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AUGUST 2, 2013
Illinois Lt. Gov. Simon to run for comptroller Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon ended five months of uncertainty about her political future on Wednesday by launching her 2014 bid for Illinois state comptroller, likely setting her up for a tough race against one of the state's most successful Republican officeholders. Simon, a Democrat, formally announced her plan during a campaign stop in downtown Chicago. Simon is likely to face at least one Democratic challenger in the primary: Will County Auditor Duffy Blackburn has mentioned plans to run. The primary winner would face a tough race against Republican Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka, a former threeterm state treasurer who lost the 2006 governor's race to Rod Blagojevich. Topinka, who is a former state lawmaker, once served as head of the Illinois Republican Party. Along with experience in winning statewide offices, Topinka has a fundraising advantage, reporting more than $805,000 cash on hand at the end of the second quarter, compared with $272,000 for Simon and $25,300 for Blackburn. Simon took aim at Topinka during Wednesday's announcement. Since local governments are required to submit financial reports to the comptroller, Simon said Topinka's office could have raised a red flag earlier about scandals such as
one that occurred in the northern Illinois community of Dixon, where the city comptroller pleaded guilty in February to stealing nearly $54 million from the city. In February, Simon abruptly announced her plans not to seek re-election with Gov. Pat Quinn, but she declined to say which statewide office she would seek. Instead, she played up her legal background as a former prosecutor and law professor, fueling speculation that she would run for attorney general. Simon's campaign later mentioned comptroller and treasurer as possibilities. Attorney General Lisa Madigan said this month she would seek another term rather than challenge Quinn. That caught Simon by surprise, but she said she was happy with how things turned out. She said she didn't choose to run for state treasurer because she wasn't seeking an easier contest. That office is wide open, with Treasurer Dan Rutherford seeking the GOP nomination for governor. However, for Simon to jump in would mean challenging a fellow downstate Democrat, state Sen. Mike Frerichs, who is exploring a bid. Simon, the daughter of the late U.S. Sen. Paul Simon, worked in Jackson County as an assistant
state's attorney and taught law at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. She was placed on the 2010 lieutenant governor's ballot by Democratic officials even though she had little campaign experience. She had run for Carbondale's mayor, but lost. The comptroller is central to handling Illinois' tax money and maintains the state's accounts, paying bills and signing checks to employees. She said that while weighing her decision, she thought about a conversation she once had with former Illinois Comptroller Dawn Clark Netsch, who died in March. Netsch helped rewrite the state constitution and was the first woman to get the Democratic nomination for Illinois governor. The office has received attention lately as Quinn moved to halt lawmakers' pay after they failed to act on pensions. After reviewing the matter, Topinka said she had no choice but to withhold the paychecks, citing a previous court case. The head of the House and Senate filed a lawsuit against Quinn over the issue on Tuesday. Simon said she agreed with Topinka's assessment that Quinn was within his power to veto the budget to cut salaries. If elected, she says she also plans to keep a focus on Illinois' massive backlog of unpaid bills.
Paducah Bank Walk of Fame at the new McCracken County High School PADUCAH, KY – McCracken County Public Schools are excited to announce a new partnership with Paducah Bank. Paducah Bank has partnered with McCracken County High School for the naming rights to the high school’s new hall of fame, which will be called Paducah Bank Walk of Fame. "The quality of education in our community provides a parallel for our future. When academic systems are strong and state-of-the art, the forecast for the potential of our students and our future citizens is equally as promising,” said Paducah Bank President Wally Bateman. “Paducah Bank is very pleased to be a supporting partner with the new McCracken County High School. We believe that when we put our time, energy, and resources into education there is no better investment,” added Bateman. Paducah Bank is Paducah’s only remaining locallyowned bank with six banking centers and 10 ATMs throughout McCracken County. The 150 employee
Left to Right: Joe Framptom, Paducah Bank CEO, Dr. Nancy Waldrop, McCracken County Public Schools Superintendent, Wally Bateman, Paducah Bank President, Jeff Parker, McCracken County Board Chairman, and Michael Ceglinski, McCracken County High School Principal
company is the top small business lender and the top mortgage lender in Paducah/McCracken County. Paducah Bank recently won seven Telly Awards for a television spot featuring a 5th grade Lone Oak Intermediate School student. They were also named the #9 best social media bank in the country. They were the overall
winner of the Kentucky Best Places to Work on their first entry and were also named as one of the nation’s 15 Winning Workplaces by the Wall Street Journal. The McCracken County Board of Education entered into a five-year agreement valued at $5,000 annually with Paducah Bank for naming rights to the hall of fame.
