Photo of the Day - October 13, 2020

Unity's Taylor White scores TD

Rockets blast the Bombers for playoff victory

Unity quarterback Taylor Black leaps into the arms of teammate Danny Shroyer after scoring a touchdown during their IHSA quarterfinal football game against Macomb. After rolling past St. Thomas more in the first round and rivals Monticello the week after, Unity enjoyed home field advantage to defeat the visiting Bombers 35-7 on November 12, 2011.

(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)



Spartans finish in top 3, Rockets in 4th at IPC meet

Spartan distance runner Brandon Mattsey
SJO's Brandon Mattsey runs during the 2019 IHSA state cross country meet. The senior, who finished 4th overall, led the Spartans to a third-place finish at this year's Illini Prairie Conference meet on Saturday.

(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Brandon Mattsey, Charlie Mabry and Carson Maroon completed their run within 18 seconds of each other for 21 team points at the 2020 Illini Prairie Conference Meet on Saturday. The combined effort secured the St. Joseph-Ogden boys cross country squad a third place finish on Saturday.

Twenty-five seconds off his personal best in the 3-mile race, Mattsey was the first Spartan to cross the finish line at 16:07.43. His fourth place finish coupled with Mabry coming in 8th place and Maroon in 9th less than three seconds apart provided a commanding lead over the rest of the field in the team competition.

Connor O'Donnell led Unity's first three runners over the line stopping the clock at 16:29.35 and was the 10th finisher in the varsity race. Teammates Jarrett Cox then finished three seconds later in 11th place and Benjamin Gravel ended his run on the course in 16th place at 16:54.41.

The trio along with Nolan Miller and Thomas Cler secured the Rockets fourth place finish with 96 points.

SJO tallied 60 points to finish third behind Monticello's 44 points and the newly crowned IPC champs of 2020, Olympia with 39 points.


Illini Prairie Conference meet results:

4Brandon MattseySJO16:07.43
8Charlie MabrySJO16:22.22
9Carson MaroonSJO16:25.25
10Connor O'DonnellUnity16:29.35
11Jarrett CoxUnity16:32.92
16Benjamin GravelUnity16:54.41
19Elijah MockSJO17:08.02
20Luke StegallSJO17:08.73
22Logan WolfersbergerSJO17:16.19
28Nolan MillerUnity17:40.45
31Thomas ClerUnity17:48.72
44Spencer WilsonSJO18:23.18
46Clayton JamisonUnity18:46.65
50Bryson DennyUnity19:33.67


Progressive income tax would put heavy burden on small Illinois business


by Bryce Hill, Senior Research Analyst
Illinois Policy


COVID-19 and state-mandated restrictions already damaged Illinois small businesses, but the extra challenge of a 50.3% marginal income tax rate awaits if Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s "fair tax" is added to their state and federal income tax burdens.

Despite wide-spread agreement that you should not raise taxes during an economic downturn, Pritzker insists Illinois needs his $3 billion income tax hike now more than ever. But massive job losses and stubbornly high unemployment rates mean there might not be a worse time for a tax hike. Hiking taxes during a recession, or just as the economy attempts to get back on its feet, would be a clear policy mistake. One reason is the income tax hike would hit the state’s largest job creators – small businesses – the hardest.

Small businesses are responsible for 60% of the net job creation in Illinois and are the businesses most at risk from the economic fallout of COVID-19. Changing to a progressive income tax in Illinois could mean a massive tax hike for these businesses and create marginal income tax rates in excess of 50% when all state and federal income taxes are included. Research has shown an increase in the top marginal tax rate is associated with a decrease in hiring activity of entrepreneurs and lower wages for their employees.

When considering all of the layers of income taxes Illinoisans face, small businesses – who pay taxes as individuals – could be left paying 50.3% of their top-end income in taxes. Total marginal income tax rates would range from 31.6% to 50.3% thanks to federal income tax, Social Security tax, Medicare tax, state income tax, and Illinois’ Personal Property Replacement Tax.

The increase in the state income tax from the current flat rate of 4.95%, to up to 7.99% under the progressive income tax, would mean that some small businesses would face a state income tax hike 5 times larger than big businesses.

While the total corporate income tax rate – including the Personal Property Replacement Tax – will be hiked by 10% (from 9.5% to 10.49% when including the replacement tax), the tax hike for pass-throughs could be up to 47% (6.45% to 9.49% when including the replacement tax).

Research from April showed fewer than half of all U.S. small businesses expected to re-open this year if the crisis lasted more than four months. For the small businesses that do manage to survive, the last thing their owners and employees need is a tax hike to crush them while they’re attempting to get back on their feet.

