40th Anniversary Celebrated

Dennis and Wilma Lotz of 321 E. Leland Street in Lanark celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on November 23rd. Dennis and Wilma Bright were married November 23rd, 1968 in Lanark at the Trinity Lutheran Church by Pastor Paul Anhalt. They are parents of Dave (Pam) Lotz of Lanark and Denise (Brent) Kalka of Arlington Heights. They have two grandchildren, Evan and Jaret Kalka. The couple celebrated their anniversary with their children and grandchildren.

Martz-Schriner Wed

Lanark Church of the Brethren was the setting for the June 21 wedding of Justin Martz and Jamie Schriner. Parents of the couple are Dennis and Karen Schriner of Lanark and Mike and Lynn Martz of Waterman. Pastor John Sgro officiated with Ann Arends, pianist, and Amber Smith, vocalist. Maid and Matron of honor were Callie Schriner and Shelley Stoner. Bridesmaids were Kathryn Henkel, Katelyn Johnson, Emily Schultz, and Ashlee Scheffner. The Flower girl was Jenica Stoner. Kaylene Plog was the personal attendant. Best men were Kyle Mitchell and Dustin Spears. Groomsmen were Austin Schriner, Ryan Stoner, Scott Van Etten, and Jonathon Lower. Ushers were Todd Alexander, Tyler Overby, Joel Johnson, and Tyler Meier. The reception was held at The Latin American Club in Sterling. Host and Hostesses were Larry and Linda Alexander and Tom and Karen Martz. The Bride is a 2004 Graduate of Eastland High School and in 2006 received an associate's degree from Highland Community College. In 2007 she received her bachelor's degree in communications from Northern Illinois University. The Groom is a 2004 graduate of Indian Creek High School and in 2007 received his bachelor's degree in crop sciences from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. He is self-employed in farming. The couple's home is in Waterman.

Nye-Johnson Engagement

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Johnson of Chadwick announce the engagement of their daughter, Brooke Marie Johnson, to Joshua David Nye, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gary Nye of Chadwick. The bride-elect is a graduate of Milledgeville High School, University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, and St. Ambrose University. She is employed by Lindgren, Callihan, Van Osdol & co. Ltd. Her fiancé is a graduate of Milledgeville High School and the Morrison Institute of Technology. He is employed by Gibbs Drywall. The couple is planning a December 31, 2008 wedding at the Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa, Galena Territories.

Carroll County Soil & Water Conservation District Seeks Directors

Have you ever considered serving as a director for your Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD)? Are you interested in helping shape the future of natural resources in Carroll County? If you are legal voting age and either own or reside on land located in Carroll County, then you are eligible to serve as a director on the Carroll County Soil & Water Conservation District Board. The 2009 nominating committee is currently seeking interested individuals willing to serve a 2-year term as an SWCD director. If you would like more information or would like to have your name on the ballot for the 2009 election, please contact the Carroll County SWCD at (815) 244-8732 ext. 3. Interested parties should respond by December 19, 2008.

Darrin Rahn Recipient of FC Ag Business Scholarship

Receipients of the FC Ag Business Scholarship. Seated, L-R are Amy Maxwell, Alecia Moser,Amber Broulik, Shayla Troendle, and Carly Cummings. Standing, L-Rare Matt Mclaughlin, Dakota Hoben, Adam Holm, and Darrin Rahn. (Photo courtesy of FC)

Farmers Cooperative Company recently named Darrin Rahn as one of ten Iowa State University students that are recipients of the $500 Farmers Cooperative Company Scholarship for freshman in Agricultural Business. Rahn is a freshman majoring in Agricultural Business & Economics from Mt. Carroll, IL

This scholarship is awarded to college freshman majoring in Agricultural Business who have a minimum cumulative high school grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and who graduated in the top 25% of their high school class. Recipients demonstrate agriculture leadership through involvement in agriculture organizations. Preference is given to applicants interested in a career in grain marketing, commodity merchandizing, agronomics, elevator management, or grain marketing analysis in a rural area.

