Turner encourages community to donate used cell phones for soldiers

SPRINGFIELD – In an effort to support service members overseas, State Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield) is collecting new and gently used cell phones to be sent to soldiers.  

“I can think of no better way to support those who serve to protect our freedoms than giving them a reliable way to call home,” Turner said. “This is a great program that allows our troops to stay connected to their families during the holiday seasons and beyond.”

The national Cell Phones for Soldiers program collects new and gently used cell phones and tablets for soldiers and their families. People with old cellphones, MP3 players or tablets laying around are encouraged to donate them to be refurbished or recycled. Proceeds from those sales are used to send prepaid international calling cards to troops and to provide emergency funding to veterans. All cell phone donations are tax deductible.

To donate, people can stop by Turner’s Decatur office located at 1210 S. Jasper St. or her Carlinville office located at 130 East Main St. Suite B. Each office will accept donations from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday until Nov. 30.

Turner urges residents with questions or concerns to contact her office at 217-854-4502 or visit www.CellPhonesForSoldiers.com.

Turner applauds statewide switch to Common App for college admissions

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield) is encouraging incoming students to take advantage of Common App – a tool to apply for multiple Illinois colleges at once.

“Common App makes college more accessible by making the application process less tedious and stressful,” Turner said. “Illinois’ best and brightest now have a streamlined and simplified process to apply to all public universities in our great state, like the University of Illinois-Springfield.”

Incoming students applying to college will now be able to submit applications to any of Illinois’ 12 public universities and dozens of private institutions using just one form on commonapp.org. Once a student makes a Common App account, they will be asked to confirm which schools they’d like to apply to and review the admission requirements for those schools. They’ll then submit their application on the website, where they’ll be able to track its status.

Low-income students and their families can apply for a waiver to help cover the application cost. Over the last two years, more than 470,000 students using Common App across the country were granted a fee waiver.

Turner encourages community to write letters to residents of veterans’ homes

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield) encourages people to show support, respect and admiration to our nation’s heroes by writing them friendly letters ahead of Veterans Day.

“We are able to live free in this great country of ours because of the courage and sacrifice our nation’s veterans displayed,” Turner said. “So many veterans suffer the consequences of their service in silence, it is imperative that we show them that they are not alone.”

In order to help combat the rising levels of isolation, the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs launched Operation Rising Spirit last year. Operation Rising Spirit enlists communities to write letters to residents of the four Illinois veterans’ homes located in Anna, LaSalle, Manteno, and Quincy.

To send a message to a veteran or a veterans’ home, visit Send-a-note. Locations for each of the veterans’ homes in Illinois can be found here, where letters can also be mailed.

Turner and community leaders celebrate economic development extension in Enos Park

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield) held a press conference Tuesday morning to celebrate the passage of a measure to extend the Enos Park Tax Increment Financing District for another 12 years.

“The Enos Park TIF has been instrumental in revitalizing a Springfield neighborhood and has been a great tool in the expansion of the Mid-Illinois Medical District,” Turner said “Neighborhoods that were once an eyesore and full of blight and despair are now home to young families and home rehabilitation success stories.”

The press conference was held at Memorial Health Learning Center in Springfield. Turner was joined by Mayor Jim Langfelder, Sangamon County Treasurer Joe Aiello, Representative Sue Scherer (D-Decatur), Alderwoman Lakeisha Purchase and Memorial Health President and CEO Ed Curtis.

The newly built YMCA on Carpenter Street is an example of the success the TIF district has brought to the community.

Senate Bill 1139 passed both chambers of the General Assembly during fall session and now awaits final approval from the governor.