Small businesses such as S-corps, partnerships, LLCs, and sole proprietors make up a large majority of business establishments in Illinois, representing 71% of all private for-profit businesses, totaling more than 210,000 establishments. These small businesses also employed nearly half of Illinois’ private for-profit workforce prior to the COVID-19 downturn, or more than 2.3 million Illinoisans.

Contrary to the governor’s claims, a progressive income tax hike is the exact opposite of what Illinois lawmakers should be doing in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis.

Nearly 700,000 Illinoisans remain out of work as a result of the pandemic. That is after the first year on record in which Illinois lost private-sector jobs amid a national boom.

Imposing marginal tax rates exceeding 50% for Illinois’ largest job creators during the current economic crisis would be a painful mistake.


Originally published by Illinois Policy on October 8, 2020. Published by permission.


Photo of the Day - October 12, 2020


Lucas Gones carries the ball for SJO

SJO piles on the TD

St. Joseph-Ogden's Lucas Gones races to the end zone on a long punt return on October 17, 2009. The senior was tripped up short of the TD but scored later in the home game on a pass from quarterback Blake Hoveln. The victory also clinched SJO's 19th consecutive playoff appearance with their 41-7 win Saturday afternoon.

(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)


Village sewer rate increase goes into effect in St. Joseph

At the beginning of this month a scheduled sewer rate increase went into effect for the Village of St. Joseph. The new rates will be reflected on residents' upcoming November billing.

Village of St. Joseph news
The schedule rate increase, approved in April 2019 by the St. Joseph Board of Trustees and put on hold due COVID-19 pandemic, will pay for upgrades as the aging plant nears its maximum operating capacity according to a release from the village.

The 15-year plan created last year is a detailed road map to ensure costs, operating expenses and plant capital maintenance needs are met to keep pace with the community's growth. The plan included incrementally increasing rates, which will be determined annually by the board, on a yearly basis rather of one or more large jump in monthly fees.

While the increase will impact low volume users minimally, heavy users will see likely see a noticeable change on their statements.

The new rate, starting on October 1, is $17.50, up from $15.00, for the first two units. Each additional unit used will be billed at at $1.75 more then the previous amount of $5.25 at $7.00 each.


Unity takes 2nd at conference meet, SJO girls 5th

Unity's Taylor Joop runs at 2019 state meet
Unity's Taylor Joop runs the first lap around the course at the 2019 IHSA cross country state meet. Joop finished in 9th place at Saturday's Illini Prairie Conference meet in St. Joseph.

Photo: PhotoNews Media


Fourteen area long distance runners competed in this year's Illini Prairie Conference meet held Saturday at the Woodard Family Park and Sports Complex. By the time trodden grassy surface settled, the Unity girls cross country squad learned of their second place team finish via 45 points tallied in the team competition. Ninety-six points behind them, host St. Joseph-Ogden finished in fifth place with 136.

Individually, Rockets' Erica Woodard paced all area runners around the course closing out her race in 18 minutes, 18 seconds for a fourth place overall finish. Nearly a minute later, teammates Caelyn Kleparski (8th) and Taylor Joop (9th) crossed the finish line at 19:12 and 19:15, respectively.

Ava Knap let the Spartan contingent finishing the 3-mile course with a time of 20:19.21. She was followed over the line by Helene Jones and Chloe Burkholter to round SJO's top three finishers. Jones finished two spots behind Knap in 23rd place overall. Meanwhile, Burkholter ended her run 30th out of 56 runners on Saturday.

This year's meet champion was Monticello with 29 points. Olympia won third place honors with a score of 90 points.

Illini Prairie Conference meet results:

4Erica Woodard Unity18:18.00
8 Caelyn Kleparski Unity19:12.99
9 Taylor Joop Unity19:15.09
11 Elizabeth Hulick Unity19:26.23
13 Olivia Shike Unity19:38.08
16 Malla Fairbanks Unity19:55.97
20 Ava Knap SJO20:19.21
22 Helene Jones SJO20:28.93
26 Audrey Remole Unity20:45.34
29 Chloe Burkholter SJO20:58.85
31 Malorie Sarnecki SJO21:03.39
34 Kailyn Ingram SJO21:11.77
35 Addie Allen SJO21:22.56
39 Ashlyn Lannert SJO21:49.06


Village Administrator job on St. Joseph board agenda

The Village of St. Joseph moves one step closer to hiring a Village Administrator. A proposal from the Finance, Personnel, and Economic Development department will ask the board to approve a job description and new ordinance for the position of Village Administrator at Tuesday's board meeting.

