Members of the Monmouth Fire Department’s International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local Number 1702 will hit the streets to support local families served by the Muscular Dystrophy Association.   The Fire Fighters will hold a Fill the Boot, Friday September 3rd, Saturday September 4th, and Sunday September 5th from 10am to 4pm at the intersection of at the intersection of Broadway and Main Street. Firefighters will accept donations from motorist, with all money collected, supporting local MDA programs. Money raised by the Fill the Boot support treatment, services and research for 400 families in western Illinois and eastern Iowa who are affected by one of 43 neuromuscular diseases covered by MDA.   Since 1954, IAFF Firefighters across the United States have supported MDA with the Fill the Boot program. For more information on MDA and the Fill the Boot program, please contact Bill Horrell at (563) 359-5181.    

Downstate Illinois' largest electricity provider will soon operate under only one name.  Ameren Utilities Spokesperson Victoria Busch says starting October 1st, Ameren IP, AmerenCIPS and AmerenCILCO will go simply by Ameren Illinois Company.  Busch says customers won't have to deal with any other changes due to the merger.  Ameren also announced that starting October 1st, AmerenUE, which serves Missouri, will change its name to Ameren Missouri.

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(Springfield, IL)  --  State Health officials say flu shots should be available soon across the state.  Illinois Department of Public Health Spokesperson Melaney Arnold says despite what some people think, September isn't too early to get vaccinated.  Unlike last year, people will only need to get one flu shot to stay healthy.  This year's vaccine protects against H1N1 and seasonal flu.  Aside from getting the shot, officials are reminding people of the three C's - Clean, as in your hands- Cover, as in your cough and sneezes- and, Contain- as in stay home if you are sick.

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The Futuregen Alliance told energy officials they plan to move ahead with the clean coal project slated for Meredosia, but one federal lawmaker says he's not convinced the project will ever come to fruition. Congressman Tim Johnson represents the city of Mattoon, the place Futuregen was originally proposed to be built.  He says he feels like the Department of Energy lied to his constituents.  Mattoon passed on the chance to serve as the emissions storage site for the project, after officials downgraded its role in the overall project. Now, the Futuregen alliance has to find a new storage facility by the end of the month.  Several cities in Johnson's district have expressed interest, including Tuscola and Champaign.  He says he is willing to work with those cities, but would prefer to revert back to the original plan.


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Attorneys representing former Illinois Governor George Ryan have asked the judge who handled his trial to toss out parts of Ryan's conviction.  Ryan is serving six-and-a-half-years in prison for a 2006 corruption conviction.  His attorneys argue that when the high court narrowed the 'honest services' statute earlier this year, it rendered some the charges null.  The court decided to narrow a fraud statute which involved deprivation of honest services because that terminology was unclear in the eyes of the Constitution.  The 76-year-old Ryan is scheduled to be released in 2013.

The City of Monmouth is moving forward with renewable energy. There are a number of renewable projects in the area that are picking up steam. City Administrator Eric Hanson says the city is no different....

http://1330wram.com/audio/EH9-1.mp3|

Hanson adds the entire waste water treatment plant can be operated for about a half cent per killowatt, which would save the city about 3 to 5 hundred thousand dollars in electrical savings. The city is meeting with companies to reduce the sulfur which would improve the quality of life especially on the north end of Monmouth.

The month of August was a little warmer than normal and according to state climotoligist Jim Angel wetter than normal in Western Illinois....

http://1330wram.com/audio/JA9-1.mp3|

Angel adds the outlook for September is for an increased chance of above normal temperatures and near normal rainfall.

The Federal Trade Commission estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. In fact, you or someone you know may have experienced some form of identity theft. Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personally identifying information, like your name, Social Security number, or credit card number, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes. Skilled identity thieves may use a variety of methods to get hold of your information, including dumpster diving, looking through trash looking for bills or other paper with your personal information on it.  Dorothy Ricketts with Security Savings Bank in Monmouth says one main method is skimming...

http://1330wram.com/audio/DR8-27.mp3|

Another method is Phishing, where theives pretend to be financial institutions or companies and send spam or pop-up messages to get you to reveal your personal information. Some theives also change your address. They divert your billing statements to another loca [ ... ]

(Springfield, IL)  --  Illinois' top two governor candidates touted two distinctly different plans to create jobs in Illinois Tuesday.  During a campaign stop in Springfield, Republican Bill Brady continued to support a two-year tax credit program for businesses that create new jobs.  Brady says that and other cuts could save Illinoisans as much as a billion-dollars.  Brady admits that would add to the state's budget deficit initially, and says he'll wait until after he's elected to get into specifics on how he'll balance the budget.  Meanwhile, Governor Pat Quinn unveiled a state funded road construction project in Springfield.  He says that will create more than 140 construction jobs between now and 2013.  He also made a stop in Danville, where he announced a project to help improve broadband internet service in the area.  He says that will create nearly 270 jobs.

