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Jo-Carroll Energy opens Savanna officeElectricity and natural gas consumers in the southern portion of Jo-Carroll Energy's service territory have a convenient new place to make payments and ask questions about their utility service thanks to Jo-Carroll Energy's new Savanna office. The office will provide Jo-Carroll Energy members in Savanna and surrounding communities with the same services as the cooperative's headquarters in Elizabeth. "Jo-Carroll Energy's new Savanna office is another example of the cooperative's commitment to personal service from local people," said Jo-Carroll Energy President and CEO Michael Hastings. "We are pleased to bring this service back to the people of Savanna and Carroll County." The office is located at 103 Chicago Avenue and will be open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. For more information on Jo-Carroll Energy, visit the cooperative's Web site at www.jocarroll.com. Crawford celebrate 50th Don and Carolyn Crawford of rural Hanover will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on November 10 with an open house from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the VFW Hall in Hanover. Family and friends are welcome. Please omit gifts. A family trip is planned for later in the year. Don and Carolyn were married November 10, 1957 at St. Paul Lutheran church in Elizabeth. They are the parents of Gerald (Jackie) Crawford of Dubuque, IA and Joan (Ron) Wilson of Galesburg. Grandchildren are Emily, Andrew and Craig Wilson and Kristin and Caitlyn Crawford. Fluck earns promotionFirst State Bank Shannon-Polo-Lake Carroll is pleased to announce the promotion of Pam Fluck to position of Customer Service II and appointment to Bank Officer. In addition to this, Pam is also newly appointed to the Financial Services Team as a licensed Financial Specialist in the First State Bank Shannon-Polo-Lake Carroll Investment Center. Pam has been an employee of First State Bank Shannon-Polo-Lake Carroll since 2003 and in addition to her bank responsibilities has worked in the Investment Center as Sales Assistant during that time. Pam has been a Polo resident most of her life and has recently begun acquiring her licenses to better serve you with your financial needs. She is now licensed to help you with life and health insurance, disability insurance, long term care insurance, fixed annuities, index annuities, and immediate annuities. First State Bank Shannon-polo- Lake Carroll offers a full spectrum of investment products and services including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, annuities, IRA's 401K rollovers, Life Insurance, Long Term Care Insurance, College Savings Plans, and much more. Please stop in the Polo branch to meet Pam and see what the Investment Team at First State Bank Shannon-Polo-Lake Carroll can do for you.
There has been an active National Honor Society chapter in our schools since 1933. The NHS ranks as one of the oldest and most prestigious national organizations for high school students. Chapters exist in more than 60 percent of the nation's high schools and since 1921, millions of students have been selected for membership. Millions of dollars in scholarships have been awarded to senior members since 1945 by the sponsoring organization, the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). 1000 day journey beginsCarroll County Relay For LifeTo create an evolving 1000 day plan focused on opportunity and potential by celebrating accomplishments, remembering survivors and caregivers while engaging them in the event - that is the agenda for the first planning session of the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Carroll County. The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 14 at Land of Oz in Mt. Carroll from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. "The goal is to get input from community members in an effort to make our Relay the best it can be and to affect the lives of cancer patients and their families in the area the best way possible," said Jessica Kundert, the new staff contact from the American Cancer Society's Rockford office for Carroll County. "We are also having our regular steering committee meeting that same night from 5:30-6:30 pm at the Land of Oz and we're definitely always looking for new committee members," she added. If you wish to become an active committee member, or to be a part of the 2008 Relay For Life in Carroll County, and plan on attending either or both of these meetings, please RSVP to Jessica Kundert, American Cancer Society Northern Region, 4312 East State Street, Rockford, IL 61108, or call her at 815-229-1287, or E-mail at Jessica.Kundert@cancer.org . For cancer information, call 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. ComEd requests rate increase to expand systemComEd filed October 17 a delivery service rate increase request with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) that would allow the utility to continue expanding and upgrading its system to meet growing demand for electricity. The rate case allows ComEd to recover costs for everything from storm repairs to new infrastructure development. "Whether it's repairing damage done by severe weather or expanding our