Country Financial

COUNTRY Financial Representatives at the Carroll-Ogle Agency recently presented a $2,000 check to Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)-15th Judicial Circuit. The check represents a portion of the funds raised at the COUNTRY District 3 Annual Charity Golf Classic held in September. Pictured are the Carroll-Ogle Agency Financial Representatives and Management presenting the check to Trish Morrow, Executive Director of CASA.

(Left to right) Front row: Kerry Wickler, Missy Gruben, Chris Mueller, Dick Montavon, Dave Gerber, Trish Morrow (CASA), Phil Hasz (Agency Mgr).

Back row: Randy Johnston, Dan Kniss, Jeanette Linker, Gary Davis, Ernie Bates, Rhett Coatney, Chris Criddle, Brent Skogsberg, John Bickelhaupt. (Photo courtesy of CCS)

 

Mt. Carroll Rotary Club

The Mt. Carroll Rotary Club donated $2100 to the Riverview Center, Inc. Prevention and Intervention Services serving Carroll and Jo Daviess County. Riverview Center was founded in 1992 to provide emergency room advocacy and crisis counseling to survivors of sexual abuse and assault. The Mt. Carroll club applied for a Rotary District 6420 Simplified Matching Grant and was awarded $1000 which the district matched with $1100. This grant money will be used for community public service ads which will promote the services and advocacy of Riverview Center as well as Rotary’s support of this project during the next calendar year. (L to R) Mt. Carroll Rotary President Paul Tobin presents check to Riverview Center CEO Josh Jasper, Beaver Miller owner of WCCI Radio, and Mt. Carroll Rotarian Mike Risko (grant writer). Front row, (L) Christina Rios, Prevention Educator, Mt. Carroll Rotarian Kari Bahl, Fund Development Director, and Anne Cinto, Program Director for Carroll County and Adult Therapist. (Photo courtesy of Lou Schau

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Roman Timm Wins Section #1 FFA Creed Speaking Contest

West Carroll’s Roman Timm (left) won the Section #1 FFA Creed Speaking Contest Thursday, December 3 at River Ridge High School. Timm beat ten other Section #1 FFA members to claim the title. The FFA Creed Speaking Contest constists of memorizing the 5-paragraph FFA Creed written by E.M. Tiffany and answering 6 questions following the presentation.

Timm will now advance to compete at the District I FFA Creed Speaking contest held in April. West Carroll’s Kylie Beaston also finished 6th in the FFA Creed contest last Thursday. (Photo courtesy of WCFFA)

 

 

Satin N' Lace Open House

(L to R) Jenntrie McClaister, Alyana Woodard, and Skye Topp model at the 2010 Prom Show Open House held at Satin N’ Lace in Milledgeville on December 5th. (Photo courtesy of McKenzie Neubauer)

 

 

 

 

Open House for Jean Reed

Jean Reed, fresh out of Nursing School. (Photo courtesy of MCH)

Jean Reed RN-CNO started her 31 year career with Morrison Community Hospital on August 14, 1978 as a nurse in the Skilled Care Facility. Jean received her nursing education through Sauk Valley College, IPMR (Institute of Physical and Rehab Medicine) in Peoria, IL and University of Northern Illinois in Dekalb. In 1983, Jean became Supervisor of the Skilled Nursing Facility. Under her leadership the facility had several years of deficiency free surveys through the IDPH (Illinois Department of Public Health). In 1992 Jean became the Chief Nursing Officer of Morrison Community Hospital.

During her years as Morrison Community Hospital Chief Nursing Officer, Jean was instrumental in starting three of the hospital’s Rural Health Clinics, working with the hospital’s Chemical Dependency Unit in the 90’s, setting up general and department policies, setting up policies for the current critical access status of the hospital, as well as implementing various educational programs.

“I have accomplished a lot throughout my many years in healthcare,” said Jean Reed. “However, the most rewarding of my work has been training the nurses to be the best nurses they can be. I have always emphasized the importance of having passion for their nursing role and compassion toward the patients they serve.  There have been many patients that I have personally had the privilege to care for over the years and my compassion has always been from the heart.”

“Jean is truly an amazing person. She has been a wonderful mentor and a great role model for all. We will miss her and the great moments she has brought to our hospital,” said Devin Straight, CNO Assistant. “As Miss Jean retires, it feels as though one chapter of our book at MCH ends, yet a new chapter will begin in her life. We wish her the best and hope her open house is joyful and attended by all those individuals whom she has touched.”

MCH would like to invite friends, family, staff, and community members to please join them in thanking Jean for her 31 years of service to the hospital and the Morrison community. An open house for Jean is scheduled for December 18th from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the MCH front lobby. Let’s all join together to wish her luck with her future endeavors!

