Archive for January, 2012

Rockford’s Discovery Center named top museum by ‘Forbes’

Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

Online Staff Report

Forbes magazine named Rockford’s Discovery Center Museum as one of the “12 Best Children’s Museums in the Nation” Jan. 30.

The Discovery Center was the only Illinois museum named in the article, which can be viewed online at http://www.forbes.com/sites/larryolmsted/2012/01/30/12-best-childrens-museums-in-the-u-s.

Sarah Wolf, executive director of Discovery Center Museum, said: “We are so proud of our museum for receiving this national recognition. Almost all the other museums selected in the Top 12 are located in large metropolitan areas, and being among those museums chosen is truly an honor. We know that parents and patrons pay attention to the opinion of a publication like Forbes, and we are thrilled to bring such positive recognition to our museum and our community.”

In the Forbes story, Discovery Center shares the spotlight with museums such as the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis; Boston Children’s Museum; Brooklyn Children’s Museum; Children’s Museum of Denver; Children’s Museum of Houston; and the Minnesota Children’s Museum. More than 200 children’s museums are in the United States.

Discovery Center served almost 255,000 people in 2011, a new record for the museum. It served almost 170,000 visitors on site (a 4 percent increase since 2010, and a 20 percent increase in the last five years) and another 85,000 through the museum’s outreach programs.

Forbes is an American media and publishing company.

In 2002, Child magazine ranked Discovery Center fourth in the first-ever survey to identify the 10 best children’s museums in the nation. Then in 2009, Discovery Center was included in the book The Ten Best of Everything: Families in the category of children’s museums. In 2010, Discovery Center completed construction of a major expansion, adding new galleries, new exhibits, new classrooms, a 5,000-square-foot traveling exhibition hall and more.

Discovery Center Museum is a nonprofit organization creating opportunities for joyful learning and discovery through hands-on experiences in science and art for all ages. The museum contains more than 250 hand-on exhibits and an award-winning outdoor science park.

Discovery Center is inside Riverfront Museum Park, 711 N. Main St., Rockford. General admission to the museum is $7 adults, $7 children (ages 2-17) and free to children age 1 and younger and museum members. Hours open are 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Saturday, and noon-5 p.m., Sunday.

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Rockford man arrested following robbery of North Main Dollar General

Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

Online Staff Report

Rockford police have arrested Melvin D. Bankhead, 40, of Rockford, in connection with a series of armed robberies on the city’s northwest side.

Bankhead was arrested Jan. 30 and charged with armed robbery, aggravated unlawful use of weapons, unlawful use of weapons by a felon, resisting/obstructing a police officer, aggravated fleeing to elude a police officer, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident (two counts), operation of an uninsured vehicle and improper lane usage. The charges stem from a Jan. 30 armed robbery at the Dollar General Store, 3732 N. Main St., Rockford.

Members of the Rockford Police Department were conducting a special detail on the northwest side of Rockford Jan. 30 as a result of recent armed robberies. During that special detail, detectives observed a possible suspect at the Dollar General Store, 3732 N. Main St. The suspect left the business, entered the vehicle and left the area. Detectives determined the suspect had committed an armed robbery at the business.

Members of the Rockford Police Department attempted to stop the suspect vehicle. The suspect failed to stop, and officers pursued the vehicle. The suspect struck a pedestrian at Rockford Avenue and Halsted Road. The pedestrian was not injured. The suspect was involved in another traffic crash at Kilburn and Gilbert avenue. There were no injuries as a result of that traffic crash. The suspect fled on foot from the vehicle and was taken into custody after a brief struggle in the 2100 block of Kilburn Avenue. A firearm was also recovered during the incident.

Following his arrest, Bankhead was also charged with the Jan. 19 armed robbery of Burger King, 2911 Auburn St. The armed robberies of Subway, 3009 N. Rockton Ave., Jan. 21, and Taco Bell, 2602 Auburn St., Jan. 23, were also cleared with the arrest of Bankhead, although he has not been charged with the crimes.

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‘Windfall’ kicks off Rock Valley’s Environmental Film Series Feb. 1

Monday, January 30th, 2012

Online Staff Report

Rock Valley College (RVC) will launch an Environmental Film Series at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 1, with the documentary Windfall.

A synopsis on the film’s website, http://windfallthemovie.com, describes Windfall as follows: “Wind power … it’s sustainable … it burns no fossil fuels … it produces no air pollution. What’s more, it cuts down dependency on foreign oil. That’s what the people of Meredith, in upstate New York first thought when a wind developer looked to supplement the rural farm town’s failing economy with a farm of their own — that of 40 industrial wind turbines.

“Windfall, a beautifully photographed feature-length film, documents how this proposal divides Meredith’s residents as they fight over the future of their community,” the synopsis continues. “Attracted at first to the financial incentives that would seemingly boost their dying economy, a group of townspeople grow increasingly alarmed as they discover the impacts that the 400-foot high windmills slated for Meredith could bring to their community as well as the potential for financial scams.

“With wind development in the United States growing annually at 39 percent, Windfall is an eye-opener that should be required viewing for anyone concerned about the environment and the future of renewable energy.”

The rest of the schedule for the film series is as follows:

Wednesday, March 7 — Trapped

Wednesday, April 4 — Queen of the Sun

Wednesday, May 2 — Gasland

All films will be shown in the RVC Student Center Atrium on the RVC main campus, 3301 N. Mulford Road. Cost is $1 per film and films are open to students, staff and the community.

RVC faculty and special guests will lead an open discussion following each film presentation.

For advanced registration, call RVC Community Education at (815) 921-3900. For complete descriptions of the films, visit www.rockvalleycollege.edu/efs.

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Park District announces results of Jan. 25-28 Illinois Snow Sculpting Competition

Monday, January 30th, 2012

High School Division first-place winner and Artists’ Choice Award winner “There’s No Pizza Like Snow Pizza,” by Rockford East High School. (Photo courtesy of Illinois Snow Sculpting Competition)

First place and People’s Choice Award winner “Pocahontas,” sculpted by Vikings in Black: Captain Svenhärd Skupien, Bjorn Skupien, and Thorfinn Skupie. (Photo courtesy of the Illinois Snow Sculpting Competition)

Online Staff Report

The Vikings in Black team of Svenhard Skupien, Bjorn Skupien and Thorfinn Skupien won the 26th Annual Illinois Snow Sculpting Competition with their sculpture of “Pocahontas.”

The winning team was honored at the competition’s awards ceremony Saturday, Jan. 28, at Sinnissippi Park in Rockford. Eight state teams, 15 high school teams and one exhibition team (last year’s winning team) participated in the Jan. 25-28 event.

Other awards included the following:

• Second Place — Mayor’s Award (tie): “7, 8, 9…”, Sculpted by The Band of Misfit Boys team composed of Scott Triplett, Dan Berry and Keith Pliml.

• Third Place — Rockford Park District Award (tie): “Bridge Over Trolled Waters,” sculpted by The Slacktastic 4 team, composed of Andy Skupien, Nathaniel Branch and Sable Matula.

• People’s Choice Award: “Pocahontas,” sculpted by Vikings in Black team, Sven, Bjorn and Thorfinn Skupien.

• Committee’s Choice Award — Patricia “Pat” Hayes Parks Award: “Elusive,” sculpted by Tat2 Crue team, composed of Nikki Schultz, Tiffani McCann and Andrew Wirth.

High School Division awards were as follow:

High Scool Division second-place winner and People’s Choice Award winner “Elephantine Love,” by Keith Country Day School. (Photo courtesy of Illinois Snow Sculpting Competition)

• First Place — “There’s No Pizza Like Snow Pizza,” sculpted by Rockford East High School, composed of Luzanna Kowalczyk, Aurora Macek, Gavin Barlow and Shanton Staten. Adviser: John DeRango.

• Second Place — “Elephantine Love,” sculpted by Keith Country Day School, composed of Jeannie Maeng, Angela Martinez, Philip Pernacciaro and Ke Tang. Adviser: Lori Walsh.

• Third Place — “1987-2011,” sculpted by Pecatonica High School, composed of Daniel Byl, Seala Hite, Anne Johns and Eric Morgensen. Adviser: Eric Donaldson.

• Linda K. White Spirit Award — “1987-2011,” sculpted by Pecatonica High School, composed of Daniel Byl, Seala Hite, Anne Johns and Eric Morgensen. Adviser: Eric Donaldson.

· Committee’s Choice Award — “Well That’s Sno’ Good,” sculpted by Belvidere North High School, composed of Allyce Angel, Spencer Gedwill, Ryan Helgerson and Noelle Nespor. Adviser: Edith Obenchain.

· Artists’ Choice Award — “There’s No Pizza Like Snow Pizza,” sculpted by Rockford East High School, composed of Luzanna Kowalczyk, Aurora Macek, Gavin Barlow and Shanton Staten. Adviser: John DeRango.

· People’s Choice Award — “Elephantine Love,” sculpted by Keith Country Day School, composed of Jeannie Maeng, Angela Martinez, Philip Pernacciaro and Ke Tang. Adviser: Lori Walsh

The three-member state teams work 3 1/2 days on a 5-ton, 6-foot-by-6-foot-by-10-foot block of snow to create frozen works of art; the four-member high school teams work 2 1/2 days on a 4-foot-by-4-foot-by-6-foot block of snow. Sculptors cannot use power tools or props (other than the snow) to hold up the pieces, nor may colorants be added.

The Illinois Snow Sculpting competition is hosted by the Rockford Park District.

For more about this event, visit www.snowsculpting.org, or call the Rockford Park District at (815) 987-8800. More pictures from the competition can be viewed at http://www.facebook.com/ilsnowsculpting.

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Ohio Valley Refinery & Roadshow at Rockford’s Holiday Inn Jan. 31-Feb. 4

Friday, January 27th, 2012

When someone brings in an item to the roadshow, Ohio Valley Refinery & Roadshow staff evaluate it, make an offer, then write a check sending that person home with some extra cash. (Photo provided)

Online Staff Report

Springfield, Ill.-based Ohio Valley Gold & Silver Refinery will be looking to buy precious metals, jewelry, historical artifacts, antiques and other collectibes Tuesday-Saturday, Jan. 31-Feb. 4, at Holiday Inn, 7550 E. State St., Rockford.

Hours are 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Tuesday-Friday, Jan. 31-Feb. 3, and 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 4. Admission is free.

When someone brings in an item to the roadshow, Ohio Valley Refinery & Roadshow staff evaluate it, make an offer, then write a check sending that person home with some extra cash.

Jeramy Weese, a show manager for the Ohio Valley Refinery & Roadshow, said: “Our job is to find buyers for items. We’re the middle man. We try to find someone in that market interested.”

Weese said that when an individual brings in an item, the buyers will enter the details into their online system, which connects with more than 10,000 collectors. Items can range from coin collections to vintage guitars and everything in between.

Musical instruments will be among the items sought by Ohio Valley Refinery & Roadshow staff. (Photo provided)

Ohio Valley Refinery & Roadshow staff will be looking to purchase antiques and other collectibes Jan. 31-Feb. 4 at Holiday Inn, 7550 E. State St., Rockford. (Photo provided)

“If we can get someone to generate an offer, they agree to the terms and we give them a check on the spot,” Weese said. “However, if more than one collector is interested, the offer can go higher.”

David Ford, a buyer for the company, said he enjoys traveling to different towns each week and finding new and interesting items. Just a few weeks ago, he said he had a woman come in who had bought a coin from the casino she worked at for $1 the night before. She walked out that morning with a check for $50.

For more details, call (217) 726-7590.

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Rockford man sentenced to 35 years for 2008 murder

Friday, January 27th, 2012

Online Staff Report

Chad Bennett, 22, was sentenced to a total of 35 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the offense of first-degree murder after a sentencing hearing Jan. 23. Bennett pled guilty Oct. 27, 2011, in front of Judge John Truitt.

July 5, 2008, Winnebago County Sheriff’s Police were dispatched to Superior Avenue in Machesney Park, where Nikolas Black was found shot and killed.

Witnesses indicated the car Black was riding in was approached by people who had gotten out of another vehicle and were shouting gang slogans.

Black got out of the car to confront the people who ran up on the car he was in and was shot. Neither Black nor any of the other occupants of the car he was in were gang members. The suspects fled the area in an older-model white car with a taillight that was not working.

Through investigation, the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Police located the owner of the vehicle that had fled the scene. Detectives interviewed occupants of the vehicle and discovered passengers of that car had a disagreement with a member of a gang. When the occupants saw the car Black was in, they thought it was the person they were looking for, and the occupants got out of the car and ran up on the car Black was in, at which time Black was shot and killed. These witnesses said Bennett was with them when they went to fight the member of a rival gang. These witnesses identified Bennett as the person who shot and killed Black.

First-degree murder is a class M felony that has a sentencing range of 20 to 60 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Truth in sentencing applies, and the defendant will have to serve 100 percent of the sentence.

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19-year-old guilty of home invasion, attempted aggravated criminal sexual abuse

Thursday, January 26th, 2012

Online Staff Report

Justen Cunningham, 19, was found guilty of home invasion and attempted aggravated criminal sexual abuse after a jury trial Jan. 25.

Dec. 23, 2009, officers responded to an address on Eastgate Parkway in reference to a home invasion. When officers arrived, they met with the female victim in the bathroom and saw she had dried blood around her nose.

Officers noticed blood in the bathroom sink and on a CD player in the bathroom. The victim stated she went for a walk around the block and noticed a male subject described as about 13 years old, 5 feet, 6 inches and 160 pounds with a royal blue jacket, gray hoodie and dark jeans carrying a shovel. She told the officers she recognized the male as someone who had done yard work in the area and at her house before.

She further stated she returned home and had left the front door unlocked as she began getting ready for work in the bathroom. She then said she saw the same male from outside out of the corner of her eye coming into the bathroom. She said the suspect put his hand over her mouth and closed the door. She said the suspect told her to be quiet and take off her shirt. She said she tried to pull his fingers away from her mouth and pull at his arms, and she was able to push him against the door, but then he pushed her into the bathtub and she hit her head in the bathtub.

The victim said while she was in the bathtub the suspect kicked her in the face and she pretended to be unconscious and the suspect walked out of the bathroom. She said her nose started to bleed when he first grabbed her mouth and it bled more when he kicked her.

Cunningham was developed as a suspect. He spoke with detectives and gave a written statement admitting he was shoveling snow Dec. 23, 2009, and he saw a female go into a house.

The defendant admitted he knew the person who lived at the house wasn’t home because his truck wasn’t there. The defendant admitted he tried the front door and it was unlocked, so he went in. The defendant admitted to going into the bathroom and putting his hand over the girl’s mouth because she screamed.

The defendant said the girl told him her nose was bleeding and he didn’t want to hurt her, so he let her go. The defendant said she told him she was going to call the police, so he panicked and pushed her and she fell in the bathtub. Cunningham entered the home without legal authority.

Home invasion is a class X felony with a sentencing range of six to 30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Attempted aggravated criminal sexual abuse is a class 3 felony with a sentencing range of two to five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. The defendant also has a separate residential case pending.

Sentencing is scheduled for 9 a.m., March 19, in Courtroom 209 with Judge Joseph McGraw.

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Man sentenced to 47 years for 2009 murder of brother-in-law

Thursday, January 26th, 2012

Online Staff Report

Juan Blanco, 46, has been sentenced to a total of 47 years in prison for the murder of his brother-in-law and attempts to conceal it.

Blanco, who was found guilty June 2, was sentenced to 45 years for first-degree murder and two years for concealing a homicidal death.

Jan. 16, 2009, Winnebago County Sheriff’s Police were dispatched to the Gem Suburban trailer park on South Main Street in reference to a body found in a white Dodge Intrepid near the trash bins. The Dodge’s registration returned to Felix Rojas-Perez, and it was determined the man lying dead in the back seat was Rojas-Perez.

An autopsy performed by Winnebago County Coroner Sue Fiduccia’s office determined Rojas-Perez died as a result of gunshot wounds to the head.

Evidence indicated Rojas-Perez had been shot in the head while in the driver’s seat of the Dodge and then dragged into the backseat.

Through an investigation conducted by Winnebago County detectives, it was determined Blanco was a person of interest in the case. Detectives reviewed surveillance footage from the victim’s place of employment, which revealed a blue Land Rover, the same type of vehicle owned by the defendant, driving around the parking lot Jan. 15.

Blanco had been seen at Marvin’s Tire Shop cleaning out his Land Rover and detectives located tied-up plastic grocery bags in the trash bin there. Inside the bag, detectives recovered a pair of tennis shoes that were identified as shoes Blanco was known to wear, a shell casing, as well as other evidence that was linked to other evidence found in Blanco’s vehicle.

First-degree murder is a class M felony that has a sentencing range of 20 to 60 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. However, because Blanco personally discharged the firearm killing the victim, the sentencing range increased to 45 years to natural life, and the defendant will serve the entire sentence. Concealment of a homicidal death is a class 3 felony with a sentencing range of two to five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections or probation.

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Overturned semitrailer closes one lane of U.S. Route 20 in Jo Daviess County

Thursday, January 26th, 2012

Online Staff Report

At about 5:39 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 26, Illinois State Police responded to an overturned truck-tractor semitrailer on U.S. Route 20 about a half-mile west of Center Road in Jo Daviess County.

The investigation found a blue 2005 International truck-tractor pulling a white Utility semitrailer, driven by Daniel Wedeking, 58, of Spirit Lake, Iowa, was traveling east on U.S. Route 20. The truck-tractor semitrailer left the roadway and Wedeking attempted to steer the vehicle back onto the road. The vehicle then overturned in the south ditch.

Wedeking was wearing a seatbelt and was not injured during the crash. Wedeking did suffer a non-life threatening injury as he attempted to exit the overturned vehicle. Wedeking was transported to the Midwest Medical Center in Galena, Ill., by the Elizabeth Ambulance.

Wedeking’s trailer remained intact after overturning, and none of the load of shaved pork was spilled. The vehicle has not been removed from the crash scene and one lane of U.S. Route 20 remains closed. The highway is expected to be open with the vehicle removed by late this evening.

Wedeking was issued a citation for improper lane usage. Assisting agencies include: Jo Daviess County Sheriff’s Office, Elizabeth Fire Department, Elizabeth Ambulance and Illinois Department of Transportation.

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Two Rockford men arrested on cocaine, cannabis charges

Thursday, January 26th, 2012

Michael C. Perez

Caleb N. Gryner

Online Staff Report

The State Line Area Narcotics Team (SLANT) arrested two Rockford residents for possession with the intent to deliver cocaine and possession with intent to deliver cannabis.

Michael C. Perez, 32, of the 4700 block of Cayuga Road, Rockford, was arrested and charged with one count of possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance (cocaine) within 1,000 feet of a church, a class X felony, and one count of violation of an order of protection, a class A misdemeanor.

Caleb N. Gryner, 22, of the 4700 block of Cayuga Road, Rockford, was arrested and charged with one count of possession with the intent to deliver cannabis, a class 3 felony.

The arrests of Perez and Gryner come after SLANT agents and members of the Illinois State Police S.W.A.T. team executed a search warrant of Perez’s Rockford residence. Seized as a result of the search warrant were 19 grams of suspected cocaine and 182 grams of suspected cannabis.

Class X felonies are punishable by six to 30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Class 3 felonies are punishable by two to five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Class A misdemeanors are punishable by up to one year in a county jail.

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Rockford’s unemployment rate remains highest in state at 12.5 percent

Thursday, January 26th, 2012

Online Staff Report

Rockford’s unemployment rate dropped 0.4 percentage points to 12.5 percent in the past year, but remains the highest among the state’s 12 metropolitan areas.

According to data released Jan. 26 by the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES), the Rockford metropolitan area gained 500 jobs between December 2010 and December 2011.

The percentage decrease in the unemployment rate for Rockford was the second-highest decrease among all metropolitan areas, trailing only the 0.6 drop registered by the Peoria metropolitan area.

The December 2011 unemployment rate in Illinois was 9.3 percent and 12.1 percent at its peak in this economic cycle in January 2010.

Nationally, the unemployment rate was 8.3 percent in December 2011 and 10.6 percent in January 2010 at its peak.

The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and looking for work and is not tied to collecting unemployment insurance benefits. Illinois added 43,300 new jobs in 2010 and 52,600 in 2011.

IDES Director Jay Rowell said: “Today’s data tells us a familiar story. Overall, the Illinois economy is moving forward despite the uneven nature of the national recovery. Overall job growth continues to improve despite monthly fluctuations in the unemployment rate and the number of jobs created, which has become the hallmark of this economic cycle.”

