SBJ 10-01-2010 by The Southern Illinoisan

OCTOBER 2010

STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION Title of Publication: The Southern Business Journal; Publication No. 019988; Date of Filing, October 1, 2010; Frequency of issue: Monthly; No. of Issues Published Annually: 12; Complete Mailing; Address of Known Office of Publication: 710 N. Illinois Ave., Carbondale, IL 62901; Complete Mailing Address of the Headquarters of General Business Offices of the Publisher: 710 N. Illinois Ave., Carbondale, IL 62901; Full Names and Complete Mailing Address of Publisher, Editor: Publisher, Robert M Williams, 710 N. Illinois Ave., Carbondale, IL 62901; Editor, Gary Metro, 710 N. Illinois Ave., Carbondale, IL 62901; OWNER: Southern Illinoisan, Division of Lee Enterprises Inc., Lee Enterprises Inc., 130 E. Second St., Davenport, IA 52801. Shareholders over 1 percent as of August 31, 2010: Betty Adler Schermer, 210 Lake Ave, Aspen, CO 81615; Lloyd G. Schermer, 210 Lake Ave, Aspen, CO 81615; Schermer Investment Partnerships, 10 S. Wacker Dr., 40th Flr, Chicago, IL 60606; Grant E. Schermer, 10455 O’Brien Creek, Missoula, MT 59804; Gregory P. Schermer, 2160 St. Andrews Circle, Bettendorf, IA 52722; Lee Endowment Foundation, c/o First Citizens National Bank, 2601 4th St, Mason City, IA 50402; Cedar Rock Capital Limited, 110 Wigmore St, London W1U 3RW, United Kingdom; California State Teachers Retirement System, 7667 Folsom Blvd., Ste 250, Sacramento, CA 95826; Ariel Capital Management, Inc., 200 E Randolph Dr, Chicago, IL 60601; Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, Palisades West, Building One, 6300 Bee Cave Rd, Austin, TX 78746; Brown Brothers Harriman & Co, 63 Wall St, New York, NY 10005; First Clearing, LLC, 901 E. Byrd St, Richmond, VA 23219; Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717; UBS Financial Services Inc., 1200 Harbor Blvd, Weehawken, NJ 07086; Pershing LLC Securities Corporation, 1 Pershing Plaza, Jersey City, NJ 07399; Raymond, James & Associates, Inc., 880 Carilion Parkway, St. Petersburg, FL 33716; Bank of New York, One Wall St, New York, NY 10286; State Street Bank & Trust Company, 1776 Heritage Dr., Quincy, MA 02171; Northern Trust Company, Processoral C-IN, Chicago, IL 60607; National Financial Services, LLC, 200 Liberty St, New York, NY 10281; JP Morgan Chase Bank, 14201 Dallas Parkway, Dallas, TX 75254; Ameritrade, Inc., 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717; Barclays Global Investors, 980 9th St, 6th Flr, Sacramento, CA 95814; PNC Bank, National Association, 8800 Tinicum Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19153;Citigroup Global Markets Inc., 333 W 34th St, New York, NY 10001; Banc of America Securities LLC., 300 Harmon Meadow Blvd., Secaucus, NJ 07094; E*Trade Clearing LLC, 10951 White Rock Rd., Rancho Cordova, CA 95670; Scottrade Inc., 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717;Scottrade Inc., 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717; Boston Safe Deposit & Trust Co., 525 William Penn Pl., Ste 3418, Pittsburgh, PA 15259; Credit Suisse First Boston LLC, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717; Goldman Sachs & Co., 180 Maiden Ln, New York, NY 10038; Bear Stearns Securities Corp., One Metrotech Center N., 4th Flr, Brooklyn, NY 11201’ Sterne Agee & Leach, Inc., 813 Shades Creek Parkway, Ste 100-B, Birmingham, AL 35209; Wells Fargo Investments, LLC, 608 2nd Ave S., Minneapolis, MN 55402. Known bondholders, mortgage holders and other security holders: Deutsche Bank Trust, 5022 Gate Parkway Bldg 100, New York, NY 10015; AIB Debt Management, 405 Park Ave., Ste 1005, New York, NY 10022; Allied Irish Bank, 405 Park Ave., New York, NY 10022; Archview Credit OPP Fund LP, 70 E 55th St, 14th Flr, New York, NY 10022; Archview Credit OPP MF Ltc., 700 E 55th St, 14th Flr, New York, NY 1002; Associated Bank, 401 E. Kilbourn Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53202; Bank of America, 101 N Tryon St. MS-NC001-15-03, Charlotte, NC 28255; Bank Nova Scotia, One Liberty Plaza 26th Flr., New York, NY 10006; Bank of New York, One Wall St., 16th Flr., New York, NY 10286; Bank of Communications, One Exchange Plaza/55 Broadway 31st Flr., New York, NY 10006; Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ LTC, 69 W. Washington St., Chicago, IL 60602; Bank of West, 281 S. Figueroa Ste 200, Los Angeles, CA 90012; Barclays Bank PLC, 200 Park Ave, Ste 3W, New York, NY 10166; Blue Cross of CA, One Well Point Way, Thousand Oaks, CA; Citibank, Two Penn`s Way Ste 110, New Castle DE 19720; Citigroup Finance Products, Inc, 399 Park Ave, New York, NY 10043; Comerica Bank, 9920 S. LaCienega Blvd.,14th Flr., Inglewood, CA 90301; Credit Suisse Loan Funding LLC, One Madison Ave., 2nd Flr, New York, NY 10010; Debello Investors LLC June 10 fr Goldman, 411 W Putnam Ave, Ste 125 Greenwich, CT 06831;Deutsche Bank AG Cayman Island, 600 Wall St, 3rd Flr., New York, NY 10005; Erste Group Bank AG., 280 Park Ave., New York, NY 10017; Fayett Group LLC, 777 Westchester Ave., Ste 203, White Plains, NY 10604; Fayett Group LLC, 777 Westchester Ave., Ste 203, White Plains, NY 10604; Fortis Bank SA/NV, 520 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10022; Goldman Sachs Lending Partners, 1 New York Plaza, 42 Flr, New York, NY 10004; GPC 76 LLC, Four Greenwich Office Park, Greenwich, CT 06831; HSH Nordbank, Kiel, 230 Park Ave., 31st Flr., New York NY 10169; Institutional Benchmarks Series (Southpaw CR OPP), 4 Greenwich Office Park, #4, Greenwich, CT 06831;JP Morgan Chase NA, One First National Plaza, Chicago, IL 60670; Luxor Capital, LLC, 599 Lexington Ave., 35th Flr., New York NY 10022; Marblegate SP OPP MS FD LP, 150 E 52nd St, 10th Flr, New York, NY 10022; Mega Intl Commercial Bank Co FKA CIAO Tung Bank, One World Financial Ctr., 200 Liberty St., 30th Flr., New York NY 10281; Morgan Stanley Bank, NA, 750 Seventh Ave., 11th Flr., New York, NY 10020; Northern Trust, 50 South LaSalle St., Chicago, IL 60675; Quad City Bank & Trust, 3551 7th St. Ste 101, Moline, IL 61265; RABO, 245 Park Ave, 38TH Flr, New York, NY 10167; Scotiabank, Inc, 600 Peachtree St. N.E. Ste 2700, Atlanta, GA 30338; Southpaw Credit Opportunity Master Fund, 4 Greenwich Office Park, #4, Greenwich, CT 06831; Suntrust Bank Atlanta, 55 Park Pl., Atlanta, GA 30303; UBS AG July 2010 fr Archview-A term only, 677 Washington Blvd, Stamford, CT 06901; United Oversea, UOB Bldg., 592 5th Ave., 48th St., New York, NY 10036; United Overseas Bank Limited, 592 Fifth Ave., 10th Flr, New York, NY 10036; US Bank NA, 601 Second Ave. So. MPFP0512, Minneapolis, MN 55402; Wachovia Bank, N A (Fst Union). 1600 Scotland Ave., Charlotte, NC 28207; Webster Bank, Citi Place II 185 Asylum St., Hartford, CT 06103; Wellpoint Inc, 655 15th St NW, Washington DC 20005;Wells Fargo, 420 Montgomery 9th Flr., San Francisco, CA 94163; West LB, 1211 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036; Whippoorwill Distressed, 11 Martine Ave., 11th Flr, White Plains, NY 10036; Whippoorwill Offshore Dis LTD, 11 Martine Ave, 11th Flr, White Plains, NY 10606; Whippoorwill Profit Sharing, 11 Martine Ave., 11th Flr, White Plains, NY 10606; Wilshire Institutional Master Fund, 4 Greenwich Office Park #4, Greenwich, CT 06831; Wexford Spectrum Investors June 10 fr Goldman A Term, 411 W Putnam Ave., Ste 125 Greenwich, CT 06831; Monarch Alternative Capital LP, 535 Madison Ave., Flr 26, New York, NY 10022; Archview Investment Group, 70 E 55th St, 14th Flr, New York, NY 10022; Marblegate Asset Management, 150 E 52nd St, 10th Flr, New York, Ny 10022; Troob Capital Management, LLC, 777 Westchester Ave., Ste 203, White Plains, NY 10604; Prudential Insurance Company of America, Two Gateway Center, 10th Flr, Newark, NJ 07102; Pruco Life Insurance Company, Two Gate Center, 10th Flr, Newark, NJ 07102; Prudential Annuities Life Assurance, Two Gateway Center, 10th Flr, Newark, NJ 07102; Deutsche Bank Securities, 5022 Gate Parkway, Ste 100, Jacksonville, FL 32256; Ferry Street LLC, Global Corporate Trust-CDO, 1 N LaSalle St, 7th Flr, Chicago, IL 60602; Pacific Life Insurance Company, 700 Newport Center Dr, Newport Beach, CA 92660. Mary Junck. September 2010 15. Extent and nature of circulation. Average no. of copies each issue during proceeding 12 months (8 months as requestor and 4 months as non requestor); Actual number copies of single issue published nearest to filling date; Total number copies (Net Press Run) 4900/4900. B. Legitimate paid and/or requested distribution by mail and outside mail; Paid and/or requested circulation; 1. Outside County paid/requested mail subscriptions; 1266/0. 2. InCounty paid/requested mail subscriptions; 3505/0. 3. Sales through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Non-USPS Paid Distribution 0/0. 4. Requested copies distributed by other classes mail through the USPS; 4763/4761; C. Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation (sum of 15b 1, 2, 3, 4); 9534/4761. D. Non requested distribution by mail and outside the mail; 1. Outside County Non requested copies; 0/0. 2. In County non requested copies; 0/0. 3. Non requested copies distributed through the USPS by other classes of mail; 0/0. 4.Non requested copies distributed outside the mail; pickup stands, trade shows, showrooms and other sources 0/0. E. Total non requested distributions (Sum of 15d (1) (2) (3) and (4); 0/0. F. Total Distribution (Sum of 15c, and 15e); 9534/4761. G. Copies not distributed; 0/0. H. Total (sum of 15f and 15g); 9534/4761. I. Percentage Paid and/or Requested Circulation (15c/f x 100) 100%/100%. I certify that all information on this form is true and complete. Signature and title of Publisher, Robert M Williams, Publisher. October 1, 2010 #00165658

Inside O CTO B E R

YOUR BUSINESS Fear and courage: Columnist Jane Sanders offers perspective this month on fear and courage — and persuasively argues fear and courage are inseparable. If you don’t feel fear, you don’t need courage. Fear is simply a reaction, a physical sensation, to new challenges and changes. Courage is a different commodity. Courage is a decision. You must make a decision to face fear and then step through it to the courage on the other side. Page 6

