Library Board

Happy Library Board members listen as President J.L. Hunter reads the letter as seen below. (Left to right) 1st row, Sue Sauer, Hunter, Darcie Feltmeyer, Boyce Humphreys; standing, Kathryn Ling, Chris Markley, Bob Zuck. Absent: Mary Brinkmeier and Kristy VanMatre. (Photo courtesy of FLPL)

 

 

 

 

To the Lanark Public Library Trustees,

My wife and I have been watching with much interest and anticipation of your Vision for the future of relocating the library to 111 S. Broad St. The library is an integral part of our community’s intellectual life. We find the library’s collections, services, and programs as a great asset for the education and recreation for the citizens of our community. We dream of the time when there is a comfortable, well lighted reading area for all ages.

It is easy to observe the overcrowding in the current building. There is an urgent need for more space for book collections, computers, study areas, program space for all ages, and media displays in all formats.

In a time when small communities are struggling to keep their business and services, our library is a real drawing card for the city and its businesses.

We gave $5,000 to this fund because we recognize the value of the library to Lanark. We encourage others to donate to the Library’s Vision of the Future.

Fans of the Lanark Library

Lanark Strategic Planning Session

Participants in Lanark’s Strategic Planning Session, held Monday, Jan. 18, will have to wait for the follow-up session. The flu bug caught up with session coordinator John Huggins, PCED, and the meeting set for Monday, Jan. 25 was postponed. Huggins will notify participants as soon as a date is set. Watch the Prairie Advocate for details. (Photo courtesy of John Huggins)

 

 

Mt. Carroll Rotary Club

Mt. Carroll Rotary members Jane Dixon and Ken Alexander presenting a check for $1200 to Terrie Miller (center), president-elect of the Mt. Carroll Rotary and member of the Carroll County Haiti Mission Project. This group started trips to Haiti in 2001 and the Mt. Carroll Rotary Club was an early promoter and continues each year with financial support. This volunteer group has built a medical/dental clinic in Juampas which is 40 miles from Port-au-Prince and was not damaged in the recent earthquake. The volunteers travel three times each year for continued work on their projects. (Photo courtesy of Barb Brierton)

 

 

 

 

Bulldog or Boxer: Ever Wonder What Your Mutt is Made of?

Maybe you just want to settle that bet with your friend who keeps telling you he sees some Maltese in your mastiff. Or maybe you yourself have stared into the eyes of your four-legged companion too many times wondering its true heritage.

Thanks to recent advances in technology, genetic testing your dog’s DNA for likely breeds is not only feasible these days, it’s affordable. Dr. William Laegreid is a veterinarian at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in Urbana who will soon be teaching medical genetics to students. He has a strong interest in the field, as well as decades of genetics research under his belt. “The commercial breed testing kits on the market seem to be reasonably accurate as long as your dog’s background is not too complicated,” he says.

Meaning, if your mutt is just a combination of a Labrador and a beagle then simple genetics like that are more easily sorted out than, let’s say, a pet who has several generations of mixed breed heritage.

If determining your pet’s parentage is too tempting, all you have to do is collect a DNA sample. Depending on the test kit and company you choose, sometimes you need a blood sample (which can be collected by your veterinarian), other times you’ll need a simple cheek swab. As for accuracy, Dr. Laegreid says, “assuming the sample is taken properly, it shouldn’t make any difference whether you use oral epithelial cells [a cheek sample] or blood.”

From this point, the sample is shipped to a laboratory and some of the animal’s DNA is sequenced. What makes a Chihuahua look different than a coonhound, or a boxer much taller than a bichon frise, is surprisingly, not that big of a difference when you actually look at the animals’ genetic make-up.

DNA, as most of us know, is the basic blueprint for life. It is found in all of our cells, and is a way of “storing” information should we need to build another cell, or synthesize an enzyme. Within DNA are genes. All dogs have the same genes, but “what makes dogs look different is the sequence of the genes between individuals,” explains Dr. Laegreid.

For example, all dogs (and humans) have a gene that makes insulin-like growth factor, a hormone that controls growth of almost every cell in the body. All dogs have the gene but a Jack Russell terrier is going to have a different sequence in its insulin-like growth factor “size” gene than a Great Dane. It is this sequence difference in a single gene that is a major determinant of body size in dogs.

It is these special sequences that allow an expert to sort out what type of breeds may be in your dog. But a word of warning, “this all really comes down to probability,” notes Dr. Laegreid. If you send your dog’s DNA sample off to several companies, as the Wall Street Journal did in a recent article, you may be surprised that you may not get back exactly the same breeds from all the companies.

In the end, DNA breed tests in dogs can be accurate, but they are not a 100 percent guarantee.

