Illinois’ Distinction As State With Most Nuclear Waste Worries Activist « CBS Chicago

 

CBS) — The state of Illinois now appears to be the nation’s biggest producer of dangerous radioactive waste.

CBS 2’s Mike Parker reports.

There are 70,000 metric tons of potentially deadly nuclear waste stored at both active and inactive nuclear plants in the U.S.

Bloomberg.com reports that Illinois, with its 14 nuclear plant sites, is the country’s biggest atomic dump site.

There are roughly 9,000 tons of “high level, long lived, dangerous spent fuel” in Illinois, according to David Kraft of the Nuclear Energy Information Service, an anti-nuclear group.

That is more nuclear waste than any other state.

Kraft says he is worried about “natural catastrophes like we saw in Japan at Fukushima, terrorists, accidental airliners hitting buildings, or whatever.”

Although the federal government seems to recognize the dangers, critics say Washington can’t seem to decide how and where to move the waste for safe keeping. So it continues to sit in casks and cooling pools at the plants.

Says Kraft: “There’s absolutely nothing inherently safe about a thousand Hiroshimas in a box.”

The above is taken from:  Illinois’ Distinction As State With Most Nuclear Waste Worries Activist « CBS Chicago

Community Cupboard food Pantry Recieves $5,000 Grant

 

BELVIDERE (WIFR) -- The Community Cupboard food pantry recently received a $5,000 grant from the General Mills Foundation on behalf of the Belvidere, Illinois Community Action Council.

“With the holidays around the corner and students eating more meals at home, the timing of the grant is perfect,” said Shannon Hansen, Director. “The Community Cupboard is grateful for the support of the General Mills Foundation and will use the funds to continue providing food assistance and promoting healthy eating habits to Belvidere School District #100 students and their families.”

The Community Cupboard is the first school-based pantry in the state of Illinois and is housed in a classroom within the Belvidere School District. It is open every Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m. including spring break, winter break, and the summer months.

Community Cupboard food Pantry Recieves $5,000 Grant

Irene Road Interchange: Will it be like the Huntley Interchange?

 

 

The Illinois Route 47 Interchange Project is a new, all-electronic interchange at Illinois Route 47 on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) in Huntley, being constructed in partnership with the village of Huntley, Kane and McHenry counties and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). The project completes an existing partial interchange that currently provides access to and from the east. This work is part of the Tollway's 15-year, $12 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future. The ramps are scheduled to open and the project completed in 2013.

Construction Update (10-11-2013)

I-90/Illinois Route 47 Ramps

As of October 11, westbound I-90 traffic exiting to Illinois Route 47 is directed onto two new ramps, one for northbound Illinois Route 47 and one for southbound Illinois Route 47.

Illinois Route 47 traffic entering I-90 eastbound now have access to two new ramps, one for northbound Illinois Route 47 and one for southbound Illinois Route 47.

Illinois Route 47 Bridge

Northbound traffic has now been shifted onto the new bridge carrying Illinois Route 47 traffic over I-90. A single lane is traveling over the bridge in both directions, with two northbound lanes available north of the bridge to the intersection at Jim Dhamer Road and Freeman Drive.

Illinois Route 47 Traffic

Southbound traffic from Oak Creek Parkway to north of I-90 remains reduced to one lane. Northbound traffic from north of I-90 to Jim Dhamer Road and Freedom Drive has two lanes available. Northbound traffic south of I-90 between Big Timber Road and Manning Road is shifted to the right, maintaining one lane of traffic in each direction.

Traffic on Jim Dhamer Drive and Freeman Road at Illinois Route 47 is now shifted onto new pavement with two lanes in both directions.

I-90 Traffic Pattern

Eastbound traffic has been shifted back onto the new lanes on the eastbound side of the road with two lanes and a full right shoulder. Westbound traffic remains shifted to the right. Two lanes are maintained in both directions during peak hours.

Project Summary

Interchange Construction
In 2013, the Tollway will complete construction of six new ramps to complete an existing partial interchange and will complete the reconstruction of Illinois Route 47 over I-90, including traffic signal installation to provide a full-access interchange.

Maintenance of Traffic
Whenever possible, the Tollway uses traffic shifts and shoulders to keep as many lanes open during peak hours as were available before construction. Existing ramps will remain open to traffic during reconstruction.