Following are the unemployment rates, from lowest to highest, for all 12 metropolitan areas (December 2010 unemployment rates in parentheses):

1. Bloomington-Normal, 7 percent (6.8 percent)

2. Springfield, 7.5 percent (7 percent)

3. Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, 7.8 percent (7.8 percent)

4. Champaign-Urbana, 7.9 percent (7.8 percent)

5. Peoria, 8.1 percent (8.7 percent)

6 (tie). Lake (Illinois)/Kenosha (Wisconsin), 9.3 percent (9.4 percent); and Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, 9.3 percent (8.6 percent)

8. St. Louis, 9.7 percent (9 percent)

9. Decatur, 10.2 percent (10.2 percent)

10. Danville, 10.3 percent (10.4 percent)

11. Kankakee-Bradley, 11.4 percent (11.7 percent)

12. Rockford, 12.5 percent (12.9 percent)

Following are the total job gains and losses, from highest to lowest, for all 12 metropolitan areas (December 2011 and December 2010 job totals in parentheses):

1. Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, plus 12,800 (3,664,200 in 2011, 3,651,400 in 2010)

2. Peoria, plus 8,600 (188,300 in 2011, 179,700 in 2010)

3. Lake (Illinois)/Kenosha (Wisconsin), plus 3,400 (377,400 in 2011, 374,000 in 2010)

4. Kankakee-Bradley, plus 2,000 (45,400 in 2011, 43,400 in 2010)

5. St. Louis, plus 700 (231,400 in 2011, 230,700 in 2010)

6. Springfield, plus 600 (113,500 in 2011, 112,900 in 2010)

7. Rockford, plus 500 (145,600 in 2011, 145,100 in 2010)

8. Bloomington-Normal, even (91,000 in 2011, 91,000 in 2010)

9. Danville, minus 100 (28,900 in 2011, 29,000 in 2010)

10 (tie). Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, minus 600 (179,500 in 2011, 180,100 in 2010); and Decatur, minus 600 (52,400 in 2011, 53,000 in 2010)

12. Champaign-Urbana, minus 1,600 (107,600 in 2011, 109,200 in 2010)

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Rock Valley College, faculty association hope to reach agreement Feb. 1

Thursday, January 26th, 2012

Online Staff Report

Rock Valley College (RVC) and the RVC Faculty Association issued a joint statement Jan. 26 regarding ongoing faculty contract negotiations.

RVC instructors have been without a contract since July as they continue to work toward an agreement with the RVC Board of Trustees.

Following is the joint statement released Jan. 26:

“The college and faculty negotiation teams met on Wednesday [Jan. 25] to continue discussions to break the impasse. While the parties have not yet reached an agreement, both sides agree that progress has been made and are optimistic that an agreement can be reached. Discussions will continue and the parties are scheduled to meet face to face on Wednesday, Feb. 1, to hopefully bring the process to a conclusion.”

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Rockford man charged with attempted murder following domestic battery report

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

Online Staff Report

James Drago, 42, of Rockford, was arrested and charged with attempted murder Jan. 25.

Rockford police responded to an aggravated domestic battery call in the 2200 block of 19th Avenue shortly after 2:30 p.m., Monday, Jan. 24. The suspect had fled prior to the police arriving.

The victim was battered and cut with a knife. She was taken to a hospital and the extent of her injuries is not known.

Officers located Drago in the 2200 block of 22nd Street shortly after 10 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24. He was also arrested on an Illinois Department of Corrections warrant.

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State of the Union: Jobs key focus of Obama’s speech

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

President Barack Obama delivers his State of the Union address Tuesday, Jan. 24, at the U.S. Capitol. (White House photo by Pete Souza)

Online Staff Report

Putting America back to work in the wake of the Iraq War was a major focus of President Barack Obama’s Jan. 24 State of the Union address.

In making his case for a post-Iraq War economy, Obama drew a connection to the post-World War II period. Also referred to as the “Golden Age of Capitalism,” the post-World War II period saw worldwide economic growth with high employment.

As explained by Wikipedia: “The period from the end of World War II to the early 1970s was a golden era of American capitalism. $200 billion in war bonds matured, and the G.I. Bill financed a well-educated work force. The middle class swelled, as did GDP and productivity. The U.S. underwent its own golden age of economic growth. This growth was distributed fairly evenly across the economic classes, which some attribute to the strength of labor unions in this period — labor union membership peaked during the 1950s. Much of the growth came from the movement of low-income farm workers into better-paying jobs in the towns and cities — a process largely completed by 1960.”

Obama said during his State of the Union address: “We can do this. I know we can, because we’ve done it before. At the end of World War II, when another generation of heroes returned home from combat, they built the strongest economy and middle class the world has ever known. …

“We can either settle for a country where a shrinking number of people do really well while a growing number of Americans barely get by, or we can restore an economy where everyone gets a fair shot, and everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same set of rules,” Obama added.

During his speech, Obama touched on al Qaeda and the assassination of Osama bin Laden; the auto industry; increasing exports; unfair trading practices; retooling the workforce; education; immigration; energy; infrastructure; the housing market; banks and the financial industry; tax reform; campaign finance and ethics; the dysfunction in Congress; Afghanistan; Iran; veterans’ affairs; and the politics of Washington, D.C. Excerpts from Obama’s speech about each of these topics follows in the order in which he presented them.

NATIONAL DEFENSE

“For the first time in nine years, there are no Americans fighting in Iraq. For the first time in two decades, Osama bin Laden is not a threat to this country. Most of al Qaeda’s top lieutenants have been defeated. The Taliban’s momentum has been broken, and some troops in Afghanistan have begun to come home.”

JOBS

“In the six months before I took office, we lost nearly 4 million jobs. And we lost another 4 million before our policies were in full effect.

“Those are the facts. But so are these: In the last 22 months, businesses have created more than 3 million jobs. Last year, they created the most jobs since 2005.”

AUTO INDUSTRY

“On the day I took office, our auto industry was on the verge of collapse. Some even said we should let it die. With a million jobs at stake, I refused to let that happen. In exchange for help, we demanded responsibility. We got workers and automakers to settle their differences. We got the industry to retool and restructure. Today, General Motors is back on top as the world’s No. 1 automaker. Chrysler has grown faster in the U.S. than any major car company. Ford is investing billions in U.S. plants and factories. And together, the entire industry added nearly 160,000 jobs.

“We bet on American workers. We bet on American ingenuity. And tonight, the American auto industry is back.

“What’s happening in Detroit can happen in other industries.”

KEEPING JOBS IN THE U.S.

“Tonight, my message to business leaders is simple: Ask yourselves what you can do to bring jobs back to your country, and your country will do everything we can to help you succeed.

“We should start with our tax code. Right now, companies get tax breaks for moving jobs and profits overseas. Meanwhile, companies that choose to stay in America get hit with one of the highest tax rates in the world. It makes no sense, and everyone knows it. So let’s change it.

“First, if you’re a business that wants to outsource jobs, you shouldn’t get a tax deduction for doing it. That money should be used to cover moving expenses for companies like Master Lock that decide to bring jobs home.

“Second, no American company should be able to avoid paying its fair share of taxes by moving jobs and profits overseas. From now on, every multinational company should have to pay a basic minimum tax. And every penny should go towards lowering taxes for companies that choose to stay here and hire here in America.

“Third, if you’re an American manufacturer, you should get a bigger tax cut. If you’re a high-tech manufacturer, we should double the tax deduction you get for making your products here. And if you want to relocate in a community that was hit hard when a factory left town, you should get help financing a new plant, equipment or training for new workers.”

INCREASING EXPORTS

“Two years ago, I set a goal of doubling U.S. exports over five years. With the bipartisan trade agreements we signed into law, we’re on track to meet that goal ahead of schedule.”

UNFAIR TRADING PRACTICES

“Tonight, I’m announcing the creation of a Trade Enforcement Unit that will be charged with investigating unfair trading practices in countries like China. There will be more inspections to prevent counterfeit or unsafe goods from crossing our borders.”

RETOOLING THE WORKFORCE

“Growing industries in science and technology have twice as many openings as we have workers who can do the job. Think about that — openings at a time when millions of Americans are looking for work. It’s inexcusable. …

“Join me in a national commitment to train 2 million Americans with skills that will lead directly to a job. … Model partnerships between businesses like Siemens and community colleges in places like Charlotte, and Orlando, and Louisville are up and running. Now you need to give more community colleges the resources they need to become community career centers — places that teach people skills that businesses are looking for right now, from data management to high-tech manufacturing.”

EDUCATION

“Teachers matter. So instead of bashing them, or defending the status quo, let’s offer schools a deal. Give them the resources to keep good teachers on the job, and reward the best ones. And in return, grant schools flexibility: to teach with creativity and passion; to stop teaching to the test; and to replace teachers who just aren’t helping kids learn. That’s a bargain worth making. …

“When students are not allowed to drop out, they do better. So tonight, I am proposing that every state — every state — requires that all students stay in high school until they graduate or turn 18.

“When kids do graduate, the most daunting challenge can be the cost of college. At a time when Americans owe more in tuition debt than credit card debt, this Congress needs to stop the interest rates on student loans from doubling in July.

“Extend the tuition tax credit we started that saves millions of middle-class families thousands of dollars, and give more young people the chance to earn their way through college by doubling the number of work-study jobs in the next five years. …

“States also need to do their part, by making higher education a higher priority in their budgets. And colleges and universities have to do their part by working to keep costs down. …

“So let me put colleges and universities on notice: If you can’t stop tuition from going up, the funding you get from taxpayers will go down. Higher education can’t be a luxury — it is an economic imperative that every family in America should be able to afford.

IMMIGRATION

“I believe as strongly as ever that we should take on illegal immigration. That’s why my administration has put more boots on the border than ever before. That’s why there are fewer illegal crossings than when I took office. The opponents of action are out of excuses. We should be working on comprehensive immigration reform right now.

“But if election-year politics keeps Congress from acting on a comprehensive plan, let’s at least agree to stop expelling responsible young people who want to staff our labs, start new businesses, defend this country. Send me a law that gives them the chance to earn their citizenship. I will sign it right away.”

ENERGY

“Over the last three years, we’ve opened millions of new acres for oil and gas exploration, and tonight, I’m directing my administration to open more than 75 percent of our potential offshore oil and gas resources. Right now — right now — American oil production is the highest that it’s been in eight years. That’s right — eight years. Not only that — last year, we relied less on foreign oil than in any of the past 16 years. …

“This country needs an all-out, all-of-the-above strategy that develops every available source of American energy. A strategy that’s cleaner, cheaper and full of new jobs.

“We have a supply of natural gas that can last America nearly 100 years. And my administration will take every possible action to safely develop this energy. Experts believe this will support more than 600,000 jobs by the end of the decade. …

“We’ve subsidized oil companies for a century. That’s long enough. It’s time to end the taxpayer giveaways to an industry that rarely has been more profitable, and double-down on a clean energy industry that never has been more promising. Pass clean energy tax credits. Create these jobs.

“We can also spur energy innovation with new incentives. The differences in this chamber may be too deep right now to pass a comprehensive plan to fight climate change. But there’s no reason why Congress shouldn’t at least set a clean energy standard that creates a market for innovation. So far, you haven’t acted. Well, tonight, I will. I’m directing my administration to allow the development of clean energy on enough public land to power 3 million homes. And I’m proud to announce that the Department of Defense, working with us, the world’s largest consumer of energy, will make one of the largest commitments to clean energy in history — with the Navy purchasing enough capacity to power a quarter of a million homes a year.

“Of course, the easiest way to save money is to waste less energy. So here’s a proposal: Help manufacturers eliminate energy waste in their factories and give businesses incentives to upgrade their buildings. Their energy bills will be $100 billion lower over the next decade, and America will have less pollution, more manufacturing, more jobs for construction workers who need them. Send me a bill that creates these jobs.”

INFRASTRUCTURE

“In the next few weeks, I will sign an executive order clearing away the red tape that slows down too many construction projects. But you need to fund these projects. Take the money we’re no longer spending at war, use half of it to pay down our debt, and use the rest to do some nation-building right here at home.”

HOUSING MARKET

“I’m sending this Congress a plan that gives every responsible homeowner the chance to save about $3,000 a year on their mortgage, by refinancing at historically low rates. … A small fee on the largest financial institutions will ensure that it won’t add to the deficit and will give those banks that were rescued by taxpayers a chance to repay a deficit of trust. …

“And tonight, I’m asking my Attorney General to create a special unit of federal prosecutors and leading state attorney general to expand our investigations into the abusive lending and packaging of risky mortgages that led to the housing crisis. This new unit will hold accountable those who broke the law, speed assistance to homeowners, and help turn the page on an era of recklessness that hurt so many Americans.”

BANKS AND FINANCIAL INDUSTRY

“So, if you are a big bank or financial institution, you’re no longer allowed to make risky bets with your customers’ deposits. You’re required to write out a ‘living will’ that details exactly how you’ll pay the bills if you fail — because the rest of us are not bailing you out ever again. And if you’re a mortgage lender or a payday lender or a credit card company, the days of signing people up for products they can’t afford with confusing forms and deceptive practices — those days are over. Today, American consumers finally have a watchdog in Richard Cordray [director of the United States Consumer Financial Protection Bureau] with one job: To look out for them.”

PAYROLL TAX

“Right now, our most immediate priority is stopping a tax hike on 160 million working Americans while the recovery is still fragile. … Pass the payroll tax cut without delay.”

TAX REFORM

“Tax reform should follow the Buffett Rule. If you make more than $1 million a year, you should not pay less than 30 percent in taxes. And my Republican friend Tom Coburn is right: Washington should stop subsidizing millionaires. In fact, if you’re earning a million dollars a year, you shouldn’t get special tax subsidies or deductions. On the other hand, if you make under $250,000 a year, like 98 percent of American families, your taxes shouldn’t go up.”

CAMPAIGN FINANCE & ETHICS

“Some of this has to do with the corrosive influence of money in politics. So together, let’s take some steps to fix that. Send me a bill that bans insider trading by members of Congress; I will sign it tomorrow. Let’s limit any elected official from owning stocks in industries they impact. Let’s make sure people who bundle campaign contributions for Congress can’t lobby Congress, and vice versa — an idea that has bipartisan support, at least outside of Washington.”

DYSFUNCTIONAL CONGRESS

“Some of what’s broken has to do with the way Congress does its business these days. A simple majority is no longer enough to get anything — even routine business — passed through the Senate. Neither party has been blameless in these tactics. Now, both parties should put an end to it. For starters, I ask the Senate to pass a simple rule that all judicial and public service nominations receive a simple up or down vote within 90 days.”

AFGHANISTAN

“[W]e’ve begun to wind down the war in Afghanistan. Ten thousand of our troops have come home. Twenty-three thousand more will leave by the end of this summer. This transition to Afghan lead will continue, and we will build an enduring partnership with Afghanistan, so that it is never again a source of attacks against America.”

IRAN

“Through the power of our diplomacy, a world that was once divided about how to deal with Iran’s nuclear program now stands as one. The regime is more isolated than ever before; its leaders are faced with crippling sanctions, and as long as they shirk their responsibilities, this pressure will not relent.

“Let there be no doubt: America is determined to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, and I will take no options off the table to achieve that goal.

“But a peaceful resolution of this issue is still possible, and far better, and if Iran changes course and meets its obligations, it can rejoin the community of nations.”

VETERANS

“With the bipartisan support of this Congress, we’re providing new tax credits to companies that hire vets. Michelle [Obama] and Jill Biden have worked with American businesses to secure a pledge of 135,000 jobs for veterans and their families. And tonight, I’m proposing a Veterans Jobs Corps that will help our communities hire veterans as cops and firefighters, so that America is as strong as those who defend her.”

POLITICS OF WASHINGTON

“One of my proudest possessions is the flag that the SEAL Team took with them on the mission to get bin Laden. On it are each of their names. Some may be Democrats. Some may be Republicans. But that doesn’t matter. Just like it didn’t matter that day in the Situation Room, when I sat next to Bob Gates — a man who was George Bush’s defense secretary — and Hillary Clinton — a woman who ran against me for president.

“All that mattered that day was the mission. No one thought about politics. No one thought about themselves.”

U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo responds

In response to the president’s State of the Union address, U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo, R-Ill., issued the following statement: “If the president is serious about wanting to help our employers put Americans back to work, he must stop talking about the two things that will keep Americans on the unemployment lines and extend our difficult times — tax increases and excessive government regulations. Employers are not going to create jobs when they could face huge tax increases and unnecessary regulatory burdens in the near future. We need to reduce the cost of doing business in this country and help make our employers more competitive so they can expand and create jobs. My American Jobs Agenda offers solutions that would put our great nation back on the path to prosperity.

“The president also needs to get serious about cutting wasteful Washington spending and shrinking the size of government so we can strengthen our economy and give our employers the confidence they need to invest in their businesses,” Manzullo added. “Today marks the 1,000th day the Senate has gone without passing a budget. That’s unacceptable. I strongly encourage the president and Senate Democratic leaders to take a look at a budget I supported last year — the Republican Study Committee budget — that would have cut $9.1 trillion over the next 10 years while strengthening Social Security, saving Medicare, reforming the tax code, and balancing the budget in nine years. It’s time for Washington to start living within its means and end the massive borrowing from China and other countries that is saddling future generations of Americans with massive debt.”

Posted in Happening Now, Nation & World | 2 Comments »

Park District names employee, team of the year

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

Online Staff Report

The Rockford Park District announced that Community Recreation Manager Danielle Potter was selected as the Rockford Park District 2011 Employee of the Year. Laurie Anderson, Matt Bunk, Barb Neville, Brenda Parrish and Judy Roby were selected as 2011 Team of the Year by all staff members through an online voting system.

Throughout the year, 24 employees and seven teams were nominated by team members and selected by a staff recognition committee as Employee of the Quarter and Team of the Quarter, making them eligible to be selected as Employee of the Year and Team of the Year.

The nominations for each quarter included recognition for Outstanding Performance, Creative Contributions, Notable Service to Community/Citizens, Notable Service to Staff, Dollars for Ideas, and Safety First.

Factors used to determine quarterly award recipients included special contributions to the Park District as a whole, successful completion of special projects, ideas for improved work methods, outstanding dedication to the Park District, ideas that generated revenue or saved money for the district, attention to safety details, and/or outstanding customer service.

Potter received the recognition because of her involvement in the “Summer Challenge” program. This year, the Park District coordinated the entire program at six schools for more than 1,800 students in grades kindergarten through eighth. Potter demonstrated excellence in leadership while working with a direct budget of more than $1 million, hiring well more than 60 additional seasonal employees and preparing all policies, procedures, logistics and service partners.

Potter’s success was noted by Rockford Public School District 205, the YMCA of Rock River Valley, and other partners participating in the program.

Anderson, Bunk, Neville, Parrish and Roby were selected as 2011 Team of the Year based on their quick actions to capture available grant money and create a new program of the Rockford Park District.

Neville noticed an article in a National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) magazine about a grant for serving veterans with disabilities upon returning home. Following up on the article, but with less than one day to get it done, Brenda, Laurie, Matt, and Judy pulled together to complete what was needed for the application. The end result: $14,000 was granted to the Park District’s Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies program. This is the first time the Park District has received national grant funding for Therapeutic Recreation programs.

The other employees of the four quarters who were eligible to be named Employee of the Year included Penny Christians, John Piccolin, Reggie Peterson, Tina Leinbaugh, Nathan McDonald, Dave Rutherford, Curt Johnsen, Laura Gibbs-Green, Miranda Sparks, Garrett Jones, David Petrovich, Jeff Stacy, Zachary Zage, Pat Krueger, Paula Reiter, Matt Dutkiewicz, Gerald Bell, Alex Peterson, Pete Stankiewicz, Cindy Rathke, Pam Lindstrom, Shannon Crain, and Kyle Martinson.

The other quarterly team winners that were eligible to be named Team of the Year included Breedy Wilson and Cedric Wynn, Scott Burfoot and Don Walker, Horticulture Department, Magic Waters Seasonal Staff, Therapeutic Recreation Team, Atwood Environmental Education Team, along with Officer Scot Nason, Officer Joe Williams and Officer Jason Parada.

Posted in Happening Now, Local News | No Comments »

Jan. 26 ‘Murder in the Garden’ luncheon kicks off Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens speaker series

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

Peter Loewer

Online Staff Report

The first of many Speaker Series luncheons will take place this week at Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens, 1354 N. Second St., Rockford.

Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens will be holding a “Murder in the Garden” luncheon with Peter Loewer from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 26.

