Transparency Revolution in Effingham Thursday Night

(ADAM ANDRZEJEWSKI)

With the theme of a "Transparency Revolution", the 7th Annual Open the Books Banquet was held Thursday night in Effingham.

Adam Andrzejewski, Founder and CEO of Open the Books, reported on success of the organization over the past year in efforts to shed light on use and abuse of tax dollars by the government.

The featured speaker was St. Sen. Kyle McCarter, who in the midst of the "Grand Bargain" debate over a budget in the Illinois Senate that involved increases in spending has said that cutting the budget and not increasing the tax burden is the right option.

(ST. SEN. KYLE McCARTER)

Local businessman George Mette, an early Andrzejewski supporter in the Effingham area, led in the Pledge of Allegiance.

(ADAM ANDRZEJEWSKI WITH GEORGE METTE)

Open the Books also presented the 2017 Courage Award Winners for their efforts on behalf of open government. Those local recipients included early supporters of the Family Life Center including the late Loretta Koester and Bud Althoff along with Dr. Henry Poterucha and Susan Kessler along with current director Tami Shull. Also recognized were Full Armor Christian Academy of Louisville and Cindy and Darren Bailey, Sen. McCarter, Effingham County Board member John Perry, and Effingham good government activist Patty Russell.

(THE 2017 COURAGE AWARD WINNERS)