Monthly Archives: February 2014

Concert February 22 with Music of John Philip Sousa – “The March King”

John Philip Sousa IV (the March King’s great-grandson) will narrate a band concert at the Masonic Temple in Freeport. James Ripley, director of bands at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin will conduct this special night of music. An ensemble composed of Highland Community College Concert Band members, area band directors and their students will serve as performers.

The purpose of the event is to celebrate contributions to the cultural life in Northwest Illinois and to join together in Freeport at the Masonic Temple to cultivate further interest and commitment to Highland Community College and the Friends of the Fine Arts organization.

The concert will take place at 7:30 pm Saturday, February 22 at the Masonic Temple Auditorium in Freeport, Illinois.

All tickets are $10 for general admission seating and may be purchased by calling 815.599.3718 or visit http://www.highland.edu/news_events/eventdetail.asp?id=80

Photo of John Philip Sousa from Library of Congress c. 1900

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The Good and the Bad – People, organizations, governmental agencies, and taxing bodies which deserve special recognition. This Month the Bad – Freeport (Illinois) School District 145!

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Freeport School District Has A Lot in Common With The Politicians in Springfield – The Solution to Every Problem Is More Taxes!

Real Estate Taxes in the City of Freeport are some of the highest in the country with the rate going up each year. Ask your local politicians about the rate for next year.

The school districts in Stephenson County led by Freeport want another 1% added to the sales tax so Freeport will be 9%. Spend $10 and pay almost $1 in taxes! They say it will be used to pay off existing bonds. A sales tax increase is only justified if there is a corresponding decrease in real estate taxes dollar for dollar – and that must be guaranteed which is joke. Give the bureaucrats running the school districts more money, and they will just spend more money. Schools in the Freeport District received failing grades since not one grade met state averages, and has the lowest graduation rate of school districts in Stephenson, Carroll, and Jo Daviess Counties. So much for more money for failing schools. More money is not the answer.

The Freeport School District has already announced it is increasing its levy 1.83% and that an owner of $100,000 residence will pay an additional $120 more in real estate taxes!

Yes, Freeport School District is recognized this month for consistently raising our real estate taxes and now it wants a special sales tax to raise even more money. Perhaps, it will request a special exit tax on everyone leaving the community until no one remains! True bureaucrats don’t care as long as they get paid – since they can just move on to their next victim when a community is destroyed.

For more details and to compare this district to schools in other districts go to http://fh.suntimes.com/reportcards/search/index

Freeport (Illinois) City Council Meeting, Monday, February 3 – Looks Like The Council Will Get Home Early, Not Much on Agenda!

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The meeting will be at 6:00 pm in City Council Chambers at 524 West Stephenson Street, 3rd Floor.
If you have Comcast Cable, go to channel 17 to watch live.

Items of interest:

Vote to accept low bid for police pursuit vehicle from Bocker Group for 2014 Impala, $20,987.45

One resolution to apply to apply for grant funding for storm water management including design projects intended to control rain water, green street designs, planter boxes, permeable pavement, etc. to reduce storm water flow, control flooding and slow run-off into surface water in the City’s East Side Neighborhood

No readings of any ordinances

For the complete agenda of the council meeting, go to

Click to access A20140203.pdf