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Serving Bureau County Since 1847
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
17 and voting? By Goldie Currie gcurrie@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON – A new state law now allows 17 year olds to vote in primary elections if they turn 18 by the general election day. Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation last week as part of his agenda to increase participation in democracy and ensure every voice is heard in Illinois, according to a press release issued by Quinn’s office. “Our democracy is strongest when more voters raise their voices at the ballot box,” Quinn stated. Kate Morrow, a recent Princeton High School graduate, said the new law does not make sense. “I understand that it allows the voter to have a choice in who they will be voting for when they’re actually 18, but I also know very few 17 year olds who have the time, interest and patience to put into researching a large panel of candidates for a primary,” she said. Morrow said this new law might be one that does nothing because 17 year olds won’t vote anyway. “But it opens a door for both uninformed and immature voters, which tips the balance of this country’s democratic system,” she said. “I definitely believe that young people should have a say, but ultimately, the voting age is 18, and this just adds a feeling of ‘conditionality’ to the law, which may have wider repercussions.” Although Bureau County Clerk Kami Hieronymus understands Quinn’s concept of letting 17 year olds have a better say in their voting, she strongly believes it won’t make much of a difference in
See 17 year olds Page 4 Year 167 No. 82 One Section - 20 Pages
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How fast is too fast?
Illinois looks at increasing the speed limit By Donna Barker dbarker@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — Motorists on certain Illinois interstates and highways could see higher speed limits in the future. The Illinois Generally Assembly has passed Senate Bill 2356 which would increase speed limits on Illinois’ rural freeways and certain highways from 65 miles per hour to 70 miles per hour. The bill was sent on June 20 to Gov. Pat Quinn’s desk for consideration.
According to the Illinois General Assembly website, the bill would provide the maximum speed limit outside an urban district for any vehicle to be 70 miles per hour on any interstate highway, as well as on all or part of other highways designated by the Illinois Department of Transportation. The affected highways would need to have at least four lanes of traffic and have a separation between the roadways moving in opposite directions. The proposed law does have an opt-out ordinance option for urban counties.
On Monday, Bureau County Sheriff John Thompson said he’s not opposed to the increased speed limit change. When he learned to drive, the speed limit on interstates was 70 miles per hour, and the speed limit on secondary roads was 65 miles per hour. Legislators are just trying to put the speed limit back to where things used to be, the sheriff said. In his opinion, the biggest mistake made by lawmakers was allowing semi trucks to travel at the same speed as the other vehicles, Thompson said.
See Speed limit Page 4
BCR photo/Phyllis Fargher
Pulling for a lot of fun in Walnut Guither’s Tree Service’s tug of war team gives it their all on Saturday during the second annual Dave Guither Tugfest in Walnut — a test of strength and a lot of fun during the village’s annual Walnut Hometown Celebration held during the Fourth of July weekend. See more photos on Page 2.
Summer needs hit food pantry Lanham: A bittersweet endeavor By Donna Barker dbarker@bcrnews.com
SHEFFIELD — Summer months can be a challenge for families because children are home and not receiving their breakfast and lunch at school, according to Mary Lanham, manager of the Western Bureau County Food Pantry. On Monday, Lanham said the local food
pantry is there to help meet some of those summer needs. Actually, the number of people served through the Western Bureau County Food Pantry has stayed fairly steady with about 75 to 80 households served each month. About 55 percent of those households are families with children 18 years and younger. There is also a significant number of elderly people who come for assistance
from the food pantry, Lanham said, and it’s very difficult for them to come and ask for help. There are also unemployed people and underemployed people seeking help. There are also households in which one of the adults has lost his/her job. There are people with no health insurance, and sometimes, a medical need takes the money which would have been used otherwise for food, she said.
See Food pantry Page 4
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