PRINCETON Construction began Monday to upgrade the radio room in the Bureau County Jail with a $150,000 grant.

Its a great improvement to the jail, said Bureau County Sheriff Jim Reed.

Reed said the grant was secured by former Sheriff John Thompson and awarded to Bureau County through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. He said Thompson had been working toward this grant throughout the last three years or more.

Bureau County Board Buildings and Grounds Committee Chairman Kristi Warren said Thompson had orchestrated this grant on his own years ago. The Buildings and Grounds Committee is just now getting involved, she said. The grant will be directed to a total renovation of the Bureau County Jail radio room.

Former Sen. Gary Dahl awarded the grant to Bureau County and some surrounding areas before he left office, said Warren, however, the money is just now coming in. Warren said the money just may not have been available until this point.

Reed said the financial side of the project is an intricate and complex process. However, all radio room renovations will be paid for by the grant.

Thompson had previously authorized around $10,000 to pay for any overages, however, Reed said he is closely monitoring renovations to ensure no taxpayer money will be spent on this project.

We are lucky to have these grants available, said Reed, Until we are able to, we have to do what we can to survive here.

Reed said the department will continually work to make improvements when possible, but they do not have the resources to spend money outside the grant at this point in time.

This is a total overhaul ... It was definitely in (need) for remodeling, it wasnt built right to begin with, said Reed.

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On the radio at the Bureau County Jail

Watch Cliffs Construction Bring this Indianapolis Basement to Life
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Pro Basement Inc | Basement Remodeling Moscow Mills MO
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Pro Basement Inc | Basement Remodeling Moscow Mills MO - Video

Its a threat you cant see, kills 21,000 Americans each year, and it could be in your home right now. The only way to find out, is to test for it.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated January as National Radon Action Month. Radon is an odorless, invisible and tasteless gas released in rock, soil and water and it can build up to dangerous levels in your home, whether new or old, well-sealed or drafty, and with or without a basement. It is usually harmless outdoors, but when the gas is trapped in a building or home, it can be a health hazard. Unfortunately, many people tend to ignore that it might exist at high levels in their home. The truth is radon has been found in every state and vary from home to home even in the same neighborhood. You could have a significantly different level than even your neighbor next door.

Breathing radon can increase your risk of lung cancer. In fact, radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and the second leading cause among smokers. Children are more sensitive to radon because their lungs are smaller and their respiratory rates are twice as high. By the age of 10, a child receives twice the lung dose of an adult whos been exposed to radon for the same length of time. If you are a smoker and you have a high concentration of radon in your home, you are at an even greater risk. The good news is the risk of lung cancer from radon is the easiest to avoid.

Testing radon levels in quick, easy, and affordable, and prevent unnecessary exposure. If a high radon level is detected in your home, you can take steps to fix the problem.

Testing for Radon The best time to test for radon is during the colder months when the windows and doors are closed. Where can you get a kit? Some state radon offices, especially during National Radon Month, may offer kits for free or at a discount. Most home improvement and hardware stores sell test kits for under $25 or a kit can be ordered online. Testing is as easy as opening a package, following the directions for where to place the kit, and sending it to the company indicated on the package to receive your test results. Most testing last between 2 and 7 days. You can also hire a qualified radon tester.

Fixing High Radon Levels If the test results show your home has high radon, dont panic; the problem can be fixed. Consult an EPA-qualified or state-certified radon contractor who can evaluate the problem and determine the right solution. To find qualified contractors in your area, click here. Repairs focus on steps to keep radon from coming into your home, including sealing cracks in floors and walls to changing the flow of air into the home. If you are remodeling or building a new home, installing a simple ventilation system can prevent radon gas from seeping in.

Dont delay; take action today! And remember, radon testing should not be a one-time thing. The ground under your home can always shift, so it is important to have a radon test at least every five years or after any remodel or addition to your home.

Mark Bello is the CEO and General Counsel of Lawsuit Financial Corporation, a pro-justice lawsuit funding company.

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Is Your House Making You Sick?

