Bloomington, Illinois (January 25, 2023) – GROWMARK announced today the acquisition of Allied Seed, based in Nampa, Idaho. Allied Seed offers a full line of forage, turfgrass and cover crop seed as well as custom production, blending, packaging and seed treatment services.

GROWMARK, the current majority owner of Allied Seed, acquired the remaining ownership held by GreenPoint Ag Holdings, headquartered in Decatur, Ala. Terms of the acquisition were not made public.

“Allied Seed is a recognized leader in the production and distribution of high-quality forage, turf and cover crop seeds and is a key supplier to the GROWMARK System,” said GROWMARK Vice President of Seed, Keith Lawson. “The acquisition of the remaining stake in Allied Seed supports our overall growth and supply strategies and positions us well to meet the increasing demand for cover crops as part of a comprehensive on-farm sustainability strategy.”

Cover crops were planted on an estimated 20 million acres in the US in 2020, according to the University of Missouri Center for Regenerative Agriculture. This number is expected to increase to approximately 30 million acres by 2030 under a new US Department of Agriculture conservation program.

Launched in 2000, Allied Seed facilities are located in Nampa, Idaho, Albany, Ore., and Worland, Wy. The processing plants are located in primary production areas for forage grass, legume and turfgrass seed where the company contracts more than 25,000 acres of seed production.

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For centuries, events have served as a way for individuals to connect. We see that all around us; through life-changing events and causes, we seem to have a limitless need to gather. From Cleopatra’s lavish events to the fêtes of the French monarchy to modern day parties, we have a natural propensity to be together. For the past 30 years, Nfocus has been witness to the countless events hosted throughout the city; today, we shine a light on the magicians behind the curtains, those who make each gathering a seamless production.

ERIC ENGLAND

Jayne Bubis, Owner of Jayne Bubis Events

Born and raised in New Jersey, Jayne attended Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, then moved to Nashville. While working as a waitress at Shenanigans, she met and married Nashville native Martin Bubis. After years of working as an event planner at a downtown restaurant, Jayne struck out on her own and created Jayne Bubis Events. For 32 years, she has overseen countless luxurious weddings and special occasions for her clients.

Career path: I started event planning 32 years ago when Merchants Restaurant opened on lower Broadway; I persuaded groups to hold events downtown and designed their parties. When I began my business seven years later, I took my Rolodex and contacted previous clients for personal and corporate parties.

Humble Beginnings: It was a challenge to plan events in the beginning of my career. There was only one rental company, and they had a limited inventory. Designing parties consisted of thinking of outside-of-the-box ways to use the same few items and make them look different.

Job Perks: I planned Carrie Underwood’s wedding and got to meet my Jersey Girl crush, Jon Bon Jovi.

Job Challenges: Rapidly changing pricing in the event world is the biggest challenge today. Business owners in our industry must pay top dollar to retain talented, caring employees, and food prices have yet to stabilize.

Biggest Influence: Mike Whitler of Branches Design and florist Joe Smith of Ilex were my biggest influences in design, scaling and creativity. Plus, they were two of the most amazing, fun people I have been fortunate enough to know.

Best Advice: Learn from the best venue or planner you can partner with and never stop learning. The event industry is constantly evolving, so surround yourself with talented vendors and an invaluable team — thank you to my invaluable team, Debbie Lundy.

Get Inspired: My clients inspire me: they usually have a vision that they need help to execute, and my job is to collaborate in bringing their dream event or corporate mission to life.

In Another Life: I would be a meteorologist or weather broadcaster. As an event planner, I keep a constant eye on the weather.

In The Works: I am planning many more private parties and weddings than before COVID. People — now more than ever — really want to celebrate life and make memories.

ERIC ENGLAND

Hugh Howser, Co-Owner/Designer of H Three Events

Hugh Howser’s creative spirit and attention to detail and style have drawn clients to H Three Events for close to two decades. A Nashville native and Belmont University graduate, Hugh made his start as an intern with the daytime talk show Talk of the Town. After planning an outdoor movie premiere on a farm, Hugh found a love for the event planning industry and has never looked back. What many don’t know is that he also shares a love of comedy and of helping the world smile just a bit more.

Career path: I knew a career in event planning was ahead in 2005, after the very first wedding I planned alone. The bride put all her trust in me, and the rest is history!

Humble Beginnings: My first event was a huge outdoor movie premiere at a farm 17 years ago — still a favorite of mine.

Job Perks: We have been so fortunate to travel to many fun locations for destination weddings; those trips are beyond memorable.

Job Challenges: There are new challenges every day, but after surviving a pandemic, I think we have finally seen the worst. The largest challenge now is the supply chain — so many delays and a lot of waiting for good products.

Biggest Influence: My biggest influence would have to be my grandmother, Swopie Howser, because my earliest memories are of her heavenly sense of humor.

Best Advice: Be a great listener, talk less and listen more. Impossible coming from me, but I mean it.

Get Inspired: Travel, shopping, I always find my inspiration while I’m out and about and then scream it into a notes app on my phone.

In Another Life: I get this question a lot; I think I would be a teacher. Imagine my bulletin boards!

In The Works: 2023 has us up and running with the Frist Gala, TPAC Family Day and a slew of weddings.

Future plans: Too many to list, but all very fun! stay tuned Comedy included.

ERIC ENGLAND

Molly Sohr, Owner of Molly Sohr Events

Growing up in Destin, Florida, Molly was keenly aware of what makes moments special — her hometown was gaining a reputation as a beautiful destination wedding location. During her years at the University of Mississippi, she truly developed a love for wedding planning; after graduation, Molly packed her bags and moved to Nashville to live her dreams and work in event planning. Since opening Molly Sohr Events, she has helped countless couples through planning the wedding of their dreams.

Career path: During a college internship for a top local firm, I realized my desire to start my own event/wedding planning business one day.

Humble Beginnings: One of my earliest events was a local fundraising event for a children’s park. For the first time, I truly saw the passion in event planning.

Job Perks: I love everything about my job, but if I had to choose one thing, it would be the relationships I have made.

Job Challenges: The hardest part of my job has been balancing my personal life, followed closely by Nashville’s unpredictable weather. Luckily, I have a great weather app.

Biggest Influence: Lynn Easton of Easton Events: I appreciate the consistency she and her team bring to any event and admire her dedication to her brand’s identity.

Memorable meal: My most memorable meal was recent: We had our daughter a few days before Christmas, and, to celebrate our homecoming, we opened a nice bottle of champagne and enjoyed some caviar on Christmas Day. We made homemade pizzas in our pajamas and celebrated our new family of four.

Best Advice: If you want to get into this field, work hard at all times. There is no better way to invest in your future than by putting many hours of your time towards your goals.

Get Inspired: I find the most inspiration from various interior designers; there is a surprising amount of industry crossover.

In Another Life: PR/marketing — that world is so fascinating.

In The Works: A fun destination wedding weekend, local weddings, a nonprofit event, being a mom, etc…

Future plans: I think my overall goals are to remain consistent, to be creative in every event I take on and to focus on quality over quantity.

ERIC ENGLAND

Sara Fried, Owner & Lead Designer of Fête Nashville Luxury Weddings

Raised in Nashville from a young age, Sara Fried knew that her life’s work would be in event planning. Attending Washington University in St. Louis and Portfolio Center (now Miami Ad School) in Atlanta, Sara honored her creative skills and began her career as an art director. After a few years, it became clear: what she really wanted was to move home to open Fête Nashville Luxury Weddings.

Career path: I’ve wanted to be an event planner my entire life! I loved planning social events in school — I even painstakingly designed my own Bat Mitzvah invitations at 12.

Humble Beginnings: About 12 years ago, the first “official” Fête Nashville wedding was for a young woman, Katie, who I used to babysit. Her gorgeous wedding was overflowing with roses and custom details, and word spread about the successful soirée.

Job Perks: Traveling has been a wonderful opportunity for us; I thrive on creative and logistical challenges. A few extraordinary weddings have been in France and staying in a castle will never get old.

Job Challenges: Prep for any situation. We work tirelessly to ensure we have Plans A, B and C for every wedding.

Biggest Influence: Martha Stewart made it not only acceptable, but respectable, to have a career using creative talents. Some of my proudest career highlights include our weddings being featured in Martha Stewart Weddings and contributing to the “Ask Martha” series.

Memorable meal: Anytime my 14-year-old son compliments my cooking, it’s the best meal. It’s so very rare — I’m an awful cook. We order in a lot.

Best Advice: Don’t be afraid to call up the best in the business and ask for help. Early on, I called Tara Guerard who answered all my questions and gave me a wealth of knowledge.

Get Inspired: Our clients are our biggest inspiration. It is such an honor to be part of one of the most important days in someone’s life.

In Another Life: Anything creative is my happy place. Interior design, possibly?

In The Works: It’s engagement season! We are meeting with newly engaged couples to plan their dream wedding.

Future plans: Our future is in creating one-of-a-kind weddings inspired by our clients’ personal style.

Travis Dean Gethmann, 48, of Gladbrook, IA, passed away Saturday, January 28, 2023, at his residence. A private family visitation was held. Cremation rights were accorded. A memorial service will take place at a later date. Anderson Funeral Homes in Gladbrook was disappointed with the arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to www.andersonfhs.com.

Travis was born on September 20th, 1974, to Doug and Sandy Gethmann. He grew up in Gladbrook and attended school at Gladbrook/Reinbeck where he graduated in 1993. In elementary and middle school, Travis participated in the “Talented and Gifted” program. He taught swimming lessons to younger kids during summers and helped his Dad on the farm. He loved sports, especially the Green Bay Packers and the Iowa Hawkeyes. He loved all sports, skiing, swimming, hiking, running, sky diving, triathlon, weight lifting, fishing and everything connected with sports. Basketball was his passion and his performance in High School earned him a full scholarship to play basketball with the D-1 MCC Tigers. After two years at MCC, he transferred to Wm Penn where he played basketball and tennis. Travis graduated from Wm Penn with a degree in Biology and later accepted the job as head Tennis Coach at Wm Penn. Following his experiences at Wm Penn, he worked on his Masters at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. He also loved motorcycles. When Travis was 14, he received his Motorcycle Permit to ride his motorcycle within sight and sound of his Dad. Every year Travis and his Dad rode their bikes to Peoria, Illinois, for the National TT Dirt Track Championships. He also made trips to Sturgis, SD and Nashville on his bike.

