Marion…. State Representative Dave Severin (R- Benton) announced that his office will be holding Satellite Office Hours at the Benton Public Library on Wednesday November 8th from 12:00 – 3:00 pm.

“Satellite office hours are a good way for me to make my office and its resources more accessible to the whole district,” Rep. Severin said. “Staff will be on hand to take your opinions and assist with any constituent-related issues you may have.”

The address for the Benton Public Library is S Main St & W Hudelson St, Benton, IL 62812. If you would like to learn more about our office hours, please contact Rep. Severin’s District Office at (618) 440-5090 or through the contact form on his website at www.repseverin.com.

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Springfield…. State Representative Dave Severin (R-Benton) voted against House Bill 4117, which failed to pass the House on Thursday. The bill would have outlawed all trigger modification devices intended to accelerate a firearm’s rate of fire.

“House Bill 4117 was an attempt to trample on the rights of Illinois’s law abiding gun owners," Severin said. “The bill sought to outlaw the sale, purchase, and ownership of all ‘trigger modification device’. The language in the bill was vague and quite frankly poorly written. It basically would have made felons out of many law abiding gun owners.”

Proponents of the bill acknowledged that the legislation was drafted in response to the events that took place in Las Vegas.

“The sponsor admitted that this was a knee jerk reaction to what occurred in Las Vegas a few weeks ago. Everyone agrees those acts were despicable but sticking it to gun-owners is simply the wrong response. I will always stand opposed to legislation that targets our second amendments rights as HB 4117 did.”

The bill needed 2/3rds majority in order to pass and failed 48-54.

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Marion…. State Representative Dave Severin (R- Benton) will be holding Satellite Office Hours at the Anne West Lindsey Library on Wednesday November 1st from 12:00 – 3:00 pm. Rep. Severin’s staff will be on hand to take your opinions and assist with any constituent related issues you may have.

Staff from Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza’s office will also be on hand and will be happy to work with you on any outstanding payments you may have with the State, as well as answer any questions you have for them.

The address for Anne West Lindsey Library is N Division St. & Bryan Ave. Carterville, IL 62918.  If you would like to learn more about our office hours please contact Rep. Severin’s District Office at (618) 440-5090 or through the contact form on his website at www.repseverin.com

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Marion…. State Representative Dave Severin (R-Benton) met with members of his Tourism advisory committee on Thursday to discuss some of the biggest issues facing local tourism.

Among the issues discussed were the plans for reopening both Rend Lake Resort and the Tourism Information Center which has been closed down due to construction on the north and south bound rest stops on I-57.

“It has been frustrating having both the Rend Lake Resort, and the Tourism Information Centers closed for as long as they have,” Severin said. “That being said we are working closely with state agencies on both of these issues and keeping an open dialogue with the committee and others involved in tourism that have been impacted by the closures.”

Shannon Johnson, CEO of visitSI, heads up the advisory committee and has enjoyed the improved communication the committee has helped provide for tourism throughout the district.

“Southern Illinois as a whole has so much to offer as a tourist destination,” Shannon said. “We have to be using all our resources though and make sure they are complimenting each other. I think the committee has done a good job of opening lines of communication between groups that otherwise would not be working together as they are now.”

The group meets on a quarterly basis with the most recent meeting held at Walkers Bluff. Their next meeting will be in January.

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Marion…. On Tuesday State Representative Dave Severin (R- Benton) announced dates for Satellite Office Hours during November. As in October, the office will be in Carterville the first Wednesday, Benton the second Wednesday, and Mcleansboro the third Wednesday of the month. Location, Date, and Time are listed below.

Anne West Lindsey Library, N Division St. & Bryan Ave, Carterville, November 1^st, 12:00-3:00 pm

Benton Public Library, S Main St. & W Hudelson St, Benton, November 8^th,  12:00-3:00 pm

McCoy Memorial Library, 118 S Washington St, McLeansboro, November 15^th, 12:00-3:00 pm

Staff from Rep. Severin’s district office will be on hand to take your opinions and help you with any constituent related issues you may have. If you would like to learn more about the office hours please visit Rep. Severin’s website at www.repseverin.com, or contact the District Office at (618) 440-5090.