Carroll County Health Dept. Offers H1Ni Vaccines

The Carroll County Health Department announced on Monday that it will be administering H1N1 vaccines to the general public, by appointment only, starting 12/15/09. 

For more information and to make an appointment, please call Dawn Holland, Carroll County Health Dept., at 815-244-8855. The CCHD is located at 822 S. Mill St. in Mt Carroll.

Rules of the Road

A representative from the office of the Illinois Secretary of State will present a class on the Rules of the Road, for those who need to renew their driver’s licenses. It will take place on Friday, December 18, 2009 at the Carroll County Senior Center, 306 North Main Street, Mt. Carroll, at 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. There is no charge. No reservations are necessary.

Vote For $100,000 Donation From U.S. Cellular

West Carroll C.U.S.D. #314 is working in coordination with Stebbins Appliance located at 1020 Viaduct Road, Savanna, Illinois to collect enough votes to secure a $100,000 donation from U.S. Cellular. From November 13, 2009 through January 15, 2010, community members, customers, family, and friends can secure a code to vote for their local school district to receive a one-time award from U.S. Cellular.

You must be 18 years of age or older and there is no purchase necessary. This is an opportunity to support your local school district and secure funds from an outside source; not taxpayer dollars. You do not have to live in the West Carroll School District or be a U.S. Cellular customer in order to vote. The voting code is obtained through Stebbins Appliance. Ask your friends, family, relatives, and business connections to help out. Every vote counts.

Based on U.S. Cellular reports of this program last year, we could be very successful in this opportunity by combining our efforts. Once again, no purchase is necessary. All you need is internet access, a valid email address, the school code for West Carroll High School, and be over 18 years of age. All voting will take place online.

Ten (10) winning schools will be announced in February 2010. We can use your help voting for West Carroll High School. Show your school spirit by going to U.S. Cellular and voting.

Grow Your Market at Illinois Specialty Crops, Agritourism, and Organic Conference

The Illinois Specialty Crops, Agritourism, and Organic Conference will be held January 6-8, 2010, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield, IL. Three pre-conference workshops (concurrent) will be offered during the daytime on Wednesday, January 6, which will include “Grow Your Market: Creating a Memorable Experience for Customers,” “Getting Started in Local Food Production and Marketing,” and “Expanding Seasons and Markets with High Tunnels.”

On Thursday and Friday, January 7-8, the conference will kick off with an opening session entitled “From Market Gardening to Commercial Readiness: Keys to Effective Production and Marketing Across a Range of Market Arenas” by Tim Woods, University of Kentucky. The remainder of the conference will include the traditional concurrent breakout sessions on fruits, vegetables, herbs, irrigation, agritourism/marketing, and business management. New to the conference this year will be two organic tracks. Thursday evening will feature a banquet followed by the announcement of the annual cider contest winners and comments from Doc Patterson, Fire Service Chaplain for the Lake County Honor Guard.

Peach and apple production will take center stage of the fruit breakout sessions with talks on disease management, thinning, insecticides, and fertility management to name a few. Topics in the vegetable sessions will run the gamut of disease, insect, and weed management to production problems to marketing. Carl Cantaloupi, North Carolina State University, will discuss “Producing and Marketing Asparagus.” Vegetables focused on will include asparagus, tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers, and sweet corn.

The agritourism/marketing track will feature sessions on agritourism liability insurance, customer service, public relations and advertising strategies, and increasing marketing impact with photography.

Herb concurrent sessions will include subjects such as field herb production, composting processing and landscape waste, transitioning to organic greenhouse growing, seasonal herbs, and herb of the year.

Organic Production joins the conference this year with two concurrent tracts of educational programming focusing on the following areas: integrated organic vegetable production systems, grain and livestock systems, fruit production, and research. Pete Johnson, Pete’s Greens, Craftsbury, VT, kicks off the two organic sessions with “Building a Healthy Food System,” followed by Steve Pincus and Beth Kazmar, Tipi Produce, Evanston, WI, with a talk on “Farming and Marketing in a Homegrown Wisconsin Co-op.”

The 21st Annual Cider Contest and the 8th 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. 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.

Carroll County 4-H Federation Meets

The Carroll County 4-H Federation met on November 21, at the Shannon Bowling Alley. The meeting was called to order by President, Nikita Nash. Committee reports were given.

The federation is looking at collecting shoes for recycling as a community project this year. Dylan Alexander challenged all clubs to collect towels and washcloths for CHOICES to bring to the dance.

In old business, discussed the Achievement program, and reminded clubs that wreath pickup is November 24. In new business, Public Presentation contest will be February 27, 2010, registration deadline is February 15. Livestock and Dairy Judging Contest is March 20, 2010. Steer and Market heifer weigh in and tattooing is February 6, 2010.

