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Single Copy Cost 50¢ Volume 149 No. 8
“PRSRT STD.” US Postage Paid No. 486 SHAW MEDIA POSTAL PATRON LOCAL R.R. BOXHOLDER CARRIER ROUTE PRESORT
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
SBDC set to close at year’s end IVCC’s Small Business Development Center will soon lose funding By Dave Cook
news@putnamcountyrecord.com
OGLESBY — For more than 30 years, Illinois Valley Community College (IVCC) and the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) have assisted the cultivation of new ventures with both credited and non-credited courses, technical help and coordination of services with IVCC and other agencies working to assist in the creation of small businesses. After Dec. 31, entrepreneurs will
have to seek assistance elsewhere. In 2015, IVCC supported costs of approximately $50,000 and has since decided to eliminate their financial responsibilities to the SBDC at the end of 2016. The college funded a one-year grant to allow for the transition of the SBDC to another agency to serve as the grantee. An IVCC spokesperson said, “The college has no plan to get involved with another entity for possibly becoming the grantee. Keep in mind, IVCC chose to sup-
port the program for one more year rather than shutting it down immediately, so the transition to a new grantee could be seamless.” Currently, there have been no reported developments in the SBDC finding new support. Furthermore, the administration recommended the termination of the employment relationship of the Director of the SBDC, Beverly Malooley, and business specialist Gina Czubachowski at the end of the year. The IVCC spokesperson added, “We are uncertain how this will affect small business owners.” Malooley did not return phone calls/emails to Shaw Media.
Starved Rock Country Alliance has plans to bridge gap By Goldie Rapp
news@putnamcountyrecord.com
As the Small Business Development Center housed at IVCC will be going out of business at the end of December, members of the Starved Rock Country Alliance are working to ensure support for area small business owners will remain. Members of the alliance
want to create a Bureau/LaSalle/Livingston Small Business Development organization that would send business mentors to five area cities to work oneon-one with small business owners and entrepreneurs. The five city members are putting their focus on Princeton, Peru, Ottawa, Streator and Pontiac.
How’s the harvest?
Plans Page 2
Magnolia requests county aid County Board looks toward next year By Dave Cook
news@putnamcountyrecord.com
The nearly ideal growing conditions of the 2016 season have allowed farmers to harvest with projected high yields. However, commodity prices are expected to decrease, meaning 2017 may be an economically-challenging year. PCR photo/Mike Vaughn
2017 predicted to be challenging for local farmers By Dave Cook
news@putnamcountyrecord.com
OGLESBY — As combines move through the harvest, Russ Higgins, commercial agriculture educator with the University of Illinois Extension, commented on what this past growing season was like for local farmers. He also gave his predictions for 2017. “We had almost perfect, timely and sufficient moisture, sunshine and warmth,” Higgins said of this year’s growing conditions. He added there was limited insect and disease throughout the state, resulting in a “probable record corn and soybean crop.”
Vol. 149 No. 8 Two Sections - 24 Pages
© The Putnam County Record
Higgins said the harvest in Northern Illinois had sporadic interruptions due to rain, and reports showed much of the corn coming out in the 19-22 percent moisture range, saving farmers some drying costs. Some soybean crops have exhibited green stem syndrome, which is a condition where the pods and seeds mature, but the stem remains green. When farmers harvest according to seed moisture, the stems can make for a more challenging harvest. Although postponing harvest until the stem turns may increase harvesting efficiency, it can result in reduced yields due to lower seed moisture and a higher possibility for shatter.
Higgins said yields are projected to be high, but that “an abundance of grain stocks means a dramatic decrease in commodity prices,” adding “that despite the high yields, margins are slim or non-existent, especially in situations where farmers have higher land costs.” It won’t be long until farmers are looking toward the 2017 season. Higgins’ prediction? “Projected commodity prices for 2017 are still low. It will be important to continue to strive for high yields, but farmers will also need to be sure they get a return on investment on their inputs. At this point, it’s projected to be a challenging year economically,” he said.
HENNEPIN — The season for roadwork is winding down, and much has been completed; Putnam County is already receiving requests for projects to be included in next year’s line-up of scheduled road repairs. Putnam County highway engineer Pat Sloan presented a request for county aid from Magnolia Township to the Putnam County Board on Tuesday, Oct 11. A culvert on Swaney Road, near Putnam County Junior High, has rusted through and is in need of replacement. Sloan said the total cost for the project is estimated to be $50,000 with the county’s share being $25,000. The board did not take any action on the request. Sloan announced the striping was completed on the county roads that were seal coated this summer. He also said the county’s new plow truck was almost ready for snow, and the two older trucks had been placed for sale on Craigslist and in local newspapers. In other board news: • Putnam County death investigator Robert Cofoid reported he assisted Marshall and LaSalle County officials with two death notifications in Putnam County last month.
Aid Page 2
Brad POPURELLA ELECT
“Experience Matters”
PC State’s Attorney
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