EAST ST. LOUIS – To provide residents with a secure option for shredding documents containing personal information, State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) and Representative LaToya Greenwood (D-East St. Louis) have teamed up to host an event in Lebanon offering free, safe discarding services.

The shredding truck will be available in the parking lot of True Value Hardware, located at 753 True Value Dr. in Lebanon, from 9-11 a.m., or until the truck is full on Saturday, Oct. 23. A limit of two boxes of documents per car is encouraged.

“To help prevent fraud or identity theft, I encourage residents to take advantage of this free event to dispose of old personal documents,” Belt said. “Many of us have unnecessary papers in our homes, and this is a great opportunity to dispose of them in a safe manner.”

Examples of documents with personally identifiable information that should be safely discarded include bank statements, outdated medical records, tax returns, bills, junk mail, credit card applications and receipts.

If residents have questions about the event, Belt urges them to contact his office at 618-875-1212 or Greenwood’s office at 618-646-9557.

Turner provides 400 meals to community

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield) attended two events in the 48th district last week 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.\

Read more.

Morrison hosting holiday donation drive for kids in need

HIGHWOOD – State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) is hosting 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.”

Read more.

Ellman, Glowiak Hilton host donation drive for survivors of domestic violence, women in need

NAPERVILLE – State Senators Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) and Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) are partnering with Metropolitan Family Services DuPage to hold a #LovePurse donation drive for survivors of domestic violence and other local women in need.

The #LovePurse initiative collects new purses that are filled with personal care items, toiletries, menstrual products, and notes of encouragement to distribute to women in need and survivors of domestic violence. Residents are invited to purchase a purse and fill it with dental care supplies, shampoo and conditioner, skincare items, and more, and take it to a local designated drop-off.

Read more.

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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.