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Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Illinois still reeling from Great Recession Putnam County unemployment higher than state average By Ken Schroeder
kschroeder@putnamcountyrecord.com
SPRINGFIELD — It’s been called the Great Recession, when speculation in the housing market by financial institutions resulted in an estimated $8 trillion in losses. Officially, the Great
nomic crisis second only to the Great Depression, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Nationwide, nine million jobs have been recovered as of May, according to the Department of Labor, and June’s estimates show more job growth. But according to the Department of Labor statistics, 32 states including Illinois are still struggling. At the beginning of the recession, Illinois’
Recession lasted from December 2007 to June 2009 and includes the global crisis of 2009 that resulted. But while the recession may be over, many states — including Illinois — have yet to recover from the lost jobs during that period. The Great Recession will go down as an eco-
unemployment was 5.1 percent, higher than the national average but normal for the state. Unemployment in Illinois peaked in January 2010 at 11.4 percent, more than double the percentage. As of June 1, Illinois has clawed its way back to 7.5 percent, more than a full percentage point behind the national average of 6.3 percent. In fact, after the recession ended, Illinois lost more than a per-
centage point of jobs in seven months. Forty-three states have lower unemployment rates than Illinois. Locally, the news is even more dismal. Putnam County’s unemployment is above the state average with a rate of 8.2 percent. Although the Illinois Department of Employment Security notes a gain of more than a full percentage point since May 2013, LaSalle
County still has the highest unemployment rate of the state among nonmetropolitan areas at 8.9 percent. A July Reuter’s story indicates United States employment rates will likely make modest gains into 2016 as the recovery from the Great Recession continues. The Reuter’s story notes jobs will increase at a level of 2.5 percent in 2015 and 3 percent in 2016.
Illinois cracks down on bullying By Ken Schroeder
kschroeder@putnamcountyrecord.com
GRANVILLE — In January of this year, an 11 yearold boy in Raleigh, N.C., was being bullied for being a fan of the “My Little Pony” cartoon. When he decided he had enough, Michael Morones tried to hang himself from the railing of his bunk bed. Morones did not die, but oxygen was cut off from his brain. Doctors are unsure when, or even if, Morones will recover. The issue of school bullying is being addressed by Illinois officials. A bill has been signed by Gov. Pat Quinn which will crack down on bullying in any state school or classroom. House Bill 5707 requires all public schools to create and apply an anti-bullying policy. The policy by law now asks school to include a definition of bullying and implement rules for the reporting of bullying. The school policy must include a parental notification aspect. The policy must state as to how a claim of bullying is investigated and list actions that would be taken by the school if the alleged claim is then shown to be true. Superintendent Jay McCracken pointed out the Putnam County School District has had an antibullying policy on the school district website for quite a while. The policy has a step-by-step procedure which the district
Bullying Page 3 Vol. 146 No. 49 One Section - 16 Pages
© The Putnam County Record
PCR photo/Ken Schroeder
Cruisin’ into Granville Days Granville held its annual cruise-in during Granville Days on Aug. 1. Despite some light showers, car enthusiasts from throughout North Central Illinois came out to show off their prizes. Celebrating the Ford Mustang’s 50th year, many of this year’s entrants brought out their pony cars for the show, including this late 1960s gem.
It really is the ‘Field of Dreams’ He built it ... and one is coming By Ken Schroeder
kschroeder@putnamcountyrecord.com
GRANVILLE — Darrell Alleman is a Cub fan’s Cub fan. He attends several games a year and almost always makes the trek down to Arizona to watch the Cubbies in the Cactus League during spring training. Not so long ago, Alleman was inspired to set aside
some farmland and erect his own Field of Dreams at his Granville farm with a sign patterned after the Wrigley Field front marquee. Now, the Alleman Field of Dreams will meet the Hollywood “Field of Dreams.” Frank Dardis, who played one of the ghostly ballplayers and was actor Ray Liotta’s stand-in for “Shoeless” Joe Jackson in the 1989 movie “Field of Dreams,” will be at the
Alleman field for a gathering sponsored by the Putnam County Rotary starting at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 8. The evening will include a screening of the movie, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Dardis had a foot-in when it came to being cast in the movie. He lived within 16 miles of the farm used for the movie, and the person chosen to cast the ball players was a long-time friend of Dardis.
“They were looking for guys who could still play baseball but looked a little bit older,” Dardis said. “I was in my 30s and had the look they were looking for.” Dardis said it was a great deal of fun, but one of the scenes he filmed was tougher than he bargained for. “One of my biggest disappointments, when ‘Shoeless Joe’ comes to the field, they took
Field of Dreams Page 2