From Franklin County Farm Bureau Manager, Kay Bowlin 

Gay Bowlin

Hopefully most of the crops are out of the fields by now but I do know that there are still some farmers who are fighting the weather. So this is just a reminder that Governor Rauner signed the HSE into effect to allow farmers to haul grain and/or livestock due to crop conditions. All three common forms of weight restriction – gross, axle and registered – are addressed. In each case, the permit can allow up to a maximum of 10 percent over the standard weight restriction.

There is no cost for the HSE permit. However, you will need to have documents in EACH truck from IDOT during this time. The HSE ruling also indicates that a permit is needed for county routes, district roads and municipal streets – I have called Franklin County and talked to Matt Barnett and Mike Rolla has indicated that Franklin County is not requiring a county permit at this time for emergency harvest. I also spoke with Hamilton County and Jackson County and they are not requiring permits either.

The most important part of this is that YOU CANNOT RUN ON ANY INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS WHILE OVERWEIGHT. YOU MUST ALWAYS OBAY THE POSTED BRIDGE LIMITS!

To get the IDOT permit it is necessary to go to their website and go to the oversize and overweight site and create a log in. A permit will then be issued to you – remember that each truck/plate must have a written permit at least from IDOT. This includes any truck that is hauling grain – not just a farm plate.

Each truck will be required to have three documents:

1. The permit (printed or electronic)
2. A copy of form OPER 993*; and (*special vehicle movement permit provisions)
3. A copy of the Governor’s declaration.

We are getting ready for our County Annual Meeting on November 27. If you are a Farm Bureau member please call by Tuesday the 21^st to make your reservations. For more information call the office at 435-3616.

We are taking donations for Harvest of Help – this is our 10^th year and we have raised over $62,000 to be able to donate food to all 9 are food pantries. Any amount of money is helpful and it is a tax deductible donation to the Franklin County Farm Bureau Foundation. If you would like more information call the office.

It is time again to order oranges and grapefruit.  We currently have pecans in the office so you can call or stop by and pick them up. Supplies are limited so don’t wait.

  Pecans will be $10.00 for a jumbo 1 lb bag of  ½ shelled and $7.00 for a 12 oz bag of choc covered pecans.

     Oranges – a 40 lb box is $35.00 and 20 lb box is $25.00

     Grapefruit – 40 lb box is $30.00 and 20 lb box is $20.00

     (we will not have Tangelos this year at all – sorry for the inconvenience.) 

   Orders must be received by November 22 for fruit and it will be in before Christmas.

Remember we are farmers working together. If we can help let us know.

http://www.dailyrepublicannews.com/news/20171114/former-williamson-county-states-attorney-garnati-dies

WSIU-TV Photo

MARION, IL – (Marion Republican-  Please click on the link above for the story and further updates.  Here is an excerpt below.)

– One of the longest-serving Williamson County State’s Attorneys in Illinois history died early Tuesday morning.

Charles “Chuck” Garnati succumbed to health complications at University Hospital in St. Louis at approximately 2 a.m.

He was 65.

Benton, IL – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Rend Lake reminds visitors that the following recreation areas will be closed to all vehicle and foot traffic during the first weekend of the 2017 firearm deer season.   Dates for the closures are November 17-19, 2017.  Areas affected by the closure include the North Sandusky picnic area and campground; South Sandusky picnic area, campground, beach and boat ramp; South Marcum picnic area and campground; North Marcum picnic area and old campground; and the Blackberry Nature Trail.  These areas will be utilized by persons involved in the annual Rend Lake Deer Hunt for Persons with Disabilities and will remain closed as a safety precaution.

In addition, the Corps of Engineers will temporarily close all sections of the Rend Lake Bike Trail, which are under the management of the Corps of Engineers, to persons not actively involved in the sport of deer hunting during all state firearm deer hunting seasons.  These closures include bike trail sections beginning west of the Franklin Cemetery and continuing to North Marcum day use area, and trail sections beginning in the North Sandusky day use area and continue to the South Marcum campground. All persons not involved in the sport of deer hunting are prohibited from utilizing these trails during the periods of November 17-19, November 30, December 1-3, and December 8-10. Persons wishing to access hunting spots should remember that Federal law prohibits the use of motorized vehicles, including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), on all government-managed properties.

For more information on these temporary area closings, feel free to contact the Rend Lake Project Office, by phone at 618-724-2493 or by email at rendinfo@usace.army.mil.

HARRISBURG, IL – After receiving essays from students across the 59^th Senate District, State Senator Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg) has announced the winners of his Veterans Day essay contest, an initiative to increase awareness of the importance and meaning of Veterans Day.

Two winners were selected from this year’s submission by a veteran from the 59^th District: Will Smiley, an 8^th grader from Lick Creek; and Sarah Flick, a 7^th grader from Vienna.

“Veterans Day is the time of year that we remember the brave men and women who have dedicated their lives to the service of our country,” said Fowler. “To me, this essay contest is a way to honor the legacy of our military personnel and also give a younger generation a chance to reflect on the purpose of Veterans Day, and the true sacrifices that come with protecting our nation and our freedoms.”

This year’s contest was open to 7^th-grade and 8^th-grade students throughout the 59^th District, prompting students to write an essay explaining the history of Veterans Day and the importance of celebrating the day each year.

“While all the submissions this year were well-received and thoughtful, two winners had to be chosen, and Will and Sarah did a great job explaining the importance and legacy of Veterans Day. Their essays were well-written and stood out,” said Fowler. “I’m extremely proud of the work I saw submitted from the kids of our communities, and hope that this contest inspired some of our young people to reflect on the importance of honoring our veterans.”

The winning essays are featured on the Senate Republicans Veterans Day display in the Illinois State Capitol Rotunda, a tribute to the military service and sacrifice of all veterans in Illinois.

Both students will have the opportunity to serve as a “page-for-the-day” with Senator Fowler, either in his district office in Harrisburg or in Springfield on a day that the Legislature is in session.

The winning essays can be found by visiting Sen. Fowler’s webpage, senatorfowler.com. 

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Mike Bost (R-IL) and Al Lawson (D-FL) introduced bipartisan legislation to make more United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) apprenticeships available to veterans. The Veterans’ Agricultural Apprenticeship Act instructs the USDA to work with state departments of agriculture to identify farmers and ranchers eligible for a direct loan to train apprentice veterans.  The loan would, in turn, be paid back to the USDA after the harvest season.

“Our bipartisan bill provides a common sense solution for helping our farmers and ranchers fill jobs and expand their operations, while offering our veterans new skills and a potential career path after their service,” said Bost. “Representative Lawson and I sit right next to each other in the House Agriculture Committee, we both have rural economies in our districts, and we both know there’s no more dedicated workforce than our returning military men and women. I’m proud to carry this bill right before Veterans Day to give a hand up to our returning heroes.”

“Our bill helps prioritize veterans by getting them the on-the-job training they need to be successful in farming,” said Rep. Lawson. “This program also ensures that veterans have access to quality jobs when they return home, and helps to feed our country.”

According to the USDA, nearly 45 percent of veterans come from rural America.  Over the next 20 years, it is projected that our nation will need 700,000 new agricultural workers.