MONEY MATTERS Storing financial documents: It’s not the best practice to keep financial documents scattered in different locations. There are times when it’s necessary to quickly find bank statements, investment statements, credit card statements, mortgage documents, Social Security benefits statements and tax returns. Columnist Scott McClatchey recommends one central location, perhaps a filing cabinet, storage boxes or stackable storage units. Page 7

EMPLOYMENT LAW Stick to business: There is a big difference between the conversations of an employment interview and those of a cocktail party. The

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employment interview is narrower, more focused. Columnist Ed Renshaw recommends sticking with the three areas that are most important in the interview process — the applicant’s education, work experience and ability to do the specific job being applied for. If you limit your questions to those three areas of interest, it’s hard to ask inappropriate questions. Page 9

INDICATORS Unemployment still growing: There may be encouraging signs elsewhere in the national economy, but joblessness grew in most Southern Illinois counties from June to July, the most recent months for which full data is available. For the region, unemployment edged up 0.1, with the biggest jumps of 1.5 percent in Alexander County and 0.9 in Jefferson and Johnson counties. Elsewhere in the indicators, new vehicle sales fell from June to July across the 18 counties in the region. Pages 12-13

ACHIEVEMENTS Learn the latest: Find out who has been hired, who has been promoted or who has received an award for their efforts in business. If you know of a business or business person who deserves special recognition for advanced training, a unique honor or an expansion of business, please let us know at sbj@thesouthern.com. Pages 18

Contact us The Southern Business Journal is a publication of The Southern Illinoisan. Contact us via mail at 710 N. Illinois Ave., Carbondale, IL, 62901, or at P. O. Box 2108, Carbondale, IL, 62903. Also reach us on the Web at www.sbj.biz and via e-mail at SBJ@thesouthern.com. The Journal is published 12 times per year monthly, and

Publisher: Bob Williams n 618-351-5038 Editor: Gary Metro n 618-351-5033 Advertising: Abby Hatfield n 618-351-5024

mailed to businesses, community development leaders, chambers of commerce members and other professionals in Southern Illinois. Copyright 2010 by The Southern Illinoisan, all rights reserved. A subscription may be obtained by calling 618-529-5454 or 618-997-3356, or by visiting our Web site.

Circulation: Trisha Woodside n 618-351-5035 Database Coordinator: Mark Doman n 618-351-5042

OCTOBER 2010

SOUTHERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

Cover Story For most part, sun shining on agriculture these days BY LES O’DELL SBJ CORRESPONDENT

In era of a national recession, job layoffs and general uncertainty about the American economy, one Southern Illinois sector is prospering. Agriculture, the production of foodstuffs and industries related to that production, has been virtually unscathed by the national economic downturn. “I would say the economic condition of agriculture is pretty sound right now,” says Doug Anderson, manager of White County Farm Bureau. “The agriculture economy doesn’t necessarily coincide with the general economy of the county. The ag economy is a result of different parameters. The price of grain, inputs, interest rates and land prices all are factors that drive the economics of agriculture.”

Agricultural economist Kim Harris of the Department of Agribusiness Economics at Southern Illinois University Carbondale explains that several factors are contributing to the somewhat robust farm economy. “Commodity prices — the revenue farmers receive for their crops — are and have been above the cost of production, sometimes substantially above the cost,” he says. “While the costs of inputs have risen somewhat, they have not gone up dramatically, so we don’t have a really severe profit squeeze.” Harris says that agricultural inputs SEE COVER STORY / PAGE 4 THE SOUTHERN FILE PHOTO

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Agriculture, the production of foodstuffs and industries related to that production, has been virtually unscathed by the national economic downturn.

SOUTHERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

OCTOBER 2010

Cover Story include expenses such as seed, fertilizer, equipment and hired labor. He adds that rural banks, unlike some metropolitan institutions, are on solid financial footing. “Overall, we’re doing well,” he adds. “We’ve not seen many bankruptcies and the farm banks are healthy; we’re not seeing the bank failures that we hear about in the media.” He says one reason for that is that the industry recalls tougher times. “The farm economy had a real crisis back in 1980 through 1983,” he says. “That’s when we had a lot of farmers go bankrupt and many lost their farms. There was something like 350 farm or agriculture banks fail. I think everybody learned from that and the lenders changed their practices, while producers now have much less debt and operate their farms differently.” One factor that distinguishes agriculture from other sectors of the economy is the large number of producers. Harris says there are more than 2 million farms nationwide. He says most farms, nearly two-thirds, are classified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as noncommercial or small commercial operations. “The USDA defines this based on gross farm cash income, with a non-commercial farm having income of less than $10,000 annually,” he says. “Small commercial farms have income of less than $250,000.” Harris says that a majority of these small farms could be called part-time operations or hobby farms. “When you look at the farm, just the farm, is it making money? Probably not,” he says. “In most of these cases, it is likely both the husband and the wife are working off of the farm. The farm is important to them for a variety of reasons, and they’re willing to work off of the farm to supplement the farm or to keep it in the family.” Still, there is a myth of corporate farms. “Everyplace I go, people will express often that corporate America controls agriculture today, but that’s not true,” he says. “Only 2 percent of farms are owned by big business.” However, that does not mean there is an absence of large farms operated as a business. “In terms of production, 12 percent of the nation’s farms produce 84 percent of the gross income,” he says. “Many of these are large, family-incorporated farms with

THE SOUTHERN FILE PHOTO

Leon McClerren of Thompsonville runs a combine at his farm.

outside labor, but there’s not a board of directors.” It is a large family farm that Jordan Ruppert hopes to return to once he completes his agriculture degree at SIUC. For him, the family’s 1,700 acres near Pinckneyville is more than just a career choice; it is a lifestyle. “I plan on going straight back to the farm,” he says. “I’ve always had a high interest in it, and it is what I’ve always wanted to do.” Ruppert approaches farming as both a business and a science. He says he has learned economic techniques and how to apply advanced technology to crop production. “I feel a lot more prepared to farm. I’m learning the importance of good management and precision

agriculture,” he says. Precision agriculture, he explains, involves the use of software to select and apply the proper inputs, such as seed varieties and fertilizer, with pinpoint accuracy. “It saves money and is a lot better for the environment,” he adds. A growing number of young people, including Ruppert, are exploring interests in agriculture. Membership in the National FFA organization, a high school organization for students in agriculture, reached an all-time high this year, smashing a record set in 1977. Locally, Mount Vernon Township High School’s FFA chapter boasts 236 members, says instructor John Kabat. Membership was just 35 in 1985. “We tell these students that agriculture

is huge,” Kabat says. “Farmers produce 10 other jobs. In Southern Illinois, agriculture and coal are the basis for most of our jobs. We can’t let either one of them go.” Kabat says that every year, just one or two graduates plan on-farm careers. Many more look to agriculture-related fields. One reason for the low number of farmers-to-be is simple economics, Farm Bureau’s Anderson says. “Finances are the biggest barrier for entering farming,” he explains. “It is almost impossible for a young person who decides to be a farmer to get into the industry because of the high capital requirement.” Anderson adds that Southern Illinois farmland sells for as much as $5,000 per acre. “When you add that to equipment that

OCTOBER 2010

SOUTHERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

Cover Story runs in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, plus seed and fertilizer, you’re talking about a major investment,” he says. Harris says as many as 10 percent of his students plan on farming, almost without exception, to an operation that has been passed down from generation to generation. He says there are very few first-generation farms, and the farms the students return to are large. “I can hardly think of a scenario where someone breaking into production would be successful without help from a relative,” he explains. “Students are going back to farms where Dad is about to take a junior position and his son or daughter is going to take over the principal operation of the farm. Today, when I ask kids how big is your farm, I hear 3,000 acres, 4,000 acres, or even 6,000 acres.” He adds that like in the general business world, a high number of “Baby Boomer” farmers will be retiring in

coming years, selling their acreage to larger farms or transferring their land to children. “I think nationally, we’re going to see middle-sized farms slowly disappear,” he adds. “Remember, there is an economic advantage to larger farms in that the average cost of production is lower. In other words, you have to produce a lot of output because you get just a small profit on each bushel that you produce. It is a high-volume, narrow-margin type of business.” That is why future producers such as Ruppert plan to take advantage of technology and education, even during good economic times. “I know our farm took three or four generations to get where it is now,” he says. “I want to make the best of what I have.” LES O’DELL of Carbondale writes regularly for The Southern Illinoisan and Southern Business Journal.

Not all agriculture is booming Not all subsectors of the agriculture economy are booming, cautions one local fruit grower. Wayne Sirles, vice president and farm manager for Rendleman Orchards near Alto Pass, says his portion of the industry is tied more closely to the national economy, as a whole, than the corn-soybeans-and-cattle side of agriculture. “I’m affected more by the economy than those who raise agronomic crops,” Sirles says. “They produce more of the staple foods, but if the price of our final product is a little higher than normal, consumers may be less prone to buy it.” He explains that corn, for instance, is an ingredient in many other foods. Apples, on the other hand, are a final product. “My product goes straight from the field to your table,” he says. Sirles says the biggest factor is fuel prices, because transportation costs make up a large portion of the final price of apples, peaches or nectarines. Higherpriced fuels and supplies, along with consumers with less disposable income, have combined to make times tougher on fruit and vegetable producers. “It’s harder to make a living in my business than it was four or five years ago,” he says. “The costs required to raise a crop have increased more than what we get from that crop. It’s more and more challenging each year.” — Les O’Dell

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SOUTHERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

OCTOBER 2010

Your Business Exploring the unexpected connection: Fear and courage BY JANE SANDERS SBJ CONTRIBUTOR

Everyone feels fear. Yes, even the bravest of heroes, even those people who run into burning buildings when everybody else is running out of them. How do they do that? Why Sanders do they have so much more courage? How do they overcome the fear? They don’t. They feel the fear and take action anyway. Business people usually don’t have to run into burning buildings, but they do have fears to face. Here are some thoughts about fear and courage. Everyone has both. The key difference between us and the brave hero is that the hero lets him/herself feel the fear. We, however, let it paralyze us, and we try to wait it out, hoping it will go away. It won’t. Heroes know that if they let themselves feel the fear, and hold onto it just one moment longer, they will push through to the courage on the other side. They take action in spite of the fear. One of my favorite business magazines, Fast Company, printed an article in September 2004 written by John McCain. In that article, McCain wrote one of the best perspectives on courage that I have ever read: “Courage

is the highest quality of life attainable by human beings. It’s the moment, however brief or singular, when we are our complete, best self, when we know with an almost metaphysical certainly that we are right. One thing we can claim with complete confidence is that fear is indispensable to courage that it must always be present for courage to exist. You must be afraid to have courage. Don’t let the sensation of fear convince you that you’re too weak to have courage. Fear is the opportunity for courage, not the proof of cowardice.” There it is. Fear and courage are inseparable. If you don’t feel fear, you don’t need courage. McCain’s last sentence above is one of my favorite quotes ever (not necessarily a reflection of my politics, however). One perspective is that fear is simply a reaction, a physical sensation, to new challenges and changes. Fear has been built into us to protect us. In the early stages of mankind, we needed fear to run away from a saber-tooth tiger or enemy. We need fear to keep us from crossing a busy highway on foot during rush hour. These sensations of fear have kept us alive and still do from time to time. But, these days, most situations that people fear don’t involve lifethreatening issues. They may feel like it though. Perhaps it will help you face your fears by keeping in mind that the fear you feel is merely a physiological response and will not hurt you. It’s your body saying,