Loewer reviews movies for National Public Radio (NPR) in Asheville, N.C., and has written more than 30 books about gardening and natural history, including the award-winning The Wild Gardener and Thoreau’s Garden.

Loewer is also a well-known and honored botanical illustrator. Over the years, Loewer has gathered information about the connection between movie monsters and flowers, plus all those plants used by mystery writers to dispatch their victims.

Lunch will be provided by Toni’s of Winnebago, and pre-registration is required. Cost is $30 per person. Nicholas Conservatory members receive a $5 discount.

To register or for more information, contact Lyndi Toohill at (815) 987-1654 or lynditoohill@rockfordparkdistrict.org, or Ruth Miller at (815) 987-1689 or ruthmiller@rockfordparkdistrict.org.

Posted in Happening Now, Local News | 1 Comment »

Madigan sues Standard & Poor’s for allegedly enabling financial meltdown

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

Online Staff Report

CHICAGO — Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed a lawsuit Jan. 25 against Standard & Poor’s for its allegedly fraudulent role in assigning its highest ratings to risky mortgage-backed investments in the years leading up to the housing market crash.

Madigan filed her lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court, alleging that Standard & Poor’s (S&P) compromised its independence as a ratings agency by doling out high ratings to unworthy, risky investments as a corporate strategy to increase its revenue and market share.

The Attorney General’s lawsuit alleges S&P ignored the increasing risks posed by mortgage-backed securities, instead giving the investment pools ratings that were favorable to its investment bank client base and S&P’s profits.

“Publically, S&P took every opportunity to proclaim their analyses and ratings as independent, objective and free from its desire for revenue,” Madigan said. “Yet, privately, S&P abandoned its principles and instead used every trick possible to give deals high ratings in order to retain clients and generate revenue. The mortgage-backed securities that helped our market soar — and ultimately crash — could not have been purchased by most investors without S&P’s seal of approval.”

The Attorney General’s lawsuit cites numerous internal e-mails and conversations among S&P employees in the run up to the housing market’s crash that demonstrate the company misrepresented its ratings as objective and independent. In one such exchange, in April 2007, an online conversation via a company-based instant messenger application revealed employees discussing S&P ratings compared to the reality of risk involved, with an employee stating an investment “could be structured by cows and we would rate it.”

Madigan said investors relied on S&P ratings because they were historically rooted in the agency’s purported independence and objectivity. S&P’s internal code of conduct states its goal to “promote investor protection by safeguarding the integrity of the rating process.” But, the Attorney General’s lawsuit cites congressional testimony by a former managing director of S&P who revealed that “profits were running the show,” with ratings being assigned to risky investments to help drive profit margins for their clients.

S&P, a subsidiary of McGraw-Hill Companies, is one of the nation’s largest credit ratings agencies responsible for independently rating risk on behalf of clients and investors.

Madigan said in the run up to the financial crisis, S&P consistently misrepresented the risk of mortgage-backed securities, assigning these securities its highest seal of approval — or AAA rating. This misrepresentation spurred investors to purchase securities that were far riskier than their ratings revealed.

Mortgage-backed securities are financial products composed of a pool of mortgages that are bundled together and sold as a security. The assets are backed by residential mortgages, including subprime mortgages.

The performance of these investment products have significant, real-world implications for Illinois institutional investors, such as pension funds and 401(k) managers who make decisions about whether, and which, of these securities are appropriate investments. It was the misrepresentation of the true value of these risky mortgage pools that helped the housing market skyrocket and ultimately led to its collapse in 2008.

The lawsuit is part of Madigan’s continuing work to hold lenders accountable for their unlawful financial misconduct, and to provide relief and assistance to Illinois families struggling to save their homes.

Most recently, in December 2011, Madigan and the U.S. Department of Justice reached a $335 million settlement with Countrywide, a subsidiary of Bank of America, for discriminating against thousands of Illinois borrowers of color during the height of the subprime mortgage lending spree. The settlement will provide restitution to harmed Illinois borrowers and is the largest settlement of a fair lending lawsuit ever obtained by a state attorney general.

The Attorney General is litigating a similar lawsuit against Wells Fargo alleging widespread discrimination against African-American and Latino borrowers.

Madigan led an earlier lawsuit against Countrywide, which resulted in a nationwide $8.7 billion settlement in 2008 over the company’s predatory lending practices. The Attorney General also reached a $39.5 million settlement with Wells Fargo over the bank’s deceptive marketing of extremely risky loans called Pay Option ARMs, and in 2006, Madigan obtained more than $10 million in restitution for Illinois homeowners as part of a $325 billion multi-state settlement with Ameriquest over the former mortgage giant’s deceptive sales of predatory subprime mortgages.

Assistant Attorneys General Vaishali Rao and Vijay Raghavan are handling the case for Madigan’s Consumer Fraud Bureau.

Posted in Happening Now, Statehouse News | No Comments »

12 percent increase in state higher education funding goes to pensions

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

By Andrew Thomason
Illinois Statehouse News

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — llinois’ 12 percent increase in higher education spending this year isn’t going to benefit students. Instead, the additional funding for fiscal 2012 is going into the State Universities Retirement System (SURS) to address its underfunded pension program.

“These SURS appropriations do not go to individual institutions or agencies and are not available to be used for educational purposes,” according to the footnote in a study released Jan. 23 by Illinois State University (ISU).

SURS, which is responsible for the pensions of the state’s university employees, is facing an unfunded liability — how much it owes in benefits compared with how much assets it has on hand — of $17.2 billion, according to its 2011 annual report.

Illinois has a total stated unfunded pension liability of $85 billion, but a 2009 study by the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management puts the figure as high as $219.1 billion. The study didn’t specify how much it estimates SURS’ portion to be.

The “rapidly increasing appropriations” have pushed Illinois’ higher education spending from $3.2 billion in fiscal 2011 to $3.6 billion this fiscal year, according the annual Grapevine study of state support for higher education put out by Center for the Study of Education Policy at ISU.

The dramatic increase in the amount of money being given to SURS, and the other state pension systems, seeks to make up for decades of chronic underfunding by governors and legislators, and shrinking returns on investments because of the stagnant economy.

Funding that made it to the college or university classroom decreased this year compared to last year by 0.76 percent, from $1.62 billion to $1.6 billion, according to the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE), which oversees the state’s higher education system. Those figures reflect money going directly to education, such as operating expenses, and don’t include capital spending.

The amount of taxpayer money making it to the universities for daily operations has been on a downward slide for a decade, said Alan Philips, deputy director of the IBHE.

“In more recent years, it has been largely a result of the state’s fiscal challenges. The state just doesn’t have a lot of money,” Philips said. “It’s probably not very likely we’re going to see increases in state funding for education, and we’ll be lucky if (higher) education funding is held flat.”

Since fiscal 2007, the total amount of higher education funding, including pensions, in Illinois has increased by 25 percent, from $2.8 billion to $3.6 billion. During that same time, state tax dollars going to SURS have increased from $255 million to $750 million.

That figure is set to double next fiscal year, hitting $1.4 billion to meet the requirements of a 1994 law setting a pension payment schedule for the state.

When higher education spending figures are reduced by removing the costs of SURS, spending on higher education has increased by 9.4 percent since 2007, or at about the rate of inflation.

Students have been asked to shoulder much of the rising cost of classrooms while at the same time Illinois diverted money to the ailing SURS.

Beth Spencer, a spokesman for SURS, said the increasing state payments to the pension system are the result of decisions made by past lawmakers and governors.

“The state has systematically, over decades, failed to fully pay the annual required contribution,” Spencer said.

Students in 2011 paid 30 percent more for a year of college at a university than those in 2007, as the cost rose from $13,496 to $18,189.

Philips said increasing tuition and student fees have become an ugly reality for universities dealing with less state money and the end of federal stimulus funding.

“With the cost of educating increasing, with the requirement to serve more students increasing, with the state funding decreasing, there’s not many places that you make up the difference,” he said.

That’s what’s happened at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the state’s flagship university.

The U. of I.’s Board of Trustees voted last week to increase tuition for new, in-state students this fall at its Urbana-Champaign campus by 4.8 percent, from $11,104 to $11,636 a year. This comes less than a year after the board approved a 6.9 percent tuition increase at the main campus.

“Tuition increases have been declining over the least three years,” University of Illinois President Michael Hogan said at a board last week, according to the Chicago Tribune. As for future tuition increases, “much depends on the future of state funding,” Hogan said.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn’s three-year budget projection holds education funding flat through fiscal 2015, though the Legislature must approve those figures each year.

Quinn and legislators are looking to cut the ballooning spending on public pensions, including SURS.

Quinn said earlier this month that one possible solution would be shifting the cost of the pensions. He highlighted shifting costs of elementary school teachers’ pensions to their local districts, a move that also could be applied to the collegiate retirement system.

Cost shifting could push student tuition even higher.

To cover the extra burden of cost shifting, “tuition would be one source. We would have to reallocate (funds and resources); there would be some hard priority decisions,” Randy Kanges, a spokesman for the U. of I., said.

Illinois House Republican Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego, and House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, plan to have public employees either pay more to keep their current retirement packages or pay less and switch to a 401(k)-style system.

James Palmer, editor of the Grapevine study, said spending on higher education is tied directly to the economy.

“It’s taking us longer to recover from the Great Recession that hit us a couple of years ago,” Palmer said. “If the past is prologue, funding for higher education will increase when the economy heats up.”

Posted in Happening Now, Statehouse News | 4 Comments »

Groundhog Gala at Sycamore’s Midwest Museum of Natural History

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

Midwest Museum of Natural History in Sycamore, Ill., will host its fourth annual Groundhog Gala from 6 to 9 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 28. (Image provided)

Staff Report

SYCAMORE, Ill. — Woodchuck, land beaver, whistle pig — groundhogs go by many names. From 6 to 9 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 28, the Midwest Museum of Natural History will tip its hat to this mighty marmot during its fourth annual Groundhog Gala.

Guests will enjoy a fabulous evening complete with music, exhibitors, a silent auction, open bar and treats from around the world. Snack on authentic Mexican fare from Taxco while enjoying African drumming, chat with a dinosaur expert as you sample wine from across the globe. Sip on unique coffee while learning about its origin from an expert with South Street Coffee, and much more.

The Groundhog Gala is the museum’s largest fund-raiser of the year, and all proceeds support educational programming, live animal care, museum operations, and community outreach.

Tickets for the event are $30 each or two for $50; stop by the museum or call (815) 895-9777 to reserve a ticket.

Midwest Museum of Natural History, 425 W. State St., Sycamore, Ill., is a nonprofit organization. To learn more about the museum and upcoming events, visit www.mmnh.org.

From the Jan. 25-31, 2012, issue

Posted in Living, Outdoors | No Comments »

Applications of Illinois Eavesdropping Act still being debated — part 1

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

By Susan Johnson
Copy Editor

While the constitutionality of various laws may be decided in court, one that affects Illinois citizens is in the midst of controversy. This issue was highlighted in a Chicago Tribune article of Jan. 2: “Eavesdropping vs. public speech.”

The Rock River Times addressed this topic in a Nov. 2, 2011, article, “Legal questions arise on filming of police in public places,” in which we obtained comments from local officials.

Illinois is unique in having some of the strictest regulations on what may be considered eavesdropping, even in public places where no secrecy is intended. To get an update, we interviewed some of the people mentioned in the Tribune article. We have also been in contact with Peter M. Heimlich, an independent researcher with his own blog, who has been following another case that involves a whistleblower.

The Chris Drew case

Joshua Kutnick is an attorney who represents Chris Drew, who, as the Tribune reported, “is accused of making an illegal audio recording of Chicago police during a 2009 arrest for selling art on a downtown street without a permit.”

Kutnick spoke to us by phone Jan. 5:

TRRT: What is your understanding of the Illinois eavesdropping law as it applies to private citizens videotaping or audiotaping in public?

Kutnick: “Videotaping is a different story than audiotaping. A videotape is capturing something that is open and public. You don’t have any right to privacy in walking down the street or looking in the window at Macy’s. But what you say in private conversations —those are protected by the Illinois constitution, and rightfully so. You wouldn’t be able to record this conversation without my consent. But if I did consent, it would be all right.

“Where the water gets muddy in regard to police officers — specifically, those performing their public duties, is undercover police officers who are investigating something and … they could obtain court orders to eavesdrop. They should be able to do this, but in Illinois, we have what is ‘judicial oversight.’ That allows police officers to record — basically a search warrant. It shouldn’t be carte blanche. There are reasons for the Illinois Eavesdropping Act, like a private phone conversation.

“In a situation like Chris Drew, where he is using something to record police conduct, and he is being charged with the recording of that public police action — we feel that he has a right to record the police doing their public duties, and that is exactly what happened here. One of the examples we are citing in our motion to dismiss — if you are driving from home to jury duty and you get lost, and you see a police officer sitting on the side of the road. You ask him for directions, and you turn on your recorder on your cell phone and record what he tells you. Under the Illinois Eavesdropping Act, you’ve just committed a Class 1 felony, because you recorded the conversation with the police officer without his consent. If he consents, that is a different story. That’s why we think the law, as written, is unconstitutional because it criminalizes potentially innocent conduct.

TRRT: Are you aware of any other cases past or present that might have any bearing on the ruling in the Drew case?

Kutnick: “The Crawford County case — People vs. Michael Allison. You can read about the facts of this case. [The case concerned an ordinance violation citation that the City of Robinson issued regarding an alleged abandoned car on Allison’s property. In the circuit court order, it was alleged that Allison used a digital recorder to secretly record conversations with officials including police officers, employees of the Crawford County clerk, the Robinson city attorney’s office, and a judge presiding over the case. The circuit court rejected Allison’s argument but upheld his contentions that the statute violates substantive due process and the First Amendment. Citing the Supreme Court’s discussion of the test for constitutionality in People vs. Madrigal, 241 III 2d 463, 948 NE 2d 591 (2011), the court ruled that the Illinois Eavesdropping Statute was unconstitutional.]

“The judge ruled that it was illegal for him to be prosecuted under the Eavesdropping Act. All the charges against him have been at least temporarily thrown out while the state appeals that to the Illinois Supreme Court. That is what’s going on right now. It was a violation of his constitutional rights, and the state is appealing that ruling directly to the Supreme Court.

“There was also the case called People vs. Tiawanda Moore. She was found not guilty by a jury.[Moore secretly recorded a conversation with two Chicago Police investigators while filing a sexual harassment complaint. It began with police responding to a domestic disturbance at the home of Moore and her boyfriend. They were questioned separately, and Moore claimed that the officer groped her breast and gave her his home phone number. When Moore and her boyfriend attempted to file a complaint, they allegedly were discouraged from doing so. That’s when Moore began to record the conversation on her Blackberry phone. When the case was taken to court, prosecutors alleged that there was a discrepancy in Moore’s statements to the police, and they said there was credible evidence for the prosecution. But the jury found that Moore’s case met the requirements of an exception to the Illinois Eavesdropping Law, and she was acquitted.]

To be continued …

From the Jan. 25-31, 2012, issue

Posted in Local News, News | No Comments »

Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Illinois March 3 at Olson Lake

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

Staff Report

It’s not every day that people are willing to “go jump in a lake” — particularly in the winter — let alone do so with thousands of other people, including members of the law enforcement community. But that’s exactly what will happen at noon, Saturday, March 3, at Rock Cut State Park’s Olson Lake in Loves Park as part of the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge to benefit Special Olympics Illinois.

The event has grown from one location in 1999 to 20 locations across the state. The Polar Plunge series will kick off with a SUPER Plunge — where participants raise a minimum of $2,500 and plunge into Lake Michigan once an hour every hour for 24 hours — Feb. 24-25 at Northwestern University’s North Beach in Evanston, Ill.

Any adventurous soul is invited to join law enforcement officers, as well as media and business and civic leaders from their community, by donning bathing suits, costumes or any clothing of choice (just no wet suits!) to jump in a lake. Each plunger must collect a minimum of $75 in donations that will be used to support Special Olympics programs in Illinois.

Individuals and teams can register for the plunge on the Special Olympics Illinois website at http://www.plungeillinois.com. Locally, those interested in more information about the Polar Plunge at Olson Lake can contact Debbie Kelly at (815) 288-2939.

Plungers are encouraged to form teams to spread the fun. Each team member must raise the minimum of $75 in donations and all team members’ individual fund-raising totals will be merged to form a combined team total. Teams are placed into divisions based on size and are awarded prizes for the most money raised.

All plungers will receive gifts, compete for prizes, and enjoy food and camaraderie with other chilly participants. The more money a plunger raises, the more chances he/she will have to win a seven-night trip for two to Riu Negril in Negril, Jamaica, courtesy of Riu Hotels and Resorts and Apple Vacations. Trip includes roundtrip airfare, transfers to and from resort, all meals, drinks and more. For every $500 a plunger raises, he/she will get an entry into the drawing for this grand prize.

The Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run is the single largest year-round fund-raising vehicle benefiting Special Olympics Illinois. The annual intrastate relay and its various fund-raising projects have two goals: to raise money and increase public awareness for the athletes of Special Olympics Illinois. Each year, more than 3,000 officers in Illinois run more than 1,500 miles carrying the Flame of Hope through the streets of their hometowns and deliver it to the State Summer Games in Normal, Ill., in June.

From the Jan. 25-31, 2012, issue

Posted in Health & Fitness, Living | No Comments »

Manzullo does not represent the views of his district

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo views the world differently than most of the people living in the 16th Congressional District, yet he keeps getting re-elected. Why?

Rep. Manzullo is proud of his conservative stand against unions, women’s rights, immigrants, the environment, health care for all, food safety, pensions and public broadcasting, and so on. Rep. Manzullo, along with Rep. Joe Walsh, were the only two Illinois representatives to receive an A+ from the Americans for Prosperity free market organization.

His conservative world view does not match the basis of American democracy. Our democracy is founded on morals opposite of Mr. Manzullo’s. American democracy is one of empathy, citizens caring for each other, both social and personal responsibility. In founding the American democracy, our founders set up the government to protect and empower everyone equally. Today, that protection would include health, environment, Medicare and Social Security. And empowerment begins with a free and equal public education. Our freedom depends upon a commitment to care and act on that care for our fellow citizens. Rep. Manzullo rejects all of this.

Rep. Manzullo believes only in individual responsibility, not social responsibility. His voting record since 1992 shows that he does not think government should help its citizens. The part of government that he wants to cut is not subsidies to corporations or to big oil. He wants to cut all the parts of the government that help people.

He believes there should be no power higher than the market. Government should only spend tax dollars to protect the market and promote market values, but should not regulate it, tax it, protect neither unions nor worker rights, nor protect the environment or create food safety laws. Mr.Manzullo’s world view goes so far as to say government should not do public service. The market has private service industries to do that.

It is these conservative values that led to the economic collapse. Ask yourself if Rep. Manzullo’s world view is accurate, why has the unemployment rate in the 16th Congressional District more than doubled since he took office in 1992?

16th District voters need to decide which world view they want representing them in Washington this November. Do we want someone who is committed to the market at the expense of the people, or do we want someone who is committed to democracy in the American tradition, a tradition of caring about our fellow citizens?

Dan Kenney
DeKalb, Ill.

From the Jan. 25-31, 2012, issue

Posted in Letters to the Editor | 3 Comments »

Rockford Dance Company presents the classic ‘Hansel and Gretel’ Jan. 28

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

Rockford Dance Company will offer its modern adaptation of the classic story “Hansel and Gretel” at 2 and 4 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 28. (Image provided)

Staff Report

Rockford Dance Company (RDC) will present a modern adaptation of the classic story Hansel and Gretel at 2 and 4 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 28, at the Sullivan Center, 118 N. Main St., Rockford.

Tickets, $10, can be purchased by calling (815) 963-3341.

Hansel and Gretel is RDC’s third production under the concept of children’s dance theater. The show will last 50 to 60 minutes and will provide accessible entertainment through storytelling dance.

Robert McKee has combined music by Engelbert Humperdinck, South German Philharmonic, Paul Barnes and Edvart Grieg with intense movement and an imaginative cast of characters. Hansel, Gretel and the witch are joined by the Wood Goddess, Gingerbread Guards and Angels.

McKee, a graduate of Point Park University and former company member of Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, has had an interest in teaching and choreography since a very young age. Influenced by percussive rhythms and dynamic shapes, he finds himself always inspired to create.

McKee is on faculty at the Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago, as well as teaches throughout the Chicago area. He has worked with The Giordano Project, McDonald Dance Academy, Barrington High School, Northshore School of Dance Performing Ensemble, Giordano Juniors, the Giordano on Giordano choreography showcase, Brookfield Riverside High School and Northern Illinois University.

