16 Aug 2013

LeClaire Chamber of Commerce Announcements - 08/16/13

By LeClaire Chamber of Commerce

WELCOMING NEW MEMBER!

or DianeNelson@RuhlHomes.com

CALENDAR

August 16th - Live Music at Wide River Winery 5-8pm featuring "Pieces of Candy" 106 N. Cody Road www.wideriverwinery.com

August 18th - Sunday Brunch at the Faithful Pilot Cafe & Spirits Seatings at 10:00 and 12:30 - Reservations 563.289.4156 www.faithfulpilot.com

August 20th - First Presbyterian Church of LeClaire FREE LUNCH at the LeClaire Civic Center, 11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. Come to eat and stay for the conversation! This will be the last free lunch, so join us!

August 20th - The deadline for returning a signed vendor agreement to Asbury United Methodist Church Asbury United Methodist Church of Bettendorf is hosting a "Partnering to EmPOWER" fundraising event for Winnie's Place on Tuesday, October 15th. The team putting together the event is looking for vendors who would be interested in participating in this worthy cause. Booth fees are $15 for sales people and $25 for those providing a service (ALL booth fees will go to Winnie's Place). Vendors will also agree to donate 9% of their sales to Winnies Place, which corresponds to the statistic that every 9 seconds, a woman is abused. Interested vendors are asked to contact Heidi Lubben at hjlubben@aol.com for more details. Marketing packets for vendors were available June 15th.

August 21st - Workshop - Behavioral Finance: How Emotions Impact Financial Decisions 12:00p.m. Eric Johannes, Charles Schwab, 5345 Elmore Ave #300, Davenport, IA 52807. Please R.S.V.P 563-275-3659

August 23rd - Live Music at Wide River Winery 5-8pm featuring Dan Peart 106 N. Cody Road  www.wideriverwinery.com

August 24th - Dr. Crystal's Chiropractic Care - Ribbon Cutting 12 noon, The Old Mill House at 419 N. Cody Rd.  Please join us in welcoming Dr. Crystal!

August 24th - Pleasant Valley Wrestling 2nd Annual "Grapple on the Greens" Golf tournament at Olathea Golf Course Silent Auction, games for the kids and a cookout. To be a sponsor, to donate prizes or to participate as a team, please contact zahntrever@pleasval.k12.ia for more information.

August 30th - Live Music at Wide River Winery 5-8pm featuring Mississippi River Distilling Company's "Ryan Burchett and the Moonshiners"! 106 N. Cody Road  www.wideriverwinery.com

 

Save the Date

September 6th - First Friday in LeClaire! 5-8 p.m.

September 10th - Chamber After Hours Networking Event Great River Financial - 5:30-7:30 p.m. Everyone Welcome!

September 14th - Silver Creek Order of the Eastern Star Swiss Steak Dinner Serving 4-7 p.m. SWISS STEAK DINNER WITH ALL THE FIXINGS, DESSERT AND BEVERAGE Adults - $7.00   Children 3-12 - $3.50 Serving at the Masonic Center dinning room at 113 S. Cody Rd., LeClaire. Everyone is welcome!

September 19th - LeClaire Information Center Celebrates One Year of Operation! Join us for our Open House & Volunteer Recognition! Since our Grand Opening on August 3rd 2012, the LeClaire Information Center has welcomed over 17,500 guests, including tourists, local residents, potential business owners and has provided information about local attractions, businesses, business opportunities, and other points of interest. Operated by the LeClaire Office of Tourism and located at 122. N. Cody Road, the Center is open Mon-Sat 10-4 and Sun noon-4. On Thursday, September 19th from 4-6pm, the public is invited to an Open House celebrating our "First Anniversary." The event will include light refreshments and the opportunity to discover what the LIC offers residents and tourists.  The festivities will conclude with a short program honoring our volunteers. We are always looking for additional volunteers! Pleasant Valley High School students (accompanied by a parent) can apply their volunteer hours to the school's "service learning" requirement for graduation.  Training (for students and adults) only takes about an hour and volunteers are able to schedule hours through online scheduling software. Please contact Cindy Bruhn, LeClaire Tourism Manager, at info@visitleclaire.com or 563-650-7963, or the LIC at 563-289-4242, ext. 1135, if you are interested in volunteering or for more information.

