www.arcolarecordherald.com Volume 153 — Number 14 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014 ONE SECTION — 12 PAGES School, Community Pay Tribute To Area Veterans The gymnasium at Arcola High School was filled with more than 1,000 students and community residents on Tuesday to pay tribute to the area veterans shown above during the annual Veterans Day Assembly. The nearly 90-minute ceremony included patriotic music performed by the school’s band and chorus, elementary students leading the Pledge of Allegiance and special presentations from AHS teacher Emily Coombe’s Speech class. Junior high students, led by history teacher Michelle Jones, also shared their Medal of Honor projects. In addition, sixth grader Ilusha Budd read his poem, “Father, oh Father.” The highlight of the ceremony was the introduction of 48 veterans who attended. They 12.3 Million Veterans May Be Eligible For VA Pension • Learn if you or a loved one is eligible to receive $13,561 to $25,020 per year, tax-free, at Carriage Crossing workshop Thursday Carriage Crossing of Arcola is hosting a free educational workshop during Veterans Week about the VA Aid and Attendance benefit on Thursday, November 13, 2014 at 6 p.m. This event is open to the public and will take place at Carriage Crossing, which is located at 909 Green Mill Road, Arcola. Please call 217-498-3117 to register. 12.3 million Veterans served in World War II, Korea, or Vietnam. These soldiers and their surviving spouses may be eligible for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs Aid and Attendance Pension, which offers a monthly tax-free benefit, ranging from $1,130 to $2,085 per month. Veterans Financial is the senior living industry's leading provider of information about the Aid & Attendance benefit. During the workshop, organizers will review the eligibility criteria and show how thousands of families, even in cases of higher net worth, have become eligible for this benefit. If you are unable to attend the workshop, please visit www.VeteransFinancial.com or call 1-800-835-1541 for more information. include, front row (L-R): Jim Honn, John Guyot, Bob Holaday, Roger Yoder, Nanette Day, Mike Butler, Joe Ernst, Dan Upton and Tom Wannamaker. Second row: Robert Arrol, Fred Shields, Bill Kauffman, Jerry Steproe, Joe Hunter, Eugene Rothrock, Bobby Bright, Jim Crane, Butch Guennewig and Dennis Williams. Third row: Fred Harvey, Greg Saunders, Ken Reveal, Bill Snyder, Bob Coombe, Rusty Brown, Jess Adams and Ralph Hughes. Fourth row: Steve Williams, Howard Eskridge, Alex Leal, Matthew Fritz, Charlie McGrew, Fred Nieman, Adam Pullen, Terry Schuman, Curt Strader and Bill Reece. Back row: Phil Anderson, Don Edwards, Jim Thorne, Matt Bright, Dale Chumbley, Gerry Baumann, Bob Lee, Howard Williamson, Dave VanDeveer, Zach Zehr and Bob Moore. GENERAL ELECTION REVIEW Voters Turn To GOP Candidates It was a good night for the Republican party in states all around the country, including Illinois. In Illinois alone, Republican Bruce Rauner upended incumbent Pat Quinn for the governor’s seat. With the exception of the race for sheriff — won by Fred Galey over Ed Willmore — Douglas County voters were casting votes for unopposed candidates for numerous local offices. But that didn’t mean there weren’t any decisions to be made. Voters faced questions on the ballot about proposed amendments to the Illinois Constitution, as well as advisory questions on a minimum wage hike, health insurance and a millionaire tax. Illinois voters overwhelmingly approved two constitutional amendments on November 4, ensuring that voters aren't illegally discouraged from casting ballots and establishing regulations to give crime victims a larger role in prosecutions. More than 3 million people cast ballots to amend the state constitution on the two issues, and large majorities also expressed support for increasing the minimum wage, adding a 3 percent income tax surcharge on any taxpayer whose adjusted gross income topped $1 million and requiring in-state insurance plans to cover birth control. In Douglas County, voters resoundingly supported the proposed amendment on crime victims’ rights, and also gave their majority approval to the voting rights question. The advisory questions on the health insurance proposal and the millionaire tax were also supported by a majority of the county’s voters. The advisory question on the proposed minimum wage rate increase from $8.25 to $10 per hour did not receive the support of a majority of the county’s voters by a 52 percent to 48 percent margin. In other statewide races, county voters favored Republican Jim Oberweis over incumbent Democrat Richard Durbin for the U.S. Senate seat. Durbin, however, emerged as the overall victor. In the attorney general’s race, Republican challenger Paul Schimpf was the choice of Douglas County voters over Democratic incumbent Lisa Madigan by a margin of 22 percentage points. Madigan earned reelection. Republican Michael Webster received 51 percent of the county’s vote in the race for Illinois Secretary of State, but Democratic incumbent Jesse White earned reelection. See Election Review...p. 12 WHAT’S ON THE COMMUNITY AGENDA? Family Literacy Night At Arcola Elementary School Arcola Elementary School would like to invite grades pre-K to third to Family Literacy Night Thursday, November 20, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. This year Clifford the Big Red Dog will be the school’s guest. Please come and enjoy a variety of Clifford stories, games, activities and prizes. Additional announcements are included below: Flu Clinic Schedule For November The Douglas County Health Department has announced its 2014 flu clinic schedule at various locations throughout the county in the coming weeks. The schedule is as follows: Newman Township Building, November 13 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and the Arcola Community Building, November 17 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. High-dose flu shots are available for those 65 and over. For more information, call the health department at 253-4137, or visit www.dchealthdept.org. Drama Club Talent Show November 15 The Arcola High School Drama Club’s talent show is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday, November 15, in the high school gym. Volunteers Needed For Chamber Santa Parade The Arcola Chamber of Commerce will sponsor the annual Santa Parade at 5 p.m. on Saturday, December 6. Volunteers are needed to help with the special event. Anyone interesting in helping is encouraged to call the Chamber office, located in the Arcola Depot, at 268-4530. Toy Drive On November 22 Arcola Free Methodist Church and Toys for Tots are having a toy drive from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on November 22. Drop-off sites will be at the Arcola Free Methodist Church, Dollar General, Arcola True Value and Arcola Valu Buy. Local residents are asked to help out. Arcola VFW Meeting Arcola VFW Post 7862 will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, November 13, at the Arcola Township office. R-H Newsstand Locations The Arcola Record-Herald is available each week at these area locations: In Arcola: Casey’s General Store, Arcola IGA, Browne’s Pharmacy, Arcola Country Store & Gas, Vyverberg’s, Dutch Kitchen, Country Charm, Hen House and Jack Flash. Rural Arcola: Country Salvage. In Chesterville: Korner Cafe. In Hindsboro: Quick Gits (formerly Five N’s). In Tuscola: Tuscola IGA. IN THIS WEEK’S ISSUE Classifieds ........................................10 Courthouse News..............................4 Sports ..............................................7-9 HOW TO REACH US • To fax news and advertising materials to the Record-Herald, please call 217-2684938. The deadline is 5 p.m. each Monday. Find the R-H on the web at www.arcolarecordherald.com • The newspaper’s mailing address is 118 E. Main St., Arcola, IL 61910. Phone 268-4950. • E-mail the newspaper at: [email protected]