RDC is a nonprofit pre-professional dance company. Established in 1981, the school of the RDC serves more than 600 students each year and provides a variety of dance classes year round to students ages 3 to senior citizen. The company’s offices and studios are inside Riverfront Museum Park, 711 N. Main St. Visit rockforddancecompany.com for more information.

From the Jan. 25-31, 2012, issue

Posted in Theater, Vibe Entertainment, Vibe Entertainment News | No Comments »

Guest Column: Forest preserve clear-cut: Deal with it!

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

• Or, ‘Waiting for Arbor Day, not Godot’

Editor’s note: The following is the text of remarks made by Paul Arena during the public comment period at the Jan. 18 Winnebago County Forest Preserve District (WCFPD) board meeting. He attached the following note in his e-mail to The Rock River Times: “Here is my statement I made to the board. I spoke with Tom K [Kalousek, WCFPD executive director] and Randy [Olson, WCFPD board president] yesterday. They are planning a meeting for our group to work with them on a master plan for Roland Olson and how it will be replanted. I think that is very positive news. With your help, we stopped them from cutting 1,000 more tress and it appears we will have a say in what happens going forward. Thanks, Paul”

By Paul Arena
Roland Olson Forest Preserve Neighbor

Good evening, my name is Paul Arena. I am a resident of Winnebago County. I am here to address this board’s conduct regarding the alteration of Roland Olson Forest Preserve.

This action has been explained as necessary in the interest of prairie restoration. I am sure that prairies are an important component of a balanced environment that would include both wooded areas and prairies.

It is stated in the law governing this district that the purpose of the preserves is for the use by the general public. The law states it is this board’s function to provide the public “a well-balanced system of areas with scenic, ecological, recreational, and historic values for the inspiration, education, use and enjoyment by the public.” Roland Olson was an area that many of us frequently enjoyed.

Prior to the alteration, Roland Olson forest preserve was close to half prairie but also included a soccer field, a pavilion for public use and wooded areas where visitors could walk through.

The plan for Roland Olson on page 35 of the district’s 2012 resource management restoration manual calls for the removal of the majority of trees from the park, making the majority of the park tall grass. That is not well-balanced use of that particular area. In this case, the board has failed to represent the interest of a significant number of people who used that park the way it was.

The law governing this board also defines procedures for the contracting of services or for the capital improvement of public lands. With the intent of altering the park to convert it almost entirely to prairie, this board approved a contract to trade more than 4,000 trees for the service of their removal.

Regardless of how the work is defined, the law outlines procedures for a bidding process this board has failed to follow. These procedures are required when the compensation exceeds $20,000.

I believe the trees from Roland Olson have to be worth $5 each and would meet the threshold to require a competitive bid.

This tree harvest is from three forest preserves by the same contractor at the same time. The total value of the lumber harvested would be based on all the trees from all three preserves. The $20,000 threshold is based on the compensation to the contractor in the value of the tress, not what the district receives in return for the trees.

The excuse that there was no other willing bidder does not relieve the board of the requirement to follow the procedures defined in the law. Circumstances to document a sole bidder are addressed in the law and do not appear to have been followed. The intent of these laws is to ensure an open and public process before entering into this type of contract.

Section 2-348 of the law governing this board clearly states that the failure to follow the procedure defined in the law shall void the contract. This board should halt the removal of any cut lumber from our preserves until the public can be assured we are receiving fair compensation for the lumber.

It seems to be the position of this board that the alteration of these preserves without first gaining public opinion was a mistake in judgment, but the public needs to accept what has happened and move on. From the perspective of a person who enjoyed the park, I think a better approach would be to acknowledge that a mistake was made, and you will make things right instead of telling the people that a mistake was made and deal with it.

From the Jan. 25-31, 2012, issue

Posted in Commentary, Guest Column | No Comments »

Local martial arts instructor launches website

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

Local martial arts instructor and published writer Michael Benjamin has announced the launch of his new Dojo-website at www.closequarterskempo.com. Current features include free martial arts and spiritual articles, history, philosophy, links and other happenings. Future contents will include photos and video media.

A Rockford native and Northern Illinois University graduate, Benjamin is the only martial arts instructor from the Midwest with articles published in Inside Kung-Fu, Black Belt and Blade magazines; as well as in Kelly Worden’s Worden Defense System Newsletter; on Master-At-Arms James Albert Keating’s Maajak World e-zine; and on Alex Jones’ infamous Infowars.com. He is also the author of the poetry collections The Wind of Seasons (Sterling House, 1994) and Crowsongs (Vantage Press, 1998).

With more than 25 years of experience, Benjamin holds advanced black belts in Quanfa and Qin Na Gongfu, Kempo Karate, and Okinawan weaponry, as well as a bachelor’s degree in history and minor in Southeast Asian studies. He has trained under some of the world’s most renowned martial arts masters, including the late great Professor Remy Presas (Grandmaster of Modern Arnis and Black Belt Hall of Fame member), Datu Kelly S. Worden (Grandmaster of Natural Spirit International, hand-to-hand combat instructor for the U.S. Army’s First Special Forces Group, featured on the History Channel), Soke Rodney Sacharnoski (Grandmaster of Juko Kai Intl., featured on TV’s Ripley’s Believe It Or Not and More Than Human) and PKA heavyweight kickboxing world champion “Bad” Brad Hefton.

For more information, call (815) 229-8607 or go to www.closequarterskempo.com.

From the Jan. 25-31, 2012, issue

Posted in Community News and Notes, People In Our Times | No Comments »

Your Horoscope: Week of Jan. 25-31, 2012

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

Denise Guzzardo

By Denise Guzzardo

Week of Jan. 25-31, 2012

This Week: Mars has gone retrograde as of Monday, Jan. 23, and will stay there for the next three months. This can create a little more frustration for us fire signs. However, this can also be a good time to activate and hone your communication skills. If you have been biting your tongue, now may be the time to let it rip. Express your feelings of frustration or disappointment, but make sure you count to 10 first. You don’t want anything to fly out of your mouth you will regret. The weekend provides options to let your hair down a bit and have a good time. Enjoy.

Aries (March 21 to April 19) — Long-awaited news arrives this week from the past. This is a positive time to resolve a long-standing issue. Midweek allows you the time to get out and about. You’re able to network as well as socialize with those of like mind. Humor may have been missing from the mix as of late. This is the key to your emotional well-being.

Taurus (April 20 to May 20) — An unexpected gift will arrive shortly, making you feel like a million bucks. This aspect can bring an emotional reaction out of you that may be unexpected. Allow your feelings to flow naturally. Relief is on the way. By week’s end, you are able to get to the bottom of a relationship challenge in the best possible light.

Gemini (May 21 to June 20) — Be very conscious of how you are treating others. Frustrations may be mounting in the workforce or with added responsibilities from an elderly family member. Try not to take this out on a loved one now. They may be spread thin and could lash out unexpectedly. The damage could be irreconcilable and regrets could follow.

Cancer (June 21 to July 22) — The health concern of a female could be weighing heavily on your mind this week. Try not to allow this to affect your physical well-being if you can help it. Your intuition will guide you through this process with ease. A document you have been waiting for will arrive soon. This is way more than you expected.

Leo (July 23 to Aug. 22) — The fear of failure may be creating some turmoil for you or a loved one this week. Make sure you are purposely seeing the cup half full. You have the ability to draw strength for unexpected sources, like a well that never runs dry. Take a night out on the town to relieve some pressure. Connecting with friends and family is key this week.

Virgo (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22) — Try not to take the behavior of another personally. A withdrawn individual may need some time to process something stirring deep within them. When they emerge with an answer, you will be the first to know. Until then, move wide of this aspect and go to other sources for refreshment. There are plenty of wells to draw from.

Libra (Sept. 23 to Oct. 22) — A change in your appearance will help you feel better about yourself. You’re feeling really “cooped up” this week. Get out and exercise, or go to a movie. You’re searching for a distraction, so pick a healthy one. A message from an Aries, Leo or Sagittarius woman could put you on the edge of your seat. Wait until you hear the rest of the story before you fly off the handle.

Scorpio (Oct. 23 to Nov. 21) — Pay close attention to the elements around you. Someone may not be acting like themselves and could even be self-destructive. Don’t underestimate this situation under any circumstance. Utilize your intuition to the fullest power this week, and act accordingly. You won’t regret it.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 to Dec. 21) — You have been experiencing an “uneasiness” you can’t put your finger on. You feel responsible or think you are missing some kind of sign from the heavens. Don’t try so hard to fix this “unknown” problem. By week’s end, everything will come out in the open. From there, an answer to a prayer will be provided.

Capricorn (Dec. 22 to Jan. 19) — You are in a very powerful position to make a difference in someone else’s life. Make absolutely sure this is a positive influence. Everything you send out will come back to you in full form. You deserve to be blessed as much as the next person does. Maybe this is a test to see how you handle a specific karmic task. Choose your words carefully so they do not come back to haunt you.

Aquarius (Jan. 20 to Feb. 18) — A major breakthrough arrives with your personal and professional life. All of the work you have put into yourself is becoming apparent to the naked eye. You are no longer invisible. In fact, you may be stepping up on the stage shortly. Don’t be afraid to claim what’s rightfully yours. Friendships and romantic relationships begin to develop with long-lasting effects. Go for it.

Pisces (Feb. 19 to March 20) — A loss from the past may be weighing heavily on your mind this week. It seems as though you just can’t shake it. Even in your dreams, you’re communicating with those who are no longer here. Try not to allow this to trouble your heart too much. You are processing grief you thought you had moved forward with. It’s OK to retrace your steps a bit. By week’s end, you will begin to feel like a million bucks.

For an extended astrological forecast or psychic consultation, contact Denise at (815) 398-3983.

From the Jan. 25-31, 2012, issue

Posted in Horoscopes, Your Horoscope | No Comments »

New legislation and renewable energy

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

By Drs. Robert & Sonia Vogl
President and Vice President, Illinois Renewable Energy Association

The legal landscape in Illinois includes new provisions that are seen by some as favorable for renewable energy. The state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard called for 25 percent of its energy coming from renewables by 2025. The law stimulated the substantial rise in wind farms, but was far less effective stimulating other forms of renewable energy.

A 1 percent carve-out provision for Distributed Generation (DG) was added to the state standard. The provision is expected to stimulate individuals and businesses to generate electricity on their sites, sell it back to the utility, and earn renewable energy credits that can be sold to buyers. The most likely choice for rooftops is solar energy.

Net metering provisions have been added that should expand the market for distributed generation as well. The net metering cap has been raised from 1 percent to 5 percent, which is expected to stimulate installations of DG systems. Customers enrolled in real-time pricing programs are now eligible to participate in the net metering program.

A 10-year project through which smart meters will be provided for ComEd customers and the majority of Ameren Services customers has also been added.

Legal provisions allowing for municipal aggregation has, for the moment, stimulated widespread interest in the state. Government officials are legally prevented from openly advocating for the passage of a referendum, but can supply information describing it. By passing a referendum, voters authorize officials to aggregate their collective consumption and shop for a third-party supplier. If officials do not find a lower-cost package for the community than current cost of service from ComEd or Ameren, the bid would be rejected.

More than 100 local governments in Illinois are considering municipal aggregation; some have already implemented such programs. The upcoming March ballot is when most constituents will be asked to decide whether they want their community to be involved in the program. If a referendum passes, officials will have to consider proposals from various third-party providers. The Citizens Utility Board has a page on their website describing the various choices.

The appeal of community aggregation is that customers in the aggregation will pay less for their electrical consumption. Savings ranging from 9 percent to 25 percent have been cited as possible. Some state officials and spokespeople for the Citizens Utility Board have cautioned that the savings are not guaranteed.

For us, the former system of net metering was very straightforward. Any size system could use net metering, sending excess electrical production back to a participating utility and be paid at the same rate as charged for electrical service. The new legislation raises the level of eligibility to a 2 MW system.

A news item in the January issue of Photon describes the new legislation as “As a step backward in the Land of Lincoln.” Madeleine Weil with the Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC) in Chicago points to language in the legislation that indicates that only customers assigned to a noncompetitive class can use net metering. What is feared is that most residential and non-residential customer classes are likely to eventually fall under the umbrella of a noncompetitive class. A customer class becomes competitive when a third of all rate payers sign up to receive their electricity from an alternative retail electrical supplier.

With the growing popularity of community aggregation across the state, customers could themselves be in the noncompetitive class and no longer eligible for net metering. The ELPC will try to change this situation.

Drs. Robert and Sonia Vogl are founders and officers of the Illinois Renewable Energy Association (IREA) and coordinate the annual Renewable Energy and Sustainable Lifestyle Fair. E-mail sonia@essex1.com.

From the Jan. 25-31, 2012, issue

Posted in Renewable Energy | No Comments »

Eureka! Classifieds: Week of Jan. 25-31, 2012

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

FOR SALE

Antiques

ANTIQUE CHILDREN’S SCHOOL DESK, LP’s, cameras & parking meter. 815/877-4498. 2/1

Appliances

MUST SELL SOON! WASHER, DRYER $250 each, OBO. Dell computer $35 OBO. 815/398-7798. 1/25

WASHERS, DRYERS, STOVES, refrigerators, chest freezer, furniture items, 39” Mitsubishi television. Warranties included, can deliver. 815/721-6318. TFN

Cemetery Plots

2 SPACES SUNSET MEMORIAL GARDENS $4000 for both. All fees paid. 815/751-8177. 2/8

4 LOTS WILLWOOD CEMETERY, Concordia area $1795 each. 815/877-0145. 1/25

1 SPACE IN SUNSET MEMORIAL GARDENS (Lutheran section). $1,600 + fees. 941/358-0374. janey08@comcast.net. TFN

RIVER VALLEY MEMORIAL GARDENS Dundee, IL. 4 spaces, Catholic section by the shrine. Valued at $6,000 – Make offer. 815/558-1478. TFN

Clothing

LOTS OF CLOTHES Brand new, new sandals size 7½, leather. Best offer. 815/985-0126. 2/1

¾ LENGTH RHOMBERGS black & white leather with removable rabbit lining. Like new. Large $150. 815/670-5858. 1/25

Collectibles

EMMETT KELLEY FIGURINES many retired & signed. Certificates & boxes included. 815/544-9109. 2/1

Electronics

Used XEROX 5028 black and white office copier. Includes storage base; 15 page sorter; two letter size, one legal size and one 11”x17” size paper trays; one extra toner. Copy cartridge partially used. Automatic doc. feeder needs repair. $500 OBO. Call 815/964-9767 M-F, 9:30-5:00 and ask for Frank. TFN

RCA 50” BIG SCREEN TV $150. 815/871-7511 after 5pm. 2/8

32” FLAT SCREEN TV like-new, 4-years old, $100 OBO. Call Mike 815/516-9143. 2/8

BIG TV HITACHI Needs work, Make offer. You pick up. 630/205-2402. 1/25

Equipment

42” SNOWPLOW BLADE for ATV and garden tractor, with mounting blade, $75 cash OBO. 815/968-1780. 2/8

3 FT. ALL STEEL VISE ON STAND $40. 1 real heavy vise on heavy duty, 3 ft. stand, $50. 815/865-5892. 1/25

MEYERS SNOWPLOW & PUMP. $500 OBO. Call Sam 815/505-6833. TFN

Furniture

LARGE CHINA CABINET big display areas, smoked glass doors, inside lights $75. 815/636-1546. 2/8

HIGH-BACK EZ CHAIR, tan, excellent condition. $50 OBO 815/231-6448. 2/8

ADJUSTABLE FULL LONG BED, great condition, $1500 OBO. 815/639-9232. Loves Park, Must see. 2/8

BLACK LEATHER SOFA plus loveseat, $500 OBO, blonde bedroom set, 6 pieces including TV, plus queen bed, $700 OBO. 608/658-4089. 2/8

ROLL -TOP DESK solid dark oak, 30-year-old, antique, excellent condition, 30” deep, 54” wide, 50” high, 7 drawers. $1,100. 815/398-7941. TFN

3 PIECE BEDROOM SET Excellent condition. $200 OBO. 815/980-7863. TFN

5 PIECES OF FURNITURE $25 OBO. 815/639-9486. 2/1

ROCKER RECLINER LAZYBOY brown, wing-back, good condition. $55 815/979-2619. 2/1

NEW TWIN SIZE MATTRESS in plastic, medium, $25 OBO. 815/877-0473. 2/1

BLACK STEEL FRAME bunkbed with full mattress on top, desk underneath. $350. 815/985-8015. 1/25

BED SETS-MATTRESS SETS New in plastic with warranty. Twin $99, Full $129, Queen $159, King $259. Can deliver. 815/703-3688. 1/25

QUEEN BRASS HEADBOARD excellent condition, nice style, $100. 815/608-3617. 1/25

HOWARD MILLER LIGHTED glass curio cabinet, cherry finish, $300 OBO. Call 815/877-8368. 1/25

LANE CEDAR CHEST with padded top, round table & 4 chairs, $75 each. 815/871-7511 after 5pm. 1/25

SOFA, LOVE SEAT, 3 TABLES, 2 lamps, 2 oval lamps, small glass table, water dispenser, 2 rugs, kitchen table with 4 chairs, queen-size rollaway bed, TV. All for $600. Call 815/904-6114 or 815/261-8134. Ask for Marietta. TFN

entertainment center holds up to 37” TV, $75. 815/988-5796. TFN

Misc. Items For Sale

WOMEN’S WINTER COATS, shoes, 7½-8, 4-set Gaither Homecoming tapes, floor lamp, robe, dishes, mics. 815/398-0165. 2/8

BARBIE DOLL GOLD $150, 1940 doll $80, American Girl pantsuit $20, antique table $50. 779/500-4518. 2/8

LITTLE TYKES REFRIGERATOR, stove kitchen, toy chest, picnic table, table chairs, everything for $50. 815/391-5190. 2/8

6- & 12-VOLT BATTERY CHARGER for tractor or car battery, $40. Galanz microwave, $60. 815/397-1406. 2/8

WISCONSIN PORK PRODUCER 1848-1948, 1978 XOYE solid brass $5, silver dollar brass holder $10. 815/865-5892. 2/8

ROCKFORD PEACHES 1950’S newspaper page (mounted), some autographes of players $40. 815/874-8478. 2/8

MARILYN MONROE AMERICAN classic collection dolls (6). Beautiful gowns, still in their boxes, $120. 815/874-2353. 2/8

ROLLAWAY BED $50, microwave $25, mini bike $300 Call 815/397-4483. 2/8

METAL DETECTOR, huntington Richardson 32-caliber, 4 storm doors, assorted tools, 5 vintage BB gun rifles. 815/962-5376. 2/1

NEW BATH BENCH, bedside commode, walker with wheels, portable oxygen cart. Heavy duty, cheap! $149 OBO 815/980-5935. 2/1

BELT BUCKLES, SOLID BRASS Caterpillar Cat L series $10, Rosie O’Grady emporium $10 815/865-5892. 2/1

1000 LP 33 RECORDS 1950’s to 1980’s, $400 for all. 815/871-7511 after 5pm. 2/1

WASHERS, DRYERS, SNOWBLOWERS Price negotiable. 815/978-6044. 1/25

BRAND NEW PELLET STOVE for sale. 2002, extra door, floor model Country Flame. Delivery available. $1100 815/988-3157. 1/25

LIKE-NEW COLEMAN MOBILE HOME FURNACE Used one year, complete with stack and thermostat. $600. 815/222-0554. 1/25

perry como records 60 albums, cassette tapes, country, etc. Best offer. Bert 815/874-7290. 1/25

ELECTRIC ORGAN FOR SALE Make an offer. 815/708-0734. 1/25

1 ROLL-UP DESK CHAIR, 1 military foot locker, sewing machine cabinet. Free wooden boards, various sizes. 815/262-4822. 1/25

2 OLD CAST IRON BATHTUBS both for $65. Steel wheels, different sizes $45 each. 815/874-2859. 1/25

CHILDREN’S CHAIRS, cradles, books, toys and bedposts. 815/877-4498. 1/25

BABY BLANKETS, GRANNY-SQUARED girls & boys $40, crib blankets $50, towels, dishcloths, cat toys, potholders, jewelry. 815/229-6771. 1/25

LARGE DOG CRATE good condition. $50 OBO. Reg. $129 @ Petco. 815/298-4926. TFN

MEMORY FOAM THERAPEUTIC NASA MATTRESSES T-$299 F-$349 Q-$399 K-$499 ADJUSTABLES – $799 FREE DELIVERY LIFETIME WARRANTY 90 NIGHT TRIAL 1-800-ATSLEEP1-800-287-5337 WWW.MATTRESSDR.COM N-1/25

