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More Important NewsMorrison Christian Church Welcomes New Minister
Morrison Christian Church is pleased to introduce Louie P. Celaya as the church’s new minister. “Everyone has told us we are going to love Morrison because it is a great small town with lots of fun things going on,” Louie said. “I think they’re right. We have some really nice folks in our church who immediately made us feel welcome and loved, and people around town have been so nice to us. We look forward to becoming a part of this community and having a fruitful ministry here at Morrison Christian Church.” Louie was born and raised in Phoenix, Az., one of 15 children in his family. He earned his high school diploma while serving in the Army in Stuttgart, Germany, during the Vietnam era, and his bachelor’s degree in Biblical Literature from Ozark Christian College in Ozark, Mo. Louie has been preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ for more than 25 years. Louie is fluent in both English and Spanish, and has taught English as a Second Language at high school and junior high levels in public and Christian schools. He retired two years ago from working 26 years for the US Postal Service. He spent his last 10 years with the USPS as a supervisor in a mail distribution center in Missouri. In his leisure time, Louie enjoys spending time outdoors – hunting, fishing, camping, gardening, swimming – and reading and watching movies. He also enjoys cleaning and refurbishing antiques. He and his wife, Donna, have six grown children and six grandchildren from ages 3-13. Most of them live in the Tampico area. Two daughters reside in Missouri. They returned in mid-2009 to Whiteside County to be near their grandchildren. Morrison Christian Church at 201 S. Genesee St., Morrison, IL 61270 invites everyone to attend worship service at 9 a.m. on Sunday mornings when Louie delivers solid, Bible-based sermons that encourage faith and enhance understanding of the Bible and God’s loving plan for mankind. Note that worship service time will change to 10 a.m. beginning Feb. 6, with Sunday school from 9 to 9:45 a.m. for both children and adults. School children from grades K-8 are invited to the Warriors in God’s Service – WINGS – youth-group meetings at 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays, beginning again on Jan. 4, after the Christmas and New Year’s school holiday. Those who would like to talk to Louie can call (815) 772-4325. HIs office hours at the church are from 2-4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, or by appointment.
Reynolds Achieves Eagle Scout
Shannon’s Josh Reynolds Achieves Eagle Scout Honor In a ceremony held Saturday, November 13, 2010, Josh Reynolds received the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest honor awarded by the Boy Scouts of America. The rank of Eagle Scout is achieved by less than 5% of all Boy Scouts across America. For his Eagle Scout service project, Josh headed up the effort to paint the picnic tables & shelter at the Shannon Park in the summer of 2009. Josh is a senior at Eastland High School, and is the son of Mike and Lori Reynolds.
Santa with Madelyn, age 2-1/2 of Mount Carroll and Mak Grace, age 14 of Camanche, IA. meet with Santa at “There’s No Place Like Home” craft mall in Mount Carroll. (PA photo/A. Williamson) MHS to Participate in Operation Teen Safe Driving ProgramMilledgeville High School’s SADD Chapter applied and was recently selected by the Illinois Department of Transportation and partners to participate in the 2010-11 Operation Teen Safe Driving (OTSD) program. The statewide safety initiative is designed for teens to educate their peers about driving responsibility in an effort to decrease the number of fatalities involving teenagers in Illinois.
In total, 105 high schools statewide were selected to participate in this innovative program, which utilizes Ford Motor Company Fund’s nationally recognized Ford Driving Skills for Life program. The selected high schools are equally distributed in seven regions across the state. “We are extremely proud of the students in Milledgeville High School’s SADD Chapter who created a customized and comprehensive peer led program which led to the entry into the 2010-11 Operation Teen Driving Program,” said Paula Radamacher, Principal. “We commend the efforts and hard work of the students and have full confidence their program will positively impact our community.” The selection process for the Operation Teen Safe Driving program requires students to identify issues relating to traffic safety in their community (i.e. underage drinking, driving unbuckled, impaired and distracted). Students are required to provide information explaining how they would combat the traffic safety problem and implement a teen awareness program in their school and community. MHS and the other selected schools have received $2000 in grant funding from IDOT’s Division of Traffic Safety and the Allstate Foundation. They will develop and implement a peer-to-peer based program and present a report at the conclusion of the program. Winners are selected from each region and each winning school will receive prize money to host a post-prom party. The top five schools from each region will be invited to send students to a “Driving Skills for Life, Ride and Drive” event which is sponsored by the Ford Motor Company Fund. Students will observe professional drivers on two separate courses demonstrating critical driving skills. Teens will then have the opportunity to drive the same courses with the professional driver sitting in the passenger seat to provide tips and assistance. The Office of the Governor, the Illinois Secretary of State, IDOT’s Division of Traffic Safety, the Illinois State Police, the Illinois State Board of Education, in partnership with the Ford Motor Company Fund and the Allstate Foundation are all supporting the Operation Teen Safe Driving program. Also supporting the Illinois campaign are the Governors Highway Safety Association and SADD (“Students Against Destructive Decisions”). For more information about the Operation Teen Safe Driving Program, please visit www.teensafedrivingillinois.org.
