Southern Business Journal by The Southern Illinoisan

SEPTEMBER 2013

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Inside S E PT E M B E R

WORKPLACE Set them free: Employers can do themselves a big favor and boost productivity by allowing employees greater freedom in completing tasks. We are all different; one single style of work may not work for all. It works better if employees are allowed to come up with better and more efficient ways to do things. Recognize, too, that just because individuals are at work does not mean that they are productive. There is a difference between activity and accomplishment. Page 5

INVESTMENTS Like getting a raise: When children leave home and start their own independent lives, parents may notice they suddenly have more money for their own interests, pursuits and dreams. But, before splurging on a dream vacation, it makes sense to look further down the road of life. It might make more sense to add catch-up contributions to your retirement savings. By maximizing your contributions each year for the next 15 years, you could add thousands more to your retirement funds, providing a more comfortable lifestyle in your senior years or enabling an earlier retirement. Page 7

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ENTREPRENEUR’S MAILBAG Boosting your productivity: With an increasing amount of work being done from home, advancing technology has greatly boosted productivity, even for those who limit their at-home computer hardware to smartphones and digital tablets. There is an app for almost everything these days, allowing even hardware minimalists to take advantage of apps that manage customer relations, store data and generate ideas, among other things. It takes a lot of energy to run a business. It makes sense to take advantage of inspiration that occurs during ‘off time.’ Page 12

Carbondale, IL 62903. Also reach us on the Web at www.sbj.biz and via email at SBJ@thesouthern.com. The Journal is published 12 times per year monthly, and mailed to businesses, community development leaders, chambers of commerce members and other professionals in Southern Illinois. Copyright 2013 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 website.

John A. Logan College ........................ 13

Pepsi MidAmerica .............................. 20

SIU Credit Union ................................ 16 Who’s in the news: Find out who has been hired, who has been promoted or who has received an award for efforts in business. Make sure you check out our newest Faces in the News collection and learn more of the achievements and honors in regional business. If you know of a business person who deserves special recognition for advanced training, a unique honor or a business expansion, please let us know at sbj@thesouthern.com. Pages 14, 17

ON THE COVER A horse rests on a fence at Giant City Stables. The Southern File Photo

Publisher: Bob Williams 618-351-5038

Southern Illinoisan. Contact us via mail at 710 N. Illinois Ave., Carbondale, IL 62901, or at P.O. Box 2108,

Casey Communications. ...................... 6

ACHIEVEMENTS

1st Bank and Trust of Murphysboro ........3

Editor: Gary Metro 618-351-5033 Advertising: Mark Dynis 618-351-5815 Design & Layout: Rhonda May 618-529-5454, ext. 5118

Southern Illinois Healthcare.................. 8

Southern Illinois University ................ 18

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SEPTEMBER 2013

SOUTHERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

Cover Story Equine impact: A horse is more than a horse BY DEB SAUERHAGE SBJ CORRESPONDENT

From 4-H kids who show their horses at the county fair to a family with a few horses out back — from trotting horses at Du Quoin to visitors who ride the trails of Southern Illinois — the equine culture has had a big impact on the region. “It is a very vibrant industry in Illinois,” said Frank Bowman, executive director of the Horseman’s Council of Illinois. He added that it’s one of the state’s “best kept secrets.” Pleasure or trail riding, racing and working horses are all big business for Illinois, Bowman said. The equine industry is valued at $3.8 billion for Illinois and $39 billion overall for the United States.

Find more business news at www.sbj.biz. Most horses in Illinois, 70 to 80 percent, are used for recreation, with 15 percent for racing, while 10 percent are working or draft animals, Bowman said. The Horseman’s Council, an association of associations, advocates on behalf of the horse industry and represents 77,000 horse owners of 213,000 horses in Illinois. Many of those horse owners live in or visit Southern Illinois. “Southern Illinois is a huge recreational area with quality trails and horse shows,” Bowman said. “The state and county fairs are also one of the most viable aspects.” SEE COVER / PAGE 4

STEVE MATZKER / SBJ

Walter Gentry talks with his friend, Kirk Muse, about horses at the Ewing Wild Horse Facility in Ewing. The U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management brought over 30 horses to Ewing for adoption.

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SEPTEMBER 2013

Cover Story The equine culture is also good for tourism in Southern Illinois. “Horseback riding and horse camping is very much a viable tourism activity in our area,” said Cindy Cain, executive director for Southernmost Illinois Tourism Bureau. “For our eight southern counties, horses bring in thousands of people a year and contribute significantly to the economy. They buy groceries, gas, visit restaurants and use lodging of all types,” Cain said. She pointed out that riders use the Shawnee National Forest, state parks and private lands. And, the area is wellknown for its beauty and trails, including Giant City Stables in Makanda and Pyramid State Park in Pinckneyville. “We are rated among the top places in the United States for horseback riding,” she added.

Racing Illinois is also home to five race tracks and county and state fairs, which offer more than 100 days of racing for Standardbreds, Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses. While Du Quoin no longer has the famed Hamiltonian or World Trotting Derby, trainers and horse owners come to train on the all-weather track and compete in state and local races. Local fairs, including Perry, Hamilton, Union and Williamson counties, still offer races, along with the Du Quoin State Fair, despite the ailing economy, which has taken a bite out of the racing business. “The racing industry is not what it was at one time,” said Fred Huff, a fair publicist. “It is really dwindling due to the economy.” The hurting state budget has led to the decrease of purses, or the amount offered to race winners. “The Indiana State Fair’s purse is three times larger than the Illinois State Fair,” Huff pointed out. Winners aren’t even receiving the full amount of the purse when they win. He said they are paid a portion right after the race, and the rest is mailed later from the state of Illinois. “People are making a living doing other things or training for others,” Huff said. When trainers bring horses to the area for the racing season or fairs, they rent stalls and purchase hay and grain, gas, groceries and more from local businesses.

SBJ FILE PHOTO

Muscle Hill makes his way down the final stretch en route to winning the World Trotting Derby at the Du Quoin State Fair.