BUNDLE & SAVE on your CABLE, INTERNET PHONE, AND MORE. High Speed Internet starting at less than$20/mo. CALL NOW! 800-314-9361 N-1/25

DIRECTV $29.99/mo $0 Start Costs! Free HBO CINEMAX SHOWTIME STARZ! FREE HD/DVR! Free Installation! We’re Local Installers! 800-355-4203 N-1/25

ENJOY BETTER TV DISH Network Authorized Retailer Offers, FREE HD for Life, Packages from $19.99/mo. Includes locals, 3 HD receivers free. Restrictions Apply. Call NOW!! (877) 594-2251 N-1/25

GET TV & INTERNET for UNDER $50/mo. For 6 mos. PLUS Get $300 Back! Select plans. Limited Time ONLY Call NOW! 866-944-0906 N-1/25

AT&T U-VERSE for just $29.99/mo! SAVE when you bundle Internet+Phone+TV and get up to $300 BACK! (Select plans). Limited Time Call NOW! 1-866-944-0906 N-1/25

HAVE HARD WATER PROBLEMS? LIMESCALE in Showers? Dishes? Pipes? HydroCare Solves ALL of this and MORE! Easily clips to Main Water Pipe! HydroCare The Hard Water Solution Call Toll Free: 888-884-0647 (ICAN)

HEAT YOUR HOME FOR 5 cents AN HOUR! Portable infrared iHeater heats 1000 sq. ft. Slashes your heating bills by 50%. FREE Shipping too! Use claim code 6239 WAS $499 NOW $279 Call 1-888-864-7110 (MCN)

DISH NETWORK. Starting at $19.99/month PLUS 30 Premium Movie Channels FREE for 3 Months! SAVE! & Ask About SAME DAY Installation! CALL – 888-543-6232 (MCN)

DISH NETWORK $19.99/mo! No Equipment to Buy! Free HBO+Cinemax+Starz+Blockbuster 3 Months! Free HD/DVR! Next Day Install! Ask About Internet/TV/Phone Bundles! 800-732-0574 (MCN)

DIRECTV $0 START COST! Only $29.99/ Month! FREE HBO/ CINEMAX/ SHOWTIME/ STARZ for 3 Months! FREE HD/ DVR Upgrade! FREE Installation! We’re Your Local Installers! Order DIRECTV Call Now! 800-355-4347 (MCN)

HIGH-SPEED INTERNET AVAILABLE ANYWHERE. We offer high-speed internet via satellite. Ditch Dial up! FREE installation FREE equipment! 1.5mb to 5mb anywhere 1-866-457-8077 (MCN)

Sporting Goods

EXERCISE MACHINE 20 different exercises, brand new, never been used. Asking $150. 815/904-9415. 2/8

11TH ANNUAL WHITETAIL CLASSIC SPORT SHOW & ANTLER AUCTION March 16-18, Dubuque Iowa. Many Vendors – 3 Day Auction. Antlers, Taxidermy, Guns More! More info www.circlemauctions.com Call Steve Morehead 563-652-9780 (MCN)

Taxidermy

FULL MOUNT LEOPARD on a tree limb. Good condition. Call for more details. $2,950. 815/227-4807. 2/1

Thrift Store

Crusader Thrift Shop,310 7th Street - Open Mon.-Sat. from 11am to 3pm. Kid’s clothes, 25 cents. Two TVs, 1 microwave, Bears and Packers clothes. Many nice shoes. Book sale. Ladies clothes sale. We put out new supplies every day. TFN

FHC Thrift Shop, 710 Broadway. 815/299-3615, Open 9am – 5pm, Mon-Sat. Call for emergency after-hour appts. TFN

SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH THRIFT SHOP. 318 North Church Street. Open Tuesday 9am – 1pm. TFN

Brooke Road Thrift Shop, 1404 Brooke Rd. Lots of clothes, shoes, knick knacks, and misc. Open Wednesdays, 9-12. TFN

ROCKFORD MEMORIAL AUXILIARY THRIFT SHOP - 2830 Glenwood Ave. 815/971-4156. Hours: M-F 9:30-5. Clothes, house-wares, antiques, & more. TFN

MISSION MART THRIFT Benefits Rockford Rescue Mission. 1405 Kishwaukee St. 1235 Sandy Hollow, M-S 9-5pm. TFN



Adoption

Loving married couple wishes to adopt newborn baby. Stable home. Michelene & Richard 877-507-5471. hope2adopt@comcast.net. TFN

PREGNANT? CONSIDERING ADOPTION? Talk with caring adoption expert. You choose from families nationwide. LIVING EXPENSES PAID. Call 24/7 Abby’s One True Gift Adoptions 866-413-6296 N-1/25

A DREAM OF ADOPTING A BABY Considering open adoption? We will give your child a stable happy home, a great education and plenty of love! We’re an active, financially secure, happily married couple looking for a baby to nurture and love. Call SHARON & PETER 855-252-4673 (toll free) Sharonandpeter1@yahoo.com (ICAN)

Caregiver

ANGEL CARE Personalized care from small group of sensitive individuals. Nurses on call. Not an agency. Excellent references from clients at home and at facilities all over Rockford. 24/7 available. 815/721-5906. 2/8

Child Care

The Rising Stars Learning Center now has immediate child care openings for children 6 weeks to 12 years old. Full pre-school program. We are open from 6 a.m.-midnight. Please call Darcy to set up an interview time at 815-962-8743. TFN

Cleaning

THE CLEANING LADY. Detailed cleaning. Excellent references from long term clients. Errands too. 815/721-5906 1/25

Education

AIRLINES ARE HIRING Train for hands-on Aviation Maintenance Career. FAA-approved program. Financial aid if qualified Housing available Call AIM (888) 686-1704 or visit www.fixjets.com N-1/25

ATTEND COLLEGE ONLINE from Home. *Medical, *Business, *Paralegal, *Accounting, *Criminal Justice. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial Aid if qualified. Call 800-510-0784 www.CenturaOnline.com N-1/25

EARN COLLEGE DEGREE ONLINE *Medical, *Business, *Criminal Justice. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial Aid if qualified. SCHEV certified. Call 800-510-0784 www.CenturaOnline.com N-1/25

WORK ON JET ENGINES Train for hands on Aviation Maintenance Career. FAA approved program. Financial aid if qualified Job placement assistance. Call AIM (866) 854-6156. N-1/25

WORK ON JET ENGINES – Train for hands on Aviation Maintenance Career. FAA approved program. Financial aid if qualified – Housing available. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance 800-481-8312 (ICAN)

ALLIED HEALTH career training. Attend college 100% online. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial Aid if qualified. SCHEV certified. Call 800-481-9409 www.CenturaOnline.com (ICAN)

WORK ON JET ENGINES – Train for hands-on Aviation Maintenance Career. FAA-approved program. Financial aid if qualified – Housing available CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance 866-231-7177. (MCN)

EARN COLLEGE DEGREE ONLINE. *Medical, *Business, *Criminal Justice. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial Aid if qualified. SCHEV certified. Call 800-401-2385 www.CenturaOnline.com (MCN)

Financial

CREDIT CARD DEBT? LEGALLY REMOVE IT! New program utilizing Consumer Protection Attorneys. Minimum $7000 debt to qualify. Call 1-866-652-7630 N-1/25

LAWSUIT CASH Auto Accident? All cases qualify! Get CASH before your case settles! Fast Approval. Low Fees. (866) 709-1100 www.glofin.com N-1/25

CREDIT CARD RELIEF *** FREE CONSULTATION *** – Save Thousands of Dollars – OUT OF DEBT IN MONTHS! AVOID BANKRUPTCY! CREDIT CARD RELIEF NOT A High Priced Consolidation Company Or A Consumer Credit Counseling Program. Call CREDIT CARD RELIEF 866-475-5959 ***FREE CONSULTATION*** (ICAN)

Handyman

JOSH OF ALL TRADES – 815/988-1232. Painting, Electrical, Landscaping, Decks, & Odd Jobs. Friendly, Reliable, Fair. 2/8

HANDYMAN SPECIALIST Senior and Veteran discounts. Interior and Exterior. No job too big or small. Roof repairs, tree removal, baths, kitchens, electric, plumbing, doors, painting, drywall repair and much more. Free estimate. 815/847-0099. 2/8

DO YOU NEED A HAND with a home restoration or remodeling project? Save money and hire me for only the days needed. I’m experienced in all repairs, interior and exterior. I have a truck, tools, scaffolding and a large selection of salvage building materials to match your existing woodwork or hardware needs. Flat rate $120/day. Dan Graves 815/871-9567. 2/8

Hauling

CHAD’S HAULING & GENERAL LABOR 10-year solid reputation. Garage, basement & estate clean-outs. Yard waste removal, gutter cleaning, tree trimming, etc. FREE Estimates. 15% Senior Discount. 815/979-7593. 2/8

Health & Medical

****TAKE VIAGRA/CIALIS? SAVE $500.00! Get 40 100mg/20mg Pills, for only $99! Call now, Get 4/BONUS Pills FREE! Your Satisfaction or Money Refunded! 1-888-796-8870 N-1/25

VIAGRA 100MG AND CIALIS 20MG!! 40 Pills 4 FREE for only $99. #1 Male Enhancement, Discreet Shipping. Only $2.70/pill. Buy the Blue Pill Now! 1-888-481-2930 (MCN)

ATTENTION DIABETICS with Medicare. Get a FREE Talking Meter and diabetic testing supplies at NO COST, plus FREE home delivery! Best of all, this meter eliminates painful finger pricking! Call 1-888-737-9930 (MCN)

ATTENTION SLEEP APNEA SUFFERERS with Medicare. Get FREE CPAP Replacement Supplies at NO COST, plus FREE home delivery! Best of all, prevent red skin sores and bacterial infection! Call 888-705-4795 (MCN)

TAKE VIAGRA/CIALIS? SAVE $500.00! 40 100mg/20mg Pills, only $99! Call now and Get 4 BONUS Pills! Satisfaction or Money Refunded! Call 1-888-796-8871 (MCN)

Legal Services

NEED LEGAL HELP? FREE REFERRAL Courtesy of the Illinois State Bar Association at www.IllinoisLawyerFinder.com (ICAN)

Massage Therapy

Creative Touch therapy: Alleviate stress, muscle tension, improve circulation, encourage overall well-being. Techniques meet your needs. Contact Glenn LMT 815/965-1787. itreasurefinds@yahoo.com. 6/27

Misc. Services

NEED AN APPLIANCE? Find one fast at WWW.MW-ADS.COM ! Thousands of ads change each week! (MCN)

REACH OVER 20 MILLION HOMES nationwide with one easy buy! Only $2,395 per week for a 25 word classified! For more information go to www.naninetwork.com N-1/25

WANT TO PLACE YOUR AD in more than 300 newspapers throughout ILLINOIS? For details, Call Illinois Press Advertising Service 217-241-1700 or visit us at www.illinoispress.org (ICAN)

ARE YOU PAYING TOO MUCH FOR TERM LIFE INSURANCE? If you haven’t researched rates in 2012, you are probably paying too much for life insurance. Compare rates online from top-rated carriers and quickly save up to 70%. Visit www.SwiftLifeQuotes.com or call 1-866-912-4826 to speak with a licensed agent. (MCN)

REACH 2 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS! Do you have a product, service, or business that would be helped by reaching over 2.7 million households throughout Iowa and the surrounding states? The Midwest Classified Network will allow you to reach these potential customers quickly and inexpensively. For more information concerning a creative classified ad call this publication or Midwest Free Community Papers at 800-248-4061 or get information online at www.mcn-ads.com (MCN)

SEARCH THOUSANDS OF CLASSIFIED ADS FROM AROUND THE MIDWEST! Give it a try! Go to http://www.mw-ads.com. Ads from Free Papers offer you great bargains. (MCN)

WANT TO ADVERTISE TO THE MIDWEST? Place your classified ads in the Midwest Classified Network anytime online at www.midwestfreeclassifieds.com (MCN)

TO INVESTIGATE OTHER ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES Call PaperChain at 931-922-0484 or e-mail info@paperchain.com (MCN)

Weddings & Occasions

Need a caring minister for counseling or for your special occasion? Inexpensive. 815/342-6064. 3/28

MUSIC
DRUMMER AVAILABLE for working band. Experienced, professional. Gary 847/710-8002. 2/8

Ballet • Tap • Jazz • Ballroom• Hip Hop •Dancercise
Ages 3 – Adult. 815/633-0753. 2/29

FREE GUITAR LESSONS BEGIN on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 4:15pm at Calvary Lutheran Church 1715 9th St. Everyone is welcome. Call Pastor Chuck Olson to register- 815/342-6064. TFN



PERSONALS
SWM SEEKS full-figured SWF, 40-50 for LTR, fun. 815/544-8929. 2/8

BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN SWM 48 seeking born again Christian SWF 30-50 for dating. 815/963-2433. 2/8

LOOKING FOR MY VALENTINE SWM 60 seeks SF 40+ Call 815/543-4050. 2/8

SWF 64 SEEKS SWM over 60 to enjoy movies, cooking, walks, fun times. 815/961-2611. 2/8

SWM 49, 6’ 245 LBS. seeks female companion. Call 815/312-9076. 2/1

SWM 60 BI, SEEKS bi couples, bi males for fun times, can host. 779/200-5208. 2/1

I AM A WHITE, TALL GUY, 6’1”, 30. I am looking for a white lady 21-39 yrs. for romance, LTR & more. Please send photos. Call or leave a message 779/770-7194. 1/25

SWM 49 SEEKING SWF for friendship and dating. 779/423-7508. 2/1

BISEXUAL MALE for males for dating & more. Must travel to Rochelle.779/200-5254. 2/1

THIS BISEXUAL MALE is seeking other guys for dating and possible roommate options. For more details call 815/290-9012. TFN

AFRICAN-AMERICAN ATTRACTIVE TRANSSEXUAL: Educated, outgoing, wants to meet gentleman. Race unimportant. Age 30-60. Serious calls only! 815/516-6298. TFN

Lost & Found

LOST: MALTESE PUPPY 5 months, 5 pounds, white female wearing brown & pink hearted jacket, between Forest Hills, Harlem, Perryville. Reward 815/282-1396. 2/8

LOST: 2 DOGS LOST January 6th. Female pitbull, brindle, 4 yrs. Wire-hair terrier, female, 5 mos. 815/229-6771. 2/1

Public Announcement

Al-Anon, support group for families and friends of alcoholics. Help-line: (815) 399-0456. TFN

LOOKING FOR CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS to sponsor underprivileged & special needs children & adults. Call for details. 815/332-2312. TFN

Looking for answers? Try Bible call. 24-hour automated service – 815/316-2650. (Church of Christ). TFN

Power of the Blood SDC Ministry 816 Marchesano Dr, Rockford, IL 61102. We are looking for a building. Services currently held every 3rd & 4th Thursday @ 7pm. APOSTLE EDWARD A. JOHNSON OVERSEER I’ll pray for you & you pray for me. Watch God change things! 779/770-9853, 815/904-0080. Thank you & God Bless. TFN

Positive Image ChurcH - Basic Life Skills Programs. Free. 1408 Elm Street. For information: 815/967-9061. TFN

Welcome to St. Sebastian Orthodox Church. Traditional liturgy every Sunday, 10:30 am, 2415 Charles St., Suite 20×1, Rockford, IL. Call 815/520-4374. TFN

Pre-Vatican II church is alive and well. St. Sebastian. Call 815/520-4374. TFN

Organ, Blood, & Tissue Donation

26-YR-OLD DAUGHTER desperately needs kidney Type A+. Waiting 6½ years. 630/400-6849. TFN

Single young mother with 2 children desperately needs kidney donor. Blood type O positive/negative. 815/670-9082. TFN

www.LinksForLifeCampaign.com Read the stories, see the faces of those desperately in need of a lifesaving organ transplant, or set up your own link for free. TFN

The Rock River Times is now offering a special classifieds section reserved for individuals
or families seeking organ donations. This is a totally free service for those who are in need. Please feel free to call: (815)964-9767, fax: (815)964-9825, or e-mail: contact@rockrivertimes.com your FREE 15-word ad for this special section. For more information on organ & tissue donation, visit www.giftofhope.org To contribute to The Angela Rushford Children’s Organ Donation Fund, visit the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois’ Web site: www.cfnil.org .


PETS

For Sale

YORKSHIRE TERRIER MALE 3 years old, lovable, good watchdog $200 OBO. Also cage for sale $10. Call Joan 815/874-7290. 2/8

10 PITBULL PUPPIES, 4 male, 5 female, big & beautiful. $100. 815/601-8457. 2/8

AKC-REGISTERED SHIH TZU PUPPIES $375. 3 males, 8 weeks old, multi-colored, have had 6 week shots. 815/943-4811. 2/1

ONE COCKATIEL with cage. 815/978-6044. 1/25

CAIRN TERRIER PUPPIES, starting at $350. 815/213-0239. 1/25

Rescue/Foster

STILL NEED TO GIVE AWAY cats/kittens to cat-loving home. All sorts of beauties. 815/608-5868. 2/8

TO GOOD HOME Yorkie, 9 years old, needs a good home, I can no longer keep. 815/289-6110. 2/1

MOTHER CAT, 2 KITTENS Available now. Call for info. 815/382-2841. 1/25

3 BOY KITTENS- Gold & white. 6 months old. All shots. Neutered. Looking for forever-loving indoor homes. $20. Serious calls only. 815/980-7863. TFN

RESCUED CATS- 2 pure gray females, 1 tiger male, 1 younger tiger male, 1 younger black & white male, 2 pure gray males. Sweet & loving, spayed & neutered, shots. Looking for forever-loving indoor homes. $20. Serious calls only. 815/980-7863. TFN

‘PAWS’ neeDs foster homes for dogs. Call 299-PAWS (7297) or visit the website at www.pawshs.org. TFN

WANTED: LOVING & CARING FOSTER HOMES for kittens & cats that haven’t been rescued yet, but desperately need to be as soon as possible. If you can help, please call me at 815/980-7863. TFN


WANTED

WANTED: 1970’S & 1980’S snowmobiles, running or not. 815/703-5791. 2/8

WANTED: INEXPENSIVE snowblower, must run well. 815/382-7667. 2/8

Wanted: Snowblowers, Riding mowers, go-carts, minibikes, dirt bikes, scooters, ATVs, antique vehicles. 815/397-4483. 2/8

WANTED: FREE FOLD-UP wheelchair and/or forearm crutches. 815/633-2049. 2/1

WANTED: MECHANIC FOR 1986 Toyota MR-Z call, 815/312-9076. 2/1

WANTED: BOY SCOUT MEMORABILIA No camping equipment please! Emblems, badges, medals, pins preferred. 815/544-3918. 1/25

WANTED: CONDEMNED PROPERTY save demo cost, any location. Dan 815/871-9567. 1/25

SENIOR FEMALE URGENTLY needs money for bills. Please help 779/500-4518. 1/25

NEEDED: DRESSERS FOR ADULT bedroom and for a baby girl’s room plus changing table. 773/934-3772. 1/25

WANTED VINYL RECORDS, beatles, Elvis, Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Rockabilly from 50’s and 60’s, LP’s and 45’s with sleeves. Clean only. 815/742-5085. 1/25

WANTED CONTRACTORS aluminum brake machine. 815/382-7667. 1/25

Needed for my son who is nursing home resident: his favorite music artist, Bob Seger- albums, records, CDs, etc. Thanks for calling, Don, 815/262-0214. TFN

PAYING CASH! Diabetic Test STRIPS WANTED. Will pay up to $17 per box. Quick & local. Call Nancy. 815/519-9966. TFN

**OLD GUITARS WANTED!** Fender, Gibson, Martin, Gretsch, Prairie State, Euphonon, Larson, D’Angelico, Stromberg, Rickenbacker, and Mosrite. Gibson Mandolins/Banjos. 1930’s thru 1970’s TOP CASH PAID! 1-800-401-0440 N-1/25

CASH PAID for unexpired, sealed DIABETIC TEST STRIPS- up to $17/Box! Most brands. Shipping Prepaid. FAST payment. Ask for Emma 1-888-776-7771 www.cash4diabeticsupplies.com N-1/25

FAST PAYMENT for sealed, unexpired DIABETIC TEST STRIPS-up to $17/Box! Most brands. Shipping Prepaid. Call today & ask for Emma 1-888-776-7771 www.cash4diabeticsupplies.com N-1/25

WANTED DIABETIC TEST STRIPS. ANY KIND/BRAND. UP TO $22.00/Box. SHIPPING PAID. HABLAMO ESPANOL. 1-800-266-0702 www.SellDiabeticstrips.com N-1/25

PAYING CASH for OLD neon Dog ‘n Suds drive-in restaurant sign (any condition); also BIG OLD tin & porcelain signs, gas & oil, Coca Cola, auto dealer, etc. Toll free 1-877-465-8440 (MCN)

From the Jan. 25-31, 2012, issue

Posted in Classifieds | No Comments »

Hockey: Tales from the Trough: Hutton, IceHogs streaking, win four in a row

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

Rockford IceHogs Captain Brandon Segal (from left), Chicago Blackhawks forward Brian Bickell, Assistant Coach Mike Haviland, Defenseman Nick Leddy and Milwaukee Admirals Captain Scott Ford meet at center ice for the ceremonial puck drop Sunday, Jan. 22, as part of Chicago Blackhawks Night. (Photo by Todd Reicher)

By Todd Reicher
Sports Columnist

With a winter storm warning blanketing the area, and the Chicago Wolves’ bus delayed on Interstate 90 en route to the BMO Harris Bank Center in Rockford, Friday’s 7:05 p.m. game was delayed until 8 p.m. Once the game started, the IceHogs wasted no time getting on the board.

