Monthly Archives: July 2014

It’s That Time of the Year Again – 45th Annual Threshing and Antique Show This Weekend at Freeport!

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20140730-092352-33832750.jpgThis annual event begins on Friday, August 1 and ends on Sunday, August 3, 2014 at the Stephenson County Fairgrounds, 2250 S. Walnut, Freeport, Illinois. Friday and Saturday from 7 am to 8 pm, and Sunday 7 am to 5 pm. It offers over 300 antique steam and horse-powered engines and equipment, and gas engines. This year’s feature is Allis-Chalmers tractors and equipment. There will be a huge parade daily at 1 pm, a large flea market, a large display building offering a large antique transportation display, home antiques, crafts, demonstrations, and farm miniatures. Gasoline Alley which will feature Rawleigh, Rawleigh-Schryer and Ziegler-Schryer gas engines and products, sawmill, and blacksmith shop. Also ride the Silver Creek and Stephenson Railroad antique steam train. Food is offered including a variety of food stands, plus breakfast from 7 am to 9:30 am and a noon dinner from 11 am until 1 pm. A Farmer’s Hitch Class Horse Pull will be offered on Friday at 6:30 pm. A Midwest Championship Antique Tractor Pull will be held on Saturday. On Sunday, there will be a kiddie tractor pull after the parade.

For more information, go to http://www.thefreeportshow.com/show.htm

Imagine This Scenario – What Would President Obama Have Done?

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20140722-202112-73272454.jpgLet’s assume that, instead of a Malaysian Airlines plane being shot down, that an American Airlines plane with 300 Americans on board was shot down in the Ukraine killing all on board.

What would President Obama do? Absolutely nothing – just like he is doing now! Putin knows that this administration will do nothing. American bodies would be rotting in the Ukraine while President Obama begs Putin and the Europeans for help.

President Kennedy in 1962 stood up to the Russians. If Obama had been President in 1962, Florida would now be part of Cuba.

If Obama had been President in the 1980’s, there would still be a Berlin wall and a divided Germany. President Reagan said in a speech in Berlin on June 12, 1987 addressing the Soviet Premier “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” For Reagan’s speech, listen to it at http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/reagan-tear-down.htm
Obama would have quoted one of Robert Frost’s poems and said “Good fences make good neighbors.”

If Obama had been President at the time of 9/11, he would have lamented the fact that Muslim terrorists had to die to make their point that America was terrible.

The United States has had poor presidents before, but we have never had a president like Obama who apologizes for everything this country and its people have accomplished. He seems to despise everything this country stands for and that is a sad commentary on the state of this country – one without a real leader.

Freeport City Council Meeting Tonight, July 21, 2014 – Resolution on agenda for Approving Incentives Offered by Stephenson County for Medical Cannabis Facility at Mill Race Crossing – Let’s See the Incentives!

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20140720-204058-74458642.jpgThe meeting will begin at 6:00 pm in the City Council Chambers at 524 West Stephenson Street, 3rd Floor. If you have Comcast Cable, go to channel 17 to watch live.

1st reading of three ordinances dealing with new Meadows Redevelopment Project (TIF). There will be motion asking that it be laid over until the September 15, 2014 city council meeting.

1st reading of ordinance for purchase of new fire truck ($540,000). Too bad the fire truck will be unable to get to your house since the streets are in horrible condition – especially on the south edge of Freeport!

Resolution authorizing incentives from Stephenson County in form contract relating to Mill Race Crossing intergovernmental agreement for medical cannabis (marijuana for you non-pot heads) growing facility and/or dispensary to this area. What are the incentives? The public and council should see the form contract before approving the incentives contained in the contract. Mayor Gitz says this this resolution does not make any financial obligations on the part of the city. If it does not commit the city, then why is the city’s approval necessary?

Notice from Fire Chief of the emergency purchase of two new stretchers and accessories for price of $28,603.00. If it is an emergency, council approval is not necessary.

