In Memorium

Students at Eastland Middle School in Shannon planted an evergreen tree in the school courtyard in memory of former Math and Computer teacher, Linda Ludwig. Mrs. Ludwig taught in the Lanark and Eastland Schools for 35 years and passed away in June.

The students decorated it with Hershey Kiss ornaments, as Mrs. Ludwig always had a container of “kisses” to give out to students. At Christmas time, white lights will be added to the tree.

Lee Reese, Dr. Dave Reese, and Sherry Flack organized the planting thru the Bugs and Buds club that they voluntarily run at the middle school.

(Top photo) Mrs. Ludwig’s 7th grade volleyball team from 2009-10 season. Left to right: Marie Polizzi, Kiley Carroll, Alex Johnson, Aly Maltry, Annie Forster, Lexis Macomber, and Hanna Miner.

(At right) Front to back: Bradly Johnson, Gage Boeke, Alexis Smith, Emily Denekas, Bobbi Polzzi, Austin Poffenberger, and Alexis Asbell plant the evergreen to honor Mrs. Ludwig. (Courtesy of EMS)

 

 

 

 

Men Of Sheperd Hills Donate

The Men of the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church recently made a donation of $1000 to Volunteer Hospice of Northwest Illinois, Stockton, Illinois. The donation was possible from proceeds of their annual Steak Fry Dinner held in August. Pictured above (left-right) are Paul Velsor, Joann Robinson - Executive Director, Roy Hunter, Gloria Benson- Assistant Director and Ray Israel. The funds that were earned from the Steak Fry dinner were matched with funds from Thrivent for Lutherans. For more information on Volunteer Hospice of Northwest Illinois, Stockton, Illinois and the services that they offer at no charge please call 815-947-3260 or email them at volhospice@mediacombb.net

Honor Bus Riders Return from Washington, D.C.

By Stephanie Vavra

theCity1.com

Thirty area veterans visited the Nation’s capital and the military monuments erected to honor their service. Twenty-seven served in the Korean War, and three, including the driver, served in Viet Nam. They and loved ones covered the 1400 miles in three days. Four of the 27 Korean War veterans are pictured with Wiersema Charter Service, Inc. bus driver Larry Wiersema, upon their 9:00 p.m. return to Morrison, IL, Friday, October 22, 2010.

Shown left-to-right are Francis Venhuizen and Bud Mohr, Morrison; Doug Chamberlain, Lyndon, IL; Melvin Becker, Prophetstown, IL; Wiersema.

The adventure began at 5:00 a.m., Wednesday, October 20, with a 712-mile drive to Breezewood, PA. The next morning, passengers were still 125 miles outside of Washington, D.C., but were able to visit Arlington National Cemetery on Thursday and return to Breezewood. Friday’s long trip home took the entire day.

Trip organizer was Gary Farral, of Erie, IL.

On November 9, Wiersema Charter Service, Inc. will donate transportation to and from the Quad City International Airport, Moline, IL, for an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.

West Carroll FFA Attends National FFA Convention

West Carroll FFA members who attended the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, IN October 20-23. (L to R) Marcus Fitzpatrick, Ieshia Larson, Salina Baltierra, Jacob Ritchie, Clare O’Connor, Collin Wilkinson, Chloe Carson and Janelle Dykstra.

West Carroll FFA members Salina Baltierra, Ieshia Larson, Jacob Ritchie, Janelle Dykstra, Chloe Carson, Clare O’Connor, Marcus Fitzpatrick and Collin Wilkinson recently attended the 83rd National FFA Convention held this year from October 20 to October 23 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The theme of the convention was “Infinite Potential.”

Members attended the FFA National Agricultural Career Show with over 1300 agriculture-related booths. The opening session of the National FFA Convention was highlighted by keynote and motivational speaker Josh Shipp. The evening was booked with a concert by Lady Antebellum in Lucas Oil Stadium.

West Carroll formally received its 2-star National rating on stage for its FFA Program of Activities for 2009-2010. US Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan addressed the convention, and Alex Henry, National FFA Eastern Region Vice President, gave her retiring address titled “More than Emotion.”

FFA members also attended various student leadership workshops. They also attended the 6th general session of the convention which announced National FFA Proficiency Award winners.

Coming events for the West Carroll FFA would be the Section #1 FFA Crops Judging CDE scheduled for November 3 at Eastland High School starting at 5:30 pm and the West Carroll FFA Chapter Annual Blood Drive on Friday, November 5, from 8 am – 3 pm in the high school gym. Walk-ins are encouraged to come and donate.

Thumbs Up Winners

Chadwick – Milledgeville Elementary Thumbs Up Winners for Week 6 are as follows:

Back Row (L to R)Carol Yingling, Ryan Kendall, Tessa Brubaker, Connor Eubanks

Front Row (L to R) Max Last, Eric Ebersole, Salome Pasch, Ella Covey

Emmanuel Reformed Hosts “The Martins” in Concert!

Continuing with its 2010 concert series, Emmanuel Reformed Church, 202 E Morris Street, Morrison, IL is thrilled to welcome Southern Gospel music’s favorite sibling groups, “The Martins,” in concert on Friday, October 29 at 7:00 p.m. in the sanctuary of the church. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. No tickets are needed; a free-will love offering will be received. A spaghetti supper will be served from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. sponsored by the High School Youth Ministry, offered for a donation.