These decorations were cleverly created and decorated the Christmas tree at “The Table” Christmas gathering December 19 by Savanna’s Second Grade Class. (PA photo/A. Williamson)
Santa, along with the owners and staff of The DogWood Inn Wish all a “Merry Christmas” from their family to yours! Guests and staff at the Dogwood Inn (L to R): Bernice Ratledge, Willie “Evelyn” Ratledge, Haley Collins & Michelle Collins, Baby Hailey Yount, the Hedrick and Blum family from the Polo area and Florida. (PA photo/A. Williamson) What We Don’t Know Can Hurt Us
Over the past 3 years the Carroll County Substance Education Coalition (CCSEC) has been gathering data from youth regarding local trends in substance abuse in Carroll County. This information has allowed us the opportunity to evaluate substance abuse trends and develop strategies to address local concerns. There is a huge misconception that as a small rural community, our youth are not impacted by the substance abuse problems that impact bigger communities. As parents, grandparents, teachers and concerned adults, we spend a lot of time helping teens circumvent the challenges that could ruin their lives. Perhaps one of the biggest challenges is protecting our youth from substance abuse. We talk to them about the hazards of underage alcohol use and the problems associated with abusing marijuana and other dangerous drugs such as heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine. According to national statistics, we’re making progress, and the data shows that illicit drug use has gone down over time. New and disturbing trends about underage substance abuse is creating additional concerns for parents, school, law enforcement and community leaders. The fact is that one in five teens or 4.5 million young people have abused Rx drugs (National Council on Patient Information and Education). They are abusing these medications to get high, fall asleep, wake up and deal with stress. The Illinois Youth Survey, taken by Carroll County 8th, 10th and 12th graders, has opened our eyes about these trends in our communities, and over the past 3 years we have also seen an increase in over the counter and prescription drug abuse by our youth. Teens believe that because Rx medications are legal, they are safer than their illicit counterparts, making these medications the statistical drug of choice after marijuana. Prescription drugs are also easy to get. Fifty-six percent of people who use Rx medications non-medically say they obtain these drugs from friends and relatives (NSDUH 2008), meaning that these drugs are freely shared or taken from medicine cabinets or other accessible places. Locally, Carroll County youth report “easy” social access to these drugs from parties, friends and other adults. How do we protect the rights of those who need these medications to relieve pain, while also preventing their abuse? We’ve got to sound the alarm to parents and adult caregivers that prescription drugs are a source of grave concern. Teens are abusing these drugs and some are even dying because of it. Adults need to lock up their meds, keep track of their medication quantities and learn how to properly dispose of unused medications. You can join us in this effort as we work in our communities to create a healthier, safer environment for our youth. The Carroll County Substance Education Coalition is developing a committee of concerned citizens to develop and implement local strategies to inform and educate our community, so we can raise awareness about this local issue and the impact on our youth. If you would like to learn more or are interested on working with C.C.S.E.C. to create a safer environment please contact Carol Geary at 815-244-9444 or email cgeary@illinois.edu. Milledgeville High School October Student Of The Month
Ashley Wagenknecht, a senior at Milledgeville High School, was nominated and selected as the October student of the month because she is an excellent student who plans ahead and is well-organized. Also, she takes an active role in her own learning – she asks questions and shows a general interest in her own education. Currently, Ashley is ranked 3rd in her class and was most recently named as an Illinois State Scholar. Her goal is to attend Illinois State University and become a math teacher, and her favorite class is calculus. Ashley is also involved in other activities: Volleyball, Basketball, Softball, Student Council, National Honor Society, Senior Class Officer, Poms, Teacher’s Aide, and hanging out with her friends & family. If Ashley could meet one person it would be Ashton Kutcher because “he is a babe. Who wouldn’t want to meet Kelso off ‘That 70’s Show’?” She also says that next to her name in the dictionary would be the word Wheeze. The thing she likes most about her home town is that “everyone is so friendly and everyone knows everyone.” Ashley says that her parents have been the most influential people in her life “because they raised me to be a fun, smart, outgoing, and loving person. I wouldn’t be the Ashley everyone knows if I didn’t have them.” Ashley’s parents are DeAnn & Keith Wagenknecht. Marta Bender - Student of the Month
Marta Bender of Morrison High School was named Student of the Month at the Whiteside Area Career Center in Sterling for outstanding effort and performance. She is pursuing a curriculum of Digital Media Arts. Her parents are Curt and Corinne Bender.
