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Mark Your Calendar

Tuesday, April 1 Consolidated Election for Local Leaders

Polling Locations

A Consolidated Election will be held at the regularly established polling places from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the City of Galesburg, County of Knox on Tuesday, April 1, 2025:

Precinct

1 First Church of God, 1080 Harrison St............................. (309)3432179

2 First Church of God, 1080 Harrison St............................. (309)3432179

3 First Church of God, 1080 Harrison St............................. (309)3432179

4 Faith United Methodist Church, 876 E. Knox St................ (309)3438805

5 First Church of God, 1080 Harrison St............................. (309)3432179

6 First Church of Nazarene, 1501 Webster St...................... (309)3429012

7 First Church of Nazarene, 1501 Webster St...................... (309)3429012

8 Faith United Methodist Church, 876 E. Knox St................. (309)3438805

9 First Church of Nazarene, 1501 Webster St...................... (309)3429012

10 United Way of Knox County, 1215 Monmouth Blvd…... (309)343-4434

11 The Ascent Church, 169 S. Cherry St............................. (309)3420149

12 The Ascent Church, 169 S. Cherry St............................. (309)3420149

13 Bethel Baptist Church, 1196 N. Academy St.................... (309)3423166

14 Bethel Baptist Church, 1196 N. Academy St.................... (309)3423166

15 The Ascent Church, 169 S. Cherry St............................. (309)3420149

16 Bethel Baptist Church, 1196 N. Academy St.................... (309)3423166

17 Bethel Baptist Church, 1196 N. Academy St.................... (309)3423166

18 Grace Anglican Church, 151 E Carl Sandburg Dr........... (309)3441556

19 Bethel Baptist Church, 1196 N. Academy St.................... (309)3423166

20 Grace Anglican Church, 151 E Carl Sandburg Dr........... (309)3441556

Notes: All polling places will have hand sanitizer available for voters. Voters are encouraged to

practice current health and safety recommendations. Voters can bring their own black pen if it is

not a gel pen.

An individual who has already requested a mail-in ballot but changes their mind and wants to

vote in-person is required to surrender the mail-in ballot before voting in-person or cast a

provisional ballot.

Prep Classes

State Senator Mike Halpin and State Representative Dan Swanson have announced a new state program that will help Illinois college students prepare for graduate school and in-demand careers.

“Prohibitive cost on prep courses and entrance exams can close the door on a students’ post-graduate ambitions,” said Halpin (D-Rock Island) chair of the Senate Appropriations Education Committee. “This program ensures every prospective post-graduate student gets the fair shot they deserve, opening the door to a good education and a fulfilling career. Illinois’ investment in our students represents an investment in our future.”

The Prepare for Illinois' Future Program is the result of a commitment by the State of Illinois, Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), and leading global education company Kaplan to provide free test preparation courses to students enrolled in Illinois’ public universities as well as five community colleges. Western Illinois University was the first school to join the program, and Carl Sandburg College is also being on boarded for all students.

This historic workforce initiative enables student’s access to Kaplan’s best-in-class preparation for professional licensing exams, graduate-level admissions exams, and credential exams at no cost to them. Available courses include exam prep for the GRE®, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, NCLEX-RN, Illinois state bar exam, real estate and securities exams, and more. Students will also have access to a suite of certificate courses, including project management and cybersecurity, as well as professional and academic skills development courses from Kaplan.

“Illinois has massive shortages of people in skilled professions – such as nursing and other medical professions,” said Swanson (R-Alpha), a former substitute teacher “This new program is a game-changer for our students and makes WIU and Carl Sandburg more competitive with schools across the border.”

The program aims to boost in-state enrollment at public universities, create career pathways for students from underserved urban and rural communities, and address the state’s critical shortages for essential professions—ultimately helping to reduce shortages in the Illinois workforce, including projected deficits of more than 14,000 nurses and more than 6,000 doctors by 2030.

In addition to offering the program to students at all 12 Illinois public 4-year universities, the program is being piloted at five community colleges chosen to reflect the geographic and demographic diversity of the state, including Joliet Junior College, Carl Sandburg College, Southwestern Illinois College, Malcolm X College, and Morton College. Kaplan has already begun working with these community colleges and the state’s public universities to launch the program so students can access these courses.

Real World

More than 350 area eighth graders will embark on an immersive occupational journey during the Welcome to the Real World and Career Exploration experience from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. March 28 in the gymnasium on Sandburg’s Galesburg campus.