On February 11th, 2017, he married Damaris Hernandez. Travis and Damaris lived on the Gethmann Century Farm where Travis, Damaris and his Dad converted the barn built in 1929 into a beautiful home. Travis and Damaris loved the farm and loved to travel. They visited the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and many places in the US. They enjoyed many motorcycle trips together on his bike. His Dad affectionately called him “T” as did many of his family and friends. He was loved by everyone that knew him, both young and old. His humor and personality were infectious.

He will be so missed by his wife Damaris, his Dad, his Mother, sisters: Darcy, Whitney and Marlis, brothers: Marc, Denny and Randy and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents and a niece.

Kevin Dillard was showing friends and family some photos from his recent trip to Ukraine where he and three other Americans delivered emergency vehicles to military and government officials.

One image shows a portion of the 10-unit convoy, which included three ambulances from LifeCare Medical Transports in Stafford County. The firetruck and nine rescue squads sat at the border between Poland and the war-torn country for seven hours before the group got permission to proceed.

Dillard realized the risks he and others faced.

“It was definitely on our mind that we were probably a target,” Dillard said. “It was almost a small sigh of relief (each time) we would drop off a vehicle and the convoy got smaller.”

Earle Greene, who often traveled to that part of the world before he retired from the Air Force, said Dillard was right. He’s a friend of the family who says he’s known Dillard since before he was born.

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“From a military aspect, you should have been a prime target as you crossed the border in that large a group,” Greene said. “You really were fortunate there, Kevin.”

Dillard is the co-founder of LifeCare, which has been the local staging area for the collection of emergency supplies for Ukraine since last March. The way he got involved is yet another example of what a small world it is.

Years ago, Dillard ran calls out of the Chancellor Volunteer Fire Department in Spotsylvania County with John Manson, whose brother, Chris, is vice-president of a health care system of 15 hospitals in Peoria, Illinois.

Soon after Russia invaded Ukraine almost a year ago, Chris Manson’s 7-year-old daughter, Lily, was watching the news and asked how to help those being bombed. She said she wanted to do more than pray, and her father decided to ask an ambulance provider if he could spare a unit to send to Ukraine.

The response was a single question that shocked Manson.

“What do you need, gas or diesel?”

From there, Manson made arrangements to have the unit flown overseas, then sent several more squads. He found a Ukrainian woman in Chicago with connections in the shipping world and started reserving space regularly on an international container ship.

He asked friends and family how to expand the effort, which he named US Ambulances for Ukraine, and his brother suggested Dillard, who’s involved with several local and state advisory boards and committees. Dillard also has led rescue efforts to places hit by natural disasters, such as New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

By the end of this week, the grassroots effort that started because one little girl in the Midwest wanted to do something will have delivered 28 ambulances and one firetruck to Ukraine.

“One of the things I’ve been blessed with, with this whole adventure endeavor, is everyone’s willingness to chip in,” Manson said. “LifeCare’s been really great, Kevin has been incredibly helpful, reaching out to different first responders and various providers in rural communities. He’s collected a lot of supplies that we’ve put on shipments.”

Dillard’s team of bookkeepers estimated that the three donated ambulances and equipment that has come through LifeCare for the effort are worth more than $500,000.

Bandages, tourniquets and other supplies needed by trauma patients came from volunteer rescue squads in Colonial Beach; from Concord near Lynchburg; from Sterling in Northern Virginia; and Northumberland in the Northern Neck.

Madison County’s volunteers provided 40 backboards, which rescuers use to carry patients, and Dillard said those went straight to the frontlines. The Northumberland Sheriff’s Department also contributed bulletproof vests, while fire departments in Wintergreen and Stuart’s Draft provided fire hose and 30 sets of air packs and masks worn by firefighters.

The Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads, which Dillard has on its advisory board, donated cash, as did other churches and people statewide. That helped pay the $140,000 cost to ship the 10 vehicles overseas to Germany, where they were taken by tractor–trailer to Warsaw.

The four Americans picked them up there. They included Dillard and Chris Manson; Clarence Fox, chaplain for the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads; and Brian Kliesen from New Mexico. Polish people helped them drive the vehicles to Ukraine last week, where members of the military escorted the group through Lviv, Rivne, to the capital city of Kyiv and through the Mykolaiv and Kherson regions, where heavy battles continue.

The Americans took a lot of pictures while there and in most of them, Dillard smiles broadly as he greets children from an orphanage and hands out candy or helps them sit behind the wheel of a firetruck or ambulance.

But there was nothing to smile about in Mykolaiv and Kherson, where in one location, the blast from a nearby bomb blew a hole in an apartment building. At least 45 people died in that early-morning attack, he said.

“You would think, in a war, it would just be soldier to soldier, but they don’t care if it’s an ambulance or a hospital,” Dillard said. “Hospitals and private residences have been bombed.”

He saw streets where three or four houses were ruined by blasts, then there’d be one home still standing. An older woman would be out front, sweeping off the sidewalk and trying to maintain some sense of normalcy in the midst of carnage.

Early reports indicated the Russians had either stolen ambulances and firetrucks from cities and towns, or shot them up so they couldn’t be used, Manson said. That’s why they want to send over as many units as possible, and Dillard said Ukrainians were more than grateful for the support.

