Thursday, September 26, 2013

Benefit Corporations - By Terry Rowe

 The Demise of free enterprise?   Merle
A Benefit Corp., or B Corp. has corporate social responsibility, or CSR. This means that they
are involved in the three E's, Environment, Equity (social justice) and Economy.
   This is PPP, the Public Private Partnership.
The concept of the B Corp was promoted by the Rockefeller Bros Foundation.
The B Corporations are receiving benefits in San Francisco and Philadelphia.
Benefits can include; tax breaks, and, to the head of the line for licenses, permits, and contracts.
Tom DeWeese calls it, “the demise of free enterprise.”
The Governor of Maryland signed it into law on July17, 2013. The advocates say,”this is the tipping point in the evolution of capitalism,”
Benefit Corporation law in Illinois was effective 1/1/13
    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
Benefit Corporation Act.






"Specific public benefit" means:
        (1) providing low-income or underserved individuals or
    communities with beneficial products or services;
        (2) promoting economic opportunity for individuals or
    communities beyond the creation of jobs in the ordinary
    course of business;
        (3) preserving the environment;
        (4) improving human health;
        (5) promoting the arts, sciences or advancement of
    knowledge;
        (6) increasing the flow of capital to entities with a
    public benefit purpose; or
        (7) the accomplishment of any other particular benefit
    for society or the environment.



Terry   (Read more below)

















Article 3. Corporate Purposes

 
     Section 3.01. Corporate purposes.
    (a) A benefit corporation shall have a purpose of creating
general public benefit. This purpose is in addition to its
purposes under Section 3.05 of the Business Corporation Act



 

Terry



Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Did Iraq Send Thier Deadly Gas Weapons Into Syria?

You bet. Those of us who read facts knew this from day one. By the way, where are the "chatters" and "pacifists" now? Of course, they still support Obama, he gives them their subsidies and welfare  checks. 47% of the latter still think Obama is doing a good job.

Woo, woop.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Tri County Regional Planning Event?

A flier in circulation is about a public meeting  Wednesday, September 25, 5:30 to 8:30 PM at Thrive Capital Partners, the former Blaine-Sumner School located at 919 S. Matthew Street in Peoria.

The flyer states;   Join us to Map What Tomorrow Could Be    CHOOSE OUR REGIONS FUTURE

YOUR VISION    OUR FUTURE

WATCH FOR MORE ONFORMATION on the Regional Scenario Planning Event

 

at the bottom of the flyer they ask you to register at "youarehere2050.eventbrite.com"

when you follow that link, we learn;

 


You Are Here: 2050 Regional Scenario Mapping Workshop



Organizer
Organized by Tri-County Regional Planning Commission

So, this is the meeting where they will ask the public to sign off on vague objectives which will

defined later.

Terry

Whatever Happened to Kathleen Woith? And More

At one time Kathleen Woith was VP of Communications for Lakeview Museum. Then one day she was no longer employed by Lakeview.  Inquires as to why she left was met with "we don't know" answers. I bring this subject up because she wrote on my blog site "The museum's Strategic Plan calls for 78 to 83%of the visitors coming from our 'resident area' .(Didn't the Bradley experts know that) These numbers follow the national standards for museum visitations and is in line with Caterpilllar's projections as mentioned by Mark Johnson  (Mark also commented on my blog indicating my information was wrong. Johnson was liaison between  then Lakeview Museum and the new 'build the block' promoters.

Almost everything was wrong with the PRM. And Dave Ransburg, who basically inherited his business, still heads the one and only museum committee??

It is sad to see that I evidently had so many of my facts right on the museum and so many "movers and shakers" were and are riding on Titanics. (plural)

And again, why did Kathleen leave Lakeview and not a peep out of the JS?

While my reputation gets smudged by liar Matt Buedel and then by Chris Kaegard. and the Detective Dept. of the City of Peoria never really took interest in the case. It took them 5 weeks to interview 2 of the 3 suspects and of this morning have not interviewed the third. A theft from my household and I turned out to be the criminal with a basically bedridden alcohol addicted wife who just lately has agreed to take treatment. She is susposedly starting Oct. 7.

Jim Maloof's Deborah Coughlon Leads National Relocation Discussion

 

 

Jim Maloof/Realtor®'s Deborah Coughlon Leads National Relocation Discussion

 

 

PEORIA, IL - Deborah Coughlon, Relocation Director for Jim Maloof/Realtor was a speaker at the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® Fall Workshop in Chicago, August 28, 2013. The workshop attracted brokers, managers and relocation directors from top real estate firms around the country.  Participants were members of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®, a global network of more than 500 market-leading real estate firms, which represents more home sales than any other real estate network.



The workshop offered a variety of informative sessions addressing topics relating to today's real estate market and included a variety of open forum discussions and brainstorming sessions that focused on ways to best serve home buyers and sellers.



Deb Coughlon presented information during a MVP BusinessDevelopment Session, sharing insights relating to Corporate Client Development and retention of relocation business.

 

Coughlon was among an accomplished line-up of presenters that included keynote speaker Dennis Moseley-Williams, an internationally-known business consultant who shared secrets of building a trust-based brand. 

 

Jim Maloof/Realtor is the Peoria area representative of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®, the largest network of premier locally-branded firms producing over $270 billion in annual home sales. LeadingRE provides its affiliates with an extensive range of brokerage services, which include lead generation, cross-market referrals, branding support, luxury marketing, online exposure, technology systems, and industry-leading professional development. 

 

Deb Coughlon became the Relocation Director in the Welcome Center at Jim Maloof/Realtor in February 2012.  She is the first point of contact for Relocation Management Companies and transferees.  A significant part of her job is coordinating a smooth transition for families relocating to or from Central Illinois.  She and the relocation team at Jim Maloof/Realtor offer services that include finding a home, home marketing, international relocation services and property management.  She started her career in Real Estate in 2004 and has 20-plus years of sales and management experience.