 

 

 

End of the Season for our Community Garden

Everyone that took part in our Community Garden this first year would have to agree it was a great success!  It was fun and lots of work, and for many, the first time of actually planting a seed and having it grow. For many, it was the first time of actually planting something that grew into something you could eat. Gardens are a wonderful place for children to learn about the joy of working in the soil and watching plants grow. Gardening is a great hobby for anyone of any age.

 The Garden still has much unpicked produce as tomatoes, cucumbers, varieties of squash and peppers. It was and is a beautiful garden and the many individuals that planted this garden this first season are to be congratulated for taking advantage of this wonderful means of enjoying nature and sharing it with family or as an individual. Next year’s planting season is not all that far away and a few reminders in preparing the Garden for next year’s garden.

 All remaining plants and root systems need to be pulled and removed from the garden plot. Please refer to the Community Garden contract that was issued at the time of applying for the garden plot. It is necessary to clean-off the plot of all refuse to prevent volunteer plants for next year’s planting, but also, due to the size and quantity of weeds and plants the roto-tiller method of preparing the soil is not adequate to plow and chop the materials left in the garden.  All refuse removed from the plots can be placed along the edge of the garden.  This refuse will be used to make compost that will be placed on the Garden next spring to enrich the soil.

 1.-Gardeners that have sweet corn do need to remove the corn stalks as they are not easily plowed-up effectively with a roto-tiller. This is also necessary for any vining plant due to the fibrous quality of most vines as cucumbers, squash, and pumpkins.

  2.-Tomato plants need to be totally removed including the stems, leaves, and fruit to prevent “volunteer tomato plants” and disease that may be spread to the following year’s plants. (Next season, plant tomatoes in another section of your garden to prevent any reoccurring blights, fungus, etc;)

3.-All remaining produce needs to be removed as it will produce “volunteer plants” next season. The idea of leaving it for wildlife to eat does not justify the nuisance effect for next year’s gardener. 

 It is harvest time and time to prepare the garden for next season. Any questions concerning the care of the garden and removal of materials and refuse from the garden contact Chad Haskell at Morrison Community Hosptial at 815-772-5510. See you next spring!

Big Meadows Celebrates Homecoming Week.

Pictured Big Meadows King And Queen Shirlene Hilgenberg and PJ Broderick

Residents and staff of Big Meadows Nursing Home were recently in the Homecoming Spirit. Big Meadows staff and residents were encouraged to follow the same dress up days as West Carroll did during Homecoming. Jungle themed games were played throughout the week keeping with the homecoming theme of Welcome to the Jungle.

On October 13th representatives from football, volleyball, golf, color guard, cheerleading, and band attended the monthly Community Coffee. Each student gave a pep talk and the cheerleaders lead a cheer.

On this day the King and Queen Crowning was also held with PJ Broderick being elected King and Shirlene Hilgenberg the Queen. Other nominees were Fred Smith, Clifford Nordwell, Ralph Higgins, Virginia Piccolotti, Louise Herron, and Betty Flammang. On October 14 residents were entertained by the High School Marching Band who marched up and performed in the parking lot. Big Meadows King and Queen took part in the Homecoming parade as did other residents who rode in the Big Meadows van during the parade.

All the residents had a good time and planning for involvement with next year’s homecoming has already begun.

Tax Aid Available at the Carroll County Senior Center

The Carroll County Tax-Aide Management Team attended a 2-day Illinois State training seminar at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles on Oct.18-19.

Materials for the upcoming tax season were ordered and ideas were exchanged among the many Volunteers.

Anne Haliotis of Savanna, Technology Coordinator, Vicky Trager of Thomson, Training Coordinator, and Mary Ann Hutchison of Mount Carroll, District Coordinator, participated in training sessions with Harry Fitzsimmons, IRS-Chicago SPEC Office, and Toni Girten, State Coordinator, IL-1.

For information about the Tax-Aide program, go to www.aarp.org or www.irs.gov or contact the Carroll County Senior Services Center at 815-244-1800.

November 2010 Trivia Night

One hundred new questions –10 questions from 10 categories – are ready to test the knowledge of teams at the Carroll County Haiti Mission Project’s eighth Trivia Night fund raiser on Saturday, Nov. 6 at Buck’s Barn, north of Thomson. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top two teams.

Registration fee is $10 per person. Teams of 4-6 can register online at http://cchmp-022008a.tripod.com/trivia.html, by sending their team information to libberton@grics.net, by calling Larry Libberton at 815.244.1357 or on the night of the event. It is recommended that teams register prior to the event. Libberton said that teams that register online will receive one free trivia answer with their registration confirmation.

Doors will open at 6 p.m., with the competition set to begin at 7 p.m. Competition will consist of 10 rounds of 10 questions from 10 categories.

“Not only will this be a fun event for everyone, but it will help our mission group raise money to continue our work in Haiti,” said Libberton. “Because of January’s earthquake in Haiti, our help is needed there even more.”

All of the money raised during the event will help fund the group’s mission work in Haiti. Formed in 2001, CCHMP teams travel to Haiti three times each year. The group’s projects include continued work on its medical/dental clinic, support of several schools, sponsorship of more than 120 schoolchildren and vaccination and dental health programs.

For more information on CCHMP, visit the group’s website: http://cchmp.tripod.com.

