Flash Newspaper

08/23/2025

https://theflashonline.com/site/village-of-stockton-58/

VILLAGE OF STOCKTON

REGULAR MEETING OF THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES • JULY 8TH, 2025

Call to Order:

President Kappes called the meeting to order on July 8th, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. and asked the Clerk to call the roll.

Members in Attendance:

Trustees present: Terry McGovern, Linda Gonnerman, Carol Rowe, Mark Heidenreich, Daniel Kunz

Staff present: Village President Mitchell Kappes, Stefanie Hatley, Steve Rice, Leslie Hawley, Brenda Baczek, Richard Strain

Present via Zoom: Gayle Lingle

Absent: Marisa Kappes

Approval of Agenda:

A motion was made by McGovern and seconded by Rowe to approve the agenda. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.

Approval of Minutes:

President Kappes asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes of the regular board meeting on June 10th, 2025. Kunz moved and Heidenreich seconded to approve the minutes as presented. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.

Treasurers Reports:

President Kappes asked for approval of the Treasurers Report as submitted by Brenda Baczek. A motion was made by Gonnerman and seconded by McGovern to approve the Treasurers report as submitted. Voting aye: Gonnerman, Kunz, McGovern, Rowe, Heidenreich. Absent: Kappes. Motion carried.

Accounts Payable:

President Kappes asked for approval of the Accounts Payable Claims, List B, and any Additional Bills. Village Clerk Hatley asked permission to include eight (8) additional invoices totaling $16,585.89. A motion was made by Gonnerman and seconded by Kunz to authorize the Accounts Payable Claims, List B, and Additional Bills. Voting aye: McGovern, Rowe, Heidenreich, Gonnerman, Kunz. Absent: Kappes. Motion carried.

Police:

A motion was made by McGovern and seconded by Heidenreich to approve the Police Report for the month as submitted by Chief Strain. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.

Water & Sewer:

A motion was made by Heidenreich and seconded by Kunz to approve the Water Report as submitted by Steve Rice and the Sewer Report as submitted by Aaron Sullivan for the month. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.

Street:

A motion was made by Kunz and seconded by Gonnerman to approve the Street Department Activity Report for the month as submitted by Rob Sigafus. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.

Public Comments: None

Status Reports: None

Water, Sewer & Garbage:

IEPA Loan Request #31

Trustee Gonnerman stated that we received the IEPA Loan 17-5997 WWTF Phase 2 Loan Request #31 in the amount of $317,131.56 including Williams Brothers Construction Invoice #30, MSA RPR Services Invoice #26, and MSA Post Construction/Operational Services Invoice. A motion was made by Gonnerman and seconded by McGovern to approve Loan Request #31 in the amount of $317,131.56. Voting aye: McGovern, Rowe, Heidenreich, Gonnerman, Kunz. Absent: Kappes. Motion carried.

Economic Development:

Ordinance No. 790 -An Ordinance Approving a BDD Economic Incentive Agreement by and between the Village of Stockton and Alison Storey (100 N. Main St.)

A motion was made by Kunz and seconded by Rowe to pass Ordinance No. 790 approving a BDD Economic Incentive Agreement between the Village of Stockton and Alison Storey located at 100 N. Main St. Voting aye: Rowe, Heidenreich, Gonnerman, Kunz. Absent: Kappes. Abstain: McGovern. Motion carried.

Ordinance No. 791 - An Ordinance Approving a TIF Redevelopment Agreement by and between the Village of Stockton and Alison Storey (100 N. Main St.)

A motion was made by Heidenreich and seconded by Kunz to pass Ordinance No. 791 approving a TIF Redevelopment Agreement between the Village of Stockton and Alison Storey located at 100 N. Main St. Voting aye: Heidenreich, Gonnerman, Kunz, Rowe. Absent: Kappes. Abstain: McGovern. Motion carried.

