BENTON, IL – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will offer an opportunity for individuals to obtain a permit to cut downed trees in the North Sandusky Campground for firewood. Commercial use or resale is prohibited. The timeframe for the firewood cutting season is November 20, 2017 through March 2, 2018. Designated cutting hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00AM to 3:30PM. There is no charge for the permit.

Firewood cutters will be permitted weekdays from November 20, 2017 through March 2, 2018.  Permits can be obtained in person between the hours of 8:00AM and 3:30PM, Monday through Friday, at the Rend Lake Project Office. For further information, please contact the Project Office at (618)724-2493

Marion, IL – State Representative Dave Severin (R- Benton) announced that his office will be holding Satellite Office Hours at the Benton Public Library on Wednesday November 8th from 12:00 – 3:00 pm.

“Satellite office hours are a good way for me to make my office and its resources more accessible to the whole district,” Rep. Severin said. “Staff will be on hand to take your opinions and assist with any constituent-related issues you may have.”

The address for the Benton Public Library is S Main St & W Hudelson St, Benton, IL 62812. If you would like to learn more about our office hours, please contact Rep. Severin’s District Office at (618) 440-5090 or through the contact form on his website at www.repseverin.com.

Washington, DC – U.S. Representative Mike Bost (IL-12) today released the following statement after the release of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act:

“Southern Illinois’ middle-class families deserve a break. We need more jobs, higher take-home pay, and greater opportunity to get ahead. That’s why we went to work on a plan that simplifies the code and gives average working families a $1,200 tax cut.  The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act gives you the breathing room you need to save for college, help raise a family, or prepare for a rainy day. When given the chance, I have no doubt you’ll keep a closer eye on your hard-earned dollars than any Washington bureaucrat ever will.”

For individuals and families, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act:

• Lowers individual tax rates for low- and middle-income Americans to zero, 12 percent, 25 percent, and 35 percent so people can keep more of the money they earn throughout their lives, and continues to maintain 39.6 percent for high-income Americans.

• Significantly increases the standard deduction to protect roughly double the amount of what you earn each year from taxes – from $6,350 to $12,000 for individuals and $12,700 to $24,000 for married couples.

• Eliminates special-interest deductions that increase rates and complicate Americans’ taxes – so an individual or family can file their taxes on a form as simple as a postcard.
• Establishing a new Family Credit – which includes expanding the Child Tax Credit from $1,000 to $1,600 to help parents with the cost of raising children, and providing a credit of $300 for each parent and non-child dependent to help all families with their everyday expenses.
• Retains popular retirement savings options such as 401(k)s and Individual Retirement Accounts so Americans can continue to save for their future.

For job creators of all sizes, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act:

• Lowers the corporate tax rate to 20 percent – down from 35 percent, which today is the highest in the industrialized world – the largest reduction in the U.S. corporate tax rate in our nation’s history.

• Reduces the tax rate on the hard-earned business income of Main Street job creators to no more than 25 percent – the lowest tax rate on small business income since World War II.

• Establishes strong safeguards to distinguish between individual wage income and “pass-through” business income so Main Street tax relief goes to the local job creators it was designed to help most.

• Prevents American jobs, headquarters, and research from moving overseas by eliminating incentives that now reward companies for shifting jobs, profits, and manufacturing plants abroad

Marion, IL – Banterra Bank, a subsidiary of Banterra Corp., has negotiated a Purchase and Assumption Agreement to acquire the loans, deposits, and banking facilities of First Bank’s Illinois branches located in Carbondale (1500 West Main St.), Johnston City (908 Grand Ave.) and West Frankfort (605 West Main St.). First Bank is headquartered in Creve Coeur, Missouri. The three-branch purchase, subject to receiving all regulatory approvals, is anticipated to occur in April 2018 and will provide more than $91 million in additional assets to Banterra’s $1.5 billion portfolio.

“Banterra is already experiencing substantial growth at an almost 15% annualized pace this year not including this purchase” said Jeff May, President and CEO of Banterra Bank. “We know this growth is a result of our customer service, experienced team, conveniences and product offerings. Adding these First Bank locations, great team members and customers to our Banterra family is the right move to not only support this growth, but to also better serve our communities. We feel especially fortunate to add another Southern Illinois community, Johnston City, to our Illinois footprint, and it will bring a total of 28 Southern Illinois locations to serve customers.”

Banterra Bank began as a single bank in Ridgway, Illinois in July of 1975. Today, Banterra is the region’s largest, locallyowned financial institution. This acquisition by Banterra will bring the bank’s total to 38 banking centers in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Missouri, with total assets of $1.6 billion and lending limit of $35 million. Banterra plans to utilize the current First Bank facilities, maintaining these branch locations and staff, bringing Banterra’s total workforce to nearly 500 team members. In addition to Banterra’s banking centers, the bank drives economic development with commercial, small-business and agricultural lending, as well as a strong specialty lending division that offers nationwide service and includes Aircraft Finance, Machine Tool Finance, RV and Marine Indirect Lending, Corporate Banking and Transportation Lending. For more information, call 866-BANTERRA (226-8377) or go to www.banterra.com.

INA, IL – Hundreds of Rend Lake College students and scholarship donors met and shared an evening of festivities on Thursday, Oct. 19, at the Benton Civic Center for the 28th Annual Rend Lake College Foundation Scholarship Dinner. During the evening, guest speakers Eric Black, Dr. Sue Tomlin, and scholarship recipient Heath Ramsey of Valier shared their experiences of receiving or giving to a scholarship, and students had the chance to thank their donors first hand.

Kay Zibby-Damron, RLC Foundation CEO, said the event is a great way to highlight donor charity and student success, but also focus on the need for more scholarships.

“Our scholarship dinner is always a special evening. It’s a time of gratitude and appreciation for our donors who generously provide scholarship opportunities to our students. It’s also a time of encouragement for our students, to work hard, and do their best,” said Zibby-Damron. “As the cost of community college goes up, there are more and more students who need help with their tuition, books and supplies. We are working to increase the number of scholarships available to students.”

During the 2017-18 academic year, the RLC Foundation has awarded nearly $200,000 in scholarships to Rend Lake College students. Those who would like to learn more about supporting RLC students with a scholarship, contact the RLCF at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1214, or send an e-mail foundation@rlc.edu.

The event was sponsored by Eggemeyer Associates Architects and The Medicine Shoppe in Mt. Vernon.

Photos will be posted on the website under the photos/video section of the website.

by Steve Dunford 

WEST CITY, IL –  West City Firefighters have been called to a semi  trailer fire on I 57 southbound.  The call said from the 69 to 71.  It sounds like it is past the bridge where the oil wells are.

The right lane of the interstate is closed.    Please use an alternate route.

Franklin County Emergency Management Agency reports there are no hazardous materials on board.

I will provide further updates as they become available.

by Steve Dunford 

WHITTINGTON, IL –  Sesser, Benton,  Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, and Abbott EMS is responding to a single vehicle accident at the intersection of Routes 154 and 37.

More information will be provided as it becomes available.  Please avoid the area.