WEEKEND WEATHER OUTLOOK Friday, Aug. 2 Partly Cloudy High: 88 Low: 71
Saturday, Aug. 3 T-Storms
High: 89 Low: 68
PADUCAH – This morning City Manager Jeff Pederson accepted the verbal resignation of Paducah Police Chief James Berry effective August 9. Chief Berry has accepted the position of Director of University Safety and Security Affairs at Kentucky State University in Frankfort, Kentucky. Chief Berry met with the University’s Board of Regents this morning in Frankfort and accepted the job offer. He begins his new position August 16. City Manager Pederson says, “Chief Berry brought stability to the Paducah Po-
lice Department. He was the right man at the right time.” In a news release from Kentucky State University, President Marry Evans Sias says, “We are pleased that Mr. Berry will be joining the leadership team at Kentucky State University. Over his extensive career in law enforcement and as an active member of the community, he has demonstrated strengths and characteristics that will serve the KSU community well.” Chief Berry has served as Paducah’s Police Chief since July 20, 2009.
Cancellation Notice An Evening of Excellence with Ray Lewis has been cancelled. Due to unforeseen scheduling conflicts the McCracken County Football Boosters regret to announce the cancellation of the event. All tickets will be refunded. Please contact Lynn Mundy 270-816-5302 to schedule your refund.
Attend the Hummingbird Festival 2013 August 2, 3, & 4 GOLDEN POND, KY - Land Between the Lakes Nature Center 800-525-7077 Schedule of Events Friday, August 2 Dinner with the Hummingbirds 6-8pm. Registration limited. Reservations and full deposits required. Call 270-924-2020 to reserve your space and for more information. $20 per person. Have you ever dined outside while surrounded by dozens of hummingbirds? Enjoy a tasty catered dinner as you relax amidst the gardens and watch these flying jewels have a feeding frenzy. Licensed hummingbird bander Brainard Palmer-Ball will also be on hand to demonstrate the process of banding hummingbirds. $4 ages 5-12 $6 age 13 & up Saturday & Sunday, August 3 & 4 Bird Banding Demos & Release Hummingbird banding demonstrations & releases will take place throughout each day. Don’t miss this opportunity to see these ruby gems up close. Other Featured Programs Saturday 11am Hummingbirds 101 12pm Gardening for Hummingbirds & Butterflies 1pm Hummingbirds 101 2pm The Art of Photography Presented by Teresa Gemeinhardt 3pm Hummingbirds 101 Sunday 11am Hummingbirds 101 12pm Hummingbird Folklore 1pm Hummingbirds 101 2pm Find the Wildlife Artist in You: Sketching Workshop Presented by Lennie Fottrell 3pm Hummingbirds 101 2013 Hummingbird Festival Special Guests Hummingbird Banders Brainard Palmer-Ball, Jr. and Mark Monroe, Houston-Stewart County (TN) Beekeeper’s Association, Bluebird Experts Bob and Judy Peak, Wildlife Artist J. L. (Lennie) Fottrell, Teresa Gemeinhardt award-winning Western KY wildlife photographer, Ray Stainfield award-winning nature photographer, Bill Black long-time member and former President of the Society of KY Lepidopterists.