In one city, a military official was so moved to receive the ambulances, he tore his unit’s patch off his uniform, on the spot, and gave it to Dillard. In other areas, people smiled, then teared up, when Dillard mentioned that the blue and yellow colors of Ukraine are flown on homes or displayed on bumper stickers in the Fredericksburg area.

He plans to continue collecting emergency supplies — and will make a special plea for wheelchair-accessible vans. At an orphanage, he learned that children injured during the war have to be carried in and out of vehicles because they don’t have adequate transportation.

Anyone interested in donating equipment or vehicles can contact him at kdillard@lifecare94.com or 540/752-0137.

Manson also plans to continue sending over ambulances “as long as the need exists.” He’s not set up to handle donations, but is working with a Chicago-based nonprofit called UA Resistance that channels aid to critical areas. More information about the ambulance drive is available at its website, ua-resistance.org.

Cathy Dyson: 540/374-5425

cdyson@freelancestar.com

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MANKATO — Minnesota State football coach Todd Hoffner said he’s looking for winners, and thinks he’s found a bunch.

On Wednesday, the Mavericks signed 28 athletes to letters of intent to play football at Minnesota State. Eight of the newest Mavericks have won state championships in football or other sports.

“We test every athlete we sign so we can see strength and agility,” Hoffner said. “Then we try to find leadership qualities and see which players are driven to be great. We’ll know more when they get here for fall camp.”

As usual, the recruiting class followed Hoffner’s mantra of “luck and linemen.” Seven of the recruits are offensive linemen and five are defensive linemen.

One of the offensive linemen is Hunter Nething, a 6-foot-3, 310-pound guard from Elk River, which defeated Mankato West in the state championship game.

Sam Backer of Chatfield, one of three running backs in the recruiting class, ranks no. 2 in state history with 7,377 yards rushing. He had 2,782 yards rushing last season, third most in state history.

The other running backs were Bryer Prochniak of Armstrong, Iowa, and Carter Henderson of Marion, Iowa.

The Mavericks added quarterback Mitchell Thompson of Kewaunee, Wisconsin. Freshman quarterback Camden Dean, who started three games last season, has transferred to Sioux Falls.

Blue Earth Area quarterback Ashton Lloyd signed with Minnesota State, though he likely will switch positions. Hoffner said that he like’s Lloyd’s size and athleticism and is one of several recruits that could end up at different positions.

“He’s a kid who plays multiple sports,” Hoffner said. “He’s one of those guys who should blossom once he starts specializing in college.”

The recruiting class includes eight other Minnesotans: cornerback Jacory Bates of Eden Prairie, defensive lineman Ian Burau of Watertown-Mayer, kicker Connor Fournier of Maple Grove, receiver Jonah Hviding of Princeton, linebacker Charlie King of Faribault Bethlehem Academy, defensive end Andrew Partyka of Rogers, tight end Jermell Taylor of Eden Prairie and defensive end Carter Walker of Buffalo.

Hoffner said he lost a couple of recruits late to Division I programs, but he was happy with those who honored their verbal commitment, some of which were made months ago.

“We had to fight off some Division I (programs) that were trying to steal these guys late,” he said. “It’s always competitive.”

The rest of the recruiting class is receiver Sal Balistrieri (Mequan, Wisconsin), offensive lineman Aidan Betz (Elkhorn, Nebraska), defensive back Charlie Butt (Warrensville, Illinois), linebacker Maverick Cole (Sobski, Wisconsin), offensive lineman Keats Dyslin ( McFarland, Wisconsin), defensive lineman Diego Jackson (Ankeny, Iowa), offensive lineman Joseph Kingston (Ankeny, Iowa), receiver Neal May Jr. (Bradley, Illinois), offensive lineman Austin Moe (Judah, Wisconsin), offensive lineman Sam Morgan (Peoria, Illinois), cornerback Cole Rogers (Altoona, Iowa), defensive lineman Collin Selk (Columbus, Wisconsin), linebacker Cade Stingle (Shiocton, Wisconsin) and offensive lineman Henry Warsaw (St. Charles, Illinois).

Local signings

Mankato West linebacker Ty Neils signed with Minnesota Duluth.

Mankato East defensive back Ben Glogowski signed with Sioux Falls, where his dad Jim is the new head coach.

Minnesota Valley Lutheran defensive lineman Malachi Kohls signed with Southwest Minnesota State.

Note

Hoffner said that Minnesota State still hasn’t filled the Week 7 opening on next season’s schedule. The opening was created when Upper Iowa announced that it was leaving the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. … Hoffner said that an announcement will be made soon that an assistant coach will be hired to fill the opening created when Jim Glogowski left to become the head coach at Sioux Falls.

Follow Chad Courrier on Twitter @ChadCourrier.

BLOOMINGTON, Ill., Feb. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — HBT Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: HBT) (the “Company”, “HBT Financial” or “HBT”), the holding company for Heartland Bank and Trust Company, announced today that it has completed its merger with Town and Country Financial Corporation (“Town and Country”), the holding company for Town and Country Bank. As of December 31, 2022, Town and Country Bank had $923 million in total assets, $662 million in total loans held for investment, and $762 million in total deposits.