The Village Administrator would be responsible for day-to-day operation of village services, keep track of financial health and capital projects, assist in zoning enforcement as well as ensuring permit fees are collected.

"The way we do things now, we are far from being efficient," said Tami Fruhling-Voges, Village President/Mayor. "The Village should be ran like a business."

She said the Village Administrator is needed to help her and the trustees with research and policy recommendations. The person in the new position would also actively apply for state and federal grants.

"It will truly be a benefit to the community."

According to agenda for Tuesday, Mayor Fruhling-Voges will present a new Village Public Works calendar and announce the recipient of the St. Joseph's first Employee Appreciation Award. She will also unveil a Halloween Proclamation as well as tax levy comparisons and late distributions from the County Treasurer's Office.

The board will also hear and vote to approve an audit report from Feller & Kuester CPAs LLP, receive an updated from the recent Sewer Committee meeting and an update on the Linden Street retention pond.

If you have something that you want to bring up at the Village Board Meeting but do not want to attend, residents are encouraged to email the information to tasmetzer@gmail.com. Your email should include your full name, address and phone number.

If you would like to attend the meeting in person, please use the side door which enters directly into the Village Board room. It will be the only door available for entry. Visitors may address the Board /Committee on subjects listed and not listed on the agenda during the Public Comment portion of the meeting. Speakers will must state their name and address for the meeting records. Masks and social distancing will be observed.

You can find the October 13 agenda here.


Photo of the Day - October 11, 2020


St. Joseph-Ogden volleyball players celebrate a point against STM

SJO upsets Sabers, 2-1

(left to right) Lindsey Aden, Kennedi Burnett, Rylee Stahl, Kenly Taylor and Payton Vallee celebrate a point for St. Joseph-Ogden in their Illini Prairie Conference road match at St. Thomas More in October 2018. After dropping the first set 25-22, the Spartans rallied back to take the last two for the victory, 25-21 and 26-24.

(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)


Photo of the Day - October 10, 2020

Jacob Shaw kicks the ball
Spartans unable to answer Manteno challenge

Jacob Shaw kicks the ball down the field in St. Joseph-Ogden's home game against Manteno in 2018. The Spartans fell 4-0 in the non-conference match. Other members of the team that season included Logan Ingram, Justyn Frisby, Cailer Kellenberger, Sophia Martlage, Jared Emmert, Zac Seeley, Tyler Sullivan, Bryce Froeschl, Jordan Kelly, Brayden Grimsey, Kolton Batty, Joshua Baldner, Nathan Emmert, Luke Cohen, Seth Wedig, Cade Hausman, Joel Branson and Mason Behrens.


Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
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Halloween parade, trunk-or-treat set for Tolono

The Tolono Fun Day group will host a Halloween parade starting at 3pm in Tolono on October 31. Open to walkers as well as to decorated floats, vehicles, tractors and golf cars, the parade will start at East Side Park and wind through town to West Side Park.

Participants are asked to line-up for the parade starting at 2:45pm at East Side. 


Tolono Halloween parade map
Parade route for the Tolono Halloween parade



"This is our first year doing anything like this," said Brian Booher, one of seven members of the group running the Halloween event. "We’re really not sure what our turnout will look like. It’s peaked the interest of some local businesses this time, too."

Booher, who lives in Tolono and graduated from Unity High School, said past participation in similar events has been modest, but with the parade open various vehicles, he is hoping for more participation and a decent size crowd along the route.

Our past golf cart parades we got around 20 carts," he said.  "With this parade also being open to vehicle, bike, and walkers, we hope to get a little bit larger turnout."

Once the procession reaches its destination at West Side Park, there will be a Trunk-or-Treat event for kids to enjoy.

"Trunk-or-Treat is where folks will decorate their car trunks or back of golf cart with some Halloween decorations and hand out candy to the kids," Booher said. "I personally have never participated or seen one before, but I’m told it’s fun."


Photo of the Day - October 9, 2020

Two-sport athlete Ryan Barnes
Barnes, Spartan hoops off to a good start
St. Joseph-Ogden's Ryan Barnes tries to make a save on ball headed out of bounds with a pass under the basket on the baseline. Barnes and the Spartans knocked off the Rockets 54-37 in their early season game on December 6, 2005, to earn their second win of the season. The two teams met again later in the season at the Rocket Center in Tolono on February 17 in their two-game series.
 
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks



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