Meeting was adjourned and group went bowling. Next meeting is January 16 at the Farm Bureau. A Tropical Paradise theme dance will be held. All youth are invited to attend.

A Season for Health and Wealth

By Grace-Marie Turner

From now through the end of the year, seniors have a chance to enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan, and those who already are enrolled can switch plans.

With Congress debating many changes to the Medicare program, seniors should try to get the most out of this year’s open-enrollment period.

The Medicare prescription drug benefit is different from most government programs because seniors have a choice of private drug plans which receive subsidies from the Federal government to provide their drug coverage. This gives seniors a wide range of options in premiums, copayments, and drug choices.

The drug benefit program is designed to keep prices low by forcing private plans to compete against one another. This has resulted in greater choice and flexibility. And because seniors are smart shoppers, the drug benefit has proven to be among the most cost-effective government programs in history.

When the program was created in 2003, lawmakers predicted seniors would pay about $44 per month for drug coverage in 2009. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the average monthly premium in 2009 was only $35. Further, the program is saving taxpayers money, coming in nearly 40 percent under budget so far.

Some lawmakers, though, want to change the program because they don’t like involvement by private plans, despite the fact that the program is highly popular with seniors. This could mean that seniors with low incomes would have access to fewer drugs while others wind up paying higher premiums.

The health reform bill that recently was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives allows the federal government to negotiate prices directly with pharmaceutical companies. This might sound desirable, but the government doesn’t negotiate. With the rest of Medicare, it dictates prices and imposes benefit restrictions rather than relying on competition and consumer choice to contain costs.

The legislation also would force lower-income seniors to get their drug coverage through Medicaid rather than Medicare, giving them no choice of private plans and forcing them into a program where the government determines what drugs will and will not be available to them.

This could save the Federal government money, but other changes in the legislation would result in higher drug costs for other seniors. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, these changes could result in a 20 percent increase in prescription drug premium costs for Medicare beneficiaries over the next decade.

Government price manipulation also poses an enormous threat to the future of drug innovation. If drug companies are forced to sell their products at below-market prices, they’ll look less attractive to investors, and thus have less capital for research and development of new medicines.

For now, though, the Medicare drug benefit is a good deal for seniors - all the more reason to take advantage of this open-enrollment period. Many plans have lowered their co-payments and eliminated deductibles. Others now provide coverage in the infamous “donut hole.”

Those who are internet-savvy can sign up or switch plans by visiting www.Medicare.gov. Using the “Medicare Plan Finder,” seniors can compare how different drug plans stack up against one another. Those without web access can call 1-800-Medicare and speak to a customer service representative.

Just remember to act before the end the year, since the open-enrollment period ends on December 31. And pay close attention to what Congress is doing that might change options, and premiums, for seniors in the future.

Grace-Marie Turner is president of the Galen Institute, a non-profit research organization focusing on patient-centered solutions to health reform. She can be reached at P.O. Box 320010, Alexandria, VA, or at turner@galen.org.

Consumer Confidence Down:

Better Business Bureau Online Numbers Hit Record

The numbers tell the story…two million online hits so far in 2009 – a new BBB record. Online consumers and businesses want to be confident they are doing business with a company they can trust; however, according to a BBB/Gallup poll commissioned in 2007, for the past two years consumer confidence, in general, has been on the decline.

Those businesses are not just retail but cover all aspects of the marketplace. The two million plus figure points specifically to internet inquiries which means consumers and businesses are doing their homework before they sign a contract to hire a company, or make an online purchase.

Consumers and businesses are aided in their efforts by the BBB’s Online Accreditation Seal program, the largest trust seal program on the internet today, which allows consumers the opportunity to research a business by simply clicking on the accreditation seal on the Web site and getting the businesses complete BBB business profile. Additional information is also provided on who owns the company, how long they’ve been in business, their complaint history is, and the very important BBB letter grade A+ through F.

“Last month alone businesses accredited by the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois had more than 362 thousand clicks on their online seals,” said Dennis Horton, Director of the BBB’s Regional Office in Rockford. “Half way through the last quarter of 2009 and for the second straight year the economy and waning confidence have combined to put our numbers on pace for another record breaking year”.

Horton says, “with the economy being as it is and during this holiday shopping season consumers are expected to be on line, also in record numbers, searching for the best deal; because consumers will try to avoid becoming victim of one of the internet horror stories we expect the numbers of online inquires for November and December to keep pace with October.”

He adds, “The decline in consumer trust plus the economy can have really negative consequences for businesses. But interestingly, it presents a clear opportunity for competitive advantage for businesses that embrace consumer demand for trust especially on the internet.”

In addition to checking out a business while visiting that company’s website consumers can also visit the BBB’s safe shopping site to find businesses who are participating in the BBBOnline program – businesses they can trust. Along with getting a company’s business profile consumers can also learn what’s required of a company that has the accreditation seal and what they must do to maintain our standards. Consumers can find Accredited Businesses participating in the BBBOnline program by visiting www.bbb.org.