Farmers Cooperative Company is committed to providing scholarships to students pursuing an education in agriculture. According to Roger Koppen, Farmers Cooperative Company's CEO, "Farmers Cooperative Company is committed to supporting the youth of agriculture. It is critical to keep good, young people in the industry by providing them opportunities such as scholarships and internships."

Eastland Christmas House Walk

The 4th Annual Eastland Student Council Christmas House Walk will be held Tuesday, December 16. Six homes, 2 each from Lanark, Shannon and Lake Carroll, are included on the tour, which runs from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

In Lanark, the homes of Kipp Meyers & Betsy Shaulis (306 E. Franklin St.), and Jared & Sue Sauer (701 Meadow Ct.) will be featured. The Shannon homes of Kyle & Rachel Todd (611 S. Linn), and Joe Pinder & Lydia Nowack (301 S. Hickory) are on the tour. At Lake Carroll, you will visit the homes of Alan & Diane Schipkowski (23126 Lake Carroll Blvd.), and Bill & Deb Jahnke (2370 Broadway Dr.).

Tickets are available from any Eastland Student Council member, or may be purchased at any home that evening. Maps are also available.

Apply For Rotary Scholarships

SAVANNA ­ Application for Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarships, up to $23,000 each, are available from the Rotary Clubs of Mt Carroll and Savanna. Applicants should be college freshmen who plan to study abroad their junior year or upperclassmen who want to complete a year of graduate study overseas. This scholarship is for students whose families live in the Carroll County area. The deadline for applications is May 16, 2009.

Ambassadorial Scholarships for the academic year 2010-2011 are for one academic year abroad, and provide funding for round-trip transportation, tuition and fees, room and board, some educational supplies and language training (if necessary) up to a maximum of $23,000.

The scholarships, which are designed to further international understanding and goodwill, provide for study abroad in more than 160 countries where Rotary clubs are located. During their studies abroad, Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholars act as "ambassadors of goodwill." Through appearances before Rotary clubs and districts, schools, civic organizations, and other forums, the students represent the United States and work to further international understanding.

For more information and an application, please contact Ann Murphy, District Trainer, Rotary District 6420, at 815/273-2933 or murf864@grics.net. The application for 2010/2011 can be downloaded at www.rotary.org.

Apples, Peaches, Pumpkins and More

Featured at Illinois Specialty Crops and Agritourism Conference

SPRINGFIELD ­ The Illinois Specialty Crops and Agritourism Conference will be held January 7-10, 2009, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield, IL. Three pre-conference workshops (concurrent) will be offered during the daytime on Wednesday, January 7, which will include "Pumpkin Production and Marketing," "Biocontrol in High Tunnels & Greenhouses," and "Federal Grantwriting Basics."

Two pre-conference seminars will be available on Wednesday evening, January 7, on "AGR-Lite Crop Insurance" and "Labor and Legal Issues." On Thursday and Friday, January 8-9, the conference will kick off with Chefs and Culinary Educators Michael and Brigitta McGreal as the keynote speakers followed by the traditional concurrent breakout sessions on fruits, vegetables, herbs, and agritourism/marketing. Thursday evening will feature a banquet followed by the announcement of the annual cider contest winners and comments from Matt Lohr, Farmer, Speaker, and Virginia State Legislator.

Peach and apple production will take center stage of the fruit breakout sessions with talks on disease management, pruning, insecticides, and weed management to name a few. Wesley Autio, University of Massachusetts, will discuss "Simple Rules for Pruning Apple and Peach Trees" and "Controlling Growth in the Tops of Apple Trees." "Disease Management in Peaches and Apples" will be the focus of two presentations by Patty McManus, University of Wisconsin.