Good Samaritan Society-Mount Carroll Sponsors ‘Fill the Baby Basket Drive’

The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society has awarded Good Samaritan Society-Mount Carroll with a $5,000 social accountability grant to benefit the Pitter Patter Pantry. This grant includes funding for diapers, cribs, high chairs, strollers, parenting book, blankets, bibs, and home safety kits.

Pitter Patter Pantry is a not-for-profit organization located at the Land of Oz, 855 S. Mill Street, Mount Carroll. This all-volunteer program serves Carroll County families enrolled in the WIC program. Eligible families earn “Baby Bucks” by participating in approved family oriented activities and then can use these “Bucks” for items in the Pitter Patter Pantry. The mission of the Pitter Patter Pantry is to help the children of Carroll County have a warm, secure and healthy start.

Good Samaritan Society–Mount Carroll is inviting community members to help stock the shelves at Pitter Patter Pantry by helping to “Fill the Baby Basket Drive.” Donations may be dropped off through November 20th at the center located at 1006 N. Lowden Road, Mount Carroll.

Donations of the following infant care necessities are needed: baby shampoo, diaper rash cream, brush & comb sets, bottles & nipples, baby wipes, baby bath, baby lotion, rattles, sippy cups, and books for babies-5 years.

For more information, please contact Anna Gray, resource development coordinator, at 815-244-7715.

Forreston Friskies 4-H Club Cloverbuds

The Forreston Friskies 4-H Club Cloverbud Started their year off with Get Real, Get Active Theme on Monday, October 18th at the Forreston Library Community Room. Alexis Kuelling was the Mighty Cloverbud, she led us in Pledges and in roll call.

The Cloverbud started out with a snack of popcorn and juice. They then got active with the games ’What is Physical Fitness?’, Aerobic Fun: Our Resting and Racing Pulse’, ’Let’s Do the Freeze’. We then got real with a talk about fire safety. ‘ What would you do if….’ and ‘Fire Safety with Simon: True or False?’.

Our next meeting is Monday, November 8th after school at the Forreston Public Library Community Room, it is going to be ’Kids in the Kitchen Project Meeting’. This is for kids ages 5-8 by Sept. 1st of the school year. Older 4-H members (ages 8-18) next meeting is on November 1st , 6:00-8:00 pm at the Forreston Township Building. If anyone would like to check us out and see what 4-H is about, call Vickie Smith at 815-938-2711 or more information about clubs near you call Ogle County Extension Office at 815-732-2191.

2011 CSP Applications Due In January

Last week NRCS announced nationally the cut-off date for accepting the next batch of applications for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) will be extended to January 7, 2011. This extension gives all producers more time to complete applications and take part in the program. Illinois State Conservationist Bill Gradle is pleased to allow more time for Illinois farmers to learn more about the program and complete the application process. “With harvest activities and so much work left to do on the farm, this new deadline allows an opportunity for producers to learn about the benefits of this great conservation program,” Gradle said.

NRCS encourages farmers in Illinois to apply for the CSP, which promotes conservation activities on the land. CSP is a voluntary Farm Bill program designed to maintain existing conservation measures and establish more conservation choices on Illinois operations as well.

“Even though farmers are busy right now, I’d encourage interested operators to apply or at least call their local office and set up an appointment to talk with their NRCS District Conservationist for all the details,” Gradle said.

A self-screening checklist for CSP is available at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/new_csp/csp.html to learn more about the program and determine if they qualify.

Innovations in Women’s Health is Free Event

FHN Ob/Gyn Nicolai E. Hinds, MD, will talk about the latest developments in women’s health at a special FHN Speaker Series event in Freeport.

“Women’s healthcare treatments are evolving and improving constantly,” Hinds said. “We work with our patients through every stage of their lives to help them stay healthy, plan and raise a family and enjoy life to the fullest.”

Dr. Hinds will address topics ranging from in-office tubal ligation to new family planning methods, a procedure to lighten heavy periods and the pros and cons of vaccinating young women against HPV. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 25 at FHN Family Healthcare Center – Burchard Hills, 1010 W. Fairway Drive in Freeport. Admission is free but registration is required; visit www.fhn.org/womenshealth or call 1-877-6000-FHN (1-877-600-0346) ext. 901 to register or for more information.

Area Schools Selected for Operation Teen Safe Driving Program

Participating Schools Will Receive Grant to Create/Implement Student-Led Program

Illinois Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig, state and corporate partners today announced the high schools selected to participate in the 2010-2011 Operation Teen Safe Driving (OTSD) program. This statewide safety initiative is designed for teens to educate their peers about driving responsibly in an effort to decrease the number of fatalities and injuries involving teenagers in Illinois.

In total, 105 high schools statewide were selected to participate in this innovative program, which utilizes Ford Motor Company Fund’s nationally recognized Ford Driving Skills for Life program. The selected high schools are equally distributed in seven regions across the state.

“We congratulate the selected schools for their dedication and commitment to traffic safety and look forward to the innovative campaigns students will create in the 2010-2011 OTSD program,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig. “We commend the efforts and hard work of these students and have full confidence they will continue to positively inspire their peers to make better driving decisions.”

All of the selected schools will receive $2000 in grant funding from IDOT’s Division of Traffic Safety and The Allstate Foundation. The selected schools develop and implement a peer-to-peer based program and present a report at the conclusion of the program. Winners are selected from each region and each winning school will receive prize money to host a post-prom party.