In the Service

Army Reserve Sgt. Brent T. Disher has been mobilized and activated for deployment overseas to a forward operating base in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Operation Iraqi Freedom is the official name given to military operations involving members of the U.S. armed forces and coalition forces participating in efforts to free and secure Iraq. Mission objectives focus on force protection, peacekeeping, stabilization, security and counter-insurgency operations as the Iraqi transitional governing bodies assume full sovereign powers to govern the peoples of Iraq.

Members from all branches of the U.S. military and multinational forces are also assisting in rebuilding Iraq’s economic and governmental infrastructure, and training and preparing Iraqi military and security forces to assume full authority and responsibility in defending and preserving Iraq’s sovereignty and independence as a democracy.

Disher is a military police member of the 354th Military Police Company, based in St. Louis, Mo. He has served in the military for more than three years.

He is the son of Thomas A. and Elaine K. Disher of N. Washington Ave., Mount Carroll, Ill.

The sergeant is a 2004 graduate of Mount Carroll High School.

Results for FFA Public Speaking

Prepared Public Speaking

Senior

Hannah Pieper, Dakota, 2055

Kristen Swanson, Stockton, 1715

Toni Cline, Eastland, 1670

Junior

Nick Gimple , Orangeville, 2005

Extemporaneous Public Speaking

Senior

Tony White, Dakota, 1982

Sam Joynt, Orangeville, 1915

Shelby Corey, Eastland, 1900

Junior

Corey Snetcher, Eastland, 1015*

* one judges score missing

Creed Speaking Contest

Creed Speaking FInal Ranking

Roman Timm, West Carroll

Brooke Krippendorf, Stockton

Matt Keppen, Eastland

Grace White, Stockton

Sarah Bastian, Dakota

Kylie Beaston, West Carroll

Corrine Stoewer, Scales Mound

Kailyne Palmer, Eastland

Courtney Thilmany, Orangeville

Skylar Walters, Orangeville

Nate Stone, Lena-Winslow

Chadwick Achievers 4-H

The Chadwick Achievers 4-H club met on Dec. 2 at the Hope United Methodist Church in Chadwick. 23 people attended including members and families for the Christmas party. Garrett Kness, recreation chairman, lead an activity, Christmas BINGO. A take-away gift prize went to the winners. We had pizza and everyone brought treats. A short meeting was held. We discussed the upcoming Pulled Pork Dinner, passed out project books, and talked about upcoming events in 4-H: Federation Dance on Jan. 16, steer weigh-in on Feb. 6, demonstration and public speaking contest on Feb. 27, Livestock Judging in March. Next month we will work on 4-H records. We will meet on Jan. 6 at 7:00 at the Methodist Church again.

Christmas Cupboard Features Hand-crafted Gift Ideas

The Christmas Cupboard is open in Polo for the 2009 Holiday Season. Local crafters are displaying their merchandise in downtown Polo to help you get a headstart on your holiday gift buying needs at their location of 106 N. Franklin, just south of the Post Office.

The store will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and features such items as oak and pine benches, antiques, hand-loomed rugs, lap quilts, towels, decorated shovels and sleds, wreaths, candles, tree skirts, holiday decor, jewelry and much more.

The Christmas Cupboard will remain open through Christmas Eve. For more information contact Carol at 815-946-3200.

Legion Applauds Resolution of Flagpole Dispute

Calling the decision of the Sussex Square Homeowners’ Association Board in Va. to withdraw legal action against a WWII hero, “a great decision,” the leader of The American Legion congratulated all parties involved.

“This is a victory for reason and I applaud the board for making the correct decision to permit this American hero to honor Old Glory in such a fitting way, every day, on his property,” said National Commander Clarence E. Hill.  “I also commend Legionnaires and all Americans across the country who flooded Col. Barfoot, the association and The American Legion with letters, emails, phone calls and messages of support and tribute.”

Because of the controversy involving the 90-year-old Medal of Honor recipient, Rep. Howard P. “Buck” Mckeon (R-CA) and Republican Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) introduced a resolution, H. Res. 952, allowing Congressional Medal of Honor recipients to properly display the United States flag on their property at all times.

“I thank the law firm of Marchant, Honey & Baldwin for their pro-bono efforts in resolving this issue. There is always room for discussion and solutions to be achieved within the system,” Hill added. “In this case, the homeowners’ association recognized the remarkable sacrifice and devotion of this true hero and acted wisely within the boundaries of their authority to do the right thing.  We understand and appreciate the important role homeowners’ associations play in local communities.  The American Legion encourages all homeowners to continue to properly display Old Glory.”

