Winnebago County News

The UAW is offering rides to the polls during early voting. Rides to the polls are available to residents of Boone and Winnebago counties by calling 815-962-0601. Rides are offered weekdays 10 AM to 2 PM. Call 815-962-0601 for your ride to the polls this election year!

The following is an email that I received from the Rockford Newspaper Guild... Friends of Journalism, On Monday Oct. 27 there’s a national protest against GateHouse Media, the owner of the Rockford Register Star. Employees have gone seven years without raises, and many jobs have been outsourced or eliminated under GateHouse ownership. We are negotiating our first contract. You will not see pickets outside the Rockford Register Star tomorrow. The Rockford Newspaper Guild has chosen to do virtual picketing through social media. We need your help.  Please visit  http://www.transformrrstar.com . Share a link on your Facebook page and other social media to our site and tell your friends that you support strong, courageous journalism and the local professionals who create it. Encourage them to support it, too. Forward this email to friends, family and coworkers. At the bottom of our web pages you’ll see links that will allow you to automatically Tweet to company mana...

NANCY I. FOLTZ, 79 LOVES PARK - Nancy I. Foltz, 79, of Loves Park died Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014, at home, surrounded by her children. Born Jan. 29, 1935, in Rockford. Married Aaron E. Foltz on Aug. 2, 1952, in Belvidere; he died Sept. 30, 1992. Employed by Woodward Governor, retiring in 1992. Retired from Rockford Memorial Hospital in 2000. Survivors include daughter, Lori Carlson of Rockford; sons, Gregory (Linda McElmeel) Foltz and Michael Foltz, both of Loves Park, and Kenneth (Susan Myers) Foltz of German Valley; grandchildren, Allen Foltz and Nicole Bergren; great-grandchildren, Salvador and Eli Stoneberg; brother, Sidney (Cyndi) Haffenden; sister, Rebecca (Brian Edwards) Haffenden; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Predeceased by parents, Edna and Daniel Haffenden; and several aunts, uncles and cousins. Private celebration of life at a later date. Cremation rites accorded. Arrangements by Delehanty Funeral Home, Ltd., 401 River Lane.

Cheris Bustos (for U.S Congress!) is in Rockford, IL today, Monday, October 20, 2014 at the UAW Hall. UAW Hall 112 N 2nd St Rockford, IL 9 AM until 10 AM.

This walk to support Alzheimer's research already occurred this Saturday morning, but you can still support Alzheimer's research. http://act.alz.org/site/TR?fr_id=5089&pg=entry 2014 Walk to End Alzheimer's - Rockford Saturday, September 20, 2014 Add to calendar Registration at 8am | Ceremony at 9:30am | Walk at 10am Route Length: 2.25 miles Thank you to our 2014 champions, teams, walkers and donors! Online registration is now closed, but you can still register in person on Walk day. Online donations can be made through the end of the year - don't forget to check and see if your employer will match your donation . http://www.matchinggifts.com/walk/

There will be entertainment, food and activities for the entire family at the 2nd annual Winnebago County Diversity Concert in Davis Park, Rockford, today, Saturday, September 20, 2014. Admission is free! The program runs from 1 PM until 7:15 PM, Saturday, September 20, 2014. There will be a wide variety of artists performing so come on down to Davis Park to enjoy this free concert event. Bring the family!

The Cherry Valley Township board is seeking qualified candidates to fill the vacancy in the office of Cherry Valley Township Highway Commissioner. The appointee must be of legal voting age, affiliated  with the Republican party, and a resident of Cherry Valley Township. To be considered for the position please send or drop off a letter of interest and a resume at the township offices at: Cherry Valley Township 4875 Blackhawk Rd Rockford, IL 61109 This paperwork must be received at the township office by September 26, 2014.

Pat O'Donnell, who had served as Cherry Valley Township Highway Commissioner since 1979, passed away September 4, 2014 after a brief illness. Pat was loved by many. My condolences to Lois and family. Services are being held today, Tuesday, September 9, 2014.  More information about the services at: http://fitzgeraldfuneralhome.tributes.com/obituary/show/Pat-O-Donnell-101664089

12U Rockford Big Dogs travel baseball team tryouts Saturday, Sept 6, 2014 12u Whitledge will host their tryouts on September 6th at 10 am. Tryouts will be at Haws Park in Roscoe, 11588 Cedarbrook Rd. Call 815-289-3479 with any questions. For registration and more information, visit: http://www.hometeamsonline.com/teams/default.asp?u=ROCKFORDBIGDOGS&t=c&s=baseball&p=registration Please fill out registration form "12u Whitledge" and http://www.hometeamsonline.com/teams/?u=rockfordbigdogs&s=baseball&t=c

Meet John Doe: Labor unions gave us Labor Day and longer life spans By Paul Gorski According to the U.S. Department of Labor website,  http://www.dol.gov/laborday/history.htm : “Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. … The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on Sept. 5, 1883.” This history was apparently news to some Rockford City Council members as they recently debated whether to issue a permit for this year’s Labor Day Parade. Yes, organized labor worked to create and sponsor the Labor Day holiday for more than 100 years... Read the full article at...