Resolution No. 25-16 - A Resolution of the Village of Stockton, Jo Daviess County, Illinois, Authorizing the Reimbursement of TIF Redevelopment Project Costs (320 E. North Ave.)

A motion was made by Kunz and seconded by Rowe to adopt Resolution No. 25-16 to Authorize the Reimbursement of TIF Redevelopment Project Costs for Buckhorn Saloon, 320 E. North Ave. Voting aye: Heidenreich, Gonnerman, Kunz, Rowe. Absent: Kappes. Abstain: McGovern. Motion carried.

Police: No Report

Streets, Sidewalks, Forestry, Building & Grounds: No Report

Finance & Purchasing: No Report

Personnel:

A motion was made by Kunz and seconded by McGovern to approve the pay increase as discussed for Brice Doubler. Voting aye: Gonnerman, Kunz, McGovern, Rowe, Heidenreich. Absent: Kappes. Motion carried.

A motion was made by Kunz and seconded by Heidenreich to approve the pay increase as discussed for Blake Altfillisch. Voting aye: Kunz, McGovern, Rowe, Heidenreich, Gonnerman. Absent: Kappes. Motion carried.

A motion was made by Kunz and seconded by Heidenreich to approve the pay increase as discussed for Rob Sigafus. Voting aye: McGovern, Rowe, Heidenreich, Gonnennan, Kunz. Absent: Kappes. Motion carried.

A motion was made by Kunz and seconded by Gonnerman to approve the pay increase as discussed for Amy Haas. Voting aye: Gonnerman, Kunz, McGovern, Rowe, Heidenreich. Absent: Kappes. Motion carried.

Old Business: None

New Business:

Resolution No. 25-14 - Illinois America 250 Commemoration

Clerk Hatley stated that this resolution shows support for Illinois America 250 commemorating the 250th anniversary (July 4th, 2026) of when the Second Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence. A motion was made by Rowe and seconded by McGovern to adopt Resolution 25-14 in support of the Illinois America 250 Commemoration. Voting Aye: Kunz, McGovern, Rowe, Heidenreich, Gonnerman. Absent: Kappes. Motion carried.

Resolution No. 25-15- Executive Minutes for Public Inspection

A motion was made by Gonnerman and seconded by Heidenreich to adopt Resolution No. 25-15 to not release the executive minutes for January thru June 2025. Voting aye: Heidenreich, Gonnerman, Kunz, McGovern, Rowe. Absent: Kappes. Motion carried.

Part Time Police Officer

A motion was made by Heidenreich and seconded by Kunz to hire Caleb Stines as a part time police officer. Voting aye: Gonnerman, Kunz, McGovern, Rowe, Heidenreich. Absent: Kappes. Motion carried.

Announcements:

Chief Strain thanked everyone who helped out with traffic control for the 4th of July fireworks.

Adjournment:

A motion was made by McGovern and seconded by Kunz that the meeting be adjourned at 7:24 p.m. All members present voting aye. Motion carried.

08/23/2025

08/23/2025

https://theflashonline.com/site/wells-earns-eagle-scout-badge/

WELLS EARNS EAGLE SCOUT BADGE

GALENA, IL - Quinlan Wells, of Galena, was recently awarded the Eagle Scout badge at the Eagle Scout Court of Honor at the ARC in Galena. In attendance were about 50 Scout leaders, fellow scouts and friends and family.

Quinlan, a recent Galena High School graduate, plans to attend Drake University in Des Moines, Iowas, this fall, majoring in medical science.

Quin’s Eagle project consisted of constructing a series of wood duck houses along the northern stretch of the Galena River Trail.

Photo Provided

Quinlan Wells, of Galena, received his Eagle Award in the presence of his grandfather, Jim Berberet, and brother Owen Wells, also an Eagle Scout. Berberet is also a member of the board of directors of the Blackhawk Area Scout Council.