Topics in the vegetable sessions will run the gamut of disease management to production problems to marketing. Galen Dively, University of Maryland, will discuss "Organic Insecticides for Vegetable Insect Control" and "Options, Effectiveness, and Management of Bt sweet corn." "Irrigation Do's and Don'ts for the Too-Busy Grower" by Jeff Kindhart and Bill Shoemaker, U of I, will also be covered.

The agritourism/marketing track will feature sessions on how to capitalize on consumer trends, how to increase on-farm sales, and how to work with the media. Other topics will include "Creating a Successful Tourism Partnership," "Safety Considerations for Agritourism Operations," and "Virginia Agritourism."

Herb concurrent sessions will include subjects such as designing with herbs, keys to succeeding in the herb business, and making herbs work for you, to name a few. Susanna Reppert from The Rosemary House in Pennsylvania will focus on "Help Wanted - Using Interns and Apprentices" and "What Does the Future Hold for the Herb Industry?"

A local foods program entitled "Buy Local ­ Eat Healthy" on Saturday, January 10, 2009, will feature Chef Michael McGreal, Joliet Junior College, who will demonstrate the preparation of delicious and exciting dishes with fresh produce. Other sessions will include cooking with edible flowers and pairing wines with food.

The 20th Annual Cider Contest and the 7th Annual Hard Cider Contest will again be held in conjunction with the conference. For more information, contact Dr. Elizabeth Wahle, U of I Extension, at 618/692-9434 or wahle@uiuc.edu. Or, please refer to the ISGA web site: http://www.specialtygrowers.org/confagenda.htm.

Trade show plans have spaces for over 50 exhibitors. Plenty of time is allowed between sessions to visit with exhibitors. Space is still available for those wishing to exhibit their specialty crop products or services.

To receive registration materials or to obtain exhibitor information, please contact Diane Handley at 309/557-2107 or handley@ilfb.org. A detailed conference agenda can be viewed at www.specialtygrowers.org. The Crowne Plaza Hotel is reserving a block of rooms for $81 per night plus tax. Please call the hotel directly at 217/529-7777 to make your reservations and ask for the Illinois Specialty Crops Conference rate.

ISPE Scholarships Available

High school seniors looking for ways to help finance their college engineering education can apply for a scholarship available from the Rock River Chapter of the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers (ISPE). Applications are available now through the application deadline of Friday, January 16, 2009.

Applications are sent out to all public and private high schools in the Rock River Chapter area that includes Bureau, Carroll, Lee, Ogle and Whiteside counties in northwestern Illinois. Applications are judged from national standard test scores, essays, transcripts, and extracurricular activities. Scholarships are available only for accredited colleges of engineering.

"In our 2008-2009 scholarship cycle, the Rock River Chapter will award at least one scholarship of $1,000," said Rock River scholarship chairman Russ Renner. "Last year we awarded two $1,500 scholarships. Local scholarships are made possible by the Rock River Chapter through its annual scholarship fund raisers."

For more information, contact Russ Renner at 815-288-2261 (days) or 815-379-9904 (evenings).

Cassens Recipient of SIUC Scholarship

August Cassens of Lanark, IL is the recipient of an Academic Scholarship to attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale for the 2009 fall semester. Cassens is receiving the Provost Scholarship Award, valued at $8,000. Her scholarship award is based on academic merit and potential for superior achievement in college. She plans to study English at SIUC.

Cassens is the daughter of Diann and Jerry Cassens of Lanark, and will be a 2009 graduate of Eastland High School. Her honors and awards include the National Honor Society, 3.75 Club, Top Cat, Honor Roll, All-Conference Track, Band and Chorus. Cassens also participates in a variety of extracurricular activities that include Cross Country, basketball, Track, yearbook, Student Council, FCCLA, and Theater.

Chadwick Library Open During Christmas Walk

Friends of the Chadwick Public Library are sponsoring their semi-annual Book/Bake/Curio Sale at the Chadwick Library on Saturday, Dec. 13, from 8 am to 3 pm.

The Friends are selling books of all genre - mystery, romance, non-fiction, adult and children's books at "a buck a bag." Fill up a sack with any combination of books you like and pay only one thin dollar!

