Photo of the Day - November 11, 2020

Jack Cook earns all-tournament recognition in 2018

Cook receives all-tournament nod

St. Joseph-Ogden senior Jack Cook steps forward to receive Toyota of Danville All-Tournament player award in 2018 from Justin Franzen. Moments earlier the Spartans fell 66-37 to the Timberwolves of Cissna Park in the holiday tournament's title game. The starting forward scored 10 of the SJO program's total scoring output.

(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

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Winter sports season on the table at IHSA meeting today

The Illinois High School Association Board of Directors will meet in a special session today at 1pm today to discuss the upcoming winter sports season.

On October 28 the IHSA agreed to go forward with the 2020-21 basketball season starting on November 26 as originally planned in August of this year. They told their member schools and the public it was up to the individual school to allow their basketball teams to participate during the pandemic as long as programs followed the guidelines developed by the IHSA Sport Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC).

One day later, Governor JB Pritzker put the breaks on the 2020-21 basketball season as well all other planned prep winter sports, including wrestling, dance and cheer competition. Anticipating a rise in the state's Coronavirus metrics, Governor Pritzker said those sports would have to be moved to the spring season.

"It is difficult to forecast if it will produce any official action, or (if it) will just be (a) discussion," Matt Troha, Assistant Executive Director at the IHSA wrote in an email to the media this morning. "Regardless, it is my hope to email a recap out by around 3pm."

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Former Unity player earns 6th volleyball conference award

Abby Maxwell smiles after a point for the Rockets
Rockets' Abby Maxwell flashes a huge smile during the Unity volleyball team's home match against Rantoul on September 29, 2016. Now a setter at Truett McConnell University in Cleveland, GA, the collegiate standout earned her sixth conference recognition award this week. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)
2017 Unity graduate Abby Maxwell was named Appalachian Athletic Conference Setter of the Week for the sixth time this season.

Now a senior at Truett McConnell University, she is the first TMU athlete has received an AAC weekly award six times in a single season.

Maxwell ranks first in total assists (485), which ranks 15th nationally, and second in most assists per set (9.9), which ranks 12th nationally. She also ranks ninth in total digs in the AAC with 197 and now holds the AAC single game high for most assists and digs in a match, 57 and 40, respectively. She has made over 1,000 digs during her collegiate career. Of the 14 matches played this season, Maxwell has recorded a double-double in all but three.

She also is 32 assists shy of reaching the 3,000th career assists mark.

In high school, Maxwell earned all-conference honors in both volleyball and basketball.

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All this is crazy; let's vote earlier

By Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator


2020 will be remembered for more than we what to remember including the painful November 3 election. Our country was already suffering from the pandemic and all its spin-off problems.

Unemployment, business closings, demise of the travel industry, struggling houses of worship, massive national depression to name a few of the problems. However, great news Pfizer has come up with a vaccine that has been 90% effective in preliminary trials. At this writing this is great news with the stock market on the verge of setting an all-time high. This vaccine has the potential to bring this country out of the house and back to work, school, church, and more.

We also need a vaccine to get us over this election. Most Americans would gladly take a shot in the butt to relieve this pain in the neck election we have just endured or, enduring?

Whoever heard of an election going on for days? Some of the states are still counting. The media has called the election for the states but some states have not verified the vote totals. This is insane.

Most of the states got it right on November 3. They counted the votes that made it to the post office on November 3. No one knows when a letter will show up when mailed on November 3. The letter could show up November 4 or November 10 or later.

Regardless of how you feel about the outcome of the election states like Nevada, Michigan, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, North Carolina and Arizona did our country a disservice. Even if you are happy about Joe Biden being elected, surely you aren't happy about the long delay in counting the votes.

For many weeks we have been hearing about swing states that would be allowed more days in getting their mail ballots back to count. But the changes did what everyone knew would happen and that was delay the reporting of election results with the possibility of court fights later.

In North Carolina, the State Board of Elections said ballots postmarked by Election Day would count as long as officials received them within nine days after the election. Nine days!