With a current membership of 2.5-million wartime veterans, The American Legion was founded in 1919 on the four pillars of a strong national security, veterans affairs, Americanism, and youth programs. Legionnaires work for the betterment of their communities through more than 14,000 posts across the nation.

From the Fields

By Jim Morrison - Extension Educator

Crop Systems, Rockford Extension Center

University of Illinois

Even though many soils in Illinois are very productive, it is important to regularly conduct soil sampling and analysis to determine the need for limestone, phosphorus, and potassium. A state-wide soil fertility survey was conducted in 2007 and 2008 to determine the general fertility status of soils.

The survey was conducted by collecting soil samples from the 0 to 3 inch and 3 to 7 inch depths in randomly selected corn fields prior to harvest. Most of the 598 fields sampled in 52 counties were collected during the annual European corn borer survey. Samples were analyzed for phosphorus, potassium, pH, calcium, magnesium, and organic matter.

The survey revealed that 17 and 43 percent of the fields were below the mean critical level of 38 and 280 pounds of phosphorus and potassium, respectively, notes Fabian Fernandez, University of Illinois Extension soil fertility specialist and coordinator of the survey. 58 and 30 percent of the fields were above the mean soil test level of 66 and 380 pounds of phosphorus and potassium at which additional fertilization is not recommended, respectively. The mean soil pH value was adequate at 6.7.

Fernandez indicated that the mean calcium and magnesium levels were 4,452 and 732 pounds, respectively. These levels indicated no need for application of these nutrients. The mean organic value was 3.3 percent.

Phosphorus, potassium, and organic matter levels were stratified with surface to subsurface ratio of 2.4 to 1, 1.5 to 1, and 1.2 to 1, respectively. This stratification is an indication that most soils sampled are under conservation or reduced tillage. The lack of stratification in pH possibly indicates that soil acidity in the plow layer can be corrected even when soils are not intensively tilled, notes Fernandez.

The results of this survey show the importance of soil sampling and the benefit of using soil test information to manage nutrients in times of high fertilizer prices. The above information was presented at the North Central Extension-Industry Soil Fertility Conference held in Des Moines, IA during November.

Equine Hives:

An Easy Diagnosis, But Often an Elusive Cause

Perhaps your mare snuck out of the barn last night with the stallion next door for an over-the-top first date at a restaurant serving fresh shellfish (instead of a romp in the hay). At least then you may have a definitive cause for the lumps and bumps covering your horse’s body when you walk out to the barn in the morning. But in the real world hunting down the cause of hives is often a challenge.

Dr. Domenico Santoro is a dermatology resident at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana. He explains that urticaria, the medical term for hives, “are flat ‘bumps’ that can arise very quickly on the body of a horse.” They are sometimes itchy, and other times not. In some cases the lumps, which can appear on any part of the body, may also ooze a yellow-tinged fluid.

Many different medications, such as antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or topical agents can be the culprit. Other causes range anywhere from a rapid change in temperature, stress, or an autoimmune disease. Dr. Santoro also notes that allergies can play a role as well. He says, “a horse could be having an allergic reaction to food, flies, mosquitoes, or something in its environment.” Of course, just as in humans, horses can actually have a seasonal reaction to pollen or molds.

Fortunately, the majority of cases involving hives are not emergencies, but you should call your veterinarian right away. Dr. Santoro also notes that, “if owners notice hives after application of a specific topical product, they should wash the horse immediately.” Bathing with shampoo is also a good treatment if the cause is a contact allergy to something in the environment.

Just as some people are highly allergic to certain items (peanut butter or shellfish, for example) and carry an “epi-pen” for emergencies, some horses may also have life threatening allergic reactions which require immediate care. This is why it is critical to call your veterinarian as soon as you notice hives.

In these rare cases, what is of utmost concern is the horse’s airway. As you notice bumps on the skin starting to swell, the same type of reaction could be going on in the animal’s windpipe, causing difficulty breathing.

With any luck, hives will disappear on their own with no serious complications. But if not, there are several tools your veterinarian can use--though it is important to note that because there are several causes of hives, treatment is highly individualized. For example, “for allergic reactions, the use of antihistamines can be effective to differentiate allergies from possible drug reactions or autoimmune disorders,” says Dr. Santoro. Corticosteroids are also used in difficult cases.

Because hives may recur if the cause is not removed from the horse’s environment, it is important to find out what the horse is reacting to. In many cases, an inciting agent will not be found. But in recurrent situations, further diagnostics such as a skin biopsy or allergy testing (similar to what is done in human medicine) can be performed by a specialist.

For more information on hives, contact your local veterinarian.

Illinois Specialty Crop, Agritourism, and Organic Conference

The Illinois Specialty Crop, Agritourism, and Organic Conference will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield January 6 through 9.

