[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 7 (Tuesday, January 11, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H16]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1045
   RECOGNIZING TAYLORVILLE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL'S SEVENTH GRADE GIRLS' 
                            BASKETBALL TEAM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Rodney Davis) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
my hometown Taylorville Junior High School's seventh grade girls' 
basketball team on their 2021 State championship win.
  After a back and forth game, the score was tied at 16-16 with 4 
seconds to go. The Tornadoes came out triumphant after Grace Rogers hit 
a clutch shot.
  The seventh grade girls' basketball team ends their season with an 
overall record of 26-2. This team's hard work, dedication, and 
sportsmanship shine throughout our entire Taylorville community.
  I give a big tip of the hat and personally congratulate my good 
friend and head coach, Doug Bowsher. I congratulate all the girls on 
this wonderful, championship team for their hard work and dedication, 
and I am excited to see what the future holds for this championship 
Taylorville Tornado team.


                       Congratulating David Brown

  Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
congratulate my good friend David Brown for his retirement after more 
than 30 years at WAND in Decatur, Illinois.
  David's ancestors moved from New Hampshire to Illinois in 1867 in a 
search for new farming opportunities. David is a centennial farmer, and 
his son is the sixth generation from his family to farm in central 
Illinois. After graduating from Millikin University, David also worked 
at WSOY radio.
  David first joined the WAND news team as an ag reporter when the Farm 
Progress Show came to central Illinois in 1991. At WAND, many of his 
colleagues described him as a mentor, a friend, and one of the hardest 
workers they have come to know.
  Throughout David's tenure at the station, he was loved by all and 
received an award for Media Excellence in Agriculture. According to 
David, he had the best of both worlds, working at his passion, and then 
getting to share the importance of agriculture with the viewers as a 
farmer and as an ag broadcaster.
  Mr. Speaker, I congratulate David on his retirement. It is well 
deserved. Now David has a little more time to spend with his four 
children and six grandchildren.


                   Recognizing Ray and Barbie Swinda

  Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
Decatur residents Ray and Barbie Swinda and their Facebook page, 
Support Decatur IL Business.
  Ray his wife, Barbie, have been using their Facebook page to show off 
local Decatur businesses and restaurants they have been enjoying, and 
encouraging others in the community to follow their lead in buying and 
eating local.
  Ray and his wife started their page in response to larger chains 
harming the diversity of options for food and services in the Decatur 
area that Ray remembers existing as a kid. Many of the businesses that 
have been featured on their page have been shocked by the increase in 
traffic. Ray and Barbie have received responses from others in the 
community, including Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe herself, and have become 
local leaders simply through their work in promoting local businesses 
and restaurants.
  I urge everybody, if you are traveling through Decatur, Illinois, and 
you want a good recommendation, go visit Ray and Barbie's Facebook 
page, and you will see some great plates of delicious food.
  I also personally congratulate Ray and Barbie on the success of their 
Facebook page and thank them for being pillars of the community and 
encouraging so many others to invest in our local businesses.

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