 

Jim Maloof/Realtor has been in the business of helping people make their dreams come true since 1969, when it was founded by Jim Maloof. Today, Jim Maloof/Realtor is central Illinois' largest real estate company with 17 offices in six counties and more than 230 agents and support staff.

 

For more information about Jim Maloof/Realtor visit www.maloofrealty.com or call (309) 690-4261.

 

###

 

Monday, September 23, 2013

Water Company Buyout Secrecy Attempt and "Controlled Growth"

On 4/9/05, I wrote a blog titled "Controlled Growth". You can find this article on my Search Bar located at the top of all my blogs. In this blog, you will find a condensed version about what Urban Planner David Rusk said in his visits to Peoria. This should be an interesating read for those of you who live in the City of Peoria and are concerned about what public ownership consequences of taking the water company public by buyout.

Water Company Buyout by City of Peoria and Potential Regionalization of Our Water Resources

To my knowledge, local public ownership of the private water company takes away the regulatory  power of the ICC and puts the power in the hands of local public entities or in this situation, possible  regional governments. Thus the strong interest by large rural property owners and developers like Cullinan (Oberhelman)and Kress, past members of the PAAG. Realize that "sprawl" (remember David Rusk, a man who the JS called the renowned urban planning specialist) probably most do not remember him when he came to Peoria to warn us against spraw; as most of the "movers and shakers" here would like to forget him. Rusk said,"you must not let growth occur beyond your boundaries is you can help it"

If it is in the best interest of the public, I support the buyout at an affordable price, That is why Terry Rowe is one of the leaders to force the meetings be open to the public which it appears certain "movers and shakers" are trying to avoid.

Be careful not to be misled by Kolhbuss and Van Winkle who both stand to gain by eliminating private ownership that pay property taxes and contribute heavily to charity, Under public ownership, the running of the water company will be by appointees which all depends on the goals of the appointers. Many of the appointers will probably not be qualified to act in the best interests of the whole.

Look at past history of public ownership as you taxpayers follow this saga. Smart cities are privatizing (Van Winkle's figures are mis-leading) as much of government as they can to let government focus on the basics of  infrastructure and ease of development for the private sector, along with safety (getting a little more scary in Peoria) and the health and happiness of the general public.

Realize that "sprawl" appears to be sounding the death knell of Peoria whose population is either static or lower in the past decade or so. More sprawl is the aim of many of the members of the Peoria elite.

Got Water? More Info On Attempt to Buy Peoria's Private Water Company - By Terry Rowe



ICLEI is a private German Company that promotes sustainability. I have no evidence that they are active  in our region, but that does not preclude the use of their methods by local operators.
 ICLEI promoted a local water campaign in 2000. The site has been taken down from the internet,  but my attachment was copied before the site was removed.
From my attachment;
Milestone 2: Establish targets----consumption.
Milestone 3.---approval for a local water agenda. This gives cause for concern when Jim Baumgartner speaks of leveraging its' strategic importance. (Baumgartner is employed by Caterpilllar)
 
My question, what is the limit of the authority of FFCI?
I request a public discussion of this question.


(the following is from the web)

ICLEI - the global cities network

We are a powerful movement of 12 mega-cities, 100 super-cities & urban regions, 450 large cities, 450 small & medium-sized cities & towns in 85 countries dedicated to sustainable development // Find out more

http://www.iclei.org/details/article/water-campaign.html

Water Campaign

Launched in 2000, the overarching ICLEI Water Campaign promotes the development of local water action plans to achieve tangible improvements in local water quality, conservation and access. A wide range of local initiatives have been taken in different regions across the world.

404 Page not found

This page may have moved or is no longer available.

The Water Campaign, Australia

Timeframe: 2001 - ongoing
Coordinator: ICLEI Oceania
The ICLEI’s Water Campaign is an international freshwater management program which aims to build the capacity of local government to reduce water consumption and improve local water quality.
ICLEI's Water Campaign is designed to assist local governments in their efforts to manage water in a sustainable way. The Campaign provides a framework that encourages the development of local water action plans to achieve tangible improvements in local water quality, conservation and access. Participants in the campaign work towards achieving holistic integrated water resources management.

The Water Campaign™ is an ICLEI Oceania program delivered in collaboration with the Australian Government, the Government of Western Australia, City West Water, South East Water, Yarra Valley Water, Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board, South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board and the Northern and Yorke Natural Resources Management Board.

There are now 113 Australian councils participating in the Water Campaign™.

The case studies and milestone materials of the Water Campaign™ are accessible for councillors and staff from participating ICLEI Oceania campaigns and programs. The Campaign news is available at the website of the ICLEI Oceania.




Got Water? - By Terry Rowe

Got Water?



At the County Board meeting of September 12 Jim Baumgartner stated that FFCI would have interest in water resources, including the Illinois River.


The Peoria Journal Star, September 15, quoted Mr. Baumgartner, “learning about the regional importance of water to the regional economy” and how to best leverage its strategic importance.


dictionary---[leverage--- use (something) to maximum advantage.]


What does it all mean? How do you maximize our natural resource? Does it mean a regional water tax and smart meters for water?


Rationing? Increase in water rates?


What are the limits of the authority of the FFCI? Where are they going?


Ask your elected representative.



Terry Rowe

Yellow Flashing Turn Signal Liights

More confused people on these turn signal lights that save thousands of dollars that is wasted without them. Many cities have successfully used these yellow lights for years. People who don't understand that yellow means "caution" and the arrow means "turn with caution" should NOT BE DRIVING PERIOD

I have driven over 1,600,000 miles in my life and Peoria drivers top the list of WORST DRIVERS IN AMERICA. I'm glad that they stay in Peoria in the winter and don't make driving conditions worse in Florida where us old people hang out and they have yellow flashing signals.