Area schools selected are as follows:

Pearl City High School
Chadwick/Milledgeville High Schools Dist. 399

West Carroll CUSD #314 High School

Disaster Assistance Still Available

The deadline to apply for federal disaster assistance for damages resulting from the severe storms and flooding July 19-Aug. 7 is now only four weeks away-Nov. 17.

Here are important points to remember:

1. Disaster assistance is available to renters as well as homeowners.

2. Assistance is not limited to people living in large cities-all residents of the seven counties designated for individual assistance who suffered storm damage between July 19 and Aug. 7 may be eligible for help.

3. People must apply to FEMA to receive federal disaster assistance, even if they reported storm damage to local or county officials immediately after the storm.

4. FEMA can help persons with limited English proficiency apply for assistance through its multilingual operators at 1 800-621-FEMA (3362).

5. Furnaces in homes affected by the flooding should be checked for proper operation before the onset of cold weather; federal assistance for cleaning and testing of flood-damaged furnaces in the disaster-declared counties may be available.

6. FEMA assistance grants are not taxable as income.

7. FEMA grants do not affect Social Security benefits or eligibility for welfare programs such as food stamps.

8. FEMA may be able to reimburse people for some disaster-related expenses, such as uninsured medical or dental losses, but receipts are necessary to document those expenses.

9. While FEMA assistance is meant to get people back on their feet after a disaster, U.S. Small Business Administration disaster recovery loans may be available to fund extensive repairs needed to return a home to its original condition before the disaster and pay for proven methods of hazard mitigation to reduce future storm or flood damage.

10. The deadline to apply for assistance is Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010; apply online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or call 1 800-621-FEMA, (TTY) 1 800-462-7585.

Disaster Assistance For Farmers and Ranchers

Farmers and ranchers in northwest Illinois may be helped by the many disaster assistance programs for people affected by summer flooding.

Assistance could come in the form of grants or low-interest loans. Here is a list of some of those programs:

U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA):

Farmers and ranchers could be eligible for Individual Assistance (IA) for their primary residence; IA provides grants for essential home repairs, temporary disaster housing, and other serious, disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other assistance programs.

Owners of flood-damaged residential wells and septic systems may receive money to pump a septic tank, perform required repairs or even replace them if the damage is permanent. Homeowners with private wells that were damaged may be eligible for assistance if the well is their sole source of water.

Grants could be available for repair or replacement of privately-owned roads or bridges that provide the sole access to a primary residence.

Register online anytime at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or call 800-621-FEMA (3362),

TTY 800-462-7585 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA):

Farmers and ranchers could be eligible for low-interest disaster loans for repair of their primary residence (even if it is located on a farm or ranch) and, in some cases, for the privately-owned road leading to it.

Economic Injury Disaster Loans may be available to help small agricultural cooperatives and most private, nonprofit organizations to meet financial obligations that cannot be met due to the disaster.

Low-cost disaster loans could be available for non-agricultural businesses operated on a farm or ranch, as long as the business financial records are separate from the agricultural enterprise.

For more information, go online at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance or call 1-800-659-2955 (TTY 1-800-877-8339).

CC 4-H Achievement Program

Come one, come all to the Carroll County 4-H Achievement Program to honor our county 4-H’ers for their hard work and accomplishments for the past 4-H year.

The program is scheduled for Sunday, November 7th, at 2:00 p.m., at Naaman Diehl Auditorium in Mt. Carroll. We will be giving out many awards for individual and club accomplishments, first year members, county award winners, volunteer recognition, plus much more. Every 4-H family is encouraged to attend.

Following the awards program ice cream sundaes will be served. For more information contact Leanne Rahn at the Carroll County University of Illinois Extension at 815-244-9444 or e-mail at lrahn@illinois.edu.

Winners of 4-H Window Display Contest Announced

During National 4-H Week, October 3-9, 4-H clubs in each community in Carroll County participated in the window display contest. Winners of the contest are:

- 1 dimensional - Best 4-H Message, Clever Clovers of Lanark, their display was located at Platinum Performance in Lanark;

- Most original, Lanark Lightning Bugs, their display was located at the Exchange State Bank in Lanark, and Carroll Co. Kids, their display was located at Shaw’s Food Pride in Mt. Carroll;

- Best Use of Selected Theme, Savanna Smiles, their display was located at Manny’s Pizza in Savanna;

- Best New Membership Message, Thomson Sandburrs, with their display located at the York Township Library in Thomson.

In the three dimensional division: Best Selected Theme, Chadwick Achievers, their display was located at the THE National Bank & Hang Up;

- Best New Membership Message, Milledgeville Hotshots, Milledgeville State Bank.

Congratulations to all the clubs. Thank you to the businesses for letting the 4-H clubs put up their displays.

Carroll Co. 4-H Federation To Meet

The next meeting of the Carroll County 4-H Federation will be Saturday, November 2oth at the Chadwick Jr. High from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon. All 4-H’ers and their families are invited to join Federation for a morning of fun. Following the business meeting, there will be games and activities for everyone. Clubs to bring refreshments are the Chadwick Achievers and the Country Clovers.

For more information on the program or 4-H Federation, contact the Carroll County University of Illinois Extension Office at 815-244-9444 or e-mail lrahn@illinois.edu.

Carroll Co. 4-H’ers Win Honors at Quarter Horse Congress

4-H’ers Mary Francque, daughter of Josh & Darcy Francque, Randi Marie Kleckler, daughter of Randy & Opal Kleckler, and Brittney Nelson, daughter of Todd & Brenda Nelson, were chosen to represent the State of Illinois in the Sr. Horse Bowl Division at the Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, Ohio, on October 4-5. All of these participants are members of the Milledgeville Hotshots 4-H club. Rounding out the team were two 4-H’ers from Ogle Co.

