PeoriaStory

Illinois River Floodplain Saved from Strip Mining

At last some good news, from a Sierra Club news release: 

PEORIA --  In a big win for Illinois citizens over corporate mining interests, more than 600 acres of predominantly Illinois River floodplain have been saved from becoming a coal strip mine.

On July 19th, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) rejected a surface mining permit for the proposed Banner coal mine, which was slated for land located next to the village of Banner in Fulton County, in between the Rice Lake and Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Areas.

Both Banner Marsh and Rice Lake are internationally recognized as Globally Important Bird Areas. Drinking water supplies, nesting osprey, a historic bald eagle roost, the federally-threatened Decurrent False Aster and habitat for the state-endangered short-eared owl were all at risk.

In 2007, local citizens, including members of Citizens for the Preservation of Banner Township and Save Rice Lake Area Association, and the Sierra Club filed for a review of the mining permit. The Illinois Attorney General joined these groups in challenging the proposed mine.

The permit would have allowed strip mining on a triangle-shaped site adjoining Rice Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area, Illinois Route 24, which is part of the Illinois River Road National Scenic Byway, and Copperas Creek and the Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Area.

The proposed mining would have threatened residents’ drinking water supplies and the structural integrity of the village of Banner’s sewage treatment plant, located at the apex of the triangle.

“I have to thank IDNR for denying this coal mine,” said Ken Fuller, Mayor of the Village of Banner. “The real person to thank, though, is the Illinois Attorney General who filed in this case on behalf of the environment and the people of Illinois. Banner could have lost its wells and water if the coal mine had happened. I was really scared. My town could have died.”

Impacts on the hydrology of the area, including the bordering Rice Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area, were key issues in citizen concerns and in documents filed by the Illinois Attorney General. Citizens commissioned Geo-Hydro, Inc. to prepare a hydrogeology study of the mine’s impacts because attention to the hydrological impacts in the mine permit application was so lacking.

“It should not have had to take so many years to decide this permit appeal,” commented John Grigsby, a local resident and key petitioner in the appeal. “Thank heavens for Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan. Her office comprehended what was at stake with this strip mine permit and took action on behalf of the future of our river floodplain and for the good of the regular citizens like me.”

“IDNR’s final denial of this permit hopefully heralds a new chapter in how our state sites new mines,” said Cindy Skrukrud, Clean Water Advocate, Illinois Chapter, Sierra Club. “It is my hope that in future mining issues the IDNR will heed concerns raised by ordinary citizens earlier in the review process. Our common goal, as illustrated by this permit denial, is to ensure our precious water resources and communities are protected.”

Vote to abolish two county offices?

PEORIA --The Peoria County Board will vote soon on whether to place a referendum on the November ballot to abolish two elected county offices, Auditor and Recorder of Deeds.

It's a curious move that has some Democrats and Republicans pushing to diminish democracy in the name of saving money.  But is that all?

Is it also a power grab that could come back to bite taxpayers you-know-where?

These two offices were set up as part of a system of checks and balances in local government.

The Auditor checks on county finances, an independent watchdog responsible only to the public and not to other local officials.

The Recorder of Deeds records property records, and also is responsible only to the public.

Recent high profile national events show why these offices matter:  everyone has heard of the scandal in Dixon where a clerk embezzled millions to fund her show horses.

Property records have also been the subject of scandal not so well known, when financial institutions set up their own organization to record property transfers so mortgages could be sliced into bits to be sold as bonds, bypassing local property offices. That helped cause the great recession when the financial instruments crashed. And it left a mess in property records throughout the USA.

To my knowledge neither of these scandals has impacted Peoria, but they show what can happen when watchdogs stop barking. 

These offices are vital to the checks and balances necessary in a democracy.  The election process itself helps keep watch, as problems can be highlighted and bad office holders thrown out of office. 

There's just no substitute for checks and balances.  To eliminate these offices puts much more power into the hands of the Peoria County Board. 

While it may be well run now, who knows what can happen in the future.  Appointed auditors and property records managers will seek to please their bosses, not the public.

In Dixon, outside auditors failed to catch the long time embezzler. 

I once reported on a local not for profit agency whose manager was stealing from it. Auditors failed to notice.  An inside whistleblower was the only reason he was caught, the same situation in Dixon.

You will hear the cry 'let the people vote.'  But that assumes an informed vote, which means time and money spent on this referendum issue, when most politicians need to focus on getting their fellow political party members elected or reelected. 

Will the County Board decide to fund a public information campaign?  Isn't that a conflict of interest?

There are many reasons not to place this referendum on the November ballot, and the board should reject taking the first step toward a power grab.

