Winnebago County News

The Rock River Times’ election endorsements By Frank Schier Editor and Publisher Vote the undervote The Rock River Times’ endorsements are for contested races only for the General Election, Nov. 6. Again, being purposefully redundant, we stress what has been the position of this paper for many years — if you don’t like either candidate, don’t vote in that race. That lack of a vote is called an “undervote,” and is closely watched by the political pros and parties. Send a message to the major parties that you think their choices are poor and the system is broken, if that is appropriate... Read the long list of endorsements at: http://rockrivertimes.com/2012/10/31/the-rock-river-times%E2%80%99-election-endorsements/

Media Advisory FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 29, 2012 Landfill Update Meeting Contact: Paul Gorski paul@paulgorski.com (815) 871-6320 There will be a public meeting to discuss current landfill issues at 7 PM, Tuesday, October 30th at the New Milford Fire Station Community Room, 2177 Will James Road, New Milford. This is a general informational meeting requested by local residents. We thank the New Milford Fire Department for the use of the community room. Paul Gorski will moderate the discussion. The discussion will include updates on: 1) The lawsuit challenging the landfill expansion. 2) The current frequency and strength of landfill odors. 3) Contacts for reporting air, water and traffic concerns. 4) Winnebago Landfill releasing water into Kilbuck Creek. Landfill Update Meeting Date: Tuesday, October 30, 2012 Time: 7 - 8 PM Where: New Milford Fire Station community room, 2177 Will James Road, Rockford (New Milford) ###

Hello, I just wanted to remind followers of Winnebago County News, Rockford Sports News and Cherry Valley News that I am running for Winnebago County Board Member, District 11. My official campaign site is http://www.gorskiforcountyboard.com. Thank you, Paul Gorski Editor, Winnebago County News

The Illinois Paddling Council is proud to announce it's 50th Anniversary Celebration. Please Mark These Two Dates Down On Your Calendar: November 30th 2012 and March 2, 2013 The annual dinner usually held in November, has been moved forward to the March Date. Instead we will hold our Annual Membership Meeting, Board Election and present the 2012 Racing awards at 7:30 pm, November 30th, in the Rasmussen Room of the Schaumburg Public Library.(light refreshments will be served) The 50th anniversary celebration banquet will take place exactly 50 years to the day from when IPC's Incorporation papers were filed in 1963. The banquet will be held on March 2, 2013 at Lamb's Farm in Libertyville. Cost is $20.00. A panel consisting of Founding Member Ralph Frese, Jack Snarr, Second President, and Don Muggenborg, early Board Member will take us back to the early days of the Illinois Paddling Community and the IPC. Banquet reservations can be made by sending a check for $20.00...

By David Soll We have all heard the rumors that Social Security is on the verge of bankruptcy within the next decade or so. This is currently true if we do nothing. It frustrates me when politicians and certain ideologues at the local and national levels use the present problems of Social Security as reasons to simply privatize or eliminate it altogether. They call it an “entitlement” when the truth is that Social Security is a pre-paid insurance program. Not long ago, a politician who dared speak about getting rid of Social Security would no longer have a political career to look forward to. Today, U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., comes up with a budget that practically erases Social Security as a pre-paid, publicly-funded social safety net and opens it up to eventual privatization (a prospect over which Wall Street salivates), and he is awarded with rumors of a potential vice presidential nomination. I, for one, am tired of this Republican pattern of “tackling” problems by eliminating th...

From Press Release... Carl Wasco, Democratic candidate for State Representative, 68th District recently announced the endorsement of Illinois Fraternal Order of Police (FOP). T ed Street, president of the Illinois FOP, was not present, though he sent the following comments: “Mr. Wasco’s dedication to law enforcement has been shown through his willingness to work with all parties to provide the resources and the tools police need to do their jobs safely and effectively. And that is exactly why we’re pleased to endorse his campaign.”  Read the full press release below... DATE: 10/11/12 CONTACT: Steve Spagnolo (cell: 708-601-1949) Alderman Carl Wasco, candidate for State Representative of the 68th District, gathered with friends and supporters today at his campaign office to welcome the endorsement of the Police Benevolent and Protection Association of Rockford (PB&PA), as well as the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police (FOP). The 68th district seat is currently ...

