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Serving Bureau County Since 1847
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
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Keeping an eye on our elders New law allows recording devices in rooms of nursing home residents By Eric Engel eengel@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — As an added measure of safety and security, a new law has been passed which will allow nursing home residents to put audio or video monitoring equipment in their rooms. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan passed House Bill 2462 in late August as a way to reassure senior citizens and their family members that utmost care is being afforded to nursing home residents. The new law will go into affect Jan. 1, 2016, and individual residents will be responsible for the cost, installation and maintenance of the monitoring devices. With Illinois’ population continuing to age, Madigan
proactively responded to recent complaints of abuse and negligence in nursing homes with this law, offering peace of mind to individuals who cannot always be at the side of the elders they love. The law prohibits facility retaliation against residents who choose to use the monitoring devices, and allows the recordings to be admissible in any legal proceedings. Matt Hartmann, vice president of public policy at Illinois Healthcare Association, said residents utilizing the recording devices have the right to turn them on or off at their discretion. He also said the bill has strict consent language, which mandates all occupants, including resident and any roommates, be in full agreement to the presence of the recording devices. Hartmann doesn’t expect a huge response to the bill once
it goes into affect but said anything that reinforces residents’ comfort levels is a good thing. “The cameras will be a good deterrent, as abuse is driven by an individual, not the establishment, and this will help them police themselves,” Hartmann said, adding situations where facility administration and device owners have a qualm will be more effectively handled. “The camera doesn’t lie.” Dennis Grobe, the administrator at Heritage Health in Walnut, said his establishment has an aggressive abuse policy, and if anyone has a concern, his door and his ears are open. “I’d rather you ask questions than have any doubt,” said Grobe, who has cared for multiple members of his own family at Heritage Health. “I tell families sincerely if they’re
Eye on elders Page 4
Budget crisis impacts SWCD By Goldie Rapp grapp@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — The state budget impasse will soon impact Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) employees across the state. Without funding for the state-supported organization, it will not be able to make its insurance payment obligation to Central Management Services, and employees will lose coverage beginning Thursday, Oct. 1. Kevin Bennett, SWCD administrative resource conservationist, confirmed a Bureau County employee will be impacted by this decision. “A majority of our funding comes from the state through the Department of Agriculture,” he said. “With no state budget, it was inevitable.” He confirmed this is not the first time this has happened to employees. On a positive note, Bennett confirmed Bureau County SWCD has not yet had to limit services due to the funding crisis. “Thankfully we are in a better financial situation than other SWCDs around the state,” he said. “I do know several other districts who have reduced hours and potentially laid off staff, or likely is going to.” Bennett said employees are hoping legislators can come together and pass a budget to continue operational funding. Despite the funding crisis, Bennett said his office continues to be dedicated to its mission, and employees are coming in everyday and still doing the good work
SWCD Page 4
BCR photo/Becky Kramer
Thirsty Tiger beats the heat Colton Youngren, a junior at Princeton High School, attempts to beat the heat on the practice field. While temperatures were steamy last week and throughout the weekend, everyone — including those on the gridiron — can expect a break in the heat this week with cooler temperatures and even a shower or two.
The 44th Homestead Festival kicks off Thursday Enjoy the area’s ‘Fields of Dreams’ By Goldie Rapp grapp@bcrnews.com.
PRINCETON — The 44th annual Bureau County Homestead Festival, “Fields of Dreams,” will kick-off Thursday, Sept. 10. This year’s event will bring back all the popular traditions while adding a few new bits of entertainment. Princeton’s four-day event will feature family favorites all weekend-long including the downtown window displays, Princeton Jay-
cees beer garden, Princeton Junior Woman’s Club baby contest, the Underground Railroad 5K race, helicopter rides, class reunions, a tribute to Richard Widmark, Bureau County 4-H pork chop sandwiches/meals, the 35th annual car show, an arts and craft show featuring 89 vendors, the county’s largest parade and much, much more. The festival will begin a day earlier this year with the Apollo Theater’s showing of “Field of Dreams” at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10. Free admission will be granted with a donated
item to the Bureau County Food Pantry. Bill Nelson, a member of the festival’s steering committee, said one of the biggest highlights of the weekend is the annual 50/50 raffle. “It’s huge for us because it helps fund so much of the festival,” he said. Homestead weekend comes with a cost of around $30,000. The steering committee relies on the proceeds of the 50/50 raffle and of the annual Homestead Lawn Event to make each celebration a success.
Homestead Page 4
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