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All-Electronic Interchange

The Illinois Route 47 Interchange is one of two new, all-electronic interchanges being constructed as part of Move Illinois. The Illinois Tollway operates the nation's largest electronic tolling system, with more than 86 percent of all toll transactions paid electronically through I-PASS or E-ZPass.  I-PASS customers experience faster, safer and more convenient commutes and save time and money.

Toll rates at the Illinois Route 47 Interchange will be 30 cents to and from the east and 45 cents to and from the west. Truck rates will range from 60 cents to $1.50 to and from the east and 95 cents to $2.50 to and from the west during daytime hours, with overnight discounts offered.

Tollway customers driving through an all-electronic interchange without an I-PASS have a seven-day grace period to pay the toll online or by mail. Grace period toll payments are double the I-PASS rates.

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Purpose

The Illinois Route 47 Interchange Project will be the first "green" interchange on the Tollway system, create more opportunity for continued economic development along Illinois Route 47 and will open up access between the Tollway and a regional north-south transportation route. Currently, existing ramps only provide access for drivers traveling to and from the east on I-90. These ramps were constructed in the early 1970s.

The project is estimated at $61 million with the Tollway funding half the cost and IDOT, McHenry and Kane counties and the village of Huntley funding the remainder.

The above is taken from:  http://www.illinoistollway.com/construction-and-planning/projects-by-roadway/jane-addams-memorial-tollway-i-90/il47interchangeproject

County grants Plote renewal but no extended hours

The above is taken from the October 25, 2013 Boone County Journal which is available free of cost at merchants across the county and on line at:  http://www.boonecountyjournal.com/news/2013/Boone-County-News-10-25-13.pdf#page=1

Two opposing campaigns lobbying regarding the Boone County Wind Ordinance

The Sierra Club is soliciting emails by sending an email to local members, requesting they click and send a prepared email to the county board and send the email on to five of their friends.

EMAIL from Sierra Club to local county resident.

If the email recipient “takes action” the following email is sent to the individual county board member.

Oct 24, 2013
Mr. Bill Pysson
601 North Main Street
Belvidere, IL 61008-2600
Dear Mr. Pysson,
The proposed Boone County Wind Farm would bring the county up to $1.3
million in annual property tax revenue by 2015 and make Boone County a
leader in Illinois' transition to a clean energy economy.
Please stand up for Boone County's future by voting for wind and
rejecting any zoning that would prevent the construction of the
proposed Boone County wind farm.
We urge you to reject the excessive setback regulations and adopt
zoning rules that are consistent with other counties in Illinois and
Wisconsin. Namely, the setbacks should be no more than:
-3.1 times the height of the turbine from the place of residence (for
non-participating landowners)
-1.1 times the height of the turbine from property lines (for
non-participating landowners)
-1.1 times the height of the turbine from the existing pipeline
Boone County deserves to be part of Illinois' clean energy future.
I urge you to respect landowner rights, and keep our county open to
this opportunity for new jobs, revenue for our local schools, and smart
and safe economic growth.
Sincerely,
Mrs. xxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Caledonia, IL 61011-xxxx
(815) xxx-xxxx

For some time now the organization, Concerned Citizens of Boone County,  has organized citizens to present evidence advocating extremely rigid wind turbine ordinances for Boone County.  Currently they are sending the following letter to county residents and property owners.  They request that following prepared statements opposing a Wind Farm in North Boone County be signed and sent to their office.

No doubt this flood of petitions will be delivered to the county board sometime before the anticipated vote on Wind Turbine Ordinance--Setbacks, now projected for the December Board meeting.

Belvidere Daily Republican

 

Boone County real estate transactions recorded Oct. 7-11

Oct. 9, 2013

BOONE COUNTY - Following is a list of the Boone County real estate transactions recorded during Oct. 7-11.

Recorded Oct. 7

135 Pembroke Road SW, Poplar Grove, $48,000, US Bank, to Juan Manuel Perona and Miriam Donato.

I-90 and Carlson Road acreage, Garden Prairie, $26,000, Michael Ettner to Illinois State Toll Highway Authority.

815 Tuneberg Dr., Belvidere, $172,000, U.S. Bank as trustee, to Daniel R. Hughes.

809 Union Ave., Belvidere, $19,500, Gregory Branson to Ekbeg and Leonard Properties, LLC.

722 E. Lincoln Ave., Belvidere, $41,000, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. to Heidi Lykken.

613 Highland St., Belvidere, $75,000, Judy K. Salley and Larry A. Welley to Daniel L. Kazy-Garey III.

158 Columbia St. N W, Poplar Grove, $85,000, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. to Russell D. Hern Jr. and Phyllis F. Hern.