The completion of the merger expands HBT Financial’s Illinois footprint into the Springfield, St. Louis Metro East, Decatur, Jacksonville and Quincy markets.

Fred L. Drake, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of HBT Financial, said, “We are very excited to close this merger with Town and Country. We welcome their customers, staff and shareholders to HBT. We have a long track record of successful bank integrations and plan to make a smooth transition. We are a high-performing community bank and provide a superior banking experience for our customers. The acquisition will offer enhanced lending capabilities to Town and Country’s communities and customers, as well as excellent wealth management and farm management services.”

About HBT Financial, Inc.

HBT Financial, Inc., headquartered in Bloomington, Illinois, is the holding company for Heartland Bank and Trust Company, and has banking roots that can be traced back to 1920. HBT provides a comprehensive suite of business, commercial, wealth management, and retail banking products and services to individuals, businesses and municipal entities throughout Illinois and Eastern Iowa through 68 full-service branches. As of December 31, 2022, HBT had total assets of $4.3 billion, total loans of $2.6 billion, and total deposits of $3.6 billion.

Forward-looking statements

Readers should note that in addition to the historical information contained herein, this press release contains, and future oral and written statements of the Company and its management may contain, “forward-looking statements” within the meanings of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “will,” “propose,” “may,” “plan,” “seek,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” or “should,” or similar terminology. Any forward-looking statements presented in are made only as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect changes in assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events, or otherwise .

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (i) the strength of the local, state, national and international economies (including effects of inflationary pressures and supply chain constraints); (ii) the economic impact of any future terrorist threats and attacks, widespread disease or pandemics (including the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States), acts of war or other threats thereof, or other adverse external events that could cause economic deterioration or instability in credit markets, and the response of the local, state and national governments to any such adverse external events; (iii) changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by state and federal regulatory agencies, the FASB or the PCAOB; (iv) changes in state and federal laws, regulations and governmental policies concerning the Company’s general business; (v) changes in interest rates and prepayment rates of the Company’s assets (including the impact of LIBOR phase-out); (vi) increased competition in the financial services sector and the inability to attract new customers; (vii) changes in technology and the ability to develop and maintain secure and reliable electronic systems; (viii) unexpected results of acquisitions, which may include failure to realize the anticipated benefits of acquisitions and the possibility that transaction costs may be greater than anticipated; (ix) the loss of key executives or employees; (x) changes in consumer spending; (xi) unexpected outcomes of existing or new litigation involving the Company; (xii) the economic impact of exceptional weather occurrences such as tornadoes, floods and blizzards; (xiii) potential adverse reactions or changes to business or employee relationships, including those resulting from the acquisition of Town and Country; (xiv) the diversion of management time on transaction-related issues; (xv) the ultimate timing, outcome and results of integrating the operations of Town and Country into those of HBT; (xvi) the effects of the merger on HBT’s future financial condition, results of operations, strategy and plans; and (xvii) the ability of the Company to manage the risks associated with the forthcoming. Readers should note that the forward-looking statements included in this press release are not a guarantee of future events, and that actual events may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning the Company and its business, including additional factors that could materially affect the Company’s financial results, is included in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

CONTACT:
Peter Chapman
HBTIR@hbtbank.com
(888) 897-2276

It turns out car dealerships ARE incredibly busy right now and my experience wasn’t a VIP moment

• Dillon L. writes from North Dakota:

Hey Joe, the wife and I just bought a car over the weekend and had some similar experiences. We made the 7 hour trek to Fargo (visiting in-laws also) but needed a new car as we already sold the wife’s. We had a few vehicles picked out to test drive based off the websites but they were already gone by the time we got there. Our poor salesman actually got in a fender bender bringing one of the cars through the parking lot for us… Was one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen even though I felt bad for him.

We ended up purchasing a vehicle we didn’t even begin to look at or heard of before but it was so busy cars were flying off the lot and took us forever to finish the deal. – What is a normal buying time a vehicle? It literally took us all day, I’d estimate 3-4 hours just waiting on the paperwork. The interest rates about knocked me over, but what are you gonna do at that point? All in all, I’m hoping I don’t need to purchase a new vehicle for another 20 years when I’m sure every damn vehicle will be electric.

That leads me to my last thought about lib lib Judd or any libs for that matter. If we are going to get into the debate of transgender athletes, would it be better to not have men/women’s divisions separate? Just have one division… which if you literally look at any comparative stats between genders would show there wouldn’t be many women doing well in the division. The list goes on but I’m sure others will pick up the slack hammerin’ the libs.

Kinsey:

America, I don’t know about you right now. I’ll sit still for a minute to see if you burn through that credit and max out.

Average auto loan rates (January):

New cars: 8.41%

Used cars: 12.88% (!!)

Both at decade highs.

— CarDealershipGuy (@GuyDealership) February 1, 2023

• Chris N. checks in from Illinois:

Saw you were looking at Honda’s this weekend. My wife is the sales manager here in Peoria Illinois at Bob Lindsay Honda. Anyway, I will ask her tonight for an update but I know this whole month for her has been insane. They have 30-40 cars to still deliver and I believe they have been delivering 9-10 a day which is as about the most they can do in a day. My understanding is they are now getting flooded with cars after not having so many for so long and are just filling orders that people have been waiting for a while now.