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(Springfield, IL)  -- The state's first human case of West Nile Virus has been confirmed in Northern Illinois Wednesday.  Illinois Department of Public Health spokesperson says this is prime season for West Nile.  The IDPH says the positive test came from a DuPage County woman in her 50s.  She reportedly started having symptoms in early August.  Five human cases of West Nile Virus were reported in Illinois last year.

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A group of investors and power companies say they're still on board for Futuregen, a clean coal power plant that could be on it's way to Illinois.  The group, Futuregen Alliance,  told federal officials say they want to go ahead with the federally backed plan that would retro-fit a plant in Meredosia to house the plant. The group still needs to find a place to pipe harmful emissions from the plant for storage.  Mattoon declined to serve as that site, after their role in the project was diminished last month.  The group is expected to decide on the new storage site by the end of the month.  More than two-dozen Illinois cities have reportedly shown interest in the project.

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Low income households in Warren, Henderson, McDonough and Hancock counties may be eligible for help in paying home heating bills this winter through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The Western Illinois Regional Council-Community Action Agency (WIRC-CAA) in Macomb administers the program in the four-county area. September and October are priority months for households with an individual 60 years of age or older or a disabled person receiving social security disability benefits. Beginning Wednesday, September 1, call 309-837-2997, or come to the office at 223 South Randolph in Macomb to schedule an appointment. Local outreach sites are also available for filing an application.  Assistance for the general, income eligible public, will be available beginning November 1, 2010. The amount of assistance is determined by the income, household size, type of fuel and whether the household pays its own heating bills, or if the heating cost is included in rent payments. Fu [ ... ]

(Fairmount, IL)  --  At least two eastern Illinois high schools will have counselors on hand this week to help students deal with the tragic weekend accident that left a high school cheerleading coach dead.  Authorities say Tammy Walsh of St. Joseph was killed by a utility pole that toppled over when a driver hit a connecting guy-wire following a football game at Jamaica High School Saturday.  Jamaica Schools superintendent Mark Janesky says many students witnessed the accident.  Counselors are also on hand at St. Joseph-Ogden high school, where Walsh coached.  All SJO athletic events have been canceled through Friday.  Saturday's varsity football game will be played.


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(Chicago, IL)  --  Republican candidate for governor Bill Brady is floating a proposal to cut taxes for Illinois businesses. The plan calls for a two-year tax credit for companies that create new jobs. They'd get a 25-hundred dollar tax credit the first year, and a twelve-hundred-fifty dollar credit the next for each job they create. The credit is similar to one Democrat Pat Quinn proposed earlier this year.  But, this one would apply to businesses of all sizes, not just small businesses.

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(Chicago, IL)  --  Illinois' top two Senate candidates each picked up a notable endorsement Monday in their quest to fill Barack Obama's former seat.  Retired Army General and one-time presidential candidate Wesley Clark campaigned on behalf of Democrat Alexi Giannoulias in Chicago.  Meanwhile, Republican Congressman Mark Kirk gained the support of Peoria-based Caterpillar Inc.'s CEO, Jim Owens.  Kirk's camp refuted Clark's support of Giannoulias' business prowess, again tying him to his family's failed Chicago bank.  Meanwhile, Clark and Giannoulias both continued to criticize Kirk's military embellishments from earlier this year, and condemn his support of the start of the Iraq war.


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Sunday at approximately 4:48 p.m. the Galesburg Police Department received a report of an armed robbery in the Bergner's parking lot, Sandburg Mall, 1150 W. Carl Sandburg Drive, Galesburg.  Several police officers responded to the call.  Officers checked the area by vehicle and foot, to include a Police K-9 search of the area.  The victim was a 59 year old female resident of Galesburg.  The victim reported being seated in her vehicle when the suspected approached her on foot from the west side of Bergner's.  The suspect displayed a handgun and demanded money from the victim.  The suspect took a clutch purse out of the hands of the victim.  The suspect was last seen running southbound toward Pine Tree Lane.  The victim reported $200.00 in currency being stolen.  The suspect was described as a black male, young, possibly between the ages of 18 and 21 years.  Further suspect description included light skinned, braids in his hair, wearing a white t-shirt with no writing, and dark [ ... ]

Monmouth drivers have been shelling out a little less at the pumps as the price of gasoline has gone down more than seven cents in the past two weeks. Right now in the Maple City, the lowest price for a gallon of regular is $2.65.  The latest Lundberg survey puts the cost of a gallon of regular unleaded at two-70.   It's also the lowest price motorists have seen since late February.  Currently, the lowest prices in the nation can be found in St. Louis, where the going rate is two-39.  On the other end of the spectrum is San Francisco.  At three-13 a gallon, drivers in the City by the Bay are paying more than anyone else in America to fill up their tanks.

