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Serving Bureau County Since 1847
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
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A new Bureau Fire station New building will save up to 15 minutes in response time By Goldie Currie gcurrie@bcrnews.com
BUREAU — The Bureau Fire Department is building up its own identity as construction of its new facility progresses.
The frame structure for the new building, which will house the fire department’s five fire trucks and the Bureau County Command Unit, has been set and is well on the way to completion. Bureau Fire Chief Tim
Shipp was satisfied with the progression of the project, which began in early July. The addition is being built on the grounds of the former Leepertown Grade School, which dissolved in June 2012. In 2009 the fire department was awarded a $215,000 Illinois Jobs Now Grant, and it was intended
to cover the expense of a pole building that could house all the fire trucks in one location. At the time, the fire department was sharing space within the Bureau Village Hall and housed some of its equipment at Indian Valley Stone and Timber. The grant monies were not received by the fire department until Janu-
ary of this year. With the five-year delay, the size of the project had to be condensed because of the increase in construction materials. In a previous interview with Shipp, he reported the district had to cut about $40,000 of expenses from the original project plan. The total cost of the project is expected to be
Second advisory question put on November ballot
Numbers recorded since new law took effect on June 1
By Donna Barker dbarker@bcrnews.com
Ballot Page 4 Year 168 No. 84 One Section - 16 Pages
98213 00012 1 7 © Bureau County Republican
Fire Station Page 4
More than 5,000 same-sex marriages
Should insurance pay for birth control?
For the second time in two weeks, Gov. Pat Quinn has signed legislation to place a statewide advisory referendum on the Nov. 4 general election ballot. On July 6, Quinn signed House Bill 5755 which places an advisory referendum on the November ballot to ask voters if prescription insurance programs should be required to include birth control coverage. Two weeks earlier, on June 22, Quinn signed House Bill 3814 which places an advisory question on the November ballot asking if the state’s minimum wage for those over the age of 18 should be raised to $10 by Jan. 1, 2015. (Currently, Illinois’ minimum wage is $8.25.) As stated in Quinn’s July 6 press release on this latest advisory referendum, the decision for the advisory referendum follows the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on June 30 which states birth control measures can be excluded from employer-provided prescription drug coverage if the coverage is in opposition to the employer’s religious beliefs. As reported earlier in the Bureau County Republican, Bureau County Clerk Kami Hieronymus explained advisory referendums are just a way for legislators to get public opinion on an issue. Advisory referendums
around $265,000. Shipp said the extra $50,000 will come out of the district’s share of the existing tax levy. With the project’s fiveyear setback however, Shipp said it’s nice to finally get the project started, and it will be great to see it once its completed.
By Christi Warren news@bcrnews.com
BCR photo/Joann Bowman
A magical experience in Ladd Laury Mavity and her two daughters, 4-year-old Emma and 1-year-old Addy, are mesmerized at the magic show, held during the Ladd Daze celebration this past weekend. The event included a variety of fun-filled activities, including water fights, face painting, games, refreshments and more. See more photos on Page 2.
More than 5,000 samesex couples have been married in Illinois since the law allowing samesex marriages took effect on June 1, according to a news release from Equality Illinois, an LGBT advocate organization. The survey of Illinois counties conducted by Equality Illinois found that at least 3,274 marriage licenses were issued, and 1,694 civil unions were converted to marriages. Of that number, at least two of those couples are from Bureau County. Both of those couples converted their civil union licenses to a marriage license. Bureau County Clerk Kami Hieronymus said her office also issued a marriage license last week to another couple. Other numbers recorded in adjoining counties, according to Equality Illinois, include: Henry County — two civil union licenses converted to marriage licenses; LaSalle County — 10 civil union licenses converted and six marriage licenses; Marshall County — none; Putnam County — one civil union conversion; Stark County — none. These numbers are all take from the Equality Illinois survey. Tracking the exact number is a challenge because the 102 Illinois counties’
Marriages Page 3