Jim Hannon, general manager of Maywood Park, who runs the racing program at Du Quoin, has noticed the decline in the racing industry in the last five years. “The purse they compete for has declined, and we have casino competition for gambling,” he said. “Illinois is a billion dollar agribusiness; we could have more racers if they offered larger purses.” According to Hannon, the larger purses will bring more ancillary money to the area, with more breeders, more owners and more racing. The competition from other gambling outlets also hurts the racing industry. “We have less people betting less money on fewer horses,” he said. “It’s a circular effect. We could have even higher quality horses, which would attract more stables.” Despite fewer horses and lower purses, stable owners and race goes can expect good races. “Springfield horses come to Du Quoin, expecting a great three-day event,” Hannon said. “We have close to 250 to

300 horses from the surrounding area, Southern Illinois and horses that have raced up north.”

Local businesses The horse industry — horse owners, service providers, employees, volunteers and spectators — directly provides 15,900 full-time jobs, according to the Horseman’s Council. SIU is helping students prepare for a variety of careers in equine sciences. The outlook for the program is more positive than ever, according to new faculty member, Dr. Erin Venable. “We are excited about the growth potential for the program,” Venable said. “The culture of Southern Illinois is intrinsically tied to the equine industry. We enjoy a very close connection with many of our local communities and several local alumni.” Venable sites the large thoroughbred racing/breeding presence in Illinois as a great resource and career opportunity for students.

The equine program, which was developed almost 30 years ago, emphasizes experiential learning and offers students the ability to gain firsthand experience by working with horses on a functional breeding farm. Students are well equipped for a variety of careers in the industry, Venable said. Majors include veterinary medicine, reproductive physiology and nutrition, which may lead to graduate school. Some students are interested in applied equine studies, so they can pursue a career managing an equine operation. “We are also encouraging our students to explore diverse fields such as journalism, marketing, chemistry and many others,” Venable said. “Students with that type of breadth in their academic experience may find themselves highly sought after candidates by a variety of companies who want employees with equine-specific experience with a specialized major.” Of the more than 200 students enrolled in the animal science major, approximately 80 to 100 of them have an emphasis in equine. Local businesses are staying busy. Robert and Sharon Buchanan of Herod have been providing special events and fundraisers at New Hope Hill. They have a waiting list for their annual fall One Horse Gap Trail ride and have been providing facilities for trail riders in Southern Illinois for 29 years. “During the economic crash, we were still full with special events,” Sharon Buchanan said. “It didn’t seem to hurt us.” Wendy Daugherty, owner of Honey Bee Stables in Golconda, offers visitors a chance to “see Southern Illinois on horseback.” Honey Bee Stables specializes in romantic horseback rides for couples and horseback riding vacations with private and guided rides, along with rockclimbing vacations. And, despite the shift in the economy, the business has been busy since it opened nine years ago. “Our business has stayed about the same,” Daugherty said. “We get people from all around, including Chicago and St. Louis. A lot of people enjoy horses, and it is a great way to see the scenery as an alternative to hiking.” Horses have been a source of income SEE COVER / PAGE 5

SEPTEMBER 2013

SOUTHERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

Workplace Set your employees free, watch all the work get done BY ANGELA HOLMES-YOUNG SBJ CONTRIBUTOR

Allow employees to create their own work structure, when possible, and watch the work get done. What? Why? How? We do not all work at the same Holmes-Young pace. We do not all think the same. We do not all learn the same. These are all truths that you hear often, but are you employing these ideas in your own organization? Instead of seeing these things as issues and problems, explore and expand on these items. Recognize the differences and use them. If you have ever talked with me, you should know that I am sizing you up. I am not sizing you up in order to take you down. I am sizing up your personality type. It has become an almost subconscious thing that I do in order to determine the best way to communicate with you. I do this in an effort to foster our working relationship. Do you do this? If so, what do you do with your assessment? Don’t use your powers for evil. Use them for good. Use the

knowledge you gain in order to work better and smarter with the person. We must also remember that we don’t all have to do things the same way. Have you ever started a new job and whoever was training you (if you were lucky enough to get any training) would say “this is how we do it” or “this is how it has to be done.” Maybe and maybe not. I went to high school with a brilliantly talented fellow. Let’s call him Max Vonner. Max and I had many classes together, one of which being English IV with Mrs. Kemp. English IV was right after lunch, and let me tell you that Mrs. Nancy Kemp believed in the power of good writing. Essays would be assigned, and I would work hard, being the good, Swedish, small-town girl that I am. I would spend night after night crafting my essay; and, by the time I was done, it would be good. My serious crafting and re-writes would earn me a solid A, and I would not be happy with anything less. Max would breeze in with 10 minutes left before lunch was over and sit down and write his essay. Seriously. He would sit down across from me sometimes. Yes, he had the gall to do that and write the essay. These were the days when students could handwrite their high school essays. His essays almost always would earn him an A+. So, we both ended up with an A, but I spent much, much more time

working on and polishing mine. What gives? The point: Not everyone requires the same amount of time to produce the same level of quality work. Sorry folks. It’s true. Obviously, Max knew it was true. I am sure that Max knew he didn’t have to waste time when all he needed was a good 10 minutes. It would have been nice if he could have found another place to write, though, instead of directly across from me. Don’t hold employees to time limits or impose timelines on them that they may not need. I needed days to write a good essay, while Max needed only 10 minutes. Now, as I write this, I cannot speak to how long the ideas that Max wrote were “rolling around in his head,” as I call it. I have a writing process that involves picking it up and putting it down a few times. Max must have a different process. Do not stifle employees or make them do things your way. Let them find their own way as long as the job allows. For some products, there may be standard work and work instructions that must be followed in order to produce the agreed upon product that meets the customer’s needs. I get that. When appropriate, allow your employees to do it their way. I have a second point, too. Just because individuals are at work, or at their desk or work station, does not mean that they are productive.

Does your organization require hour after hour of “face time,” where in reality no one is actually doing anything but surfing the Internet and buying shoes? People are there because they have to be — when all of the real work was done Max Vonner-style in 10 minutes. Allow your employees to understand what needs to be done and then let them do it. Sounds terrifying. Well, you need to relax, my friend. The world will not crumble if the work gets done and someone actually goes home at 4:30 p.m. on a Friday. Come on. I dare you to try it. “If you love someone, set them free,” as the saying goes. Well, try this. If you value your employees, set them free from your preconceived notions of how things have to be done. Do not tie them to a process that may not work for them. Allow them to come up with better and more efficient ways to do things. And, recognize that just because individuals are at work does not mean that they are productive. Now, take these two ideas and tie them together. Go forth and lead! ANGELA HOLMES-YOUNG is an SHRM certified human resource professional, writer and author. She can be reached by emailing ang_holmes@yahoo.com or calling 618-5599399. Subscribe to her Twitter: A_Holmes_Young.