In Wisconsin, a federal judge similarly ruled that ballots postmarked by Election Day would count as long as officials had them in hand within six days after Nov. 3. A Michigan state judge ruled that absentee ballots postmarked by Nov. 3 would be counted if they arrived up to two weeks after Election Day.

All this is crazy.

Go to the courthouse to verify your voter registration. Receive your one ballot obtained only by showing your identification. Put your ballot in the mail in plenty of time to arrive by November 3. It only takes some planning.

Better yet go early and vote and forget the mail if at all possible. Between now and the next election we have to come up with a federal election policy that requires counting the votes received by election day and not ten days or two weeks later.

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Dr. Glenn Mollette is a syndicated American columnist and author of American Issues, Every American Has An Opinion and ten other books. He is read in all 50 states. The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization.

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This article is the sole opinions of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of PhotoNews Media. We welcome comments and views from our readers.


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County records 4 Covid-19 deaths, state could see another stay-at-home order

While the state's positivity numbers continue to grow at a record pace for the fourth straight day, the number of active Coronavirus cases in our area have shrunk from a high of 53 on Sunday, November 1, to 27 as of today.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 12,623 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in Illinois, including 79 additional deaths. Four of the 79 individuals who passed away were from Champaign County.

The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District announced the four COVID-19 deaths included a female in her 70s, two males in their 80s and one 90-year-old male. The county death toll is now at 37.

Yesterday, Governor J.B. Pritzker hinted that a statewide stay-at-home order is back on the table after ruling it out four days earlier as the state wrestles with bringing the recent COVID-19 surge under control. While he did not specify a time or trigger during his press briefing, it is likely

"I'm not looking at the broader mitigation of stay-at-home as something I would do in the coming days or week, but I can't guarantee you what it looks like two weeks from now or three weeks from now - I just don't know," he said on November 6.

Yesterday, his message was more apprehensive saying that another stay-at-home order could be issued if the state's metrics continue to rise. He made it clear it was something he wants to avoid, but may be unavoidable given the rising tide of the infectious virus nationwide.

"As I've told you, for days, you know, we are looking at really all the possibilities - the possibility that we would have to go back a phase, the possibility that we would have to ultimately have a stay-at-home order - those are not things that I prefer to do. But those are things that these numbers are not sustainable."

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Winners named in The Sentinel Halloween photo contest

There were cute ones, there were silly ones and scary ones. We received 42 entries for The Sentinel's first-ever Halloween photo contest.

First off, a special thank you to Blondies for their generous donation to help make this contest possible.

Second, The Sentinel would like to thank everyone who entered the contest. You made it a difficult challenge selecting our top three winners which is why it took so long to make today's announcement. It was so difficult that The Sentinel made a witching hour decision to add one new category!

With so many cute baby and toddler photos, we created a separate catergory for those entries. We selected two runner-up photos and winner, each will receive a $25 Sentinel gift certificate good toward the purchase of a Signature Announcement. The winner of the Best Picture award will receive a $50 Sentinel gift certificate.

Runner-up for the Toddler category

Right: Hannah, the Narwhal, age 6 months from St. Joseph - - - Left: Little Pumpkin

Best Picture in the toddler category

Maddox, age 3, and Carter, age 1, dressed as Harry Dunne and Lloyd Christmas from Dumb and Dumber.

Finalists for the best costume of 2020

3rd Place
$25 Sentinel Gift Certificate
Briley, age 6, from Muncie, IL, vampire

2nd Place
$50 Sentinel Gift Certificate
Kai, age 11 from Mooresville, NC, Covid-19 Cell

1st Place
$75 Gift Card to Blondies
Emily (left) & Emma (right), both 15 years old and St. Joseph, portray the twins from Stephen King’s The Shining

Best handmade costume of 2020

$25 Sentinel Gift Certificate
Little Sully

See all of this year's entries here:
2020 Halloween Costume Photo Contest Gallery
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Photo of the Day - November 6, 2020

Dukeman, Spartans dribble by STM
St. Joseph-Ogden's Hannah Dukeman brings the ball down the floor in her team's road game against St. Thomas More on December 17, 2018. Dukeman contributed four points in the Spartans' 58-43 conference win. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)
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Money Matters: Three businesses that would be great to have in St. Joseph

by Jake Pence, Guest Columnist

As St. Joseph and small towns across the country face stagnation (lack of growth) it is important that they prioritize their local economy.

