OTTAWA, Ill. – State Rep. Lance Yednock, D-Ottawa, is encouraging businesses to promote health and safety programs for their employees during Safe and Sound Week, August 9-15.

“Safe and Sound week is a nationwide event for businesses to look at their health and safety programs in the workplace and find new information and plans to keep workers safe,” said Yednock. “Countless employees put their health and safety at risk because of their occupation on in their line of work, and working men and women deserve to know that there are proper safeguards in place for their protection.”

Safe and Sound Week takes place every year nationally from August 9-15. Safe and Sound Week is used as a time for businesses to reflect on their own health and safety plans for workers. The Illinois Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides free and confidential on-site safety and health advice to Illinois businesses. To schedule a free consultation, businesses can apply here: Consultation Visit. For more information on OSHA and Safe and Sound week, Illinoisians can visit Illinois OSHA.

“Health and safety should be a core value of every workplace,” continued Yednock. “I encourage all businesses to look at their own practices and see how they can ensure they are providing the safest workplace for their employees as our state continues to recover from the effects of the COVID-10 pandemic.” 

OTTAWA, Ill. –State Rep. Lance Yednock, D-Ottawa, is ensuring local residents and families have easy access to Secretary of State services by hosting a Mobile DMV Unit on Saturday, June 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Granville Village Offices, located at 316 S. McCoy St in Granville.

“A trip to the DMV can be hard to do for some people who might not live close to one or don’t have time in their work schedule to go during the week,” said Yednock “This mobile unit will make sure that seniors and families have access to crucial services for drivers or to get an ID card in an easy and efficient way.” 

The unit will provide the following services:

• Renewal or correction of a Driver’s License
• New, renewal or correction of a State ID card 
• License plate stickers
• Motor voter registration with renewal of DL/ID
• Organ donor registration with renewal of DL/ID

Please note that Real ID compliant driver’s licenses and ID cards must be processed at a driver service facility, seniors age 75 and up will need to visit the DMV to renew a driver’s license and that proper identification will be needed for the services above. 

“Through this event, we can bring many basic services for drivers, like common renewals and license plate stickers,” said Yednock. “I want to thank the Secretary of State and Granville officials who helped make this event possible, and I encourage any resident in need of these services to stop by.”

OTTAWA, Ill. – Working to amplify and support life-saving health resources for his constituents, State Rep. Lance Yednock, D-Ottawa, visited Spring Valley Kidney Care to learn more about the services the center provides.

“These kinds of facilities are absolutely critical to residents in our community,” said Yednock. “People’s access to affordable health care is an absolute necessity, and that is why I supported numerous policies to rein in prescription drug costs and prevent big insurance companies from gouging families on their premiums.”

Yednock recently visited Spring Valley’s Fresenius Kidney Care to tour the facility and to speak with the administration to determine their needs. The center is critical to local residents in need of life-saving, specialized kidney care because they help patients identify symptoms of diabetes and develop a treatment plan if necessary. For those in need of treatment or assistance from Fresenius Kidney Care, Yednock is encouraging residents to call 815-664-4585.

OTTAWA, Ill. – Working to continue his support of Illinois agriculture, state Rep. Lance Yednock, D-Ottawa, visited the Northern Partners Cooperative to discuss various issues facing Illinois’ agriculture industry and take note of the operations of the business.

“It can be easy to take it for granted, but agriculture is absolutely vital to growing a stronger Illinois,” said Yednock. “We must continue to work to support agriculture industries and businesses, which provide countless crop resources that make up the backbone of this state’s culture and economy.”

Yednock recently visited a local agriculture plant to listen to the issues facing the Northern Partners Cooperative while also discussing legislative proposals that would help the agriculture industry. Yednock has been a strong supporter of Illinois agriculture. Included in this year’s bipartisan budget plan that Yednock supported was the Blue Collar Jobs Act, which is aimed at providing reforms for people seeking employment in agriculture, manufacturing and more.

OTTAWA Ill. – Recently, state Rep. Lance Yednock, D-Ottawa, joined the Illinois Chapter of The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention for their annual Out of the Darkness walk to raise awareness and funds to support survivors of suicide loss.

“The most important thing we can do to help those we love and care about is to be there for them,” Yednock said. “If something seems off with them, be present, be attentive, and listen. That is what you can do that’ll do the most good for them in the long run.”

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention a nonprofit organization that raises awareness, funds scientific research and provides resources and aid to those affected by suicide. Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the US, with on average, there are 129 suicides per day. With regard to veterans and first responders the percentages are of those who commit or make an attempt on their own life do so at a higher rate than the national average.

“This also applies to veterans and first responders. They’re asked to work day after day and in some cases are put in harm’s way or are witness to tragedy,” Yednock said. “To suffer the effects of PSTD, depression, and anxiety that can come from these traumatic experiences is not a weakness. The work they do is that of superheroes, but they’re still human, some need help sorting out some of the things they seen.” 