 -- Elaine Hopkins

 

 

Food, barns, Haiti -- Peoria writers tell the truth

PEORIA -- Here are three important stories from Peoria writers. They seem different but ultimately they are are all connected to food -- and human well being.

1.  Wholesome Food Fund,  by Clare Howard  [email protected]

 The newly created Wholesome Food Fund looks at bunches of Chioggia beets, ears of bicolor  sweet corn and heads of German hardneck garlic and sees a metric for economic, environmental and social benefit.

 Wholesome Food Fund was established in July at Community Foundation of Central Illinois and is geared toward encouraging people receiving federal food assistance to shift a portion of their spending from convenience stores and corporate chain stores that receive food from thousands of miles away to Peoria Riverfront Market.

More than 40 million Americans receive help from the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly referred to as food stamps. Data at the Illinois Department of Human Services shows about 43,000 people in Peoria, Woodford and Tazewell counties are enrolled in the program. Kaiser Health News has calculated the average benefit for people living in Illinois is $139 a month. That’s nearly $6 million a month.

Shifting some of that $6 million to local farmers markets is a powerful economic stimulant.

For each dollar spent at corporate chain stores, the local economic impact is about 20 cents, according to a former graduate student in economics at Illinois State University. For each dollar spent at farmers markets, the local economic impact is $1.34, his study found. That’s because of the multiplier effect.  

To provide an incentive to shift spending, the Wholesome Food Fund will double the value of Link card/food assistance dollars spent at Peoria Riverfront Markets. Since the market sells produce grown in Illinois, that means a reduction in emissions from shipping food thousands of miles. Since the market sells produce grown by the vendor, that means food is not coming from large corporate farms with huge mono-crop acreage requiring aerial and ground application of pesticides that create pesticide drift. Fresh nutritious produce that replaces processed food in the diet helps fight obesity, a looming local and national epidemic that could cripple the health care system in this country.

Yet another overarching value of encouraging people to switch from convenience and corporate chains to Peoria Riverfront Market is the value of establishing relationships with farmers who grow food. That strengthens community and strengthens respect.   

 If you’re convinced you benefit by encouraging people to spend their federal food assistance dollars at Peoria Riverfront Market (and virtually everyone in the community does either directly or indirectly), please make a tax-deductible contribution to Community Foundation of Central Illinois (earmarked for the Wholesome Food Fund), 331 Fulton St., Suite 310, Peoria, IL 61602.  For more information on the foundation go to: http://www.communityfoundationci.org/   -30-

2.  Here's a link to a fabulous feature story by Clare Howard, published in the Springfield Journal Register.  It's about a 100-year-old barn, and more.

3.  From the wealth and food riches of central Illinois to the impoverished nation of Haiti:

Peoria's Dr. John Carroll, a physician who volunteers in Haiti, has written a fascinating and troubling story for the national magazine Counterpunch about his experiences there. It involves the absence of the food we all take for granted.

  -- Elaine Hopkins

 Clare Howard comments via email:

Thank you for posting these three articles together. Dr. John Carroll's tale is incredible. Together these articles make a pretty good argument against chemical processed food that makes profit for corporations but hurts the environment and human health. Monsanto tried to give Haiti GMO seed. Such a proposed gift stirred up lots of controversy. Critics charged it was the ultimate marketing . . . to get a poor country hooked on GMO that would spread throughout the island, even to farmers who never planted it and don't want it. But because GMO seed is patented, it must be purchased. GMO seed is also sterile, so farmers are forced to buy seed each year and all the pesticides the seed was designed to require.  Clare Howard

Chem-free lawns: good idea

PEORIA -- From a news release:

Healthier for Humans and the Planet Lawn Care Program, Wed., July 25th, 7 p.m. at Forest Park Nature Center, Peoria Heights

Learn about having a beautiful lawn without the toxic chemicals that pollute our water and require warning flags to keep pets and kids away, Wednesday, July 25th, 7:00 p.m. at the Forest

Park Nature Center, 5809 Forest Park Drive, Peoria Heights.

 

Heart of Illinois Group Sierra Club is sponsoring a special talk by Cathy Bilow from Kid Conscious Lawn Care, Grieder Landscape Services & Garden Center, Bloomington, IL.

Cathy Bilow has a simple goal, and that is to develop and maintain beautiful lawns that are safer for kids, pets, and the planet.

 

Learn about ways to have a great looking lawn that reduces nitrogen fertilzer water pollution and actually builds better soil. Cathy Bilow will explain what goes into safer and healthier lawns, and why this is important for you and your family. Kid Conscious Lawn Care uses a combination of organic and natural fertilzers along with biological stimulants and microorganisms to improve soil structure, and increase populations of living, beneficial soil organisms. By building healthy soil, excessive lawn fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation can be reduced.