Eighty seconds into the opening period, Rob Flick netted his second goal of the season. Brian Connelly passed the puck from the defensive zone to Brandon Bollig, who found Flick at the center line. Flick charged right into the offensive zone, bounced off a Chicago defender, and deked right, then flipped a backhand shot over Matt Climie for the quick 1-0 lead.

Brandon Pirri added to the lead at the 12:41 mark. Carter Hutton sent the puck over to Jeremy Morin on the near boards of the defensive zone. Morin, with speed, raced to center ice with Pirri to his left, and caught the Wolves in a change. Pirri switched to the right wing side in a 2-1 with Morin and fired a shot at the net, which Climie blocked away. The rebound hopped right back to Pirri, and his persistence paid off as he fired another shot, this time beating Climie, putting the ’Hogs up 2-0.

Chicago managed to get two goals back in the second period on goals by Jordan Schroeder and Darren Haydar less than 2 minutes apart to tie the score 2-2. Both Chicago goals were close, as both shots hit a goalpost on their way behind Hutton.

Persistence paid off for Rockford once again, this time by the stick of Rostislav Olesz. Brian Fahey initially took possession of the puck deep in the Rockford zone, and fed it over to Chris DiDomenico, who found Olesz skating backward at center ice. Olesz took the puck to the far wing, then made a backhand-to-forehand move with the puck right to the front of the goal. Olesz’s first and second shots were blocked off as his momentum carried him to the other side of the net. The second shot bounced right back to his feet, and he finally got his third shot past Climie, putting Rockford up once again.

The remainder of the game, almost 30 minutes of game-time would go by without another goal, and Rockford would shoot down the Wolves 3-2.

Less than 24 hours later, Rockford would face the Wolves again, this time at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, for the second game of the home-and-home series.

Chicago would play a more aggressive game, almost doubling Rockford in shots, 39-20, and in power-play opportunities, four to two, but it was Rockford that would come out on top, 3-2.

Once again, Rockford scored early on a strike from Olesz. Morin found Olesz at center ice, who took the puck hard to the net, and made a nice move to fake out goaltender Eddie Lack. Olesz quickly wrapped around the back of the net to the open side and shoveled in his ninth goal of the season.

Defenseman Kevin Connauton tied the score later in the first period for Chicago with his 10th goal of the season with a blast from a face-off win.

Just past the midway point of the second, Chicago took their first lead in both games. Tim Miller tallied his 11th of the season on a miscue from Hutton, as he missed an attempt to poke-check the puck away from his crease. Miller was there to capitalize on the error and stick the loose puck in the back of the net, putting Chicago up 2-1 at the end of two.

At the end of the year 2011, Rockford had yet to win a game when trailing after two periods. In 2012, Rockford has already beaten that mark by coming back twice when behind after two. Make it three times.

A face-off win by Pirri was the catalyst to tying the score for Rockford. The face-off win was drawn back to Shawn Lalonde, who fed the puck to Connelly at the point. With traffic in front of the net, Connelly blasted a shot that beat a screened Lack, knotting the game at 2-2.

One second after the halfway point, Byron Froese scored after he forced a turnover inside the offensive zone and sniped a shot past Lack, putting Rockford up for good, 3-2.

The Wolves turned up the heat late and blasted shot after shot at Hutton, but the ’Hogs’ defense, and Hutton, stood tall, and Rockford took their third win in a row. Hutton took home first star honors after stopping 37 of 39 Chicago shots, earning him — and his team — their third straight victory.

For their third game in three days, Rockford hosted the Milwaukee Admirals Sunday, Jan. 22. Also in attendance were former Rockford IceHogs and current Chicago Blackhawks players Nick Leddy and Brian Bickell, along with Assistant Coach Mike Haviland. Singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” was soloist Jim Cornelison, who sings “The Star-Spangled Banner” before every Chicago Blackhawks home game.

Milwaukee’s Aaron Marvin scored the first goal of the evening off a redirect from a shot by Jonathon Blum at 5:49 of the opening period. The goal would be the only one for the Admirals as Hutton and the Rockford special teams and defense once again stole the game.

Pirri evened the score at 1-1 midway through the first on Rockford’s first power-play opportunity of the night. Some nice passing between Olesz and Connelly set up Pirri for the one-timer on the right wing, beating Ads goaltender Jeremy Smith top shelf glove side.

The power play came through again for Rockford on their third attempt of the night at 8:17 of the second period, with Pirri picking the top shelf once again on Smith. This time, it was Connelly passing to Olesz before Pirri buried the one-timer from almost the same location as earlier.

Hutton was stellar once again, stopping 33 of 34 Admirals shots in his fourth-straight win, giving Rockford their longest winning streak of the season.

Rockford’s defensive special teams continued to shine, holding Milwaukee scoreless on three power-play chances, extending their penalty kill streak to 27 shorthanded attempts without a goal. The offensive special teams showed some spark, going two-for-five on the evening, accounting for both Rockford goals.

Keys of the week:

1. Longest winning streak of the season — Mentally, this could be a big boost for the IceHogs. Beating two division rivals in one week, including two against the Chicago Wolves, could help the team gain back some confidence.

2. Defense picking up — After a slow first half of the season, Rockford’s defense has stepped up, keeping the ’Hogs in more games. In addition, Hutton has been playing lights out, going 4-0 in his last four starts.

Looking forward:

The IceHogs put their four-game winning streak on the line as they travel to North Carolina for the final time in the regular season for two straight games against the Charlotte Checkers. Both games, Thursday, Jan. 26, and Friday, Jan. 27, start at 6 p.m. The following day, Rockford comes right back home to host the Milwaukee Admirals at the BMO Harris Bank Center Saturday, Jan. 28, with a 7:05 p.m. start time.

From the Jan. 25-31, 2012, issue

Posted in Sports, Sports News, Tales from the Trough | No Comments »

Yoga Rockford: What have we done to yoga?

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

By Jennie Williford
Pranayama Yoga Studio

Earlier this month, The New York Times published a dramatic and misinformed article sensationalizing the disconnect between the claims of yoga as a healing practice and the occurrence of injury among yoga practitioners. Distorted and incorrect information aside, the article made a point that elicited a lot of discussion and reaction within the greater yoga community. What is the “yoga” we are practicing? And, before we blame yoga as a whole, can we first consider that in many ways we aren’t practicing yoga at all?

For many in the West, asanas (poses) are considered “yoga,” though they are merely one aspect of an eight-limbed practice. When exercising our physical body for any reason, including in asana, we pose a risk of injury. Injury in asana can happen for many reasons, including lack of knowledge and guidance, distraction, and/or the pressure to do more from our own ego or overeager teacher. It is only when asana is practiced within the full eight limbs of yoga (Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi), with discipline and awareness, that a practice can truly be called yoga and offer the possibility of the healing we may seek. A focus only on asana, whether positive or negative, can create a distorted view of this very vast subject.

Yoga teaches us to study ourselves, so we must look at our practice and the environment we have created for the study of this profound discipline. The boom in yoga popularity has brought about an immense increase in practitioners and a demand for more instructors, many of whom end up not having much more experience than the students they teach. Yoga is offered widely in gyms with music pumping, heat turned up, and movements as fast as aerobic steps, becoming just another workout where the purpose is to sweat more, go longer and push harder.

Advertising bombards us with each “new and improved” yoga style — tweaked for someone’s personal preference — so we forget that yoga has a long tradition and philosophy with more than physical improvement or ego-gratification at its core. By definition, yoga’s fundamental purpose is to “still the fluctuations of the consciousness” (Yoga Sutra I.2). While popular media sell yoga as an easy cure-all characterized by sweating away in fashionable yoga-wear and committing to the latest food fad, the texts of yoga describe a disciplined life-practice that brings about mental focus and personal transformation.

After spending time in India and encountering personally the more than 70-year dedicated life-practice of BKS Iyengar, I am humbled by how little we understand the subject of yoga. The Iyengar method taught in the West, as with all Hatha Yoga traditions, begins with asana and the body as a tool to focus the mind. Detailed instruction of alignment in asana, a hallmark of the Iyengar tradition, is an exercise in discernment on the physical level, but is not only for physical benefit. This focus and discipline in asana sharpens mental acuity and aligns the body energetically. With diligent practice, it creates a pathway of increased awareness that moves to deeper levels of our being.

The Iyengars remind us that practice limited to poses assumed in the classroom cannot be called yoga. BKS Iyengar himself does not claim to teach “Iyengar Yoga” (a term coined by his students), but stresses Patanjali Yoga, the full eight-limbed path of yoga as laid out in the Yoga Sutras. He challenges us, like Patanjali’s writings have done for thousands of years, to study ourselves and practice the full breadth of yoga without distraction to be successful in a quest for inner peace.

Being conscious of and honest with ourselves about what we have done to yoga will guard us from false expectations and over-reactions. If we only don the clothes, eat the veggies and contort ourselves into countless poses, we can’t blame yoga for our injuries. Asana is a great choice for developing physical strength, balance and flexibility, and a well-trained teacher may help to minimize our risk of injury. But only yoga practiced in its entirety with uninterrupted devotion, discipline and awareness (Yoga Sutra I.14) offers the opportunity for transformation and healing on every level.

For more information about Pranayama Yoga Studio, visit www.yogarockford.com or call (815) 968-9642.

From the Jan. 25-31, 2012, issue

Posted in Living, Naturally Rockford, Yoga Rockford | 1 Comment »

Alzheimer’s care navigator earns elite licensure

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

Elena Godfrey, care navigator for the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Illinois Chapter, recently received her Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) status — the highest licensure a social worker can achieve in the state of Illinois.

This license requires a minimum of 3,000 hours of work while under the clinical supervision of another LCSW, in addition to the successful completion of a state licensing exam. Becoming an LCSW enables her to seek provider status among various insurance carriers; she is an in-network provider for Medicare, Cigna and ECOH. This provides individuals and families another option in paying for this much-needed service — which can, in turn, help ensure those who need this service are able to receive it.

“This achievement demonstrates Ms. Godfrey’s dedication to her profession and the impact that she can have when helping Illinois residents and their families who are facing Alzheimer’s disease,” said Jessica Kirby, director of care navigation services at the chapter. “Through the Care Navigation Program, she meets with individuals and families who have received a diagnosis of dementia to help them assess their current strengths and needs and plan for their care journey.”

Alzheimer’s Association Care Navigation sessions provide clients with guidance, support, coping mechanisms as well as information regarding other community resources. The primary goal is to assist and empower the participants during the current phase of their journey with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. For more about Care Navigation Services, call the Rockford office at (815) 484-1300 or visit www.alz.org/illinois.

From the Jan. 25-31, 2012, issue

Posted in Community News and Notes, People In Our Times | No Comments »

Cardiology Millennium Conference Feb. 6

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

Staff Report

The Heart Hospital at SwedishAmerican Hospital will present the 17th annual “Cardiology Millennium Conference” Monday, Feb. 6, at Giovanni’s Restaurant and Conference Center, 610 N. Bell School Road, Rockford.

The special one-day conference explores many of the latest developments in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Primary care physicians, cardiovascular specialists, nurses, technical staff and social workers can earn CNE, CME, ASRT, LCSW, LCPC and LCC credits by attending the conference.

For more details or to register, call (815) 968-2500 or (800) 996-9954, or visit http://www.swedishamerican.org/heart_hospital/cardiology_millennium/.

The conference kicks off with Dr. Lucian Lozonschi, Dr. Giorgio Gimelli and Dr. Amish Raval, pioneers in transcatheter heart valve therapies, cardiovascular stem cell and regenerative medicine, and robotic and minimally invasive cardiovascular surgeries at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Jack Barker, a nationally-known expert on creating a culture of safety and process improvement through the adaptation of aviation safety tools, and Tilda Shalof, best-selling author and ICU nurse whose latest book details her own open-heart surgery and recovery, are also featured.

In addition, local and area physicians will speak about other cardiac-related topics such as peripheral arterial disease, appropriate treatments for elderly patients, atrial fibrillation therapies and the diabetes-heart disease connection.

From the Jan. 25-31, 2012, issue

Posted in Health & Fitness, Living | No Comments »

Video, still cameras to be allowed in Illinois trial courts

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

Staff Report

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois Supreme Court announced Jan. 25 it will begin allowing video and still cameras in some trial court proceedings. The announcement was made by Chief Justice Thomas Kilbride and was heralded by the Illinois Press Association (IPA) as a move that will allow more openness and transparency in the judicial branch of government.

“Allowance for cameras in all courtrooms is something that the Illinois Press Association has been seeking for many years,” said Dennis DeRossett, executive director of the IPA. “Illinois already allows cameras at the Appellate and Supreme Court level. So, it only makes sense that trial courts be included.”

The new policy is a pilot program subject to review. It is up to the chief judge in each of the 23 circuits to decide whether to implement the program. The policy will allow for up to two video cameras and two still cameras in a courtroom at the same time.

Cameras would not be allowed in juvenile, divorce, adoption, child custody and evidence suppression cases, according to news reports.

Victims of violent crimes, police informants and relocated witnesses also could request they not be photographed, according to the new policy.

DeRossett said: “We applaud Justice Kilbride and the Illinois Supreme Court for taking this step toward greater transparency. We are especially encouraged by comments that Justice Kilbride made to a reporter about how the public eye acts as ‘a check in the balance of power.’”

DeRossett added that greater openness and transparency is the philosophy behind two pieces of new legislation recently introduced that would clarify the availability of search warrants and to relax the state’s eavesdropping law to allow the videotaping of law enforcement officers as they perform their public duty.

The IPA, located in Springfield, represents the interest of more than 480 daily and weekly newspaper members. The Rock River Times is a member of the association.

From the Jan. 25-31, 2012, issue

Posted in News, Statehouse News | No Comments »

‘About Robots’ opens Jan. 28 at Rockford’s Discovery Center

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

Rodney Copperbottom

Staff Report

Rockford’s Discovery Center Museum will host “About Robots: The Interactive Exhibition” Jan. 28-April 29.

Based on the 20th Century Fox animated feature of the same name, Robots depicts a world populated entirely by mechanical beings, including genius inventor Rodney Copperbottom (pictured) and his friends, the Rusties, who seek to make the world a better place through innovation and determination.

The amazing characters from Robots will introduce visitors to the wonderful, real world of robotics — an exciting and ever-expanding field of science.

Robots are becoming more and more a part of our lives. The exhibition will teach visitors how that is happening and how they might become part of the excitement.

About Robots features more than 15 interactive areas offering scientific adventures that allow visitors to enter the world of robotics and explore the “reel and real” science of robotics.

In the area Robot Explorers, visitors can use a robotic probe to explore underwater, deep space or the surface of Mars.

Visitors can take a spin on the Crosstown Express, exploring robotic vehicles, both real and fictional.

Experience firsthand how robotic arms work and other Industrial Robots that have become an invaluable part of the workforce.

Robot Round Up explores robots in daily life, allowing visitors to use remotes to control various types of robots.

Visitors can even Build-a-Wonder-Bot that performs useful functions, such as helping with daily chores.

Guests will encounter the “movie star” robots C-3PO (Star Wars), Robby the Robot (Forbidden Planet) and Gort (The Day the Earth Stood Still). Also, get a glimpse of the future of robots that will re-shape our world.

Admission for the exhibit is $2 for Discovery Center members and $11 for the public. The price includes general museum admission.

Discovery Center Museum is inside Riverfront Museum Park, 711 N. Main St., Rockford, and can be reached at (815) 963-6769 or online at www.discoverycentermuseum.org.

From the Jan. 25-31, 2012, issue

Posted in Community, Vibe Entertainment, Vibe Entertainment News | No Comments »

In response to Quinn and Amtrak: Multimodal Station, ‘Rockford Register Star,’ Jan. 17

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, where did the $3 million come from? Maybe some of it came from the executive order that you signed, designating 4,500 individuals who offer in-home care to disabled people as “public employees,” thus rendering them eligible for unwanted union organizing. How much of their union dues will you and Mr. Brad Long split with the Northwestern Illinois Building & Construction Trades?

Union workers are not the only people “you” have put out of work; there are literally millions out of work because of “Illinois” politics (or should I say, Chicago). Anyone in Illinois knows (if this thing “Station” ever happens), not one person that is not a dues-paying union employee will ever have a job there.

It does sound strange that Illinois and Rockford will spend $12 million for the design and build of a train station when the noted cost of the Amtrak train is $60 million. The governor said, “don’t worry about the money”; after all, there is always his ability to raise taxes another 66 2/3 percent. The one thing I don’t think the public understands is the railway (tracks) are owned by CNR; they have the right of way to haul freight, and freight comes first. If you don’t believe that, ride the Amtrak between Detroit and Chicago sometimes. It is just about 283 miles, and it has taken me more than nine hours. Granted, most of that time was spent on a side rail because the freight train had the right of way.

As the movie says, “Build it and they will come.” How many grand schemes have Illinois and Rockford come up with in the last 50 years that have produced or saved jobs? They only tax the people until they have to leave this once-great state and migrate to a “Right to Work State” like Texas.

How much more taxpayers’ money will be spent on the “West Side” before it becomes apparent that the “West Side” of Rockford cannot transform 25 acres into a mixed-use development of homes, offices, stores and restaurants? How many people do you think will build homes there, and I’m sure people will not visit restaurants (after dark).

You say the multimodal station will be a center for various forms of transportation — trains, buses, taxis, bicycles and pedestrians. Wonder why cars were not mentioned, maybe because there isn’t parking taken into consideration. How many people will feel safe parking for any length of time (while taking the train)?

As an over-taxpaying senior citizen of Illinois, I think that if Illinois and Rockford had extra money, it would be more wisely spent fixing the roads in Rockford. (Has the governor ridden on East State Street?) The most tax-earning section of Rockford, more people will use the roads than will ride your fast train, and more people will have jobs.

James C. Davis
Byron, Ill.

From the Jan. 25-31, 2012, issue

Posted in Letters to the Editor | No Comments »

Left Justified: Candidates forum Jan. 31 at Unitarian Universalist Church

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

Stanley Campbell

By Stanley Campbell

It’s not too often we get to look a candidate in the face and ask them a question. It’s even less often we get a straight answer, but the chance of inquiry is worth the effort. It’s difficult, with the number of voters out there, to have a heart-to-heart with every constituent. Candidates would love to have you come and listen to them, but the chances are few, unless you plan on making a donation. That is why Rockford Urban Ministries (for which I work) is co-sponsoring three candidate forums before the primary election March 20.

Beginning at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 31, only the candidates for state representatives and senators are invited to introduce themselves at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 4848 Turner St. (four blocks north and east of Alpine and State). The questions asked by a panel will only focus on education. The subject will be limited, but you will have a chance to meet the candidates. There are plenty of them to go around. What with the new redistricting (some might say gerrymandering); I am not even sure where those lines are drawn. We’ll try to have maps, and I am sure the candidates themselves will be able to tell you where you are.

Why limit the candidates? The State of Illinois is a critical partner in education. The decisions made by the state legislature affect school funding levels and methods, regional offices, common core standards, Race to the Top, early childhood, higher education, testing, charter schools, vouchers, collective bargaining, pensions, teacher evaluations, school district consolidation and more. What do the candidates for the State Senate and State House plan to do to be supportive partners in education? Where do they stand on these issues? You are welcome to join us to find out. Sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Church, the Rockford Register Star, the League of Women Voters, RUM and La Voz Latina.