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Ray LaHood and the PRM and Libraries

Lest you forget, of course you have, LaHood was the leading supporter of a museum on the riverfront and the $40 million spent recently on Peoria Public Libraries. Yet, years ago when I made a personal appeal to him to help on the ongoing problems at Peoria Public School District #150, he wrote "because of my position on a national level, I leave it to local communities to work on their own problems". Sure, the libraries are nice but the roughly $40 million (includes interest on the long term loan) spent on the libraries could have been spent on our underfunded public safety and our questionable public streets, sewers, etc, department, questionable because of the involvement or lack of by the City Council, management, unions, or funds.

And Lahood's involvement in the museum speaks for itself and will speak more loudly in the future as long as Phil Luciano is still the only journalist on the JS with guts to get the facts out.

Then there is "Chappie" Chapman, a stockbroker and "mover and shaker" of the ballpark and museum. who wrote in the JS "Museum could be crown jewel of Peoria" summing his 'facts' up, "we only have to look at the new Peoria Zoo, the Peoria Civic Center and O'Brien Field (now Dozer Field) as jewels in the Peoria County Crown".

I guess "Crown Jewels" has different definitions to the elite and the unemployed and all who drive the streets of Peoria and the ones who won;t drive at all after dark.

And Brad McMilllan, then  Chairman of Friends of Build the Block who wrote "Small Costs, Big Benefits to building The Block, 3/9/09, JS" and later a constant reminder to all that the museum overall $100 million cost would be small potatoes to the public as the private sector would be supporting 2/3rd of the cost. He was wrong as all politicians and wanna-bees usually are.

It was just the opposite.

Also, remember that the JSEB, with the exception of one editoria, was a very strong supporter of the museum.

Hmmmm.

Shrinking Journal Star Based in Peoria, Il.

Saturdays first three sections of the JS contained articles written by liar Mat Buedel and Pam Adams(?) Those were the only local reporters evidently receiving some kind of compensation from the JS. Only two local reporters stories in the first three sections??? And one written by a blatant liar?

I note a number of stories with the byline "Gatehouse Media". Does that mean that Gatehouse, the JS's current owner, is now taking financial responsibility so that at least some news not already on local and national radio and TV stations,  gets published? Of course, the JS no longer publishes the comment page on Mondays. And often times the JSEB prints editorials from other papers largely because they can not afford the proper workers with the 'smarts'  to write and edit local opinion columns of interest.

And not a peep about why Headdington Oaks (majestic property taxpayer funded Taj Mahal  $53 million nursing home for the poor) sits empty 3 and 1/2 months after their grand opening on June 6. Not a story here.....?. Baloney.

Or why the Police Department is under-funded and can/t even start a search for people suspected in taxpayer home burglaries??

Maybe Peoria just needs more of these taxpayer funded losers like Cub Foods, sitting empty for year, ball parks, Gateway Centers, grocery store vandalized  and empty on South Adams, underutilized libraries like Lakeview and Lincoln Library, the RiverPlex, the African Exhibit, the highly touted Peoria Riverfront Museum, (wasn't it two Bradley professors; Dr. Robert Scott and Dr. Joshua Lewer who estimated $14 million in increased sales resulting from the new museum. $14 million a year ad nauseum (sp). Are they still employed at Bradley??

This estimate was refuted before the Peoria City Council on March 26, 2009, Room 400 at 3:PM by Dr's Richard Stout and Lon Carlson (Economics) of Knox College and Frank Beck (Stevenson Center)  of Illinois State University. The University of Illinois failed to respond which doesn't surprise me. (Biefeldt money AT THAT TIME  was supporting the museum).

Yes, I have a copy of their complete report. As part of the summation I quote, "Those voters (referendum) who want estimates on tax revenues from growth in their tax base thanks to "the Block" and those who want to know whether the museum is likely to have operating deficits will not find estimates in the report authored by Scott and Lerner. (posing as Buffett and Gates)

And Peoria still faces some strong possibilities of the new hotel and the warehouse district  not meeting projections. 

Friday, September 20, 2013

Four Day School Week - Pros and Cons

******************************

From Education Week [American Education's Newspaper of Record], Tuesday, September 17, 2013, Volume 33, Issue 04, p.10 See

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2013/09/18/04fourdays.h33.html?tkn=WTCCrVPVdai8ogZeuIaYFR5NoQ%2Bt8kMnDWgf&cmp=clp-sb-ascd

******************************

Iowa District Puts Twist on Four-Day Week

By Alyssa Morones

As more districts adopt four-day weeks to cope with budget crunches, one rural Iowa district says it is embracing the practice for a different reason: to squeeze more time out of the school calendar for student enrichment and teachers' professional development.


Starting this school year, students in the 550-student WACO community school district will attend school Monday through Thursday, spending an hour longer in class each day so that no classes will need to be held on Fridays. Students in the district-which serves the communities of Wayland, Crawfordsville, and Olds-have the option of attending remedial or enrichment classes every other Friday or to enroll in college-level classes.


This new plan for the school year follows the June 2013 passage of Iowa's House File 215, which officially defines the state's school year length requirements in both days and hours. Under the new law, a full school year is defined as having at least 1,080 hours, or an equivalent 180 days, of instruction, but it's up to districts to inform the state of which metric they will use to measure their school year-in hours or days.


Iowa isn't alone in this shift. More states nationwide are altering their definitions of the school year from days to hours to allow more scheduling flexibility, according to Kathy Christie, the chief of staff at the Education Commission of the States, based in Denver. More than 20 states have districts operating on four-day weeks, according to the Center for Evaluation and Education Policy at Indiana University Bloomington.


Cost-Cutting Measure?


According to Ms. Christie, districts-especially those in rural areas-are typically lured to the four-day week as a possible form of relief from budget woes. They see the condensed schedule as a way to reduce costs associated with busing and utilities.


In rural southern Idaho, for example, officials of the Wendell school district say budget concerns are driving their district's move to a four-day week this academic year. The 1,200-student district hopes that the new schedule will cut down on transportation and utility costs and on student absences, since schools receive much of their funding based on how many students attend.