COVER: Equine impact: A horse is more than a horse FROM PAGE 4 and pleasure for Rick McKinney, who was raised right with them. He and his wife, Kim, own and operate McKinney’s Western Store in Marion. McKinney said he has seen a lot of changes in the industry over the 23 years they’ve been in business, and that change involves both products and customers. “We have new and better products,” he said. “The technology is better. There is more selection for the horses. There is so much more out there.” According to McKinney, the tack is more specialized. Tack is equipment or

accessories needed for the animal, such as saddles, stirrups, bridles, halters, reins, bits and harnesses. The equipment now comes in different colors, sizes and models. McKinney defines his customers as performance riders — those who compete, trail riders and those who “just want a horse out back.” Along with the equipment, those customers have also changed. “They are more educated about horses,” he said. “But, we still have firsttime horse owners.” McKinney said he has seen a surge in pride in western heritage in the area, and

“now everyone knows about the equine culture.” He credits country music, westerns and even RFD TV for spreading the word about the western lifestyle, and cites cowboy boots as an example. “You’ve got doctors and lawyers wearing ostrich cowboy boots, even in Southern Illinois, to court or to hospitals,” McKinney said. “It’s also become a fashion statement. Boots used to be for work.” McKinney stocks boots for all of his customers — those who want a fashion statement, as well as those who need a pair just for work. Over the years,

McKinney said he has seen more horses move into the area for one big reason — the horse culture environment and Shawnee Forest trails. “People say it’s the best anywhere,” he said. “It’s right here at our back door.” McKinney believes his convenient location, right off the interstate, is one of the many reasons he has customers from all over the United States and the world. “They stop to shop, buy gas, groceries and spend money eating out,” he said. “They are good for our economy.” DEB SAUERHAGE is a correspondent for Southern Business Journal.

SOUTHERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

SEPTEMBER 2013

Elder Law Disclaimer can bring about devastating consequences BY RICHARD HABIGER

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SBJ CONTRIBUTOR

After Arline Shipman moved into a nursing home in April 2008, her husband Eugene “spent down” some of their joint funds to pay for Arline’s care and to qualify her for Medicaid Habiger long-term care assistance. In March 2009, Eugene executed a last will which disinherited Arline. The will stated that he was disinheriting Arline because he “had given her sufficient consideration during [his] lifetime.” On the same day, Arline’s

son David, her agent under a power of attorney, disclaimed on her behalf any inheritance Arline may have been entitled to receive from Eugene’s estate. In July 2010, while Arline was receiving Medicaid assistance for her nursing home care, Eugene died unexpectedly. Subsequently, Arline’s guardian filed a petition on her behalf claiming an elective share of Eugene’s estate. The trial court denied the petition. The Medicaid program intervened and asked the court to reconsider. The court denied the request, and Medicaid appealed. The decision was reversed by the appellate court. Entitlement to an elective share

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While the use of a disclaimer is a fairly common technique that a non-elder law attorney might use in a decedent’s estate or for estate planning purposes, its use in a case where one of the spouses has received or is receiving Medicaid long-term care assistance can bring about devastating consequences. under South Dakota statutes was not a matter of equity; rather, it was a matter of right. The appellate court held that the trial court erred in applying equitable principles, rather than the statutory requirements in determining Arline’s entitlement to an elective share. Because Arline and Eugene had been married for more than 50 years, Arline had a statutory right to an elective share that was 50 percent of Eugene’s estate. The trial court also erred in determining that Arline had already received her elective share because, during the marriage, Eugene used marital assets to pay for Arline’s nursing home care. Arline’s elective share could not be satisfied by money used during the marriage to pay Arline’s nursing home expenses because those funds were utilized to fulfill Eugene’s and Arline’s legal duty to financially support themselves and each other. Another state statute authorized disclaimers of a surviving spouse’s elective share; however, the disclaimer in this case was revocable until the time period to file a disclaimer had lapsed. Arline’s failure to pursue her elective share would have compromised her Medicaid eligibility for nursing home care. If the disclaimer were not revoked, Arline would have lost Medicaid eligibility in addition to not receiving her 50 percent share of Eugene’s estate. Under the circumstances, the appellate court held that it was in Arline’s best interests to revoke the disclaimer. Arline’s disclaimer had been improperly used as an estate planning tool. The disclaimer was executed contemporaneously with Eugene’s last will in an attempt to obtain Medicaid benefits, while simultaneously transferring the value of Arline’s elective

share to the Shipmans’ son and grandchildren. Based on these facts, the appellate court held that the trial court should have granted the motion to revoke the disclaimer made on behalf of Arline. While the Shipman case is a South Dakota case and does not have direct application to Illinois, it demonstrates the trouble a non-elder law attorney can create for his client when he tries to apply traditional legal principles to a case involving Medicaid. Indeed, the analysis of the Medicaid law made by the South Dakota appellate court is consistent with what the Illinois courts would decide if a similar factual case were to arise in Illinois. In short, while the use of a disclaimer is a fairly common technique that a nonelder law attorney might use in a decedent’s estate or for estate planning purposes, its use in a case where one of the spouses has received or is receiving Medicaid long-term care assistance can bring about devastating consequences. On the other hand, there might have been additional facts that are not stated in the Shipman opinion which would have allowed an experienced elder law attorney to have used one or more other legal techniques or strategies to preserve at least a portion of the $208,388.15 that the executor of Eugene Shipman’s estate must now turn over to Arline’s guardian so the sum can be used to pay privately for her nursing home care. RICHARD HABIGER is author of the Illinois edition of “How to Protect Your Family’s Assets from Devastating Nursing Home Costs: Medicaid Secrets” and an elder law attorney who focuses on asset protection, Medicaid and VA benefits. He may be contacted at 618-549-4529 or info@HabigerElderLaw.com.

SEPTEMBER 2013

SOUTHERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

Investments An empty nest could mean a fuller wallet BY MICHAEL P. TISON SBJ CONTRIBUTOR

“Pomp and Circumstance” is streaming throughout the auditorium. You beam with pride as a dean confers a degree upon your child. Your baby just graduated Tison college. With any luck, she already will have lined up a promising job in her chosen field and an apartment near her new office. To prove her independence, she’s taking on her phone bills, utilities, rent, insurance and car payments, and your financial obligations have moved on with her. Now what? Well, you just got a raise, so to speak. The money once reserved for your child’s needs and wants is available again to fulfill your own. You may be tempted to splurge on a pricey vacation, but consider other uses first.