The conference will include special interest tracks of presentations on fruits, vegetables, herbs, agritourism/marketing, irrigation/business management, and two new tracks devoted to information on organics.

“The organic tracks will feature speakers who have blazed the trail for organic vegetable production, marketing, and season extension,” said University of Illinois soil scientist Michelle Wander, who is director of the U of I Agroecology/Sustainable Agriculture Program and one of the conference presenters.

Pete Johnson of Pete’s Greens and Steve Pincus of Tipi Produce open the organic session on Thursday. “Pete is a leader in the ‘locavore’ movement and a serious innovator in winter production and the use of moveable greenhouses on his Vermont farm,” Wander said. “Steve Pincus has developed creative marketing channels in Madison and Chicago including Homegrown Wisconsin and a fabulous CSA.”

Johnson and Pincus will also speak in a session on integrated production along with Matt Kleinhenz from Ohio State University. Kleinhenz will discuss organic greenhouse production, composting, grafting and irrigation.

“One of Friday’s sessions will feature a farmer panel and a presentation by USDA scientist Gene Lester on organic production and food quality, and by Val Beasley of the U of I on why agriculture needs to keep it clean,” Wander said.

The afternoon will include an “Organic Research Roundup” with presentations on resources, weeds, transition, disease management, and soils by Deborah Cavanaugh-Grant, John Masiunas, Dan Anderson, Ed Zaborski, Darin Eastburn, and Michelle Wander, all from the University of Illinois.

Visit www.specialtygrowers.org/ for a complete agenda and information about how to register.

Last Call

We Need Your Help, and Opened Hearts

This the last call…I know these are trying and most difficult times for everyone in today’s economy. No one has gone unscathed by it, it has affected everyone. This year we find more of us without jobs, food, even worse homes because of it. However the sad thing are the children it has or will be affecting.

But if you can, please help to help bring a lil Joy into the life of a child in need this Holiday. Earn your “Earth Angel” wings by sponsoring a child for Christmas. With a small contribution of a toy or donation, he or she will know Santa didn’t forget them after all. Our goal is to reach out to families currently residing in Ogle County (but no family in need will be rejected) that has “fallen through the system” somehow, and is unable to receive any kind of assistance, but really could use an Earth Angel assigned to them to make this a special Christmas after all.

If you know of a family who “really” needs an Earth Angel, even if it’s your own family, please come forward and let us know, all the information is kept Confidential. What is most important is gender and ages so gifts can be purchased and distributed accordingly. You can still earn your wings by volunteering to help wrap, pick up or deliver if needed, when the time comes, even if it is for only an hour or two. Remember, the names being gathered need your help, generosity & opened hearts for toys & donations to make this a success.

Together, we can make Ogle County the largest group of bell ringing “Earth Angels” again this year!

Deadline for toy donations is Dec. 19th. At one of the drop sites. Distribution is done until all the toys have been delivered in time for Christmas. Last year the majority of the presents already wrapped, were greatly appreciated! ”Earth Angel” headquarters will once again be at the Mt. Morris Seniors Center.

Website address: earthangelsoglecounty.spaces.live.com I believe in Santa, don’t you? Email address: earth.angels.oglecounty@hotmail.com

Questions? Want to volunteer? Need a pick up? Call: 815-291-7757 and ask for “Granny.”

Remembering Your Loved One This Holiday Season

The holiday season is a time to celebrate family and friends and to reflect on the memory of loved ones no longer with us. Volunteer Hospice of Northwest Illinois, wishes to help you honor and memorialize those who we’ve loved. It has recently contracted with an ornament company to design an ornament that can be used to remember a person who has passed on.

The ornament was designed by Lynnette Krug and depicts the Hospice Logo with contains a hand with the dove surrounded by a circle. The circle represents human-life as we experience it with both its fullness and its limitations. Within this circle we are born, live and grow -- until at last we break the barrier of this existence and move beyond it. The bird represents the human spirit that has the potential for moving beyond the limits of this life. Its wings allow it to leave earth behind and to soar to new heights, new realms, new life. The hand represents the caring support of a human community and its acceptance of death. The hand is open and directed upward.. It provides the bird with a non-threatening position from which it can take its leave. The hand provides the support needed as the bird begins its pass over. Volunteer Hospice of Northwest Illinois serves as the support network to families in their time of need.

These ornaments can be purchased to not only pay tribute to your beloved but the funds used to purchase the ornament will benefit Volunteer Hospice of Northwest Illinois in their mission of providing educational, supportive and compassionate services to the terminally ill, chronically ill or disabled, and to those who are grieving.

We have also included another ornament designed by Lynnette Krug that is entitled “The Journey.” The text on the enclosed card reads “Joyful meetings, sharing moments and the sadness in parting. Keeping wonderful memories and love in our hearts. Knowing with bittersweet gratitude the gifts of the journey.” We are offering this ornament as well as it will support our Journey Through Grief adult grief support group in their effort to provide services to those who are grieving.

