Boone voters might have a say on $12M for Irene Road I-90 exit - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

This seems highly unlikely to me.  The closest scheduled election is the March primary and much of the decision regarding tollway exits must be done soon.—BILL PYSSON

That’s why Ward is pushing for an advisory referendum. Before the city and county commit to spending millions on this project, she said, leaders should make sure their constituents are willing to do whatever it takes to foot the bill.

“It’s time that we really go back and ask the people what they think. It’s time that we start listening to the majority of the people rather than a handful.”

Click on the following for the complete article:  Boone voters might have a say on $12M for Irene Road I-90 exit - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Local daily’s parent, GateHouse, files for bankruptcy | The Rock River Times

By Brandon Reid
Senior Assistant Editor

GateHouse Media Inc., debt-riddled parent company of local daily newspaper the Rockford Register Star, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the company announced Sept. 27.

Following is part of a press release issued by the company:

Concurrently with the bankruptcy filing, GateHouse filed and requested confirmation of a joint prepackaged plan of reorganization.

GateHouse announced on September 11, 2013, that it had entered into a plan support agreement with the administrative agent and certain lenders under its 2007 secured credit facility, including certain affiliates of GateHouse, which contemplated a comprehensive restructuring of approximately $1.2 billion of debt scheduled to come due in August 2014.

According to Michael Reed, director and chief executive officer, the bankruptcy filing was a strategic decision to facilitate this restructuring, and not a reflection of any operational difficulties on the part of GateHouse.

“We have complied with and are current with all our obligations,” he said, “but with the challenges facing our industry and the impending maturity of our secured debt next year, we needed to be proactive in exploring options to restructure our debt, recapitalize, and position ourselves for future growth. The prepackaged plan proposes a ‘balance-sheet restructuring,’ by which GateHouse will emerge from bankruptcy with much less debt on its balance sheet, but with its business operations completely intact. Upon emergence, we will be under common ownership with Local Media Group, a company with a strong community media presence and performance that operates eight daily community newspapers and thirteen weeklies. Joining with Local Media Group will be an important step in growing our business and will contribute to our future success as the pre-eminent source for locally focused content, covering and serving our subscribers, advertisers and customers through print, online and other digital products, including mobile applications.”

Pursuant to its plan support agreement, GateHouse solicited votes on the plan over the past week from holders of claims under its 2007 secured credit facility and certain related interest rate swaps. The plan was accepted by the only impaired class of creditors entitled to vote on it. Specifically, 79 out of the 80 holders of secured debt entitled to vote holding an aggregate amount of $1,199,317,153 (representing 99.99% of the total secured debt) voted to accept the plan. No creditors voted to reject the plan.

Pension, trade and all other unsecured creditors of GateHouse would not be impaired under the prepackaged plan, and their votes were not solicited. GateHouse’s common stock would be canceled under the plan, and holders of secured debt would have the option of receiving a cash distribution equal to 40% of their claims, or stock in New Media Investment Group Inc., a new holding company that will own GateHouse and Local Media Group.

GateHouse, which operates in 330 markets across 21 states, intends to continue to operate its business without interruption as a “debtor-in-possession” under the jurisdiction of the bankruptcy court. According to Reed, GateHouse has sufficient cash to operate during the chapter 11 process and does not need, nor does it intend to obtain, debtor-in-possession financing.

“We don’t believe our customers, vendors, or employees will notice any change on our day-to-day operations as a result of the bankruptcy,” he said. “From an operational standpoint, it’s business as usual.”

Houlihan Lokey Capital Inc. is acting as financial advisor to GateHouse, and Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP is acting as its legal counsel. Additional information is available at GateHouse’s restructuring website at http://dm.epiq11.com/gatehousemedia.

GateHouse publishes nearly 90 daily and 265 weekly newspapers and employs about 4,100 people across 21 states. The company was delisted from the New York Stock Exchange in 2008. Stock was trading at 3 cents per share May 14, opened at 4.7 cents per share Sept. 4, and was trading at 5.8 cents Sept. 4. The stock was down to 2.6 cents per share Sept. 5.

The Rockford Register Star was sold by its previous parent, Gannett Co., Inc., to GateHouse as part of a $410 million deal April 12, 2007. The deal also included the GateHouse purchase of three other Gannett daily newspapers — the Norwich (Conn.) Bulletin, the Observer-Dispatch in Utica, N.Y., and The Herald-Dispatch in Huntington, W. Va. At the time of the purchase, GateHouse’s stock was trading at about $21 per share. The Freeport Journal-Standard is also owned by GateHouse.

Posted Sept. 27,

The above is taken from:  Local daily’s parent, GateHouse, files for bankruptcy | The Rock River Times

Rock River Valley needs to take a lesson on jobs from the ’80s - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

By Alex Gary

RRSTAR.COM

According to census estimates, Winnebago County is believed to have lost 3,000 residents from 2010 to 2012, and Boone County has shrunk by 200. Chicago and its suburbs are growing. Cook County has gained more than 30,000 people the past two years; Kane and DuPage counties have added more than 16,000.