Photo Provided

Pictured (left to right) are mother Sheila Wells, brother Owen Wells (also an Eagle Scout), Quinlan, father Dr. Michael Wells, and sister Ayden Wells.

08/23/2025

https://theflashonline.com/site/state-education-board-to-vote-on-new-test-scoring-system/

STATE EDUCATION BOARD TO VOTE

ON NEW TEST SCORING SYSTEM

BY PETER HANCOCK • CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS • [email protected]

SPRINGFIELD, IL - Education officials in Illinois expect to see a marked increase this year in the percentage of students classified as proficient in reading, writing and math, along with a slight decline in proficiency rates in science.

That’s not because of any change in the way schools are teaching or how well students are learning, but rather a change in the way the state reports scores on the annual assessments students are given in those core subjects.

During a media briefing Tuesday, State Superintendent of Education Tony Sanders said the new scoring system has been in development for about 18 months. Pending final approval by the State Board of Education, which is scheduled to vote Wednesday, the new grading system will be used in the 2025 report card that is due to be released this fall and will reflect scores from the tests students took this spring.

For years, those scores have been reported on the annual Illinois Report Card, which tells the public how students are performing overall, and which groups of students are falling behind. The scores are also used to hold schools accountable for improving student performance and bringing all demographic groups, including the most disadvantaged, up to proficiency.

But state officials have also complained for years that the way scores have been reported – and especially how scores are categorized as above or below the proficiency level – do not accurately reflect how well students are doing.

For example, recent report cards have shown that about two-thirds of Illinois high school graduates go on to enroll in a two- or four-year college within 12 months of graduation. But scores from the state assessments given each spring show fewer than half of them perform at grade level in English language arts, and even fewer are classified as proficient in math.

“Put simply, as currently designed, our proficiency rates do not reflect the reality of student progress,” Sanders said. “They’re misaligned with what it actually means to succeed in college and career.”

The inaccurate picture results from what are known as “cut scores” that divide students into different performance categories, Sanders said.

Federal law requires states to administer assessments and to report publicly how students are performing on those tests. But states are given great latitude in deciding where to draw the dividing lines between proficient and nonproficient, Sanders said. For many years, Illinois has had some of the most rigorous proficiency standards in the nation.

The consequences of that kind of scoring system go beyond merely unflattering report cards that show low percentages of students performing at grade level, he said. It also results in schools being unfairly labeled as needing interventions to improve their performance, and students themselves being inaccurately labeled as not on track for college or a career.

Proposed new system

Under the proposed new system, student scores will be divided into four performance categories: below proficient, approaching proficient, proficient, and above proficient. And a new system of cut scores will be used to separate students into those four categories.

The new scoring system will apply to the Illinois Assessment of Readiness, which covers English language arts and math in grades 3 through 8, as well as the Illinois Science Assessment, which is given to students in grades 5 and 8. It will also be used for the ACT exams, which will be used starting this year as the state assessment for students in 11th grade.

Sanders emphasized that because the state is establishing new performance categories and using new cut scores to define those categories, it will not be possible to compare proficiency rates under the new system with those of prior years.

“Proficiency rates in Illinois have been trending up, but on the 2025 report card, we will not be able to tell the magnitude of year-over-year improvement based on our proficiency data because 2025 sets a new baseline,” he said.

Instead, Sanders said, officials will compare future results with prior years using a metric called the Student Growth Percentile, which uses raw test scores to measure how much students have learned in a given year relative to their peers.

Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.

08/23/2025

https://theflashonline.com/site/governors-sale-of-champions-invests-in-future-agricultural-leaders/

GOVERNOR'S SALE OF CHAMPIONS INVESTS

IN FUTURE AGRICULTURAL LEADERS

SPRINGFIELD, IL - The annual Governor's Sale of Champions at the Illinois State Fair spotlighted the state's top youth livestock exhibitors Tuesday evening, auctioning off animals that earned the title of Grand Champion, the highest accolade for livestock exhibited in Illinois.

