Greene Prairie Press NOVEMBER 6, 2013 – Vol. 144, No. 45 – Carrollton, Illinois 62016
GCEDG receives $75,000 to help entrepreneurs
INSIDE LOCALS
By CARMEN ENSINGER Greene Prairie Press
Anniversaries, birthdays and more. See page B2
NEWS
Basketball season tips off. See page B1
NEWS
News from the pews. See page A7
SPORTS
Greene County Economic Development Group (GCEDG) announced on Wednesday, Oct. 30 at the gazebo on the Carrollton Courthouse lawn that they have received a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to promote and foster economic development in Greene County. The GCEDG, will use the $75,000 to develop and maintain a program known as “Developing Rural Entrepreneurial Actions to Mold Enterprises and Resources”, otherwise known as DREAMER. “With this initiative, both existing and future entrepreneurs and small business owners will have access to local resources which enhance and enable business development and business expansion,” Jim Mager, Managing Director of GCEDG said. “This overriding initiative will be accomplished through the assistance from the USDA in the form of a Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) for $75,000.”
Colleen Kallahan, State Director of the USDA, said the program is aptly named. “What DREAMER does is make dreams come true,” Kallahan said. “It’s an old saying that we stand tall because we stand on the shoulders of those who come before us, and you are those shoulders. This $75,000 serves as the seed money for a revolving loan fund, which will mean others will stand on your shoulders so that they can grow taller in their businesses and create anywhere from 15 to 20 new jobs.” Kallahan said the USDA, as a lender with loans and grants, is specifically designed to take care of the needs and futures of small rural communities in order to make entrepreneurial possibilities a reality. Individuals interested in starting a business will be given extensive training and information on what is involved in owning and operating a business through a partnership with SIU-E “This is geared toward people who are thinking about starting a business,” Mager said. “We want them to understand what starting a business involves so if they do go
into business, they have a good base of knowledge to manage this business.” The training program will consist of eight sessions that will cover a comprehensive array of subjects ranging from setting up the legal structure, financing, marketing, production, accounting and business planning. “After the completion of the sessions, the goal is for the potential entrepreneur to have a well-written business plan,” Mager said. With a business plan in place, the entrepreneur would then seek financing from a bank of their choice. Once they have the commitment of a bank to participate in the venture, the GCEDG could then also provide additional loan financing up to $10,000. “As with all financial structuring, the entrepreneur would be expected to bring a reasonable level of equity to the project,” Mager said. “While it is not strictly defined, the guideline for the financial structure would be for the entrepreneur to have 10 percent equity. The GCEDG would loan 50 percent and the bank would loan 40 percent.”
By CARMEN ENSINGER Greene Prairie Press A full afternoon and evening of celebration and entertainment is scheduled to take place in Roodhouse on Dec. 13 as the Kansas City Southern Holiday Express Train once again makes a stop in Roodhouse, followed by the second annual Christmas in the Park. In its 13th annual run, the train will stop in 20 communities in six states on 24 dates with Roodhouse being the only stop in Illinois. At each stop, visitors can board the train, visit with Santa and his elves and tour the inside of three cars of the festive six car train. Led by KCS Southern Belle business train, the Holiday Express train includes a smiling tank car, “Rudy,” a flatcar carrying Santa’s sleigh, reindeer and a miniature village, a ginger bread boxcar, a newly remodeled elves’ workshop, the reindeer stable and a little red caboose. Each car is dressed in lights. In addition to the festive aspect of the train, there is also a charitable component. In the past 12 years the project has raised almost $1.2 million to purchase gift cards which are donated to the Salvation Army at each scheduled stop. These gift cards are used to purchase clothing and other necessities for children in the local community. Roodhouse Police Chief Kyle Robison is coordinating both events this year and said Roodhouse is blessed to have been chosen as one of the stops this year. “KCS recognizes the need for com-