infrastructure to meet the growing population and increasing daily usage of electricity, our commitment is to provide our 3.8 million customers with safe, reliable and affordable electric service," said Anne Pramaggiore, executive vice president of customer operations, regulatory and external affairs for ComEd. "By continuing to invest in our electric infrastructure, we will ensure that a robust, modern and reliable delivery system is available for our customers now and in the future." A system for the 21st centuryThe rate filing begins an 11-month ICC process to determine ComEd delivery rates. By the time that process ends, ComEd will have invested an additional $1.7 billion in an expanded and more efficient, modern system that is not reflected in current rates. Improving system performance means implementation of new technologies and equipment. Some of these enhancements include remote substation controls, "smart switches" that can restore service automatically, and mobile dispatch technology that can more quickly direct crews to job sites. These investments help to prevent outages or reduce restoration times when outages do occur. New Illinois driver's license and ID cards featuring more securitySPRINGFIELD Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White today unveiled newly designed state drivers' licenses and identification (ID) cards with enhanced security features. The design incorporates multiple layers of security, as well as an inventory control mechanism that ensures Illinois drivers' licenses and ID cards will remain among the most secure in the nation. "These security features work in tandem to further protect Illinois drivers' licenses and ID cards from fraud and counterfeiting," said Secretary White. "Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in America. With these important security enhancements we are taking extra precautions to protect Illinois citizens, as well as to ensure that Illinois drivers' licenses and ID cards are among the most reliable identification documents in the country." The newly designed drivers' licenses and ID cards are now available at the Secretary of State Melrose Park Driver Licensing facility, which is serving as the pilot site prior to the roll out of the new licenses and ID cards. The equipment to issue the new drivers' licenses and ID cards will be phased in statewide, starting November 6 in southern Illinois and moving north. All Secretary of State drivers licensing facilities will be converted to the new technology by the end of January 2008. Residents with valid drivers' licenses or ID cards do not need to obtain the newly designed cards, as the current design for existing cards remains valid until those cards expire. The new security features include kinetic movement and color shifting designs, a UV feature, microtext, and a laser feature that cannot be duplicated utilizing standard techniques often used in fraud attempts. Other new features aimed at increasing security include a ghost image of the photo and incorporation of the date of birth in two locations on the cards. In addition to the security enhancements, a new inventory tracking system has been adopted to monitor and track the material used in card production. If a driver's license or ID card has not been properly issued in a driver's license facility using genuine materials, the card can be readily identified as fraudulent, and it can potentially be traced to the location of materials used to manufacture it. Improved design features also include new colors across the card tops that indicate card types. The card type color indicators are: Red: Driver's License and Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Green: Identification Card (ID Card) Purple: Temporary Visitor Driver's License (TVDL) Text included on the card fronts contains the same information, but is presented in a new way that improves readability and ease of use in verification of information. Card backs for identification cards now include the text "For Identification Purposes Only, Not a License to Drive." The writable surface for organ/tissue donation witness signatures is omitted, as the state's First Person Consent law renders this consent unnecessary. Additional information on the new drivers' license and ID cards is available at www.cyberdriveillinois.com. Kness receives classroom assignmentA Carroll County student was one of nearly 80 Monmouth College students to receive a classroom assignment for the fall semester. Heather Kness of Milledgeville will assist in Katie Jenkins' fourth grade class at Apollo Elementary School in Aledo. A junior education major, she is the daughter of Vernon and Debra Kness of Milledgeville. A classroom assignment is a course requirement for students seeking a teaching certificate at Monmouth College; other students may student teach as part of a community service project. Teaching candidates observe classroom activity and assist teachers with such tasks as grading tests, tutoring students and planning lessons. Durward attains 15 years of serviceProgram Technician Janice Durward recently attained 15 years of service with the Carroll County, United States Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency Office, which is located in Mount Carroll. Janice is currently