September 21st - Twilight Riverboat Dinner Cruise Sponsored by LeClaire Chamber of Commerce - Grandma Swain's Roast Beef Dinner - $40 per person - Cash Bar - Board at 4:30pm - Cruise from 5-8pm - Tickets available at First Central State Bank, Vern Spring, or Dayle Hall - 563-340-0862

 

FYI

One of our great chamber supporters, Rod Varilek, passed away on August 10, 2013.Rod lived in LeClaire with his wife Susan, and was a developer for Ruhl and Ruhl. He developed Cody's Hunt and Cody's Legacy in LeClaire. Our prayers are with his wife and family

Iowa won Tug Fest 2013!!!! Congrats to the Tug Fest Team and Sponsors and to LeClaire and all of Iowa!!

The LeClaire Chamber Website and our Facebook page are currently being updated and revised. Watch for the new website to be up and running soon, visit us again soon on Facebook, and in the meantime, thank you for your patience! 

LeClaire Lions Club presents "Apple Fest on the River" Sunday, October 13th 11:00am-4:00pm Apple Orchards Welcome! Vendor Sign Up! NOW is the time! For more information: Email:  boehlb@hotmail.com Phone:  563-340-6332 (Bonnie)

Buffalo Bill Museum is open until 5pm daily. Hours are 9am to 5pm Monday through Saturday, and on Sundays 12noon to 5pm. A reminder: group discounts are available for tour groups, clubs/reunions, and school groups. Call the museum at 563-289-5580 for details!

"LIKE" the LeClaire Chamber of Commerce on FaceBook Visit the chamber's Face Book page and discover a great source of news, business announcements, events, and other information that is updated frequently. It's a useful source of updated information for all members and non-members!

 

Chamber 2013 Networking Events - Everyone welcome to attend!

September 10 - Great River Financial Services - after hours - 5:30-7:30 pm

October 8 - Hungry Hobo - lunch - noon

November - Faithful Pilot - date and time tbd

December 10 - Happy Joes - lunch - noon

 

SERVING THE COMMUNITY AND BEYOND

Ascentra donates $25,000 to Iowa Quad Cities Rotary to help establish a scholarship in late CEO Paul Lensmeyer's name. He was a long time member of the service organization and was very involved in a number of Rotary service projects, including those focused on disadvantaged youth and disadvantaged families. Rotary's primary fundraiser is Ribs for Kids and takes place on August 16th. Proceeds from that help children of military families whose parents are serving people overseas attend a kid's camp. The group hopes this will be an ongoing scholarship as part of the mission to help the advancement of people in need and youth and for people committed to academic achievement.

Meet and greet Pastor Melody any Wednesday from 1-3 pm at Happy Joe's. Pastor Melody from First Presbyterian Church of LeClaire, will be at Happy Joe's in LeClaire, every Wednesday, from 1-3 pm, sipping on a soda, reading and waiting to visit with you and your friends. Stop by and say hi. Or, if you have a prayer request or a question, just let her know. Meals for Seniors at the church every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 12 noon. Good food and a time to visit with others. Please call 563-289-3646 and make a reservation 2 days in advance.

LeClaire 2013 Events Calendar:

First Fridays each month 5:00-8:00 P.M.

October 6th - Dogtoberfest at Bier Stube

October 13th - AppleFest - vendors sign up now - see info above!