Superintendent Gregory Lowe said: "With the cuts we had here in Idaho, we thought this would lead to savings for our struggling budget, but we also felt like it was a good thing for students."
However, like Iowa's WACO district, Wendell isn't planning on letting its Fridays go to waste. It will use those days for teacher professional development, to provide extra help for students through a program called the Success Alliance, or for enrichment activities, depending on the week.


The Fridays set aside for professional development will be focused on instructional strategies for the Common Core State Standards.


Results in Practice


Meanwhile, another rural district, the MACCRAY school system, which serves Maynard, Clara City, and Raymond in Minnesota, is entering its fifth school year with a four-day week. For the most part, community feedback on the switch has been positive, according to the 650-student district.


"Parents really like it," said Gary Simms, the principal of MACCRAY Senior High School, "and because we have one less day, we save on busing, on utilities, on maintenance time. We save a bit on food service."


The district decided to cut Monday out of its school week to reduce absenteeism as well, since parents can now schedule doctor or other appointments for their children on that day, and now absenteeism rates are "maybe a little better than before," according to Mr. Simms.



While child care is one concern often brought up with four-day-week districts, Mr. Simms said the MACCRAY district hasn't heard many complaints.


"If parents know when they will need a babysitter, 99 percent are responsible enough to get one," he said.


Even though belt-tightening is driving many of the switches to four-day schedules, Ms. Christie of the ECS said that "cost-saving is not a reason to make the switch."


That's because calculations of the savings produced by the schedule change have shown them to be minimal, she said.


--------------------------------------------------------

Shortening the Schedule: Pros and Cons


Reducing the school week from five days to four doesn't automatically translate to big savings, according to analysts.



Potential Benefits

*  Increased attendance rates for teachers and students

*  Boosts morale among teachers and students

*  Additional time available for professional development and teacher planning

*  Savings on transportation and heating and cooling costs

*  Decreased need for substitute teachers; savings in substitute- teacher wages

*  More efficient use of classroom time

*  Fewer discipline problems



Potential Drawbacks

*  Difficulty finding child care on fifth day

*  Actual savings often less than anticipated savings

*  May have negative effects on at-risk students and those with special needs

*  May be difficult for younger students

*  Decreased wages for cafeteria workers and bus drivers, who lose one day of work per week



Unknowns

*  Effectiveness and appropriateness in large/urban school districts

*  Impact on student achievement


Source: Center for Evaluation and Education Policy, Indiana University Bloomington

------------------------------------------------------
Moreover, the educational value of the time added on to each day, to account for the lost day of instruction, hasn't been examined in depth. "Most of the research is anecdotal," Ms. Christie said.

A report from Indiana University's CEEP says that there is no strong evidence that a four-day week has either a positive or negative effect on achievement.


In Iowa, the state education department appears to concur with Ms. Christie's assessment of the fiscal benefits of such a change.


"The state has taken the stand that if a district is doing this just to save money, that's not something they're OK with. Historically, they haven't approved those calendars," said WACO Superintendent Darrell Smith. "And I'm OK with that. Education shouldn't be about money."


Looking to Improve


Though WACO wasn't the first district in Iowa to make the request to the state for such a schedule change, it was the first to gain approval, largely because the district's motivation has not been budget-based.


"In fact, it could end up costing us money," said Mr. Smith.


The federal No Child Left Behind Act requires that districts make "adequate yearly progress" on state academic tests. But, Mr. Smith said, "when we looked at our data, it was flat."


So the district decided a four-day week might offer an opportunity to improve learning through additional assistance and educational enrichment opportunities for students and professional development for teachers.


For 13 Fridays throughout the school year, beginning this week, students in all grades will have the opportunity to attend a half-day, when all teachers will be on hand for office hours, during which students can get remedial tutoring or opportunities for credit recovery.



For students seeking an additional challenge, the district's schools will also offer enrichment classes, such as music, engineering, or exploration science classes, on those Fridays or will allow for concurrent enrollment through the local community college, giving students the opportunity to acquire college credits.


All other Fridays will be used for professional development, allowing teachers time to meet with fellow department members and collaboratively plan their lessons, or learn how to bring technology into their classrooms.


"What we're looking at is the opportunity to change the way our teachers teach," said Mr. Smith. "We're really interested in using technology as an instructional tool, and in putting it in the hands of kids. But we have to get our teachers ready first."



As of last week, 95 percent of WACO's students had expressed interest in coming into school for the Friday programs.


Mr. Smith said the district may use the time to bone up on computerized textbooks to develop more flexible curricula and digital assessments that will give teachers better feedback on what their students are learning and what knowledge they're still lacking.


"We don't want to waste time teaching students what they already know. We want to teach what they don't know," he said.



The WACO district plans to follow the schedule for at least three years to fully weigh its effectiveness based on student results from state and district assessments and teacher feedback



"[This plan] puts everybody on the same wavelength," Mr. Smith said. "It takes everybody working toward the same thing to make something work."
-------------------------------------

Coverage of more and better learning time is supported by a grant from the Ford Foundation at www.fordfoundation.org. Education Week retains sole editorial control over the content of this coverage.

**************************************

--

Jerry P. Becker
Dept. of Curriculum & Instruction
Southern Illinois University
625 Wham Drive
Mail Code 4610
Carbondale, IL  62901-4610
Phone:  (618) 453-4241  [O]
            (618) 457-8903  [H]
Fax:      (618) 453-4244
E-mail:   jbecker@siu.edu

Gas Prices - Peoria Vs. Edwardsville

Filled up in Edwardsville, Illinois today at $3.30 per gallon. First gas station I saw in Peoria was $3.50. Yes, I've heard all the rhetoric as why Peoria gasoline prices are always higher. Still interesting.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Proctor Alcohol Rehab Program

After many years of fighting the terrible disease, alcoholism, my wife today signed papers with Proctor to start an out-patient alcohol rehab treatment program. All her friends, acquaintances and family will be pulling for her now that she has decided to follow her doctor's advise of give liquor up or die.She weighs approximately 35 pounds less than her normal weight and will have to build up her appetite and exercise; exercise has been difficult for her to do.  She has made one chiropractor in Peoria a wealthy man.

