Agriculture & Environment

Friday, November 20, 2009

Soil cleanup proposed at 7 Chanute sites

RANTOUL – The Air Force has proposed removing 6 inches or more of soil from seven separate sites on the old Chanute Air Force Base property as a way of cleaning up the property and making it available for redevelopment.

The proposal is part of a plan to remove environmental hazards on the 2,174-acre former military base by 2016. It was made public Thursday at a quarterly meeting of the base's restoration advisory board.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Gibson City a finalist for company's 'green' plant

GIBSON CITY – The "green" business that has picked Gibson City as one of two finalists for a factory site is Eco Manufacturing of Cambridge, Mass.

Garrett Gates, vice-president of business development for Eco Manufacturing, said this week that the potential site of a plant would be on Gibson City's west side, along Illinois 9 and just south of Jordan Industrial Park. Eco Manufacturing has been looking at various sites for about two years and at Gibson City for one year. A Tennessee site is also "still in the running," Gates said.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Tobacco execs quickly found tax loophole

WASHINGTON (AP) – With a simple marketing twist, tobacco companies are avoiding hundreds of millions of dollars a year in taxes by exploiting a loophole in President Barack Obama's child health law.

Obama and Congress increased taxes on tobacco products earlier this year to pay for expanded children's health insurance, but tobacco for roll-your-own cigarettes saw a disproportionate leap, from $1.10 to $24.78 per pound. Some predicted the tax would kill the roll-your-own industry, which had offered a cheaper alternative to packaged cigarettes.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Some options for recycling remain viable in Vermilion

Alan and Carla Pollman of rural Georgetown have had a pile of recyclables just sitting beside their garbage for a while.

"I just don't have the heart to put it in the garbage," said Carla Pollman, who had been taking recycling to the now-closed county recycling site in Georgetown. "We had finally gotten good at it and then they took the bins away."

Carla Pollman said not separating out the plastic, glass and paperboard from their trash has increased their garbage stream by three bags a week.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

FutureGen group says project costs have dropped

MATTOON – Members of the Coles Together group promoting the proposed $2.4 billion FutureGen clean coal power plant said Friday they remain optimistic that the federal Department of Energy will green-light the project early next year.

"I feel positive about the progress that we've made this year. I feel good about our chances in January, but I'm not going to assume anything until it's done," said U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill.

Mulch now for great plant, soil benefits

If you're thinking about mulching your garden, this is a great time to do it.

Mulch now and help regulate soil temperature, prevent weeds and build up your soil.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Not enough support for curbside recycling in Danville

DANVILLE – The city will not be pursuing a curbside recycling program.

Public Works Director Doug Ah- rens said the city did not get enough surveys from residents who would support paying for a service.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Late but great: Farmer says corn harvest is his best ever

BONDVILLE – Rural Bondville farmer Avery Shaw, 78, has been farming since 1956, and he says he hasn't seen anything like the 2009 harvest.

Lecture to focus on e-waste issues

CHAMPAIGN – The founder of PC Rebuilders & Recyclers will be on the University of Illinois campus Wednesday to discuss "The Truth, Tragedy and Transformation of E-Waste."

Willie Cade, who founded PCRR in 2000 to provide refurbished personal computers to schools, non-profits and at-risk children, will speak at 4 p.m. Wednesday in the Illinois Ballroom of the I Hotel and Conference Center, 1900 S. First St., C.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Book looks at 150 years of nature, change

The modern story of the plants, animals and insects of Illinois is also the story of the Illinois Natural History Survey.

And it is the story of people and their impact on the landscape.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Good thing C-U forefathers knew to go green

One hundred years ago, the Champaign Chamber of Commerce developed its own subdivision and, smart and forward-looking men they were, made sure that there was land for public use. The chamber of commerce donated eight lots to be used for a future public school.

They knew that close-by schools and parks would be an asset to a community and a neighborhood, not just in the early 1900s but 100 years later.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Middle school students stand up for recycling

OAKWOOD – About 20 Oakwood Junior High students were going door to door Monday afternoon, asking residents if they want recycling and would pay a couple dollars for it.

Danville residents have time to comment on recycling proposal

DANVILLE – Residents in Danville have until Saturday to express their opinion to city officials about whether they would like a curbside recycling program.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Danville residents invited to join tree-planting program

DANVILLE – Next month, the city will be planting trees around town, and residents can boost the city's tree-planting efforts by getting involved in the Leaf A Legacy program.

Since 2003, the city's Pride Grows Program has offered individuals, businesses, organizations and others the opportunity to buy a Leaf A Legacy tree that's planted in a city park or other city property and marked with a plaque.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Vermilion County men taking charge with vehicles

DANVILLE – Every day, Judge Michael Clary drives his 2001 Ford Ranger truck to work with the "check engine" light shining, but never "checks" his engine.

He's not worried.

His truck has no engine.

It also has no exhaust system, no gas tank and no radiator.

The truck looks like any other Ford Ranger, but runs on an electric motor and 24 six-volt golf cart batteries – six under the hood and 18 in the truck bed – that weigh about 65 pounds each. Open the gas cap door to fill 'er up, and there's an electrical plug.

The circuit judge bought the truck in March, gutted it, and from April to August spent most nights and weekends in his garage transforming it into an all-electric vehicle.