For the sixth year in a row, Governor J.B. Pritzker and First Lady MK Pritzker purchased the Grand Champion Steer. Their $105,000 contribution secured the top prize-winning animal, which will be donated to Feeding Illinois and distributed to food banks throughout the state to support families in need.

“Earning the title of Grand Champion is the pinnacle of excellence in livestock exhibition,” said Jerry Costello II, Director, Illinois Department of Agriculture. “Reaching this level means countless hours of hard work and sacrifice. To see our youth in agriculture recognized for the effort that they put into these animals is beyond gratifying.”

Grand Champion exhibitors, along with the Reserve Grand Champion exhibitors, will receive a portion of the proceeds from the sale of their animal. The exhibitors use the funds towards their college education or invest it back into projects for next year.

In addition to purchasing the Grand Champion Barrow, CME Group contributed $50,000 to the 2025 Governor’s Sale of Champions which fund scholarships, each worth $5,000.

Below are the results of the 2025 Commodity Auction and the 2025 Sale of Champions. They are listed by Commodity, Exhibitor, Location, Purchaser and Price.

Champion Chihuahua Cheese

V&V Supremo Foods

Chicago, Illinois

U of I College of ACES

$1,000

Champion 2% Chocolate Milk

Hoffmann Oberweis Dairy

North Aurora, Illinois

McDonalds –

Marty & Donna Davis

$650

Champion 40% Heavy

Whipping Cream

Prairie Farms

Rockford, Illinois

McDonalds –

Marty & Donna Davis

$300

Champion Vanilla Ice Cream

Prairie State Ice Cream

Chicago, Illinois

Ray Jacobs Family

$300

Champion Vanilla Non-

Homogenized Whole Milk

Yogurt

Deerland Dairy

Freeport, Illinois

McDonalds –

Marty & Donna Davis

$225

Champion Bacon

Jones Meat & Locker

Jacksonville, Illinois

Turner Farms

$850

Champion Bone-In Ham

Eickman's Processing Co. Inc.

Seward, Illinois

Illinois Manufacturers Association

$1,600

Champion Beef Jerky

Jones Meat & Locker

Jacksonville, Illinois

George Obernagel, Obernagel Family Farms & Joe Hampton

$900

Champion Snack Sticks

Main Street Meat Co.

Roscoe, Illinois

Cory Craig Auctioneer

$1,025

Champion Cooked Bratwurst

Behrmann Meat & Processing

Albers, Illinois

Brian Engelmann, Weeke Sales and Service

$1,800

Illinois State Fair Wine Show Champion

Blue Sky Vineyard

Makanda, Illinois

Mollett Auction Services

$925

Grand Champion Honey

Steven Hinrichs

Rochester, Illinois

Pour Farm Apiary

$600

Grand Champion Dairy

Goat Milk

Lillian Lee

Glenarm, Illinois

Kevin Carey, Assistant Dean & Director, U of I Extension

$900

Grand Champion Rabbit

Market Pen

Conner Robinson

Morgan County

AgriVest Farm Management; Field Level Agriculture; Edward Teefey & Farmers State Bank of Mt. Sterling; and Prairie Land FS

$5,500

Grand Champion Poultry

Meat Pen

Austin Ater

Champaign County

McDonalds – Marty & Donna Davis; Illinois Farm Bureau; Champaign County Farm Bureau; Bellflower Seeds

$8,500*

Land of Lincoln Supreme Champion Dairy Cow

Owen Halpin

Iroquois County

Friends of Owen Halpin

$18,000*

Land of Lincoln Grand

Champion Meat Goat

Kadie Hummel

Kankakee County

Springfield Plastics; Illinois State Fair SkyRide; Kiebro Farms;