LAPORTE | The courthouse in LaPorte has been around long enough to go from using kerosene lamps for lighting to the latest in environmentally friendly technology, geothermal energy.

If the county doesn't get its investment back from lower utility bills, the contract with Amaresco, Inc. calls for a full refund.

"That's what they say," said Jerry Cooley, LaPorte County's head of maintenance.

Ameresco is a leading independent provider of comprehensive energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions for facilities throughout North America.

Work began Tuesday on replacing all of the electrical wiring at the courthouse built in 1892.

New heating and cooling systems at both courthouses are included in the job estimated at $6.9 million.

The work at the courthouse in Michigan City erected in 1909 will begin in about two weeks, Cooley said.

The LaPorte courthouse has radiator heat that relies on a boiler heating water through original pipes that also will be replaced, he said.

The system that will be put in uses the temperature of the ground and air to help with heating and cooling, reducing energy usage.

Another $2.1 million will go toward remodeling the second floor of the LaPorte courthouse to house LaPorte Superior Court 3 now in the basement of the county complex.

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LaPorte courthouses going green

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Basement Remodeling Blaine MN | Minnesota Remodel - Video

Originally published January 16, 2015 at 3:00 PM | Page modified January 17, 2015 at 10:40 AM

After devoting most of her working life to a rewarding but modestly paying career in child care, Darlene Bakes was understandably worried about her retirement.

Bakes, 62, hit the financial peak of her career six years ago, when she became the full-time director of the Parent-Child Center at Shoreline Community College. She currently makes $56,788 a year.

She doesnt have a deep investment portfolio loaded with securities and properties. Instead, her wealth is almost entirely in her Seattle house, built in 1928, and retirement-savings accounts from work.

When could she retire? How could she do it?

I was thinking about it a lot, Bakes said.

At that point, she volunteered for a free money makeover by a member of the Puget Sound Chapter of the Financial Planning Association. Bakes was contacted by Carlos Lopez, an Eastside private-wealth manager with Kansas-based Creative Planning.

Lopez examined Bakes goals and finances, and much to her surprise declared her financially independent, which means she has the resources to support herself throughout retirement.

For Bakes, working is no longer a necessity, but a choice.

How did she do it? Lopez said Bakes built a solid nest egg by controlling her expenses, taking full advantage of retirement-saving plans at work and saving money whenever possible.

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Thrifty habits put retirement in reach for child-care worker | Financial Makeover

After devoting most of her working life to a rewarding but modestly paying career in child care, Darlene Bakes was understandably worried about her retirement.

Bakes, 62, hit the financial peak of her career six years ago, when she became the full-time director of the Parent-Child Center at Shoreline Community College. She currently makes $56,788 a year.

She doesnt have a deep investment portfolio loaded with securities and properties. Instead, her wealth is almost entirely in her Seattle house, built in 1928, and retirement-savings accounts from work.

When could she retire? How could she do it?

I was thinking about it a lot, Bakes said.

At that point, she volunteered for a free money makeover by a member of the Puget Sound Chapter of the Financial Planning Association. Bakes was contacted by Carlos Lopez, an Eastside private-wealth manager with Kansas-based Creative Planning.

Lopez examined Bakes goals and finances, and much to her surprise declared her financially independent, which means she has the resources to support herself throughout retirement.

For Bakes, working is no longer a necessity, but a choice.

How did she do it? Lopez said Bakes built a solid nest egg by controlling her expenses, taking full advantage of retirement-saving plans at work and saving money whenever possible.

She saved diligently, despite her circumstances, Lopez said.

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Thrifty habits put retirement in reach for child-care worker

Contemporary- Modern Basement Remodeling in Bella Vista Philadelphia
Just a block from South street, this basement remodel exhibits a rich variation of designer materials that culminate in an opulent and warm overall design. F...

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Basement Remodeling Philadelphia suburbs
To really use this expansive basement for purposes other than just storage, homeowners called on dRemodeling to help carve out spaces for the variety of acti...

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