For more information, contact your local veterinarian. The article “Beagle or Bichon: Can Dog Drool Provide Insight?,” which ran in the Wall Street Journal on September 18, 2009, can be found at: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001-424052970204518504574416810535466706.html. From the Fields

From the Fields

By Jim Morrison

Extension Educator, Crop Systems

Rockford Extension Center, University of Illinois

One decision farmers made last year was whether or not to change to a shorter maturity corn hybrid as planting was delayed later and later. Data obtained from a corn planting-hybrid maturity study conducted in 2009 at the Northwestern Illinois Agricultural Research and Demonstration Center at Monmouth will help provide answers to those questions in future years. The study consisted of four planting dates (April 3, 23, May 5 and 26) and two hybrids (Pioneer 34K04, 106-day maturity and Pioneer 33R88, 113-day maturity) with and without fungicide application at tassel. The study was harvested on October 16, following killing frosts on October 10 and 11, according to Eric Adee, Research Specialist at the Center.

The yield of the 113-day hybrid was more affected by planting date than the 106-day hybrid. The yield response of the shorter maturity hybrid was fairly constant for planting through the first week of May. The 113-day hybrid yielded higher than the 106-day hybrid at the first three planting dates. Planting at the end of May reduced the yield of the longer maturity hybrid to less than the shorter maturity hybrid.

In addition, grain moisture was about 5 percent higher with the 113-day hybrid planted May 5 and earlier, and more than 6 percent higher at the last planting date. According to Adee, when drying costs were subtracted from the income, the greatest advantage for the 113-day hybrid was when it was planted the last week of April. By the end of May, the income advantage was in favor of the shorter maturity hybrid.

When the killing frost occurred on October 10 and 11, the 113-day hybrid planted at the end of May was less than one-half milk line and the 106-day hybrid planted the end of May had just reached black layer.

This year it did pay to switch to a shorter maturity hybrid when planting was delayed to more than a month later than optimum, according to Adee. In a more “normal” year when the season isn’t cut short, the advantage for the shorter maturity hybrid may have been reduced.

There was a trend for increased yield benefit to a fungicide application at the later planting dates. Across all planting dates and hybrids, fungicide application increased yield 9.6 bushels per acre.

Details on the study are available at this web site http://www.cropsci.illinois.edu/research/rdc/monmouth/ or by contacting Adee at adee@illinois.edu

Miscanthus Rhizome Root Harvester and Planter Unveiled

After years of research and collaboration, a miscanthus rhizome regeneration harvester and planter system has been developed and was unveiled for the first time at the University of Illinois Bioenergy Feedstocks Symposium on Tuesday, Jan. 12.

The new harvester and planter machine package is the result of a three-year collaboration between U of I, Tomax Ltd, and Bermuda King USA. This machinery can lower the cost of miscanthus rhizome production by up to 40 percent and create opportunities for miscanthus to be used more widely as a high-yield bioenergy crop.

Gavin Maxwell, Tomax Ltd Senior Bioenergy Consultant, said, “Bioenergy feedstock processors require security for supply and unless we dealt with regeneration and planting issues for miscanthus, we simply couldn’t make progress.”

Miscanthus rhizome cultivation is a labor-intensive process involving multiple machines and costly manual selection and grading.

“The collaboration team had a very clear objective when beginning the design process of the harvester and planter,” Maxwell said. “Our goal was to remove manual labor, integrate the digging and grading process, increase soil separation and improve both quality and volume to substantially reduce the cost of vegetative rootstock propagation.”

The result, the Rizomgen™ planter and harvester package, is expected to save 50 percent on existing rhizome harvesting and planting costs.

Recent trials in the United States have demonstrated a 200 percent increase in rhizome collection over manual systems allowing the opportunity for regional nurseries to more efficiently expand to meet the demand for both solid and liquid fuel conversion.

The new planter demonstrates a more uniform stream of rhizomes, enabling plant placement at a rate that matches rhizome weight, quality and ground conditions. The four-row planter incorporates separate feed hoppers and placement channels enabling it to be used for both two-row nursery work and larger scale plantations.

The harvester does bulk lifting of rhizomes on a continual basis with a patented one-pass digging head and oscillating de-soiler. Rhizomes exit via bulk side discharger conveying rootstock to an adjacent trailer. The speed of extraction allows faster transfer of rhizomes to storage which is a real benefit given the seasonal weather restrictions and narrow window of time that may prevail during the rhizome winter dormancy period.

The Nursery Package is also supported by a software management package that allows nurseries to register and trace energy crop production.

The harvester and planter package will be available for licensed U.S. and EU nurseries in 2010 and will be available for expanding grower crops for the 2011 season.

Timothy Mies, Deputy Director of Operations at the Energy Biosciences Institute at the U of I, said, “When this project started, the propagation of rhizomes was done with shovels and lots of manual labor. These machines will take miscanthus production to a new level.”

Any Chance for a Recovery in Crop Prices?

The prices of corn, soybeans, and wheat remain under pressure a week after the release of USDA reports revealing surprisingly large supplies. Soybean prices were declining before the reports were released, but March 2010 futures have declined an additional $.40 in the past five trading sessions. March 2009 corn futures have declined about $.50, and March 2009 wheat futures are down about $.70.