 

At the end of the program, Clare Howard, freelance writer and researcher on endocrine disrupters, will talk briefly about the growing health concerns regarding chemicals that interfere with human and animal hormones and how this relates to lawn care.

 

The program is free and the public is invited to attend. For more information phone 688-0950. -30-

Progressive Democrats rally July 14

PEORIA -- Congressional candidates gathered with progressive Democrats on July 14 to urge activists to get ready to work for their candidates. 

The event, at the ITOO outdoor pavillion, was co-sponsored by the Peoria County Democrats, the Progressive Democrats of America's Greater Peoria chapter, and the Service Employees International Union.

Democrat Cheri Bustos, who hopes to unseat Republican incumbent Bobby Schilling in the 17th Congressional District,  attacked her opponent's voting record in Congress. Schilling voted against the Affordable Health Care Act (ObamaCare), and has only a 7 percent pro-union voting record, she said.

The SEIU has endorsed Bustos.

"We need to balance the budget but not on the backs of middle class and working families," she said. "I'll protect Social Security and Medicare."

Democrat Steve Waterworth, who is challenging Republican incumbent Aaron Schock in the 18th Congressional District, said "this is the most important election" ever. "The Republicans are the party of regression.  They're going backwards.  The Democrats are going forward.  I want to go forward."

Republican "economic policies will turn this country into a 1929-style depression," Waterworth said. "Schock is a Mitt Romney clone."

William Bianchi, who heads the Progressive Democrats of Illinois, said "the key is to return the political process to working and middle class people.  Prosperity not austerity, fairness not privilege."

To do that, he said, people must turn out and vote.  The conservative victories in 2010 stemmed from poor turn out, he said.

He urged people to vote Democratic at all levels, and to follow local candidates like sports teams are followed.

Peoria County Board member Allen Mayer urged the audience to vote for Democrats for the County Board.  Democrats now hold a 10-8 majority, he said, but if that changes and Republicans take control of county government, many programs will be in jeopardy.

Dr. David Gill was scheduled to appear after I had to leave.  He's running for Congress in the 15th District in Bloomington, a seat held by Republican Tim Johnson who is not seeking reelection after he won the Republican primary.  He withdrew his candidacy and was replaced by a local Republican.

Gill is also a strong liberal candidate.

  -- Elaine Hopkins

Progressive Democrats rally July 14

PEORIA -- Congressional candidates gathered with progressive Democrats on July 14 to urge activists to get ready to work for their candidates. 

The event, at the ITOO outdoor pavillion, was co-sponsored by the Peoria County Democrats, the Progressive Democrats of America's Greater Peoria chapter, and the Service Employees International Union.

Democrat Cheri Bustos, who hopes to unseat Republican incumbent Bobby Schilling in the 17th Congressional District,  attacked her opponent's voting record in Congress. Schilling voted against the Affordable Health Care Act, and has only a 7 percent pro-union voting record, she said.

The SEIU has endorsed Bustos.

We need to balance the budget but not on the backs of middle class and working families," she said. "I'll protect Social Security and Medicare."

Democrat Steve Waterworth, who is challenging Republican incumbent Aaron Schock in the 18th Congressional District, said "this is the most important election" ever. "The Republicans are the party of regression.  They're going backwards.  The Democrats are going forward.  I want to go forward."

Republican "economic policies will turn this country into a 1929-style depression," Waterworth said. "Schock is a Mitt Romney clone."

William Bianchi, who heads the Progressive Democrats of Illinois, said "the key is to return the political process to working and middle class people.  Prosperity not austerity, fairness not privilege."

To do that, he said, people must turn out and vote.  The conservative victories in 2010 stemmed from poor turn out, he said.

He urged people to vote Democratic at all levels, and to follow local candidates like sports teams are followed.

Peoria County Board member Allen Mayer urged the audience to vote for Democrats for the County Board.  Democrats now hold a 10-8 majority, he said, but if that changes and Republicans take control of county government, many programs will be in jeopardy.

Dr. David Gill was scheduled to appear after I had to leave.  He's running for Congress in the 15th District in Bloomington, a seat held by Republican Tim Johnson who is not seeking reelection after he won the Republican primary.  He withdrew his candidacy and was replaced by a local Republican.

Gill is also a strong liberal candidate.

  -- Elaine Hopkins

July 9 PSD Meeting

PEORIA -- I was unable to attend the Peoria District 150 School Board meeting on July 9, but Sharon Crews was there.  Here are her comments:

"As you plan for the new school year, I hope you will do everything in your power to make decisions that will not only encourage parents to keep their children in District 150 but also entice other families to come into or return to 150 schools.  I am sorry that wasn’t done before the decisions were made to close so many schools.

