Monmouth, Illinois - Monmouth Business Council and Smithfield Foods, along with Cloverleaf Cold Storage will be hosting its first annual BaconFest Friday, August 7, 2015 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Monmouth's Public Square. Numerous food vendors from Monmouth will be serving tapas-style bacon creations, with dishes that include bacon-crusted sirloin bites, bacon cupcakes, sweet and spicy bacon sliders, candied bacon, spicy bacon mix, and bacon and cheese puffs. All food will be available at $3 a plate.

Food vendors come from a 60-mile radius and include : DJ & Son Woodfire Grill, Knox County Pork Producers, Cerar's Barnstormer, Petey's, Johnny's Steakhouse, Bijou Pub, Danny's Tap, Alfano's, The Kitchen, Sparky's Smoke Shack, Green Bay Bar and Grill, and Sween Intentions by the Morgans. All of the vendors have been provided a variety of bacon by Smithfield Foods and have been encouraged to expand their creativity to create tastes that please a variety of pallets.

A competition will be held and trophies provided by Achievement Industries will be given for "Judges Choice-Best in Show," and "Audience Choice-Best in Show."

In addition to sizzling bacon treats, Monmouth's DeNovo Beers and G&M will be present, serving a variety of cold beer and soda. Entertainment includes Tennessee's music sensation Blue Mother Tupelo from 6-8 p.m. Blue Mother Tupelo's soulful sound has shared shows and stage with many wonderfully gifted and successful recording and touring artists.

"Bacon 'n Play" will be hosted by the Buchannan Center for the Arts in the public square's southwest quadrant. Activities include : piglet snout creations, bacon flags, sidewalk chalk art, face painting, and story hour. Brain games and bacon swag will also be available for winning and/or purchase.

Entry for this family-welcoming event is free, with minimal pricing on food and drinks. "We wanted to do something that was really different and really fun for Monmouth and surrounding communities," said Paul Schuytema, director of economic development for the City of Monmouth. "A great deal of work has been put into this by a number of community leaders. We know that this will be an event that everyone continues to look forward to every year."

For more information on BaconFest 2015, contact Paul Schuytema at paul.schuytema@cityofmonmouth.com or 309.734.2141.

By Nathaniel Sillin

If you're over age 50 and not sure whether you're going to be able to retire, it's time to focus, get advice and build a realistic plan.

You're not alone. The U.S. Government Accountability Office recently reported that most households approaching retirement have low savings, adding that nearly half of households led by individuals or couples aged 55 and older having no retirement savings accounts at all.

The first step is to define where you really stand financially. Consider speaking with a qualified financial and tax advisor to define your present financial circumstances. Such a conversation should take into account your household income, tax situation, debt and retirement assets in any form. Reviewing these factors can help shape your decisions about supersizing your retirement plan for maximum safe returns. While a customized plan is generally the best way to approach shortfalls, here are some general approaches.

Take time to reevaluate your budget (http://www.practicalmoneyskills.com/budgeting). To accelerate retirement saving and investing, you need to find the money first. Non-mortgage debt is a major retirement savings obstacle. Better budgeting can help you find the money to pay off debt quicker. Adjust your spending across the board so you can accomplish this while adding more money to savings over time.

Know that you're going to need to accelerate your savings. Estimates vary, but generally, after age 50, it's best to direct at least 10 percent of your gross income in savings and investments to cover living expenses when you stop working. If you are employed, review your contribution and income limits for the most popular self-directed and tax-advantaged retirement savings vehicles. Those include :

• 401(k), 403(b) and most 457 plans, which will have a maximum annual contribution limit of $18,000 in 2015
• Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) - both Traditional and Roth - which will have maximum "catch-up" contribution limits of $6,500 (the regular $5,500 limit plus $1,000 for taxpayers aged 50 or over by yearend 2015)

If after all this effort you're still not able to find enough money to put away, consider making a greater effort on the income side. Many individuals boost their savings through a second job or freelancing from home. Consult qualified financial and tax professionals to make sure you're handling this extra income correctly from a tax perspective and putting it in investments that make sense for you.