After winning the State Title in the Sr. Horse Bowl Division, the Carroll & Ogle Co. team went on to receive Reserve Champion at Quarter Horse Congress, completing against 18 other teams from surrounding states. These 4-H’ers will now advance on to compete at the 4-H Eastern Nationals held in conjunction with the International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Kentucky, in November representing Carroll & Ogle counties and the state of Illinois.

Carroll County 4-H Horse Project Potluck

A potluck banquet is planned for all Carroll County 4-H Horse Project Members and their families. It will be Sunday, November 14th, at 1:00 p.m. at Naaman Diehl Auditorium in Mt. Carroll. All current and past 4-H horse project families are invited.

Speaker for the banquet will be former 4-H’er Evan Hollewell, on his horse career accomplishments. The Horse Committee will be giving out awards and honors and celebrating the growth in the horse project area.

All families are reminded to bring 2 dishes to pass and their own table service, drink will be furnished. For more information, contact Leanne Rahn at Carroll County University of Illinois Extension Office, 815-244-9444 or e-mail at lrahn@illinois.edu.

4-H Officer Training Offered

All Carroll & JoDaviess County 4-H’ers are invited to attend an officer’s training scheduled for Monday, November 15, at Naaman Diehl Auditorium in Mt. Carroll from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Uncover the mysteries of your officer position. Everyone that attends will receive information that will help them carry out their duties as a 4-H Officer.

Please contact the Carroll Co. Extension Office if you will be attending by calling 815-244-9444 or emailing to lrahn@illinois.edu.

Pre-registration is needed by November 4.

Free Web Conference about Home Care for Alzheimer’s Sufferers

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, nearly 11 million Americans are providing care for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia without assistance. The non-profit National Private Duty Association (NPDA), along with the Illinois Chapter, has announced that it will host a family caregiver education web conference entitled Caring for Someone with Alzheimer’s at Home on Nov. 16, 2010, at 8 p.m. EST. The free live and interactive web conference will provide families with advice on steps to help them provide the necessary care.

“November is recognized as National Family Caregivers Month,” said Sheila McMackin, president of NPDA. “NPDA is hosting this valuable event to raise awareness of family caregiver issues during this important month. Our goal is to provide education to families dealing with the special needs of Alzheimer’s patients. Keeping someone with Alzheimer’s at home can be challenging, but very positive. Our experts will provide insight and education to support caregivers facing this situation.”

The web conference topics will address issues relating to patient assessment, care plans, caregiver education, safety, and other care issues related specifically to Alzheimer’s patients and the disease itself.

Pre-registration for the event is required. Sign up today by visiting the registration link at www.privatedutyhomecare.org.

The NPDA is the first and only association in the country dedicated exclusively to private pay home care providers. The NPDA, a non-profit organization, currently represents more than 1,100 home care agencies in forty-four states and Puerto Rico.

City of Lanark Appreciates Citizen Survey Response

In early 2010, the City of Lanark mailed a community-wide income survey to its residents. The purpose of the survey was to determine if the City qualified for certain grant programs offered by the Illinois Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO).

“The City received a very good response from our residents,” said Mayor Ed Stern. “Thanks to your assistance and cooperation, the City qualifies and is eligible to apply for all Community Development Assistance Program grants offered by DCEO. The survey results should be good for a number of years, and the City plans to take advantage of the many funding opportunities available to us.”

Mississippi Man to Play at Savanna Moose

The Savanna Moose Lodge will host its annual Halloween “Boo Bash” on Saturday, October 30, 2010. The evening will feature food and music with NO cover charge. The Transylvanian Chef will serve ghoul-ash, meatballs, salads, relishes and cake for purchase. His kitchen will be open from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m.

Larry Michael Bettcher, aka The Mississippi Man, will keep the dance floor hopping from 8 to 12 with tunes from your favorite artists, as well as his own original music. With his roots in country music, Larry plays the guitar, banjo, and fiddle. Because his talents carry through the styles of country, blues, polka, swing, reggae, blue grass, and rock, he is an all around crowd pleaser.

Larry has produced five CDs; the latest entitled “Just Walk With Me.” His easy style and honest, in-depth look at life make his music an asset to every music collection. Larry’s goal is to make a show as memorable as possible. If everyone is having a great time, then the party is on!

Local Museums Get Capital Grants

Dillon Home Museum of Sterling and Stephenson County Historic Society will both receive grants from the state. The Public Museum Capital Grants Program is designed to assist museums in expanding and upgrading facilities and creating new exhibits to enhance the ability of public museums to meet their missions.

The Dillon Home Museum will receive $68,700 for ADA upgrades, bringing the museum and parking lot into ADA compliance.

The Stephenson County Historic Society will recieve $70,000 for the complete renovation of of an early 20th century one-room school house by preserving and stabilizing the building and making it usable year round as an education venue.

A total of $15 million in funding from the state’s “Illinois Jobs Now!” capital program was made available for public museum capital grants for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010. Applications for this round of grants were accepted last spring. The maximum grant award for qualifying projects for FY2010 is $800,000. The level of local matching funds required for each project is based on the level of attendance at the applicant museum during the preceding calendar year.