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“Look out. Something new and different is happening (or, you need to do something new or different) so be aware!” Another point to remember is that courage is not a gift for a chosen few. It is a decision. We have to make a conscious choice to step up to a situation and let ourselves feel that fear and then step through it to the courage on the other side. Several years ago, while volunteering at a horse ranch to take rides out in Malibu, Calif., a dog attacked the horse I was on and I fell off. I was hurt badly enough to keep me from riding for several months. (I hate to miss riding.) I lost my confidence and was afraid to ride the more difficult horses, which were the ones I always rode before my accident. For months, I chose easier horses to ride, at the same time beating myself up for being chicken. Finally, I got fed up with myself. On the way to the ranch one day, driving my car up Pacific Coast Highway, I said out loud, “I wish I was the rider I used to be!” Something clicked. In that moment, I realized I had been waiting for the fear to just go away, and that it would not be that simple. I realized I had to make the decision to push through it. That very day, I pulled a spooky horse out of the pasture and used him as my trail boss horse for a ride. I told myself I rode him a million times before and I can ride him a million times again, and that

the chances of a dog attacking again were very small. It was wonderful. The truth is I am a different rider after that experience. There’s a lot of courage in ignorance, when you aren’t aware of what can happen. But I am a smarter, more alert rider, not a more timid one. I took action. Action is the most important element of courage. Walk into what you’re afraid of; 99.9 percent of the time, it will not kill you. I’ll take that .1 percent chance. Will you? JANE SANDERS is a speaker, trainer and facilitator in the areas of gender communication, strategic business or work/life planning, presentation skills, authentic leadership confidence, recruiting and retention of women, and selling to women. She also facilitates brainstorming, best practice, and strategic planning sessions and retreats. Her clients include Toyota, MassMutual, Prudential, U.S. Steel, Walgreens, Mayo Clinic and many more. Located in Mount Vernon, she is the creator of the Undercover Confidante service, offering discovery and solutions to challenging employee issues. She is author of “GenderSmart: Solving The Communication Puzzle Between Men and Women,” available on her website. Reach her at 618-204-5540, jane@jane sanders.com or www.janesanders.com.

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OCTOBER 2010

SOUTHERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

Money Matters Keeping financial documents: What should you store in one easily accessible place? BY SCOTT MCCLATCHEY SBJ CONTRIBUTOR

You might be surprised how many people have financial documents scattered all over the house — on the kitchen table, underneath old newspapers, in the hall closet, in the basement. If this McClatchey describes your financial “filing system,” you may have a tough time keeping tabs on your financial life. Organization will help you, your advisers and even your heirs. If you’ve got a meeting scheduled with an accountant, financial consultant, mortgage lender or insurance agent, spare yourself a lastminute scavenger hunt. Take an hour or two to put things in good order. If nothing else, do it for your heirs. When you pass, they will be contending with emotions and won’t want to search through your house for this or that piece of paper. One large file cabinet may suffice. You might prefer a few storage boxes, or stackable units sold at your local big-box retailer. Whatever you choose, here is what should go inside: Investment statements: Organize them by type: IRA statements, 401(k)

statements, mutual fund statements. The annual statements are the ones that really matter; you may decide to forego filing the quarterlies or monthlies. When it comes to your IRA or 401(k), is it wise to retain your Form 8606s (which report nondeductible contributions to traditional IRAs), your Form 5498s (the “Fair Market Value Information” statements that your IRA custodian sends you every May), and your Form 1099-Rs (which report IRA income distributions).1 In addition, you will want to retain any record of your original investment in a fund or a stock. (This will help you determine capital gains or losses. Your annual statement will show you the dividend or capital gains distribution.) Bank statements: If you have any fear of being audited, keep the last three years worth of them on file. You may question whether the paper trail has to be that long, but under certain circumstances (lawsuit, divorce, past debts) it may be wise to keep more than three years of statements on file. Credit card statements: These are less necessary to have around than many people think, but you might want to keep any statements detailing tax-related purchases for up to seven years. Mortgage documents, mortgage statements and HELOC statements: As a rule, keep mortgage statements for the ownership period of the property plus

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seven years. As for your mortgage documents, you may wish to keep them for the ownership period of the property plus 10 years (though your county recorder’s office likely has copies). Annual Social Security benefits statement: Keep the most recent one, as it shows your earnings record from the day you started working. Please note, however, that if you see an error, you will want to have your W-2 or tax return for the particular year on hand to help Social Security correct it. Federal and state tax returns: The IRS wants you to hang onto your returns until the period of limitations runs out, that is, the time frame in which you can claim a credit or refund. The standard IRS audit looks at your past three years of federal tax records. So you need to keep three years of federal (and state) tax records on hand, and up to seven years to be really safe. Tax records pertaining to real property or “real assets” should be kept for as long as you own the asset (and for at least seven years after you sell, exchange or liquidate it). Payroll statements: What if you own a business or are self-employed? Retain your payroll statements for seven years or longer, just in case the IRS comes knocking. Employee benefits statements: Does your company issue these to you annually or quarterly? Keep at least the most recent year-end statement on file.

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Insurances: Life, disability, health, auto, home. You want the policies on file, and you want policy information on hand for the life of the policy plus three years. Medical records and health insurance: The consensus says you should keep these documents around for five years after the surgery or the end of treatment. If you think you can claim medical expenses on your federal return, keep them for seven years. Warranties: You only need them until they expire. When they expire, toss them. Utility bills: Do you need to keep these around for more than a month? No, you really don’t. Check last month’s statement against this month’s, then get rid of last month’s bill. If this seems like too much paper to file, buy a sheet-fed scanner. If you want to get really sophisticated, you can buy one of these and use it to put financial records on your computer. You might want to have the hard copies on file just in case your hard drive and/or your flash drive go awry. SCOTT MCCLATCHEY is a founder and LPL Financial Adviser with Alliance Investment Planning Group, a Carbondale-based investment firm located at 115 S. Washington St. He can be reached at 618-519-9344 or scott@allianceinvestmentplanning.com. Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC.

OCTOBER 2010

SOUTHERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

Employment Law Make sure interview questions are just about the job BY ED RENSHAW SBJ CONTRIBUTOR

Job interviews remain an essential part of the hiring process. While job interviews can be enjoyable for both participants, it is important for the interviewer to remember that the Renshaw conversation in a job interview is not the same as the conversation between two people at a cocktail party. While the purpose of an interview from the employer’s perspective is to learn as much about the applicant as possible, it is important that you request only information that relates to the applicant’s ability to do the job. So, while you might learn at a cocktail party that a person is married, has three children, suffers from diabetes, was born in Pakistan in 1965, is in the National Guard and smokes cigarettes, obtaining this same information during a job interview could get you into trouble. So, let’s take a look at some dos and don’ts in the area of interview questions. The most important “do” of interviewing is to stick with the three areas that are most important in the interview process — the applicant’s education, work experience and ability to do the specific job being applied for. If you limit your questions to those three areas of interest, it’s hard to ask inappropriate questions. The second important “do” that flows from the first is to have your interview questions prepared in advance and to use the same questions for all applicants. While interviews may flow into unexpected topics, if you try to stick with the outline you have prepared, you have much less chance of asking an improper question. Now, some of the “don’ts.” There are many questions which are inappropriate to ask job applicants — not because the question itself is prohibited by any law, but because the answer may give the interviewer information that could be

used to illegally discriminate against the applicant. Here are some areas of questioning that must be avoided so that you will not find yourself the defendant in a lawsuit alleging discrimination. Applicants should not be asked their age unless the question is intended only to establish that the applicant is of legal age to work under state labor laws. While asking someone’s age is not against the law, if the applicant is over 40 and the job goes to someone under that age, he or she may charge the employer with age discrimination. And, don’t ask any questions, during the interview or on the written application, that could indicate the person’s age, such as high school or college graduation dates. Applicants should not be asked about any disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits questions which could elicit information about a physical or mental disability. You can ask about the applicant’s ability to perform the essential functions of the job. However, you should not ask if the applicant needs any type of accommodation to perform the job because that could require the applicant to divulge specific disability information. Applicants should not be asked for a Social Security number before being hired. This could be construed as an attempt to find out an applicant’s national origin. If the applicant is not hired, he or she may charge that the

question was intended for that purpose and did not get the job due to his or her national origin. It is far better to not know the applicant’s national origin than it is to be accused of discrimination on that basis. Applicants should not be asked about prior arrests. The Illinois Human Rights Act specifically prohibits discrimination based on a person’s arrest record. However, it is permissible to ask about criminal convictions and to use that information in the hiring decision if the conviction is related to the job. Applicants should not be asked about their personal habits, such as smoking or drinking, during their non-work time. In Illinois, the Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act prohibits an employer from refusing to hire an applicant because the person “uses lawful products off the premises of the employer during nonworking hours.” Many employers may not want smokers or drinkers as employees, but asking about non-work smoking or drinking could land an employer in court. Other areas of questioning to avoid include religion, family responsibilities and military reserve status. Again, while the questions may not be illegal, the answers may give the impression that discrimination occurred when the applicant didn’t get the job. When interviewing job applicants, have the questions outlined in advance and do your best to ask the same questions to all applicants. Keep focused

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on education, experience and the job requirements. While you can learn more about applicants when you ask more intimate questions, that information may come back to bite you. ED RENSHAW is a partner with the Carbondale law firm of Feirich/Mager/ Green/Ryan. F/M/G/R is a general practice law firm offering a full range of legal services, including labor and employment law, commercial transactions, banking, real estate, workers’ compensation, municipal law and estate planning. The firm’s telephone number is 618-529-3000 and its website is www.fmgr.com.

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OCTOBER 2010

SOUTHERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

Mark Your Calendar EV E N TS

Oct. 1 Beginning QuickBooks 2009: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Room F112, John A. Logan College Center for Business & Industry, 700 College Road, Carterville. Cost is $55. Call 618-985-2828, ext. 8510 or e-mail cbi@jalc.edu.

Oct. 4 Beginning Excel 2003: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Room F112, John A. Logan College Center for Business & Industry, 700 College Road, Carterville. Cost is $55. Call 618-985-2828, ext. 8510 or e-mail cbi@jalc.edu.

Oct. 5 Beginning Access 2007: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Room F112, John A. Logan College Center for Business & Industry, 700 College Road, Carterville. Cost is $55. Call 618-985-2828, ext. 8510 or e-mail cbi@jalc.edu. Starting a Small Business Workshop: 1 to 3 p.m., River Room, Shawnee Community College, 8364 Shawnee College Road, Ullin. Free. Call 618-6343254 or e-mail gabrielef@shawneecc.edu. Starting a Business in Illinois Seminar: 1 to 3 p.m., Room 150, Dunn-Richmond Center, 150 E. Pleasant Hill Road, Carbondale. Free. An optional business start-up kit is available for $15. Call 618-536-2424 or e-mail sbdc@siu.edu. Intro to Government Contracting Workshop: 3 to 4 p.m., Room 150, Dunn-Richmond Center, 150 E. Pleasant Hill Road, Carbondale. Free. Call 618-536-2424 or e-mail sbdc@siu.edu. Finding Financing Seminar: 3 to 5 p.m., Room 150, Dunn-Richmond Center, 150 E. Pleasant Hill Road, Carbondale. Free. Call 618-536-2424 or e-mail sbdc@siu.edu.