To purchase either of these ornaments please contact Volunteer Hospice of Northwest Illinois at 815-947-3260 or by email at volhospice@aeroinc.net. The cost of each ornament is $10. Names of your loved one can be placed on the back of the ornament as a permanent tribute to their memory.

MCH Auxiliary Cookbooks are Back by Popular Demand

MCH Auxiliary Cookbooks are back, just in time for the holiday season. The first order sold out in only weeks, so make sure to get yours soon! They are now on sale at Community State Bank, Sterling Federal Bank, Advantage One Credit Union, Main St. Market, and Fitzgerald’s Pharmacy, for only $10.

The books contain around 300 favorite recipes from the residents of the Morrison area, auxiliary members, and hospital staff. The proceeds of the cookbooks will be used to purchase equipment for the Morrison Community Hospital or placed into a scholarship fund for local students. To learn more about the Morrison Community Hospital Auxiliary please visit the MCH website at www.morrisonhospital.com. You may also contact Vi Parkinson, Auxiliary President, at 815-772-4436.

Refuge Closed Areas Open Early to Public Access

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has announced the two Closed Areas in Illinois including Kehough Slough near Galena and Spring Lake in Savanna will re-open to public access on December 10. These areas are specially designated waterfowl wintering areas and have access restrictions until the duck hunting season ends. However, the recent cold spell has resulted in freeze-up of the areas causing waterfowl to migrate out of the area. These areas are now open to public access including hunting and trapping but no migratory bird hunting is allowed year round.

Radiologist’s Invention Helps Diagnose Critically Ill Cats

Years ago it took several minutes to perform a CT scan on a critically ill patient--human or animal. But with the arrival of the new 16-slice CT machine (the same type of scanner found at top-notch human hospitals) at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana, scanning is complete in a matter of seconds.

That said, “we gained with the increased speed and improved image quality, but still were very limited because patients still needed general anesthesia,” explains Dr. Robert O’Brien, a veterinary radiologist at the Teaching Hospital. While the newer technology provided superior imaging capabilities, all patients undergoing a CT at the teaching hospital in years past had to first be under general anesthesia because they had to remain perfectly still during the several minute long scan.

The problem was highlighted with dogs or cats arriving at the emergency room in respiratory distress. As clinicians would furiously try to work up the cause of the life-threatening ailment, they needed diagnostic imaging to actually see what was going on in the lungs. But anesthetizing an unstable patient can be fatal, and so a CT scan could never be performed on these patients, complicating and prolonging diagnosis and treatment.

But then Dr. O’Brien had an idea. If only he could make a device that provided oxygen and allowed the patient to rest while undergoing a CT, then they would not have to anesthetize the patient. “We wanted this device to improve on care of the patient in our emergency room, allow for access to the patient’s IV line and provide continual oxygen support before, during, and after the scan,” he explains.

After a few prototypes, Dr. O’Brien has finally come up with the VetMouseTrap. “It is used nearly every day at the hospital now that word has gotten around that we have the ability to do a CT on a critically ill patient without anesthesia,” he notes.

Despite all the hype, the VetMouseTrap is very simple. Constructed from clear plexiglass, the top half lifts off like the top of a pet carrier. The patient is placed in the tube and has room to lie down in a comfortable position. The device also doubles as a short term oxygen cage in the emergency room and transport device within the hospital.

One might ask how a cat that is laying casually can be accurately imaged with a CT scan. With the new 16-slice machine, the animal can lay in any position it chooses. Once the five-second imaging is complete, the computer reconstructs the data into a perfect set of images that the radiologist can interpret.

Dr. O’Brien reports that he has had numerous universities and private practices expressing an interest in obtaining the device. Production of the device is currently limited to collaborative research, including the University of Glasgow and University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Currently funded research continues on cats in respiratory distress, cats with nasal disease, and small dogs with collapsing tracheal disease.

For more information on the VetMouseTrap you can contact the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at 217-333-5300.

From the Fields

By Jim Morrison

Soil testing to determine the nitrogen fertilizer needs for corn in Illinois has not been as

useful as testing to determine the needs for limestone, phosphorus, and potassium. Two tests that measure the soil nitrate nitrogen fraction may be appropriate in certain situations and are explained in Chapter 9 of the Illinois Agronomy Handbook.

The early spring nitrate nitrogen test has been used for many years in the drier regions of the Corn Belt with reasonable success. This test requires collecting soil samples in one-foot increments to a two- to three-foot depth in early spring. The procedure measures mostly nitrogen carried over from the previous crop.

