The Sentinel

Illinois LICA awards three high school seniors with college scholarships

Amid a competitive pool of applicants statewide, three individuals emerged as the distinguished recipients of $1,500 scholarships.

GALVA - Demonstrating a steadfast commitment to fostering educational pursuits among its members and their families, Illinois LICA proudly announced the recipients of its inaugural scholarship program for 2025. Amid a competitive pool of applicants statewide, the selection committee faced the formidable task of choosing from a multitude of exceptional candidates. After meticulous deliberation, three individuals emerged as the distinguished recipients of $1,500 scholarships.

Paige Kocher of Flat Rock, IL, currently a junior at the University of Evansville pursuing Biology, garnered recognition for her exemplary academic achievements. Paige, daughter of Jeff & Holly Kocher and granddaughter of Norm & Mary Jane Kocher, has consistently earned Dean’s List honors throughout her academic career. Her dedication to the field of medicine and forensic pathology is evidenced by her practical experience as a lab phlebotomist across multiple hospitals and her involvement in local autopsies alongside coroners. Beyond academics, Paige is an active volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House, Ark Children’s Crisis Center, Mesker Zoo, and the Arthritis Foundation.

Isabella Bunting, a senior at Dwight Township High School hailing from Emington, IL, embodies a multifaceted approach to leadership and academic excellence. Maintaining a stellar 4.045 GPA, Isabella has excelled in various sports and extracurricular activities, including volleyball, basketball, and track and field. Her leadership roles extend to serving as class President, President of the Dwight FFA Chapter, President of the Tractor Wheels 4-H Club, and Co-President of the Spanish Club. Isabella plans to commence her higher education journey at Joliet Junior College, with aspirations to contribute to the agricultural sector by bridging gaps between producers and consumers.

Briley McDowell, a senior at Hardin County High School from Elizabethtown, IL, distinguished herself with an outstanding academic record. Maintaining an impressive 5.42 GPA while dual-enrolled in high school and college credit courses, Briley’s commitment to excellence extends beyond academics to include active participation in volleyball, basketball, and leadership roles within the FFA. Inspired by her personal journey overcoming a sports injury, Briley plans to pursue Biomedical Sciences at Southern Illinois University and subsequently attend Physician’s Assistant school, focusing on orthopedic medicine.

Illinois LICA expressed profound pride in supporting these exceptional scholars in their educational pursuits. The recipients’ passion and dedication resonate deeply with the association’s core values, promising a bright future of accomplishments and contributions.

Illinois LICA is a not-for-profit trade association dedicated to the professional conservation of soil & water resources. For over 65 years, ILICA has been providing contractors construction & conservation education, business & legislative resources, and industry discounts. For more information about Illinois LICA and its commitment to fostering educational excellence, visit www.illica.net.

Unpaid toll text scams on the rise in Wisconsin and Illinois

Anyone with concerns about being scammed can reach out to the Wisconsin DMV or Illinois toll services directly.

by Judith Ruiz-Branch
Wisconsin News Connection

MILWAUKEE - Scam text messages impersonating the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and toll authorities are on the rise, despite the fact Wisconsin does not have toll roads.

The texts claim you have unpaid tolls and threaten extra fees and fines if not paid promptly. They include links to pay the fees and can also list a phone number to call.

Courtney Anclam, senior program specialist for AARP Wisconsin, said she's received about 10 of the texts in the past month. She noted they originally appeared to be from numbers in states like Connecticut or New York but are now mimicking the Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles, showing an increased level of sophistication.

"They're harvesting credit card information and then using your credit card to go buy whatever other things they want," Anclam explained. "It's really important to not click on any of the links, don't call any of the phone numbers. Doesn't matter how official it looks."

Anclam added even though Wisconsin does not have toll roads, neighboring states like Illinois do. Anyone with concerns about being scammed can reach out to the Wisconsin DMV or Illinois toll services directly.

Anclam recently started including toll text scams in her outreach presentations across the state, pointing out most people in the audience have received them. She added while most of them delete, ignore, or mark the messages as spam, they often don't report them to official agencies like the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

"There might not be a huge number indicating that we've gotten thousands of reports," Anclam acknowledged. "But we know that thousands of these text messages are being sent because people are telling us, I got two of these, I got five of these, whatever it may be."

Anclam stressed the need to continue discussing the scams to raise awareness, saying they have grown more believable and intimidating.

"I think there's a common misconception that older people are more likely to be the victim of a scam, which is not true when we look at data from the Federal Trade Commission," Anclam observed. "Actually, younger people are reporting losing money to fraud more often than older people."

DATCP said they are receiving many more inquiries and complaints about scam text messages and encouraged anyone who receives one to report it.

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