Ban antibiotics for healthy farm animals | The Rock River Times

Ban antibiotics for healthy farm animals

November 12, 2014

Strep throat and pneumonia have become routine infections for doctors to treat with antibiotics. Yet, the more we use these miracle drugs, the bacteria become more resistant to the drugs.

Although doctors are taking precautions while prescribing antibiotics, more than 70 percent of antibiotics sold in the U.S. are for livestock. Animals consuming these antibiotics may or may not even be sick, yet they receive a dose as a preventive measure to fight against unsanitary conditions and for growth promotion.

While canvassing restaurants with Illinois PIRG (Public Interest Research Group), it was clear that doctors and environmental groups are not alone in their interest for limiting antibiotic-ridden livestock. I was excited to see restaurant owners eagerly sign on to our letter to President Barack Obama asking him to ban the practice of giving antibiotics to healthy farm animals. As someone who believes food is medicine, eating meat riddled with antibiotics was not quite what I had in mind. While the medical community is on the front lines of the problem, it’s also important to show President Obama that the food industry is also behind the campaign to ban the overuse of antibiotics on factory farms to keep our antibiotics effective.

Steph Wynn
Wilmette, Illinois

From the Nov. 12-18, 2014, issue

Ban antibiotics for healthy farm animals | The Rock River Times

Northern Illinois gets $8.3 million for construction jobs | The Rock River Times

 

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois — Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn (D) announced investments of more than $8.3 million for construction projects in northern Illinois Nov. 26.

The road and airport projects in DeKalb, Grundy, Jo Daviess, LaSalle, Lee, Ogle and Winnebago counties are all part of Quinn’s $31 billion Illinois Jobs Now! capital construction program and address critical infrastructure needs in central Illinois.

“I led passage of the Illinois Jobs Now! program immediately after taking office in 2009 because the state had gone nearly 10 years without major capital construction legislation to repair and maintain the state’s infrastructure,” Quinn said. “With Illinois Jobs Now!, we’ve been able to put hundreds of thousands of people to work on badly needed construction jobs while making northern Illinois a better place to live and work.”

The projects will be managed by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), except where noted.

Following are the projects by county:

• Winnebago County — Runway 1/19 at Chicago Rockford International Airport will be rehabilitated for $4,705,272 by Sjostrom & Sons, Inc., of Rockford, the lowest of four bidders. The IDOT Division of Aeronautics will manage the project, which includes federal, state and local funding.

• DeKalb County — A detention basin for storm water runoff will be constructed at the DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport for $775,000 by Elliott & Wood Inc. of DeKalb, the lowest of seven bidders. The IDOT Division of Aeronautics will manage the project, which includes federal, state and local funding.

• Jo Daviess County — Illinois Route 35 will receive 250 feet of storm sewer replacement approximately 0.20 miles northeast of Arrowhead Drive/St. Mary’s Drive in East Dubuque for $90,079 by Law Excavating Inc. of Mt. Carroll, the lowest of four bidders.

An existing single span steel stringer structure will be replaced with a triple-barrel reinforced concrete box culvert on Longhollow Road and a new double-barrel reinforced concrete box culvert will be constructed on Brodrecht Road, 5.5 miles northwest of Elizabeth at Furnace Creek for $1,895,411 by Civil Constructors, Inc., of Freeport, the lowest of four bidders.

• Lee County — Palmyra Road will receive cold milling and HMA resurfacing from Hillcrest Drive to 0.3 miles west of Lenox Road for $394,511 by Civil Constructors, Inc., of Freeport, the lower of two bidders.

• LaSalle and Grundy counties — U.S. 6 will receive drainage improvements 1,773 feet east of Illinois Route 170 in Seneca for $123,213 by D Construction, Inc. of Coal City, the lower of two bidders.

• Ogle County — Interstate 39 interchange ramps will receive pavement patching and resurfacing for $477,219 by William Charles Construction Company, LLC, of Loves Park, the lowest of three bidders.

Posted Nov. 26, 2014

Northern Illinois gets $8.3 million for construction jobs | The Rock River Times

Grant targets training for Information Technology jobs | The Rock River Times

 

Grant targets training for Information Technology jobs

November 26, 2014

 

• Information session scheduled for Dec. 5

Staff Report

The Northern Illinois Workforce Alliance is receiving a $288,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to help prepare 30 eligible workers for jobs related to information technology.

NIWA staff is working with area educational institutions, members of the local Information Technology (IT) Roundtable, and other employers to identify classroom and work-based training opportunities and job prospects.

The goal of the grant is to help eligible participants with an interest and aptitude in technology earn the certifications necessary to gain employment as computer programmers, system managers, software and web developers, network administrators, security specialists and other technology-related positions.

“There are information technology jobs available in the Rockford area, and this grant provides a wonderful opportunity to help unemployed individuals interested in IT careers receive the training and the certifications they need to be successful,” said Michael Broski, president of Entré Computer Solutions and IT Roundtable member.