The fact that the Rockford area has lost population after an economic downturn is not unique. In the 1980s, when the local jobless rate reached 20 percent, the area’s population took a significant hit.

The Rockford School District closed 16 schools between 1981 and 1987, and the Harlem School District closed two.

Eventually, the population trends turned positive. Podemski believes that will happen this time, too.

Click on the following for more details:  Rock River Valley needs to take a lesson on jobs from the ’80s - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Quarry special use request passes county zoning board test | Belvidere Daily Republican

 

Plote attorney Warren Fuller of South Barrington explained the county board had approved an ordinance allowing gravel pits to exist only on industrially zoned land. Plote filed suit, challenging the ordinance and the settlement agreement was reached in court.

That background also answered the recurring question of why the Plote operation never went through an initial special use process, which would have included public hearings. Fuller said the settlement agreement was the special use permit.

But he had no answer to another recurring question: why Plote didn’t renew its special use permit three years ago, which also was part of the court

Read the entire piece by clicking on the following:  Quarry special use request passes county zoning board test | Belvidere Daily Republican

Boone County real estate transactions recorded Sept. 17-23 | Belvidere Daily Republican

 

Written by Administrator

 

BOONE COUNTY – Following is a list of the Boone County real estate transactions recorded during Sept. 17-23.

Recorded Sept. 17

9284 Centerville Road, Capron, $180,000, Jeffrey A. Swanson to Jorge Zendejas.

1615 Danesfield Dr., Belvidere, $152,000, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. to Lucio Chaidez.

805 W. 12^th St., Belvidere, $35,426, Secretary of HUD to Rosa C. Barrientos.

20152 Free Church Road, Caledonia, $360,400, Archie R. and Leila L. Linn, Jr. to Mary B. Kasper.

308 Marquette Dr., SW, Poplar Grove, $68,800, Judicial Sales Corp. to Secretary of HUD.

Recorded Sept. 18

14770 Front St., Caledonia, $58,500, Federal National Mortgage Assoc. to Joseph T. Lettier and Michelle C. Lettier.

339 Rockton Road, Roscoe, $200,000, Elena G. Hoeflich to John R. and Diana Schultz.

1080 W. Jackson St., Belvidere, $80,000, David W. Cross, trustee, to Katherine Veley.

1008 Grover St., Belvidere, $28,500, Federal National Mortgage Assoc. to Rigoberto Medina Rojas.

922 Fremont St., Belvidere, $77,000, Steven J. Martenson and Janet L. Martenson to Joel Gonzalez, Jr.

514 Constitution Dr. SW, Poplar Grove, $56,000, Secretary of HUD to Jeffrey D. Coticchio.

1654 Danesfield Dr., Belvidere, $84,000, Secretary of HUD to Serafin Moreno.

22980 Burr Oak Road, Harvard, $245,000, David Sullivan to Neil and Jane Crouch.

715 East Ave., Belvidere, $35,000, Pedro Davila to Dickerson Investments, LP.

204 Hastings Way SW, Poplar Grove, $37,500, Deutsche Bank to Peter A. Patterson.

977 Natalie Way, Belvidere, $155,000, Bank of America to Bradley D.  Hayes.

111 Liverpool Dr. SE, Poplar Grove, $42,900, Judicial Sales Corp. to Secretary of HUD.

1106 Ruby St., Belvidere, $41,399, Deutsche Bank National Trust Co. to James E. Trevathan Jr. and Barbara Trevathan.

104 Bree Dr., Poplar Grove, $110,251, H&R Block Bank to Eric L. Chastain.

5621 Rustic Waters Dr., Belvidere, $178,000, Joe Contarino Inc DBA Contry Homes of IL to Adam D. Brooke A. Stark.

409 Franklin St., Belvidere, $31,000, Luke Lykken to Steinbis Properties LLC.

Recorded Sept. 19

2419 Winfield Lane, Belvidere, $110,000, Secretary of HUD to Paul Joseph Dote.

724 N. Main St., Belvidere, $28,000, Blackhawk Bank to Dickerson Investments, LP.

Recorded Sept. 20

11785 Coon Trail Road, Harvard, $350,000, Katherine L. Webster, trustee, to Michael F. Sujak and Heidi Sujak.

7370 IL Rt. 173, Poplar Grove, 75,000, Dale E. Worley Sr. to T10 Unison Site Management LLC.

1507 Dawngate Dr., Belvidere, $115,000, Wendee Anagostpoulos to Matthew P. Cox.

4482 Deer Valley Close, Belvidere, $380,000, Vivian Wierman, trustee, to Nicholas T. Hengles.

Recorded Sept. 23

1112 9^th Ave., Belvidere, $130,000, Bobby J. Wilson, trustee, to Bobby J. Wilson and Mary J. Wilson.

639 W. 6^th St., Belvidere, $76,000, Christina M. Jones to Sheryl K. Carlton.

2780 Newbury Lane, Caledonia, $416,950, Paul D. Johnson and Karen L. Johnson to Ronald Joseph McGuire and Adrea Beth McGuire.

