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The Putnam County
Volume 146 No. 20
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Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Illinois pension reform law is challenged Retired teachers association files lawsuit By Ken Schroeder kschroeder@putnamcountyrecord.com
CHICAGO — The Illinois Retired Teachers Association filed suit Dec. 27 challenging the constitutionality of the state’s controversial plan to deal with the
nation’s most underfunded public employee pension system. The lawsuit is the first of what could be many filed on behalf of state workers, university employees, lawmakers and teachers. The legal challenge argues
the law, which limits cost-of-living increases, raises retirement ages for many current workers and caps the amount of salaries eligible for retirement benefits, violates the state Constitution. The suit was filed in Cook County Circuit Court on behalf of eight non-union retirees, teachers and superintendents who are members
of the state’s Teacher Retirement System. Representatives of the We Are One coalition of public employee unions, including the state’s two major teachers’ unions, have said they expect to file suit shortly. “The law allows anyone to avail themselves of their legal rights, and We Are One Illinois plans to do the same at
the appropriate time,” Director of Communications of the Illinois Federation of Teachers Aviva Brown said in a statement from the IFT’s Peru office. “The Illinois Federation of Teachers and our coalition partners are focused on preparing to bring the most effective case possible to defend the constitutional rights of our members
and hundreds of thousands of other public employees and retirees throughout Illinois.” A spokeswoman for Gov. Pat Quinn’s office said a lawsuit had been expected, but the administration “(expects) this landmark reform will be upheld as constitutional.”
See Pensions Page 4
Winter weather problems This series may save you some $$$ By Goldie Currie Shaw Media Service
Editor’s note: This is the first segment in a series on problems caused by winter weather and the solutions to preventing them. PRINCETON — The subzero temperatures Bureau County experienced this past week made life just a little tougher with the dangers it created for people, pets, homes and vehicles. The temperatures are finally back above zero, however, the winter months are hardly finished. This series is meant to bring attention to safety measures on various items affected on those bitter cold days.
Prevent pipe woes Scott Owens, a plumber with Grasser’s Plumbing and Heating Inc., was working well over 12 hour days when the temperatures dropped below zero earlier this week. The frigid cold created several plumbing issues for residents who had frozen pipes or damage cause by frozen pipes. Owens’ knowledge on how to prevent these potentially costly accidents comes in handy when subzero temperatures threaten homes.
See Winter Page 6
Putnam County Record photo/Ken Schroeder
Brian Hines of Metamora fires at a target for his concealed carry permit. In order to qualify, an applicant must hit a standard target 22 out of 30 times and show the ability to load, prepare and unload a handgun.
Concealed carry is not for everyone Brown: ‘The heaviest responsibility you will ever carry’ By Ken Schroeder kschroeder@putnamcountyrecord
OTTAWA — On a frigid Jan. 4 morning with winter storm warnings in effect, 12 people from as far away as Metamora made the journey to Ottawa and Buffalo Range Shooting Park for a concealed carry class. The 16-hour class consists of two sessions, with this particular eight-hour class being Part 1. Instructor and Peru Police officer Jeremiah Brown addresses
the class. “Before we go any further, be sure that you understand the responsibilities of having a concealed carry permit,” he said. “That gun will be the heaviest responsibility you will ever carry.” Brown is one of 22,392 licensed handgun instructors in Illinois, most of whom are not yet concealed carry certified. Illinois is expecting to process 365,000 applications this year, and Brown said he’s been run-
ning classes six days a week since October. One of the main tenets Brown stresses is the responsibility which comes with a concealed carry. “If you carry a gun, make sure you are ready to take a life if you have to,” Brown said. “The average gunfight takes place between two and seven feet away, and lasts two to three seconds. You don’t have time to precisely aim, you just have time to draw, sight and fire. “You also need to ask yourself, ‘Am I willing to spend $20,000 for the right to carry?’ That is the average amount you can expect to pay in legal fees, even
if you’re in the right,” Brown said. “In this litigious world, if you fire a gun, you can expect a lawsuit from the attackers’ family, from anyone nearby for mental trauma and — if he survives — from the assailant himself.” Illinois has one of the most stringent concealed carry laws — not surprising since the state was the last to allow such permits. Many states, such as Utah, require little if any instruction before the permit is issued. Illinois allows professions who carry a gun in the course of
See Guns Page 3
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