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Let’s talk about the real problems with rural America

2 years 6 months ago
A few days ago, Tony Pipa of the Brookings Institution wrote about the dire state of America's rural communities: A Policy Renaissance Is Needed for Rural America to Thrive Shamokin [Pennsylvania] is a cautionary tale for what happens when we lack policy solutions that can truly help places cope and adapt to major economic and ...continue reading "Let’s talk about the real problems with rural America"
Kevin Drum

Beekeeper From "Dow On The Farm" Discusses Bees, Local Honey on Our Daily Show

2 years 6 months ago
DOW - Tom Cairns, owner and head beekeeper of Dow On The Farm Apiary, recently appeared on an episode of Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com to discuss the process of beekeeping and where to find his own homemade raw honey, which has proven popular at local farmer’s markets in Alton and Jerseyville. Cairns said he bought his first beehive after a couple of his coworkers got beehives themselves, not knowing how much work would go into taking care of it. After the first winter of having it, he decided he might as well turn his new investment into something productive - an experience he said taught him a few life lessons in the process. “You’ve gotta learn how to keep them - they’re just like other animals, you’ve got to feed them and take care of them,” Cairns said of the bees. “I joined a bee club in St. Louis at that time … since I joined that bee club, it’s been uphill since. I’ve had some losses, which is a learnin

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Wood River Will Keep Same Tax Levy Over Next Year

2 years 6 months ago
WOOD RIVER - The tax levy will keep the exact same dollar levy as the prior year. Due to the increase in the Equalized Assessed Valuation (EAV), this will still lead to a slight rate decrease of .0101. According to the county assessor’s office, the estimated EAV of the City has increased by approximately $906,112 to $147,548,745. These estimates do not include a multiplier. As of today, the county had no information on what multipliers might be. As such, please remember that these are estimates and the final numbers can, and most likely will, slightly change the rates. Also, worthy note that both police and fire pensions are now at 60.3% funded. This is the highest in at least the last 20 years. The city is committed to getting the police and fire pensions to the required funding status.

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Crawford Pours In 28, Jersey Basketball Girls Capture Duchesne Tourney, Team Athletes Of The Month

2 years 6 months ago
JERSEY 44, URSULINE ACADEMY 39: Jersey used both a big second and third quarter to win the Duchesne Tournament title over Ursuline Academy 44-29. Tessa Crawford had a big game for the Panthers with 28 points, while Bria Tuttle added five points. Jersey is now 10-7, while the Bears go to 8-4. The Jersey girls' basketball squad is Female Athletes of the Month. The host Pioneers won the consolation final over Mehlville 43-30, while Ft. Zumwalt North won the third-place game over St. Louis Notre Dame Catholic 39-36. Panthers’ Coach Ron Twitchell said his girls' squad definitely had an excellent tournament and it was great to bring home the championship trophy. “I am very happy for the girls to win this championship,” Twitchell said. Tessa Crawford and Bria Tuttle are the leaders of the Panthers’ girls' basketball squad. Crawford had 54 points in the tourney and would have been the MVP if there had been that award, Twitchell said. “Tessa is our go-to

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MCT Nickel Plate Trail Improvements Complete

2 years 6 months ago
PONTOON BEACH - Just in time for an unseasonably warm last week of December, a segment of the Madison County Transit (MCT) Nickel Plate Trail from IL-143 to Blackburn Road which has been closed for reconstruction, is now re-open and the much-anticipated trail improvements are now complete. In November 2021, MCT began the $2.6 million project to reconstruct a 2.3-mile section of the MCT Nickel Plate Trail in unincorporated Madison County with a new asphalt surface, new box culverts, and a new 210-foot, pre-engineered bridge with a concrete deck—the first concrete deck bridge in the MCT Trails system. The new asphalt surface not only provides bicyclists with a smoother ride, it reduces ongoing maintenance expenses. In response to concerns from the area’s running community, who prefer a softer surface, MCT installed 2.5-foot-wide limestone shoulders on each side of the reconstructed trail. The project also improved drainage conditions and replaced century-old box culverts

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