JOLIET – Due to its accomplishments, including a strong commitment to customer safety and satisfaction, the Illinois Department of Transportation selected Joliet Regional Airport to receive a 2020 General Aviation Airport of the Year award, State Senator John Connor (D-Lockport) announced.

“The Joliet Regional Airport is a great resource for our community, and I congratulate all airport staff on this well-deserved recognition,” Connor said. “Their continued commitment to safety and service even in the face of the unprecedented difficulties of the last year and a half is commendable.”

Joliet Regional Airport is one of 12 airports across the state selected to receive an Airport of the Year award from the Illinois Department of Transportation. Award considerations include cooperation and coordination with the state, the airport’s safety record, maintenance of the facility, and promotion of aviation and educational events. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, awards were based on the achievements of the last two years.

"We are honored to be chosen for the award, especially during the height of the pandemic. The changing guidelines throughout the year were challenging to say the least, but my staff rose to the occasion and we are proud to know that our efforts did not go unnoticed,” Airport Superintendent Jennifer McFarland said. “Our continued relationship with the IDOT Division of Aeronautics will be beneficial to all current and future members of the aviation community."

More information and resources for the Illinois aviation community can be found on Illinois Aviation’s website.

KANKAKEE – To prevent fatalities on the farm during the busy harvest season, Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) is joining officials in reminding farmers and farm workers to be cautious when working in and around grain bins.

“When a farmer falls into a grain bin and gets trapped, it can become a life-threatening emergency,” Joyce said. “Farmers are not fast enough to get out of flowing grain so it’s important to set aside time to go over safety measures and prepare farmers for a potential grain bin emergency.”

Senator Stadelman launches new constituent survey

ROCKFORD – Since joining the General Assembly, Senator Steve Stadelman has sponsored dozens of bills that came to his office by constituents. To continue serving the evolving needs of the people of Rockford and beyond, he launched a new online survey for people to share their input.

“My top priority is making sure people’s voices are heard,” Stadelman said. “I encourage people who want to participate in the political process to fill out the survey and tell me what you would like to see me work on in Springfield.”

Topics cover government accountability, job growth, prioritization of the budget, and infrastructure.

The survey can be found here as well as on senatorstadelman.com on the sidebar. To offer additional feedback, people can contact Stadelman’s office by calling (815) 987-7557.

WAUKEGAN – To recognize her commitment to fire safety, State Senator Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove) was selected to receive a prestigious award from the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance.

“When it comes to legislating fire safety initiatives, it’s critical to partner with our state’s professionals,” Johnson said. “It's an honor to be acknowledged by the Alliance for prioritizing fire prevention policies within Illinois to protect our communities from harm and destruction.”

The award was presented in front of more than 300 fire officials from across the state at the annual Prevention Week Luncheon.

Pictured left to right: Illinois Fire Safety Alliance President Chief Jim Kreher, Sen. Adriane Johnson and Government Affairs Director Margaret Vaughn. 

SPRINGFIELD –State Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield) attended two events in the 48^th district Wednesday where she provided more than 400 meals to community members. 

Turner first attended a senior ministry event at the Salvation Army Clear Lake Corps in Springfield, providing 200 meals alongside members of the Greater All Nations Tabernacle Church of God in Christ Senior Luncheon. She then visited the Boys & Girls Club of Decatur, where she and her staff distributed 200 meals to families dropping off their children.

HIGHWOOD – State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) will host a holiday donation drive to keep children in foster care warm and comforted this winter.

“In the spirit of giving this holiday season, I’m pleased to partner with so many community organizations to collect new pajamas for children in need,” Morrison said. “Warm pajamas are a basic human need, yet far too many children are left without each winter.”

In Illinois alone, more than 21,000 youth are in foster care and many are removed from their homes with only the clothes they were wearing at the time.

DES PLAINES – To ensure college students can afford the tools they need to excel in the classroom, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) passed a law in the spring to create a task force dedicated to making textbooks and other course materials more affordable. On Monday, Murphy was appointed as one of its members.

“Far too often, students don’t buy a textbook because they can’t afford it – which puts them at a disadvantage in the classroom and beyond,” Murphy said. “The task force will enable all students – regardless of income – to get the much-needed college supplies that will lead them to success in and out of the classroom.”

NAPERVILLE – Will County residents will have the opportunity to help save lives this weekend.

State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood) is teaming up with State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) to host a “Be the Match Registry Drive” on Saturday, Oct. 16 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Offices of Wheatland Township, located at 4232 Tower Ct. in Naperville.

Be the Match is a national organization that helps potential bone marrow donors enroll in a registry to help people in need of lifesaving transplants.  

“You never know the positive impact you can make on someone’s life,” Loughran Cappel said. “I urge residents to take time out of their Saturday to stop by and register to see if they can help someone who is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.”

For the safety of patients, the organization can only accept registrants between the ages of 18 and 40. The organization has facilitated more than 105,000 blood stem cell transplants, and 6,467 transplants last year.

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, each year, approximately 18,000 people up to age 75 in the United States are diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses where a bone marrow transplant from a related or unrelated matched donor is the best treatment option. More than 70% of patients who need a transplant do not have a fully-matched donor in their family.

Bone marrow transplants are used for patients with illnesses such as Hodgkin lymphoma, acute myelogenous leukemia, juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia, severe aplastic anemia, sickle cell disease, Krabbe disease, Hurler syndrome and many others.

The registration process consists of a series of questions regarding medical history to see if interested participants meet basic qualifications. If they meet the basic qualifications, potential donors would be asked to swab their cheek to provide a sample of their DNA which would then be added to the registry for potential matching with a patient.

Loughran Cappel urges interested people who are unable to attend to consider ordering a swab kit by visiting https://my.bethematch.org/wheatlandcares. Residents with questions and concerns can also reach out to her office at (815) 267-6119 or visit www.SenatorLoughranCappel.com.