October 24th - HalloWine

October 26th - Witches Walk Costume Contest and Parade

December 6-8 - Christmas in LeClaire

Family Nights at the LeClaire Rec Center: Details at www.leclairereccenter.com

www.LeClaireChamber.com and visit the Chamber on FaceBook!
16 Aug 2013

Brucemore's Historic Neighborhood Walk

By Rick Martin

Did you know the land surrounding Brucemore was originally developed as the first golf course in Cedar Rapids?  Or that the world-famous artist Grant Wood designed windows, murals, and woodwork, leaving his mark on the interiors of several Cedar Rapids homes?  Listen to fascinating stories about the rich history and architecture of the neighborhood just outside Brucemore's gates on the Historic Neighborhood Walk - Thursday, September 5 at 6:00 p.m. Admission is $15 per person and $12 per Brucemore member and includes a Historic Neighborhood Tour flipbook.  Space is limited; purchase tickets online at www.brucemore.org or by calling (319) 362-7375.

The Historic Neighborhood Walk is part of Brucemore's Thursday Night Lineup.  Every Thursday night Brucemore will feature a different specialty tour focusing on topics for all interests, including arts and culture, Midwestern industry, gardening, landscape design, architecture, preservation, behind-the-scenes at Brucemore, and growing up in the early twentieth century.  For more information on the Thursday Night Lineup or upcoming events, visit www.brucemore.org or call (319) 362-7375.

About Brucemore

Experience Brucemore, an unparalleled blend of tradition and culture, located at 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  At the heart of the historic 26-acre estate stands a nineteenth-century mansion filled with the stories of three Cedar Rapids families.   Concerts, theater, programs, and tours enliven the site and celebrate the heritage of a community.  For more information, call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org.

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16 Aug 2013

Iowa Supreme Court Opinions August 16, 2013

By Iowa Judicial Branch
Notice: The opinions posted on this site are slip opinions only. Under the Rules of Appellate Procedure a party has a limited number of days to request a rehearing after the filing of an opinion. Also, all slip opinions are subject to modification or correction by the court. Therefore, opinions on this site are not to be considered the final decisions of the court. The official published opinions of the Iowa Supreme Court are those published in the North Western Reporter published by West Group.

Opinions released before April 2006 and available in the archives are posted in Word format. Opinions released after April 2006 are posted to the website in PDF (Portable Document Format).   Note: To open a PDF you must have the free Acrobat Reader installed. PDF format preserves the original appearance of a document without requiring you to possess the software that created that document. For more information about PDF read: Using the Adobe Reader.

For your convenience, the Judicial Branch offers a free e-mail notification service for Supreme Court opinions, Court of Appeals opinions, press releases and orders. To subscribe, click here.

NOTE: Copies of these opinions may be obtained from the Clerk of the Supreme Court, Judicial Branch Building, 1111 East Court Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50319, for a fee of fifty cents per page.

No. 11-1080

STATE OF IOWA vs. DENEM ANTHONY NULL

No. 11-1214

STATE OF IOWA vs. DESIRAE MONIQUE PEARSON

No. 12-1758

STATE OF IOWA vs. JEFFREY K. RAGLAND
16 Aug 2013

3 Ways to Revive the Heart & Soul of the Economy

By Ginny Grimsley
It's Not an Exact Science; That's Why Other Factors Must Be
Considered, Says Socio-economics Scholar

The crux of the 2008 economic collapse was the abstract and unnatural repackaging and sale of subprime mortgages, which were sold on the false premise of being valued products. The world learned the hard way that these were toxic assets but we are now running the risk of suffering the same hardship again, says scholar John Horvat II, a sought-after researcher and scholar.

"The economic gymnastics involved in the collapse distracts many from the essential nature of what happened five years ago: sectors of our economy are frenzied and out of balance," says Horvat, author of "Return to Order," (www.returntoorder.org).

We need to address this issue, he says. Our economy is suffering from a systemic problem Horvat calls frenetic intemperance: a restless, reckless spirit that infects sectors of the modern economy and foments a drive to throw off legitimate restraints and gratify all desires.

Horvat proposes an organic solution.

"Many of us believe this problem needs to be looked at from the bottom up, which is why we propose an organic society as a part of the solution to an economic problem," he says. "We believe that when economic activities take place inside the context of society, it allows the natural restraining influence of human institutions such as customs, morals, family and community to calm markets and prevent frenetic intemperance."