Think about the future Chances are you’re in your 50s and you now have the opportunity to make catch-up contributions to your retirement savings. The amounts vary, depending on the type of account, so it’s best to check irs.gov or consult your tax advisor for the current allowable contributions. If you maximize your contributions each year for the next 15 years, you could add thousands more to your retirement funds.

Be realistic Many parents want to continue to offer their children extra support, be it for a down payment on their first house or to help fund a college education for future grandchildren. If you can see yourself continuing to bestow monetary gifts to your children, ask how you can incorporate this wish into your overall financial plan. Your advisor may have ideas on how to

accomplish that in the most taxefficient way possible, while still keeping you on track to achieve your financial goals.

Protect your legacy Use this time of transition to update your will, as well. Chances are, the previous iteration named guardians for your minor children, which may not be necessary now that your kids are adults. If you’re so inclined, you could also take another look at your charitable giving. The extra money that once went toward college tuition might have a virtuous impact on behalf of a cause near and dear to your heart. You might also consider making one of your children the executor of your estate. If you haven’t already, you should designate someone who has powers of attorney over your health care and finances in case of incapacitation. Spouses usually fulfill this role, but you can name your grown children as successors. Of course, any time you experience a change in circumstances, you should also review your beneficiaries on your retirement, savings and brokerage accounts, as well as your insurance policies. If your child doesn’t have employersponsored health care coverage, new laws allow you to keep him or her on your policy until age 26.

However, if your child is eligible for his or her own health insurance, you might be able to save some money by removing your child from your health care plan. This is also the time you’ll want to be thinking about long-term care insurance, if you haven’t already discussed this with your planner or purchased a policy. Studies show that long-term care, which generally is not covered by Medicare, could deplete your retirement savings, and the need for care increases as you age. Buying a policy in your 50s and 60s when you’re in good health will be easier than trying to purchase one as you get older, especially if a physical is required to qualify.

Treat yourself Let’s not kid ourselves. It’s human nature to want to splurge a little when there’s new-found wiggle room in your finances. Boston College’s Center for Retirement Research found that spending on nondurable goods, the fun things, jumped more than 50 percent per person for empty nesters. Understandable, after years of ponying up for dance lessons and soccer dues. If you have extra room in your budget, go ahead and indulge.

Move on Next, consider where you want to live. Would you prefer a smaller house?

Would you rather move to a less expensive home and invest the difference in the markets or some other option? When you’re ready to downsize, you may be able to free up equity already built up in your existing home. Selling your home and moving to a smaller one may mean even more resources available in your later years and could help you make up for a lessthan-stellar savings track record. Plus, you’ll likely benefit from lower costs of living, maintenance costs, property taxes and insurance premiums.

Focus on you Now that you have more time and resources, you can prioritize your future. It’s a good idea to talk about this life change with your professional advisors and make sure your financial plan reflects your new circumstances. For example, you may want to adjust your asset allocation, because your goals have changed, or use the extra money to step up investments in your overall portfolio, potentially increasing your net worth. MICHAEL P. TISON is an investment advisor 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.

SEPTEMBER 2013

SOUTHERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

Money Matters What if Fannie and Freddie went away? Things might change for mortgage lenders, borrowers BY SCOTT MCCLATCHEY SBJ CONTRIBUTOR

Is a new homefinancing system ahead? In the text of a speech delivered Aug. 6, President Obama said, “I believe that while our housing system must have a limited government McClatchey role, private lending should be the backbone of the housing market.” This statement came as part of a call for winding down Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and revamping home financing in America. How might the playing field change? Right now, Fannie and Freddie backstop almost 90 percent of U.S. home loans. They are also $187.5 billion in debt to taxpayers, a result of the 2008 bailout that rescued them from the edge of insolvency. Two measures are already under way in Congress to replace both government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) within the next few years. If a bipartisan bill introduced this spring by Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., and Mark Warner, D-Va., becomes law, it would transfer lending risk over to private capital. The proposed legislation would require private lenders to assume the first 10 percent of losses on individual home loans, and stay sufficiently capitalized to counter major losses. A new federal agency, the Federal Mortgage Insurance Corporation (FMIC), would regulate the mortgage industry and act to insure banks in a crisis. Just how would it be funded? A fee would be assessed on each mortgage issued. In the vision of the bill, the FMIC would pay for itself, thanks to those fees, and have enough left over to fund the construction of affordable multifamily properties and provide assistance to low-income homebuyers. Another bill written by House

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What would happen to mortgage rates without Fannie and Freddie? They would almost certainly rise. Private lenders have little motivation to finance home loans the way the rules are now, and it would take significant incentives to bring them back into the market.

Financial Services Committee chairman Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, would terminate Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac without a replacement; the FHA would be the last remaining U.S. mortgage backstop. As Bloomberg notes, no House Democrats have emerged to support that bill. And, as The Baltimore Sun notes, the bill drafted by Sens. Corker and Warner stands little chance of getting past the House. So, it seems the playing field might be reshaped only after considerable compromise. Aren’t Freddie and Fannie turning a profit now? Yes, but none of it is paying for their bailout. The GSEs have now returned more than $131 billion in dividends to the Treasury, but that money represents return on investment for Uncle Sam. It doesn’t whittle away the $187.5 billion owed to taxpayers. What would happen to mortgage rates without Fannie and Freddie? They would almost certainly rise. Private lenders

have little motivation to finance home loans the way the rules are now, and it would take significant incentives to bring them back into the market. As Moody’s Analytics chief economist Mark Zandi told CNBC, “[That] will mean higher mortgage rates. The question is how much higher.” In particular, first-time or lower-income homebuyers might find it tougher to qualify for a loan. (In one key respect, it has grown tougher: the average credit score for a Fannie and Freddie loan in 2012 was 756, compared to 720 in 2006.) Would the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage become an endangered species? That is another concern. Without Fannie and Freddie around to guarantee home loans against defaults, the worry is that the standard American mortgage would become scarce. In many other nations, 30-year home loans are unconventional. The fear is that banks would address the default risks of 30year mortgages by asking for larger

down payments and demanding higher interest rates. True change will likely take a few years. It is hard to imagine Fannie and Freddie liquidating their portfolios and going out of business soon. Reform will probably proceed gradually — very gradually. President Obama’s call to unwind both GSEs and the recent proposals to replace them certainly amount to interesting food for thought. SCOTT MCCLATCHEY is a certified financial planner with Alliance Investment Planning Group, a Carbondale investment firm located at 115 S. Washington St. He can be reached at 618-519-9344 or scott@allianceinvestmentplanning.com. He also provides investment, retirement planning and insurance services to SIU Credit Union members through the SIU Credit Union Investment Services partnership. Securities offered through LPL Financial, member FINRA/SIPC.

SOUTHERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

SEPTEMBER 2013

Entrepreneur’s Mailbag Business apps provide a boost in productivity SBJ CONTRIBUTOR

There has been a steady rise in the work-from-home economy as more and more entrepreneurs join the ranks. According to the National Federation of Independent Gray Businesses, about 22 percent of all small businesses operate out of a home office. This diverse knew workplace and work-onthe-go environment has been greatly aided by the never ending advancements in technology. As a technology minimalist, you’ll usually catch me at any given time with either an iPad or iPhone. For me the real value for being effective and efficient in my day to day activities is in the software. Because there is an app for almost everything these days, the following is a list of my top seven mobile app categories. Customer Relationship Management: Knowledge management is a key to the success of any business. Proper data management can help you better understand who your customers are, where they live, what their preferences are and allows for better overall marketing. In short customer, relationship management allows you to gain a 360-degree view of your business. Although there are endless choices for managing your company’s information, my app of choice is Salesforce.com. Data Storage: As our economy has become more service based, we have become less dependent on the need for physical documents. As a result many companies have gone paperless and are switching to digital records. As an information junkie, I now swear by a service called Shoeboxed, which allows me to mail documents in prepaid envelopes to be scanned and uploaded to an account that I manage. The scanned documents are later returned to me where I have the choice of

keeping some and shredding the rest. Idea Generation: For years, I kept one business journal after another for logging start-up ideas and as well as an ever expanding idea folder. That is until I was introduced to Evernote. Now I’m able to capture new passing thoughts, solidify ideas, capture magazine articles, photos and just about anything else that comes to mind all on the fly. Now that I have found a way to incorporate the app into my daily work routine I’ve found it to be indispensible. This app is a must for anyone that has ever had a great idea and because they couldn’t write it down — lost it. Content Management Systems: Years ago the good folks at Splattered Ink helped The Entrepreneur Café LLC make the switch from our old website to a content management system. For a nontechnical guy, the Joomla software makes it easier for me to manage and distribute the increasing amount of content our organization is producing. There’s a host of turnkey, web development solutions that make creating a dynamic website a lot easier. Many of them are pretty good, but Joomla has served us well over the years. Social Media Management: Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and the list of social media sites goes on and on. If you have made the commitment to really do social media, especially if you are using more than one platform, then an all-inone social management tool is a must. You can load your content of choice for the day, the week or longer, across all of your social media sites at one time. Some of the names that come to mind include TweetDeck, Sprout Social, Actionly, and Social Mention. My social media tool of choice is HootSuite. Office Productivity: For me I’m not sure when the switch from Microsoft took place but it happened. Slowly but surely, Outlook was replaced by Gmail, Google Calendar became my preferred datebook and now Drive has become my collaboration go-to, along with some other Google add-on products. In the past I would have sworn by Microsoft, however, these days I find myself giving

the nod to Google Apps for office productivity. Games: You know what they say about all work and no play. I’ve never been a big video game person but with two growing boys I find that I now have more gaming apps on my devices then I know what to do with — and since they are already there … Running a business takes a lot of mental energy and at times it’s difficult to turn your brain off. When I do get a little down time I usually enjoy the following apps:

BubbleXplode, NBA Jams, PGA Golf, Chess, and no one can go wrong with UNO. For many our technology plays a huge role in how we function on daily basis in both our personal and professional lives. All it takes is a quick glance around you to count the number of individuals gazing at screens or those intensely firing off texts. What are your favorite business or productivity apps? CAVANAUGH L. GRAY (cgray@ecafellc.com) is the Director of Business Development for

The Entrepreneur Café, L.L.C (877) 5114820. To read a chapter from his new book The Entrepreneurial Spirit Lives: 25 Tales to Help Entrepreneurs Start, Grow, and Succeed in Small Business log on to www.ecafellc.com. For more information on how to start, grow and succeed in small business, ‘Like’ on Facebook, ‘Follow’ on Twitter @TheECafe or ‘Connect’ on LinkedIn.

ART SERVIC ES

BY CAVANAUGH L. GRAY

SOUTHERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

Achievements

Faces in the news Razer Safety & Health Consultants opens

Razer

Razer Safety & Health Consultants, LLC, an occupational safety and health consulting firm, opened recently in Sparta. Chester R. Razer of Sparta, originally from Benton, is the owner and operator. He is a former director for OSHA. An SIU graduate, Razer has a master’s degree in engineering and is a certified safety professional. He can be reached at 618-443-4276. More information about the company is available at www.razersafetyandhealthconsulting.com.

The Shop hair salon opens Becky Bailey, formerly of Varsity South, has

Starbuck

opened The Shop, a new hair salon at 703 S. Illinois Ave. in Carbondale. The Shop is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. For an appointment, call 618-4574557. Walk-ins are welcome.

Alto Vineyards opens new tasting room Winters

Cunetto

Cain 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.

SEPTEMBER 2013

Alto Vineyards has added a modern touch with a new tasting room. This 5,000-foot space was built to meet the present-day demands of a higher volume of wine enthusiasts and will also double as a premier event space. The new tasting room has extended weekend hours to 7 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. More information is available at www.altovineyards.net.

Batson certified as organic hair colorist Angela Batson from Envi Salon & Spa in Carbondale recently completed all of the requirements to become an Organic Salon Systems certified hair colorist. Organic Salon Systems, headquartered in Palm Harbor, Fla., is committed to education as it pertains to the specialized organics market and is validating top-chosen stylists in the country as certified organic hair colorists upon completion of advanced training. Batson, a licensed cosmetologist, established Envi Salon & Spa in 2007. She also is a licensed massage therapist and certified in Natural Products Formulation & Manufacturing.