munity involvement even in smaller communities, and Roodhouse is a centralized location for many communities to commute to our location,” Robison said. “I also believe that KCS understands that Roodhouse was formed around the railroad and the event allows our town to hold onto that heritage.” Sometimes the smaller community – the greater the need. “I think KCS employees recognized many years ago that the Christmas Train was the only thing that some children have and realized that some children went without basic essentials,” Robison said. “Since then, KCS has made an effort to stop in smaller cities located in their travel path.” Robison said Roodhouse is writing a new chapter in its history and is making an effort to show people the importance of community involvement. “The idea behind having Christmas in the Park on the same day is simple – people from all over will bring their kids to see the Holiday Express,” Robison said. “Christmas in the Park allows people to visit the train and continue their experience a short distance away at the park. I would like to see this event become a tradition and traditions are built on a strong foundation. The Holiday Express, Christmas in the Park, Ralph Riley residence and the Lights by the Lake are a tradition that people will remember.” Christmas in the Park, like the Holiday Express, is free to the public and will feature free chili, hot chocolate, musical entertainment, vendors for the adults to visit and games for the children to play. There will also
The borrower would be asked to secure all loan proceeds, but the loan amount from GCEDG would take a subordinated position to the partner-
and the chicken
ONLINE greeneprairiepress.com
Greene Prairie Press A5 B8 A3 A4 A9 B8 B7 B1
Obituaries in this issue: Fry, Glover, Long, Pembrook, Piper, Rice
Carmen Ensinger/Greene Prairie Press
Carrollton Lions Club member Gary Holtswarth serves up chicken Sunday at the Lions Club chicken and beef dinner held at Goetten's Oasis.
ing bank. The program is not just for new businesses. (See, GCEDG, A2)
Loss of funding decreases SNAP benefits locally By BOB CROSSEN Campbell Publications
be a live nativity scene and to surprise the kids, an opportunity when Santa is away for them to take a picture on his sleigh which will feature a real reindeer. “Holidays seem to be for the retail world,” Robison said. “We simply want to keep the cost at a price everyone can afford – free family entertainment.” Robison is encouraging everyone in the community both business owners and residents to take part. “I would really like to encourage business owners and churches around the square to decorate and help add to the event, and residents to decorate their homes to get into the holiday spirit. Donations are always accepted as this event is only possible due to donations from the citizens. “Donations in the form of clear Christmas lights and long extension cords, etc., would be a tremendous help,” Robison said. “I plan on the decoration process to take place in the first few weeks of November.” Robison said they are still looking to add vendors to the event. To add your name to the list simply call the police department and reserve your spot for free. Anyone who has any questions can contact Robison at the police department at (217) 589-4352. Robison said they are still looking for a few volunteers to serve as elves on the train with costumes provided. Simply call city hall. They are also looking for donations of candy which will be handed out on the Holiday Express.
Hawks advance to second round. See page B1
© 2013 Greene Prairie Press
Carmen Ensinger/Greene Prairie Press
USDA State Director Colleen Kallahan presents Greene County Economic Development Group Managing Director Jim Mager with a plaque in recognition of the $75,000 grant the USDA awarded to GCEDG for entrepreneurial development in the county at a press conference at the gazebo on the courthouse lawn last week.