Oct. 6 Beginning Excel 2007: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Room F112, John A. Logan College Center for Business & Industry, 700 College Road, Carterville. Cost is $55. Call 618-985-2828, ext. 8510 or e-mail cbi@jalc.edu. How to Sell on eBay Workshop: 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Dunn-Richmond Center Computer Lab, 150 E. Pleasant Hill Road, Carbondale. Cost is $95 for the two-day workshop. Materials are included in the registration fee. Call 618-536-2424 or e-mail sbdc@siu.edu.

M E E T I N G S

Calendar Spotlight Oct. 21 Team Building: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Room F110, John A. Logan College Center for Business & Industry, 700 College Road, Carterville. Cost is $90. Call 618-985-2828, ext. 8510 or e-mail cbi@jalc.edu. Oct. 7 Time & Stress Management: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Room F109, John A. Logan College Center for Business & Industry, 700 College Road, Carterville. Cost is $90. Call 618-985-2828, ext. 8510 or e-mail cbi@jalc.edu.

Oct. 8 Beginning Access 2003: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Room F112, John A. Logan College Center for Business & Industry, 700 College Road, Carterville. Cost is $55. Call 618-985-2828, ext. 8510 or e-mail cbi@jalc.edu.

Oct. 12 Intermediate Access 2007: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Room F112, John A. Logan College Center for Business & Industry, 700 College Road, Carterville. Cost is $55. Call 618-985-2828, ext. 8510 or e-mail cbi@jalc.edu.

Oct. 13 Intermediate Excel 2007: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Room F112, John A. Logan College Center for Business & Industry, 700 College Road, Carterville. Cost is $55. Call 618-985-2828, ext. 8510 or e-mail cbi@jalc.edu.

Oct. 15 Intermediate Access 2003: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Room F112, John A. Logan College Center for Business & Industry, 700 College Road, Carterville. Cost is $55. Call 618-985-2828, ext. 8510 or e-mail cbi@jalc.edu.

Oct. 16 Oct. 6 and 7

Food Sanitation Refresher Course: 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Shawnee Community College, 8364 Shawnee College Road, Ullin. Cost is $45. Call 618-827-4930 to reserve a seat.

Oct. 18 Beginning Publisher 2007: 8:30 a.m.

to 4 p.m., Room F112, John A. Logan College Center for Business & Industry, 700 College Road, Carterville. Cost is $55. Call 618-985-2828, ext. 8510 or e-mail cbi@jalc.edu.

Oct. 19 Advanced Access 2007: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Room F112, John A. Logan College Center for Business & Industry, 700 College Road, Carterville. Cost is $55. Call 618-985-2828, ext. 8510 or e-mail cbi@jalc.edu.

Oct. 20 Advanced Excel 2007: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Room F112, John A. Logan College Center for Business & Industry, 700 College Road, Carterville. Cost is $55. Call 618-985-2828, ext. 8510 or e-mail cbi@jalc.edu.

Oct. 21 Intermediate Excel 2003: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Room H125, John A. Logan College Center for Business & Industry, 700 College Road, Carterville. Cost is $55. Call 618-985-2828, ext. 8510 or e-mail cbi@jalc.edu. Team Building: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Room F110, John A. Logan College Center for Business & Industry, 700 College Road, Carterville. Cost is $90. Call 618-985-2828, ext. 8510 or e-mail cbi@jalc.edu. Starting a Small Business Workshop: 9 to 11 a.m., Shawnee Community College Anna Extension Center, 1150 E. Vienna St., Anna. Free. Call 618-634-3254 or e-mail gabrielef@shawneecc.edu.

Find more business news at www.sbj.biz.

Oct. 25 Beginning Word 2007: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Room F112, John A. Logan College Center for Business & Industry, 700 College Road, Carterville. Cost is $55. Call 618-985-2828, ext. 8510 or e-mail cbi@jalc.edu.

Oct. 26 Advanced Excel 2003: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Room F112, John A. Logan College Center for Business & Industry, 700 College Road, Carterville. Cost is $55. Call 618-985-2828, ext. 8510 or e-mail cbi@jalc.edu.

Oct. 27 Visio 2007: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Room F112, John A. Logan College Center for Business & Industry, 700 College Road, Carterville. Cost is $55. Call 618-985-2828, ext. 8510 or e-mail cbi@jalc.edu. Starting a Business in Illinois Seminar: 10 a.m. to noon, Marion Man-Tra-Con, Illinois Centre Mall, Marion. Free. An optional business start-up kit is available for $15. Call 618-536-2424 or e-mail sbdc@siu.edu. Social Networking Seminar: 1 to 3 p.m., Marion Man-Tra-Con, Illinois Centre Mall, Marion. Cost is $25. Call 618-536-2424 or e-mail sbdc@siu.edu.

Nov. 2 Starting a Small Business Workshop: 1 to 3 p.m., River Room, Shawnee Community College, 8364 Shawnee College Road, Ullin. Free. Call 618-634-3254 or e-mail gabrielef@shawneecc.edu.

Oct. 22 Intermediate QuickBooks 2009: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Room F112, John A. Logan College Center for Business & Industry, 700 College Road, Carterville. Cost is $55. Call 618-985-2828, ext. 8510 or e-mail cbi@jalc.edu.

Nov. 4 Social Networking Seminar: 1 to 3 p.m., Room 150, Dunn-Richmond Center, 150 E. Pleasant Hill Road, Carbondale. Cost is $25. Call 618-536-2424 or e-mail sbdc@siu.edu.

Retail sales for Southern Illinois cities City Anna Benton Carbondale Carterville Chester Du Quoin Harrisburg Herrin Jonesboro Marion Metropolis Mount Vernon Murphysboro Nashville Pinckneyville Red Bud Sparta Vienna West City West Frankfort REGION ILLINOIS

YTD June 2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

61.9 36.5 295.9 20.1 25.9 32.0 100.2 79.5 6.0 339.0 39.1 252.5 65.5 44.7 16.6 36.1 62.2 19.2 45.0 57.7 $1,635.6 $71,456.0

114.5 69.4 565.5 39.9 52.9 100.8 191.9 147.2 12.5 676.0 77.1 476.7 129.1 107.9 37.2 70.1 126.4 37.1 91.9 111.4 $3,235.5 $139,593.2

113.3 71.4 587.7 40.1 51.5 91.9 179.3 135.9 12.4 673.4 75.9 482.8 117.1 101.8 39.0 77.7 130.5 40.5 89.6 111.2 $3,223.0 $237,438.0

112.3 72.4 607.4 40.3 51.7 94.4 173.6 134.4 11.3 662.4 79.8 461.5 94.9 105.2 35.8 73.7 129.5 39.8 82.8 111.4 $3,174.7 $180,162.7

111.7 75.0 610.4 39.9 54.0 103.1 168.5 137.5 11.5 592.7 74.8 501.0 93.0 105.7 41.7 82.5 133.1 36.9 77.7 106.8 $3,157.6 $173,362.8

109.7 70.4 579.4 32.7 51.1 95.0 164.9 127.9 11.5 545.9 69.4 475.3 94.6 101.1 38.0 82.5 127.7 32.7 70.8 102.3 $2,983.0 $167,459.0

N I L L I Chicago Fed Midwest % change 05-09 Manufacturing Index

p q q p p p p p p p p p p p q q q p p p p q

4.4% 1.4% 2.4% 22.0% 3.5% 6.1% 16.4% 15.1% 8.7% 23.8% 11.1% 0.3% 53.4% 6.7% 2.1% 15.0% 1.0% 13.5% 29.8% 8.9% 8.5% 16.6%

The CFMMI is a monthly estimate by major industry of manufacturing output in the Seventh Federal Reserve District states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin. It is a composite index of 15 manufacturing industries, including auto and steel, that uses electrical power and hours worked data to measure monthly changes in regional activity. It is compared here to the national Industrial Production index for Manufacturing (IPMFG). Base year is 2007. Starting in November 2005, the index excluded the electricity component. 105 104 103 102 100 98 94 90 88

IPMFG July 10 91.5

86 84 82

SOURCE: LATEST STATISTICS AVAILABLE FROM THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE. FIGURES ARE IN MILLIONS.

81 80

Unemployment rates for Southern Illinois counties, state and nation Alexander Franklin Gallatin Hamilton Hardin Jackson Jefferson Johnson Massac Perry Pope Pulaski Randolph Saline Union Washington White Williamson .,REGION ILLINOIS U.S.

Labor force

Jobless

July 2010

June 2010

July 2009

3,124 18,032 2,817 4,177 1,834 30,321 20,814 5,170 7,609 9,641 2,024 2,903 15,588 13,233 8,074 8,557 7,720 34,205 195,843 6,716,526 153,560,000

410 2,611 304 425 231 2,739 2,179 623 844 1,246 241 376 1,474 1,429 1,066 723 723 3,513 21,158 715,082 14,599,000

13.1% 14.5% 10.8% 10.2% 12.6% 9.0% 10.5% 12.1% 11.1% 12.9% 11.9% 13.0% 9.5% 10.8% 13.2% 8.4% 9.4% 10.3% 10.8% 10.6% 9.7%

11.6% 13.6% 10.2% 9.7% 12.7% 8.8% 9.6% 11.2% 10.8% 12.7% 11.4% 12.5% 9.0% 10.2% 12.5% 7.8% 8.7% 9.8% 10.7% 10.6% 9.6%

13.9% 14.2% 10.5% 9.3% 11.7% 8.0% 9.6% 11.1% 9.8% 12.3% 10.8% 12.0% 9.4% 10.4% 10.7% 8.0% 8.8% 9.7% 10.6% 10.7% 9.7%

SOURCE: ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT SECURITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. FIGURES ARE NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED.

SAVE THE DATE!

Change month p p p p q p p p p p p p p p p p p p p

1.5 0.9 0.6 0.5 0.1 0.2 0.9 0.9 0.3 0.2 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.6 0.7 0.5 0.1 0.0 0.1

Change year q p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p q

76 74

CFMMI July 10

0.8 72 81.4 0.3 70 68 0.3 0.9 66 0.9 64M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J ’10 ’09 1.0 0.9 SOURCE: FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF CHICAGO 1.0 1.3 0.6 1.1 1.0 July 10 July 09 Change 0.1 0.4 MONTHLY TOTALS 2.5 594 205 p189.8% 0.4 YTD TOTALS 0.6 0.6 2,448 807 p203.3% 0.2 2009 2008 Change 0.1 ANNUAL TOTALS 0.0 2,750 2,636 p 4.3%

Williamson County Regional Airport passengers

Community Leaders Breakfast Tuesday, November 16 | 7-8:30AM | SIU Ballroom

I S I N Consumer credit score

Credit scores are numeric reflections of financial behavior and credit worthiness and they are based on information included in a credit report. Ranging from 330 to 830, a higher score means a lower credit risk. Scores are from Aug 2010.

698

Carterville

Region

699

692

State

U. S.

O R S U of I Flash Index

Total cars, trucks sold based on title applications filed. Excludes motorcycles, trailers.