Downsizing to a smaller home or an apartment in a lower cost-of-living destination or deciding to move in with friends or family at minimal costs may also provide additional savings for retirement. But first, consider what you might get for your home. If you are able to sell a primary residence at a significant profit over your purchase price - above $250,000 for a single taxpayer and above $500,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly -speak to a tax professional about ways to avert a significant tax liability.

Finally, put proper financial safety nets in place. Make sure you have an emergency fund (http://www.practicalmoneyskills.com/emergencycalc) set up so you won't be forced to dip into savings to cover unexpected expenses. And don't forget insurance - having the right amount of property and casualty, health and disability insurance can protect your retirement nest egg from significant risk.

Bottom line: Building a retirement fund after age 50 is challenging, but not impossible. Get solid tax and financial advice, start downsizing immediately and don't forget critical financial safety nets.

Nathaniel Sillin directs Visa's financial education programs. To follow Practical Money Skills on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PracticalMoney.

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Bruce Rauner took action today the following bills:

Bill No.: HB 123

An Act Concerning Regulation

Action: Signed

Effective: January 1, 2016

Bill No.: HB 2925

An Act Concerning Regulation

Action: Signed

Effective: January 1, 2016

Bill No.: HB 3137

An Act Concerning Eye Care Coverage

Action: Signed

Effective: January 1, 2016

Bill No.: HB 3332

An Act Concerning Government

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediate

Bill No.: SB 344

An Act Concerning Health

Action: Signed

Effective: January 1, 2016

Bill No.: SB 837

An Act Concerning Regulation

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediate

Bill No.: SB 973

An Act Concerning Regulation

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediate

SOLID PITCHING SECURES BANDITS' SWEEP OF RATTLERS

Dykxhoorn, McNitt, and Thompson throw eight shutout innings in 6-1 win

DAVENPORT, Iowa (August 2, 2015) - Brock Dykxhoorn threw five shutout innings for the second consecutive start, and the Quad Cities River Bandits offense recorded a double-digit hit total for the second straight night, as the River Bandits beat the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, 6-1, for their seventh straight win in front of 3,825 at Modern Woodmen Park Sunday night.

Dykxhoorn (6-3) repeated his July 26 outing in Burlington by not allowing a run in five innings. Bettering his other numbers from last Sunday, Dykxhoorn struck out eight while allowing only one hit. In his return to the active roster, Brandon McNitt followed with two shutout innings of his own, allowing two hits and striking out a pair. Ryan Thompson struck out two and walked one in a scoreless eighth inning, while Angel Heredia allowed the lone run to Wisconsin (13-23 second half, 36-70 overall) on a sacrifice fly by third baseman Sthervin Matos in the ninth inning.

The River Bandits (24-14, 69-36) got to Timber Rattlers starter David Burkhalter (3-7) early, striking for three runs in the bottom of the second. With one out, first baseman Bryan Muñiz, who had reached in six straight plate appearances coming into the day, doubled to left center field. In the second inning, second baseman Jose Fernandez followed the Muniz double with a booming shot to left that landed halfway up the berm, his first home run in the Midwest League this season, making it a 2-0 Quad Cities lead. Catcher Garrett Stubbs followed the homer with a walk, and after third baseman Luis Reynoso struck out swinging, advanced to second on a walk to shortstop Kristian Trompiz. Jason Martin then singled to right, scoring Stubbs from second base and increasing the River Bandits lead to 3-0.

A Stubbs walk in the fourth inning started another run-scoring rally, followed by a bunt single by Reynoso and a Trompiz sacrifice bunt, moving runners to second and third. Martin hit a fly ball to left field, deep enough to score Stubbs from third, making it 4-0, and center fielder Bobby Boyd followed with a double off the top of the ribbon board in right field, scoring Reynoso and making it a 5-0 game.