Aisin Electronics announces promotions Aisin Electronics Illinois, LLC, in Marion has announced the following promotions to support continued business growth and introduction of

Shane Moore, department manager for corporate planning; William Cox, assistant department manager of HR/safety/environmental; Bill Bledsoe, assistant department manager of manufacturing; Dave Pierce, section manager of production engineering (sensor); Steve Szczeblewski, section manager of material flow; Tony Darnell, section manager of quality control (ECU); Chuck Blumstein, section manager of quality control (sensor); Jacob Westbrooks, assistant manager of quality control (ISO/TS); and Mike Evans, assistant manager of maintenance.

Wilson, Intravaia attend conference Donna Wilson, professor of dance in the kinesiology department at SIU, and Creative Dance Workshop Director Toni Intravaia attended the International Conference Kinetography Laban Conference July 29 to Aug. 7 at York University in Toronto, Canada. As ICKL members, each participated in the conference lectures and performed in the daily workouts. They returned to Carbondale enthusiastic about beginning fall classes.

Starbuck completes Steinway class Karl Starbuck, a resident of both Herrin and St. Louis, completed the third of four classes taught this summer at the Steinway factory in Queens, N.Y. The CF Theodore Steinway Academy is considered the most advanced training in the piano industry for established piano technicians. There is a limit of four students for each class, with only 16 positions open for each class each year, and a waiting list of more than two years. Starbuck is scheduled to attend the fourth class in September of 2014. Steinway Piano Gallery of St. Louis co-sponsors his training. Starbuck, who began his business in 1986, received honors this year for 25 years as a registered piano technician of the Piano Technicians Guild.

Winters recognized for outstanding achievement Theresa Winters of West Frankfort, a senior rising star designer with Celebrating Home, was recognized for her outstanding achievement in recruiting nine new designers during the month of March. She placed third in the company that month and is ranked 99th in the company nationally. Winters was treated to a special luncheon, awarded $300 in new products and received a special sash to wear during the company’s recent national rally in Columbus, Ohio. During

the rally, she was recognized on stage with the Nation’s Honor Court. She has been with the company for six years.

Ashby presents workshop at conference Judy Ashby of Carbondale, executive director of the LifeSavers Training Corp., attended the American Mental Health Counselors Association’s annual conference July 18 to 20 in Arlington, Va. The LifeSavers training program was featured at the national conference. Ashby presented a two-hour workshop, “LifeSavers: A Suicide and Crisis Prevention Training Program for High School and College that Works.” For information about bringing LifeSavers to a school, email Ashby at lifesaversjudy@frontier.com or call 618-549-5578.

McGrath receives Jack Phelan Award Mike McGrath of the financial services firm Edward Jones in Anna recently won the firm’s Jack Phelan Award for his exceptional achievement in building client relationships. Headquartered in St. Louis, Edward Jones provides financial services for individual investors in the United States and, through its affiliate, in Canada.

New MRI improves accuracy A new MRI at Baptist Health Paducah provides the clearest images currently possible of the human anatomy, improving diagnostic accuracy in less time for better patient care. Diagnostic imaging director Bob Seely said the new unit replaces one of two MRIs in the hospital; two additional MRIs are in the freestanding imaging center adjacent to the hospital. Both locations now offer open MRIs for claustrophobic patients.

Cunetto joins Ultimate Rehab Donna Cunetto recently joined Ultimate Rehab, an outpatient physical therapy clinic in Christopher. She will provide marketing and public relations for the clinic, which is owned by physical therapist Ben Rice and his wife, Heather. Cunetto has worked in health care marketing in Southern Illinois for 15 years. Ultimate Rehab contracts with Bi-County Home Health to provide home therapy in Franklin, Williamson, Jackson and Johnson counties.

SEE ACHIEVEMENTS / PAGE 17

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SEPTEMBER 2013

SOUTHERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

Achievements Cain ranks in top 10 sales brokers Pinckneyville Community Wanda Cain of Coldwell Banker J. David Hospital honored

Thompson Realty was ranked in the top 10 sales associates for the second quarter of 2013 in total units and listing units in Illinois for the Coldwell Banker franchise system. “Residential real estate sales are strong in Williamson County because, even with the growth, our communities maintain the small town feeling people want,” Cain said.

Union County Hospital achieves new status Union County Hospital has received accreditation from the Society of Chest Pain Centers, an international not-for-profit organization that focuses on transforming cardiovascular care by assisting facilities in their effort to create communities of excellence that bring together quality, cost and patient satisfaction. Hospitals that have received SCPC accreditation have achieved a higher level of expertise in dealing with patients who arrive with symptoms of a heart attack.

Pinckneyville Community Hospital has been chosen for the hospital spotlight published in the Rural Hospital Performance Improvement — July Delta Dispatch. PCH was chosen in recognition for the Balanced Scorecard Development project because of the team’s excellent work and dedication to implementing the consultant’s best-practice recommendations.

Nephrologist joins Crossroads Mayo Clinic-trained nephrologist Kirandeep Khangura, M.D., has joined the medical staff of Crossroads Community Hospital in Mount Vernon. Dr. Khangura will begin her nephrology practice at Crossroads Specialty Clinic, where she will specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of kidney diseases. This will include acute renal failure, chronic kidney disease, dialysis, blood in the urine, kidney stones and uncontrolled hypertension.

Calendar Jobe Electronix receives award Jobe Electronix has been selected for the 2013 Best of Marion Award in the electronic components category by the Marion Award Program. Each year, the Marion Award Program identifies companies that have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local communities and business categories. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

SIU Med School physician recertified Sharon Smaga, professor of family and community medicine at SIU School of Medicine in Carbondale, has been recertified in family medicine and geriatrics for 10 years by the American Board of Family Medicine. Dr. Smaga sees patients at SIU Family Medicine Center in Carbondale and is part of SIU Geriatric Evaluation and Memory Disorder Clinic.

Sept. 5 Starting a Business in Illinois workshop: 1 to 3 p.m., room 150, Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center, 1740 Innovation Drive, Carbondale. Free. An optional business start-up kit is available for $15. To register, call 618-536-2424, email sbdc@siu.edu or visit www.siusbdc. com.

Sept. 10 Lunch & Learn workshop: Noon to 1 p.m., SIU Credit Union Data Center, 400 N. Giant City Road, Carbondale (across the street from branch). Free. Lunch will be provided. Scott McClatchey, certified financial planner with SIU Credit Union Investment Services, will talk about what financial markets may do in the second half of 2013. To reserve a spot, call 618-549-8621.

Sept. 11 Excel 2010 Level 1 training: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Shawnee Community College, 8364 Shawnee College Road, Ullin. Cost is $55, which includes materials and lunch. To register, contact Gabriele Farner at 618-634-3254 or gabrielef@shawneecc.edu.