New vehicle sales July 10 July 09 9 90 27 21 12 126 87 28 25 54 10 11 72 68 56 42 51 191 980

694

SOURCE: EXPERIAN

Alexander Franklin Gallatin Hamilton Hardin Jackson Jefferson Johnson Massac Perry Pope Pulaski Randolph Saline Union Washington White Williamson REGION

q q p q p q q q q q q q q q q q q q q

21 108 26 34 8 152 112 40 36 59 12 15 118 75 65 52 61 215 1,209

Change

2009

57.1% 16.7% 3.8% 38.2% 50.0% 17.1% 22.3% 30.0% 30.6% 8.5% 16.7% 26.7% 39.0% 9.3% 13.8% 19.2% 16.4% 11.2% 18.9%

137 989 184 224 94 1,348 842 353 278 565 85 124 936 719 447 515 471 1,868 10,179

2008 169 1,341 294 287 109 1,969 1,270 481 422 689 123 221 1,208 1,064 596 621 721 2,515 14,100

q p p p q p p p p p p p p p p p p p p

Change 13.3% 7.5% 30.7% 10.4% 19.3% 21.4% 14.9% 14.8% 3.7% 8.0% 10.8% 11.1% 7.3% 15.7% 11.6% 4.4% 8.6% 9.7% 11.1%

108 107 106 105 104 103 102 101 100 99 98 97 96 95 94 93 92 91 90 89

Aug 10 92.0

Q2 10 Alexander Franklin Gallatin Hamilton Hardin Jackson Jefferson Johnson Massac Perry Pope Pulaski Randolph Saline Union Williamson ILLINOIS

2 82 1 7 2 135 90 23 34 30 1 2 44 34 29 196 35,628

Q2 09 3 65 1 0 4 116 79 16 30 46 2 6 38 26 19 185 27,890

q p

q q p p p q q q p p p p p

Change 33.3% 26.2% 0.0% NA 50.0% 12.8% 13.9% 43.8% 13.3% 34.8% 50.0% 66.7% 15.8% 30.8% 52.6% 5.9% 27.7%

2008 17 276 NA 7 0 383 332 78 112 126 10 13 149 80 101 639 107,075

SOURCE: ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS

For More Information Contact Debbie Tindall 618.529.3681 or Tindalld@UrbanRetail.com

2007 32 332 NA 8 0 467 381 92 128 149 9 4 136 78 91 705 140,378

q q

q q q q q p p p p p q q

Hotel/motel stats

Consumer Price Index

Total amount of revenue generated in Carbondale by hotels and motels for room rentals only.

The CPI measures average price changes of goods and services over time, with a reference base of 100 in 1982-84.To put into context, a current CPI of 194.5 means a market basket of goods and services that cost $100 in 1982-84 now costs $194.50.

May 10 May 09 MONTHLY TOTALS $725,213

YTD TOTALS $2,949,986

Change

$799,847 q

$3,082,374 q

2009 ANNUAL TOTALS

2008

9.3%

U.S. city average July 10 218.0

220

218

4.3%

Change

$7,520,856 p

Change

MEDIAN SALES PRICE Q2 10 Q2 09

46.9% 16.9% NA 12.5% 0% 18.0% 12.9% 15.2% 12.5% 15.4% 11.1% 225.0% 9.6% 2.6% 11.0% 9.4% 23.7%

$110,000 $49,250 $12,000 $56,000 $139,500 $115,000 $78,950 $100,500 $71,000 $57,971 $27,400 $61,900 $83,500 $42,700 $60,000 $104,000 $160,000

Total units sold, including condominiums

’10

216

214

212

2.7% 210

Home sales

SOURCE: INSTITUTE ’08 OF GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS, UNIVERSITY’09 OF ILLINOIS

$7,725,727

SOURCE: ILLINOIS SECRETARY OF STATE’S OFFICE. LATEST DATA AVAILABLE.

The Flash Index is an early indicator of the Illinois economy’s expected performance. It is a weighted average of growth rates in corporate earnings, consumer spending and personal income. An index above 100 indicates expected growth; an index below 100 indicates the economy is contracting.

$57,500 $63,000 $27,500 $0 $45,000 $101,500 $82,000 $142,500 $59,750 $61,450 $48,450 $49,750 $63,700 $46,750 $63,000 $96,000 $159,500

Midwest urban July 10 208.2

208

p q q

p p q q p q q p p q q p p

Change 91.3% 21.8% 56.4% NA 210.0% 13.3% 3.7% 29.5% 18.8% 5.7% 43.4% 24.4% 31.1% 8.7% 4.8% 8.3% 0.3%

206

204

200 J

S O ’09

A ‘10

SOURCE: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Prices at the pump Average price per gallon of regular, unleaded gas as of Sept. 17 and Aug. 26, 2010.

Sept 10 Metro East Springfield Illinois U.S. SOURCE: AAA

$2.81 $2.86 $2.97 $2.73

Aug 10 Sept 09 $2.67 $2.63 $2.77 $2.70

$2.40 $2.39 $2.57 $2.56

SOUTHERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

OCTOBER 2010

Elder Law New Medicaid rules may ‘lawfully rob’ your savings and ‘lawfully steal’ your home BY RICHARD HABIGER SBJ CONTRIBUTOR

The government is getting ready to “lawfully mug” you or someone you know, perhaps a parent or grandparent, and take nearly everything you or they may own. First, Habiger you need to understand what all of the hullabaloo is about. It’s about you and your loved ones. Many seniors plan for death, but few plan for the alternative. Many people create estate plans with last wills, trusts and other documents. But few take the necessary steps to protect themselves in the event they live — in the event they do not die prematurely. What life planning have you done? That is, what planning have you done to protect yourself for the rest of your life, the period between today and the day your last will springs into effect at your death. The cold hard facts are that 43 percent of us will not die prematurely, that we will need nursing home care at some point in our lives. As we age, as we live, this percentage increases to 55 percent. In Southern Illinois, care in a nursing home currently costs approximately $4,000 or more per month. That’s $48,000 per year! Who among us can afford to privately pay for care at that level for more than a few months? If you think the cost of staying at home would be less expensive, think again. You either impose on your adult children or other family members (without compensating them for their toil and disruption of their lives) or you shell out as much as $12,000 per month paying someone else for assistance. (Until my elder law firm got involved, an elderly couple had been paying a home care agency $12,000 each month for more

than one year.) Indeed, the greatest threat to the financial security of middle-Americans is not taxes; it is the cost of long-term convalescent care. There are only five ways to pay for nursing home or other long-term care. l Privately paying out of your resources, perhaps “spending down” all savings to the point you are out of money and out of options, leaving nothing to your heirs. l Long-term care insurance, which generally will cover only part of the cost of care during your remaining life. l Veterans’ benefits, provided you are a wartime veteran or the widow of a wartime veteran and have limited resources, or you or someone on your behalf has taken the initiative to rearrange your finances and savings to obtain these valuable VA benefits. l Medicare, but the benefit is limited to a maximum of 100 days of skilled care for rehabilitation to improve your condition so that you can return home. If you cannot improve, Medicare will not pay for your care. (That is why the average number of days covered by Medicare is only 34 days.) l Medicaid, provided you have limited resources, or you or someone on your behalf has taken the right steps to rearrange your finances and savings to protect what you have so that (like tax planning) you can keep the government out of your wallet or pocketbook. So, what is Medicaid and why should you care? Medicaid is a federal-state program authorized by Title 19 of the Social Security Act. Specifically, it is the primary way middle-Americans finance long-term care for themselves and their elderly parents. However, like tax planning, if you are not already a person of limited means, you must take action to rearrange your financial affairs in order to meet income and asset limitations. Illinois is about to adopt a set of new Medicaid rules to implement a federal mandate contained in the federal Deficit

ART SERVICES

The cold, hard facts are that 43 percent of us will not die prematurely, that we will need nursing home care at some point in our lives.

Reduction Act of 2005, which became effective Feb. 8, 2006. This author has often been heard to refer to the DRA as “draconian.” In fact, that word is too nice. The DRA is worse than draconian; it is evil and a governmental mugging of seniors orchestrated by industry lobbyists in a malicious effort to get federal and state governments to balance their budgets on the backs of those who can least afford it. As I said in an article that appeared in the August edition of the Southern Business Journal: “(The DRA) and the new Illinois rules will lawfully rob many seniors of their life savings, legally steal the homes and farms of many others, prevent untold numbers from qualifying for governmental benefits, wreak untold suffering on thousands and impose tremendous havoc on the medical and long-term care delivery systems in Southern Illinois.” Under the current Illinois Medicaid rules, there is a three-year “look-back” period during which the government has the right to look at all of your financial

transactions during that three-year period. The new Illinois DRA rules will push the “look-back” period to five years. To learn more about the “look-back” period go to http://SBJ.biz, scroll down and click on the September 2010 issue. Bad as it is, the increased “look-back” period of the new DRA-compliant Medicaid rules is not the greatest threat to the financial security of seniors. Rather, it is the new method that will be used by Illinois Medicaid to calculate the starting date of the “penalty” period that results from ill-advised transfers. Under both the current Medicaid rules and the forthcoming new DRA-compliant Medicaid rules, the “penalty” period is calculated the same way. So, for example, if Sue gave her daughter, Susan, $40,000 on Sept. 15, 2009, and 12 months later Sue entered a nursing home costing $4,000 per month, there is a 10-month “penalty” during which Sue does not qualify for Medicaid benefits to help pay for her care in the nursing home. At this point in the calculation, the two sets of rules diverge. Under the current

OCTOBER 2010 Medicaid rules, the 10-month “penalty” began to run the first day of the month in which the gift was made (September 2009) and ended the last day of the tenth month following the gift (June 30, 2010). Under the forthcoming DRA-compliant Medicaid rules, the 10-month “penalty” period cannot begin to run until Sue: l is a resident in a nursing home; l has spent down to the asset limit of $2,000; l has filed an application for Medicaid; and l is otherwise eligible for Medicaid benefits, but for the penalty period. In other words, if Sue made the gift in September 2010 and the DRA-compliant Medicaid rules are in effect as of June 2011 after Sue has entered a nursing home, her 10-month penalty period will not begin to run until she is essentially out of money. The challenge for Sue and her nursing home is this: How is she going to pay her care at her nursing home for 10 months when she has no money? And, how is her nursing home going to remain in business if it has no income from Sue and all others who have made ill-advised gifts? Hopefully, everyone within the reach of

SOUTHERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

this column will see the danger just around the corner. Hopefully, you, the interested reader, will take immediate action to protect yourself and your loved ones by consulting with an elder law attorney — one who has the knowledge and experience to help you avoid or reduce the “penalty.” P.S. To nursing homes (and all others in the health care delivery field): When you become aware of someone who may have made gifts or other transfers, do not delay. Get your resident to an elder law attorney who can help the resident reframe the issues so that the “penalty,” which after all is being imposed on you as well as your resident, can be reduced or eliminated. RICHARD HABIGER is the author of the Illinois edition of “How to Protect Your Family’s Assets from Devastating Nursing Home Costs: Medicaid Secrets” and is an elder law attorney, who focuses on asset protection, Medicaid and VA benefits. You may contact him at 618-549-4529 or info@Habiger ElderLaw.com.

Find more business news at www.sbj.biz.

