Photo of the Day - October 14, 2020

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Up & Over

St. Joseph-Ogden pole vaulter Loren Brooks starts over the bar on her way to clearing 8'6" during Thursday's prelims at the 2012 IHSA Track and Field State Finals. Brooks, a sophomore, failed on this attempt but later cleared the bar. She failed to make the qualifying height in order to advance to Saturday's finals.

(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

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St. Joseph resident to send care packages to US troops abroad

Sarah Czerwinski, from St. Joseph, has a heart of gold.

A close friend, Alyssa Artola, deployed with the Urbana-based Illinois National Guard's 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team to the Ukraine in June. Artola and her unit of approximately 165 soldiers are part of a Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine deployed to support U.S. European Command operations.

Their mission is part of ongoing efforts by the U.S. to contribute to Ukraine’s long-term military reform and is provided at the request of the Ukrainian government. Observing a "train-the-trainer" approach, the Urbana based unit along with NATO allies and partners, are in-country to advise and mentor the Armed Forces of Ukraine Observer Controller / Trainers at the Combat Training Center located near Yavoriv.

They will not be involved in conflict operations.

Raised in a military family, Czerwinski, whose father retired at major after 20 years of service in the Army, wanted to send her friend a care package several weeks ago. In a conversation with Artola she learned that troopers "get excited when they get mail", no matter what it is.

"I thought it was sad that people don't get mail," said Czerwinski, who decided not only to send her friend a care package, but one to every trooper in the brigade. "I thought it would be nice, something for them to look forward to."

She hatched a plan to gather as many items and boxes as she could through the month of October and then ship them out in time for to be received on Veteran’s Day.

"I wasn't really sure where to start," Czerwinski admitted. She posted a couple of messages on Facebook asking for donations and was pleasantly surprised by the response. "It's been a wonderful experience so far. The number of people willing to donate has been touching."

A member from the high school student council reached out and after receiving approval from the school administration, boxes will available at St. Joseph-Ogden High School starting this week to collect donated items.

There is also a box at Chris Booth State Farm, where she works, on the corner of Fox and State in Champaign, for donations. Czerwinski has also had people drop off items at her home.

Suggested items include:

Snack bars
Ramen
Seasoning salt
Hot sauces
Flavor packets for water
Energy bars
Beef jerky
Instant rice/Mac-n-cheese
Tea
Coffee
Small toiletries
Shower items
Board games
Playing cards
Pens
Paper

If residents have any extra holiday decorations or working lights lying around, she would love to ship them to the American men and women serving our country.

"They may not have a tree, but the decor and lights would be great," she said.

The cost of shipping a box weighing up to 10 pounds is $20. Czerwinski is also accepting monetary donations to help cover the postal fee. She plans to deliver all the boxes and parcels she can to the post office in St. Joseph on October 30.

For more information on you can help, residents can contact Czerwinski via Facebook or send an email to sendingwithsarah@gmail.com

"I really appreciate all the support from people."

Photo of the Day - October 13, 2020

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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)

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

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:

4	Brandon Mattsey	SJO	16:07.43
8	Charlie Mabry	SJO	16:22.22
9	Carson Maroon	SJO	16:25.25
10	Connor O'Donnell	Unity	16:29.35
11	Jarrett Cox	Unity	16:32.92
16	Benjamin Gravel	Unity	16:54.41
19	Elijah Mock	SJO	17:08.02
20	Luke Stegall	SJO	17:08.73
22	Logan Wolfersberger	SJO	17:16.19
28	Nolan Miller	Unity	17:40.45
31	Thomas Cler	Unity	17:48.72
44	Spencer Wilson	SJO	18:23.18
46	Clayton Jamison	Unity	18:46.65
50	Bryson Denny	Unity	19:33.67

Progressive income tax would put heavy burden on small Illinois business

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by Bryce Hill, Senior Research Analyst
Illinois Policy

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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.

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

Photo of the Day - October 12, 2020

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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.

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 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

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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:

4	Erica Woodard	Unity	18:18.00
8	Caelyn Kleparski	Unity	19:12.99
9	Taylor Joop	Unity	19:15.09
11	Elizabeth Hulick	Unity	19:26.23
13	Olivia Shike	Unity	19:38.08
16	Malla Fairbanks	Unity	19:55.97
20	Ava Knap	SJO	20:19.21
22	Helene Jones	SJO	20:28.93
26	Audrey Remole	Unity	20:45.34
29	Chloe Burkholter	SJO	20:58.85
31	Malorie Sarnecki	SJO	21:03.39
34	Kailyn Ingram	SJO	21:11.77
35	Addie Allen	SJO	21:22.56
39	Ashlyn Lannert	SJO	21:49.06