Dan Cataldi, EIGERlab executive director, added: “One of the major challenges for companies is being able to find workers with the necessary IT skills. This program will help provide additional training to workers who have already shown interest and talent in these careers.”

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has included Information Technology as one of its key employment sectors. According to the state, there were 385 job postings for IT positions in the Rockford area in the third quarter of this year.

The training is available to eligible individuals enrolled in the Dislocated Worker Program through The Workforce Connection. Apply for the program online at www.theworkforceconnection.org.

An information session is scheduled for 10 a.m., Friday, Dec. 5, at the Regional Design Center, 315 N. Main St., in Rockford. For more information, call (815) 921-2200.

From the Nov. 26-Dec. 2, 2014, issue

Grant targets training for Information Technology jobs | The Rock River Times

FAIRNESS IN GOVERNMENT You be the judge.

FAIRNESS IN
GOVERNMENT
You be the judge.

Guest Editorial
By Cathy Ward
Four years ago, former Belvidere Boone Planning Director Adam Tegen left our
Belvidere/Boone Planning Department, leaving Kathy Miller and Gina Delrose in
charge during some of the most challenging days in the history of the county during
the emotion-packed, long-winded wind-farm and Plote hearings.
Adam was not replaced-leaving Kathy and Gina sharing his workload. Kathy was
named interim director. Gina was still associate planner. Fast forward to four years
later. Kathy is still interim director, Gina is still associate planner and raises for
both have been minimal. One year during the recession there were no raises for the
county. The next year, none for the city, still doing the work of three.
As many of you know, they were not always treated with the dignity and respect
all our employees deserve, and that’s putting it nicely. The verbal abuse, insults and
rudeness have been the worst I’ve seen in years. Some people took any chance they
could to try to make them look incompetent or untrained. They are neither.
For four years, they have done all that was asked. People who work with them
say they have always remained professional. They have been informative, done the
research requested, been polite in the process, gone the extra mile and been involved
in many community activities on top of their workload.
But nothing has been done to give them the titles and raises they deserve. I hope
it’s not just because they are women. The abuse they have taken without leaders
stepping in has been incomprehensible. I truly believe the good people of this county
would not judge this favorably. Most don’t know this is happening, I’m sure. Let’s
hope there is a change, soon.
Also judge this one. One of our county departments, the probation department,
comes to us every year demanding at least a 3% raise, even though most years, our
other departments are getting less. I’ve always objected to this. This year, the rest of
our departments are getting a 2% raise.
I was much encouraged when our finance committee voted 5-0 to say “No. They
said probation gets the same as the rest, 2%. But a few days later, I found out a few
of our finance committee and chair met with the probation people, not the entire
finance committee, and agreed to give the 3% again, that’s on top of repeated 3% of
previous years.
None of the other departments, like the assessor’s office, building department,
health department, clerk’s office, or state’s attorney’s office came to me asked for
salaries to match the probation department. I think they, and our taxpayers, just
expect our board members to make sure we are treating all as fairly as possible. At
Wednesday’s meeting, the majority of the board sided with the chair and agreed to
give probation the 3% raises again. The only rational I heard was that the probation
department raises enough money from fees for the extra increase and can squeeze the
money from those fees. Unbelievable. Many departments bring in fee money. None
asked for a bigger slice of the pie. I suggested all departments find the extra money
some place in their budgets and do the same. Now. One board member said maybe
the other departments could hold fund raisers. Seriously?
In my world, that’s just not fair. You be the judge. Talk to your elected officials.
Please.

Letter: A win/win for everyone - Opinion - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

 

Posted Nov. 28, 2014 @ 6:00 pm

As a Boone County resident/taxpayer and previous business owner, I would like to respond to a recent article in the Rockford Register Star regarding the new Boone County Animal Control Facility.

I find it interesting that Illinois business people feel that local contracts should be given to an Illinois business with little or no experience in the proposed project field.

Instead of challenging the decision, they need to go back to the conference room and analyze why they lost the contract and prepare for the next opportunity.

I commend the Boone County board for selecting an architect with experience in the design and building animal control facilities in other states as well as Illinois. That experience will be incorporated into the specifications of the proposed facility.

Local contractors will have an opportunity to bid on all or parts of the project.

It is a win/win for the taxpayer, Boone County, employees, volunteers and the animals.

— Bob Christianson, Belvidere

Letter: A win/win for everyone - Opinion - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

Boone County Fair Association to begin fundraising campaign - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

 

BELVIDERE — The Boone County Fair Association Board of Directors has announced the Boone County Fair Grandstand Rejuvenation Project to raise funds to refurbish the 50-year-old grandstand at the fairgrounds.

The fair association is looking to raise $114,000 to complete the project and will acknowledge donors with a sign to be hung on the back of the grandstand. To participate, donors should call the fair office at 815-544-2900 or can mail a donation to BCF Assn., PO Box 456, Belvidere, IL 61008. The association hopes to have the project completed in time for the 2015 fair.

For information: 815-544-2900.

Boone County Fair Association to begin fundraising campaign - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL