The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), and Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) is seeking applications for funding under the Student, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence Act Program. This program furthers the Department’s mission by supporting and assisting state, local, territorial, and tribal jurisdictions in improving efforts to reduce violent crime through the creation of school threat assessment teams and the use of technology for anonymously reporting suspicious activity as it relates to violence in schools.

The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, and Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), recently published two notices for competitive grant programs for the recently approved STOP School Violence Act. Eligible applicants are limited to states, units of local government, and federally recognized Indian tribes. School districts interested in these funds should work with their counties and municipalities to apply.

STOP School Violence Threat Assessment and Technology Reporting Program
Funds available for this grant program may be used to address the development and operation of school threat assessment and crisis intervention teams, and the development of technology for local or regional anonymous reporting systems. Applications for grants are due July 23, 2018. Further information about this grant program is available here.

STOP School Violence Prevention and Mental Health Training Program
Funds available for this grant program may be used to address training school personnel and educating students to prevent student violence, and training school officials in responding to related mental health crises. Grant applications are due July 23, 2018. Further information about this program is available here.

Salem....State Rep. John Cavaletto (R - Salem) honored local State champion members of the Franklin Park middle school in Salem by presenting the student-athletes with a congratulatory House Resolution on Monday. Cavaletto remarked during the ceremony that as a Salem resident, he was particularly proud to honor home-grown State champions.

Rep. John Cavaletto recently presented Franklin Park State champion track student-athletes with a congratulatory
House Resolution.

"You should all be very proud of your accomplishments in the 2018 season," Cavaletto said. "To cap off a remarkable year with these kinds of performances and successes at the State meet shows that your hard work and dedication really paid off. Congratulations."

HR 1096 passed the Illinois House unanimously on May 21, 2018. Here is a text of the resolution: 

WHEREAS, The member of the Illinois House of Representatives would like to congratulate the members of the Franklin Park Bobcat Track and Field teams for their finishes at the SIJHSAA Class L state track meet on May 12th. The boys track and field team finished second in the state and the girls team finished eleventh ; and

WHEREAS, The Franklin Park boys Track and Field team went undefeated in 2018 regular season competition, including a regional championship; and

WHEREAS, 8th grader Caden Bee won the state championship in the 110m hurdles and 400 meters, setting new school and state records in both races. He also set a new school record in the 200m race, in which he finished second; and

WHEREAS, 8th grader Caden Bee went undefeated in the 100m hurdles and the 400m over the course of the 2018 season, in addition to his three separate state championships. He was also undefeated in the 200m race until his second place finish at the state meet; and

WHEREAS, The team of Caden Bee, Caden Inlow, Cayden Harris, and Brayden Smith won the state championship in the 4x100m relay, finishing with a school-record time of 46.45. This relay team was undefeated for the entire 2018 season; and

WHEREAS, The 4x200m relay team consisting of Jonny Eyman, Caden Inlow, Eli Davis, and Brayden Smith finished second in the state, also setting a new school record time of 1:39.58

WHEREAS, The 4x400m relay team of Brayden Smith, Josh Guenard, Jonny Eyman, and Cayden Harris placed eighth in the state with a time of 3:57.89 and Bryson Quinn finished fifth in the pole vault, leaping 9’6”; and

WHEREAS, The 7th grade 4x200m relay team of Jervace Mayes, Isaak Williams, Griffin Day, and Aden Susmena placed fourth in the state with a time of 1:46.81; and

WHEREAS, Katelyn Biegeleisen won the state championship in the high jump, leaping an impressive five feet; and

WHEREAS, Katie Allen finished second in the pole vault, vaulting 8’6”. Prior to her second place finish at the state meet, Katie was undefeated in 2018; and

WHEREAS, Teyah Cape finished fifth in the 7th grade 100m race with a time of 13.15; and

WHEREAS, The Bobcats Track Team is coached by Franklin Park Athletic Director Suzie Worman, Head Coaches Alex Koebele, Tyson Moore, and Amy Brubaker, and Assistant Coaches Cory Harris, Elizabeth Smith, Andrew Miller, and Jamie Powless; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ONE HUNDRETH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the boys and girls track teams of Franklin Park Middle School for all of their accomplishments at the SIJHSAA state track and field meet on May 12th; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Franklin Park Middle School as a symbol of our esteem and respect.

Funding will foster future of Illinois agriculture

Gov. Bruce Rauner joined the Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture Raymond Poe to announce the release of $16M in agriculture grants. The funds being released from the fiscal year 2018 budget will fund soil & water districts, county fairs and agriculture societies, and the University of Illinois Extension services.

“These three entities provide services that are vital for the future of Illinois agriculture,” Rauner said. “From protecting our farmland for future generations to fostering agriculture careers and educating consumers, these organizations support Illinois agriculture, the backbone of our state’s economy.”

“Funding for these organizations comes at a critical time,” said Ag Director Raymond Poe. “We must continue to fund these organizations in order to sustain their key programs. I want to thank our agricultural partners for commitment to Illinois agriculture and for their cooperation in these fiscally challenging times.”

More than $54,000 will be sent to each of the 92 county fairs across the state. It will help operations at the fairs and may be used to support critical facility rehabilitation needs. Illinois county fairs are economic drivers for rural Illinois. A study from the University of Illinois shows county fairs generate more than $90 million annually and create more than 1,000 jobs each summer. In addition to providing family friendly entertainment, county fairs provide an outlet for our state’s youth to become involved and prednisone engaged in Illinois agriculture. 

Soil and Water Conservation Districts, which protects our state’s farmland through strategic conservation efforts, will receive $6 million. The 97 districts around the state play a central role in efforts to protect and sustain the viability of Illinois soil and water resources in order to preserve our farmland for future generations. The Department will be issuing more than $61,000 to each of the districts to help fund operations.

“As a result of this funding, the SWCD’s of Illinois will be better positioned to support important conservation efforts such as the statewide Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy,” said Steve Stierwalt, President of the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts. “This funding also ensures that SWCD’s have the resources needed to continue to provide important technical expertise, assistance, and cost-share agreements to not only farmers for the installation of conservation practices such as grassed waterways, filter strips, and cover crops – but also urban, suburban, and other rural landowners.”

More than 1.5 million Illinois residents take part in programs offered by the University of Illinois Extension Service. Extension provides educational assistance in the areas of energy and environmental stewardship, food safety and security, economic development and workforce preparedness, family health, financial security and wellness, and youth development. The Department of Agriculture will disperse $5 million dollars to assist the organization with its core mission.

To learn more about agriculture programs in Illinois, please visit the IL Dept. of Agriculture web site here. Remember to visit our local county fairs:

Bond County (Aug. 2 - 7)

Clinton County (July 15 - 21)

Effingham County (July 28 - Aug. 4)

Fayette County (July 15 - 21)

Marion County (July 29 - Aug. 5)

Illinois State Fair (Aug. 9 - 19)
DuQuoin State Fair (Aug. 24 - Sept. 3)