Mark Twain - "If You Don't Read the Newspaper, You Are Uninformed. If You do Read the Newspaper, You Are Misinformed"

He didn't know at the time he was talking about the Journal Star, Peoria's major (?) newspaper. Or that he was talking about lying JS sensation "reporter" Matt Buedel who found an upstairs (bedroom) in my ranch style home that has no upstairs and said I  "stepped down in the fall of 2010" (resigned) from the County Board when I had publicly announced 2 1/2 years earlier that I would not run for a fourth term while serving out my FULL third term..

Years ago I blogged that I could not do without a daily newspaper. How wrong I was. I do quite nicely without one until I get out of town.

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail

I have serious reservations about sending things quickly through this priority mail service. My recent experience was to send a letter paying approx. $6  that was to arrive on a Friday in Sarasota, Fl. . It arrived on a Tuesday, 5 working days later. When I complained, I was told their was no guarantee that priority mail would arrive when scheduled. Nor any guarantee priority mail would arrive faster than regular mail. Which I found to be "interesting". Using the postal service tracking system, I found the the letter was "floating" around in Peoria for 3 of the 5 days.

An experience last year. A $19 priority item was mailed out of Peoria. It took 7 working days to reach Florida.

Now the U;S. Postal Service is offering Priority Mail Flat Rate. Is this another government scheme of offering a mis-leading service??

Hmm.

Janet Napolitano on the Supreme Court Promoted Recently by Joe Biden?

This walking, talking common sense people wrecking crew? God save this country before it is completely destroyed by Obama, Biden, Durbin, Waters, Pelosi, Reid, Soros  and their ilk.

You can bet that whoever Obama picks to serve on the Supreme Court will be bleeding liberals that will continue to move  this country down the path of secondary status, larger, more controlling and less effective government, for decades to come

Local Tea Party Meeting

Current Information on Local Agenda 21 Developments

Speaker:  Terry Rowe

 

We had great interest in Bill Jasper, our international speaker in March had to say about Agenda 21. Many of you asked for more information, especially about local developments.

 Terry has researched the Agenda 21 proceedings, both, nationally and locally for many years. He keeps current. Don’t miss what he has for us.

Day:     Thursday

Date:   September 19, 2013

Time:    6:00PM-8:00PM (Sign in 5:45PM)

Place:  Peoria Public Library, North Branch

              3100 Grand Parkway

          Peoria, IL 61615

                           (Off Allen Road behind Menard’s

Navy Shooting By Deranged Thug - More Reasons to Support Concealed Carry

Obama, Biden, McCain and Schumer vow to enact gun control

Dear merle:

As I made my way around the Capitol in DC this morning, news broke about the mass shooting at the Navy Yard nearby.

While completely verifiable information is still hard to come by at this point, it appears at least one thug set out today to murder innocent men and women.

My prayers and those of my staff here at the National Association for Gun Rights go out to the victims and their families.

If it hasn’t happened already, you can expect the Obama/Bloomberg anti-gun machine to start banging the drums for gun control.

Of course, this is complete nonsense.

The thought of innocent people forced to flee -- unable to defend themselves -- is beyond frustrating.

As you probably know, DC is the gun control lobby’s anti-gun paradise . . . a vision for the rest of America.

Virtually the entire city is a “Gun Free Zone,” or what I call a Criminal Safezone.

Criminal Safezones do nothing to deter criminals from waging war on Americans going about their daily lives.

In fact, they empower criminals, disarming law-abiding men and women who wish to defend themselves.

You know the drill from the gun-grabbers: never let a “crisis” go to waste.

You and I both know that Barack Obama and the gun control crowd will work every angle to restrict our rights.

Expect them to pounce on this “opportunity” soon.

Your continued engagement and activism could be the only thing that stands between our gun rights and the coming gun control schemes.

My staff and I will be sure to keep you updated on any new legislative developments here at the Capitol.

Once again, please keep the victims and their families in your thoughts and prayers.

For Freedom,

Dudley Brown
Executive Vice President



The National Association for Gun Rights is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, single-purpose citizens' organization dedicated to preserving and protecting the Constitutionally protected right-to-keep-and-bear-arms through an aggressive program designed to mobilize public opposition to anti-gun legislation. The National Association for Gun Rights' mailing address is P.O. Box 7002, Fredericksburg, VA 22404. They can be contacted toll-free at 1-877-405-4570. Its web address is www.NationalGunRights.org/

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Obama's Trampling of the Constitution

From the Morning Bell - Heritage Foundatiion - Merle

5 Ways Obama Has Trampled the Constitution
09/17/2013
Today, the Constitution turns 226 years old. Let’s not forget it states that the President “shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed.”

The Obama Administration has done the opposite, turning the law on its head and ignoring constitutional limitations on its power.

>>> Read the Constitution now

Here are five of the Administration’s largest violations:

1. Changing Obamacare on the fly without congressional action

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requires that businesses employing 50 or more full-time employees must provide health insurance or pay a fine per uncovered employee. The law schedules this mandate to begin in January 2014. Yet the Administration has already announced that it will put this requirement on hold.

Meanwhile, Congress explicitly considered and rejected proposed amendments to Obamacare that would have created a specific allowance for a congressional health insurance subsidy in the exchanges, and indeed, such an exemption is illegal. But the Administration told Members of Congress and their staffers that it would give them a generous taxpayer-funded subsidy just the same.

Obamacare won’t work as written, and the Administration is just seizing power unilaterally to rewrite it.