The event, hosted by Sandburg in cooperation with the University of Illinois Extension and Regional Office of Education No. 33, inspires students’ aspirations and prepares them for the challenges and opportunities of the future while introducing them to diverse career options.

The Welcome to the Real World portion of the event simulates the implications of career choices and financial decisions, helping students better understand how their choices can impact their financial futures.

In the Career Exploration portion, students will hear from a panel of professionals in various career paths, allowing them to learn about necessary education and training while connecting with these industry experts and learning how they achieved success in their careers. The career panel will be moderated by Abby Colvin with Knox County Area Partnership for Economic Development.

Following the career panel, industry partners will have interactive demonstrations set up in the gymnasium so that students can explore career fields through hands-on activities. Participating groups include:

• Facilitating Coordination in Ag Education

• F&M Bank

• Galesburg Area Vocational Center

• Galesburg Broadcasting

• Galesburg Fire Department

• Galesburg Police Department

• Knox County 911

• Knox County CEO

• Knox County Clerk and Recorder’s Office

• Ninth Judicial Circuit Court

• Pegasus MFG, Inc.

• Regional Office of Education No. 33 (child development)

• Sandburg

  • College of Nursing

  • Dental hygiene program

  • Information technology

  • Radiologic technology program

  • TRIO Upward Bound

  • TRIO Upward Bound Math/Science

  • Welcome Center

  • Welding program

• Thrive Community Services

• Yemm Auto Group

This partnership between Sandburg, the U of I Extension and ROE No. 33 underscores the commitment of these organizations to provide students with exceptional opportunities for growth and learning. More than 100 volunteers will be part of helping area students throughout this career experience.

For more information or to assist with the event, contact Tracy Engstrom, coordinator of career development at Sandburg, at 309.341.5246 or tengstrom@sandburg.edu, or contact Shelby Carlson from the U of I Extension at srcarls2@illinois.edu.

Sandburg

Sandburg women’s basketball freshman Antonia Kisler was voted to the All-Region 4 Division II first team by the region’s coaches, and Chargers sophomore Brook Pieper earned all-region honors for the second straight season.

A 5-foot-9 forward from Galesburg, Kisler turned in a dynamic first season at Sandburg, leading the team with 15.5 points per game and averaging 8.9 rebounds. Kisler played in all 32 games for the Chargers this season, starting 27 times.

Kisler made a team-high 178 field goals on 42 percent shooting, and her 85 percent mark at the free-throw line (100 of 118) ranked fourth among players across all divisions of Region 4. Kisler was 13th in the region in points per game and 11th in total points scored. She also averaged 1.8 assists and 1.8 steals per contest.

Kisler put up a season-high 29 points in Sandburg’s Jan. 21 win over Black Hawk, and she helped the Chargers claim their second straight Arrowhead Conference title. Kisler finished the season with 11 double-doubles.

Pieper earned second-team all-region honors for the second year in a row after averaging a double-double with 11.7 points and 10.8 rebounds. The 6-1 forward from Abingdon-Avon High School was one of just eight players in Region 4 to average a double-double this season. She started all 32 games this season and put up a double-double in half of them.

Pieper’s 346 total rebounds ranked fourth in the region, and she was seventh in boards per game. Pieper shot 51 percent overall from the field, and she averaged 2.1 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.7 blocks per contest. Her 54 blocks for the season ranked fourth in the region.

Pieper scored a season-high 25 points in Sandburg’s Nov. 16 win at home over Madison as she went 12 of 15 from the floor.

2025 ALL-REGION 4 DIVISION II WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAMFirst teamPlayer of the Year — Andrea Lopreato (Black Hawk)Maren McCallister (Lake County)Mia Moore (Rock Valley)Re'Niya Ford (Prairie State)Trishena Brown (Bryant & Stratton)Mariya Sisco (Lake County)Jadea Johnson (Moraine Valley)Antonia Kisler (Sandburg)Zoie Lewis (McHenry County)Kayla Lacombe (Kankakee)

Second teamMonica Sierzputowski (Oakton)Chloe Sisco (Lake County)Brook Pieper (Sandburg)Amadea Montijo (Rock Valley)Dani Latz (Madison)Anna Marie Godina (Waubonsee)Shakila Brownlow (Moraine Valley)Ava Simpson (Kankakee)Isabella Frohling (McHenry County)Jayonna Smith (Prairie State)

Skip the Plastic Day

State Senator Mike Halpin’s resolution to declare April 1 as “Skip the Plastic Day” in Illinois passed.