in charge of and administers a very large and complex Direct and Counter Cyclical Payment Program, Payment Limitation Program and the Milk Income Loss Program, in addition to waiting on producers at the office counter. Janice and her husband Andrew have three daughters and live in Argo Fay. Weather monitor volunteers neededA new volunteer program being offered throughout the state and country is designed to increase the number and density of weather recording locations. Volunteers are needed from northern Illinois. The program is called the "Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow" (CoCoRaHS) network. It is a grassroots volunteer system of backyard weather observers of all ages working together to measure and map precipitation, including rain, hail and snow, in their local communities. Volunteers need to attend a training workshop to participate as a weather observer. Training for interested volunteers will be offered on November 13 in Rockford. The program is being established in the state by the Illinois State Water Survey and the National Weather Service, in cooperation with University of Illinois Extension. Rock Valley College's Center for Learning in Retirement is also cooperating at this site. The training workshop will be held on November 13 at the Rock Valley College Bell School Center at 3350 Bell School Road, Rockford. The program will begin at 7 pm, with registration beginning at 6:30 pm. Advance registrations are required by November 6 to attend the workshop. To register, phone the University of Illinois Extension-Rockford Center office at 815-397-7714 or e-mail churchj@uiuc.edu. Registrants should include the names of adults and youth attending with address, phone number and e-mail address if available. The only requirements to be a volunteer are an enthusiasm for watching and reporting weather conditions, and a desire to learn more about how the weather can affect and impact our lives. Participants must also have access to internet and will be responsible for the cost of their own monitoring equipment. However, there is no charge to attend the training workshop. Attendance at the workshop does not require participation in the program. Interested persons can attend just for the informational content. Directions to the workshop location and other details will be distributed to the registrants prior to the meeting. For more details about the program network, visit http://www.cocorahs.org. Recycle used cell phonesCell phones are one of the most frequently replaced electronic item. They are replaced, on average, every 18 months and it is estimated that there will be more than 1,000,000,000 wireless telephones sold worldwide next year. Recycling used cell phones is the responsible solution to this dilemma. Plus, recycling your used cell phone is convenient because of the many recycling and reuse options available. Locally, they can be taken to Times Video, Savanna, West Carroll Middle School, Mt. Carroll, Choices Domestic Violence Program, Mt. Carroll and Galena, and Riverview Centers, Savanna and Galena offices. Businesses that generally accept cell phones for recycling include Verizon, Sprint, Office Max, Staples, and Wal-Mart. Prior to recycling, it is best to deactivate the service and clear all personal information on the phone. Internet cell phone recycling is available from "Keep America Beautiful" in association with Sprint. Their "Wipe Out Wireless Waste" program is available at their website, www.kab.org. Click on "Wipe Out Wireless Waste" for instructions and to print out the free postage-paid label. More information on cell phone recycling programs and drop off sites is available at www.wirelessrecycling.com and www.earth911.org. Additional information related to recycling and conservation in general can be found in the Recycling Directory available through Jo-Carroll Extension unit. To obtain a copy, contact Maggie Friedenbach, Recycling & Conservation Programs Coordinator, representing the Jo-Carroll Solid Waste Agency and University of Illinois Extension, at 815-244-9444. Extension has fact sheets availableTwo new Land and Water Fact Sheets, "Locating Your Well" and "Constructing Your Well" are available from the University of Illinois Extension offices in Mt. Carroll and Elizabeth. "Locating Your Well" includes information on how geology affects groundwater, permeability, depth to and type of aquifer, location requirements, surface water as drinking water, contamination, and sinkholes. "Constructing Your Well" includes the types of wells, developing your well, disinfecting and testing your well, and obtaining permits. The fact sheets are free. If interested in a copy call the U. of I. Extension office in Mt. Carroll at 815-244-9444 or in Elizabeth at 815-858-2273. From the FieldsPrepared by: Jim Morrison, Extension Educator, Crop Systems, Rockford Extension Center, University of IllinoisPhone 815-397-7714, Email morrison@uiuc.eduFall application of nitrogen is a common agronomic practice in northern Illinois, but one that requires judicious management to protect the environment and improve nitrogen effectiveness and profitability. The soil type, climatic condition, and form of nitrogen fertilizer have a great impact on the amount of loss that may occur over winter. Nitrogen in the nitrate form is susceptible to loss by leaching, or the movement of nitrate nitrogen in soil solution below the root zone. Nitrate is also subject to loss by denitrification or the conversion of nitrate nitrogen to unavailable atmospheric nitrogen. Fall application of nitrogen should be avoided on coarse-textured, sandy soils or shallow soils over fractured bedrock. These situations offer the greatest possibility for leaching. Farmers planning fall nitrogen application are advised to use the ammonium form and avoid using nitrate-containing fertilizers as well as urea. Anhydrous ammonia is a preferred nitrogen source since it has a slower nitrification rate that other nitrogen sources. Anhydrous ammonia should not be applied until the soil temperature at the 4-inch depth is below 50 degrees F. If a nitrification inhibitor is used with anhydrous ammonia, nitrogen can be applied earlier, when the soil temperature at the 4-inch depth is below 60 degrees F. Soil temperatures must be below these levels and continuing to get colder. At these temperatures, soil organisms are less active and less likely to convert ammonium to nitrate. Below 50 degrees F, nitrification slows rapidly, but it does continue until temperatures are below 32 degrees F. The 50 degree F temperature guideline also applies to ammonium sulfate fertilizer as well as injected liquid manure with high ammonium nitrogen content. Soil thermometers should be used to guide the fall application as average dates on which the above-mentioned temperatures are reached are not satisfactory because of year-to-year variation. Current soil temperature is available at the Illinois State Water Survey web site, http://www.sws.uiuc.edu/warm/soiltemp.asp Nitrification inhibitors can be viewed as a nitrogen management tool. They will increase the cost of fall application, but could significantly improve the efficiency of fall-applied nitrogen. If applying anhydrous ammonia or injecting liquid manure in the fall be sure soil temperature is at the recommended level and maintained at or below that level. Further information on nitrogen management can be found in the current "Illinois Agronomy Handbook," http://iah.aces.uiuc.edu/, or in the October 5, 2007 issue of "Pest Management & Crop Development Bulletin," http://www.ipm.uiuc.edu/bulletin/article.php?id=859. Tax-Aide program seeks volunteersBy Mary Ann Hutchison, District Coordinator for Carroll County Tax-Aide ProgramIn 2008 AARP Tax-Aide celebrates 40 years of service to seniors. Volunteers annually provide free tax assistance and preparation at approximately 7,000 sites across the country to 2.2 million low and moderate income taxpayers, with special attention to those 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. New recruits are welcome to join this worthwhile program. Current counselors will offer an intense training program in January to acquaint participants with tax law as well as the computer software. Anyone who enjoys working with numbers and learning something new may join us. Some experience with a computer will be helpful. To learn more about the class, contact the Senior Center at 815-244-1800 or toll-free 866-214-1959. Materials will be ordered in December for the January class, so don't delay. Bivins Fundraiser Features Cong. J. Dennis HastertCongressman will deliver keynote addressDIXON, IL Congressman J. Dennis Hastert will be the honored guest at a fundraising banquet for Tim Bivins, announced candidate for the 45th District Illinois Senate seat being vacated by Senator Todd Sieben. The 45th District includes Stephenson, Winnebago, Ogle, Lee, JoDaviess, Carroll, Whiteside and Henry Counties. The banquet will be held on November 9, 2007. at the Dixon Elks Club Lodge #779, 1279 Franklin Grove Road, Dixon. The social hour will begin at 6:00 p.m with the dinner and program to begin at 6:30 p.m. The event will include a full dinner buffet and keynote address by Congressman Hastert. "It is an honor to have the former Speaker of the House of Representatives coming to the 45th District to support me", said Bivins." Bivins is a former five-term sheriff of Lee County and a veteran law enforcement officer for over 32 years. Seating is limited. The public is invited to attend this event. For sponsorship and ticket information please contact Citizens for Bivins at (815) 284-2008 or visit the website at www.timbivins.com. Cougars win way into Sectionals ERIE - The Eastland High School volleyball team defeated homestanding Erie 2-0 (25-17, 25-19) in the Class 1A Regional. Eastland, one of the area's most tradition-rich high school volleyball programs, continues to play championship-caliber volleyball. Eastland, a No. 2 seed, defeated No. 6 Milledgeville in the regional tournament semifinals on its way to advancing in the championship match. With the win, Eastland earned the right to face Dakota in the East Dubuque Sectional Semifinal this week.
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West Carroll High School’s newly inducted members of the National Honor Society are: Front Row - Michael Gothard, David LaShelle, Ericka Lopez, and Katelyn Mazanet. Second Row - Christopher Foltz, Chris Anderson, Ryan Ashby, Cassie Miller, and Brittany Hartman (Photo courtesy of Dave Baisden)