F M G R Feirich / Mager / Green / Ryan

Attorneys at Law Providing Business and Personal Legal Services to the Midwest Commercial Transactions Workers’ Compensation Labor Negotiations Employment Matters Municipal Law

Administrative Law Banking Law Real Estate Transactions Probate and Estate Planning Business Organization

Located in the Westown Centre • 2001 West Main, Carbondale • (618) 529-3000

Visit our web site at www.fmgr.com

SOUTHERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

OCTOBER 2010

Entrepreneur’s Mailbag Entrepreneurs: Look to emerging markets for potential answers BY CAVANAUGH L. GRAY SBJ CONTRIBUTOR

As I start this article, I am currently halfway across the planet in beautiful Ghana, West Africa. Fourteen years ago, I had the amazing opportunity to experience the Gray beauty of Ghana’s people, the sites and the culture. As a business graduate at the time, my focus was mostly on the economy and how business worked. What was interesting about my recent trip was how quickly the country’s economy has evolved from where it was a decade and a half ago. After spending the last 10 days exploring, it became very clear that the simple, slower-paced Ghana that I remembered is a thing of the past. The emerging market of today is being defined by a new generation of entrepreneurs that understand that the future of Africa is filled with untold opportunities.

The rise of emerging markets The third world countries of yesterday are now on the rise and are now referred to as emerging markets. In these emerging markets, entrepreneurs have found that they can create valuable

businesses with very little capital. The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), which looks at the 54 countries in emerging and developing markets, found that the incidence of entrepreneurship is twice as high in emerging markets as the developing world. Historically, entrepreneurs in these countries have started 25 percent more companies than their U.S. counterparts and have higher survival rates. These entrepreneurs have become very skilled at identifying opportunities that others don’t see or that would deter others based on their uncertainty, risk and scarcity of resources that would hinder those in other parts of the world.

PROVIDED

Lessons learned from Ghana

After spending the last 10 days exploring Ghana, West Africa, it became very clear that the simple, slower-pace that I remembered is a thing of the past.

One of the first things I was impressed by was the speed at which business gets done in Ghana. At one point, my wife realized that we needed a cell phone that would work in the country. She flagged down one of the Vodafone representatives and was able to purchase a cell phone on the spot for $19 GH (Cedis, about $13.50 U.S.). My wife then waited, no more than five minutes, as our new phone was activated, loaded with credits (time) and prepared for use. Ghana felt like a nation of 23.8 million entrepreneurs and had a landscape that was covered by roadside shops and street merchants selling everything from apparel to washcloths to bottles of soda (or pop if you prefer).

Throughout the years, Ghana has been able to develop its own creative distribution system that seems to defy logic. Tons of products find their way into the hands of millions of sellers in a seamless manner — all without sophisticated tracking technology or complicated networks. Lastly, Ghanaians have become more marketing savvy, highlighting the country’s quality of life, tourism and potential business opportunities. Major corporations have begun teaming up with local business owners in an effort to build their brands. Telecom giant Vodafone pays to have its logo painted on entire homes, TroTros (local bus

network) and on storefronts. By the looks of things, business is definitely on the rise and there is a lot for small business owners to take away from Ghana and other markets. CAVANAUGH L. GRAY is the director of business development for The Entrepreneur Café, L.L.C. in Carbondale. He can be contacted at cgray@ecafell.com or 618206-7013. For more information on doing business in developing markets or for ideas on how to start, grow and succeed in small business, be sure to follow The Entrepreneur Café L.L.C. on Twitter at www.twitter. com/theecafe or at www.ecafellc.com.

Factors that affect prices of fixed income securities BY MICHAEL P. TISON SBJ CONTRIBUTOR

Tison

As an integral part of a wellbalanced and diversified portfolio, fixed income securities afford opportunities for predictable cash flows to match

investors’ individual needs, provide capital preservation and may offset the volatility of the stock market. However, all investments have some degree of risk. In general, the higher the return potential, the higher the risk. While the interest payment or coupon on most bonds is fixed and the principal amount, known as par value, is returned to the investor upon maturity, the market price of a bond during its life varies as market conditions change.

Consequently, if a bond is sold prior to maturity, the proceeds may be more or less than the original purchase price. If a bond is held to maturity, an investor can expect to receive the return or yield at which the bond was initially purchased. There are a number of variables to consider when investing in bonds as they may affect the value of the investment. Discussed below are the most common risks associated with fixed income securities.

Interest rate risk The market value of the securities will be inversely affected by movements in interest rates. When rates rise, market prices of existing debt securities fall as these securities become less attractive to investors when compared to higher coupon new issues. As prices decline, bonds become cheaper, so the overall return, when taking into account the discount, can compete with newly SEE INCOME SECURITIES / PAGE 17

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INCOME SECURITIES: Factors affect price FROM PAGE 16 issued bonds at higher yields. When interest rates fall, market prices on existing fixed income securities tend to rise because these bonds become more attractive when compared to the newly issued bonds priced at lower rates.

generally associated with mortgagebacked securities. Homeowners tend to prepay their mortgages at times that are advantageous to their needs, which may be in conflict with the holders of the mortgage-backed securities. If the bonds are repaid early, investors face the risk of reinvesting at lower rates.

Purchasing power risk Price risk Investors who need access to their principal before maturity have to rely on the secondary market to sell their securities. The price received may be more or less than the original purchase price and may depend, in general, on the level of interest rates, time to term, credit quality of the issuer and liquidity. Among other reasons, prices may also be affected by current market conditions, or by the size of the trade (prices may be different for 10 bonds versus 1,000 bonds), etc. Generally, longer maturity bonds will be more sensitive to interest rate changes. Dollar for dollar, a long-term bond should go up or down in value more than a short-term bond for the same change in yield.

Liquidity risk Liquidity risk is the risk that an investor will be unable to sell securities due to a lack of demand from potential buyers, sell them at a substantial loss and/or incur substantial transaction costs in the sale process.

Reinvestment risk Downward trends in interest rates also create reinvestment risk, or the risk that the income and/or principal repayments will have to be invested at lower rates. Reinvestment risk is an important consideration for investors in callable securities. Some bonds may be issued with a call feature which allows the issuer to call, or repay, bonds before maturity. This generally happens if the market rates fall low enough for the issuer to save money by repaying existing higher coupon bonds and issuing new ones at lower rates.

Prepayment risk Similar to call risk, prepayment risk is the risk that the issuer may repay bonds prior to maturity. This type of risk is

Fixed income investors often focus on the real rate of return, or the actual return minus the rate of inflation. Rising inflation has a negative impact on real rates of return because inflation reduces the purchasing power of the investment income and principal.

Credit risk The safety of the fixed income investor’s principal depends on the issuer’s credit quality and ability to meet its financial obligations, such as payment of coupon and repayment of principal at maturity. Rating agencies assign ratings based on their analysis of the issuer’s financial condition, economic and debt characteristics, and specific revenue sources securing the bond. Issuers with lower credit ratings usually have to offer investors higher yields to compensate for additional credit risk. A change in either the issuer’s credit rating or the market’s perception of the issuer’s business prospects will affect the value of its outstanding securities. It is also important to know and understand how fixed income securities are ranked in the capital structure of the issuer. The ranking of a fixed income security is yet another factor that may affect its price.

Default risk The risk of default is the risk that the issuer will not be able to make interest payments and/or return the principal at maturity. Investing in bonds is considered an important part of asset allocation. It is always important to understand the risks and potential return involved. MICHAEL P. TISON is an investment adviser and registered principal with Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., with offices in Harrisburg and Marion. He can be reached at 618-253-4444 or michael.tison@ raymondjames.com.

SOUTHERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

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Farmer’s Tire and Surplus opens

Schneider named Disney specialist

Farmer’s Tire and Surplus Inc. recently opened about 1.5 miles north of McLeansboro on Illinois 242. The new business has tires to meet every need, including passenger and light truck tires, semitrailer tires, tractor and implement tires and other specialty tires. “My husband Jimmy and I felt there was a need for another tire business in the area, especially one which serves the need for tractor tire repair and sales,” said owner Mary Kaye Davis. Kyle Poore, originally of Enfield, is serving as the service technician. Farmer’s Tires is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Call 618-643-3456.

Mari Schneider of B and A Travel Service in Carbondale earned the designation of Disney specialist, following the completion of the specialist’s program through the College of Disney Knowledge administered by Disney Destinations. Disney specialists are recognized following in-depth training and extensive on-site experience and familiarization with Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort and Disney Cruise Line.

Sedlacek opens Garden Keeper

Great Shapes to host fitness trainer certification Great Shapes Fitness for Women will host a personal fitness trainer certification Oct. 15 to 17. Cost is $366.75 for members and $489 for non-members. This three-day certification includes lecture and practical demonstration, followed by written and practical exams. To register, call 800-225-2322.

Denise Sedlacek of Carbondale has opened Garden Keeper. Sedlacek will clean up weeds, rake leaves and prune trees and bushes. She will plant flowers, small trees and bushes, mulch beds and prep new ones. Faith-Based Counseling Weekly service can be provided, as can Services opens one-time cleanup/planting for a special Faith-Based Counseling Services, a nonoccasion. profit organization, has opened in Illinois To contact Sedlacek, call 618-303-9550 Centre mall in Marion. or e-mail gardenkeeper.1@gmail.com. Fred Sims, a certified faith-based clinical counselor, is the founder and is TIP Hospice moves to Marion responsible for the counseling sessions. TIP Hospice moved earlier this month Faith-Based Counseling Services is from its facility in Herrin to a larger space in located in suite 602 near Target. Call Marion to accommodate its growth. 618-218-8621 for an appointment. TIP Hospice has served Southern Illinois for the last 17 years. The new facility is located at 8341 Express Drive, Suite B, in Swalls attends rally Marion. Call 800-371-3885. Glenda Swalls of Herrin, an independent designer with Celebrating Home, took part in the company’s National Century 21 welcomes Rally 2010 event from July 30 to Aug. 1 in new associates Dallas. Century 21 House of Realty Inc., a fiveCelebrating Home is a direct-sales office real estate company serving all of company, headquartered in Marshall, Southern Illinois, welcomes four new Texas, that provides home decorating and Realtor associates. entertaining products. Jeanie Blue of Marion will work out of the Marion office and can be reached at 618-889-1720. Larry Peas of rural Marion will work out of the Lake of Egypt office and can be reached at 618-889-0538. Fortune Brayfield of West Frankfort and Tina Coe of Carterville will work out of the Carterville office. Brayfield can be reached at 618-889-7773 and Coe can be reached at 618-889-3611.

Medical Claim Consultants moves Medical Claim Consultants, formerly at 105 E. Pleasant Hill Road, has moved to 217 S. Giant City Road. Medical Claim Consultants provides accounts receivable recovery and management services for medical practices of any size. The company works on a

R E T I R E M E N T

contingency basis with no up-front cost to Company’s success in implementing its plans to provide its rural customers with the practice. Mary Peterman, owner, was a recipient high-speed Internet access. of an Operation Bootstrap grant in May 2009. Legence Bank collects media

Old National Bank honors Olson Jennifer Olson has received the 2010 ONe Vision Award from Old National Bank. The ONe Vision program was designed to recognize and reward Old National Bank associates for exceptional client care, exceeding expectations and helping Old National Bank realize the company’s vision. Olson has been with Old National Bank for seven years. She currently serves on the Community Reinvestment Act panel for the bank. In the last year, Olson has served as a mentor to two associates and two interns who have interest in careers in commercial lending. Additionally, Olson has been selected to participate in the Old National Bank/ Vectren Emerging Leaders Program for the 2010-11 term.

Dialysis facility honored Fresenius Medical Care North America, operator of the nation’s leading network of dialysis facilities, recently named its Fresenius Medical Care Carbondale facility a center of excellence for achieving the highest standards in patient care in 2009. Every year, to encourage continuous quality improvement, the company recognizes its facilities that are noteworthy in their high achievement of clinical quality outcomes. Fresenius Medical Care Carbondale is at 725 S. Lewis Lane.