Business Fine Print Building permits Carbondale Alumni Investments, 2007 W. Gray Drive, $250 Alumni Investments, 618 W. Owens St., $250 Sorensen Enterprises, 1875 N. Oakland Ave., $15,000 Angela LeBlanc, 605 S. Dixon Ave., $24,159 Joy Koenig, 712 N. Springer St., $32,000 Delores Easley, 204 E. Willow St., $36,958 David Brunaugh, 611 N. Allyn St., $500 Darvell Samuel, 106 S. Frances Lane, $500 Elizabeth Hess, 414 S. Graham Ave., $500 Jeffrey Graham, 1495 Bradford Lane, $20,000 Frances Shiplett, 490 Concord Cour t, $12,000 Prime Proper ty Management, 500 N. Westridge Drive, $5,000 Manor Cour t/RFMS, 2940 W. Westridge Place, $8,200,000 Integrity Built/Neuro Res., 1050 N. Reed Station Road, $621,790

Lane Bryant, 1245 E. Main St., $341,740 Ulta Beauty, 1245 E. Main St., $400,000 Pinch Penny Liquors, 701 E. Grand Ave., $8,000 Pizza King, 308 S. Illinois Ave., $19,700 Ming Buffet, 1285 E. Main St., $110,000 Allied Wireless Communications, 925 E. Larch St., $12,000

Marion Lawler Law Firm, 1600 W. Main, $104,000 South Porte Bank, 701 N. Court, $120,000 Bill Hezlep, 2001 Dawn Drive, $9,500 Bill Butler, 1208 S. Court St., $5,000 Roger Beasley, 600 N. Court St., $40,000 Matt Wodiak, 3415 Office Park Drive, $135,000 Floyd A. Dean, 1409 W. Goodall, $2,000 Marion Toyota, 2600 Cree Drive, $275,000

Metropolis Robert and Carol Davis, 604 Vienna St., $500 Jason Cates, 6 Eagle Lane, $130, 000 Brenda Adair, 600 Third St., $250

Carl E. Metcalf, 1504 Catherine St., $139,800

Mount Vernon Robyn Sumner, 327 Main St., $100 Jeff Ramsey, 12252 E. Harlan Road, $8,400 Circle K, 103 S. 34th St., $15,700 Dollar General Store, Illinois 37 South, $9,840 Austin’s Floral Accents 813 Broadway, $200 Larr y Sidwell, 1812 Richview Road, $20,000 Central Christian Church, 1125 Maple, $0 Central Christian Church, 1117 Maple, $0 Kenneth Hails, 101 Grant, $0 Kathleen Moon, 1316 George, $5,000 Bill and Toni Hutchison, 15078 Loop Lane, $180,000 Kent and Chelsea McHahon, 1016 Birdie Lane, $250,000 Byrd Watson, 3401 Broadway, $14,700 Misty King, 2623 Benton Road, $35,000 William Pittman, 403 Stinson, $200 Kenneth Clark, 608 Main St., $0

Murphysboro Aaron Vigardt, 216 S. 15th St., $2,000 Marge Herrin, 2126 Clay St., $3,000 Mark Pete Martin, 1903 Minton, $1,500 Robert McGowan, 491 Wells St., $2,891 John A. Harrison, 512 DeWitte St., $1,000 Paul Huffman, 60 Niemann Lane, $532,700 Raymond Cook, 507 Lucier St., $4,250 Stephen Baskin, 913 Rober ta Drive, $30,000 Marsha and Robert Gottlieb, 2203 Alexander Ave., $6,000 Lela Caswell, 2103 Elm St., 7,200 Five Star Realty, 2104 Herbert St., $6,700

Bankruptcies Chapter 7 Michael L. Smith, 923 N. Almond St., Carbondale Rodney T. Dale, 1748 Ames Road, Prairie Du Rocher SEE FINE PRINT / PAGE 19

SEPTEMBER 2013

SOUTHERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

Business Fine Print Courtney L. Crick, 930 Big Ridge Road, Harrisburg Michelle L. Eisenhauer, 11740 Hafer Road, Carterville Trinaca Diane Logan, 522 Smith Drive, Carmi Penny Lynn Wheatley, 609 S. Washington, Du Quoin Michelle L. Dawes, 1211 Market Ave., Johnston City Marvin L. Hammel, P.O. Box 372, Chester Vanessa K. Lowe, 1006 Poplar St., Mount Carmel Jonathan R. Kerr, 3334 Joppa Road, Metropolis Brandi Lynn Lamp, 2975 Deer Ridge Road, Goreville Charles D. and Brenda L. Hickman, 7126 Illinois 127 South, Murphysboro Stephanie K. Weathers, 2129 Rains St., Murphysboro Odel Lewis, 611 W. Owens, Carbondale Edwin J. Johner, 389 E. Ashley St., Ashley Johnny Webster Rankin, 3000 Pine Ridge Drive, Herrin Frank J. Hasty, 710 E. Fourth St., West Frankfort Chad W. and Brandy L. Berning, 12191 E. Baseline, Kell Maria R. Hilliard, 1205 N. 11th, Mount Vernon Michael Douglas and Teresa Lynn Brandon, 12763 Illinois 37, Marion Sami W. Issawi, 1008 W. Main St., Carmi Carol A. Warren, 142 Murcale Gardens, Apt. B 4, Murphysboro Derek W. Thompson, 1305 Nor ton St., Carterville Michael W. and Danece L. Curtis, 25431 Tamms Olive Branch Road, Tamms Craig Darren and Ann Michelle Clark, 686 County Road, 000E, Ellery Beau Bequette, 106 Quail Run, Woodlawn Lisa M. Rone, 416 N. Seventh, Herrin Wayne D. Harris Jr., 945 E. Franklin, Du Quoin Michelle R. Demmon, 5093 Park St., Mulkeytown Mar y M. Hogg, 605 W. Raymond, Harrisburg Mark A. and Lela Michele Holmes, 5813 Bluebird Road, Benton Paul Gerard Szweda, 1159 Boulder Creek Drive, Apt. 207, Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Fallon Melody K. Winstead, 304 E. Seventh, Johnston City Angela Marie Lowe, 403 Poplar St., Mound City David M. and Amanda E. Bogdas, 880 Ralls Lane, Dongola