2. Implementing the DREAM Act by executive fiat

Congress has repeatedly considered, and rejected, a bill known as the Dream Act that would effectively grant amnesty to many illegal aliens. Yet in June 2012, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano issued a directive to immigration officials instructing them to defer deportation proceedings against an estimated 1.7 million illegal aliens. Oddly, this happened about a year after President Obama admitted that “the President doesn’t have the authority to simply ignore Congress and say, ‘We’re not going to enforce the laws you’ve passed.’”

3. Making “recess appointments” while the Senate was in session

In January 2012, President Obama made four “recess” appointments to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, claiming that the Senate was not available to confirm those appointees. Yet the Senate was not in recess at that time. The Recess Appointments Clause is not an alternative to Senate confirmation and is supposed to be only a stopgap for times when the Senate is unable to provide advice and consent. Eventually, a three-judge panel of the D.C. Circuit struck down the appointments to the NLRB as unconstitutional.

4. Waiving welfare work requirements

In July 2012, the Department of Health and Human Services gutted the work requirements out of the welfare reform law passed in 1996. It notified states of Secretary Kathleen Sebelius’s “willingness to exercise her waiver authority” so that states may eliminate the work participation requirement of Section 407 of the 1996 reforms. This flatly contradicts the law, which provides that waivers granted under other sections of the law “shall not affect the applicability of section 407 to the State.” Despite this unambiguous language, the Obama Administration continues to flout the law with its “revisionist” interpretation.

5. Encouraging federal contractors to violate the law

The WARN Act requires that federal contractors give 60 days’ notice before a mass layoff or plant closing. Employers who do not give notice are liable for employees’ back pay and benefits as well as additional penalties. With defense-related spending cuts set to start on January 2, 2013, defense contractors should have issued notice by November 2, 2012 (just four days before the presidential election). Yet, the Department of Labor instructed defense contractors not to issue notice for layoffs due to sequestration until after the election—and assured them they would be reimbursed with taxpayer funds for any subsequent liability for violating the law.

One of the Constitution’s strongest features is its simplicity. It doesn’t serve as a laundry list of rights, as many modern constitutions attempt to do. Instead, it lays out a governing framework, divides power among three co-equal branches, and protects Americans from having their rights usurped by an overreaching government.

But for the Constitution to survive the next quarter-century, we need leaders who are dedicated to maintaining it, not stretching it to suit their immediate political needs.

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Sunday, September 15, 2013

Who of the Movers and Shakers in Peoria Will Be Supporting the Buyout? This Time

Use my Search Bar and enter "Water-Logged #4" dated 3/29/2005, where all are listed.. If you care and many don't, (so sad) you may want to read #1,#2,#3,and also #5. If you want to know more of my facts, you could email me to the address shown on my blog site. If sensible, they will be transferred to my blog comment section. No anonymous.

Water-Logged All Over Again in Sewer Polluted Peoria, Il.

Expect Terry Koulbuss and Caterpillar to lead the drive for the City of Peoria to buy out the privately held water company that may or may not be for sale. If enough money is offered the water company may wish to sell as almost the entire old piping system needs replacement as was documented in the last nearly succeessful attempt. Some of my detractors will say I'm bragging again but don't expect the JS to give me credit for any of the things I've done for this community. However, Councilman George Jacobs, the deciding voter, told me that it was my blogs that helped him make up his mind.

While profit minded Rita Kress told me she would use my blog paper for her toilet (probably her outside one). Expect her to be working hard behind the scene like she did in 2005. I publish here an email from Scott Sorrel, Assistant to the County Administrator to County Board Adminstrator, Patrick Urich, dated August 26, 2005. The email reads as follows: "Subject - water company buy-out - Rita called to ask if someone would meet with Randy (Randy Oliver, City Manager at that time) and Gary Sandberg within the next few days (Gary was pushing hard to get more capitalist business into union dominated public sector) She said the issue really is not dead.

Don't feel I can blow her off. What do you want me to do do. Tell her that we will meet her or we will pass.

Please advise."

Scott Sorrel

Fortunately, my Democrat friend, Dave Williams, then County Board Chairman, took a "none of this nonsense" attitude and as far as I know, this meeting behind the back, was never pulled off by Rita (Kress) and the deceased Sandberg.

Now that Pat Urich is now City Manager is going to make for a lot of dealing, and much of it "behind closed doors".

So Sad. I've said if you want to know about the wheeling and dealing that happened or tried to be a 'happening' read my blogs titled "Water-Logged' at least 15 of them in my 2005 archives available through my search bar at the to[p of all my blogs.

There is a lot of money spread over many years that would end up in the hands of those who feel I an a threat to this community. Let's hope the voter shows the sensibility they showed in 2005 and turn this 'boondoogle' down again. Listen closely to what is made public and make your own decision but little has changed since 2005 except IF the water company REALLY wants to sell to a proven gullible city council.

Oh, about  the City of Peoria and our sewer sysems. Approximately 4 years ago, our water stewards told us it might take from $100 million to $300 million to replace our old and failing sewer system that dumps tons of pollution in the Illinois River ever rainy season.

If true, where will the money come from? Guess who.

Hmmmmm.

Review of the FFCI by Terry Rowe

 


Review of FFCI (Focus Forward Central Illinois)





The September 12, special meeting of The Peoria county Board, an update on FFCI, was mostly a repeat of previous information. The most striking part was the revelation that they would include water resources and the Illinois River in their purview.





If you want a flavor of the danger of unelected boards, read the Peoria Journal star online article


titled “Documents show behind the scenes push for Water Company buyout”. One of the FOIA documents required the assistance of The Illinois attorney General's Office.





Be aware that FFCI is not going to follow the open meeting laws, so you will have no opportunity to request documents thru FOIA.





In view of the above, let us discuss FFCI. FFCI is positioning itself as an organization of Regional Governance. Governance is the act of governing.





Regional Governance will be the act of governing our five county region. County lines will be blurred.





Two questions come to mind.


      1. What is the limit of their governing power?


                      2. Where did they obtain the authority for their power?





They proclaim an asset based strategy. Whose assets are they?





