1 • Wednesday, January 24, 2018 - The Scoop Today/Shopper’s Guide
Serving the communities in Jo Daviess County
the
Scoop Today
VOL. 84 • NO. 4
YOUR FREE HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER
LAW OFFICES OF
• Car Accidents
Rosenberg, Eisenberg • Slip / Trip & Fall & Associates, LLC • Medical Malpractice
Personal Injury • Wrongful Death Workers Compensation Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect • Personal Injury No Charge Unless Recovery is Made
• Job Accidents • Product Injuries
E. North Ave. 815-947-3445 841 Hwy 20 East Stockton, IL WWW.RICHARDROSENBERGLAW.COM
220357
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2018
Apple River State Bank celebrates 70th Anniversary 2018 marks the 70th anniversary of Apple River State Bank. The bank is the only locally owned, independent community bank chartered in Jo Daviess County. Apple River State Bank has 6 convenient locations and 30 ATMs, the largest network in Jo Daviess County. In 1946, the community of Apple River had no bank at the time. The two banks that had served the community were closed during the depression and never reopened. The nearest bank was in Warren, Illinois. A group of prominent businessmen gathered at The Lion’s Den in Apple River to discuss the formation of a bank. On November 21, 1946 the decision was made by the group to proceed with plans to organize a bank. In those days every town had a local bank that served the financial needs of its own community. Apple River State Bank was established in January 1948. “Today Apple River State Bank and First Community Bank of Galena have these same ideals,” said Joel Holland, Chief Executive Officer of The Apple River State Bank. “We are the only locally owned and operated bank in Jo Daviess County. Our entire board of directors lives in Jo Daviess County. Our employees live in the communities we serve. We make every
effort to know our customers on a first name basis and greet them when they walk in the door. Our customers are important to us and it is our mission to not only meet their financial needs but to provide exceptional service and products to help make their dreams come true.” Many rural communities have experienced what it means to lose their local community bank. In 1995, Galena was without an independent and locally owned community bank. Two well-regarded Galena banks had been acquired by large multi-bank holding companies, one of which was located outside the state. Bill Wubben, then President of Apple River State Bank, and Rick Weis, former Executive Vice President of Today’s Bank (formally First National Bank of Galena), opened a branch of Apple River State Bank and named it First Community Bank of Galena. In 1999, Apple River State Bank acquired the Warren office and the Scales Mound office was opened in 2001. The Elizabeth and Hanover offices were purchased in 2008. In each of these towns the local banks were acquired by larger bank holding companies and were sold multiple times. The larger bank holding companies had little interest in maintaining a local presence.
Jo Daviess County U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Executive Director (CED) Cory C. Cassens announced that County Committee elections are over and the ballots have been counted. Dean Groezinger of Elizabeth, IL was elected to represent local administrative area (LAA) #3 and John Krohmer of Elizabeth, IL will serve as the first alternate. “County Committee members are a critical component of the day-today operations of FSA,” said CED Cassens. “They help deliver programs at the county level and work to serve the needs of local produc-
ers. All recently elected County Committee members will take office in January 2018, and will be joining the existing committee.” Every FSA office is required to have a County Committee, and they are made up of local farmers who are elected by local farmers. Nearly 7,800 FSA County Committee members serve FSA offices nationwide. Each committee has three elected members who serve three-year terms of office. Onethird of County Committee seats are up for election each year. County Committee members impact the administration of FSA within a community by applying their knowledge
COURTESY PHOTO The Scoop Today
Apple River State Bank opened for business in 1948 in a building occupied by the village’ Post Office.
The historic preservation returned There was no local board of direc- community. tors and very little understanding The bank’s Warren office was many of the original architectural of how important a bank was to its extensively renovated in 2013. features to the 1913 building.
Jo Daviess County Farm Service Agency announces committee election results and judgment to help FSA make important decisions on its commodity support programs, conservation programs, indemnity and disaster programs, emergency programs and eligibility. County Committee members impact producers through their decision making and help shape the culture of a local FSA office. They also ensure the fair and equitable admin-
istration of FSA farm programs in their counties and are accountable to the Secretary of Agriculture. Members conduct hearings and reviews as requested by the State Committee, ensure socially disadvantaged (SDA) farmers and ranchers are fairly represented, make recommendations to the State Committee on existing programs, monitor changes in farm programs and inform farm-
ers of the purpose and provisions of FSA programs. They also assist with outreach and inform underserved producers such as beginning farmers and ranchers about FSA opportunities. For more information, visit the FSA website at www.fsa.usda.gov/ elections or contact the Jo Daviess County FSA office at 815-858-3418 ext. 102.
253817
PR SRT STD US POSTAGE PAID ROCK VALLEY PUBLISHINGLLC
Postal Customer **ecrwss