In this issue:
- Looking for Route 66 stories
- Free senior fair coming up in Morris on August 1
- Safe driving through the tall corn
- Reminder about our school supply drive
Looking for Route 66 stories
In two years we will mark the centennial of Route 66, the famous highway which crosses through several of the communities in our district on its way from Chicago to Los Angeles. To mark the occasion, the Illinois State Museum is collecting the stories of Illinoisans who have ties to the historic highway prior to its official decommissioning in 1985.
The history staff at the State Museum is asking Illinoisans with Route 66 stories to contact them with their tales of the “Mother Road.” Some possible ideas for potential storytellers include anyone who has memories of driving on Route 66, those who had businesses or who’s families operated a car-related business along the route, workers who helped build or maintain the highway over the years, or first responders who worked along the roadway.
Those who volunteer to tell their stories may be interviewed or recorded as part of the project. Stories will be posted online to be shared with the world. Illinois is making a concerted effort to be recognized as the root of the historic highway.
Free senior fair coming up in Morris on August 1
I am joining with Senators Sue Rezin and Tom Bennett, and Representative Jed Davis to host a free senior health fair in Morris on Thursday August 1.
The event will be at the Saratoga Elementary School gymnasium, located at 4040 N. Division Street in Morris, and will run from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. There will be multiple vendors on hand with important information for senior citizens and those who care for them. We will have health screenings and refreshments available.
At last year’s event we had an amazing turnout and shared a lot of good information. We are hoping to do the same this year. If you are in the area, please stop by.
Safe driving through the tall corn
It might be after the Fourth of July, but the corn is certainly higher than knee-high in most areas in the 106th district.
Even if you don’t have a stop sign… STOP at the corners.
Even if you know the other direction has a stop sign… STOP at the corners.
I don’t care if you’re walking, riding a bike, driving an ATV, driving a vehicle, or any piece of farm equipment… STOP at the corners.
Corn is tall and it blocks all visibility at intersections. Watching for dust flying up during the day or headlights when it is dark just isn’t enough… STOP at the corners.
Never trust that whoever might be driving from the other direction will stop. Too many people have been hurt or killed in accidents at blind corners during the peak of growing season.
Life is precious and being in a hurry just isn’t worth it…. take the extra time and always stop at the corners.
I could continue on this soap box all day, but I’ll stop here.
Stay safe everybody!
Reminder about our school supply drive
Sorry kids, but the first day of school is just around the corner.
This is a reminder about our ongoing school supply collection drive. We will have a drop box available at each of our district offices in Watseka and Dwight through August 7. If you have questions, please call (779) 218-3070 or email bunting@ilhousegop.org.
Donations will be distributed to the schools in the 106th District for their students to use in the upcoming school year. Thank you to everyone who has donated items already.
Our current bill backlog
When a vendor provides the state with goods and services, they submit the bill to the Illinois Comptroller for payment. The Comptroller processes the paperwork and pays the bill when funds are available in the state’s checking account. Currently the total amount of unpaid bills is $826,163,818. This figure changes daily. Last year at this time the state had $769 million in bills awaiting payment. This only includes bills submitted to the Comptroller for payment, not unfunded debts like the state’s pension liability, which is well over $100 billion.
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