Dale Blachford, president of Liberty Bank, has been re-appointed as chairman of the Illinois Bankers Association (IBA) Bank Fraud Task Force for 2008-2009. He will be serving his second term as committee chairman.
“I am pleased to continue as chairman of the Illinois Bank Fraud Task Force. The work of this committee is very beneficial to banks and their customers. The education of our employees and the public is essential to avoiding fraudulent financial activity,” Blachford said.
As chairman of the Task Force, Blachford will help identify ways to eliminate bank fraud. Among other things, the Task Force is charged with identifying effective tools to keep consumers informed, coordinating education and training programs for both law enforcement and front-line personnel, and developing other potential fraud prevention products and services.
The Illinois Bankers Association is a full-service trade association dedicated to creating a positive business climate that benefits the entire banking industry.

BD Sports at 655 E. Broadway in Alton has undergone changes since late May.

On May 30 Richard Skelton acquired the business after working for a few years in screen printing and sports photography, working with plaques, trophies and engraving.

He took over for Bill Daniels, who has retired and lives in Jerseyville.

“I love it so far,” Skelton said of his experience. “I have been in Alton my whole life. My business was Shirts and Skins in Godfrey. I opened that in December 2006.”

Skelton has blended existing BD Sports customers with his own clientele. John Brinkman is one of his associates. He has been at BD Sports for six years.

“It was an established business, so it wasn’t hard to pick up extra business and being able to run the business and make sure materials are ordered, phones are answered and shirts are printed,” Skelton said. “There aren’t enough hours in the day, but we are doing it. John Brinkman has been great from day one.”

For more information, contact Skelton at (618) 462-5861.