Beginning at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 2, Allen Chapel, 3000 Rural St., will host an all-Winnebago County candidates forum. Allen Chapel moved from downtown just before the wrecking ball and is now ensconced in the former Westminster Presbyterian Church — they having moved farther east. So, besides getting a good eyeful of county politicians, you’ll be able to see the A.M.E.’s new “digs.” Besides, they usually have a nice spread. County board politics can be messy. It is where the development goes, or stays. The environmentalists are upset because politicians got a hold of the Winnebago County Forest Preserve Board, but to make a real dent for the future, the county board is where the action is.

At 2 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 19, First Presbyterian Church at North Main and Park Avenue (yes, they are still there), will host state candidates (that’s the representatives and senators, again). This forum will focus on current issues and will take questions from the audience. I hope to get a few questions in about gambling and poverty.

We don’t do debates. Office seekers give a three- or four-minute introduction, and the moderators ask most of the questions. The League of Women Voters keep time, and everyone is welcome (most of the crowds number around 100).

With the new redistricting, the redrawn boundary lines make the primaries the main election. The lines are drawn so a district is either highly Democrat or Republican. Short of a mass murderer or some other felonious activity, once an incumbent gets in, it’s hard to dislodge them. So, take your chance and go see the candidates now, even at the expense of encouraging them.

Stanley Campbell is executive director of Rockford Urban Ministries and spokesman for Rockford Peace & Justice.

From the Jan. 25-31, 2012, issue

Posted in Commentary, Left Justified | No Comments »

USDA seeks applications for renewable energy, energy efficiency projects

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

Staff Report

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced another opportunity to go greener and cut energy costs with support from the agency’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). The program has helped 290 agricultural producers and rural small businesses in Illinois since it was authorized by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill).

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Jan. 20 that USDA is seeking applications for grants and loans for a variety of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

“Renewable energy development presents an enormous economic opportunity for rural America,” said Vilsack. “This funding will assist rural farmers, ranchers and business owners to build renewable energy projects, providing opportunities for new technologies, create green jobs and help America become more energy self-sufficient.”

REAP is designed to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses reduce energy costs and consumption and help meet the nation’s critical energy needs. This year, USDA will be able to award at least $12.5 million in grant and approximately $48.5 million in loan guarantees. USDA is accepting the following applications:

• renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement grant applications and combination grant and guaranteed loan applications until March 30;

• renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement guaranteed loan only applications on a continuous basis up to June 29;

• renewable energy system feasibility study applications through March 30; and

• energy audits and renewable energy development assistance applications through Feb. 21.

More about how to apply for funding is available in the Jan. 20, 2012, Federal Register, pages 2,948 through 2,954. Questions in Illinois can be directed to Mary Warren at Mary.Warren@il.usda.gov or by calling her at (217) 403-6218.

From the Jan. 25-31, 2012, issue

Posted in Renewable Energy | No Comments »

Pro Football: NFL: Best of times for the Giants, worst of times for the Ravens

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

By Doug Halberstadt
Sports Columnist

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times … it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair. …”

Those words are from the opening lines of Charles Dickens’ classic novel A Tale of Two Cities. They also accurately describe the AFC and NFC championship games from this past weekend.

In the AFC game, it was the worst of times for the Baltimore Ravens’ field goal kicker, Billy Cundiff. A 32-yard field goal with 15 seconds left in regulation was all he needed to make to tie the New England Patriots. Had he made that field goal, he would have evened the score 23-23 and forced an overtime period. The Ravens’ Super Bowl hopes would have still been alive.

Instead, Cundiff’s kick sailed wide left, and the Ravens’ season came to a screeching halt. They lost to the Patriots 23-20.

On the West Coast, it was the best of times for the New York Giants’ field goal kicker, Lawrence Tynes. With the game already extended into an overtime period, he lined up for a 31-yard field goal. Even though the snap from center was low and just inches off the turf, the ball was placed down perfectly. Tynes split the uprights, His kick not only won the game, it assured his team a date with the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl Feb. 5.

It’s somewhat ironic how both games came down to the skill (or lack thereof) of their field goal kickers. With much of the media attention focused on the four quarterbacks involved in these two games and all of the talk about the defenses, both games ended up being decided by the right legs of two relatively unknowns.

Tynes will go down as his game’s hero, and he’ll spend the next week-and-a-half preparing for the biggest game of the year. Meanwhile, Cundiff will have the entire offseason to think about what might have been, if only that ball had not sailed left on him. That will certainly be his personal winter of despair.

By the way, the two cities Dickens’ novel refers to are London and Paris. Since Cundiff is not going to Indianapolis next month, perhaps he should consider heading to either one of those two towns to get away from it all. A week or two out of the country might be exactly what he needs to help ease some of the pain he must be feeling.

Doug Halberstadt can be reached via e-mail at Dougster61@aol.com.

From the Jan. 25-31, 2012, issue

Posted in Sports, Sports News | No Comments »

Jobs and Opportunities: Week of Jan. 25-31, 2012

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

JOBS

Courtesy of The Rock River Times – Warning from the Better Business Bureau.

Work-at-home and fraudulent employment opportunities. Work-at-home and business opportunity scams are frequently found online as well as in the classified sections. They promise high income for minimal work and minimal effort. However, when an interested consumer “applies”, they almost always ask for money up-front to pay for materials, training kits, or investment money. After sending payment, most consumers either have their checks deposited and never hear anything again, or obtain something that is completely useless- essentially junk mail. Internet employment opportunities, mostly found on job boards, looking for “shipping” or “billing managers”, “payment processors”, or anything with a financial sounding name, very frequently turn out to be fraudulent listings that are in actuality looking for victims to commit money laundering by accepting and forwarding payments.-

General Help Wanted

HUMAN SERVICES INDUSTRY Local Government Agency seeks a Human Services Caseworker. Qualified candidates should have a minimum of 2 to 5 years of related experience. Degree preferred. Send résumé Attn: Katye, PO Box 612, Freeport, Illinois 61032. 1/25

LOCAL BUSINESS LOOKING for experienced telemarketers for B2B calling. Flexible hours & top pay! Cash daily! Call Brian at 520/249-1256. 2/1

PART-TIME WEB MASTER wanted for two sites. Involves posting, updating & adding features. 2-10 hrs./wk. Call Frank 815/670-6440. TFN

HOME CARE ASSISTANTS PT, All Shifts CNAs welcome to apply. Exp w/dementia/Alzheimer clients pref’d. Email resume, w/HCA-RRT in subjectline, to Audrey.Abboud@lssi.org. Applicant must apply in person at program location. EOE Lutheran Social Services of Illinois Intouch Home Care Serv 2222 E. State St – Ste 109 Rockford, IL 61104 2/8

** ABLE TO TRAVEL ** Hiring 10 people, Work- travel all states, resort areas. No experience. Paid training/Transportation provided. 18+ 1-888-853-8411 www.protekchemical.com N-1/25

MYSTERY SHOPPERS Needed Earn up to $150 per day Undercover Shoppers Needed to Judge Retail & Dining Establishments Experience Not Required Call Now 888-380-3513 N-1/25

HELP WANTED! Make $1000 a Week mailing brochures from home! Guaranteed Income! FREE Supplies! No experience required. Start Immediately! www.homemailerprogram.net (VOID IN SD) (MCN)

NOW HIRING: Companies Desperately Need Employees to Assemble Products at Home. No Selling, Any Hours. $500 Weekly Potential. Info. 1-985-646-1700 Dept. MW-501 (Not valid in SD) (MCN)

HELP WANTED! Home workers, HIGH weekly income… Start Now! Paid Weekly, No experience needed. All supplies furnished. Call Now! 1-800-768-0522 (VOID IN SD) (MCN)

Drivers

DRIVERS: Company & Owner Op’s $2500 Per Driver Sign On Bonus. Excellent Pay/Benefits/ + 401K Regional/OTR. Singles & Teams. Lease Purchase Avail. 0% Down. CDL-A 1 yr exp. Jamie: 888-912-7342 1/25

Drivers: $5000 Sign On Bonus. $2500 Regional/System. $.34-$.50cpm. Openings for Regional & System Drivers. $.41cpm split for Teams. Insurance, Excellent Home Time. Jamie: 888-912-7342 2/8

Experienced OTR truck drivers, full and part-time 815/248-4601 ext. 0#, Mon-Fri, 7am-5pm. 3/7

CLASS A DRIVERS NEEDED Midwest Regional 38-40 CPM Paid Orientation Paid from 1st Dispatch Full Benefits $1500 SIGN ON ONLINE TRANSPORT 877-997-8999 www.DriveForOnline.com (ICAN)

DRIVERS – CDL-A DRIVE WITH PRIDE Up to $3,000 Sign-On Bonus for Qualified Drivers! CDL & 6 mos. OTR exp. REQ’D. USA TRUCK 877-521-5775 www.usatruck.jobs (ICAN)

TANTARA TRANSPORTATION is now hiring Company Flatbed Drivers & Owner Operators. Competitive pay & home time. Call Dave @ 563-262-8621 or apply online at www.tantara.us (ICAN)

DRIVER – Weekly Hometime. Dry and Refrigerated. Daily Pay! 31 Service Centers. Local Orientation. Newer Trucks. CDL-A, 3 months current OTR experience. 800-414-9569. www.driveknight.com (ICAN)

DRIVERS - BE HOME 10 STRAIGHT DAYS! Stay out 20 days & get home for 10. Running team. Priority dispatch. CRST EXPEDITED 888-417-7564 www.JoinCRST.com (ICAN)

“YOU GOT THE DRIVE, We have the Direction” OTR Drivers APU Equipped Pre-Pass EZ-pass. Pets / passenger policy. Newer equipment. 100% NO touch. 1-800-528-7825 (ICAN)

TANKERS & FLATBED Independent Contractors! Immediate placement Available Best Opportunities in the trucking business CALL TODAY 800-277-021 or www.primeinc.com (ICAN)

FLATBED DRIVERS Your Career – Our Commitment to YOU: Percentage Pay – Run Less Miles – Make More. Home Weekends, New Freight Lanes, 22 Years Dedicated Service: 800-828-6452 (ICAN)

TRUCK DRIVERS WANTED – Best Pay and Home Time! Apply Online Today over 750 Companies! One Application, Hundreds of Offers! www.HammerLaneJobs.com (MCN)

Sales

NATIONAL MARKETING
ORGANIZATION LOOKING FOR SELF-MOTIVATED BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS FOR SALES AND MANAGERIAL POSITION. 815-282-3480. 7/4

Seeking Employment

LOOKING FOR WORK shoveling snow, painting & other jobs. Call 815/977-4494, 6am-5pm, Monday-Saturday, Rockford only. 2/8

CERTIFIED CAREGIVER LOOKING for part-time work, in your home. Have references. Please call Mary 779/348-3439. 1/25

From the Jan. 25-31, 2012, issue

Posted in Classifieds, Jobs | No Comments »

Guest Column: Closing juvenile prison facilities can help reduce costs

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

By Elizabeth Clarke

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn’s plan to close some state facilities to address budget shortfalls will put pressure on legislators to find new money to avoid the cuts, but one of the cuts — the closing of a juvenile prison — should be embraced by legislators as cost effective and in the best interests of our youth and safe communities.

Obviously, it’s important that state employees be able to transfer to other facilities or receive help finding other employment, and some of the facilities, like the Illinois Youth Center in Murphysboro, could be put to other uses either by state government or others in the community.

But because the juvenile prison population is rapidly decreasing and per bed costs rapidly escalating, closing a juvenile facility makes sense. Illinois now has the opportunity to join a host of states ranging from California to Texas to New York that are rapidly shifting reliance from expensive — and ineffective — juvenile prisons to more effective community treatment.

In stark contrast to Gov. Quinn’s proposed closing of an adult prison in an already overcrowded adult prison system, the state’s juvenile prisons are far under capacity and an inefficient drain on the state treasury.

Illinois currently runs eight separate far-flung juvenile facilities to house an average of fewer than 1,200 youth. These eight facilities are costly. The average annual cost per bed has rapidly risen from $70,915 five years ago to an estimate of more than $90,000 this year. The per-bed cost at the Murphysboro youth prison, which the governor plans to close, are far above average and climbed to $142,342 per bed in FY ’10. Operation of each facility entails significant administrative costs, as does collective oversight and management of the eight separate facilities.

If each of the eight facilities ran quality programming with successful results, there might be justification for continuing their operation. The facts, however, are dismally opposite. Reports document a juvenile prison system that is ineffective, with more than half the youth returning to juvenile prisons within three years. Most facilities struggle to maintain minimal educational programming, let alone adequate mental health treatment, recreation or vocational classes.

The national wave of juvenile prison closures reflects an ever-growing body of research finding that local services are better at keeping youth from reoffending. Thus, many states, including Texas and Ohio, are reinvesting some of the savings from prison closures into community alternatives.

Illinois has a nationally-acclaimed reinvestment program — Redeploy Illinois — that has successfully decreased juvenile prison commitments across the state. Instead of closing just one juvenile prison, the governor and General Assembly should downsize the juvenile prison system further and shift some of the savings to community programs, like Redeploy Illinois, that hold troubled youth accountable for their actions, help change the direction of their lives and make our communities safer.

Elizabeth Clarke is president of the Juvenile Justice Initiative, a nonprofit juvenile justice advocacy organization with offices in Springfield and Evanston, Ill.

From the Jan. 25-31, 2012, issue

Posted in Commentary, Guest Column | 2 Comments »

Blues in the Schools holds its 100th program Jan. 30

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

Acoustic blues man Fruteland Jackson. (Photo provided)

Staff Report

Crossroads Blues Society is getting ready to celebrate its 100th Blues in the Schools (BITS) program. Their programs scheduled for Jan. 30 will be the 99th and 100th programs Crossroads has hosted since they began providing BITS programs for area schools in May 2002.

Who would be better than Fruteland Jackson to do these programs, especially since he did the first BITS program for them? Since that time, they have brought the blues to close to 30,000 students across northern Illinois.

Jan. 30 brings BITS to South Beloit, Ill., for their first visit to that school system. Riverview Elementary School will host the morning program. In the afternoon, it is back to Rockford and Martin Luther King Elementary School, which will host the 100th program.

Crossroads is proud of its efforts in helping to keep the blues alive in the Rockford area.

Funding for BITS in the past had come from the generous support of the Rockford Area Arts Council and Illinois Arts Council. Current funding comes from Crossroads’ annual Byron Crossroads Blues Festival, held the Saturday before Labor Day weekend in Byron, Ill.

Programs are held at no cost to the schools. Crossroads already has February programs scheduled for Keith School and Spring Creek Elementary School Feb. 22. More programs are being planned for the spring.

Fruteland is a singer and songwriter performing acoustic blues, from contemporary to traditional, from the blues of early field-holler songs and work songs to Delta and Piedmont Blues, as well as his own original works. Fruteland is one of a select group of Americans dedicated to gathering, preserving and performing acoustic blues in its many styles. Fruteland has performed at venues across the U.S., Europe and Russia.

BITS program costs have been maintained low and continue to average only $1 per student in attendance. Assembly attendance averages about 300 per school. Crossroads Blues Society is a nonprofit corporation staffed entirely by volunteers. They publish a bi-monthly newsletter of blues music reviews and articles in addition to their BITS work and running the annual blues festival in Byron. For more about Crossroads, visit http://crossroadsbluessociety.blogspot.com or call (779) 537-4006.

From the Jan. 25-31, 2012, issue

Posted in Music, Vibe Entertainment, Vibe Entertainment News | 1 Comment »

Autos, boats, motorcycles and RVs: Week of Jan. 25-31, 2012

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

AUTOS

Autos

1959 JAGUAR $3000, needs work, has a lot of extra new parts. 815/742-6632. 2/8

Auto Parts & Accessories

TRAILER SALE! 500 Gallon Tank Trailers, 7K & 14K Tank Trailers w/out tanks. 20′ – 14,000# Gravity Tilt Construction Trailers, 10′ & 12′ Ice House/Hunting House, Motorcycle & Trike Trailers, 6×10 Cargos $2190, 6×12 Cargo $2375. CLOSE-OUT SALE Aluminum Snowmobile Trailers. www.fortdodgetrailerworld.com or 515-972-4554 (MCN)

Motorcycles

WANTED JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE KAWASAKI 1967-1980 Z1-900, KZ900, KZ1000, ZIR, KZ1000MKII, W1-650, H1-500, H2-750, S1-250, S2-350, S3-400 Suzuki GS400, GT380, CB750 (69.70) CASH PAID. 1-800-772-1142, 1-310-721-0726 usa@classicrunners.com N-1/25

Recreational Vehicles

MOTOR HOME 1972 DODGE, restroom, shower, fully-equipped. Not run in 2 yeats, sell as-is. $800 815/988-8891. 1/25

Autos Wanted

WANTED: MONSTER TRUCK old school, no clunkers, street legal. 815/312-9076. 2/8

WE BUY COMPLETE CARS in any condition. 815/378-3489. 2/29

A-1 DONATE YOUR CAR! Breast Cancer Research foundation! Most highly-rated breast cancer charity in America! Tax Deductible/Fast Free Pick Up. 800-771-9551 www.cardonationsforbreastcancer.org N-1/25

CARS/TRUCKS WANTED! Top $$$$$ PAID! Running or Not, All Years, Makes, Models. Free Towing! We’re Local! 7 Days/Week. Call Toll Free: 1-888-416-2330 N-1/25

DONATE A CAR – HELP CHILDREN FIGHTING DIABETES. Fast, Free Towing. Call 7 days/week. Non-runners OK. Tax Deductible. Call Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation 1-800-578-0408. N-1/25

DONATE YOUR CAR to CHILDREN’S CANCER FUND of AMERICA and help end CHILDHOOD CANCER. Tax Deductible. Next Day Towing. Receive Vacation Voucher. 7 Days 1-800-469-8593. N-1/25

DONATE YOUR CAR! Civilian Veterans & Soldiers Help Support Our U.S. Military Troops 100% Volunteer Free same Day Towing. Tax Deductible. Call and Donate Today! 1-800-471-0538 N-1/25

CASH FOR CARS: All Cars/Trucks Wanted. Running or Not! Top Dollar Paid. We Come To You! Any Make/Model. Call For Instant Offer: 1-800-864-5960 N-1/25

DONATE VEHICLE RECEIVE $1000 GROCERY COUPONS. NATIONAL ANIMAL WELFARE FOUNDATION SUPPORT NO KILL SHELTERS, HELP HOMELESS PETS. FREE TOWING, TAX DEDUCTABLE, NON-RUNNERS ACCEPTED. 1-888-333-0478 (ICAN)

DONATE YOUR CAR, TRUCK OR BOAT TO HERITAGE FOR THE BLIND. Free 3 Day Vacation, Tax Deductible, Free Towing, All Paperwork Taken Care Of. 888-757-6941 (MCN)

MISC AUTOS: CASH FOR CARS: Any Make, Model or Year. We Pay MORE! Running or Not Sell your Car or Truck TODAY Free Towing! Instant Offer: 1-888-420-3805 (MCN)

From the Jan. 25-31, 2012, issue

Posted in Cars, Classifieds | No Comments »

Bill seeks to codify ruling that search warrants are public records

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

Staff Report

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. –– Friday, Jan. 20, state Rep. Michael Zalewski, D-Riverside, filed legislation, House Bill 4032, to codify Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s opinion that search warrants are considered public records once they are returned to the court.

“The ability of the public to view the judicial process is among our most basic rights and provides an important check and balance,” said Zalewski, a former prosecutor in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. “We shouldn’t have a secret judicial system in Illinois. If circumstances dictate, a judge can use his discretion to seal a record, but there is no reason why search warrants should be routinely kept off-limits from the public.”

Zalewski’s legislation is in response to recent rulings by some Illinois courts that the public has no right of access to search warrant documents. The bill does not seek to alter a judge’s ability to seal search warrant returns or any other documents in a court file.

In her 2007 opinion, Madigan said search warrants are “open to public inspection unless the court enters an order specifically providing otherwise.” The opinion adds that “there is no statutory or other authority for a circuit clerk to unilaterally seal or impound files containing complaints for search warrants, associated affidavits, and the search warrants themselves.”

Josh Sharp, director of Government Relations for the Illinois Press Association (IPA), said: “Search warrants have long been public documents in Illinois as supported by current state statute and the Attorney General. I applaud Rep. Zalewski’s effort to secure transparency and openness in the judiciary and to clarify that unless sealed by a judge, search warrants remain open to public inspection.