“Price declines have been larger than anticipated,” said University of Illinois economist Darrel Good. “The large decline suggests that the market has overreacted to the new information and/or that prices are reflecting additional factors.

“First, the late harvest suggests more uncertainty about the 2009 corn and soybean production estimates and the December 1 stocks estimates than would typically be the case. More clarity will be provided in March.”

For soybeans, marketing year supplies are estimated to be 322 million bushels larger than supplies of a year ago. However, stocks as of Dec. 1, 2009, were only 61 million larger than stocks on Dec. 1, 2008. The relatively small December 1 stocks estimates this year reflects the extremely large level of exports during the first quarter of the marketing year and a modest increase in the domestic crush. In addition, the calculated seed, feed, and residual use of soybeans during the first quarter of the marketing year was also very large, totaling 185.3 million bushels. That is double the disappearance of a year ago and 45 million larger than the previous record use in 2003.

“On the surface, the large disappearance suggests the 2009 crop may have been overestimated. That possibility cannot be confirmed until the March 1 stocks estimate is released,” Good said.

Both the pace of exports, including sales and shipments, and domestic crush remain at a rate above that required to reach the USDA’s projection for the year. Both are expected to decline as the year progresses and the South American crop becomes available. According to Good, some areas of late season dryness in South America could result in a slightly smaller crop than currently projected. The rate of use should be a supportive factor.

For corn, the estimate of December 1 stocks implied a 6.5 percent year-over-year increase in the domestic feed and residual use of corn during the first quarter of the year.

“The large increase is counterintuitive given poor livestock margins and large increases in the availability of distiller’s grains,” Good said. “The large level of use may also imply an overestimate of the 2009 crop. The uncertainty surrounding the production and stocks estimates due to the late harvest preclude conclusions at this point. In the mean time, the pace of new export sales and weekly shipments remain well below the pace needed to reach USDA’s projection of marketing year exports.”

For wheat, the projection of large year-ending stocks was decidedly negative for near-term price prospects. The pace of new sales and weekly shipments remain below the pace needed to reach even the extremely low level now being projected by the USDA.

“Fundamentally, the large decline in winter wheat seedings offers some opportunity for a recovery in prices during the 2010 to 2011 marketing year,” Good said. “Harvested acreage, particularly of soft red winter wheat, could be even smaller than implied by the acreage estimates due to poor conditions in some areas. A much smaller harvest in 2010 could allow for a recovery in the soft red winter wheat basis that has been extremely weak for the past three years.”

The large decline in winter wheat seedings may be problematic for corn and soybeans and other spring-planted crops, Good predicted. The 6-million-acre decline in winter wheat seedings, along with additional acreage released from the Conservation Reserve Program, opens the door for large increases in the acreage of spring-planted crops. While a few more corn and cotton acres may be needed to accommodate the expected rate of consumption in 2010 to 2011, a large South American harvest implies no need for more soybean acreage. Favorable growing conditions, then, could result in a surplus of one or more crops in 2010.

“An additional concern for crop prices is the continued lackluster performance of the national economy and the persistently high unemployment rate,” Good said. “These factors do not bode well for demand prospects for agricultural commodities for food or fuel consumption. The lack of economic growth, along with emerging indications that Iraq could substantially increase oil production over the next several years, may prevent an increase in crude oil prices that would support the biofuels industry.”

Good added that a recovery in crop prices cannot be ruled out, particularly as the new northern hemisphere growing season gets underway. However, prospects are less encouraging now than just two weeks ago.

Biomass Crop Program Offers Assistance to Producers

Producers interested in growing biomass crops can eliminate financial risk through the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP). Jody Endres, senior regulatory associate at the Energy Biosciences Institute at the University of Illinois, discussed how BCAP can benefit producers at the 2010 Bioenergy Feedstocks Symposium held last week in Champaign.

“BCAP was created as part of comprehensive energy legislation to incentivize the production of biomass-based products to be marketed for fuel, heat, power and other products,” Endres said. “It was authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill and funding will continue through 2012.”

The demand for biomass is increasing. The U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) mandated that 100 million gallons of cellulosic fuels be used as transport fuels in 2010. And by 2022, the mandate is 16 billion gallons. Unfortunately, the current supply system is not well-developed due to producers’ reluctance to enter the market, Endres said.

“Perennials require long-term commitment, novel agronomic practices, unique harvesting equipment, and offer little carbon price incentive,” she said.

However, BCAP helps reduce the financial risk through this first incentive program for energy biomass production. The two-part program includes Collection, Harvest, Storage and Transportation (CHST) and Project Areas.

CHST provides a direct, matching payment to eligible material owners upon delivery of biomass crops to a qualified biomass conversion facility. The facility must use biomass to produce heat, power, advanced biofuel, or bio-based products for themselves or someone else. However, the eligible material owner and the facility must be entirely separate legal entities and complete the transaction at “arms-length.”

The BCAP provisions of the 2008 Farm Bill reference the definition of renewable biomass in the bill to determine eligibility, with exceptions. Material eligible for CHST can come from federal, or private and Indian lands. On federal lands, this includes materials from preventative or restorative treatments only.