516 W. 6^th St., Belvidere, $67,000, William Pruitt and Judi Pruitt, trustees, to Rebecca A. Spears.

9002 US Rt. 20, Garden Prairie, $58,000, Nanette C. Hesseltin to Cecilio Rubalcava.

Boone County real estate transactions recorded Sept. 17-23 | Belvidere Daily Republican

Boone County Board member faces DUI charge

BELVIDERE — A Boone County Board member has been charged for driving under the influence of alcohol.

District 3 member Chris Berner is also being charged with a registration light violation, disregarding a traffic control light and improper traffic lane usage, according to court records. He was arrested last weekend.

Berner did not immediately return calls.

His next court hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Oct. 24.

Check back to rrstar.com or pick up Saturday’s edition of the Register Star for more information

Read more: http://www.rrstar.com/news/x452543854/Boone-County-Board-member-faces-DUI-charge#ixzz2gCHxy9hA

Rock County WI (Beloit/Janesville) has a flashy new website for recruiting businesses

Take a look for yourself: http://rockcountyalliance.com/

OR see the photocopies below:

It is also in French, Chinese, German and Spanish. It is searchable and interactive.

 

With resource data and calculators:

 

City of Dixon to get $40M after bookkeeper stole $53M - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

By CARYN ROUSSEAU

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

small northern Illinois city that lost more than $53 million over two decades to its thieving former bookkeeper will recoup about $40 million, the mayor said Wednesday when announcing a legal settlement in the case.

Dixon will receive $40 million as part of a settlement with a bank and auditor it had accused of not doing enough to expose former Comptroller Rita Crundwell's scheme, Mayor Jim Burke said. The city also recouped about $10 million by selling off Crundwell's belongings, but it incurred $10 million in legal and other costs, he said.

Read the entire article by clicking on the following:  City of Dixon to get $40M after bookkeeper stole $53M - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

County overwhelmingly rejects truck parking in A-1 zoning | Belvidere Daily Republican

Written by Bob Balgemann

zoning board of appeals and planning, zoning and building (PZB) committee recommended approval in unanimous votes. But the planning staff recommended denial.

County board members considered the request, Sept. 18 and voted 10-1 to reject it. District 3 board member Kenny Freeman was the only one to vote yes.

Two concerns came to the front during the lengthy discussion.

One was Jasipovic allegedly being in violation of a condition in the special use….

The second concern was Jasipovic not being present at the board meeting. Christina Porto said she saw him return home ealier that afternoon.

 

Click on the following for all of the story:  County overwhelmingly rejects truck parking in A-1 zoning | Belvidere Daily Republican

County board not interested in dissolving health department | Belvidere Daily Republican

Written by Bob Balgemann

One by one members of the board responded to the question posed by Chairman Bob Walberg: were they interested in doing away with the health department?

Some had concerns; three of the 12 said absolutely not. The majority were non-committal.

Only Thornberry gave a resounding “yes” to that question, but only if the health department didn’t get squared away within the next 30 days.

Click on the following to read the entire article:  County board not interested in dissolving health department | Belvidere Daily Republican

Mulch Fire: Hearing set for October 3, 2013

Will the county receive any compensation or reimbursement of costs?

You also can follow the case by clicking on the link:  http://www.judici.com/courts/cases/case_history.jsp?court=IL004015J&ocl=IL004015J,2012CH319,IL004015JL2012CH319D1

The hearing date has been changed numerous times.

Boone County’s Video Gaming Income for August

The county will receive $5,782.64

The following is taken from:  http://www.igb.illinois.gov/revreportsVG/VGStat201308.pdf

10 Cities That May Not Make It Back From the Crash - Yahoo Finance—Rockford is 2nd worst

By Ilyce Glink | CBS MoneyWatch

You can sum up the U.S. real estate market this year in one word: recovery.
Across the nation as a whole, prices have grown by more than 10 percent, and double or even triple that rate in some regions. Some of the hardest-hit states -- California, Florida, Nevada -- are also growing the fastest. Even cities like Modesto, Calif., were real estate prices went off a cliff during the housing crisis are coming back. Although home prices in Modesto are down 49 percent from their pre-crash peak, they have grown 30 percent from this time last year.
But not every town and city is on the comeback trail. At the other end of the spectrum, there are places like Farmington, N.M. Home prices there plunged 20 percent from their peak during the meltdown and are up only 0.03 percent this year. At that rate, it would take centuries for the city's housing market to recover. The reality is that homeowners in the city may never recoup their losses.

And Farmington is in better shape than the communities around the country on this list, which have yet to show any signs of rebounding from the meltdown. Using data compiled for CBSNews.com by real estate analytics provider, we looked not only at cities where home prices have the farthest to go to climb back to their pre-bubble peak, but also where prices are still declining

1. Kankakee, Ill.
Growth needed to match peak: 39.2 percent
Growth this year: -3.5 percent

Creative Commons

Kankakee faces a similar problem as Rockford, Ill. The population is stagnant and its unemployment rate hasn't been below 10 percent since mid-2008. Even selling the city's many foreclosed properties is unlikely to boost home prices much. Unless the city sees a serious economic turnaround, it will be nearly impossible to recover that 39 percent drop in home values.