Inside this Edition
Sunday, Aug. 4 Partly Cloudy High: 91 Low: 72
Chance of Rain: 20% Chance of Rain: 50% Chance of Rain: 10%
Resignation of Paducah Police Chief James Berry
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Bill O’Reilly.......................................Page 2 Buzz on Business............................Page 4 This week: Aztec Rental and Zebra Graphics Mustang Sally ..................................Page 8
25 CENTS • SOUTHERN ILLINOIS NEWS • PUBLISHED WEEKLY • 25 CENTS
Illinois Lt. Gov. Simon to run for comptroller Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon ended five months of uncertainty about her political future on Wednesday by launching her 2014 bid for Illinois state comptroller, likely setting her up for a tough race against one of the state's most successful Republican officeholders. Simon, a Democrat, formally announced her plan during a campaign stop in downtown Chicago. Simon is likely to face at least one Democratic challenger in the primary: Will County Auditor Duffy Blackburn has mentioned plans to run. The primary winner would face a tough race against Republican Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka, a former threeterm state treasurer who lost the 2006 governor's race to Rod Blagojevich. Topinka, who is a former state lawmaker, once served as head of the Illinois Republican Party. Along with experience in winning statewide offices, Topinka has a fundraising advantage, reporting more than $805,000 cash on hand at the end of the second quarter, compared with $272,000 for Simon and $25,300 for Blackburn. Simon took aim at Topinka during Wednesday's announcement. Since local governments are required to submit financial reports to the comptroller, Simon said Topinka's office could have raised a red flag earlier about scandals such as
one that occurred in the northern Illinois community of Dixon, where the city comptroller pleaded guilty in February to stealing nearly $54 million from the city. In February, Simon abruptly announced her plans not to seek re-election with Gov. Pat Quinn, but she declined to say which statewide office she would seek. Instead, she played up her legal background as a former prosecutor and law professor, fueling speculation that she would run for attorney general. Simon's campaign later mentioned comptroller and treasurer as possibilities. Attorney General Lisa Madigan said this month she would seek another term rather than challenge Quinn. That caught Simon by surprise, but she said she was happy with how things turned out. She said she didn't choose to run for state treasurer because she wasn't seeking an easier contest. That office is wide open, with Treasurer Dan Rutherford seeking the GOP nomination for governor. However, for Simon to jump in would mean challenging a fellow downstate Democrat, state Sen. Mike Frerichs, who is exploring a bid. Simon, the daughter of the late U.S. Sen. Paul Simon, worked in Jackson County as an assistant
state's attorney and taught law at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. She was placed on the 2010 lieutenant governor's ballot by Democratic officials even though she had little campaign experience. She had run for Carbondale's mayor, but lost. The comptroller is central to handling Illinois' tax money and maintains the state's accounts, paying bills and signing checks to employees. She said that while weighing her decision, she thought about a conversation she once had with former Illinois Comptroller Dawn Clark Netsch, who died in March. Netsch helped rewrite the state constitution and was the first woman to get the Democratic nomination for Illinois governor. The office has received attention lately as Quinn moved to halt lawmakers' pay after they failed to act on pensions. After reviewing the matter, Topinka said she had no choice but to withhold the paychecks, citing a previous court case. The head of the House and Senate filed a lawsuit against Quinn over the issue on Tuesday. Simon said she agreed with Topinka's assessment that Quinn was within his power to veto the budget to cut salaries. If elected, she says she also plans to keep a focus on Illinois' massive backlog of unpaid bills.
Paducah Bank Walk of Fame at the new McCracken County High School PADUCAH, KY – McCracken County Public Schools are excited to announce a new partnership with Paducah Bank. Paducah Bank has partnered with McCracken County High School for the naming rights to the high school’s new hall of fame, which will be called Paducah Bank Walk of Fame. "The quality of education in our community provides a parallel for our future. When academic systems are strong and state-of-the art, the forecast for the potential of our students and our future citizens is equally as promising,” said Paducah Bank President Wally Bateman. “Paducah Bank is very pleased to be a supporting partner with the new McCracken County High School. We believe that when we put our time, energy, and resources into education there is no better investment,” added Bateman. Paducah Bank is Paducah’s only remaining locallyowned bank with six banking centers and 10 ATMs throughout McCracken County. The 150 employee
Left to Right: Joe Framptom, Paducah Bank CEO, Dr. Nancy Waldrop, McCracken County Public Schools Superintendent, Wally Bateman, Paducah Bank President, Jeff Parker, McCracken County Board Chairman, and Michael Ceglinski, McCracken County High School Principal
company is the top small business lender and the top mortgage lender in Paducah/McCracken County. Paducah Bank recently won seven Telly Awards for a television spot featuring a 5th grade Lone Oak Intermediate School student. They were also named the #9 best social media bank in the country. They were the overall
winner of the Kentucky Best Places to Work on their first entry and were also named as one of the nation’s 15 Winning Workplaces by the Wall Street Journal. The McCracken County Board of Education entered into a five-year agreement valued at $5,000 annually with Paducah Bank for naming rights to the hall of fame.