Horvat says the above factors constitute the "heart and soul" of the economy, which may be revived in the following ways:

• Focus on property: Before becoming a modern commodity, private property possessed a strong intangible value. Real property, especially land, was a point of anchorage or sanctuary from which a family might develop. Wherever a strong sense of private property exists, a strong family pervades, and the family may persist there for many generations. In such cases, land and property become embedded in social relationships. They are not mere commodities; rather, they're part of the social and political organization itself, conferring the intangible qualities of honor, authority and status upon the owner.

• Social capital: There is now a field of sociological studies focusing on the value of what is called "social capital" on the economy. It's a social fabric of human relationships that serves as a kind of capital since it creates conditions for trust. Although unquantifiable, it enriches and lubricates social, civic and economic life, giving it undeniable value. It's also a source of immense security and trust - something that was lost for many after the subprime mortgage crisis.

• The "invisible" economy: Beyond individual relationships, there are also those human instituions cannot be undervalued if we're to have a healthy, organic economy. These are also innately nuanced and unpredictable. Institutions like the family and community serve as essential braking mechanisms inside an economy that prevent frenetic intemperance. In this sense, economic developments and transactions share space with other human endeavors, including literature, the arts and education. Such institutions serve the purpose of creating psychological health and stability and should not be seen as mere nostalgic musings. This "invisible" economy, a reinforced social infrastructure, in no way denies the need or importance of a formal economy. Rather, think of both as intertwined; each provides rigor, vitality and trust in the other.

About John Horvat II

John Horvat II is a scholar, researcher, educator, international speaker and author "Return to Order." His writings have appeared worldwide, including The Wall Street Journal, FOX News, The Christian Post, The Washington Times, ABC News and C-SPAN. For more than two decades he has been researching and writing about the socio-economic crisis in the United States.
16 Aug 2013

LUMBERKINGS WALK OFF RIVER BANDITS, 6-5

By Marco LaNave

Bobby Borchering homers and hits a two-run single for a season-high four RBIs

CLINTON, Iowa (AUG. 15, 2013) - The Clinton LumberKings used three straight two-out, ninth-inning singles by catcher Tyler Marlette, third baseman Jordy Lara and first baseman Taylor for a 6-5, walk-off win over the Quad Cities River Bandits at Ashford University Field Thursday night.

The River Bandits (30-21 second half, 68-52 overall) rallied from a 5-2 deficit but suffered their third walk-off loss of the season and third straight defeat overall Quad Cities fell 3 ½ games behind first-place Cedar Rapids in the Midwest League Western Division second-half standings, while Clinton (26-26, 59-62) won its fourth straight game to tie Peoria for third place in the division.

Quad Cities took a first-inning lead, as shortstop Carlos Correa hit a two-out single, and first baseman Bobby Borchering hit the first pitch from left-hander Scott DeCecco over the left-center field fence for his fourth Quad Cities home run and a 2-0 lead.

Right-hander Lance McCullers kept the LumberKings scoreless until the third inning, when a single and two walks loaded the bases before Lara drove a three-run double off the left-field wall to put his team ahead, 3-2. After McCullers allowed a walk and double by second baseman Tim Lopes to start the fourth inning, shortstop Martin Peguero hit a two-run single to extend the lead to 5-2. Peguero and Lara each had three of Clinton's 11 total hits. McCullers allowed five hits and five earned runs with four walks in his four innings.

The River Bandits started to come back against DeCecco in the fifth inning, as center fielder Tony Kemp singled, and right fielder Teoscar Hernandez doubled down the left-field line to put two runners in scoring position. Two batters later, Borchering slapped a one-hopper past Lara for a two-run single to cut the deficit to 5-4. Borchering set a new season high by driving in all four runs against DeCecco, who allowed seven hits in six innings while walking two batters and striking out five.