St. Joseph is a desirable place to live for many reasons. We have a great school system, small town values, a low crime rate, proximity to jobs and everyday necessities, the best El Toro in Champaign County and numerous local businesses. I could go on and on. However, if population growth isn’t a desired outcome then population retention is pivotal to the long-term livelihood of the community.

What’s the best way to improve the desirability and longevity of a small town? Create a thriving local economy that isn’t too dependent upon one industry.

That said, this article is dedicated to three businesses I believe would improve resident retention and add a welcomed vitality to the local economy in St. Joseph.

BUSINESS IDEA #1:
BBQ & Craft Beer Restaurant
Location: East of Jack Flash

Yes, we already have a great selection of restaurants in St. Joseph and this is by no means a knock against any of them. I thoroughly enjoy a burrito loco from El Toro, the frisco melt from Roch’s and anything on the menu at The Wheelhouse. I’ve also eaten my fair share of China King, Padano's, Scratch, Subway, Monical's, and Dairy Queen over the years.

Despite all of these options, what we're missing is delicious portions of pulled pork, beef brisket, burnt ends, cornbread, potato salad, coleslaw, and craft beer.

To scratch that itch, residents of St. Joseph and surrounding communities have to drive to Urbana or Champaign.

Have you heard of Burgers & Beer in Gibson City? How about Gross’ Burgers in Westville? I’m guessing you have heard of one if not both. What do those restaurants have in common? First, when my family drives past them we stop and eat. Second, they are demand drivers for their local economy.

I firmly believe that a BBQ and beer focused restaurant would develop into a staple of the St. Joseph food scene and drive demand to the rest of the local economy. For proof of concept, visit Edley’s next time you’re down in Nashville, TN.

BUSINESS IDEA #2:
Boutique Assisted Living Facility and Memory Care Center
Location: Southwest of the middle school or a new residential development

Based on the recent traffic I’ve seen at my proposed location, this could very well be in the works.

Why do most people live in St. Joseph? They grew up here and this is where their family lives; therefore, we should prioritize the health, housing, and livelihood of all residents from newborns to great grandparents.

One of the hottest trends in real estate is assisted living facilities because the baby boomer generation is approaching the age where this assistance may be necessary. Additionally, Alzheimer’s rates are rising and quality memory care facilities are becoming more important than ever.

The addition of a boutique assisted living facility and memory care center to the community would be ideal to provide a much needed service to the older generations of St. Joseph. Instead of having to drive to Champaign, Urbana or to other facilities in the surrounding area, families and caretakers could make a five minute drive across town to check-in and visit loved ones.

For proof of concept, check out my colleague Loe Hornbuckle at Sage Oak Assisted Living based in Texas - https://thesageoak.com/.

BUSINESS IDEA #3:
Home Remodeling General Contractor
Location: Vacant lot on 2nd Street south of the Kickapoo Rail Trail or your garage

How many of you have completed a home remodeling project during COVID-19? My guess is 50% of the people reading this article have done one or more improvements to their home. How many of you ENJOYED the process of completing your home remodeling project? I’m going to say 10% - and if you’re in that 10% then pay close attention.

In my opinion, St. Joseph has a housing situation that is bottle-necked by supply and demand issues. That has resulted in the village not experiencing the population growth many once thought it would thanks to stagnation. If we aren’t going to develop new housing – a topic for another day, then we must continue to revitalize and renovate the current housing supply.

There are already businesses in town that do this and do it well – a shoutout to Roger Beals - but these businesses are always booked out weeks, sometimes months in advance. There is a shortage in supply and a surplus in demand for contractors; therefore, there is an opportunity for a new company to balance out the market with a much needed service.

