Rum for it! Fundraiser to help United Way

By TOM COLLINS tcollins@shawmedia.com

Want to raise a St. Patrick’s Day toast while helping out local charities?

Then visit the Facebook page for the United Way of the Illinois Valley and buy a bottle of limited-edition gold rum – they’re going fast – from Star Union Spirits.

Star Union Spirits in Peru agreed to partner with the United Way of the Illinois Valley and allocate a portion of sales from a barrel of United Way’s choosing. Board members selected a barrel of American Gold Rum, and 300 bottles were put on sale, ready for pickup at a tasting event starting at 4 p.m. Thursday, March 9, in the Westclox building on Fifth Street in Peru.

“It’ll be a good way for the community to support a fantastic cause,” said Bob Windy, co-owner of Star Union Spirits.

Star Union Spirits, founded in 2016, specialized in wine and brandy before expanding its repertoire of spirits. One of the popular choices is the gold rum, so named because it’s aged in an old whiskey barrel, which increases smoothness, adds to the complexity of flavors and gives it what Windy called “a honey-like, amber look.”

A barrel yields 318 bottles, of which 18 were set aside for sampling at the March 9 event. Thyme Craft Kitchen in Peru, located across the street from Star Union, is preparing appetizers, including recipes that incorporate the gold rum.

“We invite everyone to join us,” said Julie Sloan, executive director of the United Way of the Illinois Valley.

“It’s sure to be a wonderful evening. Come out and enjoy some specially crafted spirits as well as some creative culinary delights.”

The United Way of the Illinois Valley supports the community by raising and administrating funds for local nonprofits that serve individuals and families in need.

The United Way of the Illinois Valley prioritizes funding agencies that foster independence, nurture children, provide basic needs and strengthen families.

• BUDGET

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State Rep. Dennis Tipsword, R-Metamora, said the governor’s plan spends money Illinois doesn’t have. He said all priorities need to be heard and considered in the state budget process this spring by adopting an agreed revenue estimate and then limiting spending accordingly. He also said lawmakers and taxpayers need more access to participate in hearings, and more time to review proposals before they are called before the House for a vote.

“How we plan to spend $50 billion of the taxpayers’ money needs to be open for discussion and public review,” Tipsword said. “Transparency is a must.”

State Rep. Jed Davis, R-Newark, said the people of Illinois pay some of the highest taxes in the nation and he believed the governor’s proposal to be unsustainable.

“President Reagan said it best, ‘The top nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government, and I’m here to help,’” Davis said. “Sadly, Gov. Pritzker is the perfect exemplification of this quote. Year after year, he claims that he wants to help the people of our state, but his policies demonstrate the opposite.”

He said the governor needs to hold himself accountable for spending.

“This budget continues to move us in the wrong direction and will detrimentally harm families and the hardworking people of Illinois,” Davis said.

Freshman lawmaker Bradley Fritts, a Dixon Republican representing the 74th District, joined the chorus of those decrying a 7.9% increase in expenditures when revenue is expected to fall 2.8%, saying it will “further burden the taxpayers in the state.”

But Fritts credited the governor for expanding funding for rural hospitals, especially in light of the closure of St. Margaret’s Hospital in Peru. “Now, some women in my district have to travel over an hour to reach a hospital to give birth safely,” Fritts said. “This is unacceptable, and I commend Gov. Pritzker’s effort to assist the people of our state in accessing health care services.”

IVCC 1 of 9 to earn state recognition for cannibis production course

Shaw Local News Network

With 17 students enrolled, Illinois Valley Community College’s first Advanced Cannabis Production was a success this spring.

IVCC is one of only nine community colleges to earn Illinois Department of Agriculture licensure to operate a cannabis program under the Community College Vocational Pilot Program.

Jennifer Timmers, cannabis instructor and co-coordinator of the agriculture program, said with IDOA industrial hemp growers and processors licenses, IVCC’s program offers students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the Advanced Cannabis Production Lab.

Their work includes growing plants from seed, tissue culturing, and running an HPLC test to analyze cannabinoid levels in industrial hemp. Testing ensures students are working only with hemp plants, not marijuana.

For information, contact Timmers at 815-224-0495 or jennifer_timmers@ ivcc.edu