LumberKings right-hander George Mieses started the seventh inning, and with one out, he hit Hernandez with a pitch. After three wild pitches, Hernandez came across with the tying run for a 5-5 game. However, Mieses prevented the River Bandis from taking the lead after third baseman Rio Ruiz singled and reached third base with one out in the eighth inning. Jochi Ogando (1-3) pitched the ninth.

After the Quad Cities bullpen worked 7 1/3 innings Wednesday, right-hander Andrew Walter made his Midwest League debut in the fifth inning to follow McCullers. Walter gave up three hits and a walk in three scoreless innings to keep the game tied. Right-hander Juan Minaya (1-6) walked the first batter of the eighth inning before getting the next three batters to strand the go-ahead run at third. But in the ninth, he allowed Marlette's two-out bases empty single, and Lara moved Marlette to third with his hit. After defensive indifference allowed Lara to take second, Ard hit a 3-2 pitch to right-center field for the game-winner.

The River Bandits, who are 11-5 against Clinton this season, conclude their season series with the LumberKings in Clinton at 7 p.m. Friday. River Bandits right-hander Chris Devenski (2-2) is scheduled to face LumberKings right-hander David Holman (2-6).

UP NEXT: The first 2,000 fans to Modern Woodmen Park Saturday night will receive a bobblehead of Minnesota Twins first baseman and former River Bandit Justin Morneau, courtesy of Mediacom and the Dispatch-Argus. The 7 p.m. game kicks off a seven-game home stand through Friday, Aug. 23. Single-game tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office at Modern Woodmen Park, by phone at  563-324-3000 and online at www.riverbandits.com. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $50. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: The River Bandits ownership is making one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 112 feet over the playing field, is planned for next spring, along with a carousel and other new games and attractions. This season, the team just unveiled a new 300-foot long dual zip line, a rock climbing wall, a Mediacom Frog Hopper, and a number of new bounce houses . The team also boasts a new major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, and fans can see the first team in Minor League Baseball history with back-to-back No. 1 overall draft picks - 2012 top pick Carlos Correa and 2013 top pick Mark Appel, as well as 2012 first-round draft choice Lance McCullers. With new rides, new attractions, new improvements, a new affiliate and future major league stars, the second half of this season is one every fan will not want to miss!

*****

16 Aug 2013

Rep. Smiddy Invites Community Members to Share Concerns At His Hampton Town Hall Meeting

By Rep. Mike Smiddy

PORT BYRON, Ill. - State Rep. Mike Smiddy, D-Hillsdale, invites community members to share their concerns about state and local issues at his upcoming Hampton Town Hall Meeting to be held on Monday, Aug. 19 from 6 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Hampton Village Hall, located at 520 - 1st Avenue in Hampton.

"As a Hampton native, it's important to me that I hear from local residents to be a true voice for your needs," said Smiddy. "Knowing that there are many pressing issues that continue to weigh on our state and impact daily life in our district, it's crucial that I continue an ongoing discussion with local residents about their views and priorities. I encourage anyone who has questions or concerns or would simply like to listen to a legislative update to join me at this town hall meeting."

Illinois' 71st District includes all of Albany, Cleveland, Coal Valley, Colona, Como, Cordova, Deer Grove, Erie, Fulton, Hampton, Hillsdale, Lyndon, Morrison, Port Byron, Prophetstown, Rapids City, Rock Falls, Savanna, Sterling, Tampico and Thomson, and portions of Carbon Cliff, East Moline, Moline and Silvis.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information or to RSVP, contact Smiddy's full-time constituent service office at 309-848-9098, RepSmiddy@gmail.com, or toll-free at 855-243-4988.

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16 Aug 2013

QC Pride, Inc. announces the Equality 5K Run/Walk

By Jennifer Robb

Supports scholarships for QC Area College students. Davenport's scenic Mississippi bike path will be the setting for the event scheduled on Saturday, October 5, 2013 @ 9:00am.