With minimal overhead costs, diligent customer service, and an active social media presence, I don’t think it would take long to create a thriving business with many opportunities to expand into nearby markets.

All of these businesses will take a certain level of industry specific knowledge and access to capital to start, but that can be acquired through partnerships, research, and over time. Entrepreneurship isn’t about reinventing the wheel or coming up with a Shark Tank-esque idea. It is about finding opportunities in the marketplace and taking action to meet an unfulfilled demand.

As an investor and entrepreneur, I am personally very interested in exploring all three ideas. There may be others in your circle who feel the same way. Start a conversation. Discuss the possibilities and the opportunities. Quite frankly, I think conversations about entrepreneurship and taking calculated risks aren’t talked about enough in our community, yet we are home to some of the brightest minds and hardest workers in the area.

It is time to make entrepreneurship a priority in St. Joseph. So let’s get to it!

About the author:
• Jake Pence is the President of Blue Chip Real Estate and a consultant for Fairlawn Capital, Inc.. A 2019 graduate from the Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois, he is a 2016 graduate from St. Joseph-Ogden High School where he was a three-sport athlete for the Spartans. You can view his latest acquisitions and advice on his YouTube channel here.
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Photo of the Day - November 5, 2020

Rocket dancers roll into championship round at state

Members of the Rockettes perform at the Illinois High School Association's Competitive State Dance Finals in January. The Unity dance squad advanced to Saturday's trophy round after turning in a score 81.94 to be one of the top 12 teams to advance to the finals. The only Illini Prairie Conference program to reach day 2 of competition, Unity finished in 12th place on February 1.

(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

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St. Joseph-Ogden announces 1st quarter Honor Roll

St. Joseph-Ogden High School Honor Roll
Today, St. Joseph-Ogden High School announced its first quarter Honor Roll. One hundred and fifty-seven students earned High Honor Roll recognition for their academic efforts in the first quarter of the 2020-21 school year. The junior class led the way with 43 students who secured GPA above 3.74.

Despite the challenges of hybrid schooling, 239 students started the fall semester with a grade point average of 3.25 or higher on the school's 4.0 scale.

High Honor Roll

Freshmen

Sophomores

Juniors

Senior

Honor Roll

Freshmen

Sophomores

Juniors

Seniors

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Spartan cross country team places 2nd, Unity comes in 4th

Carson Maroon, Charlie Mabry and Brandon Mattsey finished within six seconds of each other to lift the St. Joseph-Ogden boys cross country team to a second place finish at the St. Teresa Sectional last Saturday. For Spartan harriers finised in the top 20.

Maroon, SJO's top finisher, crossed over in 12th place at 16:31. Mabry and Mattsey finished with a .1 of second split 14th and 15th. Meanwhile, not far behind Logan Wolferberger's 19th place in 16 minutes, 43.6 seconds helped the team pull away from Monticello, who finished in third place. Six runners later, Elijah Mock rounded out St. Joseph-Ogden's top five finishers to tabulate a total of 82 points.

Unity finished in fourth place behind fellow Illini Prairie Conference Monticello with 120 points. Led by senior Connor O'Donnell, the Rockets' squad crossed 11-17-21-47-49 after running their second consecutive weekend at Hickory Point Golf Course in Maroa.

O'Donnell's ran the three-mile course in 16 minutes, 28.8 seconds good for an 11th place finish. Twelve second later, teammate Ben Gavel finished at 16:40.3 as the 17th finisher of the Class 1A boys race. Thomas Cler rounded out the effort of Unity's top three runners nearly a minute later at 17:37.9.

Both the Spartans and Rockets would have advanced to the next race hosted by the Illinois High School Association this weekend under normal circumstances. Due to the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic, the IHSA canceled this year's race making sectional titles will be the highest honors for cross country during the current academic season.

