braid Organization, the KHS Football Team, and The Regional Office
of Education.

Gov. Quinn Warns Of Massive Education Cuts In Speech

2010-03-12T20:54:00.001-06:00

Governor Pat Quinn's budget address Wednesday challenged lawmakers to pass an income tax increase of one-percent to be used to offset cuts to education. Quinn says raising the state's income tax from three to four-percent would bring in about two-point-eight billion dollars this year. Without a tax increase, as many as 17-thousand teachers and school workers could lose their jobs after this school year. The state currently faces a budget gap of about 13-billion-dollars. Quinn proposes strategically borrowing and further spending cuts to bridge the gap.

GOP Gov. Candidate Brady Rails Against Quinn's Borrowing Proposal

2010-03-12T20:53:00.001-06:00

Governor Quinn's Republican opponent for the November election had plenty of harsh words for his budget address Wednesday. But State Senator Bill Brady of Bloomington said he did agree with Quinn's proposal to give tax credits for small businesses that hire new employees. Brady said he wants a 21-hundred dollar tax credit for all businesses for each job created. That's down from the 25-hundred Quinn proposed for each job a small business creates. Brady also reiterated his pledge not to raise taxes, despite the state's 13-billion dollar deficit. Brady claims there are 40 to 45-billion dollars that can be cut or restructured in the state. The Republican State Senator continued to defend his position on cutting state spending across the board, rather than massive cuts to education. Governor Quinn criticized this belief during his budget address Wednesday. Brady in turn criticized Quinn's proposal to raise taxes.

Ikenberry Floats "Accelerated Program" To U of I Board

2010-03-12T20:52:00.003-06:00

The interim president of the University of Illinois says shortening the traditional time it would take to complete a college education could save money for students and the cash strapped school. According to the Champaign "News-Gazette," Stan Ikenberry told the U of I's Board of Trustees an "accelerated program" at the school's three campuses that would fast track the time it takes to earn a degree to three years could be in place by the fall of 2011 semester. Increased online-learning opportunities and more expansive summer curriculum options would highlight the program.

Pro-Gun Activists Rally At Capitol On Budget Day

2010-03-12T20:52:00.001-06:00

Thousands of pro-gun activists rallied in
>>Springfield Wednesday for Illinois Gun Owner Lobby Day. Richard Pearson from the Illinois State Rifle Association believes Illinois may be getting closer to passing a law that would allow concealed carry of a firearm. There are currently three house bills that would to legalize concealed carry in Illinois. Two of them have passed out of committee and await a floor vote. The pro-gun lobby has been strengthened lately because of a pending U-S Supreme Court decision that might overturn the Chicago handgun ban. The pro-gun women's group known as the Illinois Second Amendment Sisters, were also in Springfield.

Wethersfield School Board Meets

2010-03-12T06:33:00.001-06:00

The Wethersfield School Board met Thursday night. Minutes from the February 11^th regular and Executive Sessions, and the February 24^th Special Board Meeting were approved. The Financial reports, Investment report, Activity fund report and Bills were also approved. It was reported that there will be an approximate $340,000 budget shortage due to state funding cuts.

There was a presentation from the participants of the last J. Kyle Braid trip. They explained how the activities, such as horseback riding, white water rafting, and team building activities helped them develop leadership skills. There will be a golf ball drop at the Dunes Golf Course for a fundraiser. Balls can be purchased for $10 each.

The 2010-2011 school calendar was approved. Bids for the new roof projects are due by the end of March. The winning bid will be approved at the April 8^th meeting, with the work to start in the beginning of June and projected to finish by July 9^th.

A loan-transfer of $15,000 will be made from the Working Cash Fund to the Tort Fund.