“The Attorney General’s opinion speaks for itself,” Sharp added. “It is unfortunate legislation even has to be introduced to respond to a gross misinterpretation of the law. The Cook County court system is the largest in the world, and it’s a legal system where search warrants and their accompanying documents are routinely made available to the public. The Attorney General would not have issued the opinion that she did if transparency was going to interfere with justice in a legal system as vast as Cook County’s.”

The IPA in Springfield, Ill., represents the interests of its 480 daily and weekly newspaper members. The Rock River Times is a member of the association.

From the Jan. 25-31, 2012, issue

Posted in News, Statehouse News | No Comments »

Prep basketball: Marshall plays big as Auburn stakes claim to NIC-10

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

Javauntae Hicks of Auburn goes up for a dunk against Boylan. Hicks only scored 2 points, but played great defense in Auburn’s 78-59 win over Boylan. (Photo by Matt Nestor)

By Matt Nestor
Prep Sports Reporter

Weather wrecked the Friday night (Jan. 20) slate of games in the NIC-10. Saturday, Jan. 21, Jaylin Marshall and the Rockford Auburn Knights destroyed a first-place tie in the conference.

Marshall, the senior big man for Auburn, capped off a 20-point night with two alley-oops from teammate Fred Van Vleet as Auburn turned an early deficit into a 78-59 win over Rockford Boylan Catholic to take sole control of first place.

“The last couple of years, I’ve been complacent,” Marshall said after shooting 9-for-10 on the night. “As I’ve become a senior, all the other bigs are gone, so I’ve had to step up. The last time we played Boylan, I didn’t get in too much, so I had to do it with maybe my last time playing them.”

The focus going into the game was on whether the Knights would be able to control the Boylan front line. Marshall, the tallest Auburn player, stands at 6 feet, 3 inches, while Boylan has three players who stand 6-foot-5 or better.

Marshall has been on the varsity team since he was a sophomore, but injuries have cost him most of the previous two seasons. But as his senior season has moved along, he has begun playing with much more confidence.

“I think that has been an evolving thing,” Auburn Head Coach Bryan Ott said of Marshall’s play. “For all intents and purposes, this is his first time getting a lot of action. He was shaky at the start of the season, as you might expect, but he’s very athletic and a great kid. He’s so unselfish, and I’m glad a kid like that gets a 20-point night.”

Auburn’s Jaylin Marshall goes up to finish around the basket. Marshall led all scorers with 20 points against Boylan’s big front line in a 78-59 win. (Photo by Matt Nestor)

The Knights, behind Marshall and Javauntae Hicks, were able to shut down the Boylan bigs on the offensive end, holding Ben Grygiel, Ben Eckburg and Dean Lowry to 10 points combined.

Tremel Rideout chipped in 8 points for Auburn to go with Marshall’s 20, part of a dominating offensive effort by the Knights down low. Van Vleet said that when the Knights get that production in the paint, it makes them hard to stop.

“That’s when we’re at our best, when we have low-post guys that work and play strong,” said Van Vleet, who hit four 3-point shots on his way to 18 points. “When you throw it in to a guy and the zone has to collapse, that opens up the threes. When you have someone that is going to finish, it’s a lot of fun.”

The game started slow for Auburn, as turnovers on their first three possessions helped Boylan race out to a 7-0 lead. The Knights were able to gain a 1-point lead by the end of the first quarter and were up 6 at the half.

In the third quarter, Auburn was able to break loose as Van Vleet and sophomore Phil Trammell combined for five 3s as Auburn outscored Boylan 28-13 in the quarter.

Elijah Smith added three straight 3s in the fourth to continue the barrage, and Boylan’s offense could not keep up. Despite 17 points from Brock Stull, the Titans only made four shots in the third quarter and a 6-for-18 night at the free-throw line helped keep Boylan out of the game.

“You know teams are going to make shots in their own gym, and you have to do a better job of withstanding it,” Boylan Head Coach Mike Winters said. “But our biggest disappointment was on the offensive end. We didn’t execute the game plan very well, and some of the credit goes to Auburn, but I didn’t think we stuck to the game plan.”

With the win, Auburn (6-1 NIC-10) now controls the conference race and has an inside track for the top seed at the regional. With this being their only match-up this season, Boylan (5-2) now has to hope for Auburn losses to win the conference, something that could be tough after that performance.

Fred Van Vleet bounces a pass to the corner against Boylan. Van Vleet hit four 3-point shots and scored 18 points in the Knights’ win. (Photo by Matt Nestor)

“Of course, we’d like to have a big guy, but I will say that we really like our group,” Ott said. “The five guys we start play very well together. Regardless of their lack of size, it’s amazing to me how often those guys are able to dictate what happens on the floor.”

Around the NIC-10:

• The young, up-and-coming Rockford Jefferson J-Hawks picked up their second statement win in as many weeks. Freshman Antoine Pittman scored 18 points to lead Jefferson, while senior LT Davis scored 17 as the J-Hawks improved to 3-4 in conference play with an 83-66 win over Rockford East. Senior Steve McNease continued his improved play, scoring 20 points for the E-Rabs, who fell into a tie with Jefferson at 3-4.

• Machesney Park Harlem is only 2-5 in conference play this year, but their two wins are big ones. After beating Boylan early in the season, the Huskies slewed another giant as Justin Van Wambeke’s 30 points helped Harlem defeat the Freeport Pretzels 82-77. Luke Norman led all scorers with 33 points, but it was not enough to keep Freeport from falling to 4-3 in the NIC-10.

• Carlos Hendrix has been a great distributor this season, but his 17 points led the way for Rockton Hononegah as they stayed one game behind Auburn at 5-2 with a 65-53 win over Rockford Guilford. A 17-2 third quarter for the Indians was the key in the win. Juwan Hubbard scored 22, and Marcus Hardison scored 17 for Guilford, which falls to 2-5 in conference play.

• The battle of Belvidere was not much of a war, as 10 Bucs players scored as they cruised to a 23-point lead after three quarters before holding on for a 70-59 win, tying them with Freeport at 4-3 in the conference. Belvidere North (1-6) was led by Jake Boxleitner, who led all scorers with 19 points.

From the Jan. 25-31, 2012, issue

Posted in Sports, Sports News | No Comments »

Re: Wrong destination for pipeline

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

The old route of Keystone XL pipeline was over the Ogalalla Aquifer ended at refineries near Houston and Port Arthur, Texas. How low above the 20th-century sea level are those refineries? Any new infrastructure projects should remain at least 100 feet above current sea level. How high will salt water rise down there during 21st, 22nd and 23rd centuries? It is cheaper, safer, saner and shorter to build a pipeline from Alberta to the existing refineries near Chicago. Texas exports oil and gas products to many other states. Piping more fuel into Texas and Oklahoma is simply insane. See http://www.eia.gov/state. Use a less expensive short pipeline to pipe excess oil into the Midwest, which imports fuel.

Ron Renkoski
Blooming Grove, Wis.

From the Jan. 25-31, 2012, issue

Posted in Letters to the Editor | 1 Comment »

Catching up with stories from outside the NFL

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

By Doug Halberstadt
Sports Columnist

After thinking about the subject of many of my recent columns, I think it’s fair to say I’ve been a little obsessed with professional football. I’ve inadvertently ignored many of the other stories happening in the world of local and national sports.

Now that the NFL has taken a week off in preparation for the biggest game of the season, I’m going to try to rectify some of those oversights.

First, let me share my opinion about the southward migration of former White Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen and former Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano. Both of them will be wearing Miami Marlins uniforms this spring. All I can say is the collective IQ of the state of Florida will probably drop a couple of points, and the sports psychologists in and around Miami are undoubtedly salivating.

In the world of professional basketball, the Chicago Bulls are atop the Central Division of the Eastern Conference with a 15-3 record at press time. They are a perfect 7-0 at home and 9-1 in the conference. They’ve managed this dominance despite their best player and last year’s league MVP, Derrick Rose, being sidelined for a couple of games with a nagging toe injury.

Locally, there isn’t much earth-shattering news in college basketball. The Fighting Illini and Wisconsin both have 15 wins and are fourth and fifth, respectively, in the Big 10 standings. Northwestern is tied for ninth with a 12-6 record.

The other college teams from Illinois aren’t doing a whole lot better. DePaul is 10-8. Illinois State is 12-8. Bradley and SIU have a total of 12 wins combined. What has happened to college basketball in our state? It wasn’t that long ago that Illinois was a pretty good place for college hoops.

I’ve intentionally abandoned my writing about the IceHogs because this paper now has another writer that focuses on them. I enjoy keeping up with them via his work.

I do get frequent Facebook updates on my high school basketball team of choice. The Rockton Hononegah girls’ team is one of the best in the state. They are 23-1 overall and undefeated in the conference. Lehigh University-bound senior guard Elizabeth Jordan recently scored the 1,000th point of her high school career.

NASCAR inducted another five members into their Hall of Fame this past weekend. Most notably, Cale Yarborough and driver-turned-announcer Darrell Waltrip were inducted.

The Rockford Speedway will be hosting their annual Champion’s Banquet this Saturday night (Jan. 28) at the Forest Hills Lodge. For more information or tickets, call the Rockford Speedway at (815) 633-1500.

The Belvidere North High School girls won the conference cheerleading competition. Yes, yes, they got spirit! How ’bout you?

Legendary Penn State football Head Coach Joe Paterno lost his battle with lung cancer last Sunday, Jan. 22, and earlier in the week, free-style skier Sarah Burke succumbed to injuries she suffered during a training accident. May they both rest in peace.

I’m fully aware there are a multitude of other things happening in the dynamic world of sports. It’s just not always possible to make sure they all get covered here in one of my columns. Thanks for all of the e-mails and suggestions. Keep them coming, and perhaps you’ll see your idea in an upcoming column — once the Super Bowl is over, that is.

Doug Halberstadt can be reached via e-mail at Dougster61@aol.com.

From the Jan. 25-31, 2012, issue

Posted in Sports, Sports News | No Comments »

Apartments and Real Estate: Week of Jan. 25-31, 2012

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

REAL ESTATE

FOR RENT

Apartments

ON THE RIVER STUDIO APT. Stove, refrigerator, utilities furnished. No pets. $350/month, deposit required. 815/967-0822. 2/8

EAST SIDE, 3- 3-BEDROOM, 1.5 bath units, $650 month. Sec. 8 OK. Please call 815/914-1337. 2/8

MOVE IN SPECIAL Heat included, 1st month rent free, 2910 Halstead. 2-bedroom apartments, 912 Haskell, 1-bedroom all utilities included. Many other homes and apartments available. Call Stateline Rental Properties. M.R.A.A. 815/398-8886. 2/8

STUDIO 2802 S. Main #3 $350, 1-BDRM 1101 S. Winnebago #2 $425. 815/235-2260. 2/8

1-BEDROOM FURNISHED apartment, coin laundry, 1-car garage with opener, no pets, quiet. $395 security deposit, $495 rent. 6-month lease. 815/742-4721. 2/1

2-bedroom townhouse, 205 River Lane, 1.2 bath, $695 rent, 815-316-8864. TFN

LOWER 2-BEDROOM, 2-bath, 2 enclosed porches. Quiet, perfect for seniors & others. Coin laundry. SE near transportation & shopping. $525+$525 deposit. 847/293-0389. 2/1

BEAUTIFUL 2-BEDROOM lower unit, washer & dryer, fenced-in backyard, new appliances. $550, 1821 7th St. 815/540-6757. 1/25

1-BEDROOM APARTMENTS Clean & spacious, secure buildings. 16th Ave & 9th St. locations. $475/month + deposit. Cats OK, no dogs please. 815/315-3302. 2/8

northwest, 1-bedroom $495, 2-bedroom 1-bath apartments, $585-$595, On bus line near stores, library, & hospital. A/C, coin laundry. HEAT, WATER, & GARBAGE included. No pets. Pay February rent & deposit, and get March free. Some Sec. 8 OK. 815/382-7667. 2/29

2-bedroom apartment, 229 River Lane, 1 bath. Heat included, $575 rent, 815-316-8864. TFN

2-bedroom apartment, 1322 12th St., 1 bath, $575 rent, Heat included, 815-316-8864 TFN

1-bedroom apartment, 1712 17th St., Duplex, 1 bath, $425 rent, 815-316-8864. TFN

Studio Apartment, 1010 24th St., Heat Included, $425 rent, 815-316-8864. TFN

3-bedroom apartment, 1530 11th Street, 1 bath, $595 rent, central air, 815-316-8864. TFN

Condos

DELUXE 2-BEDROOM CONDO Boston square 4442 Pepper Dr. 1.5-bath, fireplace, dishwasher, microhood, central air, new carpet, fresh paint. $1000/month 18 mo. lease, must have good credit, $25 application fee. Call 815/235-2260 for more details. 2/8

Houses

WEST SIDE, 4- 4-BEDROOM HOMES, 2-bath, $695-750/month. Sec. 8 OK. Please call 815/914-1337. 2/8

5-BDRM 1344 Sherman $900, 4-BDRM 834 Montague $825, 3-BDRM 1416 Chestnut $675,3-BDRM 826 Buckbee $700, 3-BDRM 1218 Horace $675, 2-BDRM 325 Marvin $550, 2-BDRM 706 S. Greenview $525, 1-BDRM 623 16th Ave. $475, SOUTH BELOIT 3-BDRM 525 Center $725. 815/235-2260. 2/8

3-bedroom house, 918 20th Ave., 1 bath, garage, $675 rent, 815-316-8864. TFN

3-bedroom house, 120 Riverside Blvd., 1 bath, 2-car garage, $725 rent, 815-316-8864. TFN

3-bedroom house, 420 Napoleon St., 1 bath, $695 rent, 815-316-8864. TFN

3-bedroom house, 324 Churchill St., 1 bath, $695 rent, 815-316-8864. TFN

Commercial Rental

3 storefronts available Will build to suit. 917 S. Main. Each space 1,400 sq.ft. mol. Contact Kerry Knodle, CCS, Inc. 815/963-6236, kknodle@youthbuildrockford.org. TFN

Roommate Wanted

ROOMMATE WANTED to share house, Rockford Plaza area. Must like dogs. $400/month. Contact Greg, 815/742-1264. TFN

Homes For Sale

2-YR-OLD HOME on approx. ½-acre. 2-bedroom, 2-bath, 2-car garage. Well-established subdivision near Jefferson HS. Contract available. Mid-100s. 815/398-3762. TFN

REAL ESTATE: ***FREE Foreclosure Listings*** Over 400,000 properties nationwide. LOW Down Payment. Call NOW! 1-800-785-4121 (MCN)

Mobile Homes

14’x66’ MOBILE HOME- 3BR, full bath. Newer windows & furnace. $13,500. 815/871-3801. TFN

Lots For Sale

CANDLEWICK LOTS FOR SALE $6,600. Terms available. With ownership come amenities
including fishing, boating, golf, swimming & family activities. Please call 815/398-3762. TFN

100 ACRE TEXAS LAND SALE- 70% Discount! $0/Down, $195/month. Was $64,500. Now $19,500!! No Credit Checks. Owner Financing. Money Back Guarantee. Great Mountain Views. FREE color brochure. 1-877-284-2072 N-1/25

From the Jan. 25-31, 2012, issue

Posted in Classifieds, Homes | No Comments »

Deadline Feb. 1 for Forest Preserve District Board vacancy

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

Staff Report

Applications for the vacant seat on the Winnebago County Forest Preserve District (WCFPD) Board of Commissioners are due by 5 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 1.

Application forms are available online at www.wcfpd.org or at WCFPD headquarters, 5500 Northrock Drive, Rockford, IL 61103. Online applications can either be completed online and then printed, or printed and filled out by hand.

Completed applications must include an attached résumé and be returned to WCFPD by scanning and e-mailing to jday@wcfpd.org, or by mail, or deliver in person to WCFPD headquarters.

Applications will be reviewed by the WCFPD commissioners, and the most qualified applicants will be interviewed later in February. The individual selected to fill the vacancy will be required to run for re-election to the WCFPD Board of Commissioners in November.

For more details, call the WCFPD headquarters at (815) 877-6100.

From the Jan. 25-31, 2012, issue

Posted in Local News, News | No Comments »

Tube Talk: Peculiarly intriguing reality shows: ‘Oddities,’ ‘Face Off’ and ‘Lizard Lick Towing’

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

Obscura Antiques & Oddities, the focus of “Oddities” on Science Channel, is filled with items discovered at flea markets, auctions, antique shows, other collectors, anywhere and everywhere. (Image courtesy of http://dsc.discovery.com)

By Paula Hendrickson
Contributing Writer

One of the great things about cable TV is there is a place for virtually any kind of program you can imagine. Even on basic cable, there are plenty of captivating shows if you look hard enough.

A couple months ago, I spotted an interesting title in the electronic programming guide and decided to give it a shot. The show? Oddities, on Science Channel. (Science is part of the Discovery family.) It’s set in a small New York curiosity shop called Obscura Antiques & Oddities. Co-owners Evan Michelson and Mike Zohn and their buyer (and taxidermist) Ryan Matthew oversee an eclectic shop filled with quack medical devices, preserved specimens, even artworks made from belly button lint, fingernails and, in one case, microscopic views of dust samples taken from the shop.

The real fun of Oddities is seeing Evan, Mike and Ryan interacting with customers — some shopping for unique gifts, others trying to sell their own items (possessed ventriloquist dummy, anyone?), and occasionally performing unusual feats when negotiating a lower price. It’s also interesting to tag along when they’re hunting for specific items — like embalming equipment or side-show artifacts — for exacting clients. Less fun, for me, is watching Ryan working with skeletons and taxidermy pieces. The guy may be good at what he does, but it’s not for the faint of heart. (Speaking of hearts, they probably have a preserved heart or two in stock.)

What makes the show perfect for Science Channel is that the proprietors know historical and scientific facts about pretty much everything in the shop.

Meanwhile, on SyFy’s reality show Face Off, any cringe-inducing visions are pure artifice; contestants compete to create amazing, and perhaps occasionally gruesome, special effects make-up. They’ve turned models into sea creatures, re-imagine iconic movie characters, and pretty much blow viewers’ minds with what they can do with the tools of their trade.

As someone who has interviewed some of the industry’s top special effects make-up artists, I have some understanding of how much time, effort and artistry goes into this kind of work. On Face Off, contestants don’t have much time to design, craft and perfect their creations. Some artists thrive under the pressure, others crumble and some make lucky choices.

My sister-in-law really likes TruTV’s reality show, Lizard Lick Towing. The series follows real-life repo men (and woman) Ron and Amy Shirley and Bobby Brantley of the Lizard Lick Towing Company, located in Lizard Lick, N.C. While part of the business involves towing vehicles, they specialize in repossessing and recovering cars, trucks, boats, and construction equipment for banks and other lenders. They’ve even repo-ed an airplane or two.

When asked why she enjoys Lizard Lick Towing, my sister-in-law pointed to the drama between the Lizard Lick crew and the angry ex-owners they encounter. “It’s crazy that people will risk their lives and threaten another person’s life over a vehicle that they don’t own anymore!” she said.

Another thing viewers like about Ron and company is they have empathy for people who’ve lost their property after truly falling on hard times, so they never come across as heartless repo men.

If you run across a marathon of any of these shows, get comfy. You’ll probably get hooked.

Programming notes

Oddities airs Saturdays at 8 p.m. on Science Channel

Face Off airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on Syfy.

Lizard Lick Towing airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on TruTV

Paula Hendrickson is a regular contributor to Emmy magazine and Variety, and has been published in numerous national publications, including American Bungalow, Television Week and TVGuide. Follow her on Twitter at P_Hendrickson and send your suggestions to tubetalking-paula@yahoo.com.

From the Jan. 25-31, 2012, issue

Posted in Tube Talk, Vibe Entertainment, Vibe Entertainment News | No Comments »

LDR Cleaning & Restoration awards two employees

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

LDR Construction Services, Inc., LDR Cleaning & Restoration (LDR) held their annual Christmas breakfast at the Machine Shed in Rockford. Recipients of this year’s Outstanding Leadership Award, as voted on by their peers, are Master Carpenter Tom Funk and Water Technician Jordan Gilliam. The award is given to the person(s) who shows outstanding leadership and superior performance.

LDR Construction Services, Inc., and LDR Cleaning & Restoration work in unison to form a fully-insured, licensed and bonded restoration company. LDR specializes in the complete repair of fire, smoke, wind, water and vandalism damage to both commercial and residential properties. LDR has been proudly serving all of northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin since 1991. LDR handles any size loss and works with all types of insurance providers. LDR adheres to strict industry standards and employs a highly-trained certified staff.

From the Jan. 25-31, 2012, issue

Posted in Community News and Notes, People In Our Times | No Comments »