2020 St. Teresa Sectional Results -
11. Connor O'Donnell (Unity) 16:28.8, 12. Carson Maroon (SJO) 16:31.0, 14. Charlie Mabry (SJO) 16:37.0, 15. Brandon Mattsey (SJO) 16:37.1, 17. Ben Gavel (Unity) 16:40.3, 19. Logan Wolfersberger (SJO) 16:43.6, 21. Jarrett Cox (Unity) 16:44.9, 25. Elijah Mock (SJO) 16:56.6, 40. Luke Stegall (SJO) 17:29.8, 44. Spencer Wilson (SJO) 17:34.2, 47. Thomas Cler (Unity) 17:37.9, 49. Clayton Jamison (Unity) 17:39.3, 103. Bryson Denny (Unity) 19:43.9.
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Photo of the Day - November 4, 2020

St. Joseph-Ogden Maroon Platoon

Home field advantage

Students in the Maroon Platoon cheer for the St. Joseph-Ogden football team during the final minutes of their home opener on August 28, 2017, against St. Thomas More. The fans had over 50 good reasons to celebrate as the Spartans rolled to a 54-7 win over the visiting Sabers from Champaign.

(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

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Photo of the Day - November 3, 2020

SJO's Dana Peters safe at home plate

SJO wins softball invite

Spartan Dana Peters looks over her shoulder after beating a tag at home plate in her team's tournament game against Schlarman High School. SJO plated two more additional runs on the play thanks to errors by the Hilltoppers to win the tournament title back on May 9, 2009.

(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

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Photo of the Day - November 2, 2020

Josh Dees

Running in the rain

With less than 100 yards to go on a rain-soaked track, St. Joseph-Ogden's Josh Dees stay ahead of Tremont's Park Thompson as they approach the finish line in heat one of the 800-Meter run at the Illinois High School Association Boys Track & Field State Finals in 2009. Thompson overtook at the finish line to finish .29 of a second ahead of the SJO senior who clocked in at 1:58.81. Both runners qualified for Saturday's Class 1A championship race. Dees went on to finish seventh for the Spartans in the event.

(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

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We need to look for the sun

By Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator


The Sun is shining today and will rise tomorrow. For more years than we know the Sun has followed this same pattern.

The rising Sun is a good pattern for all of us. We know each day we can count on the Sun. Somedays the Sun is hidden by clouds but it's there. Too often we forget to notice the Sun. Often it feels too hot or we wish it would warm up. We are never completely satisfied with the job the Sun does. Too hot, not hot enough. Too bright. Through all of our life's discontents with the Sun's performance, the Sun keeps performing. Throughout my lifetime I don't know of a day that the Sun has let me down. It just keeps on glowing regardless of the day or world events.

I remember the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. His death was one of the darkest days I can remember as a child but the Sun never ceased to shine.

When Americans came home from Vietnam in boxes and thousands of funerals were held around the country, we mourned but the Sun kept shining.

I've buried a wife and a baby and it seems like looking back that for a period of time I doubt that I even noticed the Sun was shining. Often life's traumas block the Sun from our eyes even if we are starring right into its rays.

Millions of Americans are unhappy with the election, and some aspects of American life. We don't like Covid-19, unemployment nor the unrest that is all over our country. We sadly have become alienated from good people who have different opinions than we do and this is tragic.

Today we need to look for the Sun.

The Sun is not political. The Sun shines on the Democrats and the Republicans. The Sun shines on sinners and the righteous. The Sun takes care of the planet providing our warmth, growth and our very lives. We take the Sun for granted. So often we don't even pay attention to all the Sun does and provides. However, we need the Sun. We do hear about the importance of clean water and air but are you grateful for the good air and water that you do have?

Take time to notice the Sun today. A clear day or a cloudy day will find the Sun shining. Another day of life means another day to enjoy all that God has created and made. I've never known a day of life without the Sun. I've never known a day that I couldn't find good people with whom to talk. I've never experienced a day that I didn't feel there were people to love and people who cared about me.

God has provided the Sun and as long as our creator wants it to shine it's going to shine. Today, let the Sun shine on you.

