Statewide license plate recycling program begins

Secretary of State Jesse White announced the launching of a state-wide license plate recycling program. The program allows people to recycle expired and obsolete license plates in all 136 vehicle facilities in Illinois.

“The program will reduce energy usage as well as air and water pollution,” said White. “We want to help everyone do his or her part when it comes to recycling.”

Each facility will have a license plate recycling bin where motorists can drop off their license plates. They will be shredded in Springfield and recycled. Older and newer license plates can be recycled. Current license plates are made of recycled aluminum, while ones made prior to 2004 are made of galvanized steel.

State representative adds Urbana Library to coffee shop tour

State Representative Naomi Jakobsson, D-Urbana, will be visiting Urbana Library, 210 W. Green St., on April 23 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. as a permanent part of her monthly coffee shop tours.

“Coffee shop stops have been a tremendous way to get people to come out and discuss state and local issues with me,” Jakobsson said in a press release. “My first coffee shop stop at the Urbana Free Library will allow me to buy coffee and chat with library patrons and concerned citizens who are on the way to the library to browse or on their way home.”

Jakobsson has been visiting coffee shops in her district since 2003.

“The whole point is to make her more accessible to her constituents,” said Jessica Frank, legislative aid for Jakobsson. “It’s a great asset in that sense.”

Champaign County republicans hosting “Meet Our Candidates Breakfast”

The Champaign County Republicans Central Committee is re-launching their monthly breakfast series April 23 at 7 a.m. in the 2nd floor conference room of Bartell and Barickman, LLP, 2919 Crossing Ct. in Champaign. Suggested donation for the coffee and doughnut breakfast is $5.

The breakfast will allow citizens to meet republican candidates on the November ballot. Brad Jones, candidate for county auditor; Janie Miller Jones, candidate for state’s attorney; Frank Calabrese, candidate for state representative; Circuit Clerk Linda Frank; and County Board candidates Stephanie Dold, Will Kyles, Corben Rice, Al Nudo and John Jay will be in attendance.

Rep. Johnson Supports Upgrade of Student Loans

The U.S. House of Representatives passed an act last week ensuring federal loan help for college students facing problems because of the tightened credit markets.

The Ensuring Continues Access to Student Loans Act (H.R. 5715) was passed with the help of U.S. Rep. Timothy V. Johnson (R-Urbana).

“The 15th Congressional District is one of the most higher education intensive districts in the country. The thousands of students depending on help to improve themselves, whether through beauty school or community colleges or graduate research institutions, need to be able to depend on these loan programs to make it,” Johnson said in a press release Monday.

“It is imperative that they not be allowed to fall through the cracks because of problems beyond their control.”

The act will raise aggregate loan limits from $23,000 to $31,000 for dependants and from $46,000 to $57,000 for independents.

Also, under the newly passed act, parents with dependant children will have the option of a six-month grade period to defer PLUS loan payments until after the children graduate.

Church holds clothing drive for Ukraine

The Windsor Road Christian Church in Champaign will be collecting clothes and other supplies until May 11 for Ukraine. This clothing drive will be the eleventh annual year of the clothing drive, which sends collected supplies to Chorvona Pallana, a village in Ukraine.

The Church supports a missionary pastor in the village and the annual collection has been very successful in the past, said Elizabeth Giger, adult ministries coordinator for the church.

“It’s nice for the community to get involved,” Giger said. “We are just showing God’s love.”

The Church will be accepting clothes, shoes and medical supplies such as wheelchairs or walkers. Windsor Road Christian Church is located at 2501 W. Windsor Road.

“It’s always good to think about someone else,” Giger added. “Especially people that have almost nothing.”

Complied by Erika Stebel and Melissa Silverberg