During a closed session, a one year contract was ratified with the teachers. Nadia Armsworth, Amy Bryan, and Karin Tunis were re-employed and placed on tenure for the 2010-2011 school year. Lisa Lee, Laura Evans and Jessica Seiden were re-employed as fourth-year, non-tenured teachers for 2010-2011 school year. Jennifer Gault, JoAnne Imsland, Julie O’Riley, and Laurie Steger as third-year, non-tenured teachers for the 2010-2011 school year. Adam Szalowski, Brandon Johnson, Shelley Gomez, and Mike Epperly were re-employed as second-year, non-tenured teachers for the 2010-2011 school year. Kathy Johnson, Mike Palanos and Roger Mann were employed on a part-time basis for the 2010-2011 school year. Jay Hagaman was approved as track coordinator at the contract stipend of $1,300 and Katie Grant as assistant high school track coach at the contract stipend of $2,745 for the 2010 track season with both stipends being split with Annawan.

There were some fiscal crisis reductions. There was a reduction in Force for junior/senior high school art teacher Judy Post from full time to half time effective at the end of the current school year. There was a reduction in Force for half time aide Patrick Peach effective at the end of the current school year. There was a reduction in Force for part-time aide Jennifer Spets effective at the end of the current school year. There was a reduction in Force for full time custodian Steve Wager effective June 30, 2010. There was a reduction in Force for half time cafeteria worker Latisha Hodge effective at the end of the current school year. She currently works 2 hours per day. There was a reduction in Force for half time pre-kindergarten parent coordinator Kimberly Rose effective at the end of the current school year. There was a reduction in hours of 1 hour per day for cafeteria worker Regina Gillespie from 4 ¼ hours per day to 3 ¼ hours per day starting with the 2010-2011 school year. There was a reduction in hours of one hour per day for cafeteria worker Cheryl Ince from 6 ¾ hours per day to 5 ¾ hours per day starting with the 2010-2011 school year.

Part time Science teacher Mike Palanos has volunteered to come in a few days a week once the mowing season starts. He will be volunteering his time to help the maintenance crew keep up on mowing duties throughout the school district.

Time To Spring Forward This Weekend

2010-03-12T06:32:00.001-06:00

Just a reminder this is the weekend to ‘spring forward” as daylight savings time goes back into effect. Remember Saturday night before you go to bed, turn your clocks one hour a head so you will be on time Sunday morning. Once again we spring our clocks forward one hour Sunday morning at 2am.

Advanced Rehab & Sports Medicine Enhances Corporate Services

2010-03-12T06:31:00.003-06:00

Advanced Rehab & Sports Medicine has expanded its corporate services to help companies throughout Illinois and Iowa maintain healthy and productive workforces.

The company is now the licensed quality provider of WorkWell Systems, Inc.®, the long-standing international leader in industrial rehabilitation. Becoming a licensed WorkWell® provider allows Advanced Rehab & Sports Medicine to utilize tools and processes that have been proven to reduce workers compensation costs.

According to Todd Nelson, CEO of Advanced Rehab & Sports Medicine, incorporating WorkWell Systems® into the professional Advanced Rehab & Sports Medicine operations has tremendous benefits.

“Advanced & Cottage Rehab facilities are now able to offer results-driven injury prevention and management services that are legally defensible, medically sound, analytically based, and operationally efficient,” stated Nelson.

Added services include preventative consultation which includes safety team participation, job-site assessments, and work-well visits which ensure restrictions are appropriate, the company is compliant, and a worker’s return to work is injury-free and

successful. The company also added new evaluative measuring methods to successfully handle pre-work screening, functional capacity evaluations, and functional job analysis.

According to company co-owner and physical therapist Chris Byers, it was natural that corporate services expand to embrace prevention and qualitative client results.

“Advanced Rehab has always excelled in the treatment of workers’ compensation cases; we get our patients well and get them back to work,” stated Byers. “Now, we have the opportunity to have an even deeper impact. We can spare people from getting hurt and save companies a lot of money in the process.”

Advanced Rehab & Sports Medicine is a professional therapy company with eight locations in Illinois and one in West Burlington, Iowa. The facilities operate as Advanced Rehab & Sports Medicine and as Cottage Rehab & Sports Medicine.

These new services from Advanced Rehab & Sports Medicine further illustrate its commitment to the wellness and well-being of its patients and the communities.

For more information visit www.advrehab.com or contact Stephanie Thomas at 1-877-892-7465.