Since the program is funded by capital development bonds, only those museums operated by or located upon land owned by a unit of local government are eligible. The program is administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Can Naturally Raised Beef Find Its Place in the Industry?

As consumer demand for naturally raised beef continues to increase, researchers at the University of Illinois have discovered that naturally raised beef can be produced effectively for this niche market as long as a substantial premium is offered to cover additional production and transportation costs.

Naturally raised beef is produced without hormones or antibiotics, whereas traditional systems take advantage of technologies the industry offers such as ionophores to improve feed efficiency and implants to improve gain and efficiency.

“Producers are asking many questions about the value of natural programs and the premiums needed to remain profitable,” said Dan Faulkner, U of I professor of animal sciences. “Our goal was to find out the costs involved in natural systems focused on producing environmentally friendly, locally raised beef.”

Researchers studied the effects of finishing management (confinement versus pasture) and production system (traditional versus naturally raised) on performance, carcass and economic characteristics in a group of early weaned Angus x Simmental steer calves at the Dixon Springs Agricultural Center in Simpson, Ill. The calves were fed on fescue pastures or confinement feedlots.

The study revealed that naturally raised steers can be produced effectively in either confinement or with a pasture finishing system, but they require a substantial premium of $110 with today’s feed prices to justify the costs and returns.

Faulkner said that pasture finishing is $35 more profitable than confinement feeding using current feed prices, making it an attractive option for producers interested in raising locker beef for local markets with either natural or traditional production systems.

“I think this information will benefit smaller operations that would like to pursue a naturally raised market in a pasture finishing system, but may not be able to use a traditional confinement system,” Faulkner said.

In addition, naturally raised beef in either pasture or confinement settings resulted in beef with higher quality grades.

“There continues to be more interest in naturally raised beef because organic beef standards are so high,” Faulkner added. “We need to increase consumer education efforts because naturally raised beef is actually what many consumers are looking for these days.”

Both organic and naturally raised steers do not receive hormones or antibiotics. The major difference between naturally raised beef and organic beef is that organic beef comes from cattle that are raised on organic pastures that have not been treated with chemicals or chemical fertilizers. In addition, these cattle can only be fed organic certified feeds.

Faulkner also differentiated pasture-fed beef from grass-fed beef.

“Grass-fed cattle cannot be fed any concentrates; they can only receive roughage,” Faulkner said. “And that roughage must meet strict guidelines set by the USDA. On the other hand, pasture-fed cattle have access to a finishing diet and pasture.”

Pasture-fed cattle have carcass and meat characteristics that are the same as traditionally finished cattle, he added. The meat characteristics of grass-fed cattle are quite different than the average consumer is used to eating.

Faulkner said naturally raised beef, regardless of finishing management, is a niche market that has great potential if consumers will pay premium prices.

“As producers, we need to be responsive to consumer demand,” he said. “Currently, naturally raised beef is a very small percentage of the market. But it is a market that is growing at several hundred percent a year, and has been identified as a niche that consumers are very interested in.”

This research, “Confinement vs. Pasture and Traditional vs. Naturally Raised Finishing Influences Performance, Carcass, and Economic Characteristics of Early-Weaned Steers,” was published in The Professional Animal Scientist. Researchers include Faulkner, Dan Shike and Frank Ireland, all of the U of I.

Cattle Industry: Bright Long-term Outlook

The cattle industry is ready to set records for high prices this year and next, said Purdue University Extension economist Chris Hurt.

“Although this is positive news for finished cattle prices, calves and feeder cattle still face the price-depressing burden of high feed costs. In the longer run, current high feed prices will keep the industry in a liquidation phase, and smaller beef supplies in coming years will be positive for returns for years to come,” he said.

The cattle industry continues to adjust to high feed prices not only from the last three years, but also from the most recent increases in corn, distillers, and soybean meal costs. The longer-term adjustments continue to play out in the reduction of cow numbers, he said.

“The most recent surge in feed prices will likely keep producers from expanding until feed prices moderate. That will not be until the 2011 U.S. crops are assured, which is still at least 10 months away. This means cow numbers will not likely expand until 2012 and that beef supplies will not start to grow until 2014,” he said.

In the past six months, the cattle industry was also responding to feed price signals. Last spring, the early planting of corn and optimism regarding yields dropped the U.S. average price of corn below $3.50 per bushel. Cattle feeders responded quickly by adding more cattle to feedlots. In May and June, placements were up 20 percent from the same months in 2009, he said.

“For the more extended period from May through August, placements averaged 9 percent higher. The recent sharp increases in corn and other feed ingredient prices are likely to send this fall’s placements well below levels of a year ago when U.S. corn prices averaged $3.62 per bushel for the final quarter of 2009,” Hurt said.

Expanding trade opportunities are important to cattle markets this year. The USDA expects beef exports to expand by 18 percent this year, with imports falling by 5 percent. The impact of more exports and less imports represents nearly 500 million pounds of beef that will not be available in the U.S. compared to last year. That represents almost 2 percent of domestic production and enhances finished cattle prices by $2 to $3 per hundredweight, he said.

“It is increasingly encouraging that Asian markets are leading the export volume increases so far this year. Purchases from South Korea are up 130 percent from last year with Japanese purchases up 21 percent. China is back in the market as well with an increase of 50 percent in beef purchases,” he said.

Gaining back export markets after the first U.S. BSE cow was announced in late 2003 has been a long process, he noted.