2. Rockford, Ill.
Growth needed to match peak: 31.5 percent
Growth this year: -3 percent

Residents of two cities in Illinois have the bleakest prospects of seeing home prices rebound. The state's high unemployment rate is the biggest factor restraining prices. At the peak of the recession, Rockford's jobless rate shot up to a whopping 20 percent unemployment rate, and it remains high at around 10 percent.

Read about the rest, click on following:: 10 Cities That May Not Make It Back From the Crash - Yahoo Finance

County to explore constructing new animal control building | Belvidere Daily Republican

Written by Bob Balgemann

The Boone County Board has voted unanimously to have its health and human services committee investigate construction of a new animal control building.

Board members agreed Wednesday night (Sept. 18) to direct the committee to come up with a plan, a location, cost estimate and funding source that likely will include public and private partners throughout the county.

This will be the second time since 2002 that the county has considered new quarters for the department.

Terrinoni said he thought increasing dog registration fees would be the best option for bringing in more revenue. He also suggested that the county and others “join together as a community to build this facility.”

District 1 board member Bill Pysson pressed for a decision, pointing out tens of thousands of dollars had been spent in the past to study the issue and nothing had been done. “If Mr. Walberg and his voting block don’t want a new building, that’s fine,” he said.

Read the entire article by clicking on the following:  County to explore constructing new animal control building | Belvidere Daily Republican

Kelm questions county board support for veterans group | Belvidere Daily Republican

Written by Bob Balgemann

county initially provided the VAC with $25,000 in start-up funds and approved an additional $25,000 on Aug. 21. That money, and any other advances, must be repaid when property tax revenue becomes available next spring.

Kelm appeared before the county finance, taxation and salaries committee on Aug. 13 and presented a detailed report on how money had been spent so far. “(Committee member) Karl Johnson turned it (report) over without even looking at it and said, ‘I am not interested in the first $25,000 but I am interested in the second,’” the commission president said.

Read the entire article by clicking on the following:  Kelm questions county board support for veterans group | Belvidere Daily Republican

ZBA meeting Tuesday September 24 at 7:00 PM

The agenda is posted and both the Plote and Wind Turbine issue are on the agenda.  See details on:  http://www.boonecountyil.org/sites/default/files/zba%209-24-13_0.pdf

Auction for Belvidere Historic Preservation Commission September 28

Chrysler sets stock offering process in motion, filing statement with SEC | Detroit Free Press | freep.com

By Brent Snavely

Fiat has been trying to exercise a clause in its operating agreement with the UAW Trust to buy another 3.3% of Chrysler shares every six months since July 2012 and has made offers for a total of 9.9% of additional Chrysler shares.

The UAW trust has argued that Fiat has not offered enough. There is a gap of about $200 million between what Fiat offered for the first 3.3% increment and what the UAW trust argues it is worth.

The UAW trust needs to convert its holding to cash because it is responsible for health care insurance for about 63,000 Chrysler retirees. The higher price it can get, the more sustainable that coverage will be.

An IPO complicates Marchionne’s plan to fully merge Fiat and Chrysler because Chrysler's shares would be traded in the U.S. while shares of Fiat would continue to be traded on the Milan Stock Exchange.

Click on the following for more details:  Chrysler sets stock offering process in motion, filing statement with SEC | Detroit Free Press | freep.com

Harvest Fest 2013

United Way --General Mills’ “Parking Lot Sale” 915 E. Pleasant Street, Belvidere Saturday, October 5th

Chrysler files for IPO, forced by UAW trust

Reuters 9/23/2013 5:41 PM ET

 

DETROIT, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Chrysler Group LLC filed paperwork on Monday for an initial public offering of up to $100 million, an action that could slow majority owner Fiat SpA's plans to take full ownership of the U.S. automaker.

The offering will be underwritten by J.P. Morgan, the company said in a securities filing posted more than four years after the third-largest U.S. automaker emerged from a government-sponsored bankruptcy under Fiat management.

The size of the offering was not mentioned in the filing papers, and Chrysler officials did not comment on the figure.

Chrysler's minority shareholder, the United Auto Workers retiree healthcare trust fund, decided in January to sell part of its 41.5 percent stake in the company in an IPO.

Sergio Marchionne, chief executive of both Chrysler and Fiat, said in mid-September that the IPO is likely to take place in the first quarter of 2014.

Marchionne and the UAW trust, a voluntary employee beneficiary association, or VEBA, have been at odds over the value of Chrysler. Their inability to agree on a price for the VEBA stake led to Monday's IPO filing.

'From the bottom up': United Way aims to raise $4.8M in 2013-14

By Jennifer Wheeler
United Way of Boone County has set its fundraising goal of $675,000. The group’s 26 partner agencies provide 28 programs.
“We are well aware that demand for services provided by our member agencies continue to rise as families face financial hardship,” President Shauna Arco said. “However, the funds to support these agencies are becoming harder to find.”