I believe that, in preparation for such efforts, plans should be made to return all elementary schools to K-8 schools.   The current configuration of schools forces parents to make a decision at the end of 4^th grade—stay in 150 or leave.  I believe if you did a 20-year study of District 150 schools, you would find that it is at that point—middle school—that parents make the decision to get out of Dodge. 

For example, I believe that many parents remain satisfied with Whittier Primary School.  If Whittier were returned to a K-8 school, I think you would find that many parents would not want to remove their children from that environment and to take them away from their friends.  However, I believe your study will find that a significant number of students leave Whittier when their parents are forced to make a decision.

Before parents can be convinced to remain in District 150 for the middle school and high school years, the problems about which you are tired of hearing must be addressed.

Discipline remains a serious problem.  Mr. Cloyd, I know that you caught on to the seriousness of that problem, but since then you seem to have backed away from it.  The problem is still there; turning your back on it doesn’t change anything.

I do not lack compassion for troubled young people, but they cannot be allowed to continue to destroy the educational opportunities for so many other children and to destroy District 150—but that is the case.  The damage has been done—you have to put new life into the system.

Your attendance policy and non-exiting tardy policy are not working.  Teachers cannot teach and students cannot learn when students are not present.  Please don’t give us figures that say attendance is 90%--we all know that there are few schools or classrooms with a 90% attendance rate.

Also, for all the reasons I have mentioned before, high school summer school should be returned.

Much money was spent last year on new programs and new textbooks.  Please put a moratorium on more new programs, etc., until you find a way to assess honestly the effectiveness of the programs you have bought. 

This year please see to it that teachers are given the proper and extensive training and most of all, the time, to make these programs effective—perhaps without help from North Carolina.  As part of the evaluation process of these programs, please listen to teachers. 

Dr. Lathan, I think I must address your comment at the June 18 meeting about your desire that we look past your race to work with you.  I am having trouble with your mindset on some issues and with your management style, but I sincerely have no trouble with your race or you personally—most of us only see your superintendent persona; we don’t know you.

If there are racial issues that need to be addressed in District 150, I would hope that you would be able to present them openly to allow honest feedback in order to achieve harmony in this District—and I truly do not believe that race is the barrier.  I certainly don’t want to believe that. 

The board has made it clear that you are their choice to lead District 150 for the next 4 years.  Everyone has to give 100%--meeting people half way isn’t a workable solution.  As the leader, you may have to go first and no one should or can look past you. 

For those of us who have served our time as part of the system, you may have to put up with our comments from the sidelines.  I sincerely hope you can look past our status as on-lookers to realize that we have had experiences in this District that give us insight and that we care about the future of District 150, in particular, and in public schools, in general.  Right now the future looks bleak from where I’m standing."

 -- Sharon Crews

7/13/12:  Ed Dentino commented via email:

"Just read the comments Sharon Crews made for the District 150 meeting.  Absolutely clear and on the mark.  Could not have found a better statement of what this district and probably most of the other school districts in the nation are facing.  Inner city schools are dealing with essentially the same social/economic makeup, economic issues, and problems with administration, staff, parents, and staff.  Sharon's views should be seen on a national level. "

Got sprayed? Don't like it? You're not alone

PEORIA -- From a news release:

SPRAY DRIFT EDUCATION NETWORK

http://www.spraydriftillinois.com/

A grassroots organization dedicated to helping Illinois citizens report and prevent pesticide drift

 

For immediate release

July 9, 2012 – It’s spray season in farm country in Illinois and surrounding states, and that means it’s the time of year crop dusters are routinely seen flying over fields with chemical  plumes trailing behind them and tractors rubble over the land pulling boom sprayers dispensing herbicides and insecticides.

 A significant portion of the millions of pounds of pesticides applied each year fail to reach the targeted site, and toxic pesticides drift over surrounding homes, people and landscapes. Drift is illegal. The Spray Drift Education Network was established last year to help victims of pesticide drift identify when drift has occurred and file complaints with the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

 Filing complaints is the best way to document the problem, said Jane Heim, one of the founders of Spray Drift Education Network.  She said when complaints are not filed, it’s easy to claim drift doesn’t occur. However, one retired specialist with the University of Illinois Extension Service has concluded complaints are filed in only about 10 percent of drift cases. That means the problem is vastly underestimated.