That score remained until the seventh, when Fernandez reached on a fielder's choice and went to third base on a Stubbs single, but Wisconsin third baseman Sthervin Matos made a throwing error trying to get Stubbs at second base, which allowed Fernandez to score.

Muñiz set a River Bandits season high by extending his on-base streak to nine consecutive plate appearances. After his first-inning double, he was hit by a pitch in the third inning and had a bloop double down the right-field line in the fifth inning before flying out to center field in the seventh inning.

The entire Midwest League has an off day on Monday, and the River Bandits will look to extend their seven-game winning streak on Tuesday with the first of three games against the Bowling Green Hot Rods. Right-hander Justin Ferrell (2-2, 2.77) will be on the mound for Quad Cities, while right-hander Yonny Chirinos (3-1, 0.75) will throw for Bowling Green.

THREE BANDITS COMBINE TO SHUT OUT WISCONSIN

After James, Freeman and Ferrell blank Wisconsin, Quad Cities has its most shutouts since 2010

DAVENPORT, Iowa (August 1, 2015) - Joshua James went 5 2/3 shutout innings, followed by Michael Freeman retiring seven straight batters and Riley Ferrell working a scoreless inning, while the Quad Cities River Bandits' offense pounded out 15 hits in their sixth straight win - a 5-0 victory over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in front of 7,318 at Modern Woodmen Park Saturday night.

The River Bandits (23-13 second half, 68-36 overall) had a hit from every player in their lineup to extend the club's longest winning streak since a season-high 12-game winning streak April 29-May 11. Quad Cities became the first team in baseball to win 68 games this season and continued to improve upon the franchise's best overall record - now 32 games above .500 - in 23 seasons.

After allowing 11 runs in his last 11 innings, James (4-2) allowed just six men to reach on Saturday, yielding three hits and walking three batters while striking out four. With a 3-0 lead, the right-hander gave way to Freeman in the sixth inning with runners at first and second bases and two out. A passed ball moved two runners into scoring position before Freeman struck out McCall, ending the inning. Freeman went on to strike out three more in his outing, turning things over to Ferrell in the ninth. Ferrell walked one batter in an otherwise spotless inning to lower his earned run average to 1.20 in 10 appearances and close the door on the club's 11th shutout - its most in five seasons.

Wisconsin (13-22, 36-69) put James in a jam right away with back-to-back, two-out baserunners in the first inning on a hit by catcher Carlos Leal and a walk to right fielder Elvis Rubio. James was able to recover, getting first baseman Alan Sharkey to pop out to shortstop Kristian Trompiz to end the inning. The Timber Rattlers had only three baserunners reach scoring position, with one left on base in the first inning and two in the sixth inning.

The River Bandits' offense got started with a first-inning, two-out rally of their own. Second baseman Nick Tanielu doubled to left and then scored on a Ryan Bottger single to left field to put Quad Cities ahead, 1-0. After a walk to designated hitter Ramon Laureano, third baseman Jose Fernandez drove in Bottger on a base hit to right, doubling the lead.

Quad Cities added another run in the third inning. Laureano walked and was eventually retired at home plate on a fielder's choice that allowed Fernandez to reach first base. Then first baseman Bryan Muñiz singled to left field, and an error by Wisconsin left fielder Mitch Meyer allowed Fernandez to score the third run of the game. Timber Rattlers left-hander David Carver (1-2) was charged with three runs - two earned - on eight hits and three walks with one strikeout in 5 1/3 innings.

The last two runs of the night for the River Bandits came in the eighth inning against left-hander Tyler Linehan. Fernandez led off with an infield single and stole second base before scoring on a single by Muñiz. A wild pitch moved Muñiz to second base with one out, and Trompiz reached on an infield single to put runners at first and third bases. Martin added an RBI single to right field to score Muñiz for a 5-0 River Bandits lead.

