U.S. CELLULAR TO EXPAND WIRELESS ACCESS IN ILLINOIS ’ RURAL COMMUNITIES
Lt. Gov. Quinn Welcomes Continued Investment in Rural Infrastructure

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) has granted U.S. Cellular designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC). This enables the company to access an estimated $10 million annually from the federal Universal Service Fund (USF) to build and expand wireless infrastructure in the state’s rural and underserved communities. U.S. Cellular is projected to construct up to 121 new cell sites within the next five years, based upon the continuing availability of USF support at forecasted levels. This expansion will provide new or improved service to an estimated 2.3 million residents in rural parts of the state.
“We are extremely pleased with this decision and thank the Illinois Commerce Commission for its thoughtful review of our application,” said John E. Rooney, president & CEO of U.S. Cellular. “This designation will enable us to provide more rural Illinoisans with access to dependable wireless services – the same services that urban folks now take for granted.”
“As Chairman of the Governor’s Rural Affairs Council, one of my primary concerns is the number of people in Illinois who lack adequate telecommunications services,” said Lt. Governor Quinn. “Wireless telecommunications is no longer a luxury to be enjoyed only by our urban residents; it is a fundamental necessity for personal and public safety, tourism, economic growth and long-term infrastructure development. We are proud to welcome U.S. Cellular’s continued investment in our rural communities.”
Despite the demonstrated benefit of expanded access to wireless service in rural communities that USF provides, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has been considering a cap on the wireless portion of the fund for several months, even though overall wireless contributions to the USF have grown over the past year. The push for a cap has been met with significant opposition from public safety officials, rural citizens and key political leaders like Lt. Governor Quinn.
“Of course, we remain concerned about the proposed cap on universal service funding for wireless that’s currently in front of the FCC,” added Rooney. “It is clear that states are doing their part to access this desperately needed federal support, but if the cap goes through, the federal funds necessary to help us expand Illinois’ rural networks could be significantly reduced or indefinitely delayed. It’s up to the FCC, now, to do right by rural Americans and continue to provide USF support at sufficient levels so that we can bring the same benefits to Illinois that we have brought to every state where we have received USF support.”
In 1996, Congress created the Universal Service Fund to make modern telecommunications infrastructure available in the nation’s rural areas. All telecommunications companies (including long distance companies, local telephone companies and wireless carriers) that provide interstate service contribute to the fund, typically through a line item charge on customers’ phone bills. Before a provider can obtain support from the fund, it must first be certified as an ETC.
U.S. Cellular is the nation's sixth-largest wireless service carrier, providing wireless service to six million customers in 26 states. The Chicago-based company employs 8,000 associates and operates on a customer satisfaction strategy, meeting customer needs by providing a comprehensive range of wireless products and services, superior customer support, and a high-quality network.

$10,000 donation to Children's Home

MAYOR ARDIS AND U.S. CELLULAR PRESENT $10,000 DONATION TO CHILDREN'S HOME ASSOCIATION OF ILLINOIS

Free Calling Program at Crittenton Centers to Celebrate Donation

Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis will join U.S. Cellular to present a gift of $10,000 to Children｡ﾇs Home Association of Illinois. The grant from U.S. Cellular helped fund the materials purchased to make 200 sleeping bags and 800 infant blankets for Peoria-area children.

To celebrate the donation, U.S. Cellular will provide free phone calls to the adult clients at Crittenton Centers. U.S. Cellular associates will bring wireless phones and assist individuals with placing free local or long-distance phone calls to friends and loved ones anywhere in the United States .


Friday, March 14 @ 10:00 a.m.
at Crittenton Centers Playcourt, 442 W. John Gwynn Jr. Ave., Peoria


In attendance; Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis, Children's Home staff, crittenton Centers staff, adult clients and children, U.S. Cellular executives and local associates

Spring Celebration Seminar Series March 22nd & 29th

SIGNS OF COLOR AT GREEN VIEW’S SPRING CELEBRATION SEMINARS

Green View is hosting their Spring Celebration Seminar Series on Saturday, March 22 and Saturday, March 29. People will learn how to use color in early spring as well as what design elements to think about when it comes to a landscape renovation. Seminars will be held at Green View Nursery located at 2700 West Cedar Hills Drive, Dunlap, Illinois.
The seminars are free and open to the public. For more information call Green View’s Garden Center at 309.243.7761 or visit Green View’s web site at www.greenview.com.

Spring Celebration Seminar Schedule:
To reserve seating please call Green View at 309.243.7761.

Saturday, March 22, 2008
10;00 a.m. “Signs of Color: Early Spring Arrangements” Seminar by Green View Nursery.
Learn how to brighten up your home by using Green View’s ideas for some colorful spring arrangements.

11:00 a.m. “Beautifying the Garden: Early Spring Care” Seminar by Green View Nursery.
Get the tips from experts on how to care for your garden as you head into the
spring season.

Saturday, March 29, 2008
10:00 a.m. “Signs of Color: Early Spring Container Gardens” Seminar by Green View Nursery.
Learn how to bring a splash of color to your early spring containers.

11:00 a.m. “Design Elements for Your Landscape” Seminar by Green View Design Group.
Learn how design elements can transform your spring landscape.

12:00 p.m. “You Ask & We Answer: Q&A Session with Green View”
Get all your garden and landscape questions answered during this open session.