Read more: http://www.rrstar.com/news/x1843591916/From-the-bottom-up-United-Way-aims-to-raise-4-8M-in-2013-14#ixzz2fjKWMiZ1

Poplar Grove plans to remove unfinished BMX training track | Belvidere Daily Republican

Written by Bob Balgemann

But “due to many broken promises and a lack of support, the BMX track will be leveled by a vote from the village board, 5-1,” he [Goings] wrote.
He said Eggert sought support from the village so he could bring the track up to safety standards required by Poplar Grove’s insurance carrier. “…the board didn’t agree that this was a good expenditure of the residents’ tax dollars,” he stated.

Click on the following to read all of the story:  Poplar Grove plans to remove unfinished BMX training track | Belvidere Daily Republican

Articles about Boone County Board meeting of September 18, 2013

The board voted 11-0 Wednesday to “investigate” building a new space for the Boone County Animal Services and Adoption Center. The vote doesn’t guarantee officials will approve future plans, but leaders said they were in favor of moving to a new spot.

The current building has been plagued with several issues that make it almost inoperable, including a cracked kennel floor and mice infestation. The chain-link fence that separates dog areas allows diseases, including kennel cough, to be spread among pets quickly….

 

In other news, Boone County Veterans Assistance Commission President Greg Kelm wants to know which officials are willing to commit political suicide by not supporting the county’s 3,400 former soldiers.
Read more: http://www.rrstar.com/news/x1843591140/Boone-officials-seek-design-revenue-streams-for-new-animal-building#ixzz2fLEPNKAK

 

 

Veterans Assistance Commission:

Click on the picture to enlarge:

Animal Services

The above BCJ articles are available on-line at:  http://www.boonecountyjournal.com/news/2013/Boone-County-News-09-20-13.pdf#page=1 or at merchants across the county free of costs.

How does Illinois compare with other states?

Here are some map comparison by the site:  http://moneychoice.org/states/

Touting Obamacare, US says millions could pay less than $100 a month - CSMonitor.com

By Linda Feldmann, Staff writer / September 17, 2013

Under Obamacare, an estimated 21.9 million uninsured Americans will be eligible to purchase subsidized health insurance via online marketplaces, which begin enrollment Oct. 1. Of those, nearly half – 10.8 million – may be able to buy insurance for $100 or less per month, after factoring in tax credits, according to a report issued Tuesday by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

An additional 12.4 million uninsured Americans will be newly eligible for either Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program, federal-state health-insurance programs for low-income people, the report says. This group will pay either a small premium or nothing.

Click on the following for the whole story:  Touting Obamacare, US says millions could pay less than $100 a month - CSMonitor.com

What AP left out of its latest story on eagles and wind power

Mainstream provide this opposing article regarding my blogpost regarding eagles dying because of wind power.  I am printing it in its entirety because no web reference for the entire article was provided.  To see my original posting regarding eagle dying because of wind power. Go to:http://boonecountywatchdog.blogspot.com/2013/09/study-wind-farms-killed-67-eagles-in-5.html or the actual article at: http://news.yahoo.com/study-wind-farms-killed-67-eagles-5-years-160226373.html   --Bill P

What AP left out of its latest story on eagles and wind power

11 September 2013 by John Anderson

As with previous coverage by Associated Press’s Dina Cappiello on eagles and wind energy, critical context about wind power and wildlife went missing from her report today. It is concerning that Ms. Cappiello again minimizes wind power’s perspective despite an abundance of important information made available to her.

No one takes wildlife impacts more seriously than the wind industry, and while unfortunately some eagles occasionally collide with turbines at some wind farms, this is not a common occurrence: fatalities of golden eagles at modern wind facilities represent only 2 percent of all documented sources of human caused eagle fatalities, while only a few bald eagles have died in collisions in the history of the industry.

This figure is far lower than eagle fatalities due to other leading causes, including lead poisoning, poisoning in general, electrocutions, collisions with vehicles, drowning in stock tanks, and illegal shootings. Further, the only reason we know as much as we do is because unlike these other sources, the wind industry is conducting pre- and post-construction surveys and self-reporting the losses.

Further, a recent study published in the Journal of Wildlife Management shows stable golden eagle populations throughout North America. The lead author is Brian Millsap, National Raptor Coordinator with FWS. This study examined population data throughout the range of golden eagles over the past four decades (i.e., 1968-2010) and found that the population has, in general, remained stable, and in fact slightly increased overall. The study concludes, “Our results clarify that golden eagles are not declining widely in the western United States."

This is an important data point, which contradicts claims that golden eagle populations have been declining throughout their range, with some in the anti-wind community attributing that trend to the expansion of wind energy. Despite the fact that this information was delivered to the AP on deadline before the story was published, it makes no mention of the fact that there is no decline in golden eagles in the American West.
Even so, the wind industry is and will remain actively engaged with both the regulatory and conservation communities to find ways of further avoiding, minimizing and fully mitigating for any impacts to both eagle species.