Davenport, IA August 1, 2013 - Entrants registered by September 14th will be eligible for the early $25.00 registration fee that includes an Equality 5K Run/Walk T-shirt. A $30.00 fee will be charged after September the 14th. Interested runners should go to www.GetMeRegistered.com or www.qcpride.org to register for the race. Packet pick-up will be from 4:00-7:00pm on Friday, October 4th in the Modern Woodmen Park parking lot west of the stadium. Packets can also be picked up between 7:30-8:30am the day of the race. The 5K route starts at Modern Woodmen Park heading east to the turnaround point near the Boat House on Oneida and back to the staging area. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three runners in the under 50 and 50 plus categories. Children 12 and under will receive participation ribbons.

Profits from the event will fund the QC Pride Scholarships awarded during the 7th Annual QC Pridefest on June 7 & 8, 2014. The scholarship rewards students who demonstrate both academic achievement and leadership as members, friends and allies of the GLBT community. There have been two previous recipients of a $1000 award announced during the 2012 and 2013 festivals. It is the goal of QC Pride to be able to increase the number of scholarships awarded to eligible students and the Equality 5k Run/Walk will help to achieve this goal.

The event also serves as an occasion for the community to get involved as volunteers and/or sponsors. Individuals interested in volunteer and sponsorship opportunities or with additional questions about the event can contact Mike Hetrick by email at Equality5KRunWalk@qcpride.org or phone: 309-798-7700 to request information.

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16 Aug 2013

WQPT NAMES ALLISON FOSTER 2013 VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

By Lora Adams

MOLINE, ILLINOIS - WQPT honored its youngest Volunteer of the Year naming Allison Foster, a 14-year-old freshman at Rock Island High School, the 2013 recipient.

Foster was presented the award by WQPT General Manager Mary Pruess and WQPT Special Projects Coordinator Bea Brasel at a breakfast celebration Aug. 7.

"Allison became involved with WQPT as a member of our Kids Club. As the years have gone by, Allison has continued as a volunteer, including becoming our 'go-to' talent for costume characters," said Brasel. "Volunteers are important to WQPT. In our 30-year history we have relied on more than 7,000 volunteers in various capacities doing everything from stuffing envelopes to serving as pledge talent."

WQPT is a media service of Western Illinois University located in Moline, Illinois.

 Allison1146844_10151620818072800_137305295_o.jpg

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16 Aug 2013

Governor Quinn Proclaims Toby Keith Day in Illinois

By Grant Klinzman
View photo in message

Keith presented with a proclamation

WHEREAS, Illinois is a leader in supporting the arts, and has always been an important component of the artistic fabric of our state; and,

WHEREAS, there are few forms of music more purely American than the country music genre; and,

WHEREAS, country music, with its themes of rural life, family, hard work, and love for country speaks to Midwestern ideals and Illinois residents can relate to its message; and,

WHEREAS, a country musician who has experienced great success in this genre is Toby Keith; and,

WHEREAS, Toby Keith was born in Clinton, Oklahoma to  parents Joan and Hubert; and,

WHEREAS, Toby Keith began playing music at a young age after being inspired by musicians who worked at his grandmother's supper club; and,

WHEREAS, prior to starting a career in music, Toby Keith worked in the oil industry and played in the USFL football league. His debut album, "Toby Keith,"  produced the most played country song of the 1990s, "Should've Been A Cowboy"; and,

WHEREAS, his follow up records, Boomtown and Blue Moon, were equally successful due to hits "Who's That Man" and "Me Too"; and,

WHEREAS, Toby Keith's 2002 album, Unleashed, sold 3 million copies and included a duet with Willie Nelson, "Beer For My Horses"; and,

WHEREAS, Toby Keith's albums have sold more than 36 million copies, ranking him among the top-selling genre artists on Billboard's Top 200 artists of the Decade; and,

WHEREAS, Toby Keith, aside from enormous commercial success, has received critical acclaim and industry awards including the Songwriter/Artist of the Decade distinction from the Nashville Songwriters Association International as well as the American Country Awards' Artist of the Decade distinction; and,