Although the 2008 Farm Bill defines renewable biomass on private and Indian lands as including feed grains, other commodities, other plants and trees, algae and wastes, the BCAP provisions regarding eligibility for CHST payments disqualify Title I crops, algae, animal wastes, food wastes and municipal solid wastes.

“In order to receive payment for CHST, the facility must complete an application with the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the eligible material owner must submit an application in advance at their county FSA office,” Endres said. “FSA will then approve and verify eligibility.”

FSA began issuing matching payments last fall and will pay eligible material owners $1 per dry ton paid by the facility, up to $45 per ton. Producers are eligible for two years from the time of first payment.

The second part of BCAP, the Project Areas program, is awaiting implementation. Once in operation, producers can receive up to 75 percent of perennial establishment costs, and an undetermined amount for perennial or annual production.

The 2008 Farm Bill requires USDA to designate “project areas” before any payments for biomass production can be issued. A biomass conversion facility is required and producers must be “within an economically feasible distance” to supply the facility’s biomass needs. A proposal must be sent to FSA stating the facility will buy the crops, has sufficient equity, and is viable.

The proposal must also include a description of eligible land and crops. Under the Project Areas program, eligible land differs from CHST, which can cause some initial confusion. Eligible land is only private land not used for Conservation Reserve Program, Wetlands Reserve Program, Grassland Reserve Program, or land that has not had native sod after May 22, 2008. It excludes payments for Title I crops, and crops deemed noxious or invasive by federal or state law.

Once the proposal is sent to FSA, they will look at sustainability and the volume of biomass produced by the producers in the proposal and producers outside of the proposal.

“FSA considers economic impacts, producer and local ownership of the biomass conversion facility and participation rate by new and socially disadvantaged farmers,” Endres said. “They will also consider soil, water and related impacts as well as the variety of agronomic and cropping practices used.”

Once a project area is awarded, a written contract must be established between the producer and USDA that provides information to promote production and conversion, show that they are observing highly erodible land and wetlands conservation requirements, and that they are implementing a forest or conservation stewardship program.

The Biofuels Interagency Working Group has been established to develop consistent, optimal definitions and practices between RFS and BCAP. One regulation for both CHST and Project Areas should be issued shortly, with a comment period.

“It’s important to take advantage of the comment period,” Endres said. “As you can see, where those project areas land is a high-stakes result. As stakeholders, through our comments, we per

Happy Tales and “Happy Trails” with Morrison Historical Society

By Stephanie Vavra,
thecity1.com

“The King of the Cowboys,” Roy Rogers, was remembered fondly at Morrison Historical Society’s Annual Meeting, potluck buffet, and program, on Sunday, January 24, 2010, at the Community Room in the Odell Public Library.

The business portion of the meeting began with the election of four Trustees to 3-year terms: Jack Ottosen and Stephanie Vavra are returning board members; Owen McCulloh and Carole Patton are new to the Board.

Recording Secretary Vavra introduced guest speaker Ted Boddiger and his wife, Joann, of Polo. He chronicled Rogers’s life from childhood to fame in radio, music, movies, and television. These facets of Rogers’s career earned him four stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

He made 89 films in the Western Musical genre, then starred in a television program for 9 ½ years with wife Dale Evans. Next, the actor opened museums to showcase the memorabilia he collected during his career. The third, and final, museum in Branson, MO, closed in December 2009.

Boddiger has considerable memorabilia himself, including a life-size, cardboard cut-out of Rogers with 6-guns drawn. This made for fun photos. His collection includes comics, magazines, and books; records, cassettes, and CDs and DVDs; jigsaw puzzles; a toy guitar; salt and pepper shakers; penknives; belt buckle, lunchbox; Roy’s leather gloves. There were many photographs, showing the singing cowboy from childhood to late adult years.

His favorite items are a pair of six-guns in a holster. He started his collection with comic books and a child-size version of pistols when he was a boy. Asked why he focused on this western entertainer, Boddiger replied, “For the same reason everyone else did: his family values, he was always the good guy, he had Trigger, and he was “The King of the Cowboys.”

Dale Evans wrote the lyrics to “Happy Trails,” which was the television show’s theme song. To end the presentation, guests read the lyrics from colorful placemats designed by Trustee Mary Ellen Brackemyer and sang to music provided by the Boddigers.

“Happy trails to you, ‘till we meet again.”

Paulson Named Ambassador of the Month

Allie Paulson of Pearl City, attending Educators of Beauty in Sterling, was selected as the Ambassador of the Month by popular vote of the administration and student body.

Paulson’s positive attitude, exceptional skills of the trade, customer service, excellent grades, professional appearance, good attendance and salesmanship were the criteria used in selecting her as Ambassador of the Month. Paulson portrayed a perfect image of a successful cosmetologist at Educators of Beauty.