The corn harvest has begun in some areas of Illinois, and some may wonder about the annual European corn borer survey. For 2010, the survey will not be conducted. It has been well documented that densities of this once-prominent insect pest of corn have continued to hit historically low density levels for many successive years. The survey was stopped for two years (1997 and 1998) after the commercial introduction of Bt hybrids in 1996 and was renewed in 1999. In the past three years, it has been increasingly difficult during the survey to find European corn borers in most producers' fields, and moth flights have been negligible. If in the future we confirm elevated levels of European corn borer injury and note increases in moth abundance, we may elect to renew some targeted survey efforts. For now, we are likely to redirect some of our resources to western corn rootworm adults (summer 2011) and to potentially new insect pests of soybean (like the redbanded stink bug).

It won’t be until March 20th of 2012 that the question regarding the consolidation between the Bushnell-Prairie City, Avon and Abingdon School Districts will appear on local ballots. That’s what the school districts’ Committee of 10 unanimously approved at Thursday’s committee-of-the-whole meeting.  Since there is no November election in odd years, March 20, 2012, was next available date.  Committee members reportedly were hesitant to place the question on the April 2011 ballot, until more study on the project can be completed.  The current Committee of 10 is the result of a reorganization feasibility study conducted by the Avon School District.

(Fairmount)  --  An east-central Illinois community is reeling after a high school cheerleading coach died in a freak accident Saturday afternoon. Vermillion County officials say 36-year Tammy Walsh of St. Joseph, died after a utility pole fell on her at a high school football game at Jamaica High School. The pole fell after a driver hit a guy wire attached to it.  Walsh's son and father-in-law were also injured in the incident.  No tickets were issued in the crash.  An autopsy is scheduled for today.

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(Carmi, IL)  --  State officials say a project funded by the Illinois Jobs Now! Capital Program will bring about 180 jobs to Southern Illinois. The state will kick in about three-million dollars to restore and open the now-shuttered Carmi hospital.  Currently, Carmi residents must travel more than 30-miles to the nearest hospital.  The hospital has been closed since 2005.

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(Du Quoin, IL)  --  Governor Pat Quinn unveiled the 'Portrait of a Soldier' memorial during Veteran's Day at the DuQuoin State Fair yesterday.  Other Veteran's day festivities included awarding 88-year-old  World War two veteran Elmer Rodger the 'Veteran of the Month' award for August.  A 'Helping Our Hometown Heroes' benefits resource fair was hosted by IIllinois Department of Veteran's Affair's as well.  The fair runs through September 3rd.

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James C. Sbarro has left his position as president of Farmland Foods Inc. In a phone call to the company's headquarters in Kansas City, Mo., Meatingplace was told that Sbarro was no longer with the company. The reason for his departure isn't clear, and phone calls to Smithfield Foods Inc. for comment were not returned. Efforts to reach Sbarro at home also were unsuccessful. Sbarro's leaving, however, was a topic of discussion in the industry over the weekend.  Speculation centered on Farmland Foods' results at a time when Smithfield is seeking to transform itself into a brand-driven consumer packaged goods company. According to Sbarro's executive profile on Forbes.com, he was elected president of Farmland Foods in April 2008. Before that, he had been senior vice president of sales, marketing, research and development at Farmland Foods since 1999.

(Bloomington, IL)  -- The Bloomington man suspected in a series of bomb threats faces ten felony counts.  Twenty-eight-year-old Derrick Van was arrested earlier this week for allegedly calling in threats to various hospitals, schools, stores and other public places in Bloomington. Van faces five counts of falsely making a terrorist threat and five counts of disorderly conduct. He's held in a McLean County jail on 25-thousand bond.  He's due back in court next month.

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(Chicago, IL)  --  The State's Department of Human services has a new leader.  DHS Chief of Staff Grace Hong Duffin becomes the department's acting secretary, taking over for Michelle Saddler.  Earlier this week Saddler was tapped to become Governor Pat Quinn's new Chief of Staff.  Assistant Secretary Grace Hou  was originally named acting Secretary, but declined the job for person reasons.  She will continue to serve in her original role.

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