 “The Spray Drift Education Network can help establish when and where drift is occurring. We’re here so victims can vent, and we can walk them through the steps to file a complaint. We’ve got to document the problem or it becomes too easy to deny it exists,” said Heim, an organic farmer in the Paw Paw area.

 Pesticide drift damages non-target plants including trees. A common sight along highways is a tree with brown shriveled leaves facing fields and green leaves facing the road. Drift from roadside applications of 2,4-D has caused extensive damage to grapes, creating a major threat to the state’s growing wine industry. Homeowners living next to farm fields regularly deal with dying landscape plants and kiddy wading pools filed with invisible toxins. Drift is also linked to a host of human health problems including cancer, learning disabilities, obesity, Alzheimer’s, diabetes and infertility. Children are most vulnerable. Researchers have linked pesticide exposure in utero to impaired brain function and health outcomes.

 Heim said it’s difficult when drift occurs from neighbors and the victim doesn’t want to create friction. By filing a complaint with the state within 30 days of the incident or within 30 days of when the damage was first noticed, an inspector will review your documentation, interview neighbors and issue a determination.

 Dave Feltes, a retired ag specialist with the University of Illinois Extension Service, said pesticides used to be applied only after a disease was observed in the fields. Now, however, use is part of the routine practice of farming. In addition, genetically-modified crops require certain pesticides.

 “There is more drift out there than anyone is ready to admit,” Feltes said. “A lot of people discount the problem, but I think a very high percent of drift is never reported.’’

 Feltes, who now raises specialty crops for a farmers market and has bee hives, observed signs of drift damage on his farm in mid-May.

 “There was speckling on the leaves of a number of different plants. The same symptomatology is not going to affect four or five different plants so right away you know it’s not a disease,” he said.

 He called the applicator and complained. A month later, he heard the tractor approaching again, and the wind was blowing in his direction. This time he was able to convince the applicator not to spray because prevailing winds would douse the Feltes’ farm with drift.

 “The first time it happened, I wasn’t home,” Feltes said. “The second time, he didn’t spray but his parting words to me were ‘If you had not been home, I’d have sprayed.’ That means people have to learn to recognize the signs of pesticide drift.”

 Last year, Feltes filed a complaint with the Illinois Department of Agriculture about drift from a neighboring farm.

 “This is my position. I told my neighbor I’m not opposed to his use of pesticides on corn and soybeans, but if I wanted pesticides on my property, I’d pay and schedule an application. When his spray drifts onto my land, it’s trespass. If my spray drifted onto his land and damaged his crops, he’d be mad,” Feltes said.

 He believes the Spray Drift Education Network is a valuable tool for documenting the size of the problem and facilitating change. He’d like to see stiffer fines and enforcement action when drift is documented.

 Anita and Brian Poeppel, founders of the Spray Drift Education Network with Heim, farm organically north of Peoria and have filed complaints about pesticide drift for several years. Last year, they tried a new approach. They filed a claim with their insurance company for organic apples that were damaged by drift. Their insurance company sent an inspector who verified drift had occurred. The insurance company settled the claim and billed the chemical applicator’s insurance company for reimbursement.

 -- Jane Heim, 815-988-2628

 

Helpful websites:

Spray Drift Education Network, www.spraydriftillinois.com

Visit Spray Drift Education Network on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Spray-Drift-Education-Network/272498336164007

Illinois Department of Agriculture, click on link for Pesticide Misuse Complaint Form:  www.agr.state.il.us/Environment/Pesticide/pestuses.html 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crawford elected over Ross

PEORIA -- The longest serving member of the Peoria District 150 School Board, Martha Ross,  was passed over as the board elected new officers, in favor of a young lawyer Chris Crawford. The board met at noon on July 2.

Crawford won with a 4-2 vote.  Rick Cloyd, another relative newcomer, was elected vice president.

Crawford has rarely spoken during meetings.

The public comments included criticism from activist Terry Knapp and Peoria Federation of Teachers president Bob Darling.

Here is a recording of the comments.

D150 July 2

Both urged the election of Ross as president of the board.

"Ross has the credentials and is the senior member. She should not be overlooked," Knapp said. 

He then criticised the hiring of a Chicago law firm as the board's attorneys, saying there's no continuity, and they're too expensive. The board could save money by hiring a local firm or even its own lawyer, he said.

Darling said he has clashed recently with former board president Linda Butler, but "life's too long to hold grudges. We are all family."

He said the superintendent's raise should be complemented with a raise for teachers. "A month ago we sent a message to the board that we have concerns with the administration, then Lathan gets a three year contract. (That) tells us you didn't believe us.  What you are doing is not school reform. Top down doesn't work. It will not change if you don't have a buy in for everyone."

 -- Elaine Hopkins