Shawnee Telephone rep interviewed at fair Michael Guffy from Shawnee Telephone Company, headquartered in Equality, recently was interviewed live on the RFD radio show broadcast from the Illinois State Fair in Springfield. He was joined in the interview by U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development State Director Colleen Callahan and Matt Johnson from Rural Partners Illinois. They were interviewed about the importance of broadband for economic and community development in rural areas. They also discussed the lessons other rural areas can learn from Shawnee Telephone

items for troops Legence Bank in Eldorado recently shipped nearly 200 collected media items to Afghanistan as part of a Tunes 4 The Troops effort. Olivia Bradley, a customer service representative at Legence Bank, contacted Tunes 4 The Troops (www.tunes4 thtroops.org) and initiated the satellite collection station effort for all Legence Bank branches in Southern Illinois and Evansville, where items were collected during the month of June.

Rendleman recognized Attorney John S. Rendleman III recently was recognized by Midwest Real Estate News as one of the top lawyers in Illinois in the category of commercial real estate lawyers. Rendleman is a senior partner in the Carbondale law firm of Feirich/Mager/ Green/Ryan and can be contacted at 618-529-3000.

Roberts joins Hospice of Southern Illinois Michelle Roberts, R.N., a native of Marion, joined Hospice of Southern Illinois in August as a staff nurse on the blue team, which provides hospice care to the southernmost 16 of the organization’s 27-county service area. As a staff nurse, Roberts will visit patients and care for them in their homes or nursing facilities. She is a 2005 graduate of Rend Lake College School of Nursing.

SIU School of Medicine recognizes Mathis Benjamin D. Mathis, a second-year medical student, has received a monetary award from the J.S. Templeton, M.D., Memorial Scholarship at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. The award is given annually to a Perry County student who is enrolled at SIU School of Medicine. Mathis is a 2003 graduate of Pinckneyville High School. He earned his doctorate degree in pharmacy in 2009 from St. Louis College of Pharmacy. He is the

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son of David and Darby Mathis of Pinckneyville.

Cox joins law firm as a shareholder A. Courtney Cox, former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, has joined Sandberg Phoenix and von Gontard P.C. as a shareholder at its Carbondale office. Cox will primarily focus his practice in the areas of employment law, business law and business litigation.

Lingle participates in familiarization trip JoAn Lingle from the Carbondalebased JoAn’s Journeys recently participated in a familiarization trip to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Lingle went with other travel agents and a representative from Apple Vacations. While she was there, she toured 10 resorts and attended dinners with resort directors. JoAn’s Journeys can plan destination weddings, family vacations or just getaways to Punta Cana and other destinations. To reach Lingle, call 618-529-4046.

R E T I R E M E N T

Find more business news at www.sbj.biz.

Faces in the news Have you been promoted? Send a photo. Has a colleague at work completed an intensive continuing education program? Send a photo. Others in the business community will want to know it, so please consider passing on your employment news and photos to the Southern Business Journal. Feel free to email the information to sbj@thesouthern.com.

Lucas becomes consultant Kelly Lucas of Carterville has become an independent consultant with Tastefully Simple Inc., a national direct sales company featuring more than 60 easy-to-prepare foods. For more information about Tastefully Simple products, taste-testing parties or starting up a Tastefully Simple business, contact Lucas at ke05ja02@yahoo.com.

Stay Informed in 2010

ILLINOIS STATE ELECTION COVERAGE at thesouthern.com/elections

Burnett honored as a top achiever

Stampin’ Up!, a Utah-based manufacturer of rubber stamps and Jack Phelan Award given accessories for paper crafting, Edward Jones financial adviser Tim scrapbooking, digital designing and home McGrath of Anna recently received the décor, recently recognized Metropolis Edward D. Jones Sr. Memorial Award for his businesswoman and Stampin’ Up! outstanding service efforts throughout the demonstrator Jan Burnett with an last year. invitation to attend the company’s annual Only 131 of the firm’s more than 10,000 Founder’s Circle retreat. financial advisers received this award, the Founder’s Circle members are the top firm’s highest achievement award. achievers in several different achievement award categories. Burnett was honored Shelton joins faculty specifically in a category of Demonstrator of the Year. of SIU School of Medicine Dr. Socorro Shelton has joined the Griesbach named youth pastor faculty at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine as an assistant Gideon Griesbach, formerly of Marion, professor of family and community has been named the new youth pastor of medicine at SIU’s West Frankfort Family Heritage Christian Center, a central Illinois Medicine Clinic. church with facilities in Ottawa and Peoria. Shelton completed her residency at SIU’s Griesbach is a graduate of John A. Logan Carbondale family medicine residency College in Carterville with a degree in program in 2010. She was on the nursing chemistry. staff at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale Prior to entering into the ministry, he from 1989 to 2003 and at Memorial helped run the family business, Garon Medical Center in Savannah, Ga., Florida Foods Inc., a wholesale food distributor Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale and located in Herrin. He is the son of Pastor Santo Thomas Hospital in Manila. Gary and Sharon Griesbach.

Blogs, Viewpoints, Polls, Videos, & More! Combined Coverage from:

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SOUTHERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

Business Fine Print PERMITS | BANKRUPTCIES

Building permits Carbondale Verizon Wireless, 1072 N. Reed Station Road, $2,462,124 Sports Clips, 1254 E. Main St., $100,000 The Bike Surgeon, 404 S. Illinois Ave., $415,000 Walter Trust, 1040 E. Walnut St., $35,000 American Tower, 207 W. Main St., $25,000 Kimberly Hall, 412 Deer Lake Drive, $165,000 American Eagle Homes, 503 Deer Trail, $225,000 Elza Smith, 309 S. Emerald Lane, $2,000 Mountain View Estates, 1312 Black Diamond Drive, $140,000 Erik Berry, 2260 S. Illinois Ave., $2,500 Pale, 106 S. Glenview Drive, $24,000 Michael Kimmel, 505 W. Walnut St., $2,500 Martin Rentals, 416 S. Washington St., $1,000 Home Rentals, 613 W. Owens St., $2,500 Marilyn Septon, 212 S. Dixon Ave., $250 C.E. Dixon, 902 S. Skyline Drive, $5,000 Andrew Polovich, 304 S. Oakland Ave., $8,000 CCS Landtrust, 520 S. University Ave., $9,000 CCS Landtrust, 516 S. University Ave., $9,000 CCS Landtrust, 518 S. University Ave., $9,500 James Smith, 719 N. Carico St., $300 Lee Thomas, 1201 N. Robt A. Stalls Ave., $500 EG and WV Trust, 603 N. Marion St., $4,000 Robert Wigfall, 312 S. Lynda St., $5,500

Wm Souders, 2 Joann Drive, $2,500 Todd and Kim Faulkner, 209 E. 10th St., $48,000 Billy McDaniel, 1012 Rushing Drive, $0 Joe and Kathryn Jackson, 775 Mount Mission Road, $8,500 Dale Obermark, 6843 Midway Road, $6,000 Brenda Sowell, Box 149, $0 Jimmie and Helen Goddard, 38 Marberry Drive, $0 Southgate Health Care Center, P.O. Box 843, $1,870,000

Murphysboro Scott Palmer, 2104 Wall St., $6,500 D.C. Pellegrini, 932 N. 11th St., $500 Corrine Williams, 2114 Clarke St., $12,000 Lorena Sallee, 2110 Roblee Ave., $1,000 Presbyterian Church, 51 Crescent Drive, $3,000 Jackson County Courthouse, 1001 Walnut St., $151,900 First Baptist Church, 401 N. 15th St., $30,000 Michael Ruiz, 2141 Elm St., $7,000 Wal-Mart, 6495 Country Club Road, $19,100 Jerome Ware, 2332 Alexander Ave., $1,000 First Baptist Church, 311 N. 15th St., $5,000 Dennis Crow, 520 North St., $14,000 GJAL Museum, 1609 Edith, $500 GJAL Museum, 1603 Edith, $500 GJAL Museum, 406 S. 15th St., $500

Herrin

West Frankfort

Harry Calcaterra, 321 N. Seventh St., $23,200 Mark Smith, 408 Lincoln Drive, $95,000 Gar y Stevens, 417 and 419 Jesse Lane, $145,000 Professional Homes, 3205 Mustang Lane, $150,000

Bill Harvey, 501 N. Doug, $5,000 Ron Turner, 601 S. Cherry, $53,000 Norman Ray, 408 E. Elm, $15,390

Marion

Jeffrey Webb, 600 Old Creal Springs Road, Marion Joe Boone and Barbara Boone, Rural Road 2, Box 472, Fairfield Samuel Tucker and Ruth Tucker, 617 N. 13th St., Herrin Tammy Artman, R.R. 2, Box 22A, Dahlgren Dessa Tennant, 1730 Mount Zion Road, Vienna Mary Poole, 6277 Fourth St., Benton Christine Whalen, 640 Kennedy Road, Metropolis Theresa Bowlin, 403 N. Main St., Zeigler Melissa Riedy, 909 S. Jackson St., West Frankfort William Lukancic, 800 S. Granger St., Harrisburg Jason Heumann, 1174 Kathleen Road, Du Quoin

S-Q Carpentry, Dew Drop Lot 6, $108,000 Bittle & Dennis, Lot 7 Summer Lane, $112,500 Gordon Reynolds, 208 Wildrose Lane, $135,000 Timberline Fisheries, 201 E. Timberline, $150,000 Rick Stoncipher, 1702 Felts Drive, $220,000 Gordon Lambert, 519 S. Market St., $18,000 Bryleigh Apartments, 1400 Broeking Road, $235,000 Marion Unit 2, Mulligan Drive, $190,000

Metropolis Alice Barnhill, P.O. Box 715, $1,000 River Metals Recycling, 541 Buttermilk Pike, Crescent Springs, Ky., $10,000 John Fulgham, 817 E. Second St., $15,000

Bankruptcies Chapter 7

Thomas Leonard, 600 S. Carbon No. 2, Marion Frank Nelson and Kathy Nelson, 708 Stewart St., Carmi Matthew Bilderbeck, 210 N. Hancock St., McLeansboro Mark Atkinson and Kathy Atkinson, 6548 Illinois 34 North, Raleigh Lisa Brown, 22007 Corinth Road, Thompsonville Christina Kelton, 401 N. Otis St., Marion Nicholas Gilliam, 3495 Kendale Acres Road, Tamaroa Russell Miller, 840 Camel Road, Cutler Bobby Zettler and Sarah Zettler, Burning Star 2 Road, Du Quoin Lora DeLapp, 310 E. Washington St., De Soto Todd DeLapp, P.O. Box 117, Emerado Dustin Stoffel and Tiffany Stoffel, 519 N. Maple St., Pinckneyville Danny Randall, P.O. Box 16, Equality Brian Morgan and Sarah Morgan, 20657 Unity Road, Thompsonville George Stephenson, 164 Knox Road, Grand Chain William Freyenberger, P.O. Box 26, Energy Joseph Miller and Patricia Miller, 714 S. Webster St., Harrisburg Robert Newman, 822 W. Cypress St., Herrin Cheryl Acree, 1100 S. Liberty St., Marion Melissa DeShane, 23026 N. Illinois 37, Dix Julie Childers, 510 E. Main St., Elkville Mechelle Diefenbach, 11 Delanor Drive, Carrier Mills Donna Dungan, 214 E. Shiloh Drive, Red Bud William Green, P.O. Box 572, Murphysboro Lia Milstead, 1110 S. Cheney St., Harrisburg Barbara Mahoney, 407 S. Timothy Lane, Galatia Thomas Lane and Stacy Lane, 435 S. 21st St., Mount Vernon Robert Gallatin and Lisa Gallatin, 113 Kane Drive, Herrin Sherry Myers, 205 W. 20th St., Metropolis Leland Hale and Mary Hale, 165 Horner Road, Galatia Kelly Matthews, 713 Dorris Heights Road, Harrisburg Angelo Bruno, 1104 W. Line St., Steeleville Teresa Steely, 21 S. Illinois Ave., Du Quoin Terry Podschweit and Vicki Podschweit, 1316 E. Clark St., West Frankfort Michael Eldridge, 1394 E. Grange Hall Road, Murphysboro James Sheehan, 1158 H. Bonhomme Lake Drive, St. Louis Mary Sheehan, 359 E. Park St., Du Quoin Katrina Richmond, 4161 N. Thompsonville Road, Thompsonville Betty Dillard, 214 S. Drive St., Mount Carmel