WEEKEND WEATHER OUTLOOK Friday, Aug. 2 Partly Cloudy High: 88 Low: 71
Saturday, Aug. 3 T-Storms
High: 89 Low: 68
PADUCAH – This morning City Manager Jeff Pederson accepted the verbal resignation of Paducah Police Chief James Berry effective August 9. Chief Berry has accepted the position of Director of University Safety and Security Affairs at Kentucky State University in Frankfort, Kentucky. Chief Berry met with the University’s Board of Regents this morning in Frankfort and accepted the job offer. He begins his new position August 16. City Manager Pederson says, “Chief Berry brought stability to the Paducah Po-
lice Department. He was the right man at the right time.” In a news release from Kentucky State University, President Marry Evans Sias says, “We are pleased that Mr. Berry will be joining the leadership team at Kentucky State University. Over his extensive career in law enforcement and as an active member of the community, he has demonstrated strengths and characteristics that will serve the KSU community well.” Chief Berry has served as Paducah’s Police Chief since July 20, 2009.
Cancellation Notice An Evening of Excellence with Ray Lewis has been cancelled. Due to unforeseen scheduling conflicts the McCracken County Football Boosters regret to announce the cancellation of the event. All tickets will be refunded. Please contact Lynn Mundy 270-816-5302 to schedule your refund.
Attend the Hummingbird Festival 2013 August 2, 3, & 4 GOLDEN POND, KY - Land Between the Lakes Nature Center 800-525-7077 Schedule of Events Friday, August 2 Dinner with the Hummingbirds 6-8pm. Registration limited. Reservations and full deposits required. Call 270-924-2020 to reserve your space and for more information. $20 per person. Have you ever dined outside while surrounded by dozens of hummingbirds? Enjoy a tasty catered dinner as you relax amidst the gardens and watch these flying jewels have a feeding frenzy. Licensed hummingbird bander Brainard Palmer-Ball will also be on hand to demonstrate the process of banding hummingbirds. $4 ages 5-12 $6 age 13 & up Saturday & Sunday, August 3 & 4 Bird Banding Demos & Release Hummingbird banding demonstrations & releases will take place throughout each day. Don’t miss this opportunity to see these ruby gems up close. Other Featured Programs Saturday 11am Hummingbirds 101 12pm Gardening for Hummingbirds & Butterflies 1pm Hummingbirds 101 2pm The Art of Photography Presented by Teresa Gemeinhardt 3pm Hummingbirds 101 Sunday 11am Hummingbirds 101 12pm Hummingbird Folklore 1pm Hummingbirds 101 2pm Find the Wildlife Artist in You: Sketching Workshop Presented by Lennie Fottrell 3pm Hummingbirds 101 2013 Hummingbird Festival Special Guests Hummingbird Banders Brainard Palmer-Ball, Jr. and Mark Monroe, Houston-Stewart County (TN) Beekeeper’s Association, Bluebird Experts Bob and Judy Peak, Wildlife Artist J. L. (Lennie) Fottrell, Teresa Gemeinhardt award-winning Western KY wildlife photographer, Ray Stainfield award-winning nature photographer, Bill Black long-time member and former President of the Society of KY Lepidopterists.
Inside this Edition
Sunday, Aug. 4 Partly Cloudy High: 91 Low: 72
Chance of Rain: 20% Chance of Rain: 50% Chance of Rain: 10%
Resignation of Paducah Police Chief James Berry
Like us on facebook
Bill O’Reilly.......................................Page 2 Buzz on Business............................Page 4 This week: Aztec Rental and Zebra Graphics Mustang Sally ..................................Page 8
25 CENTS • SOUTHERN ILLINOIS NEWS • PUBLISHED WEEKLY • 25 CENTS