• John L. writes:

Joe, it’s an especially great column today [Tuesday], with many LOL comments. You are so kind to let me contribute.

The auto dealership is a real head-scratcher. I have recently bought a new Honda and leased a new BMW, with the NY State dealerships being very calm. In both cases I also had to wait while for the car to come in.

Long live screen caps!

Kinsey:

Very interesting intel from John L. Here’s a real head-scratcher: Some of the best prices I’ve seen on just off-lease cars are in New York. I know it’s crazy.

• Rann R. in Jeffersonville, IN writes:

Joe, I strongly recommend you consider buying a Toyota RAV4. My first was a 2009. When I traded it in for my current 2020 RAV4, it had 215k miles and never had a tune-up or any major repairs. And my 2020 gets great mileage and is just as reliable.

Right on cue…local TV is so damn predictable, especially here during the Super Bowl

• Harvey D. writes:

You nailed it. The yearly required visit to the Wilson football plant in Ada OH!!

Kinsey:

At this point, the Ada Super Bowl football thing is a running joke in NW Ohio that never disappoints. At least get me 30 seconds of sound from one of the little old ladies who is pumping out those footballs.

Gracie Hunt question

• John L. writes:

Do you think that Gracie Hunt will rise to the same level of annoyance as Mahomes’ wife and brother? This trio could almost make me root for the Eagles, who I totally hate as a lifelong Giants fan.

Gracie bills herself as a philanthropist and a fitness and beauty expert. That’s easy to do when your Dad is worth billions!

Kinsey:

While I’m pumped the brakes big time on Gracie after giving her the “Chiefs heiress” distinction way back in 2018 when Mahomes took the team to the AFC title game, she will 100% never get to the level of pain in the ass like Brit Brit and Jackson.

Gracie just goes about her business being rich while the other two act like jagoffs thanks to their meal ticket’s right arm. At least Gracie understands her place in Chief’s history.

I do feel sorry for Gracie in one aspect. It feels like she wants the big-name athlete boyfriend and she’s in a real pickle with that need. She can’t date inside the NFL. I get the sense she’ll end up with someone from MLB on a massive contract. Keep your eyes on starting pitchers.

An outdoor pizza oven lawsuit that lawyers around the country will have their eyes on & probably turn into TV commercials

Hypothetical commercial at midnight on local TV: “Are you a victim of insane smells at all hours of the day? Did you OD on the smell of gas mixed with the glorious smell of a pepperoni and banana pepper pizza at 3 am? Call me! I will not rest until you are fully compensated for your pain and suffering.”

Let’s go to Cleveland where some loser is taking a neighbor to court over an outdoor gas pizza oven.

The plaintiffs “Allege that when the pizza oven is in use, the smoke and gases travel to their property and into their apartment causing them physical discomfort, annoyance, stress and anxiety, and that the smoke and gases significantly affect their ability to use and enjoy their property and their apartment,” according to the judge hearing the case.

The losers say the pizza oven typically runs between three and 10 hours at a time. They’re seeking $25,000 in damages and an injunction against the pizza oven.

‘my dad’

• Michael V writes:

Hey Joe, I know you get a lot of emails so you might not remember me but in one of the last contacts I made, I responded to a question by telling a story about my dad. It was about how he wasn’t allowed to attend Don Larsen’s perfect game in the 1956 World Series because my grandmother wouldn’t let him miss school.

It made one of the daily screencaps columns, but he never read it mainly because he never read anything unless it was a local print newspaper (except for the New York Times for obvious reasons). He was old school when he came to media so I explained to him what Screencaps is and he loved the idea that people like us exist all over this great country. Unfortunately a few days after Christmas he passed away suddenly at the age of 76.

He worked very hard in his life, growing up in a small apartment in Harlem, paying his way through college, and eventually retiring to a big house on the water in the suburbs. To me, this is a great example of the Indy Daryl “Do Hard Things” motto. I am very happy that I got to share this story with the community.

Kinsey:

In March, Michael V. wrote to me on the topic of “Worst parenting moves in sports” and relayed the story of his father missing out on Larsen’s perfect game. You guys have no idea how powerful it is to hear stories like this from across this incredible country. It’s like the Reader’s Digest for the modern guy who just wants a tiny escape from the world.

Thank you to Michael and the rest of you who trust me with your emails, especially during times like this where you’ve lost a loved one. This Screencaps experience is powerful stuff. trust me

• Michael V from March 12, 2022:

My story isn’t about me, it’s about my father. My grandfather came home the night before Game 5 of the 1956 world series with tickets for him and my dad. My dad was a die-hard Yankee fan and was in elementary school. In those days world series games were played during the day.

My grandmother (who was a great person and thought she was doing the right thing) told my dad he couldn’t go to the game because he had school. For those of you who don’t know what happened that day Don Larsen threw a perfect game for the Yankees against the Brooklyn Dodgers, something that hadn’t happened before and probably never will again.

My dad loved my grandmother but I’m not sure he ever forgave her for that. I grew up a Mets fan because if you lived in NY and started watching baseball in the late 80s that’s who you watched. They owned the town at the time which is hard to believe but true.