John M. and Amanda M. Mitchell, 504 N. Cochran St., West Frankfort Kevin W. and Maria Frances Tomblinson, 810 N. Mulberry St., Mount Carmel Matthew R. Zagorski, 414 S. Washington St., Apt. 2, Carbondale Michael L. and Lisa K. Conrad, 13888 Binkley Road, Johnston City Robert Frederic Madl, 405 E. S. Third St., Red Bud Sandra E. Madl, in care of Wendy Guebert, POA, 97 W. Sherwood Drive, St. Louis Dennis R. Jones II, 3033 Doctor Springs Road, Carterville Tiffany A. Jones, 803 Ridge St., Carterville Mar y E. Diefenbach, 2207 Wise St., Eldorado Michael R. and Jacqueline G. Holman, 103 W. First St., Ewing William Louis and Sandra Lee Spain, 610 W. St. Louis St., West Frankfort Robert W. and Babette J. Cook, P.O. Box 77, Galatia Nira Ruth Mann, P.O. Box 121, Dowell Megan L. Nicholson, 1501 N. Russell, Lot 4, Marion David R. and Beth W. Moser, 13546 N. Harmony Lane, Opdyke Brenda S. Ramsey, 801 Columbia St., West Frankfort Duane A. Williams and Kristie L. Hamilton, 217 N. Madison, Benton Shannon Gail Blackwelder, 127 S. Main St, Junction Anthony J. and Christine R. Malawy, 716 Bluejay Drive, Carbondale James Jamal Brooks, 417 Nor th St., Mount Vernon Virginia G. Baker, 4565 Mount Pisgah Road, Cypress Larr y D. Sledge, 16 Cottonwood Drive, Mount Vernon James Daniel Smith, 601 W. Belcher, Marion Anthony R. Neikes, 314 N. Maple St., Christopher

Chapter 13 Terry D. Willis and Rosemary L. Ort Willis, 106 W. Nettie St., Sesser Lorena Louise Phillips, 708 E. 15th, Mulkeytown David Justin Clardy, 217 S. Giant City Road, Lot 14, Carbondale Jodie K. Strong, 1267 Campground Road, Ava Donna K. Harris, 13209 Third Ave., Cairo Greg J. and Michele F. DeFord, 111 E. Hawkins St., Pinckneyville Paula J. Wells, P.O. Box 208, Orient Bonita Gale Camper, P.O. Box 395, Sparta

Find more business news at www.sbj.biz. Kitty M. Triplett, P.O. Box 2505, Carbondale Scott E. Sherry L. Cordevant, 4360 Polk Road, Oakdale Marsha A. Denney, 9537 Pentecost Road, Marion Christopher H and Stella L. Har tman, 10646 N. County Line Road, Carbondale Steven Eugene and Anna Elizabeth Lampley, 520 Lawrence St., Benton Steven B. and Joyce L. Rehmer Rehmer, P.O. Box 165, Willisville Jennifer J. Brimm, 935 Triple S. Road, Harrisburg Shelby J. Elkins, 343 W. Second North St., Tamaroa Jessica L. Swofford, 337 E. First South St., Tamaroa Douglas Lee Wedeking Jr., 510 N. Gordon, Pinckneyville Dallas J. and Sbrina D. Walker, 172 Shedville Road, Golconda Christopher A. and Gina M. Hafertepe, 435 Indian Ridge Road, Jacob Eric Scott and Mary Beth Polley, 210 E. Broadway, Steeleville Loxie U. Sanders, 426 E. End St., Carrier Mills Patrick J. and Patricia Suzanne Surgeon, P.O. Box 1253, Marion Justin R. Charmaine R. Skidmore, 7087 Illinois 151, Ava Robert Charles and Vicki Ann Winemiller, 8412 S. Stuyvesant, Benton Mark E. Sink, 4001 Memorial Drive, Belleville Timmy R. and Elizabeth A. Bundren, 850 Shake Rag Road, Dongola Mar y L. Tomberlin, 220 S. Third St., Mound City Christy Ann McCormick, 9 Mayberry Drive, Metropolis Donald Roland and Katherine Marie Diemert, 1101 Coral St., Red Bud Gregor y M. Danielle K. Williams, 510 Virginia Ave., Carterville Terra R. Gist, 305 W. 10th St., Metropolis Kandus M. Thompson, 302 W. Park St., Benton Joan H. Johnson, 504 Sylvia, Christopher Edward R. Wagoner, 117 Pleasant Hill Lane, Ridgeway, S.C. Sondra K. Sauerhage, 9167 State Route 153, Sparta JoAnn M. Shaffar, 121 Kirk St., Anna Timothy A. Albrecht, 121 Kirk St., Anna James B. Moore, 1113 Burgess St., Johnston City

Carolyn S. and Phillip N. Boss, 7225 State Route 152, Du Quoin Jason C. and Jennifer M. Gentles, 2934 Brownsville Road, Mount Vernon Joseph E. and Debra A. Blessing, 313 W. Pecan, Carbondale Chad B. Smith, 1220 N. 14th St., Herrin Timothy W. Moore, Route One, Box 37A, Elizabethtown Derek Andrew Siefert and Cori Melinda Siefert, 422 N. Pope, Du Quoin Rhea C. Kor te, 13637 Coal Belt Lane, Marion Ricky L. Seddon, 1215 E. Grayson, Benton Elaine Marie Tanner, 214 W. Fourth St., Mount Carmel Kiffy R. Sanders, 768 Filmore Square, Herrin Bradley Charles and Mary Anne Neal, 2404 North St., Harrisburg Terr y D. and Rebecca R. Glodo, 56 Eastwood Drive, Mc Clure Jeffery M. and Rebecca D. Doolin, 117 N. Meadow, Royalton Jimmie Maurice and Tina Susan Matthews, 3407 Westmont, Apt. 4, Mount Vernon Joe Allen and Marsha Jean Holderfield, 1711 Quail Run, Marion John M. and Jennifer L. Davis, 204 Hilltop, Marion Charles L. Rolfe, 504 Williams, Anna Rebecca L. Lowe, 403 Poplar St., Mound City Kewanna M. Mack, P.O. Box 9, Pulaski Joshua L. Conklin 602 Ellis Blvd., Ellis Grove Steve E. and Kathi J. Lirot, 305 W. Fifth St., West Frankfort Ryan L. Schuler, P.O. Box 1111, Murphysboro Russell A. and Judy Chiaventone, 841 Stardust Drive, Herrin