The greatest potential for success of this test is where corn follows corn, especially in fields where adverse growing conditions limited yields the previous year and where dry weather has reduced the loss of nitrogen from the soil. Heavy rainfall in late spring or early summer will reduce the usefulness of this test since much of the nitrogen detected earlier in the spring may be leached or denitrified before the corn plants have the opportunity to take it up from the soil.

University research in Wisconsin and Michigan has shown this procedure to work well, but Iowa researchers have indicated that the test did not accurately predict nitrogen needs.

The pre-sidedress nitrate test (PSNT) is typically more accurate in high-yielding environments and in fields that have received manure or other organic fertilizers in the recent past or that have had legume crops with high nitrogen content, such as alfalfa. By sampling later in the growing season, this test provides a measure of the amount of nitrogen mineralized (released) from organic nitrogen plus the amount of carryover nitrogen still present in the soil. Research in several states has shown this test to be useful.

The test requires soil sampling to a one-foot depth when corn is 6 to 12 inches tall (V4 to V6 developmental stage), or in late May to early June when planting is delayed. The reliability of this procedure depends upon proper sample collection, handling, and processing.

PSNT works best if no nitrogen or only a starter amount (20 to 30 pounds of nitrogen per acre) has been applied prior to sampling. One of the limitations of this test is that it is useful only for fields that will receive sidedress nitrogen application, thus the risk of a relatively short application period.

The general consensus is that no additional nitrogen is needed if the PSNT test levels are above 25 parts per million (ppm), and a full rate of nitrogen should be applied if test levels are less than 10 ppm. When levels fall between 10 and 25 ppm, nitrogen rates should be adjusted proportionally.

Further information is available in the Illinois Agronomy Handbook, 24th Edition, which can be ordered online at https://pubsplus.uiuc.edu/C1394.html University of Illinois Extension offices can assist individuals obtaining a copy.

Soy Peptide Lunasin Has Anti-Cancer, Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Two new University of Illinois studies report that lunasin, a soy peptide often discarded in the waste streams of soy-processing plants, may have important health benefits that include fighting leukemia and blocking the inflammation that accompanies such chronic health conditions as diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

“We confirmed lunasin’s bioavailability in the human body by doing a third study in which men consumed 50 grams of soy protein--one soy milk shake and a serving of soy chili daily--for five days. Significant levels of the peptide in the participants’ blood give us confidence that lunasin-rich soy foods can be important in providing these health benefits,” said Elvira de Mejia, a U of I professor of food science and human nutrition.

In the cancer study, de Mejia’s group identified a key sequence of amino acids--arginine, glycine, and aspartic acid, (the RGD motif)--that triggered the death of leukemia cells by activating a protein called caspase-3.

“Other scientists have noted the cancer-preventive effects of the RGD sequence of amino acids so it’s important to find proteins that have this sequence,” she said.

The scientists also verified lunasin’s ability to inhibit topoisomerase 2, an enzyme that marks the development of cancer, and they were able to quantify the number of leukemia cells that were killed after treatment with lunasin in laboratory experiments.

In another study, the first to report lunasin’s potential anti-inflammatory activity, they showed that lunasin blocked or reduced the activation of an important marker called NF-kappa-B, a link in the chain of biochemical events that cause inflammation.

They also found statistically significant reductions in interleukin-1 and interleukin-6, both important players in the inflammatory process. The reduction in interleukin-6 was particularly strong, she said.

Although inflammation is linked in the public mind with chronic health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis, de Mejia said it also plays a role in the development of cancer. “We know that chronic inflammation is associated with an increased risk of malignancies, that it’s a critical factor in tumor progression,” she said. “And we can see that daily consumption of lunasin-rich soy protein may help to reduce chronic inflammation. Future studies should help us to make dietary recommendations,” she added.

Although the high cost of obtaining lunasin from soy waste limits its use for nutritional interventions, soy flour does contain high concentrations of the peptide, she said. And de Mejia utilized the USDA soybean germplasm collection housed at the U of I, studying 144 soy genotypes to learn which varieties contain the most lunasin.

“Some genotypes contain very high concentrations of lunasin, others contain no lunasin, and some locations yield more lunasin-rich beans than others,” she said.

De Mejia spoke recently about this work at the Latin American Congress of Food Science and Technology in Brazil, the Latin American Congress of Nutrition in Chile, and the Institute of Food Science and Technology at National Taiwan University.

The leukemia study was published in Molecular Nutrition and Food Research. Wenyi Wang and Vermont Dia are co-authors. Lunasin’s anti-inflammatory effects were described in Food Chemistry. V. P. Dia, W. Wang, and V. L. Oh of the U of I and B. O. de Lumen of the University of California, Berkeley, were co-authors. Both studies were funded by the USDA Future Food Initiative.

The plasma and genotype studies appeared in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. The environmental conditions study was published in the Journal of AOAC International.