By David Soll We have all heard the term “tort reform.” First, a “tort” is a non-criminal civil wrongdoing that is caused either on purpose or through negligence in which the act, intentional or otherwise, has caused physical, mental or monetary damage. You, the injured party, has the legal right to sue the wrongdoer for damages. To use one layman’s example, if you are harmed by people who run a chemical company that have decided to save a few dollars by dumping their company’s toxic goo into the ground — and that goo reaches the water table and directly results in your cancer diagnosis — you can sue for the pain and suffering you would not have otherwise endured if not for the negligence of that chemical company... Read the entire article in the Rock River Times at: http://rockrivertimes.com/2012/08/01/guest-column-tort-reform-would-be-a-bad-thing/

By Paul Gorski Apple, Inc., recently released iOS 6, a major upgrade of the operating system for its popular iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches. Each major upgrade usually breaks new ground with a unique mobile device feature but also plays catch-up with Android OS. iOS 6 is no different. If you are thinking “I’ve read this review before,” not exactly. Most iOS 6 press is about how poorly the iOS 6 Maps compares to the iOS 5 Maps app it replaces, but iOS 6 Maps: 1) offers features iOS 5 Maps doesn’t, and 2) many Rockford-area iPhone/iPad users may not care about maps... Read the full Rock River Times article at: http://rockrivertimes.com/2012/10/17/tech-friendly-apple-ios-a-worthy-upgrade-unless-you%E2%80%99re-addicted-to-google-maps/

By David Soll Back in early January, there was a town hall meeting about the potential closing of the Post Office facility on Harrison Avenue in Rockford. I was appalled by the seeming lack of respect the hosts seemed to have for the intelligence of the citizens in attendance and the whole of our community. The presentation appears now to have been a whitewash of reality as to what ails one of our greatest American institutions, the U.S. Postal Service. That reality is H.R. 6407: “The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act” of 2006... Read the entire article in the Rock River Times at: http://rockrivertimes.com/2012/08/29/guest-column-support-postal-service-any-and-every-chance-you-get/

By Paul Gorski I get upset when I read unverified and unchallenged news articles in our local newspapers. Once again, the Rockford Register Star (RRStar) has let me down in this regard. The RRStar’s coverage of the county board’s vote on the 2013 budget last week helped perpetuate incorrect information about our rising property taxes by relying on misleading information from county board members. Kevin Haas (“County hopes to add officers without more property tax dollars,” Rockford Register Star, Sept. 27) reported that the board’s 25-1 vote on the 2013 budget “holds the line on property taxes” but later states some taxpayers will pay higher property taxes, so I’m not sure how that is holding the line on taxes... Read the full Rock River Times article at: http://rockrivertimes.com/2012/10/03/meet-john-doe-new-county-budget-means-higher-taxes-for-some/

From Press Release... Carl Wasco, Democratic candidate for State Representative, 68th District recently announced the endorsement of the Police Benevolent and Protection Association of Rockford (PB&PA). Terry Peterson, President of the PB&PA, stood by Alderman Wasco at the event and said, “We trust and have faith in Carl Wasco. He has shown us in the past that he is passionate about our interests and concerned for the safety of his community. He believes in us and even though we might disagree on some issues, we trust him to be honest and straightforward with our membership. We also know that overall, he will advocate for legislation that supports the law enforcement profession.” Read the full press release below... DATE: 10/11/12 CONTACT: Steve Spagnolo (cell: 708-601-1949) Alderman Carl Wasco, candidate for State Representative of the 68th District, gathered with friends and supporters today at his campaign office to welcome the endorsement of the Police Benevolent and Pro...