Their goal # 1- Act Regional: Insures that the region is putting in place regional community,


economic, innovation, workforce, quality of place, healthy community and humane service ecosystems that work together. (anyone care to interpret that?)





The FFCI will seek funding from State, Local, Private, Federal, and Foundations. Federal funds will arrive with strings firmly attached. Those strings are mandates and regulations which the voters have neither requested nor authorized. The mandates are not negotiable.





Federal grants will be geared towards sustainability which involves the three E's.


Environment; eliminate cars, increase public transportation, bicycle or walk to work, constrict city boundaries, enhance building codes, smart meters, reduce consumption.


Equity; social justice, redistribution of wealth, fairness.


Economy; receive some of your own tax money if you obey the mandates.





Summary;





Regionalism is the antithesis of elected government. It will destroy traditional boundaries and transform our understanding of private property rights. It will affect transportation, water, farming,


and land use rights.





If you desire more information on the motives behind all of this, attend a free meeting Thursday,


September 19, 6:00 PM at the North Branch Library.





Terry Rowe



Atlanta School Cheating Administrator Found Not Guilty

Refer my blog of 3/28/10, "Trust is Missing". Merle
 
From The Wall Street Journal, Saturday, September 6, 2013. See

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324123004579059102108040982.html

******************************

Former Atlanta Educator Found Not Guilty in Cheating Case



Verdict Comes in First Trial Connected to Probe of Schools



By Cameron McWhirter


A jury found a former Atlanta school administrator not guilty Friday in the first trial relating to one of the largest school-cheating scandals in U.S. history.

The outcome suggests that it might be difficult for prosecutors to win their cases against 34 former educators in Atlanta's public schools. A state judge has scheduled one large trial for the defendants next spring.


Tamara Cotman, a former area director overseeing 21 schools, was found not guilty of influencing a witness. The jury deliberated Thursday afternoon and part of Friday morning after a trial that began with testimony on Aug. 23.

The verdict came after prosecutors presented evidence and brought in testimony from numerous witnesses, including former Gov. Sonny Perdue, who had ordered a probe of the school system after allegations of widespread cheating on state standardized tests.

 
The charge against Ms. Cotman stemmed from allegations that she had intimidated staff as part of an attempt to force them not to cooperate with state investigators. She had sought a speedy trial, so her case came first.

Ms. Cotman said outside the courthouse on Friday that she felt vindicated. Her attorney couldn't be reached for comment on the verdict.

Although Ms. Cotman was acquitted of the influencing charge, she still faces a racketeering charge, along with other defendants.

Bruce Harvey, an attorney for a former elementary-school principal indicted in the conspiracy case, said the verdict "shows that you can't convict people on emotion; you need evidence. And clearly, the state's case was all emotion."

Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard said at a press conference after the verdict, "We are just going to get ready for the larger case," referring to the trial set for next year.

A 2011 state report found that cheating on state standardized tests was rife in Atlanta schools, including allegations that teachers erased incorrect answers because they would get bonuses if their students got higher scores. The report said the educators were responding to pressure from the administration of Beverly Hall, Atlanta's superintendent from 1999 to 2011, to show marked improvement in their students' scores or face discipline or less pay.

Ms. Hall, who resigned in the wake of the scandal, was indicted along with 34 other educators earlier this year on racketeering and other charges. Lawyers for Ms. Hall have said she didn't participate in wrongdoing, and she pleaded not guilty. Recently, one of the defendants died of cancer, and lawyers for Ms. Hall have said she is suffering from breast cancer.

Richard Quartarone, president of an education-policy group called Southeast Atlanta Communities for Schools and a parent with two children in the city's public schools, said Friday, "I hope the prosecution is able to shore up their cases as everything moves forward. If there are no guilty verdicts, that is just horrible."

----------------------------------------

SIDEBAR PHOTO:  Former Atlanta school official Tamara Cotman speaks Friday after a jury found her not guilty of charges related to an alleged cheating scandal. Atlanta Journal-Constitution/Associated Press

----------------------------------------

Write to Cameron McWhirter at  cameron.mcwhirter@wsj.com

-------------------------------------
A version of this article appeared September 7, 2013, on page A2 in the U.S. edition of The Wall Street Journal, with the headline: Former Atlanta Educator Acquitted.

*******************************************************
-- 

Jerry P. Becker
Dept. of Curriculum & Instruction
Southern Illinois University
625 Wham Drive
Mail Code 4610
Carbondale, IL  62901-4610
Phone:  (618) 453-4241  [O]
            (618) 457-8903  [H]
Fax:      (618) 453-4244
E-mail:   jbecker@siu.edu

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Water Company Buyout Again Before the City Council Soon

George Jacobs cast the deciding 6th vote that killed the buyout attempt by those who who profit from city ownership. Unfortunately, the astute Mr. Jacobs in no longer on the board and the new members are untested. For background read my many blogs "Water-Logged" that I published the last time this issue received serious press. Despite All the same old "buy" rhetoric, it is less feasible today than ever with the city already overloaded with problems.

Oh, well, it's just money and the rich keep getting richer and the poor poorer. And that is a FACT.

The PAAG sued the City of Peoria to get their million plus interest back from the City?? Never saw anymore about it in the JS.

Last time, 80% of the public voted "no buyout" yet 5 councilpeople voted "yea".???

"Water-Logged" Debate Coming Up Again

So Steve Van Winkle says that Peoria should buy out the water company and dump it on the taxpayers. He uses the truth to confuse the taxpayer. He says that 80% of the communities own there own water distribution. Of course they do. What capitalistic corporation would want to own Congerville, Carlock, Goodfield, Deer Creek, Mackinaw, etc.? They would lose money on all these small communities Van Winkle uses in his statistics.

Is Van Winkle, always an opportunist, have something to gain personally if the city buys the water companies stake in Peoria? You bet.