SANDWICH, Ill. – Working to continue his support of Illinois farmers, state Rep. Lance Yednock, D-Ottawa, toured the Adams family farm to discuss agriculture issues facing Illinois’ farmers and take note of the family’s adapting to changing technology on their farm.

Yednock recently toured a family farm to listen to the issues facing the Adams farm while also discuss legislative proposals that will help Illinois farmers thrive. This year, Yednock supported a balanced budget, which includes the Blue Collar Jobs program designed to exempt certain sales taxes on specific farming equipment.

“It can be easy to take it for granted, but agriculture is absolutely essential to Illinois’s culture and economy,” said Yednock. “Illinois must continue to work with its farmers to ensure that they are not left behind. When we support farmers, we all thrive.”

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UTICA, Ill. – On his tour to build a stronger Illinois and middle class, state Rep. Lance Yednock, D-Ottawa, attended the Illinois Beverage Association (ILBA) at their 134th annual convention to highlight the new ways the state is partnering with local businesses to help them grow.

“The wreckage of the past four years put Illinois in an even darker financial whole than it was before,” Yednock said. “However, this year, lawmakers worked in a bipartisan manner to enact a balanced budget with the support of business and labor organizations. Illinois is on a better footing today and is open for business.”

Organized in 1880, the ILBA is the oldest business trade association in the country. This past September the ILBA celebrated its 134th Annual Convention & Business Meeting at the Grand Bear Lodge in Utica, IL. Yednock for his part was invited to speak and meet with members and discuss the events of this year’s legislative session. Yednock participated in the event as the guest speaker to highlight the new business reforms he helped passed that not only extended job-creating tax credits, but also phased out byzantine taxes, like the franchise tax.

OTTAWA, Ill. – State Rep. Lance Yednock, D-Ottawa, is encouraging local jobseekers to apply to the Illinois Department of Transportation’s (IDOT) snowbird program, a seasonal employment opportunity to perform emergency snow and ice control on area roads in preparation for winter.

“The snowbird program that IDOT offers not only helps employ people, but does great work keeping roads safe from harsh winter conditions,” Yednock said. “IDOT will need the help in the coming months and this is especially important to our region because amount of residents who use those main roadways in their commutes for work.”

Two types of temporary positions, full time and on call positions are hired for IDOT’s Winter Seasonal Program, which usually occurs from October 16th through April 15th of each year. Applicants must have a commercial driver’s license and submit to a criminal background check. A pre-employment physical, vision testing, and drug and alcohol screening also are required. Veterans are encouraged to apply. In rural areas, farmers and agricultural workers have historically filled out the snowbird ranks.

“I strongly encourage anyone eligible to apply to this seasonal program,” Yednock said. “Here folks have an opportunity to help people through public service and earn extra money.”

Those interested in applying can do so online by visiting www.idot.illinois.gov or work.illinois.gov.  For more information, please call Yednock’s constituent service office at (815) 324-5055 or email StateRepYednock@gmail.com.

OTTAWA, Ill. – Working to improve the health and wellbeing of area residents, State Rep. Lance Yednock, D-Ottawa, recently hosted the first of his free Community Health Fairs with OSF Healthcare St. Elizabeth to provide various services and screenings to local residents and families.

“I am working hard to ensure that health care is more affordable and accessible for my community, and I was honored to work with local leaders to offer vital services,” Yednock said. “More than ever, it seems as if most Americans just cannot afford ever-rising health care costs, so I want to support initiatives like these to make health resources more widely available. Even services as simple as screenings and insight into healthy living can help community members better prepare for their short and long-term health care needs.”

OGLESBY, Ill. – State Rep. Lance Yednock, D-Ottawa, is helping local jobseekers partner with local employers by working with the Illinois Valley Community College to host a job fair on Tuesday, Oct. 15 from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. at the IVCC campus in Oglesby. Local employers will be invited to participate to fill any openings.

“I want Illinois’ middle class to be stronger than it is, and that means helping people find jobs,” Yednock said. “It is tough to make ends meet, and with the sudden closure of the Del Monte Foods in Mendota and the Hennepin Power Plant in our area, employers and employees need to work together to keep our economies going and ensure people know about what opportunities are available here.”

Yednock and the Illinois Valley Community College will be hosting a joint job fair to help local businesses offer open employment opportunities for job seekers. Due to limited spaced at the college, interested business owners must RSVP for this event in order to participate. To do so, please call at 815-324-5055 or email StateRepYednock@gmail.com. After receipt of an RSVP, additional information about set up, tables, and chairs will be provided.

“I strongly encourage both employers and employees to participate in this event, as their joints efforts will create a better Illinois and middle class in short and long term,” Yednock said. “I look forward to working with IVCC and local employers to help people find work that is best for them and their families.”

Who:               State Rep. Lance Yednock, Illinois Valley Community College

What:              Job Fair

When:             Tuesday, Oct. 15 from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m.

Where:            Illinois Valley Community College, 815 N. Orlando Smith Rd., Oglesby, IL 61348, Peter Miller Community Technology Center (CTC), Room 124