United Way Donates to Morrison Community Day Care Center

It was “a happy day in the neighborhood” January 22, 2010, when board member Joy Tegeler presented an additional United Way donation to Morrison Community Day Care Director Laura Irish, at Tegeler Accounting Services.  President Lynn Kenady represented the Board of Directors.

Irish applied for a “Venture Grant” on behalf of the child care center, held in the Presbyterian Church, 100 E. Lincolnway.  This award will be used to reimburse the center’s general fund for several improvements.  Their new, soft-tile, outdoor playground surface was installed in the summer of 2009.  It is made of recycled material.  A new sandbox has been fun for the tots.  The office received a desk, chair, and counter.

The final monies will be used to expand the “Star Readers” program with the purchase of books, materials, and reading incentives.  This program of parent and child reading continues until May.  In June, the families will enjoy a pizza party at Happy Joe’s.  Kenady donates “Little Joe” pizza coupons as reading incentives; Dairy Queen offers coupons, too.

Other local benefactors of the Morrison Community Day Care Center include the Kiwanis Club, Community State Bank, Sterling Federal Bank, and The National Bank, all of Morrison.

The center accepts tiny ones aged 15 months to 5 years of age.  Currently, there are 32 children enrolled, and the organization has room for more.

TLP Gets Exclusive Rights to Chicago

Timber Lake Playhouse’s management team, Artistic Director James Beaudry and General Manager Melissa Mattingly Parsons, are thrilled to announce that the producers of the Tony-winning Broadway revival of Chicago have given Timber Lake Playhouse the exclusive rights to produce the show in Mt. Carroll this summer! Chicago will open the playhouse’s 49th Season on June 3.

“We were stunned and honored when we found out,” said Beaudry. “No one is getting the rights to this show now because the national tour and Broadway productions are still selling out. But I wrote a letter explaining that our regional audience often doesn’t have access to a lot of national tours, and we would like to bring this brilliant and spectacular show to them.” Timber Lake Playhouse will be one of the only professional theatre companies in the country to produce Chicago this season.

“We are in a unique time in human history,” wrote lead Broadway producer Barry Weissler about the show. “The world appears to be falling apart around us… Sometimes, the best thing you can do for an audience is to give them a chance to breathe, to make them laugh, to rejuvenate them.”

At the height of the roaring 20s, in a world where the latest scandal leads to instant celebrity, Chicago is the story of chorus girl Roxie Hart and vaudevillian Velma Kelly in a battle of song and dance numbers and vaudeville comedy acts as they await trial for the murders of their cheating men. Chicago is now considered one of the best American musicals ever created. Written by Bob Fosse, John Kander and Fred Ebb, who had worked together previously on Cabaret, it includes such show-stopping songs as “All the Jazz,” “When You’re Good to Mama,” and “Razzle Dazzle” and the most astonishing dancing Broadway has ever seen. The comedy has won 6 Tony Awards, 6 Oscars and become the longest running revival in Broadway history.

“When we thought we wouldn’t be able to produce Chicago, we planned on opening our season with another great show, Hairspray, instead,” Beaudry explained. “Because we only have a limited two week window this year during which we can present Chicago, but we still want to give our audiences a chance to enjoy Hairspray, we are planning on opening our 50th Season in 2011 with that show. TLP’s first season was in 1962, and Hairspray takes place that very year. Hairspray will be a great way to kick off our year-long celebration.”

Timber Lake Playhouse’s 49th Season in 2010 will continue with the classic American musical, Oklahoma!, and Kander and Ebb’s newest musical comedy, Curtains. Two plays, Steel Magnolias and Love, Sex & the I.R.S. will be presented. The season will close with the new musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

Nationwide casting for Timber Lake’s production and resident company gets underway this week. For more information about TLP auditions, visit www.timberlakeplayhouse.org and click on ‘Auditions & Jobs.’

Make your reservation for your Group TODAY through the TLP Box Office. Group prices are as follows:12-30 people = $18 per ticket; 30 and over = $17 per ticket; and Opening Night Special = $15 per ticket for groups of 20 or more.

Subscriptions, gift packs, gift certificates and dinner coupons for the 2010 Season are also available. Contact the TLP box office by: Calling (815) 244-2035 (TLP accepts Visa and MasterCard), email boxoffice@timberlakeplayhouse.org or mailing a check or money order to Timber Lake Playhouse, PO Box 29, Mount Carroll, IL 61053.

For more information, visit the Timber Lake Playhouse website at www.timberlakeplayhouse.org.

Assistance for the Aging

Volunteer Hospice of Northwest Illinois invites you to their next Community Education Meeting at the Stockton Park House at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, February 9, 2010. The topic will be Assistance for the Aging. The speaker will be Linda Nobis, Case Manager from the Jo Daviess office of the Stephenson County Senior Center. She will field questions on programs that are available for seniors from 60-65 years and up (examples: circuit breaker, prescription plans, nursing home care, etc.). If you have questions about the many programs available in the area for yourself or your loved ones, please plan to attend this informative meeting. This meeting is open to the public.