I'll let you study Steve's history and  the situation and figure our how. He has supported every attempt by the city to buy out the privately owned water company. Yet smart cities like Indianapolis are more and more turning the running of utilities like water companies over to the private sector. Mayor Ardis has always voted "no" on the periodic buyout attempts. However, I am not sure Jim is the same person I long ago helped win a seat on the City Council.

Expect people like Lowell "Bud" Grieves, Terry Kohlbuss, Rita Kress and especially Councilman Chuck Grayeb to lead the buyout charge. And maybe the PAAG with spokesperson Sandra Birdsall stepping in again with another million to support a buyout. I believe all of the members of this group are still alive with the exception of Ted Fleming. Expect developer Giebelhausen  to lend strong support. All of the members of the PAAG stand to gain with city ownership as that would take the water company out of the regulation of the ICC.

Kohlbuss? He is always trying to strengthen his position and earnings by being on the side of the elite who run Peoria.

Hmmmm.

Poisonous Gas Stored in the U.S.A.

Three times the amount stored by Syria. Why do we store all this poison? To kill militants, invaders and innocent people?

Interesting isn't it? And then we have all this poison gas emitting from most politicians and liberal medias.

Hm.

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Focus Forward Central Illinois (FFCI) Meeting Thursday

It may be in your best interest to be at this meeting. Note that these meetings in fhe future mwy not be open to public scrutiny and you may wake up one day with some surprise you didn't see coming. Merle
 
County Board Meeting


The Peoria County Board will meet as a committee of the whole Thursday, September 12, 2013
at 5:00 PM in room 403 of the Peoria County Courthouse. This will be an update of Focus Forward Central Illinois. It is important that we hear this update so that we can develop an understanding of
this new Public/Private Committee which will not follow the open meeting laws. Any regional governance will diminish the the mandate of our elected bodies, and must be carefully studied. A key question is, “what is the limit of their authority?”

The Peoria County Board will meet in regular session at 6:00 PM in the same room. Agenda item number II is an update on the Peoria Regional High School. What is the meaning of “Regional High School”?

Agenda item number III is for citizen's remarks. If you desire to speak, fill out a card and submit it to the Chairman before the Board Meeting.

It is important that we attend these meetings to gain an understanding of the changes which are taking place.

Terry Rowe

Monday, September 09, 2013

A White Side Against Racism

The White  

Side  

of the Story of  

"Negroes."  

 

 

This is the reason CNN has dropped Buchanan. It's like  

Newt G. said, "You're not supposed to bring up  

uncomfortable Facts." (verified on Buchanan's  

website)  

 

BUCHANAN  

TO OBAMA  

 

Finally.............It  

is said Publicly. I have never seen the white  

side explained better!  

Pat Buchanan had the  

guts to say it. It is  about  

time!  

 

BUCHANAN TO  

OBAMA  

By  

Patrick J. Buchanan  

 

Barack says we  

need to have a conversation about race in  

America .. Fair enough. But this time, it has to  

be a two-way conversation.. White America needs  

to be heard from, not just lectured to.... This  

time, the Silent Majority needs to have its  

convictions, grievances and demands heard. And  

among them are these:  

 

First, America has  

been the best country on earth for black folks.  

It was here that 600,000 black people, brought  

from Africa in slave ships, grew into a  

community of 40 million, were introduced to  

Christian salvation, and reached the greatest  

levels of freedom and prosperity blacks have  

ever known.. Jeremiah Wright ought to go down on  

his knees and thank God he is an  

American.  

 

 

Second, no  

people anywhere has done more to lift up blacks  

than white Americans. Untold trillions have been  

spent since the 1960s on welfare, food stamps,  

rent supplements, Section 8 housing, Pell  

grants, student loans, legal services, Medicaid,  

Earned Income Tax Credits and poverty programs  

designed to bring the African-American community  

into the mainstream. Governments, businesses and                                    

colleges have engaged in discrimination against  

white folks -- with affirmative action, contract  

set-asides and quotas -- to advance black  

applicants over white applicants. Churches,  

foundations, civic groups, schools and  

individuals all over America have donated their  

time and money to support soup kitchens, adult  

education, day care, retirement and nursing  

homes for blacks.  

We hear the grievances.  

Where is the gratitude??  

 

Barack talks  

about new 'ladders of opportunity' for blacks.  

Let him go to Altoona? And Johnstown, and ask  

the white kids in Catholic schools how many were  

visited lately by Ivy League recruiters handing  

out scholarships for 'deserving' white kids...?  

Is white America really responsible for the fact  

that the crime and incarceration rates for  

African-Americans are seven times those of white  

America? Is it really white America's fault that  

illegitimacy in the African-American community  

has hit 70 percent and the black dropout rate  

from high schools in some cities has reached 50  

percent?  

 

 

Is that  

the fault of white America or, first and  

foremost, a failure of the black community  

itself?  

 

 

As for  

racism, its ugliest manifestation is in  

interracial crime, and especially interracial  

crimes of violence. Is Barack Obama aware that  

while white criminals choose black victims 3  

percent of the time, black criminals choose  

white victims 45 percent of the  

time?  

 

 

Is Barack  

aware that black-on-white rapes are 100 times  

more common than the reverse, that  

black-on-white robberies were 139 times as  

common in the first three years of this decade  

as the reverse?  

 

 

We have  

all heard ad nauseam from the Rev. Al about  

Tawana Brawley, the Duke rape case and Jena. And                                    

all turned out to be hoaxes. But, about the  

epidemic of black assaults on whites that are  

real, we hear nothing.  

 

 

Sorry,  

Barack, some of us have heard it all before,  

about 40 years and 40 trillion tax dollars ago.  

This needs to be passed around because, this is  

a message everyone needs to hear!  

 

 

OK  

pass it on?  

 

 

 I did  

will you?  

 

 

Because  

I'm for a better  

America  

 

  I  

am  

Not racist,  

Not  

violent,  

 

 

 

 

Just not  

silent anymore.