RECORD MODERN WOODMEN PARK CROWD BOOSTS BANDITS

Quad Cities treats 8,207 to fifth straight win to improve to 31 games above .500

DAVENPORT, Iowa (August 1, 2015) - In front of 8,207 - the franchise's largest home crowd in at least 14 seasons - Quad Cities River Bandits right-hander Elieser Hernandez pitched 6 2/3 shutout innings for his first Midwest League win, and All-Star third baseman Nick Tanielu went 3-for-4 with three RBIs in a 7-1 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers at Modern Woodmen Park Friday night.

The River Bandits (22-13 second half, 67-36 overall) won their fifth straight game for their longest winning streak since a season-high 12-game winning streak April 29-May 11. They are also 31 games above .500 for what is believed to be the first time in 23 seasons. The 1992 Quad City River Bandits went 91-46 overall and were the last team in franchise history to finish a season at least 29 games above .500.

Before Wisconsin (13-21, 36-68) managed a hit off Hernandez (1-1), Quad Cities built a 4-0 lead in the second inning. Timber Rattlers right-hander Angel Ventura (5-5) began the bottom of the second inning by walking left fielder Drew Ferguson. After right fielder Ramon Laureano flied out to left field, second baseman Jose Fernandez hit a line drive down the third-base line for an RBI triple. First baseman Ryan Bottger lined out to Timber Rattlers first baseman Alan Sharkey for the second out, but catcher Trent Woodward reached when second baseman Tucker Neuhaus made an errant throw to first base, allowing Fernandez to score. The error extended the inning for shortstop Kristian Trompiz, who hit his fifth home run (first since June 1) over the Modern Woodmen Berm in left field for a 4-0 lead.

Hernandez yielded his first hit with two outs in the third inning, when Timber Rattlers shortstop Blake Allemand doubled to right field. Hernandez responded by striking out three of the next four batters. The only Wisconsin baserunner to reach third base against Hernandez was third baseman Sthervin Matos in the fifth inning. Hernandez hit Matos with a pitch for the second time in the game to lead off the fifth inning, and after left fielder Mitch Meyer's sacrifice and center fielder Francisco Castillo's two-out infield single, Hernandez got Allemand to fly out to center field, stranding runners at first and third bases with a 4-0 lead.

The River Bandits added a run off Ventura in the fifth inning, after designated hitter Jason Martin reached following a strikeout on Ventura's second wild pitch. Tanielu then doubled to right field, bringing in Martin for a 5-0 lead. Ventura lasted five innings, allowing five runs - two earned - on six hits and one walk with seven strikeouts. Right-hander Gian Rizzo pitched a scoreless bottom of the sixth inning.

The last two River Bandits runs came off left-hander Kodi Medeiros in the seventh inning. Woodward hit a leadoff infield single before Trompiz reached on a fielder's choice, and Martin drew a one-out walk. Tanielu then drove in both baserunners with a double to center field over Castillo to make it 7-0. Tanielu's three hits Friday raised his batting average to .313 - fourth-highest in the Midwest League and best among players on Western Division teams - and his three RBIs Friday gave him a season total of 56 - the fourth-most in the league.

Hernandez scattered four hits and one walk while striking out eight batters, including the first two in the seventh inning. But Neuhaus then hit an infield single over the pitcher's mound that ended Hernandez's night. Right-hander Jorge Perez got the last out of the inning but allowed the only Wisconsin run in the eighth inning. Allemand led off by reaching second base on a dropped fly ball by center fielder Bobby Boyd. Right fielder Elvis Rubio reached on an infield single, with a throwing error by Trompiz sending Allemand to third base. Sharkey grounded an RBI single into right field before Perez got the last two outs of the inning, allowing one unearned run on two hits with one strikeout in 1 1/3 innings. Left-hander Zach Davis worked around a leadoff walk for a scoreless ninth inning to end the 7-1 victory.