Your favorite Chadwick cooks will be selling their delicious holiday treats at great prices, too. Look to the curio table for a gift for that hard-to-buy-for person on your gift list.

The library will be open during the Chadwick Christmas Walk festivities. Children's activities will be at the library from 1 to 3 pm. Donations for the sale will be gratefully accepted up to the day of the sale.

For more information, call the Chadwick Public Library at 815-684-5215.

ACT Gets Grant for Mighty Richland Players

ORANGEVILLE - ACT, A Community Together, a non-profit organization focused on development of the greater Orangeville area, recently received a grant of $4,010.00 from the Freeport Community Foundation to support the cost of bringing a national playwright and composer to northwestern Illinois to perform with the Mighty Richland Players Dinner Theater in a three-county area. Mike Craver, (Smoke on the Mountain, Radio Gals), native and resident of North Carolina, will travel to northern Illinois to perform in his musical comedy, Bosh and Moonshine, in May, 2009.

The play, to be directed by Paula Fulton, Stockton, is scheduled to perform in Orangeville, Stockton, Savanna, and Freeport (Masonic Temple) during May, 2009. For more information or tickets, Mighty Richland Players Dinner Theater (815) 819-1310.

From the Fields

Producers, agriculture dealers, and consultants are reminded of the 2009 University of Illinois Corn & Soybean Classics. The Classics will be held during January at six locations across Illinois and are designed to provide current and timely information for the 2009 growing season.

Dates and locations for northern Illinois are January 14 at the i wireless Center, Moline and January 15 at Kishwaukee College, Malta.

The Corn & Soybean Classics are day-long programs from 9 am to 3:30 pm featuring nine University of Illinois Extension specialists. Topics will focus on crop production, pest management, and economics as well as the interactions among them. Market updates will be provided throughout the day, and question and answer sessions are scheduled for both the morning and afternoon. A noon lunch and a proceedings booklet with synopses of all presentations will be provided to each registrant.

Registration can be accomplished online at www.ipm.uiuc.edu/conferences or by calling 800-321-1296. Questions about the Corn & Soybean Classics can be directed to Aaron Hager, phone 217-333-4424, or e-mail hager@uiuc.edu.

Mark your calendar and make plans to attend this informative program.

Mt. Carroll Rotary Gives 3rd Graders Dictionaries

The Mt. Carroll Rotary Club handed out dictionaries to third graders in the Eastland Middle School in Shannon on Tuesday, Nov. 25. Rotary Internationalhas many Rotary chapters in the US and around the world participating in this literacy project to put dictionaries in the hands of third graders. The dictionaries are to be kept by these students for use in school and at home.

The Mt. Carroll and Savanna Rotary Clubs have provided these to West Carroll third graders the past two years. The Mt. Carroll Rotary Club voted to also provide the dictionaries to third graders in the other two Carroll County School Districts, Eastland and Chadwick-Milledgeville, since neither communities have a Rotary chapter. Chadwick-Milledgeville third graders are being serviced by a Milledgeville Grange chapter.

"We hope to make this an annual project," said Mt. Carroll Rotarian Paul Tobin, who with Scott Parker are co-chairman of this project. Barb Brierton is chapter president. The Mt. Carroll Rotary meets every Tuesday from noon -1:00 pm in the conference room of The Land of Oz in Mt. Carroll.

The Dictionary Project of Charleston, SC, a non-profit organization (www.dictionaryproject.org) is the purveyer of thesedictionaries tovarious civic organizations around the world. Rotary clubs represent over 51% of the total donations to this project.

l to r: Payton, Adrianna, Daniel, and Ben, 3rd graders in Mrs. Lamoreux's class, thank Mt. Carroll Rotarians Mark Harkness, Mike Risko, Leonard Dixon, Paul Tobin, Scott Parker and Anna Gray.

(Photos courtesy of EMS)

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