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Tuesday, September 30, 2014
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More interest than usual in absentee ballots By Donna Barker dbarker@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — With slightly more than two months left until Election Day, Bureau County voters are showing an early and increased interest in this year’s ballot. On Friday, Bureau County Clerk Kami Hieronymus reported her office sent out 105 absentee ballots on Thursday, which was the first day to mail the ballots, and another 75 ballots were expected to be mailed Friday. That’s more than is typically sent out in the first couple days, she said. One possible reason for the increased and early interest is the fact that both political parties have sent out election information
to voters containing postcards to fill out to request an absentee ballot, Hieronymus said. That’s costly for the political party/candidate and isn’t often done, she added. There are several ways in which voters can still request an absentee ballot. Voters can request or download the application form online through the county clerk’s web page, or voters may request one by calling the county clerk’s office or by coming into the office to get one. Ideally, all requests for an absentee ballot will be received by the end of October in order to give sufficient time to mail the ballot and to get it returned in time, she said. The next important date
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New law concerns Van Orin man Certain animals will be managed by IDNR starting Jan. 1 By Donna Barker dbarker@bcrnews.com
VAN ORIN — At least one Bureau County man thinks a bill recently signed into law by Gov. Pat Quinn is probably the worst law he’s seen in a long time, and he wants lawmakers to rescind it. On Thursday, Sammy Thiemes of rural Van Orin said he completely opposes the new law which gives the Illinois Department of Natural Resources the authority to manage the American black bear, gray wolf and cougars/mountain lions for the protection of both wildlife and the public. When an animal is placed under the protection of the state, it means residents can’t kill the animal unless there is an Year 168 No. 117 Two Sections - 40 Pages
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immediate threat to lives and property. The new law goes into effect on Jan. 1. He opposes the new law because it puts people and other animals into jeopardy, Thiemes said. Illinois doesn’t have dangerous snakes and animals, but if the new law goes into effect, those animals will start coming back and making Illinois their home, he said. If the law goes into effect Jan. 1 as planned, people, especially those living on farms and in the country, won’t be able to take a walk on their property or go down to a creek without carrying a gun with them, Thiemes said. A farmer going into his field becomes vulnerable, he added.
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BCR photo/Amelia Bystry
Emergency personnel tend to a young child, who was part of Saturday’s mock disaster, held off of Route 26 north of Princeton. Several people volunteered to be “victims” at this annual event, which was conducted by Bureau/Putnam Emergency Preparedness Community Partners (BPEPCP). A host of emergency departments participated in the event. See more photos on Page 2.
465 pounds of pills National Prescription Take-Back Day deemed a success By Goldie Currie gcurrie@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — Residents from all over the county took part in Saturday’s National Prescription Take-Back Day. People looking to get rid of unwanted or unused
drugs from their medicine cabinets had the chance to drop them off at various collection locations throughout the county. On Monday, Dawn Conerton, director of CPASA (Community Partners Against Substance Abuse), reported 465 pounds of pills were
received. “That’s quite a bit,” she said. “After emptying out the permanent collection boxes after six months, along with what we collected during the one-day event, that’s a lot of pills. Think of all those pills.” Compared to years in the past, Conerton did note the amount was lower but is hopeful that means more people know about the permanent sites where they can
drop their pills off at any time throughout the year, and because people have already given what they had in their cabinets in years past. Since the first collection box in Bureau County went up in July 2010, around 7,033 pounds of pill have been collected. “It’s wonderful because think about it, we’re keeping those pills out of
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