“Even after this year’s large gain in export volume, annual exports will still be only 91 percent of 2003 export tonnage,” he said.

Smaller beef supplies will continue to support high finished cattle prices for the rest of 2010 and all of 2011. Per capita beef supplies in the U.S. will be down about 3 percent this year and an additional 1 to 2 percent in 2011, he said.

“Prices will be supported not only by reduced beef supplies but by strength in the world economy and some recovery in the U.S. economy, which will enhance demand. Recent high feed prices are expected to keep the hog industry from expanding and to cut into the previously expected 3 percent expansion in chicken production. Smaller supplies of competitive meats support beef prices,” he noted.

According to Hurt, Nebraska finished steer prices averaged $93.75 in the first three quarters this year. That compares with an annual price of only $83.25 in 2009 when recession deflated demand. Assuming the prices in the final quarter of 2010 are about $98, 2010 will have reached a new record price of $94.80, exceeding the previous record high of $92.27 in 2008.

That record price is expected to be broken next year with Nebraska finished steers averaging in the low $100s. Prices are expected to be in the low $100s during the first quarter and then reach yearly highs in the second quarter when they may average about $105, he said.

“Expect prices to drop 2 to 4 dollars per hundred in the summer quarter and then finish the final quarter of 2011 in the very low $100s. Price forecasts tend to have large errors so consider a range of at least 3 dollars higher or lower from these forecasts,” he said.

Some analysts miss the fact that higher feed prices eventually are reflected in higher meat prices. In the beef industry, feed prices which began to move higher late in 2006, are now reaching consumers as record-high beef prices. Consumers are in for many years of much higher retail beef costs, he noted.

“The retail price so far this year has averaged $4.37 per pound, exceeding the previous record of $4.29 for the same period in 2008. Early forecasts of retail prices in 2011 are $4.60 to $4.65 per pound, an increase of about 6 percent over the 2010 record price,” he said.

The lofty level for next year compares with an average retail beef price of $3.84 per pound for the five years from 2002 to 2006, before the period of much higher feed prices. To be fair, the added retail costs of beef is a combination of both higher farm-level values, mostly due to high feed costs and higher costs involved in marketing margins, he said.

Record finished cattle prices for 2011 and higher feed costs are tugging feeder cattle and calf prices in opposite directions. Stronger finished cattle prices push calf prices up while higher feed prices push them down. The winner of that battle will depend on the relative changes in finished cattle and feed prices, he said.

“Although cow-calf producers would have received much higher prices for calves without the recent increase in feed prices, they should hold on to their cow herds because record finished cattle prices and, hopefully, cheaper feed in the fall of 2011 should result in much higher calf prices, perhaps for multiple years to come,” he said.

Turtle Studies Connect to Human Health

Did you know that frogs and turtles can help scientists detect whether an environment is healthy? Reptiles and amphibians serve as early indicators of environmental problems, and veterinarians who study these wild animals are playing an increasing role in protecting human health.

During my summer break from veterinary school at the University of Illinois in Urbana, I studied Eastern box turtles in Tennessee. I was part of a research group looking at whether environmental stress is making these turtles more susceptible to disease. You can read about my experiences in a blog I kept at HYPERLINK “http://carapacechronicles.wordpress.com/” http://carapacechronicles.wordpress.com/.

We were working to determine normal blood values in these turtles so that sick or susceptible populations can be recognized and effects of environmental toxins can be studied. For example, by measuring such things as phosphate and chloride levels in the blood of these turtles, it is possible to infer the health of the soil and water that surrounds them--and us. These chemicals are found in potent insecticides and can cause neurologic damage in both animals and people. In fact, the chemical toxins affecting these animals may also be contaminating our water supply.

These chemicals and the stress we place on wild animals by encroaching on their habitat have caused population declines in many species of frogs, turtles, and lizards. You may have seen pictures of a frog with an extra leg or a tail, or even found a frog like that yourself. Deformities like those are signs that an animal has been affected by its environment. Recently, scientists have begun publishing more and more health surveys of wild reptiles and amphibians in order to determine why there has been a rapid decline of these species in the wild. Many factors, including stress-induced immune-suppression, habitat destruction and fragmentation, and chemical agents, are believed to contribute to the wild declines.

By studying these populations, veterinarians and other wildlife biologists can play an important role in public health. They can collect data to determine the cause of these declines and decide whether action should be taken to protect the affected species. Some of these problems also have human health implications. The idea that information from species such as reptiles and amphibians relates to overall human and environmental health is part of the “one medicine, one health” concept.

I learned a lot about turtles during my summer research project, and I hope you’ve learned something about how wild animal health status connects to human and overall environmental health status and how veterinarians are working to monitor and improve all these facets of health.

If you have questions about the role of veterinarians in protecting human and environmental health, ask your local veterinarian.

1st Farm Credit Services Named Employer of the Year

1st Farm Credit Services, Illinois’ largest agricultural lender, was named the Employer of the Year by AAIMEA.

1st Farm Credit Services was recognized for its dedication to having open communication, programs for employee development, a positive culture and a work/life balance for team members. The organization was honored in the mid-sized company category.

“Our team is our greatest asset and we need to continually invest in them to allow them to be the best at what they do,” said Gary J. Ash, president/CEO. “Our team’s passion for serving our client owners is what makes 1st Farm Credit Services a great place to work.”