Fast forward to 2012 and I was fortunate enough to be in attendance for Johan Santana throwing the first and only no hitter in Mets history. It was an amazing night, one I will never forget. Maybe attending no hitters skips a generation because my grandfather did attend the Larsen game with a friend instead of my dad. That’s rough. sorry dad

Great, now I won’t be able to see updates on my Reds being eliminated from playoff contention on Opening Day

Yes, Italian post office vehicles are tiny for very good reason

• Mike T. once again delivers. He spotted an Italian post office vehicle and he knew it would pique the interest of this community.

Kinsey:

Strap the golf clubs to the back of that ride and I’m all set to golf in Ohio from April through November. Install a couple of 6X9s behind the seats, heat, AC, heated seats. In set. Hell, I’d even deliver mail around town in that thing once my Internet days are over. Looks fun.

One more from Mike T.:

Indy Daryl has a new job

• Mr. Do Hard Things stops by today with a life update and the best business decision he’s ever made:

Been a bit incognito lately as I took a week off between jobs (just started the new one yesterday!) but wanted to get in on the best decisions conversation. By far and away the best decision I ever made was marrying my lovely bride at the young age of 22.

We had no idea what we were getting into, but 15 years later we are, in my opinion at least, still crushing it! And the best decision we ever made as a couple was to have kids sooner rather than later (our first daughter was due on our second anniversary). We wanted our kids to have as much time with their grandparents and great grandparents as possible. And it worked!! 3 of my kids have spent significant time with my grandpa and 2 others met 3 more great-grandparents. It has been an incredible ride and I wouldn’t have done it any other way.

Sorry about your Bengals! New job is based in Cincinnati and there definitely was an “aura” of sadness over the whole city yesterday as I had orientation. At least you have a good foundation! (Says the broncos fan who has just a CF of situation to root for).

Kinsey:

And Indy Daryl said he’d be in for a quick trip south to Louisville for a Bourbon Bro summit. That’s big news folks. I know many of you have been jonesing to pick Mr. Do Hard Things’ brain. I just hope he doesn’t start throwing out appearance fee numbers at me.

BTW, I’ve had Indy Daryl’s work-from-home standup desk thing on my brain. For the first time in 15 years, this sitting down thing is starting to wear on me.

That’s it. This is another packed screencaps and I have a zoom to attend. You get what you get and you don’t throw a fit.

Let’s get rolling on the first day of February. By the end of the month, I’ll be thinking about spring golf and patio season. Let’s go give ’em hell for 28 days. Stand strong.

Email: joekinsey@gmail.com

numbers from :

Stuff You Guys Sent In & Stuff I Like:

The Wonder Years starring Fred Savage aired its pilot episodes today in 1988 following ABC’s coverage of Super Bowl XXII. The series would run for six seasons airing a total of 115 episodes. #80s #80stv pic.twitter.com/8ZkoxVb1NP

— LandOfThe80s (@landofthe80s) January 31, 2023

On January 21st, CBP officers working pedestrian outbound operations at the Nogales POE confiscated an undeclared AK style assault rifle concealed under a person’s clothing. pic.twitter.com/TUYHiwfTfZ

— Port Director Michael W. Humphries (@CBPPortDirNOG) January 31, 2023

On 1/28, the ORD tag team of Rockie & Bettie alerted to multiple bags from the same passenger. Officers inspected & found 33 lbs of yams, 22 lbs of plantains, 11 lbs of avocados, 2 lbs of lemon grass, 4 lbs of ebon fruit, & 7 lbs of wood. The GE member said he didn’t know the rules. pic.twitter.com/wUS12LDZBV

— CBP Chicago (@CBPChicago) January 31, 2023

“Save even more when you bundle home and auto (insurance),” Jordan whispers back.

The sketch ends when Day, at his limit and drunkenly singing, “Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there – and here and in my bed with my wife!”, begins to get ready to jump over a bridge. He is then stopped by Liberty Mutual Insurance cops as the Liberty Mutual Insurance jingle plays in the background.

“You don’t have to do this, buddy – Limu and I can help,” say the Liberty Mutual Insurance’s commercial ad mascots Limu Emu and Doug as they step out of the police car in their signature yellow Liberty Mutual uniforms. The latter mascot, who in real life is played by David Hoffman, was played by SNL’s Andrew Dismukes.

Like a good neighbor…Jake from State Farm is there pic.twitter.com/mtPjCiPoPu

— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) January 29, 2023

The State Farm sketch aired during Jordan’s hosting debut for Saturday Night Live earlier this week. NBC’s program tweeted a video of the entire sketch with the caption, “Like a good neighbor… Jake from State Farm is there”.

The real Jake from State Farm – Kevin Miles – reposted SNL’s sketch on his dedicated Twitter account with the quip, “Michael B. Jake from State Farm… and State Farm do B. There”.

Michael B. Jake from State Farm… and State Farm do B. there https://t.co/PN35EPv8jS

— Jake from State Farm (@JakeStateFarm) January 29, 2023

State Farm, a top vehicle insurer from Bloomington, Illinois, likewise responded positively to the sketch by retweeting the full video.

Like a good neighbor, we know when to leave You had us howling, Michael B. Jake from State Farm and @nbcsnl https://t.co/gt0cuQWs31

— State Farm (@StateFarm) January 29, 2023

“Like a good neighbor, we know when to leave,” State Farm said. “You had us howling, Michael B. Jake from State Farm and [SNL].”