An infographic with the story also uses a contentious figure of bird strikes at wind farms, despite our sending her a comprehensive analysis showing in detail why that figure reflects the opinion of one biologist and is an outlier when compared to other mortality estimates conducted by numerous biologists and statisticians over the past several decades.
When we realized several of these facts went missing in Ms. Cappiello’s story, we submitted them in an online comment on the AP site. While the comment was ultimately approved and posted, that process took more than a day.

Ultimately, the story exaggerates the point of view of less credible opponents of wind power. It omits mainstream bird conservation groups such as National Audubon Society and National Wildlife Federation, which support developing more wind power because it helps avoid the vastly greater wildlife impacts of other forms of energy. And it leaves out information on the progress made by the industry-conservation partnership, American Wind Wildlife Institute, which we’ve provided Ms. Cappiello previously.
We again urge AP to treat this topic more fairly and not with unbalanced advocacy journalism that relies on misleading and incomplete information, and lacks context for its readers’ understanding of a complex issue.

Status of Boone County’s Case against Northwest Pallet

The date of the next hearing has apparently been changed again.  It is now October 3, 2012.  SEE BELOW”

Above is from:  http://www.judici.com/courts/cases/case_history.jsp?court=IL004015J&ocl=IL004015J,2012CH319,IL004015JL2012CH319D3

Go to that web address to check on any updates on the mulch case.

Attorney General is now involved in the Veteran Assistance Commission issue

The county has been contacted by the Attorney General’s Office and the AG will be updated concerning county’s discussions with the VAC—Bill Pysson via Ken Terrinoni

The following will be released to the BDR, Rockford Register Star and Boone County Journal on Monday, September 16, 2013. They may use all or parts of it.

Boone County finally releases second $25,000 for funding of the VAC:  VAC Boone County President Kelm's thoughts on this whole issue.

Just recently, September 10, 2013, County Board Chairman Mr. Walberg and County Administrator Mr. Terrinoni released the second $25,000 for the Veterans' Assistance Commission of Boone County. This was approved by the Finance Committee August 13th and by the full Board August 21st. Finally the money was released September 10th. Please remember, the County Board has some very intelligent, hard working, open minded members who welcome and support the VAC. On the other hand, there are members who will hop over the fence depending upon whether they are talking to the VAC or the County; yet they all voted 100% to fund another $25,000.

I would like to ask the entire County Board : Who will be the first to step up and state to the community how you really feel about your veterans?. Who wants to be the first to commit re-election suicide? It is my opinion that two members may have already done that.

Approximately 10 years ago, several veterans from Boone County approached the County Board asking for help to form a VAC, and they were told, "There would never be a VAC in Boone County ."

Several days ago in a telephone conversation with the county and the VAC, the VAC was told, "You can either borrow from the county or a bank."

Yes the county has funded $25,000 to start the VAC, and another $25,000 was finally released on September 10th, yet nowhere does the county tell the taxpayers what was really spent starting up the VAC office. When our group went to the County Board Finance Committee with our first detailed report of how every penny was spent, Karl Johnson turned it over without even looking at it and said: "I am not interested in the first $25,000, but I am interested in the second".

State Statute (330 ILCS) (from Ch. 23, par. 3090) says, "The county shall provide the office and furnish all necessary supplies, including telephone, printing, stationery and postage therefor". When the VAC asked the county for an office, used office equipment, and if they would write a check every other week for our superintendent, drawing funds from the VAC checking account, all answers by the county were: No! No! No!

The VAC membership will re-address the previous above paragraph, in detail again with the county, and then again with the Illinois Attorney General's office.

We had hoped the county would shoulder the burden of funding until the tax approved funds would be levied in July 2014. We told the County Board that all unused money in the VAC account would be returned to the general fund once the VAC tax levied funds are received in July 2014. Remember, it is always the county's responsibility to fund the VAC whether the referendum passed or failed, that is by Illinois statute.

Please remember, Boone county citizens stepped forward April 9, 2013, and said yes to a tax increase for the Veterans of Boone County and their families in financial need.

From the BDR Sunday August 18th page 8. Mr. Karl Johnson says: " Out of the $25,000 less than $500 has gone to help." Technically he is correct, and at face value that looks horrible. But what Mr. Karl Johnson conveniently omitted, was that several veterans had been helped, not financially, but with guidance and referrals to get medical care and other services in the first two weeks we were open. Also, we had not spent the whole $25,000; we had $6,000 left in the VAC checking, and the bulk of the money spent was to rent space and completely furnish it. We also pay our superintendent a salary of $576.92 per week, which is $30,000 a year.

Mr. Karl Johnson wondered hypothetically, what if the commission spends $300,000 a year of which $1,000 went to assist veterans? "Yet we're spending $30,000 on a salary." Mr. Johnson seems to have a big problem with our only employee receiving a $30,000 a year salary. That one employee happens to be very well educated in veterans' affairs and a certified Veterans' Service Officer. Mr. Johnson for the record, would you please provide the taxpayers and myself the number of all county employees who are paid over $31,000 a year? Also please recap total amount of yearly income by the top 10 highest paid employees of Boone County (no names please just total salary).