AAIMEA is one of nation’s largest employers associations, and has worked with 1st Farm Credit Services to develop and implement training and development programs.

With corporate headquarters in Normal, 1st Farm Credit Services has about 245 team members, who serve more than 10,000 Illinois farmers and agribusinesses.

“It’s a honor to have our association and team members recognized for our dedication to education, communication with each other and positive culture,” said John Baylor, chairman of the 1st Farm Credit Services Board of Directors. “Our team members have a great relationship with our client-owners, and that makes a difference for Illinois agriculture.”

The cooperative serves 42 counties in the northern half of Illinois through branch offices in: Aledo, Bourbonnais, Edwards, Freeport, Geneseo, Macomb, Monmouth, Morton, Naperville, Normal, Oregon, Ottawa, Princeton, Pontiac, Quincy, Rock Falls and Sycamore.

Cutline: Gary J. Ash (center), president/CEO, of 1st Farm Credit Services accepts the Employer of the Year Award from AAIMEA, with members of the 1st Farm Credit Services Board of Directors, Executive Leadership Team and other team members.

Register Now for December ACT® Test

Registration is now open for the December 11, 2010 ACT achievement test. Students who wish to take the college admission and placement exam must register before November 5, 2010.

The ACT is a curriculum-based achievement exam. It tests what students have actually learned in school, not their aptitude for learning. The ACT also measures what students need to know to be ready for first year credit-bearing college courses based on ACT College Readiness Standards™. Every student’s results can be tied directly to these consistent standards.

The cost for the ACT test without writing is $33. When combined with the optional ACT Writing Test, the total cost is $48. Students who qualify may apply for a fee waiver through their high school counselor.

The ACT website, www.actstudent.org, has helpful information, free sample items, and options to order inexpensive test prep materials to assist test takers get ready for the exam. However, the best preparation is to take rigorous core courses in school, study hard, and learn the academic skills needed in college.

Most students register online at www.actstudent.org. Students may also pick up registration forms from their high school counseling offices. Registration is available until November 19, 2010 for an extra $21 fee.

A Tribute to Margaret Allison

Please join the 4-C Board of Directors and Staff to wish Margaret Allison, Associate Director of 4-C, well and to celebrate her 32 years of service to children, families and child care professionals as she retires from 4-C. To honor Margaret, 4-C is sponsoring an Open House at the DeKalb Park District Terrace Room on Thursday, November 4, 2010 from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. There will be a short program at 6:30 p.m.

Please come and help us thank Margaret for her unwavering commitment to children, families and child care professionals and for the impact she has had on the early care & education system in the communities served by 4-C as well as throughout the State of Illinois, and beyond.

An RSVP is appreciated but not required. Contact Julie at 815.758.8149 (ext. 290) or juliea@four-c.org. Of course children are welcome.

Master Gardener Volunteer Training Offered

University of Illinois Extension will offer Master Gardener training in Freeport and Oregon beginning this January. Volunteer Master Gardeners are a vital link in getting horticulture information to the public. They provide answers to a variety of home gardening questions and volunteer their services for community beautification plans, Junior Master Gardener program, gardening workshops and numerous other projects.

Master Gardener Trainees receive over 60 hours of in-depth training from University of Illinois educators and specialists. The classes contain unbiased, research-based practical information. Basic botany, vegetables, fruits, insects, diseases, soils, turfgrass and ornamentals such as trees and flowers are a sampling of the topics taught. Master Gardeners are ordinary people with two special qualities – a love of gardening and nature, and the desire to share that knowledge with others.

Applicants must fill out the application, sign the volunteer agreement form, submit a fee for training manuals and return all of this to the Extension office by early December. An internet training option is also available for those unable to attend in person. Classes are offered one day a week for 12 weeks. Upon completion of the course, the intern is expected to volunteer 60 hours of service, mostly during week days, over a one or two year period.

“Helping others learn to grow” is the mission of the program. Anyone interested in learning more about the program and the specifics of the 2011 training schedule should contact the University of Illinois Extension Office in Mt. Carroll at 815-244-9444 or in Elizabeth at 815-858-2273.

Illinois Water Supply Issues to be Discussed During U. of I. Extension Teleconference

University of Illinois specialists in the state’s water supplies and law will present the program Water Quantity and Law on November 4 during two statewide teleconferences, sponsored by University of Illinois Extension.

The programs will be offered at 1:30 pm. Interested persons should contact the Carroll County Extension office in Mt. Carroll at 815-244-9444 or the Jo Daviess County Extension in Elizabeth at 815-858-2273. The registration deadline is October 28 and there is a $5 registration fee.

Speakers will include H. Allen Wehrmann, Head of Center for Groundwater Science at the Illinois State Water Survey Institute of Natural Resource Sustainability located at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He will address issues related to the water supplies in Illinois, their origin and use, and recent regional studies by ISWS regarding water supplies in central and northeastern Illinois.

The Illinois State Water Survey has been a leader in the study of water resources for more than a century. The research and service programs provide citizens, industries, and government agencies at all levels with timely, science-based information and analysis necessary to help manage water resources wisely for a sustainable ecosystem.

Also on the program will be Don Uchtmann, Professor Emeritus, U. of I. College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in Urbana. He has served as a agricultural law professor and Extension specialist. He is recognized as a leading expert in agricultural drainage law, with research as well in the evolving law of biotechnology, issues in water and natural resources law, legal issues in grain marketing, and agricultural taxation and law.