Cardinal Cattle; BL Duke

Recycling; Chad McClintock

$6,800

Grand Champion Meat Goat

Maddox Horner

Jasper County

George Obernagel, Obernagel Family Farms

$8,000

Land of Lincoln Grand

Champion Market Lamb

Olive Ryan

Christian County

Rich DeSchepper & Eric Faugust; Syngenta; West Central Farm Supply; Channel; J O Harris Equipment; Beck’s Hybrids;

Cardinal Cattle

$7,500

Grand Champion Market Lamb

Bryce Clayton

Scott County

North American Midway

$8,500

Land of Lincoln Grand

Champion Barrow

Ashley Wiegand

Woodford County

Beck’s Hybrid – Sonny &

Scott Beck

$20,000

Grand Champion Barrow

Emma Rhoads

DeKalb County

CME Group

$25,000

Land of Lincoln Grand

Champion Steer

John Lukach

LaSalle County

BRANDT; Case IH; Friends of John Lukach

$70,000*

Grand Champion Steer

Kadie Hummel

Kankakee County

Governor JB Pritzker and First Lady MK Pritzker

$105,000

08/23/2025

https://theflashonline.com/site/edward-jones-financial-advisor-ashlie-stoddard-123/

Edward Jones Financial Advisor,

Ashlie Stoddard

DOES THE 4% RULE STILL MAKE SENSE?

You may have heard of the “4% rule” when it comes to retirement. After you retire, you withdraw 4% of your retirement savings each year.

The truth is, the 4% rule should be viewed as a guide — not as a strict rule. For example, the rule is based on retiring at age 65. If you retire earlier, you may want a lower withdrawal rate.

Your lifestyle also matters. Are you planning to travel the world or spend more time at home?

Consider inflation as well. A well-built strategy usually includes small annual increases in withdrawals. But you don’t need to take a raise just because the calendar says so.

So, stay flexible and revisit your plan of withdrawals regularly. That will give you the best shot at a secure, fulfilling retirement.

This content was provided by Edward Jones for use by Ashlie Stoddard, your Edward Jones financial advisor at 115 North Main Street Elizabeth, Illinois 61028. 815-858-3386.

08/22/2025

https://theflashonline.com/site/incidentally-248/

INCI*DENTAL*LY

DENTAL CARE DOESN’T END WITH DENTURES

By Dr. Stephen Petras, DMD • An Illinois Licensed General Dentist

Many people mistakenly believe that once they have lost all their teeth, they no longer need to see a dentist. This misconception can lead to a number of health complications. As stated in previous columns, oral health and overall health are interconnected. Maintaining oral health involves taking care of more than just your teeth. It requires caring for all intraoral structures (gums, jawbone, tongue, oropharynx) as well as supporting your nutrition and overall health. If you wear dentures, you need to schedule regular preventive care appointments so the dentist can make sure that the dentures don’t need to be adjusted, and the oral cavity is healthy.

To understand why your perfect-fitting dentures become loose and ill-fitting over time, you first need to understand the role your natural teeth played in preserving your bone. Like all living tissues, the bone tissues your teeth are rooted in go through a continuous growth cycle, with older bone cells dying and being resorbed and new bone cells being formed to take their place. When we chew with our natural teeth, the forces generated from the roots stimulate this growth cycle. When someone loses their teeth, traditional dentures can replace their smile, but not this stimulus. Over time, this leads to both bone and tissue loss. Regular dental check-ups allow your dentist to evaluate and intervene to prevent tissue damage, inflammation, infections, and jaw strain and/or pain.

Denture stomatitis is one of the most common conditions affecting denture wearers. Research studies have shown that this fungal infection affects up to 70% of denture wearers. There are several factors that can result in the development of denture stomatitis. Some of the most common causes include wearing your dentures for prolonged periods of time (such as while you sleep) and poor oral hygiene. While wearing your dentures during the day protects your jawbone, keeping them in at night accelerates bone loss in the jaw. In addition, plaque accumulates more quickly on your dentures and tongue when you leave your dentures in your mouth at night. Removing your dentures at night also gives your gum tissues a chance to rest.