3400 Partridge Lane, Belvidere, $170,000, Vincent E. Lange Estate to Brian M. Flanagan and Jill P. Atkinson.

619 Florence Court, Belvidere, $68,500, Steinbis Properties, LLC to Roberto Zavala and Zenaida Zavala.

Recorded Oct. 8

704 W. 10th St., Belvidere, $41,000, Secretary of HUD to Baldemar Murga Rodriguez.

601 Ruth Circle, Belvidere, $62,900, Champion Mortgage Co. to Jason and Janet Dodd.

2106 Oakbrook Dr., Belvidere, $88,001, Secretary of HUD to Mateo Hernandez.

4049 Bloods Point Road, Belvidere, $260,119, Michael L. and Wendy E. Prather to Augustin Medina.

Recorded Oct. 9

4466 Ratcliffe Dr., Belvidere, $130,000, Michael and Jennifer Roloff to Alejandro Gomez and Claudia Najera Nunez.

Recorded Oct. 10

405 Muirfield Close, Poplar Grove, $230,000, Bank of America, N.A., Seven Oaks Consulting and Management, LLC.

Recorded Oct. 11

1802 7th Ave., Belvidere, $93,385, Judicial Sales Corp. to Secretary of HUD.

9566 Henninger Dr., Belvidere, $185,000, Federal National Mortgage Assoc. to Daniel L. Reid and Rebecca A. Reid.

609 Buchanan St., Belvidere, $35,000, Royal D. Trudo and Sara L. Trudo to Alberto M. Rosales.

9388 Steeplebush Dr., Belvidere, $450,000, David E. Pendery and Curtis J. Stroud to Mark E. and Anne M. Johnson.

810 S. State St., Belvidere, $40,100, Secretary of HUD to Joseph A. Brinkmeyer.

117 Valhalla Dr. NE, Poplar Grove, $58,013, Secretary of HUD to Corey R. Lee and Sharon A. Woolsey.

The above is taken from:  rvpnews | Belvidere Daily Republican

Belvidere Daily Republican: Capron Rescue changes name; sees possible competition

 

Oct. 2, 2013

By Bob Balgemann

POPLAR GROVE - Capron Rescue Squad has been serving 144 square miles of northern Boone County since 1957. Now, after all that time, it has changed its name to North Boone EMS for at least two reasons.

One is because of changing times.

"The (ambulance) service is offered to everyone in north Boone County," Trustee Mike Petersen said. "There are so many new people out here - they don't know."

Another is to ward off confusion should North Boone Fire Protection District 3 decide to start its own ambulance service and hold a referendum to ask for the needed financial support.

Rescue squad district board President Owen Costanza said during Tuesday's (Oct. 15) meeting the referendum could be worded in such a way as to ask voters if they want North Boone District 3 or Capron Rescue Squad? "They could prefer North Boone 3 over a Capron service," he said.

But Trustee Barb Sager disagreed, saying Capron Rescue Squad had been around for 55 years. "They (residents) know it's their rescue system," she said.

"We're talking about all the new residents," Costanza said.

"If the referendum says North Boone 3 and North Boone EMS, that will create confusion," Sager countered. "I think it should remain the same."

Changing the name "would be a slap in the face for the people who have stood by Capron Rescue for 55 years," she added. "They have kept Capron Rescue Squad going."

Trustee Neeley Erickson didn't see it that way, saying, "We have to evolve."

Stepansky agreed there was "a huge history, a tradition. But we do have a brand identification problem that could be used against us. The influx of new residents is in Poplar Grove and Candlewick Lake, not in Capron."

"What's in play has nothing to do with the name," he added.

Petersen wondered about a marketing campaign to inform residents of what was going on? But Costanza said he didn't think the rescue squad district could compete with Fire District 3, which has zero liability and $785,000 in the bank.

Rescue squad district attorney Jim Hursh said the earliest District 3 could go to referendum would be the March 2014 primary election.

Costanza summed up the matter by saying the district was changing its name "because times are moving forward and we're growing. This is what we do."

A motion to change the name from Capron Rescue Squad to North Boone EMS passed, 4-1, with Sager dissenting.

rvpnews | Belvidere Daily Republican