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Dr. Glenn Mollette is a syndicated American columnist and author of American Issues, Every American Has An Opinion and ten other books. He is read in all 50 states. The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization.

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This article is the sole opinions of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of PhotoNews Media. We welcome comments and views from our readers.


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Photo of the Day - November 1, 2020

Ben Knipfer throws a pitch

Knipfer stretches his wings

Ben Knipfer winds up for a pitch in the St. Joseph-Ogden baseball team's home game against Schlarman on May 9, 2009. The Hilltoppers knock off the host Spartans 6-3 to win the third place game at the Spartan Baseball Invite. Earlier in the day, SJO lost to Tuscola 4-1 in the tournament opener while Schlarman lost to Driscoll Catholic 10-1 in their first game of the day.

(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

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Rockets runner-up at sectional cross-country meet, SJO finishes 5th

The top five places at Saturday's IHSA sectional cross country meet in Forsyth was dominated by the Illini Prairie Conference.

The Unity girls cross country team tallied 69 points for a second-place finish at yesterday's sectional cross country meet at Hickory Point Golf Course on Saturday. The St. Joseph-Ogden contingent placed 5th with 150 points. Monticello won the sectional title scoring 51 points.

It took the Rockets' Erica Woodard, who was The Sentinel area's top finisher, 38 seconds longer to complete the course she ran seven days earlier. The freshman standout crossed the finish line sixth place at 18:59.9. Meanwhile, senior Taylor Joop, the second Unity runner to finish, turned in a nearly identical time to last week's regional run at 19:18.5. Woodard was sixth overall and Joop was the 11 runner to end her prep cross country career.

Rounding out the Rocket's top three was another frosh harrier, Caelyn Kleparski, who circumvented the course in 19 minutes, 24.8 seconds good for 13th place.

The Spartans' top three finishers crossed in the same order as they did on their previous journey around the familiar course.

Junior Ava Knap led SJO's effort clocking in at 19:37.3 with only a four second difference between this and the previous weekend's performance. She finished 19th out the field of 117 runners.

Helene Jones (19:49.7) and Chloe Burkhalter (20:25.2) finished in 23rd and 36th place, respectively, for the Spartans.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic there will be no IHSA state meet this season.

2020 St. Teresa Sectional Results -
6. Erica Woodard (Unity) 18:59.9, 11. Taylor Joop (Unity) 19:18.5, 13. Caelyn Kleparski (Unity) 19:24.8, 19. Ava Knap (St. Joseph-Ogden) 19:37.3, 21. Olivia Shike (Unity) 19:44.6, 23. Helene Jones (St. Joseph-Ogden) 19:49.7, 27. Elizabeth Hulick (Unity) 20:06.3, 28. Malia Fairbanks (Unity) 20:07.3, 29. Briana Ritchie (Unity) 20:10.8, 36. Chloe Burkhalter (St. Joseph-Ogden) 20:25.2, 38. Malorie Sarnecki (St. Joseph-Ogden) 20:32.2, 51. Kailyn Ingram (St. Joseph-Ogden) 20:53.5, 65. Ashlyn Lannert (St. Joseph-Ogden) 21:35.9, 70. Addie Allen (St. Joseph-Ogden) 21:47.1.

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Small businesses could end up pay more with new "fair" taxing plan

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.

Progressive income tax hike could be nearly 5 times higher for small businesses than large

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.

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Photo of the Day - October 31, 2020

Drew Coursey's last football game

Tough exit for Spartans

Senior Drew Coursey hugs teammate Crayton Burnett after the Spartans first-round loss Williamsville on November 2, 2019. The Bullets, who went on win the IHSA Class 3A title, eliminated SJO from the postseason by away of a 54-26 season-ending loss.

(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

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One step back, Champaign County joins the rest of the state in Coronavirus resurgence mitigation

On Friday, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced resurgence mitigations would go into effect in Region 6 - which includes Champaign, Clark, Clay, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Dewitt, Douglas, Edgar, Effingham, Fayette, Ford, Iroquois, Jasper, Lawrence, Macon, Moultrie, Piatt, Richland, Shelby and Vermillion counties - starting 12:01 a.m. on Monday, November 2.