For the complete agenda, go to http://www.ci.freeport.il.us/citygovernment/Agendas/A20140721.pdf

If You Like Country – Enjoy Music on Chicago in Downtown Freeport, Illinois on Friday, July 18 – Featuring Jamie Campbell & The Redneck Romeos

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20140716-081011-29411661.jpg5:30 to 11 pm on Chicago Avenue between Main and Stephenson Street in downtown Freeport. Enjoy Freeport’s historic downtown with this music fest featuring two bands, great food and a beer garden, plus an open air market on Chicago between Stephenson and Exchange from 4 pm to dusk the same night. This concert features “Country in Chicago” with The Eugene Smiles Project at 6:00 pm and Jamie Campbell & The Redneck Romeos at 8:00 pm.

For more info on the Romeos http://www.jamiecampbelltheredneckromeos.com/ and for info on the Smiles Project go to http://www.theeugenesmilesproject.com/

Does the Freeport Mayor Want The Fifth Third Bank Building for His New Home?

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Mayor Gitz said in his weekly column in the Journal Standard on July 13, 2014 that the MetLife Building is too big for city hall, and he does not want it off the tax rolls! Surprise! When did a Mayor of Freeport or the present city council get concerned about taking buildings off the tax rolls. Wake up Freeport! Every TIF in Freeport takes property off the tax rolls. The Fifth Third Bank building, if acquired by the city, will take a property off the tax rolls to the tune of $65,455.94. I guess $65,000 does not count! Just shift more taxes to the homeowner and the few remaining small businesses in Freeport. Oh by the way, before city acquires any more buildings, let’s deal with the existing buildings that it owns. It takes a lot of nerve to talk about buying more buildings when the city cannot even maintain its existing buildings.

It’s Fair Time in Illinois – Be Sure to Attend the 160th Stephenson County Fair in Freeport – The First County Fair in Northwest Illinois!

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The fair began on Tuesday, July 8 and runs through July 13 at the Stephenson County Fairgrounds, 2250 S. Walnut Road, Freeport, from 8 am to 10 pm.

July 9: Monster Truck Show, 7:30 pm, Free.

July 10: Lucas Oil Midwest Summer Nationals Tractor Pull, 1 pm: Free; 7 pm: $10.

July 11: Lucas Oil Midwest Summer Nationals Tractor Pull, 1 pm: $5; 7 pm: $10.

July 12: Country music artist, Jerrod Niemann. See information at his website at http://www.jerrodniemannofficial.com/. His special guest will be Chris Cavanaugh (see http://www.chriscavanaughmusic.com/home). 7:45 pm, Standing room only and track seating: $20; general grandstand seating: $10 through July 6 and $12 after July 6.

July 13: Demolition Derby, 2 pm, $10

For a full schedule of events and activities go to http://www.stephensoncountyfair.org/home.html

TIF, TIF, TIF – That is the Question! Public Hearing at Freeport City Council Meeting Tonight, July 7, 2014 on New Meadows TIF.

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

The major item on the agenda is the public hearing on the new Meadows TIF (Tax Increment Financing District) consisting of 173.5 acres. A TIF creates funding for public or private projects by borrowing against the future increase in property tax revenues. Every TIF shifts the tax burden to home owners and small businesses since any increase is property tax revenues will be used to subsidize businesses in the TIF. Freeport has many TIF’s established to help such diverse areas or businesses as downtown Freeport, Walmart and Menards, and Heritage Woods on Pearl City Road. A TIF will only last 23 years, and then they will again start contributing their share of real estate taxes! Freeport has lots of TIF’s.

For the Project Plan and Eligibility Report, go to http://www.ci.freeport.il.us/departments/Freeport%20RPA%20Meadows%20TIF%20Public%20Draft_05-09-14.pdf

Other items on the agenda:

New equipment for the Fire Department:

Approval of bid from Bocker Auto Group for $32,251.31(with trade) for 2015 red Chevrolet Tahoe

Requesting action from the City Council to waive the formal bidding process and approve the purchase of a new PUC fire engine from Pierce Fire Apparatus, Appleton Wisconsin in an amount not to exceed $540,000 financed over a period of 60 months.

Update from Community Development Director on transit phone system. Listing of bid amounts at http://www.cityoffreeport.org/OrdRes/DH%20RPT%20Cell%20Phone%20Quotes%2020140707.pdf

For the complete agenda, go to

Click to access A20140707.pdf