Landowner Wind Meeting Scheduled for March 18th

2010-03-12T06:31:00.001-06:00

If you live in the tri-county area and you have been approached by companies interested in placing wind towers on or near your rural property, then put March 18 on your calendar for an informational meeting.

The Stark County Farm Bureau Local Affairs Committee will be hosting an informational meeting for landowners on the proposed wind project for northern Stark County. While this meeting will target landowners living in the tri-county area, information presented will be applicable to any landowner who has been approached by a wind developer. The meeting will be held in the Conference Center in Bldg. 1 at Black Hawk College – East Campus on Thursday, March 18 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting is open to all farmers, landowners, county leaders, and other interested citizens.

The speaker for the evening will be Ryan Gamelgard. Ryan Gamelgard works for the Illinois Farm Bureau in the Office of the General Council. Ryan will identify some key components of contracts that landowners should review carefully before signing.

If you plan on attending, please call the Farm Bureau office at 309-286-7481 by noon on March 18. You can also contact the Henry-Stark Extension office at 309-853-1533; either way don’t forget the noon registration deadline to ensure program availability.

Foster Votes to Prevent Misleading Census Look-Alike Mailings

2010-03-12T06:30:00.001-06:00

Congressman Bill Foster (IL-14) voted to pass a bill designed to prevent mail scams that are designed to look like official Census documents. The legislation passed by an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 416-0.

“Last year, a constituent brought a Census mailing scheme to my attention, and I alerted area seniors to be careful of these misleading mailings, which asked for financial contributions,” said Foster. “Unfortunately, scams like this are nothing new, but it is my hope that this legislation will help consumers identify the difference between official U.S. Census Bureau documents and misleading mailings.”

In May of 2009, Foster warned area seniors to avoid falling victim to a direct mail campaign, which asked seniors to fill out a survey and provide their credit card information for donations. The mailing could lead seniors to believe that it comes from the U.S. Census Bureau, but in fact, the mailing was sent from an organization that is not affiliated with the government or the Census Bureau.

The legislation, H.R.4621, the Prevent Deceptive Census Look-Alike Mailings Act, would require any mailing with an envelope marked “Census” to clearly indicate the sender and return address. It would also trigger an existing requirement in federal law to include a disclaimer that the mailing is not from, or affiliated with, the federal government. The bill would not prohibit the use of the word “Census” on a mailing, but the mailer must make clear that it is not sent by the United States Census.

Citizens do not have to fill out a third-party survey and pay a fee to have their views heard by the federal government. If constituents have questions on this or any other Federal matter, they may call the Congressman toll free at 1-866-324-6128.

Hare Joins Chairman Miller in Introducing New Jobs Plan

2010-03-12T06:29:00.001-06:00

Congressman Phil Hare (D-IL), today joined House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller (D-CA), Congressman Keith Ellison, and representatives from the National League of Cities and the U.S. Conference of Mayors to introduce the Local Jobs for America Act, legislation that will create one million public and private sector jobs in local communities across the country. Click here for audio of the press conference call unveiling the bill.
“For nearly a year I have been promoting direct hiring as one of the most promising remedies to our unemployment crisis,” Hare said. “The Local Jobs for America Act is right on target.”
The bill will provide $75 billion over two years to local communities to hold off on planned cuts or hire back critical workers like teachers and emergency personnel. “Earlier today, Governor Quinn had the unenviable task of outlining a plan to deal with Illinois’ enormous budget deficit and the cut backs that come with it,” Hare said. “This legislation would make that job a little easier by providing our state with desperately needed federal resources.”

The Local Jobs for America Act will also fund approximately 50,000 additional private-sector on-the-job training positions to help businesses put people back to work. Workers will be able to acquire core job skills and important work experience for private employers. It includes $24 billion, already approved by the House in December, to help states support 250,000 education jobs, put 5,500 law enforcement officers on the beat, and retain, rehire, and hire firefighters.
Finally, the bill includes a compromise struck by Hare which would ensure rural districts receive their fair share. “Districts like mine, which include many rural communities, were hurting long before this current economic crisis as a result of our shrinking manufacturing base,” Hare said. “That’s why I am so appreciative to Chairman Miller for ensuring this legislation will help not only big cities, but small communities as well.”