At a recent press conference in Pekin, Tazewell County Clerk John Ackerman and officials from the Illinois Department of Agriculture encouraged family-owned farms to register for the State of Illinois Centennial Farm Program. This initiative aims to honor families who have maintained ownership of their farms for over 100 years. The program seeks to enlist all eligible Tazewell County family farms ahead of the county's bicentennial in 2027.
Rep. Dennis Tipsword Jr. expressed his support for local farmers, stating, "Generational farms are the backbone of our agriculture industry." More information on the program is available online.
In other news, several local businesses received recognition recently. Farm Family Foods, a new grocery store in Benson opened by Lauren Reedy, Elise Panic, Corrie Scott, and DeAnn Heck, offers farm-fresh produce sourced locally. Additionally, Pfaff’s Bakery in Pontiac and Common Grounds Cafe and Coffee Shop in Gridley were highlighted for their contributions to the community.
On July 21st at 6 p.m., Rep. Tipsword will host a Facebook Live Town Hall alongside Senator Chris Balkema and Representative Jason R. Bunting to discuss legislative updates from Springfield and answer questions from constituents.
Recent heavy rain has led to flooding in several communities within District 105. Residents are advised to document these events as they can be crucial for grant applications and Natural Hazard Mitigation Planning.
The application period for Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grants remains open until September 30th.
Furthermore, IDFPR's new online licensing system now offers licensure for an additional 24 professions through its CORE platform.
County fairs are ongoing across various locations including Iroquois County Fair, Peoria County Fair, Marshall-Putnam Fair, and Livingston County Fair.
Rep. Tipsword criticized the SAFE-T Act as it continues to pose risks to Illinois communities according to him. He also addressed concerns over high cell phone service taxes imposed on Illinois residents by Democrats' spending policies.
Road construction projects have commenced or are planned around Bloomington-Normal with completion dates set between 2025-2026.
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