Chester Blood Drive is today at Legion
Celebrate life by donating the precious gift of blood at the Chester Community Blood Drive, from 12:45-5:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 21 at the American Legion, 500 E. Opdyke, Chester. Bring some form of ID, such as your Red Cross Donor Card or driver's license, to the drive with you.
To decrease your wait time you can make an appointment time to donate by visiting the Red Cross website at www.redcrossblood.org or (800) RED-CROSS. You may also decrease your donation time by using RapidPass, which allows you to complete your prereading and donation questions online from the comfort and privacy of your own home or office. Visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass, read the information, answer the questions, and print the pass or email it to yourself.
Local farmers finally catch a break
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Risk Management Agency will defer accrual of interest for spring 2019 crop year insurance premiums for all agricultural producers until Nov. 30, 2019, congressman Mike Bost has announced.
In June, Bost joined other members of the Illinois Congressional delegation in asking the Risk Management Agency for a deferral.
"After Southern Illinois was devastated by historic flooding this spring, my Illinois colleagues joined me in asking the RMA to delay crop insurance premium payments until later this fall," said Bost. "I'm glad that they listened to our concerns so that farmers in Illinois and across the country have peace of mind knowing that they have flexibility and extra time to make these payments."
Illinois Farm Bureau President Richard Guebert Jr. said the USDA deferral gives farmers much-needed flexibility, "in a year that hasn't afforded them many wins, either in the field or in the markets."
"Farmers feeling the stress of this year's weather challenges and volatile commodity prices can breathe a sigh of relief knowing they have a bit more time to pay their crop insurance premiums without the threat of accruing additional interest."
'Thirsty Thursday' coming up Aug. 29
The Chester Chamber of Commerce is welcoming members and prospective members to the next Thirsty Thursday, at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 29 at the St. Nicholas Landmark. This is the Member Appreciation edition, thanking members for supporting the chamber. Appetizers provided by the chamber; cash bar.