Mr. Thornberry, a very respected County Board member by the VAC answered, "We won't be able to answer Mr. Johnson's questions for two or three years". Mr. Thornberry has also attended our last two VAC meetings with rock solid input. Mr. Thornberry is also a veteran. Mr. Thornberry along with some of the other County Board members really want to see the VAC succeed, not fail.

After the attempted withholding of Board approved funds, the Attorney General's office was contacted by our Boone County VAC. The VAC will report now directly to Lisa Madigan's Office of Veterans Affairs with unresolved conflicts between the VAC & the Boone County Board.

Thank you to the community who did the right thing and voted themselves a tax increase to support the veterans and their families in need. Thank you to the members of County Board who truly wish to see the VAC succeed. To the other members of the Board, the VAC's of Illinois have been around for over 20 years, but it was your choice to sit on your hands and do nothing for your Boone County Veterans. You could have made this transition so easy, especially now with the funding from the tax levy.

If Board members paid more attention to the other 99.97% of the tax payers' dollars and spent less time trying to destroy the newly formed VAC, would our county be in such pathetic shape financially?

Respectfully submitted,

Gregory W. Kelm

President Boone County VAC

Chrysler buyout? Fiat no closer on deal to Chrysler stake. - CSMonitor.com

 

By Colleen Barry, Associated Press / September 13, 2013

 

Milan

Fiat and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne said Friday that he is no closer to a deal for the Italian carmaker to take full ownership of Chrysler and in the meantime was moving ahead on the formalities of a public offering for the U.S. group.

 

Marchionne told reporters in Turin, where Fiat has its headquarters, that talks were continuing with a United Auto Workers health care trust, which owns 41.5 percent of Chrysler. But the two sides continue to disagree on price. Fiat took control of Chrysler as it emerged from bankruptcy in 2009 and now owns a 58.5 percent stake.

Read the entire article :  Chrysler buyout? Fiat no closer on deal to Chrysler stake. - CSMonitor.com

The Deal on Syria

 

Read the actual document: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/786537-frameworkagreement.html

Boone County family planning, health care programs in jeopardy - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

The Boone County Health Department may not be able to reinstate women’s health services if it wants to remain in the black next year.

Services such as sexually transmitted disease screenings, distribution of contraception and pregnancy tests were cut during budget negotiations years ago, but officials hoped to bring them back. A projected shortfall might also mean there’s fewer county staff to help explain new health care mandates to residents.

Officials are projecting a $90,000 deficit in the department’s health fund for fiscal year 2014 if they run local programs at full strength.

 

Read the entire story by clicking on the following:  Boone County family planning, health care programs in jeopardy - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Boone County mulling renovation or new building for animal services - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

By Jennifer Wheeler

RRSTAR.COM

Most agree it’s an unacceptable sight, but county leaders aren’t sure if they can afford a remedy to the situation. The Boone County Board will decide next Wednesday whether to move the agency into to a new facility or fix up the current space.

“We’re very nervous about the decision. We don’t know if we should get excited about getting a new building or just deal with what we have here,” said Jacqui Mitzelfelt, programs coordinator and animal services officer for the center.

The problem will likely magnify if leaders don’t take action now. The facility is being used more than ever. Adoptions increased from 36 in 2010 to 120 in 2012.

Residents are now asking staff to offer cat adoptions, too, but the current facility is out of space.

County Administrator Ken Terrinoni said it would cost $600,000 to construct a new building based on a previous architect’s report. That’s not including the hiring of another animal services officer if cat adoptions become part of the operation.

He said there will be about $30,000 left in the animal control fund when the fiscal year ends Nov. 30.

Click on the following for more details:  Boone County mulling renovation or new building for animal services - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Study: Wind farms killed 67 eagles in 5 years - Yahoo News

DINA CAPPIELLO

But at a minimum, the scientists wrote, wind farms in 10 states have killed at least 85 eagles since 1997, with most deaths occurring between 2008 and 2012, as the industry was greatly expanding. Most deaths — 79 — were golden eagles that struck wind turbines. One of the eagles counted in the study was electrocuted by a power line.

The vice president of the American Bird Conservancy, Mike Parr, said the tally was "an alarming and concerning finding."

A trade group, the American Wind Energy Association, said in a statement that the figure was much lower than other causes of eagle deaths. The group said it was working with the government and conservation groups to find ways to reduce eagle casualties.

Click on the following to read the entire story:  Study: Wind farms killed 67 eagles in 5 years - Yahoo News

Truck parking in A-1 zoning clears 2nd hurdle | Belvidere Daily Republican

 

by Bob Balgemann

 

BELVIDERE – Miadenko Josipovic’s request to allow a semi-cab and trailer to park on his 5.18 acres along Caledonia Road has moved one step closer to becoming reality.

The Boone County Planning and Zoning Committee voted unanimously, Sept. 4, to recommend approval of the special use permit, subject to a number of conditions.

One requirement is that a garage be built within a year to house both the tractor and trailer. Until then the tractor must be parked in an existing storage building, with the trailer being parked next to that building.