To maintain your oral and overall health, it is imperative to properly care for your dentures, tongue, and gums. Even when you no longer have teeth your oral cavity contains the bacteria that can cause gum disease. Remove your denture to rinse your mouth out frequently and gently brush your gums, tongue and the roof of your mouth twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. This is especially important at night when your mouth produces less saliva.

When not being worn, dentures should always be placed in lukewarm or cool water. This keeps them moist, which helps them keep their shape. Some people think that boiling water will “get them cleaner” but this will only damage or change the shape of your denture. Even if you can still place it, a denture that does not fit properly will irritate your gums leading to sores and infection. Use a soft-bristled or denture brush to clean your denture. Do not brush your dentures with regular toothpaste, as this can alter their integrity. Use denture-specific cleaning solutions to soak overnight. Water will not disinfect dentures and bacteria can accumulate leading to a buildup of plaque on your dentures. This will not only lead to bad breath but increases your risk for periodontal disease and other oral infections. Do not soak your dentures for more than twelve hours as this can also warp or alter the fit of your denture. Always rinse dentures thoroughly before putting them back in your mouth, especially if they were placed in a denture-soaking solution.

While conventional dentures offer a solution for missing teeth, over time the people who wear them often experience discomfort from mouth sores, difficulty when they speak, and disappointment in the increasing list of foods they can no longer chew. Pain, rocking, and clicking often lead to unhealthy eating habits and nutritional deficiencies, which can increase your risk for systemic diseases like diabetes, heart failure, and high blood pressure. Just like with your car, routine maintenance helps address small problems before they become serious issues.

Even though you no longer have teeth, visit your dentist regularly so he/she can evaluate the proper fit and function of your denture, the integrity of the denture itself, evaluate the oral tissues, including bone loss in the jaw, stomatitis, oral diseases, and cancer. Your dentist will also review daily oral hygiene and denture care, clean and polish your denture to prevent microorganisms from contaminating your appliance, check your bite and reline or make any necessary adjustments to your denture.

08/22/2025

https://theflashonline.com/site/illinois-unemployment-rate-holds-steady-payroll-jobs-nearly-unchanged-in-july/

ILLINOIS UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HOLDS STEADY,

PAYROLL JOBS NEARLY UNCHANGED IN JULY

SPRINGFIELD, IL - The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that total nonfarm payrolls were nearly unchanged over-the-month in July, down -2,500 (0.0%) to 6,165,600. The June monthly change in payrolls was revised from the preliminary report, from +9,400 to +2,300.

The industry sectors with the largest over-the-month jobs increases included: Construction (+2,900), Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+1,700), and Private Education and Health Services (+1,100). The industry sectors with the largest monthly payroll jobs decreases included: Professional and Business Services (-3,500), Government (-2,900), and Leisure and Hospitality (-1,200).

Compared to a year ago, total nonfarm payroll jobs increased by +20,300 jobs. The industry groups with the largest jobs increases included: Private Education and Health Services (+17,400), Government (+7,900), and Information (+3,900). The industry groups with jobs decreases included: Professional and Business Services (-11,000), Manufacturing (-5,400), and Trade, Transportation and Utilities (-1,700). In July, total nonfarm payrolls were up +0.3 percent over-the-year in Illinois and up +1.0 percent in the nation.

The unemployment rate was 4.6 percent in July, unchanged from the previous month, based on preliminary data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The revised June unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.6 percent. The July payroll jobs estimate and unemployment rate reflect activity for the week including the 12th.

“The continued stability in Illinois’ unemployment rate and labor market highlights the strength of our state’s workforce, said Deputy Governor Andy Manar. “Through strategic investment and strong partnerships, we remain focused on expanding opportunities and supporting long-term economic growth across all communities.”