Please call the Hospice Office at 815-947-3260 if you plan to attend, as seating is limited. The Stockton Park House is handicap accessible and the Community Education Meetings are sponsored at no cost to the public by Volunteer Hospice of Northwest Illinois.

Volunteer Hospice of Northwest Illinois is an all-volunteer, community based hospice providing educational, supportive and compassionate services to the terminally ill, chronically ill or disabled, and to those who are grieving. Please feel free to contact the office if you have any questions about the services provided or other educational opportunities sponsored by Volunteer Hospice of Northwest Illinois.

Over the winter months, please remember that if the Stockton School is closed due to weather conditions, our meetings will be cancelled.

Blood Drive at Eastland

The Eastland High School Student Council is hosting a Blood Drive on Wednesday, February 3rd in the high school cafeteria. Staff from the Rock River Valley Blood Center will draw blood between 1:30 and 6:30.

If you are at least 17 years old (16 with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in general good health, you should be eligible to donate blood. One in three people will need blood and you never know when you or someone you love might be the one.

The Rock River Valley Blood Center is the sole supplier of blood and related services to OSF Saint Anthony, Rockford Memorial, SwedishAmerican, Beloit Memorial, Freeport Health Network, and several other area hospitals. The Rock River Valley Blood Center needs to collect 965 units each week to meet area patient needs.

By hosting a Blood Drive, the Eastland High School Student Council is helping to save lives in our community. Join us in sharing the Gift of Life. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Nancy Kniss at 493-6341.

You can contact the Rock River Valley Blood Center at 815-965-8751, toll free at 866-889-9073 or on the web at www.rrvbc.org.

SIUE Dean’s List

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has announced the names of students qualifying for the Dean’s List for Fall Semester 2009. To qualify, a student must maintain a grade-point average of 3.5 or better and have 12 hours calculated (B is equivalent to 3.0; A to 4.0).

Listed here are names of area students qualifying for the 2009 fall term Dean’s List.

Lanark - Charles W. Johnson; Milledgeville - Andrew J. Gibbs; Morrison - Rachel Karen Ward.

Spring Ahead With Good Health

Seeking Vendors for 10th Annual Jo Daviess County Health Summit

Volunteer Hospice of Northwest Illinois is looking for exhibitors for the 10th Annual Jo Daviess County Health Summit. Our theme this year will be “Spring Ahead To Good Health”. Cost of the booths are $25.00. The event will be held on Saturday, March 27, from 7:30AM to 10:30AM at Highland Community College West in Elizabeth. The admission is free, open to the public and is handicap accessible.

The purpose of the Health Summit is to educate the public on a variety of health issues, where to go to find help and more information and what is available in the area. The variety of exhibit booths, the various blood screens, free blood pressure checks, and demonstrations provide “something for everyone” in a fun and friendly atmosphere.

Sponsors of the event include Volunteer Hospice of Northwest Illinois, Elizabeth First United Methodist Church, Jo Daviess County Health Department, Linda Nobis (Jo Daviess office of Stephenson County Senior Center) and Highland Community College.

If you are interested in being an exhibitor in the Health Summit, please call the Hospice office at 815-947-3260.

HCC Servant-Leadership Involved in Effort to Send Meals to Haiti

The Highland Community College Servant-Leaders need your help.  Each student and adult mentor in the program; representing 15 high schools in our district has committed to raise a minimum of $25/per person to help feed the children in Haiti.  We currently have 170 participants in the program, which would put our minimum goal at $4250.00.  This amount would purchase 17,000 meal packages and feed 102,000 people.  

On Saturday, January 23, Kids Around the World came to Highland Community College with enough supplies to package the first 10,000 meals with another packing time TBA. They are looking for additional donors and volunteers to get involved in this project.

If you would like to join with students from our area by donating or volunteering to help package meals, please call Kim Pool, Director of Servant-Leadership, Highland Community College @ (815) 599-3574 or (815) 232-4889 or e-mail: kim.pool@highland.edu

Please make checks payable to Kids Around The World.

Every minute 12 children die from starvation. Kids Around the World is a part of the solution to world hunger. We partner with Kids Against Hunger and package meals that contain all the nutritional requirements undernourished children need for physical and mental development. Kids Against Hunger is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide nutritious food to impoverished children around the world.

One food package contains six servings and costs $1.50. Each package is prepared in less than twenty minutes by adding it to boiling water. One box contains 36 packages, costs $54.00 and feeds 216 children. One pallet contains 33 boxes with 1,188 packages, costs $1,782.00 and feeds 7,128 children.

The food is a rice and soy mix fortified with 21 vitamins and minerals, 6 dehydrated vegetables and chicken flavoring.  This soy (52% protein) and nutrient rich formula reverses the starvation process and its effects. Many feeding organizations feed the hungry through commercial or processed food. Kids Against Hunger’s food has proven to strengthen the immune system.

 

Who is Juanita R. Randklev?

I am a candidate running for a second four-year term in District #1 for the Carroll County Board.

Why? I will say without resignation I love the concept. The interaction of those elected to serve to bring their all – no matter what their political party, to the decision making of our county. I respect and admire the knowledge and insight all can bring.