“With our landfills and waterways being filled with plastic waste, Illinois has an opportunity to stand up and be part of the solution rather than the problem,” said Halpin (D-Rock Island) “Skip the Plastic Day will bring more awareness to this issue that is impacting the whole planet.”

“Skip the Plastic Day” would urge all residents, businesses and visitors to reduce plastic waste and protect our environment. The resolution would also commend businesses for willingly participating in offering single-use plastics only at customer request. The single use plastics included under the day are straws and cutlery, though businesses are encouraged to draw down all plastic use.

“Skip the Plastic Day” is the vision of Nicolina Pappas, an 8th grader from Rock Island. Nicolina has already gotten several Illinois mayoral proclamations in support of “Skip the Plastic Day.” She brought her “Skip the Plastic Day” idea to Halpin’s office and testified at the Environment and Conservation Committee.

“The environment is one of the most pressing issues for young people,” said Nicolina “If we push to cut single use plastics it will lower expenses for businesses and protect the environment. Young people are concerned about the legacy they are inheriting and we must take action.”

Nicolina also has a website you can check out to see restaurants that have pledged to Skip the Plastic (https://nicolinasturtleco.com/skip-the-plastic).

Plastic waste has become a massive issue in Illinois. Each year millions of pounds of plastic enter Lake Michigan. The Mississippi River is also threatened and is responsible for over 40 percent of drainage in the U.S. Any plastic that makes its way into the river ends up in the Gulf of Mexico to be spread around the globe. The Mississippi River Cities & Towns Initiative launched the Mississippi River Plastic Pollution Initiative’s (https://www.mrcti.org/mississippi-river-plastic-pollution-initiative) Second Phase in the Quad Cities in 2021 to spread awareness around plastic waste and combat plastic pollution.

“Here in Springfield we often get caught up in policy and legal discussions but cultural change on the ground is really important,” said Halpin. “We need to meet people where they are on the local level. On behalf of her generation, Nicolina is asking us to affirm our commitment to a cleaner Illinois and I cannot thank her enough for her efforts.”

Senate Resolution 22 passed the Environment and Conservation committee and waits to be adopted by the full Senate.

Workers Rights

Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) helped reintroduce the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which would be the most significant update to workers’ collective bargaining rights in 80 years. The legislation empowers workers to exercise their right to organize, holds employers accountable for violating workers’ rights, and secures free, fair, and safe union elections. According to recent polling, 70% of American approved of labor unions in 2024, nearly an all-time high. However, despite this support, labor laws remain outdated as middle-class Illinoisans continue to deal with rising prices and stagnant wages.  

"Hardworking people of Illinois and workers across the country should have the right to organize without fear of retaliation,” said Sorensen. “This bill is about giving workers a fair chance to stand together and demand better pay and safer workplaces. Unions are essential to rebuilding the middle class and closing wage gaps. The PRO Act will give our neighbors a fair shot at forming unions, negotiating better pay, safer workplaces, and securing retirement benefits.” 

“The statutory right to form a union and bargain collectively is foundational to a free and fair society,” said Luke Ogan, Business Representative for the Operating Engineers, Local Union No. 649.

“This fundamental right has been under constant attack for nearly 80 years. Passing the PRO Act would be a monumental step toward restoring workers’ rights to organize and bargain together for power in the workplace.” 

"America was on its path to greatness when workers had the right to form unions and be an effective counterbalance to today’s runaway corporate hostility and greed. If we’re going to put America First, we must put the American Worker first.” said Brandon Campbell, Director of UAW Region 4. “The PRO Act will loosen the billionaire chokehold on our economy and strengthen workers' fundamental rights: bargaining to win living wages, work-life balance, good healthcare, and dignity in retirement.

The UAW stands with elected officials - regardless of party - who fight to pass the PRO Act." 

“Strong protections for workers rights are fundamental to the American Dream. Workers and unions built the American middle class, and the PRO Act is a much-needed update to our labor laws that will enshrine worker protections and stop corporations from violating workers' rights.” said Alan Golden, IBEW Local Union 364. “Everyone deserves the opportunity to make a living, and the PRO Act is a big step in the right direction." 

Currently, companies can fire workers for organizing or delay union contract talks with little to no consequences. The PRO Act would change that by holding employers accountable and protecting workers’ rights. Unions help close wage gaps and provide better pay, health insurance, and retirement benefits. They also help reduce racial wage disparities. Despite growing support for unions, outdated laws make it hard for workers to organize.   

Sorensen helped introduce the PRO Act in his first term in office and spoke about the importance of this legislation on the House floor.