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Single Copy Cost 50¢ Volume 146 No. 40
“PRSRT STD.” US Postage Paid No. 486 SHAW MEDIA POSTAL PATRON LOCAL R.R. BOXHOLDER CARRIER ROUTE PRESORT
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
A $10 minimum wage Minimum wage question to go to Illinois voters By Ken Schroeder
kschroeder@putnamcountyrecord.com
The Illinois House of Representatives wrote it. The Illinois Senate approved it. Gov. Pat Quinn said he’ll sign it. Next, it’ll be your turn. The Illinois General Assembly has passed House Bill 3814 which would increase the mini-
mum wage from $8.25 to $10 an hour. The vote will put a non-binding question on the November ballot this year. State Sen. Kimberly Lightford (D-Maywood) sponsored the legislation after state Democrats failed to put together the votes needed to increase the state’s minimum wage from $8.25 to $10.65 an hour in the Senate.
Quinn was pleased with the vote. He said he believes raising the minimum wage will benefit workers all over the state and will eventually boost economic growth. “The referendum will help the legislature get the job done as it works to build a majority to raise the minimum wage,” Quinn said. House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) also believes Illinois residents deserve a living wage. He said Illinois voters can
show their representatives their support by approving the measure in the fall election. “I happen to think we ought to raise the minimum wage,” Madigan said. “I do think it merits a full public discussion by all Illinoisans. We can show people in the legislature that despite the differences, we ought to move ahead with raising the Illinois minimum wage.” While some believe the minimum wage will
improve the economy, small business owners and management aren’t in the same boat. “We don’t know yet how we’re going to handle this,” PC Foods assistant manager Edith Passini said. “We’re not sure how this will effect staffing. It really depends on sales, and if the local shoppers support their local businesses. This would have a big impact on us.” The minimum wage in Illinois is higher than in adjoining states and one of
the highest in the country. Various lawmakers who represent districts around Illinois’ borders have been unenthusiastic about further raising the Illinois minimum wage. State Republicans said this movement is an election year token gesture. Currently there are going to be a total of possibly four constitutional amendments on the fall 2014 ballot, and Republican legislators are citing potential confusion about adding an advisory referendum to the ballot.
A deep subject for McNabb Village to apply for CDAP grant By Ken Schroeder
kschroeder@putnamcountyrecord.com
MCNABB — After a public hearing, the McNabb Village Board voted to apply for a Community Development Assistance Program (CDAP) grant during a special meeting on May 28. The grant is intended to erect a second well in the village. Currently, there is only one source of water for the village which is considered by the state to be a public health hazard. The grant is in the amount of $185,978 and will be used by the village for the construction and development of a sand and gravel well including installation of a submersible well pump and the equipment to carry the water to the water filtration system. The proposed well site is near the ball diamond. The cost to apply for the grant is $1,500, which is an administrative fee to the North Central Illinois Council of Governments which will act as an administrator in the project. While the project is a necessity, some concern was voiced by several members of the board. “If we drill this well and we don’t hit water — which happens around McNabb — McNabb is a tough place to get water. What’s the process then? Are we just out $180,000,” village President Mike Vaskie said. “Can we just move 20 feet and try again? I know a gentleman Vol. 146 No. 40 One Section - 16 Pages
© The Putnam County Record
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What’s the process then? Are we just out $180,000?” Mike Vaskie PCR photo/Ken Schroeder
south of town that dug four wells and got nothing but dust.” NCICG representative Kendall Cramer told the board that would be an issue to take up with village engineer Jack Kusek, but said Kusek had assured Cramer he was certain the proposed location would yield water. “I’m pretty confident Jack has done his job,” Cramer said. The current well is 400 feet deep Vaskie told the board, but said the proposed well was expected to be only 280 feet deep. In order to apply for the grant, the village passed three resolutions. The first set up the partnership between the village and NCICG for the administration of the grant. The second outlined the village’s intent to apply for the grant, while the third established any home displaced by the well project would be replaced by the village. The third resolution is required for the grant although it is unlikely to be a problem in this grant, since there are no homes in the area.
PCHS announces Top 10 seniors Putnam County High School announced the Top 10 seniors during the graduation exercises on May 30. They are Carly Gonet (front left), Megan Hewitt, Alicia Mallery, Amelia Lindstrom, Loralee Wilson; Shelby Yepsen (back left), Vanessa Voss, Justin Galetti, Nathan Ward and Jon Mattern
Fisher is new Sauk Valley publisher Sam Fisher takes reins of Telegraph, Daily Gazette By Shaw Media Service news@bcrnews.com
Sam Fisher, who has been with Shaw Media for 31 years, was recently named as publisher of Sauk Valley Media. Fisher, who is currently publisher of the Bureau County Republican in Princeton, succeeds Trevis Mayfield, who resigned last month after nine years with the company. In announcing the new publisher, company President John Rung said Fisher would assume oversight of publications of the
Telegraph (Dixon), Daily Gazette (Sterling/Rock Falls), Ogle County Newspapers (Oregon) and Prairie Advocate (Carroll County), in addition to the Bureau County Republican, Putnam County Record and Tonica News. He will be based in Sterling. “I’m excited about this opportunity, as we will be able to blend the strengths of both organizations together,” Fisher said. “As I will be spending the majority of my time in Sterling and Dixon, I will be looking to hire a general manager to oversee the daily functions of the Princeton location.
I still plan on being active in the community in both markets.” Fisher, a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, joined Shaw Media in 1983 and held various management positions at the Northwest Herald in Crystal Lake and at the Kane County Chronicle. He also had been a corporate sales trainer before he was promoted to publisher at Princeton in 1993. He is an executive committee member of the Illinois Press Association and has been active in Princeton with Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, Princeton Main Street, Bureau County United Way, Princeton Youth Soccer, and Princ-
Sam Fisher eton Public Library, among other organizations. Fisher and Lori Frick reside in Princeton. Fisher has a 13-year-old daughter, Meg of Princeton; a daughter, Brooke (Tim) Miller of Kewanee; and a son, Ben of Princeton.