“The continued stability in Illinois’ unemployment rate and payroll numbers reflects the strength of our state’s economy,” said DCEO Director Kristin Richards. “As we build on this steady progress, DCEO remains committed to supporting job creation and retention for businesses across Illinois.”

The number of unemployed workers was 300,700, down -2.1% from the prior month, and down -11.1 percent over the same month one year ago. The labor force decreased (-0.2%) over-the-month and was down -0.6% over-the-year. The unemployment rate identifies those individuals who are out of work and seeking employment. An individual who exhausts or is ineligible for benefits is still reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seek work.

IDES helps connect jobseekers to employers who are hiring in a number of ways, including hosting and co-hosting job fairs and hiring events with statewide workforce partners, and through maintaining Illinois JobLink (IJL), the state’s largest job search engine. IJL is a tool used by jobseekers to look for work, and by employers who can post open and available positions for hire and browse resumes. Recently, IJL showed 63,551 posted resumes with 66,426 jobs available. Additionally, in partnership with IDOL and DCEO, IDES published resources to assist federal employees and contractors impacted by recent terminations or deferred resignations.

• Monthly 1976-2024 seasonally adjusted labor force data for Illinois, and all other states, have been revised as required by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The monthly historical revisions to state labor force estimates reflect new national benchmark controls, state working-age population controls, outlier specifications, seasonal factors, as well as updated total nonfarm jobs and unemployment benefits claims inputs. Illinois labor force data were also smoothed to eliminate large monthly changes as a result of volatility in the monthly Current Population Survey (CPS) and national benchmarking. For these reasons, the comments and tables citing unemployment rates in previous news releases/materials may no longer be valid.

• Monthly seasonally adjusted unemployment rates for Illinois and the Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg Metropolitan Division are available here.

• Monthly 2020-2024 seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment data for Illinois have been revised. To control for potential survey error, the estimates are benchmarked annually to universal counts derived primarily from unemployment insurance tax reports.

• Not seasonally adjusted jobs data with industry detail are available here. “Other Services” include activities in three broad categories: personal and laundry; repair and maintenance; and religious, grant making, civic and professional organizations. Seasonally adjusted data for subsectors within industries are not available.

About the Department of

Employment Security

The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) provides vital employment services to Illinois workers, jobseekers, and employers with resources including Job Fairs, IllinoisJobLink.com, and Workshare IL, analyzes and disseminates actionable Labor Market Information, and administers the Unemployment Insurance Program. To see the full range of services provided by IDES, and for the latest news concerning the department, visit IDES.Illinois.gov.

08/22/2025

https://theflashonline.com/site/the-2025-heroes-for-history-stair-challenge/

THE 2025 HEROES FOR

HISTORY STAIR CHALLENGE

GALENA, IL - In 2016, 15 years after the devastating destruction of the Twin Towers in New York City, the Galena/Jo Daviess Historical Society hosted the first Heroes for History Stair Challenge. The event included the one lap fun run/walk and seven lap (fun for some!) run and 150 stair climb. The race was a team effort of the Historical Society Event Committee and began a fun annual celebration of honoring our nation and area First Responders.

Galena EMS, The Galena Police Department, Galena Fire Department and the Jo Daviess County Sheriff's Office have volunteered to host this year's event, a first for the collective agencies. In addition to the run/walk, this year the committee has organized a family friendly event held at the Green Street Square. That One Place Bean, The Wired Rabbit and Udderly Delicious Ice Cream will be on hand for food and beverage. The Galena Generals, The Jo Daviess Sheriff Mounted Patrol Unit, Jo Daviess Sheriff K9 and First Responder trucks and equipment will be available to say hello and answer questions. We invite you to join us in remembering the people who responded to the events of 911, those who survived, those who perished and meet your local First Responders.

Join us for the run and or events beginning September 13th, at 8:00 a.m. at the Green Street Square with the run beginning at 9:00 a.m. Sign up using the QR Code or at https://runsignup.com/Race/IL/Galena/Galena5kStairChallenge