By Lisa Gerstner
From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance

In a video from TikTok account AbundantGains, a woman separates cash from her paycheck into clear plastic envelopes with labels: $40 for Black Friday shopping, $50 toward getting a tattoo, $355 to save for a future home purchase, $215 for a vacation. There’s something satisfying and soothing about watching her neatly tuck away the bills.

With more than 11 million views, the video resonates—and it’s one of many on TikTok about “cash stuffing,” a budgeting method that relies on dividing physical cash into spending and saving categories.

While millennials and Generation Z have made cash stuffing a viral trend on social media, it’s hardly a new concept. Budgeters have long used the strategy—also known as the envelope method—to set hard limits on their spending.

It has staying power because it works. “Watching your paper money disappear before your very eyes has a much greater mental impact versus swiping a credit or debit card,” says Rockie Zeigler, a certified financial planner in Peoria, Illinois. “It can greatly increase your chances of keeping on a budget.”

If you struggle to keep your spending in check or are working on a savings or debt-payoff goal, cash stuffing is one way to get on track. And if you view it as a game, it can even be fun, says Curtis Crossland, a CFP in Scottsdale, Arizona, who has used the method himself.

For example, if you have money left over in an envelope for a spending category at the end of a budgeting period, you get to decide whether to leave it there for the next period or move it elsewhere. “Purposely underspending in a category meant I could plan on something that wasn’t previously in the budget, and I started looking forward to ‘earning’ that thing,” says Crossland.

But cash stuffing has its share of drawbacks. Paying with cash isn’t always feasible or practical—you may not be able to pay your wireless or utility bills with cash, for example. If your cash is lost or stolen, you likely won’t get it back. (You can replace a lost credit or debit card, and you have legal protections that limit your liability for stolen funds.)

Cash that sits in envelopes won’t earn interest, which hurts a little more right now as interest rates rise. And if you don’t use a credit card, you miss out on opportunities to earn cash back or points on your purchases and to build a credit history.

If you’re interested in cash stuffing but you don’t want to shift to it entirely, consider a hybrid approach. For example, you could put cash in envelopes for your discretionary budget categories and set up online savings accounts for your savings goals. Arrange automatic transfers to the accounts from each paycheck before you have a chance to spend the money. If you’d rather use a budgeting app, try one that encourages you to dig into the details.

(Lisa Gerstner is a contributing editor at Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine. For more on this and similar money topics, visit Kiplinger.com.)

©2023 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

The Epoch Times Copyright © 2022 The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors. They are meant for general informational purposes only and should not be construed or interpreted as a recommendation or solicitation. The Epoch Times does not provide investment, tax, legal, financial planning, estate planning, or any other personal finance advice. The Epoch Times holds no liability for the accuracy or timeliness of the information provided.

A District 87 school board member was sentenced on Tuesday to a second term of probation with the McLean County Veterans Treatment Court for aggravated drunk driving and driving on a revoked license.

Fitzgerald Samedy, 36, admitted to the felony driving offenses during a plea hearing with Judge Charles Feeney. The charges related to a May traffic stop in Bloomington when police said the school board member smelled of alcohol and displayed slurred speech and glassy eyes.

Fitzgerald Samedy was sentenced Tuesday to a second term of probation with the McLean County Veterans Treatment Court for aggravated drunk driving and driving on a revoke license.

Samedy refused a breathalyzer test when police stopped him in the 100 block of South Evergreen Lane, according to authorities.

The conviction is Samedy’s fourth DUI conviction, with others recorded in 2009, 2016 and 2018.

Prosecutor Emily Young recommended a 30-month probation term, with 180 days in jail. Samedy would serve 60 days in jail, with the remainder stayed, under the state’s request.

Young pointed to Samedy’s extensive record of alcohol-related offenses.

Defense lawyer Jennifer Patton asked that Samedy be admitted to the veterans court, a program he successfully completed about 18 months before his most recent DUI. Samedy has mental health issues related to his military service, said Patton.

The defense lawyer said Samedy had been drinking at home and drove down the street to handle a situation involving his dog on the night of his arrest.

Samedy served in the Army from 2006-08, including multiple overseas deployments as a petroleum engineer, according to Patton.

Feeney, who also presides over veterans treatment court, noted a report showing 70% of Samedy’s diagnosed post traumatic stress disorder is tied to his military service.

“That’s huge for me,” said Feeney.

Allowing Samedy to return to the specialized probation program serves the ends of justice, said Feeney. Veterans return with mental as well as physical wounds, the judge observed.

“We should be just as cognizant of the wounds we can’t see,” said Feeney.

Samedy was eligible for three to seven years in prison on the aggravated DUI charge, or probation with a 10-day jail stay and 480 hours of community service work. The revoked license charge held a potential one to six years in prison, or probation with at least 30 days in jail.

A spokesman for the Illinois State Board of Elections said in December that a felony conviction does not disqualify Samedy from serving on the school board. That prohibition applies to child sex offenders, said spokesman Matt Dietrich.

Samedy declined to comment after the hearing about his school board position. Patton said, ”I know he wants to stay on the board.”

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