I continue to bring an open mind in this area and in the expressed needs of our citizens – giving people a voice.

While on the Board these past three years I have represented Carroll County on the Carroll County Zoning & Community Services Committee, which entails being a liaison to Tri-County Opportunities Council – on their Board; Personnel Committee; Strategic Planning Committee and on the Board of the Limited Counties Council of Illinois in Springfield, Illinois.

Once again, I feel qualified – having a vast and versatile experience in responsibility and decision making from professional and community service.

I continue to “get the word out” as to entice businesses, restaurants and industries to come to Carroll County to in-turn seeing our jobs and economy grow.

One of my main goals on the County Board is revamping a long overdue courthouse. This being on the purpose of “safety” – safety in the courthouse for citizens and staff – from entering violence. An ever-more need in today’s society – city or rural.

Lastly, I will not speak up if I can’t back it up.

My background: I’ve been a licensed Practical Nurse for 25 years and in the Savanna area, a teachers aide in special education.

I am secretary for the Carroll County Democrats, Vice-Chair for the Inter Church Council, over five years a volunteer advocate for the Riverview Center – which offers counseling, hotline and prevention of sexual abuse. A Board member with Great River Outreach – “The Table,” a deacon at the First Presbyterian Church of Savanna. Presently, served on the program committee of the Savanna Service Club and enjoy the gala of the Redtail Society – Scarlet Chapeaux – Savanna Chapter.

Also enjoy singing and acting in Community theatre, movies, reading and my Labrador/German Shepherd.

Juanita R. Randklev (D)

Cost-Share Applications for Conservation Practices

The Carroll County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) is accepting applications for cost-share to install or implement conservation practices. These practices will help keep producers in compliance with various Government programs. The cost-share rate is set at 60% to assist landowners in reducing soil losses to tolerable limits and improving and protecting water quality. The following practices are eligible: grassed waterways with or without tiling, critical area seeding, terraces, grade-stabilization structures, pasture and hay-land planting, field border strips, nutrient management planning and no-till planting. Applicants will be ranked and approved on a priority point system.

All practices must be maintained for 10 years. Interested landowners are encouraged to take advantage of this program. Application is needed before January 29, 2010.

For more information, call the Carroll County Soil & Water Conservation District office at 815-244-8732, extension 3 or stop by the office at 807C South Clay Street in Mount Carroll.

Highland Trustees Consider Tuition Increase

The Highland Community College Board of Trustees considered a recommendation to increase Highland Community College tuition by $10.00 per credit hour at their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, January 19. This was the first of two required readings that could make the change effective for fall 2010.

Highland’s Trustees have historically kept tuition and fees at or near the Illinois state average. If the proposed increase is approved, Highland’s tuition rate will be $94 per credit hour. Highland officials are estimating that the proposed 2010-11 tuition rate will be within the state average based on information gathered from other institutions.

“Early estimates indicate that the state average will be approximately $92.00 per credit hour,” according to Vice President of Administrative Services Jill Janssen. “However, there are a good number of Illinois community colleges that have yet to report proposed rate increases for next fiscal year.”

Community colleges were founded on a funding model of 33% state support, 33% local tax support, and 33% tuition. As state funding continues to decline, the College must rely more heavily on local taxes and tuition. Currently, state support makes up 15% of the College’s revenue while local tax support, student tuition and other sources (federal grants, Foundation support) make up the remaining 85%.

Highland President Joe Kanosky says that the Trustees, administration and Illinois Community College Board continue to bring this funding trend to the attention of state legislators and that the community also needs to understand the funding situation. “We are deeply concerned about the state funding trend, and we understand that the burden is placed more heavily on tax and tuition support. We think it is important that we share this information with our communities,” said Kanosky.

Humphrey on Dean’s List

Ashlan Humphrey of Polo (61064) was among those honored on the Lewis University Deans’

List for fall semester 2009. To be eligible for this honor, students must

have completed a minimum of 12 semester hours of credit with a grade point average of 3.25 out of a possible 4.0.

Tax-Aide Program Begins February 10

Make Your Appointment for the Tax-Aide Program

The Carroll County Senior Center will once again sponsor the Tax-Aide program in Carroll County.  There will be two weekly tax sessions on Wednesday and Friday mornings beginning Wednesday, February 10.  For an appointment, contact the Senior Center at 815-244-1800 or 866-214-1959 (toll-free).  Taxpayers should bring all tax documents, proof of identity as well as a 2008 return.

Many new credits are available to taxpayers this year.  Proper documentation is necessary to claim the Homebuyers Credit, Residential Energy Credit, Plug-In Electric Vehicle Credit, New Car Sales Tax Deduction, and the Property Tax Deduction (property id number required).  Bring your receipts, closing statement on your home and your property tax bill to verify your deductions.

Taxpayers can now use any refund to buy up to $5,000 in U.S. Series I Savings Bonds in multiples of $50. A refund may be directly deposited into three different accounts, such as a savings account, checking account and bonds.