The 21-county region recorded a 7-day rolling average test positivity rate of 8 percent or above for three consecutive days, which exceeds the thresholds set for establishing mitigation measures under the state’s Restore Illinois Resurgence Plan.

In order to get back to Phase 4 and back to having indoor dining, the region will need a positivity rate of less than 6.5 percent for three straight days. If that rate stays above 8 percent for 14 days, then the region will face even more restrictions.

While Champaign county, if you ignore the University of Illinois' testing efforts, boast a 7-day positivity of 5.7, six counties are flaunting double-digit numbers. Coles county is currently at 11, Effingham 11.2, Macon 13.7, Douglas 14.9, Shelby 15.9 and Cumberland 26.1.

The resurgence mitigation restrictions target bars and restaurant in order to control the spread of the coronavirus. Governor Pritzker has said there are dozens of studies and articles on outbreaks in bars and restaurants to justify reducing the services they provide.

Mitigation measures taking effect November 2 in Region 6 include:

Bars

• No indoor service
• All outside bar service closes at 11:00 p.m.
• All bar patrons should be seated at tables outside
• No ordering, seating, or congregating at bar (bar stools should be removed) 
• Tables should be 6 feet apart 
• No standing or congregating indoors or outdoors while waiting for a table or exiting
• No dancing or standing indoors
• Reservations required for each party
• No seating of multiple parties at one table

Restaurants

• No indoor dining or bar service
• All outdoor dining closes at 11:00 p.m.
• Outside dining tables should be 6 feet apart
• No standing or congregating indoors or outdoors while waiting for a table or exiting
• Reservations required for each party 
• No seating of multiple parties at one table

Meetings, Social Events, Gatherings

• Limit to lesser of 25 guests or 25 percent of overall room capacity
• No party buses
• Gaming and Casinos close at 11:00 p.m., are limited to 25 percent capacity, and follow mitigations for bars and restaurants, if applicable

Two area restaurants, Buford's Pub in Sadorus and Apple Dumplin', just outside the Urbana city limits, informed customers via Facebook that they intend remain open despite the restrictions from the state. Both business saw overwhelming support in both comments and "Likes".

Jeff Buckler, owner of Buford’s Pub told The News-Gazette it wasn’t an easy (decision) to make.

"Let me put it that way. We went through the last one; it was supposed to last two weeks and lasted what, 120 days?" he said. "I’m fighting for every small business out there. I’m just tired of being told what to do when they’re using the bars and restaurants as scapegoats. What about the Walmarts and Targets?"

On a Facebook, a post by Buford's Pub's said, "Its not just about my business its about all small business stand up against a dictator. Bars and (sic) are getting the brunt of this and combined we are less then (sic) 9% of the whole issue."

Meanwhile two days earlier, bars and restaurants in Region 9 received similar news.

A Crystal Lake attorney on Thursday filed a 78-page lawsuit on behalf of 37 McHenry County restaurants, hoping to bring the state’s mitigation plans to a halt and allow owners to continue offering indoor service.

A day later, McHenry County Judge Thomas Meyer denied the application for a temporary restraining order. The Northwest Herald reported he made his decision based on new facts and that mitigation order was not an extension the governor's executive order from last March.

"It was a difficult and unpleasant order to enter," Meyer said in the article. "But I do believe that there is a basis for the new executive order and that is how we end up where we are."

Buckler and Jim Flanigan, owner of the Apple Dumplin', have retained attorney Tom DeVore, who made headlines this summer when he represented state Representative Darren Bailey effort to null the state's mitigation order in a lawsuit and won. It was through DeVore's efforts a Clay County judge declared the Governor’s continuing use of emergency powers as an overstep of his constitutional authority.

The ruling, depending on who you speak with, is only applicable in south central Illinois county where the daily testing positivity is at 14.9 as of the time of this story and pushing a 7-day rolling average of 9.7. An appeal filed by the governor is still pending on the Clay County case.

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