Click on the following for all of the story:  Truck parking in A-1 zoning clears 2nd hurdle | Belvidere Daily Republican

Come tonight 9-11-200-13 and “voice” your opinion regarding a full interchange on Irene Road

The meeting was set up especially for Flora Township officials and residents but all are invited.—Bill Pysson

Here is the invitation from Kenny Freeman, Flora Township Trustee and District #3, Boone County Board member.

Kenny Freeman

Kenny Freeman updated his status: "Just a reminder for anyone wishing to attend the Boone County/Belvidere City Coordinating committee at 6:30 pm at the Administration Building on Logan Avenue. All Flora Township residents that would like to learn more about the Irene Road interchange. I hope to see you there."

Boone County agencies squabbling over $50,000 advance - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

By Jennifer Wheeler

Boone County’s Veterans Assistance Commission has the office, staff and paperwork in place to help former service members in financial need, but now the county wants its money back.

Boone County Board members are asking the commission to pay back the $50,000 they voted to give the veterans agency for start-up costs. Commission leaders say the funding wasn’t a loan — the county was helping the agency pay for its services until tax revenue trickles in.

Read the entire article by clicking on the following:  Boone County agencies squabbling over $50,000 advance - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Belvidere Township Agenda Sept 10, 2013 5ooPM

AGENDA

BELVIDERE TOWNSHIP

REGULAR MEETING OF THE TOWNSHIP BOARD

8200 Fairgrounds Road

September 10, 2013 – 5:00 P.M.

I. Call to Order/Roll Call

II. Pledge of Allegiance

III. Public Input

IV. Discussion and potential action on approval of Prior Meeting’s Minutes

V. Discussion and potential action on Transfers

VI. Reports

a. Supervisor’s Report

b. Highway Commissioner’s Report

c. Assessor’s Report

d. Clerk’s Report

e. Trustee’s Report

VII. Unfinished Business – Discussion and Potential Action May Occur on the following items:

a. Shaw Road Weight Enforcement

b. BCCA Parking

c. Beloit Road Bike Path

VIII. Legal

a.

b.

IX. New Business

1. Growth Dimensions-Kelly Galluzo

X. Discussion and Potential Action on Treasurer’s Report and Approval of Bills

XI. Closed Session

XII. Adjournment

Next Meeting: September 24, 2013 @ 5:00 P.M.

Police alert business community of possible scam | Belvidere Daily Republican

 

BELVIDERE – The police department was recently contacted by Belvidere District 100 in reference to a possible scam.  It has been reported that several businesses have been contacted by a subject representing Carrie Bell’s World Class Advertising. The caller is allegedly selling advertising space in a program booklet for Belvidere High School and Belvidere North High School. According to the school district, no such booklet has been authorized.

If any business has paid for any advertising from this company, please call Detective Chris Washburn at 815-547-6393

Police alert business community of possible scam | Belvidere Daily Republican

Smoked out: County residents upset over outdoor burning | Belvidere Daily Republican

Written by Bob Balgemann

County board member Bill Pysson, who was in the audience, said he was surprised to hear the health board discussing open burning. “I thought it was over because the (county) committee chose not to act,” he said.

“We all burn paper so it doesn’t go into the landfill,” health board member Kathleen Taylor said. “We all have burn barrels.” Then she added, “We have things to worry about other than this.”

Hatfield said the matter came up to him, county building official Drew Bliss and sheriff’s Lt. Perry Gay “and we were supposed to come up with something to address the concerns. Come fall, again, that’s when things happen.”

But the rest of the board wasn’t ready to act as it supported a motion to table, authored by board vice chairman Jim Cox, who said he did so “so we can move on” to other agenda items. His motion passed unanimously.

Click on the following for more details:  Smoked out: County residents upset over outdoor burning | Belvidere Daily Republican

Fundraiser for Belvidere Historical Preservation Commission

Global warming? No, actually we're cooling, claim scientists - Telegraph

By Hayley Dixon

There has been a 60 per cent increase in the amount of ocean covered with ice compared to this time last year, they equivalent of almost a million square miles.

In a rebound from 2012's record low an unbroken ice sheet more than half the size of Europe already stretches from the Canadian islands to Russia's northern shores, days before the annual re-freeze is even set to begin.

The Northwest Passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific has remained blocked by pack-ice all year, forcing some ships to change their routes.

A leaked report to the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) seen by the Mail on Sunday, has led some scientists to claim that the world is heading for a period of cooling that will not end until the middle of this century.

Click on the following for more details:  Global warming? No, actually we're cooling, claim scientists - Telegraph

Quote to Remember:

Everyone thinks of changing the World but no one thinks of changing himself.  ---Leo Tolstoy

 

Annexation of Candlewick Lake off the table | Belvidere Daily Republican

Village President John Neitzel said Monday night that he was called Aug. 17 by Don Parisi, president of the Candlewick Lake Association Board of Directors, and told none of the six directors was interested in discussing annexation.

So Neitzel didn’t attend the Aug. 20 board meeting, as he had planned to do

Click on the following to read all of the story:  Annexation of Candlewick Lake off the table | Belvidere Daily Republican