Tax-Aide Volunteers make every effort to assist taxpayers.  Some situations are considered Out of Scope and will need a Paid Preparer.  Such situations include business depreciation, rental income and expenses, complex capital gain/loss issues, trusts and farms.

AARP Tax-Aide program provides free tax assistance and preparation throughout the country to low and moderate income taxpayers, with special attention to seniors, age 60 and older.  The Carroll County Senior Center joins the Internal Revenue Service and the AARP Foundation in offering this free tax assistance to the local community.

Books By the Bushel Available

The Carroll County Farm Bureau Foundation has recently announced a new program to help with agriculture education. They are giving away Books by the Bushel to organizations in the county that can benefit from a bushel basket of ag books. The books are geared for children on a variety of ag topics which include: Century Farming: One Hundred Years on a Family Farm, Diary of a Worm, From Wheat to Pasta, and more.

Applications to apply for the books by the bushel are available through the Carroll County Farm Bureau office or off of our website at www.carrollcfb.org. Anyone can apply for this.

Completed applications must be returned to the Carroll County Farm Bureau by Wednesday, March 24, 2010. For questions or more information contact Chas at 244-3001 or by email at carrollcfb@grics.net.

Scholarship Opportunities Available

The Carroll County Farm Bureau Foundation has recently announced their 2009 Scholarship Opportunities. This year they will be offering five $1000 general scholarships along with the Harold Schmidt Memorial Forestry Scholarship in the amount of $1000.

To be eligible for all of the scholarships, applicants must meet the following criteria: must be a high school graduate; must be a Carroll County Farm Bureau member, spouse of a member or member’s child; must be accepted for enrollment or be enrolled at an accredited college, university, community college or technical school; must exhibit potential for successful completion of course of study; and must be a resident of Illinois. The general scholarships require a student to be majoring in agriculture, agribusiness, or an ag-related field. The Harold Schmidt Memorial Forestry Scholarship requires a student to be enrolled in Forestry, Wood Science, Wildlife Biology, Botany, General Biology, or other related disciplines as listed on the application.

Scholarship applications have been mailed to all Carroll County high school guidance counselors, FFA Advisors, and are available at the Carroll County Farm Bureau office or our website at www.carrollcfb.org.

Completed applications must be returned to the Carroll County Farm Bureau by Wednesday, March 24, 2010. For questions or more information contact Chas at 244-3001 or by email at carrollcfb@grics.net.

Pretty in Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Program

Do you know that in 2009 it was estimated there would be192,370 new cases of breast cancer and 40,170 deaths due to breast cancer? Would you like to increase your awareness of breast cancer? The Carroll County Farm Bureau is teaming up with the Carroll County Health Department and Well Woman of Freeport for a fun filled educational evening of Pink on Thursday, March 4 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Join us as we sample healthier meals and learn basic breast health education. Sarah Todd, Nutrition and Wellness Educator with the University of Illinois Extension, will give a healthier cooking demonstration. A Hat’s off to Health skit will be preformed by Well Woman out of Freeport along with the basic breast health education. The Carroll County Health Department will be giving a CPR Refresher.

There is no cost to attend this program and you will come home with a goodie bag full of useful information. So grab your mom, grandmother, daughter, and friends! Get dolled up in your favorite pink attire and join us for a fun-filled educational evening of Pink! Please reserve your spot by calling the Carroll County Farm Bureau at 815-244-3001 or emailing us at carrollcfb@grics.net by Friday, February 19.

In the Service

Army National Guard Pvt. Joshua A. Updike has graduated from Basic Combat Training at Fort Knox, Ky.

During the nine-week training period, the trainee received instruction in drill and ceremony, weapons, rifle marksmanship and bayonet training, chemical warfare, field training and tactical exercises, armed and unarmed combat, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, and Army history, traditions, and core values.

Updike is the son of Mark A. Updike of Portland Ave., Savanna, Ill., and Tina M. Updike of Locust St., Lanark, Ill.

Free Breakfast for those in Need

On Saturday, Jan. 30, from 8 to 10 am, the Missions and Outreach group of the First Brethren Church of Lanark will host the first free breakfast for those in need, for the community and their families.

“With the conditions of the economy these days, there are many families who will appreciate a complimentary meal,” explained Lamoille Poffenberger, committee chairman. “Our membership in the Sauk Valley Food Bank provides access to an efficient source of foodstuffs. We have chosen to have it available as a complimentary meal. It made sense to do this as an important addition to our several activities.”

“We are pleased to host this activity and see it as an ongoing event that we can provide to help the less fortunate,” added Clair Lathrop, Pastor of the First Brethren Church. “It is a neat fit to our community service orientation activities and we want people to understand that the public is invited; attendance is not limited to members of the congregation.”

The church is located at the corner of Locust and Rochester Sts., with entry thru the doors on the west side (Rochester). Breakfast will be served downstairs in the fellowship hall. For details, call Pastor Clair Lathrop at 815-493-2390.