Ricky Banks and Tina Banks, 610 N. Virginia St., McLeansboro David May and Stephanie May, 524 N. 11th St., Mount Vernon Donald DeBose and Janet DeBose, P.O. Box 445, Eldorado Jeffrey Jake and Heather Jake, 710 Laurel, Fairfield Carl Acord and Betty Acord, 504 W. Fackney St., Carmi Joy Smith, P.O. Box 43, Johnsonville Eric Buchanan, 203 Market St., Keensburg Jessica Hernandez, 808 S. 19th St., Mount Vernon Marcy Flowers, 3000 Weaver Road, Herrin Courtney Gilliam, 1208 W. Cherry St., Marion Kenneth Stout and Debra Stout, P.O. Box 353, Chester LeighAnna Murray, 1407 Graeff Road, Elkville Sarah Childers, 11031 Limb Branch Lane, Marion Donna Shreves, 615 W. Fifth St., Bluford Roger Hosselton and Sabrina Hosselton, 14757 N. Woodlawn Lane, Woodlawn David Jones and Lori Jones, 13046 N. Two Mile Creek Lane, Mount Vernon

Chapter 13 Joey Linton and Jo Linton, 14178 Harmony Church Road, West Frankfort Teri Webster, P.O. Box 568, West Frankfort Tyler Parrish, P.O. Box 73, Goreville Kerry Grunloh, 485 Red Bud Lane, Cobden Courtney Hunter and Angela Hunter, 2570 S. Illinois Ave., Carbondale Phillip Easton, 404 N. Charles St., Steeleville Raymond Helton and Charlotte Helton, 898 Liberty Road, Villa Ridge Carl Stokes and Deloris Stokes, 22450 Miles Trail Road, Stonefort Stobert Abney and Stella Abney, 100 Little Road, Harrisburg Crystal Bleeker, 1205 E. Grayson St., Benton Richard Neff and Resalynn Neff, 201 Douglas St., Centralia James Crawford and Nancy Crawford, P.O. Box 101, Buckner Billy Dillow and Lois Dillow, 405 W. Spring St., Anna Darryl Jones and Kelly Jones, 1511 Spruce St., Murphysboro Darrell Grove and Kim Grove, 601 E. Fifth St., West Frankfort Catherine Fleck, 516 Fredrick St., Herrin Karen Davis, 101 Hendra St., Anna SEE FINE PRINT / PAGE 23

Second Event in Speaker Series

-Featuring Keynote Chuck Templeton, Founder of OpenTable.com and Chairman of GrubHub.com Tuesday, Oct. 12, 12-1:30pm • Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center • 150 E. Pleasant Hill Rd., Carbondale Call 618-453-3805 for more information

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SOUTHERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

Workplace Employers and employees both can make a difference in adjusting to shift work BY DR. TERRY BROWN SBJ CONTRIBUTOR

For most of us, having a “normal” work schedule is ideal. We like having evenings off to spend more time with our family and friends, to go to our kids’ ballgames and go to sleep at what we feel Brown is a decent hour. Then, we get up and do it all again the next day. It’s the pattern that was established in us as children, and although we might have deviated from it since then (especially in college,) it’s the pattern of wake and sleep which still governs our lives. Working 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. may be the norm for most of society; however, it’s not true in all cases. There are more than 22 million Americans who have to cope with shift work — working evening, rotating or on-call shifts. In this current economic climate, it’s hard to turn down a job. Because it’s so difficult to find work, you may be forced to accept a position that isn’t in alignment with the hours your body is accustomed to being awake. These changing schedules can be challenging socially, but more importantly, they can have a dramatic effect on your well-being. Shift workers tend to be continually sleep-deprived and have problems with insomnia. This can affect a person’s normal functions, which can endanger others at your work or even in traffic. Sleep is not just “getting some rest.” It’s an active state, important for the renewal of our bodies, mentally and physically. Sleepiness correlates with core body temperatures, as well as the light and dark phases of our daily environment. An optimal schedule has the body temperature cycle, the sleep/wake cycle and the light/dark cycle in synchronization.

Shift work keeps us out of sync with our body’s natural cycle, otherwise known as our circadian rhythms, the timing of the messages that instruct our body functions. From 3 to 4 a.m., we are compelled by the strongest sleep urge, when our body temperature is at its lowest. Bright light will keep you awake, whereas darkness helps you to sleep. Although it’s better to not do shift work at all, there are ways to try to lessen the effects in your life. Employers, if you have rotating shifts, make sure your workers are rotating in order, clockwise, from first to second to third shift in a logical progression, so that their bodies have an easier time coping with the transition. Also, try to space rotations as far apart as possible so workers have a better chance of getting their cycles in sync. For the shift workers themselves, here are a few instructions to help you adjust as best as possible: l Try to keep as regular a sleep schedule as possible, even on your days off, so your body isn’t constantly adjusting and readjusting itself. l If you leave work when there is bright light, wear sunglasses home to lessen the waking effects of light. l Sleep in a room that is as dark as possible. l When you finally get up for the day, it’s best to then be exposed to light before you start your shift, whether it’s natural sunlight or some sort of bright-light therapy. If you are a shift worker, you’ll have a difficult time adjusting to a schedule that goes against the natural flow of your body. However, no matter what time of day you go to work and leave, sleep disorders are something to be taken seriously. If you’re having problems sleeping, please consult your physician. DR. TERRY BROWN is the medical director for the Sleep Disorders Center at St. Joseph Memorial Hospital in Murphysboro.

Business Fine Print PERMITS | BANKRUPTCIES Angela Colson, 201.5 N. Vicksburg, Marion Jeffery Crawford and Katharyn Crawford, 10681 Gass St., West Frankfort Stephen Mattingly and Laura Mattingly, 214 Main St., Prairie Du Rocher Elnora Jones, P.O. Box 63, Tamms Carolyn Nunn, 426 E. Jefferson St., Anna Carole Wright, P.O. Box 211, Carbondale Curtis Woolever and Amber Woolever, R.R. 1, Box 163A, Wayne City Billy Lampp and Janalee Lampp, 15707 Illinois 37, Whittington Shawn Rash, 707 S. Future St., Marion Billy Wynn, P.O. Box 164, Ridgway Glen Shands, 901 Roberta Drive, Murphysboro Gene Fisher and Beth Fisher, 604 S. Hohit St., Okawville Jason Krause and Katy Krause, 7535 White Church Road, Okawville Carlo Dial and Carrie Dial, 501A Greenacre Drive, Christopher Leonard Rybacki and Judy Rybacki, 630 S. Line St., Du Quoin John Neff and Karen Neff, 602 W. Walnut Hill Road, Okawville Melissa Larson, 802 N. Van Buren St., Marion Walter Poole and Mary Poole, 18 Bryson Evan Lane, Murphysboro Candace Lewis, 301 E. Allen Ave., Marion Larry Hellberg, 1700 Morgan Ave., Marion Marsha Hart, P.O. Box 89, Buckner Shelia Mack, P.O. Box 9, Pulaski Roland Karcher and Deanna Karcher Jody Cox, 10726 Water Road, Benton Demetrik Wade, P.O. Box 75, Mound City Kevin Westfall and Cynthia Westfall, P.O. Box 552, Crossville Larry Throgmorton and Kathy Throgmorton, 606 S. Court St., Marion Sue Loss, 12926 N. Two Creek Lane, Mount Vernon Ronald Laster, 1760 Illinois 127 Nor th, Jonesboro Crystal Warren, 319 Walnut St., Zeigler Floyd Helton and Pamela Helton, 56 Bullock Lane, Metropolis Chad James, 14470 Cambria Road, Carterville Rebecca Woodward, 108 B Keoneman St., Chester Hank Yoast and Melissa Yoast, 900 S. 14th St., Herrin Terry Walsh and Kara Walsh, 2003 Candle Stick Lane, Marion Henry Brummett and Robyn Brummett, 1009 Castellano St., Marion Sharon Simon, 1040 Kira Court, Carbondale David McCroy and Vanita McCroy, 8 Wedgewood Court, Murphysboro

Deborah Meyer, P.O. Box 392, Vienna Michelle Mickulas, 86 Old Rocky Hollow Road, Murphysboro Phillip Galt and Kimberly Galt, 23110 Miles Trail, Stonefort Nicholas Shelton, 10623 Champaign Road, Johnston City Tom Bridges and Carol Bridges, 18668 Old Diswood Road, Tamms Norma Tate, 407 W. Main St., Ewing Donald Cook and Becky Cook, P.O. Box 207, Christopher John Vaughn and Pamla Vaughn, 316 Fifth St., Cairo Vickie Hicks, P.O. Box 2195, Mount Vernon Darryle Harris, 2106 Holbrook Ave., Cairo Amanda Mays, 5497 Harris St., Mulkeytown Mark Sroka, 227 Wisconsin St., Pinckneyville Darel Voss and Debra Voss, P.O. Box 225, Okawville Curtis Rogers and Darla Rogers, 436 E. Illinois Ave., Carterville Joseph Greenlee and Tana Greenlee, 300 Oakwood Drive, Carterville Sudia Williams, 14568 Cambria Road, Carterville Patrick Paul and Janice Paul, 1140 County Road 1775 East, Carmi Rhonda Baker, 1309 Berlin St., Benton Ray Bell and Cynthia Bell, 7355 Moake School Road, Marion Stephen Cook and Jayma Cook, 503 E. Sixth St., West Frankfort Shane Jackson and Patricia Jackson, 3902 Hitt Road, Tamaroa Daniel Welliver, 822 W. Kennicott St., Carbondale Alan Baker, 201 N. Dewey St., Pittsburg Nathan King, P.O. Box 184, Alto Pass Heather Swedlund, P.O. Box 184, Alto Pass Gary Unthank, 603 Madison St., Eldorado Barbara Barnett, 916 E. South St., Du Quoin Jason Craig and Danielle Craig, 6133 Saraville Road, Creal Springs Richard Pryor and Amanda Pryor, 2013 U.S. 51, Du Quoin James Holley, 622 S. Main St., Anna James Bauer and Teresa Bauer, 690 Tractorman Lane, Jonesboro Floleen Davidson, 1104 Burgess St., Johnston City Leda Clark, 6900 Old U.S. 51 North, Cobden Jeremy Combs and Jessica Combs, P.O. Box 411, Crossville

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