Illinois DVA reps not making rounds of remote service offices to offer assistance.

NOTE from Larry Scott, VA Watchdog dot Org ... All articles about the tough economy and the impact on veterans' services can be found on our Sign of the Times page.

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Veterans' Affairs ending DeKalb office hours

By DANA HERRA

Twice-monthly visits to the DeKalb Senior Services Center by a representative from the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs have ended, center director Mary Overbey said Tuesday.

The center had hosted a VA representative on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, Overbey said. She said the representative will no longer be making the trips to DeKalb and other auxiliary sites due to budget cuts at the state agency.

"We certainly are very disappointed because it was a wonderful service," Overbey said.

While there were rarely lines of people waiting to see the representative, she said, at least one or two veterans came every day the service was offered.

"I don't think there was a day he didn't see anybody," she said. "The veterans always knew they could come on those days with their questions."

Information about services offered through the Department of Veterans Affairs can also be obtained through the county's Veterans Assistance Commission, at 2500 Annie Glidden Road in DeKalb or by phone at 815-756-8129.

The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs can be reached at 800-437-9824.

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TOPICS: veterans, veterans' benefits, VA, Department of Veterans' Affairs, service cutbacks, Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs