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The Northwest Illinois Workforce Investment Board (WIB) is pleased to announce that the Carroll County recipient of the WIB's Educational Achievement Award this past summer was further recognized on October 30 at the 2008 Illinois Workforce Development Conference. Elizabeth Chambers-Tessendorf of Pearl City was named the Northwest Illinois Individual Achievement Award winner.

"When Elizabeth came to WIA her name was Elizabeth Chambers and she lived in Lanark," said Kate Ramsay, WIB Manager. "After her graduation from Highland as the top nursing student for the Year 2007, she married Dave Tessendorf, and resides in Pearl City today with their five children."

She was nominated for this award by the Northwest Illinois Workforce Investment Board (WIB). She and her husband, David, were guests of the WIB at the awards ceremony and dinner.

The award recognized Tessendorf for her accomplishment in overcoming significant obstacles in achieving her personal career goals. She was selected from among four other candidates representing northwest Illinois for this statewide award.

Tessendorf's story began in Lanark, when this newly divorced stay-at-home mom and nursing student found she needed a way to financially support her and her two daughters. Various social service offices helped her with her immediate needs, but her quest for a better life for her family led her to the Workforce Employment Solutions center in Carroll County.

She sat down with a career advisor and together they explored her options. Her dream was to return to Highland Community College to complete her nursing degree that was cut short by tragic family events. With the help and encouragement of her career advisor, she was able to return to school.

Funding was made available for her training through the Northwest Illinois Workforce Investment Board, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and the U.S. Department of Labor.

With a strong commitment to excel Tessendorf's hard work paid off. She earned top grades and won a spot Dean's List and was named Highland Community College's 2007 Nursing Student of the Year.

Following graduation, she quickly found employment as a registered nurse in the Intensive Care Unit at Rockford Memorial Hospital and remarried. However, health issues forced her to take a leave of absence, but she remains close to her love of nursing. She is currently a part-time tutor at Highland Community College for second year nursing students in the medical surgery and psychiatric field fields.

"I found I love teaching," says Tessendorf. She is looking to the future for the opportunity to expand her education with a Masters degree in nursing, which will open a path for her to teach tomorrow's nurses.

In the meantime, she enjoys her second career as a professional photographer. She owns a business in Pearl City, called "Photography by Elly."

The WIB is a business-driven non-profit organization that oversees federal and state workforce development resources in northwest Illinois, including educational funding, career advice, and business and job seeker resources. It serves businesses and residents in Carroll, Jo Daviess, Ogle, Stephenson and Whiteside Counties.

Farewell and Godspeed to the Vidler's

First Lutheran Church in Mt. Carroll will recognize Pastor David Vidler's last Sunday as their pastor with one worship service at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 30th. Fellowship will follow with a potluck brunch in the fellowship hall.

The community is invited to join the congregation at a special open house reception from 12:00 until 1:30 in the afternoon to honor and show appreciation to Pastor and Adrienne Vidler. For those unable to attend, cards may be sent to the Vidlers at 303 S. Clay St., Mt. Carroll.

Master Gardener Volunteer Training Offered

University of Illinois Extension will offer Master Gardener training at Morrison and Winnebago beginning in January, 2009. 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. Because class size is limited, all applicants will be interviewed. An internet training option is also available for those unable to attend in person.

Classes are offered one day a week for 10 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 2009 training schedule should contact the University of Illinois Extension Office in Mt. Carroll at 815-244-9444 or in Elizabeth at 815-858-2273.

Fluorescent Tube

Light Recycling

Jo Daviess Extension in Elizabeth is the site of a pilot recycling project for fluorescent tube lights found in many businesses, offices, and even some homes. On a trial basis, this service is being offered as these lights are banned from landfills and a local system is not in place to collect and recycle these particular types of fluorescent lights.

Recycled lights will be shipped to a facility which will recover the mercury contained in them. Preventing mercury pollution is important to human health and the environment.

4 ft, 6 ft, and 8 ft fluorescent tube lights may be taken to the Elizabeth Extension office during office hours, Monday through Friday. A $4.00 charge applies to each light dropped off.

Please note that compact fluorescent light collection is locally offered through Jo-Carroll Energy. For those collection sites, please contact either Jo-Carroll Energy or University of Illinois Extension for information.

The fluorescent tube pilot recycling program is sponsored by University of Illinois Extension. If you have questions about the program, please contact Maggie Friedenbach, Recycling and Conservation Programs Coordinator, 815-244-9444.

Hay-Straw Auctions Set for Fall and Winter

The Northwestern Illinois Forage and Grassland Council will host their hay and straw auctions at the Orangeville Boco MiniMart parking lot, Route 26, on the 2nd and 4th Saturday's beginning at 11 am. The next auction is November 22.

Consignments should arrive by 10:30 am. It is preferred, but not required, that hay lots have a certified scale ticket on the day of the auction. This will allow hay to be sold by the ton, rather than by the bale. Straw is typically not weighed and is sold by the bale.

Quality tested hay is encouraged, and a copy of the analysis indicating at least the crude protein, fiber (acid detergent fiber and/or neutral detergent fiber) and relative feed value (RFV) or relative forage quality (RFQ) be brought with the consignment. Hay analysis will not be provided on site. A list of forage testing laboratories is available at University of Illinois Extension offices.

There will be no consignment fee for members of the Northwestern Illinois Forage and Grassland Council. Non-members will be charged $10.00 and this will be collected prior to the auction. B & M Hay Auctions will retain a 6% commission fee from the sale proceeds and 3% for no-sale lots. Sellers can outline their delivery terms as in the past. A skid loader will be available for reloading hay and straw at the sale site.

Yearly dues ($30.00) to the organization for January through December 2009 can be paid at the auctions. Questions about the auctions can be directed to Jim McNeil, B & M Hay Auctions (608-938-4822 or 608-293-9999), or Sherry Heidenreich (815-865-5561).

Free Beginning Photography Class for Adults

Stewards of the Upper Mississippi River Refuge are sponsoring a free photography class for beginning adults who are considering or have a new digital camera. The class will be held at the Ingersoll Wetlands Learning Center, Thomson, Illinois on Wednesday, December 10 from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm. Participants will learn the basics on how to operate a point and shoot camera, how to take better photos, camera settings, and much more. If you are scared of the thought of using a digital camera this class is for you.

Each participant will need to bring their camera and manual. If you do not have a camera yet, there will be one available that you can use for the class. Space is limited, please contact Pam Steinhaus at 815-273-2732, ext 16 for further information and to register for the class. The Ingersoll Wetlands Learning Center is located at 7071 Riverview Road, Thomson, IL.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses 545 national wildlife refuges.

Rahn Selected for ISU President's Leadership Class

First-year Iowa State University student Darrin Rahn of Mt. Carroll has been invited by ISU President Gregory Geoffroy to participate in the 2008-09 President's Leadership Class. Darrin majors in agricultural business and economics.

Each year, 30 first-year students are selected based on leadership experience and involvement in school and community activities. The class meets each week with the president and Mrs. Geoffroy to discuss the meaning, practice and responsibilities of leadership. Class exercises help develop leadership skills. Each student receives a $1,000 scholarship.

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