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Marion…. State Representative Dave Severin (R-Benton) announced Wednesday that the City of Benton will be receiving a block grant from the Delta Regional Authority (DRA) for local projects.

The DRA will invest $140,404 in Franklin Hospital’s Digital Mammography system. The Hospital will use the money to modernize their imaging department by replacing the old analog breast imaging system, with a new system that has digital capabilities. The upgrade will allow the Hospital to meet federal, state, and American Radiology standards.

Also, the DRA will send $515,000 for construction in Rend Lake Conservancy District. The money will go towards building a second discharge pipe from their water treatment plant. The project will support 170,000 customers in five counties. The new pipe will ensure proper water pressure and distribution for customers, during the times of highest usage.  

The money received by the City of Benton came from a larger announcement form the Delta Regional Authority, that they would be funding seven projects in Southern Illinois. Other cities included were Cairo, Carbondale, Eldorado, and Goreville totaling $1.4 million for the region.

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Marion…. State Representative Dave Severin (R- Benton) will be holding Satellite Office Hours at McCoy Memorial Library on Wednesday October 18th from 12:00 – 3:00 pm. Rep. Severin’s staff will be on hand to take your opinions and assist you with any constituent related issues you may have.

Staff from Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza’s office will also be on hand and will be happy to help answer any questions you have for them as well, or work with you on any outstanding payments you may have with the State.

The address for McCoy Memorial Library is 118 S Washington St, McLeansboro, IL 62859.  If you would like to learn more about our office hours please contact Rep. Severin’s District Office at (618) 440-5090 or through the contact form on his website at www.repseverin.com.

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Marion…. State Representative Dave Severin (R-Benton) held an ice cream social, for kids who participated in his Summer Reading Club, on Tuesday, October 3, at The Custard Stand in Sesser.

“I was very encouraged by number of kids we had participate in the first year of our Summer Reading Club, and I look forward to seeing the club grow next year,” Rep. Severin said. “It is important that kids continue to learn and read throughout their summer break. This helps them to maintain the knowledge and skills they learned from the previous school year, which otherwise could be lost.”

As a reward for participating in the club, the students received official certificates from the Illinois House of Representatives along with the ice cream from The Custard Stand. For those interested in participating in the club next year feel free to call the district office at (618) 440-5090.

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Marion…. State Representative Dave Severin (R- Benton) will be holding Satellite Office Hours at the Benton Public Library on Wednesday October 11th from 12:00 – 3:00 pm. Rep. Severin’s staff will be on hand to take your opinions and assist you with any constituent related issues you may have.

Staff from Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza’s office will also be on hand and will be happy to help answer any questions you have for them as well, or work with you on any outstanding payments you may have with the State.

The address of the Benton Public Library is S. Main St. & W. Hudelson Street, Benton, IL, 62812.  If you would like to learn more about our office hours please contact Rep. Severin’s District Office at (618) 440-5090 or through the contact form on his website at www.repseverin.com.

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Marion…. State Representative Dave Severin (R-Benton) today announced that he has been appointed by House Republican Leader Jim Durkin to the Illinois Forestry Development Council and the Flue Gas Desulfurization Task Force.

The Illinois Forestry Council was created from the Illinois Forestry Development Act in 1983. The council’s goal is to identify and evaluate the social, economic, scientific and educational value of Illinois’s forest lands, and product industries.

“I am very excited to have been selected for the Illinois Forestry Council,” Severin said. “It is a great fit for me because forests and protected lands are deeply rooted in the identity of Southern Illinois. I look forward to helping our state better understand its forests and find ways to better protect them.”

Rep. Severin was also appointed to the Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) Task Force. The task force was created to increase the amount Illinois coal mined and burned in the state, while continuing to comply with federal regulations.

“The FGD Task Force is another group I am looking forward to being a part of," Severin said. “Illinois has an abundance of coal and the task force will make sure that we are maximizing that resource. On top of that, the task force will work with new stacks to comply with federal standards and regulations.”