Costello, Shimkus vow to keep FutureGen alive, fight another day By ALAN J. ORTBALS
When the U.S. Department of Energy announced it was dropping the FutureGen project on Jan. 29, people in Illinois were
shocked and dismayed but it drew loud applause in Texas. Political leaders in Texas saw the controversial decision as
putting them back in the game. (See News from Around the Nation story on page 2.)
"It is hard to believe that this decision would have been made if the final site were in Texas, which makes this politics
at its worst," said U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello of Illinois. "This is incredibly disappointing. The night after Pres. (George
W.) Bush makes a plea for bipartisanship in his State of the Union address, he abandons perhaps the most bipartisan
initiative of his presidency. Cutting and
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Mattoon, Ill. residents and business owners are stunned by the Bush Administration’s decision Jan. 29 to drop FutureGen,
the coal-to-electricity pilot plant that would have brought economic resurgence to this Southern Illinois town.
U.S. Reps. Jerry Costello and John Shimkus are among those in Congress who are fighting hard to keep the project alive and
in Illinois.
Farm prices across region still booming from development By ANGELA SHULTIS
Despite tough times in other real estate arenas, farmland prices across Southern Illinois and the nation are still high,
leading some to wonder how long such inflated prices can hold strong.
According to the University of Illinois Extension, farmland prices have increased by an astounding 78 percent between
2003 and 2007, rising on average $1,900 per acre.
Driving the prices to record heights are
a number of factors, not the least of which is an increased interest in ethanol
production. According to Wayne Barber, principal of Swansea-based BARBERMurphy Group, ethanol "has generated an increased
demand for corn and other grain products," meaning
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Group claims $5 billion development war chest for ESL hospital, other projects By ALAN J. ORTBALS
A group of individuals calling themselves Pro Team Management claims to have access to $5 billion in investment money and is
seeking to buy the Kenneth Hall Regional Hospital.
Alvin Bush identifies himself as its president, although there is no such company registered with the Illinois Secretary
of State's office, as of press time.
"Pro Team is aware of $5 billion that could be earmarked to be invested in the Metro East area," said Bush. "The hospital
can be one of the projects that would come under this bond offering, but the money would be available for development
throughout the city of East St. Louis and surrounding areas. Fortunately, we've been able to earmark a certain amount of
dollars for the hospital project."
Bush says the source of the money would be a hedge fund that needs
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Look inside our print edition for more Southwestern Illinois Real Estate articles!
Mattoon, Ill. residents and business owners are stunned by the Bush Administration’s decision Jan. 29 to drop FutureGen,
the coal-to-electricity pilot plant that would have brought economic resurgence to this Southern Illinois town.
U.S. Reps. Jerry Costello and John Shimkus are among those in Congress who are fighting hard to keep the project alive and
in Illinois.