April 5 & 6 for the Central IL Renewable Energy Expo

The 1st Central Illinois Renewable Energy Expo will be on Saturday, April 5th, from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. and on Sunday, April 6th, from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Admission Cost: $5Children 12 and under are free

Three Sisters Park, Chillicothe, Illinois WMBD-TV, The Peoria County 4-H & Extension Foundation and Three Sisters Park in Chillicothe are teaming up to host the first Central Illinois Renewable Energy Expo, April 5th & 6th. The event, the first one to be offered in central Illinois, is designed to provide an opportunity for area residents to learn more about renewable energy products and services. “Every time you turn on your radio or TV you hear something about energy consumption.

Many, if not all of us, would like to know more about how to save money on heating, fuel, electricity and so on, so we thought the Expo would be a great opportunity,” said Gary Sutton, Expo Coordinator and a member of the Peoria County 4-H and Extension Foundation. “We are very grateful for the cooperation of Three Sisters Park and we think it will be a great experience.” The Expo will feature exhibitors and vendors displaying the following renewable energy categories: Geothermal, Solar Power, Wind Energy, Bio-fuels, and Hybrid Vehicles. In addition to vendor displays, there will be presentations each day on renewable energy topics.

The Expo will be held at Three Sisters Park in Chillicothe, IL on Saturday, April 5 and Sunday, April 6. The Park is on State Route 29, eight miles north of Peoria.

Annual First Choice Scholarship applications due April 11th

Planned Parenthood of Illinois
Offers Annual First Choice Scholarships 2008

Planned Parenthood of Illinois (PPIL) will award four graduating high school seniors from the eight county Heart of Illinois area a $250 scholarship to further their education in the 2008-09 school year. Applications are due April 11, 2008.

One of these four scholarships is the Doris Kolb First Choice Scholarship. Doris Kolb was a founder of Planned Parenthood in Peoria in 1965. She served as Executive Director and was a member of our Board for many years, serving as President of the Board for several years. In 1991, Doris was presented with our local Planned Parenthood’s Betty Osborne Award. This award is given for long standing achievement and commitment to the family planning and reproductive rights movement. Doris passed away in December 2005. Doris was an outstanding and award winning chemistry teacher. Thus, the Planned Parenthood Heart of Illinois Board of
Directors determined that we could best honor her legacy by designating one of our Scholarships as a Doris Kolb First Choice Scholarship.

“Through the First Choice Scholarship Program for achieving young people, PPIL wishes to support and celebrate young people’s success and their positive responsible choices. PPIL wishes to promote healthy mind and body concepts, to enrich the lives of young people, and to encourage goal setting and pursuits of excellence and contributing achievement oriented behavior,” states Joyce Harant, PPHOI’s former President & CEO. Scholarship applications are due back to PPIL’s Peoria office at: Joyce Harant, Planned Parenthood of Illinois, 705 NE Jefferson, Peoria, Illinois 61603 by April 11, 2008. The applications will be reviewed by a distinguished panel of citizen’s. The judging panel is independent of the students and school systems involved. The money is to assist students with cost of tuition, books and fees. To be eligible, the student must be pursuing education past high school; illustrate the value of extra-curricular participation in a student’s self-development and be supportive of the Planned Parenthood mission by making responsible choices and not engaging in destructive behaviors. The applicant must be a graduating senior attending high school in the following central Illinois counties: Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford, Marshall, Stark, Fulton, Mason and Knox.

Letters of scholarship criteria and applications have gone out to all of the eight county high school counselors and principals. It is hoped that these professionals will encourage and help their students make their applications. Interested applicants should contact their school counselors or principals for an application. Applications are also available for down loading on the PPIL web site—www.plannedparenthood.org/heart-ofillinois/ or by calling or writing for an application from PPIL—First Choice Scholarship, 705 NE Jefferson, Peoria, Illinois 61603, 309-673-0907 x 226. The scholarship recipients will be publicly announced.

Methodist Plans North Side Medical Complex

Methodist Medical Center has filed a Certificate of Need application with the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board for the construction of a three-story $27.7 million medical office building. The application was filed on Monday, March 10, 2008.
The new facility, Methodist at Allen Road, will be located on a six-acre parcel of land within Sud’s Plaza on North Allen Road. Methodist also owns an adjacent six-acre tract of land for future expansion.
Methodist President and CEO Michael Bryant said the project is being undertaken to meet the community’s need for additional medical office space and to provide Methodist patients with a convenient and very accessible location for state-of-the art outpatient medical services. “ The addition of Methodist at Allen Road enhances our vision of ‘Taking You Well Into the Future’ by providing patients with the latest in digital technology. Included in that technology is an all-paperless medical records system and RelayHealth, the first of its kind service in Central Illinois providing patients their personal health record with conveniences such as direct online access to their physicians and staff. Methodist has become a nationally recognized leader in health information technology and patient safety and Methodist at Allen Road will be another major step in providing convenient state of the art medical care by keeping our patients informed, connected, most importantly, healthy utilizing technology.”
In addition to physician offices, the facility will include therapy, a retail pharmacy, conference center, and a state-of-the-art digital diagnostic imaging center including a 3T MRI, 64 slice CT scanner, mammography, ultrasound, x-ray, nuclear medicine, vascular lab, echo, stress and bone density scanning.
Construction on the 79,500 square foot complex is expected to start in August of this year with an anticipated completion in late 2009.

Newcomer's Club March meeting on March 19th

The Newcomers' Club of Greater Peoria will hold its monthly luncheon on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 at 11:45 a.m. at Basil's, 110 n Main St., Washington. Joe Mc Guire from the Peoria Journal Star will be the featured speaker.
Babysitting is available. This event is open to the public and the Newcomers' Club is open to all women who have lived in the Tri-County area for less than five years or have had a recent lifestyle change.
For additional information or to make a reservation please contact Paula Cirone at 682-2977 or email at Peoria_newcomers@yahoo.com