KCS Holiday Express rolling into Roodhouse Dec. 13
The Lion
Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . Court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Local . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . . Our Town . . . . . . . . . . . Public Notice . . . . . . . . News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
75¢
Participants of the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) will receive less money each month due to an expiring federal act which had boosted the money offered by the program. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the stimulus which was enacted by U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2009, expired at the end of October, causing a decrease in benefits for participants of SNAP, which is the state’s food stamp program, formerly known as LINK. Januari Smith, spokesperson for Illinois Department of Human Services, said it is unlikely a similar financial boost to the program will occur based on the current congressional climate in Washington. “They’re talking about even cutting even further, so I would doubt we would get this increase back,” Smith said. Funding for the program is set at a federal level, Smith said, and states are tasked with administering SNAP in their areas. The spokeswoman said the state is not responsible for the reduction in benefits which can range from $11 per month for a household of one to $81 per month for a household of 10 people. Though the reduction may look small on paper, Smith said the program is designed to issue, on average, $5 each day per household member for food, meaning the $11 lost by an individual could be two days worth of
supplemental income for food. Though the program is meant to offer supplemental funds for food purchases, Smith said many families rely strongly on the service. “It will definitely impact those families that depend on this program,” Smith said, noting how much a family receives is based on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, income and family size. “Obviously, this is a supplement, as well, but [for] a lot of families, this is all they have.” According to information provided on the Department of Human Services website, the Jersey County office has around 6,300 people using the food stamp service on a regular basis in approximately 2,900 households. Of that total, around 1,100 people receive no public assistance other than SNAP. The Jersey office serves the counties of Calhoun, Greene and Jersey. From the same information source, the Adams County office says 13,500 people receive SNAP benefits. Those people are in around 6,500 households, and 2,400 receive only SNAP benefits and no other public assistance. The Adams office serves the counties of Adams, Pike and Scott. In 2010, there were approximately 4,000 households which received the benefits for approximately 8,500 people, according to the Adams County numbers, and around 2,200 people used the service in 2010 in around 950 households, according to the Jersey County figures. For more information about the change, visit dhs.state.il.us and navigate through the “for customers” link to the Family and Community Services division to view SNAP information.
Chicago schools receive more money than rest of state By SCOTT REEDER & JACKSON ADAMS Illinois News Network Chicago-area public schools are collecting a disproportionate amount of state educational aid at the expense of students studying in downstate schools. That conclusion was reached during October in two separate and independent investigations conducted by the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Policy Institute. “People should be concerned because it is an issue of fairness and equity,” said state Sen. Pam Altoff, R-McHenry. “What this is telling me is that children with developmental disabilities and special needs in Chicago are receiving more money than my students in suburban Chicagoland or downstate Illinois.” Back in 1995, Illinois lawmakers passed legislation that guaranteed Chicago Public Schools, or CPS, a certain percentage of state funds from block grants funding programs such as special education. In 1995, the percentage was based on the proportion of Illinois students attending CPS. However, CPS enrollment has dropped during the last 18 years, while the proportion of funding it receives has remained at the 1995 level, according to Mary Fergus, a spokeswoman for the Illinois State Board of Education. Consequently, Chicago students are getting more state funding per pupil than their counterparts elsewhere in the state. According to the Illinois Policy Institute’s report, Chicago received $811 per pupil in property tax subsidies while downstate districts received an average of $25 per student. In the area of poverty grant funds, Chicago received $2,513 per impoverished student – downstate only $1,343. C
M
K
Y
For some, this is nonsensical. “What are they trying to say—kids from Chicago with disabilities from Chicago need more than those from the suburbs or downstate? This is not about poverty or socioeconomic conditions. This is about an individual disability,” Altoff said. The funding gap can be seen in overall school district spending per student. According to the Illinois State Board of Education’s report, school districts outside of Chicago spent an average of $7,541 per pupil in 2012 while Chicago spent $10,410. Altoff said most lawmakers are unaware of the disparity in funding between Chicago schools and the rest of the state. “Most legislators are focused on general state aid to schools and local property taxes,” she said. “Few people are getting down into the weeds and looking at the whole picture – including block grants.” One of the few people who has studied the issue is state Sen. David Luechtefeld, R-Okawville. “Right now, it looks like schools are going to face some cuts, so it’s important that we take a close look at this issue and see who may be getting more than their fair share ,” he said. “After we have looked at these numbers we may come up some recommendations. It important that students all across the state receive adequate funding.” State Rep. Ken Dunkin, D-Chicago, said he is not particularly bothered that more money is spent per student in Chicago than elsewhere in the state because Chicagoans pay much of the state’s taxes. “We want to shift the way we fund education, and that should be based solely off the income tax distribution in the state,” he said. “Right now (See,SCHOOLS, A2)