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Single Copy Cost 50¢ Volume 148 No. 29
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Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Calvin Tussey, process board operator at Marquis Energy, is able to monitor every aspect of the corn to ethanol fermentation process from his station at the Hennepin ethanol plant. Marquis Energy took seven and one-half years to produce 1 billion gallons of ethanol. With the addition of their new facility they expect to reach the 2 billion milestone by 2020. See more on Page 2.
From the crop to the tank ...
PCR photo/Dave Cook
Marquis Energy hits 1 billion gallon milestone By Dave Cook
news@putnamcountyrecord.com
HENNEPIN — Since April 20, 2008, Marquis Energy has been producing ethanol in Putnam County. Seven and one-half years later, through the continuous enhancement of their production method, the team at Marquis Energy — approximately 150 people, reached the milestone of having produced one billion gallons of ethanol. Everyone knows it’s an ethanol plant and has seen the endless parade of trucks traveling to and from the
facility or the barges regularly working their way down the river, but what about having an understanding of what actually happens there? Marquis Energy produces more than just ethanol. The process of making ethanol creates additional opportunities for marketable products. They also make use of every advantage Putnam County has to offer an industry located within its borders: Easy interstate access, rail roads, the Illinois River and manpower from throughout the area.
Jeff Peterson, president and director of risk management, said, “That’s our strength here, the logistics. Being located on the Illinois River is a huge key to our success.” The process The transition from corn to ethanol begins as the corn, from as far away as 60 miles, is loaded into one of the roughly 300 to 400 trucks per day traveling into the plant. Those trucks deliver a total of 300,000-400,000 bushels of corn per day. After being weighed at the entrance, the corn is unloaded and
Old electronics?
Putnam County Board announces Electronics Collection Day By Dave Cook
news@putnamcountyrecord.com
HENNEPIN — Still trying figure out what to do with those old electronics? Marshall and Putnam counties will conduct a collection day in April. Pat Sloan from the county highway department shared information about the Marshall-Putnam Counties Electronic Collection Day. From 1 to 5 p.m. on Friday, April 22, and from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 23, at the Public Works Building at 520 W. Railroad St. in Toluca, residents will be able to properly dispose of their electronics. Residents are limited to 10 items. Items accepted are: Computers, monitors, printers, fax machines, copiers, televisions, main frames, peripherals, mice, modems, telephones, answering machines, adding machines, microwaves, scanners, DVD players, VCRs, pagers, cell phones, cameras, camcorders, video games, software, small hand-held electronics, cables, calculators, shredders, plotters and terminals.
Items not accepted include: Small kitchen appliances, toasters, coffee pots, blenders, air conditioners, white goods, smoke detectors, dehumidifiers, vacuums, batteries, fans, power tools, light fixtures, universal power supplies, refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers, light bulbs, broken CRTs, broken glass and hazardous materials. For more information call 309-246-6401. Also at the Monday, March 14, morning meeting, the Putnam County Board: • Awarded the bid for the county’s new truck body to Monroe Trucks for $46,353. • Sheriff Kevin Doyle discussed the potential issues concerning the possible replacement of the courthouse’s HVAC system with the board. • Approved the restatement of the Putnam County 457, employee funded, benefit and retirement plan. • Decided to move ahead with the purchase of new budgetary/fund accounting software from Computer Information Concepts (CIC) and will discuss transition and financing details at a later date.
Electronics Page 3
Vol. 148 No. 29
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tation leads to increased yield and profitability. The mix enters a slurry tank for retention time to allow the enzymes time to work. The corn mash absorbs heat from the 200-degree cook water, so to maintain the optimum 185 degree temperature for the enzymes, the mixture travels through steam-powered jet heaters. The heat provides a physical process of breaking down the starch. Andy Rowe, process manager, said, “After more retention time and enzymes, an operator will
send yeast into the tank and let it grow and reproduce for about eight hours before we fill the ferment tank with the mash mixture.” Fermentation is the biological process which converts sugars into cellular energy, producing ethanol and carbon dioxide as a result. Some ethanol plants sell the carbon dioxide to industries which have a need for it, such as beverage companies, providing the plant with another product and revenue source.
Energy Page 2
The chorus of change
Freedom House introduces community coalition to decrease abusive activity By Eric Engel eengel@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — If only a few people speak up against an unjust cause, they may be easily drowned out in the commotion. If many voices join together, though, the sound becomes a song that supersedes ignorance and clarifies uncertainty. Freedom House, a domestic violence shelter in Princeton, is taking a vocal stand against sexual and domestic violence. They are inviting others to join in by introducing their Voices Against Violence coalition. Melanie Whitmer, Freedom House sexual violence advocate, said the coalition is an opportunity for forward-thinking and honest discussions. “Voices Against Violence is still in the very early stages, but it will allow our community to network together and raise awareness in all five counties,” Whitmer said, noting the Freedom House serves to protect victims in Putnam, Bureau, Stark, Henry and Marshall Counties. “We’re looking for men and women who will give
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directed into storage silos. The plant can store up to 2.4 million bushels, enough for approximately six to seven days worth of ethanol production. After the corn is taken out of storage, it travels by conveyor to the hammer mill where it’s ground into a flour. From there, the flour is mixed with water and enzymes to create a mash that begins the chemical process of breaking down the starch into simple sugars. This helps prepare the corn for efficient fermentation, and optimized fermen-
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as they can rather than expecting a huge commitment.” Whitmer said the plan is for quarterly meetings with professionals and individuals from all enterprises and walks of life. A person of any age or background can learn what to look for and understand what areas need work in preventing violent interactions with children, spouses, friends or strangers. “The community will be encouraged to attend, with the more people showing up the better,” Whitmer said, indicating a survey will be sent out into the community to get feedback from unique citizens about this important subject. “All professional departments might see things completely different, from health to drug use to social and economic circumstances.” The Freedom House has contacted the Youth Service Bureau of Illinois Valley, area sheriff departments, local hospitals and countless others in spreading
Coalition Page 3
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