WHEREAS, Toby Keith is strongly committed to our nation's veterans and in 2008 played 18 shows for U.S. troops in the Persian Gulf as a part of a U.S.O. Tour; and,

WHEREAS, Toby Keith will perform at the Grandstand of the Illinois State Fair  on Wednesday, August 14th at 8:00 pm; and,

THEREFORE, I, Pat Quinn, Governor of the State of Illinois, do hereby proclaim August 14, 2013 as TOBY KEITH DAY in Illinois in recognition of his tremendous musical success and contributions to the country music genre and industry.
16 Aug 2013

Governor Quinn Signs the Access to Justice Act

By Brooke Anderson

New Law Will Increase Access to Legal Representation
for Veterans and Active Duty Servicemembers

CHICAGO - Governor Quinn today signed the Access to Justice Act, a new law to support veterans and active duty servicemembers across Illinois. The new law is designed to provide meaningful access to legal information and representation to the military, veterans and the disadvantaged. Today's action is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to honor and support the men and women who have served our nation.

"Our servicemembers have faced great obstacles in their line of duty, and there is no reason why they should face these difficulties here at home," Governor Quinn said. "The Access to Justice Act will ensure that our veterans get the assistance they need and deserve. I commend the Illinois Supreme Court and Chief Justice Thomas Kilbride for their work to put this bill on my desk."

"On behalf of the Illinois Supreme Court, I thank Governor Quinn and the General Assembly for enacting our proposal into law," Chief Justice Thomas L. Kilbride said. "This law will make the Illinois court system more accessible to veterans and active duty servicemembers and will help citizens in all walks of life.

"Additionally, it provides funding for self-help centers in law libraries, creates a task force to review the statutory fees imposed on litigation and will establish a pilot project to test how best to provide legal representation in certain civil cases to those who can't afford an attorney," Chief Justice Kilbride added.

Sponsored by State Representative Emily McAsey (D-Lockport) and State Senator John Mulroe (D-Chicago), House Bill 3111 creates a pilot program to provide legal representation for disadvantaged veterans and active duty servicemembers. It also establishes a task force to review fees on criminal defendants and civil litigants. The legislation passed with the strong support of the Illinois Supreme Court and takes effect immediately.

"This new law will help people across Illinois gain access to free legal resources that would not otherwise be available to them," Representative McAsey said. "By allowing county libraries to serve as self-help legal centers, establish court-sponsored pro-bono legal assistance and provide veterans with a hotline to receive legal assistance, more people will be able to consult accurate resources as they prepare to enter the courtroom."

"Access to a fair judicial system is a fundamental right in a civilized society," Senator Mulroe said. "The Access to Justice Act ensures that all litigants have meaningful access to legal information and legal representation, regardless of their income or circumstances. Additionally, it provides much needed legal support resources to statewide military personnel and veterans."

House Bill 3111 encourages the Supreme Court to develop a pilot program that will create a veterans' and military personnel statewide legal assistance hotline and a program for court-based legal assistance. These pilot programs will provide free legal assistance, and will be paid for by an Access to Justice Fund supported by a $10 fee on parties in civil cases which will be collected by the clerks of the circuit court.

The Access to Justice Act requires the Supreme Court to submit a report to the General Assembly by June 1, 2017 regarding the effectiveness of the program, including the number of people served, the impact the programs had, the benefits provided for both the clients and the courts, recommendations for maximizing benefits and an assessment of continuing unmet needs.

"House Bill 3111 is a great step forward in meeting the complex legal needs of Illinois' veterans and servicemembers," Erica Borggren, Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs, said. "Thanks to veteran-friendly legislation like this, Illinois is leading the nation when it comes to serving and supporting our veterans."

In addition to helping veterans receive access to legal representation, the law also creates a task force to review the fees on criminal defendants and civil litigants, making sure the court fees are both efficient and just. The task force will consist of 15 members and is required to submit a report with their findings to the General Assembly by June 1, 2014.

 

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