Chadwick-Milledgeville Thumbs Up Winners for Week 11
Back Row (L to R): Krystal Druien, Aries White, Daniel Lohnes, Gage Offill Front Row (L to R): Ashton Nobis, Peyton Urish, Joey Promenschenkel, Mekhi Halstead
Stitzel’s at ‘Snowball Express’
Eight Illinois pork producers recently went to Dallas, Texas to participate in Snowball Express, an organization that is dedicated to taking care of the children and families of fallen military hero’s. Two of the producers were from Shannon, Laurie and Darrell Stitzel. The Illinois Pork Producers Association teamed up with the Texas Pork Producers Association and the National Pork Board to provide the grills, volunteers and pork to help feed the families attending the Snowball Express event. (Left) The group of pork producers from Illinois that volunteered at Operation Snowball Express are (front row left to right) Karen Borgic, Laurie Stitzel, Kathy Scholl, and Connie Frase; (back row left to right) Phil Borgic, Darrell Stitzel, Brent Scholl, and Bob Frase. (Right) Brent Scholl grills up some pork burger sliders that were provided to families of fallen soldiers at the Operation Snowball Express event at the Southfork Ranch in Dallas, TX. (Courtesy of Tim Maiers, Illinois Pork Producers Association)
Mark Klein Health BeatThe Answer - Fitness, Tanning & Nutrition CentersCan you have high intensity workouts with low impact exercise equipment?Low impact exercise equipment is often used in conjunction with the words gentle, easy or light, and is often recommended for people who don’t want a high intensity workout. But what if you want to work hard, but don’t want to use the heavy dumbbells, barbells, pulleys, cables, and weight stacks? Can low impact exercise equipment help you burn calories and lose weight as well as high impact exercise equipment? Absolutely. High impact exercise equipment isn’t for everyone. If you’re trying to lose weight, you know that getting into the middle to high range of your target heart rate is important for burning calories. You also know that it’s easier to get your heart rate up with high impact equipment but, for some people, high impact just isn’t an option. Some reasons you may want to avoid high impact are pregnancy, injuries in the joints, bones or connective tissue, arthritis, osteoporosis, being a beginner, being over weight or wanting to avoid injury. So its true that high impact equipment can give a quicker, more intense workout, but for most of us who have a variety of different physical issues to deal with or those who just don’t want to get injured and suffer a set back in their workouts, low impact exercise equipment is the way to go. So yes, low impact exercise equipment can get your heart rate up and can burn significant calories. The catch is, you may have to work a little longer and a little harder. Here’s to your health, Mark Klein
Waiting for Santa Claus(Left) Waiting for Santa to arrive at Chadwick’s Hometown Christmas Celebration is the Hartman Family: Landon, sitting on Great Grandma Laura Hartman’s lap, his mother, Laura; grandma, Theresa, and great grandpa, Vic Hartman. Santa was late because of the snowy weather! The event included a Library Book Sale, Levi Frint working at the craft and bake sale table top help raise money for a youth mission trip in 2011, a spaghetti supper, Lighting of the Christmas Tree, and caroling. (Right) Candyce Hagg, Hannah Kehl, and Tania Ritenour waiting for the supper to begin at the Chadwick American Legion Hall.
Aiden Barkley, age 6 w/ sister Sydney, age 3 of Milledgeville at the Milledgeville State Bank’s “Visit With Santa” in the lobby, Friday Dec. 17th. Merry Christmas to all from the Milledgeville State Bank. (PA photo/Andrew Williamson)
At the DQ Grill & Chill ion Morrison, Santa Claus visits with Jenna Grater, age 3 of Morrison, thinking of what she would like for Christmas! (PA photo/ Andrew Williamson)
Lanark Veterans Announce New AwardThe Lanark American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts announce the creation of a new award to recognize outstanding support of local veterans activities by businesses, organizations and individuals. The new award is called the Lanark Friends of Veterans Award. Each recipient of the award will have his name engraved on a plaque which will be on display throughout the year at the Heritage Center in Lanark. Potential recipients will be nominated by local veterans and approved by the local veterans organizations. One recipient will be selected each year. The award for 2010 is being presented to Burkholder and Son for their outstanding support in getting the Lanark Veterans Memorial built in a timely and cost effective manner. Their generosity and can do attitude exemplifies what a community can do when they put their minds and backs into a worthwhile project. Going On A Bus TripGet away from it all for a day of fun and let the Milledgeville State Bank make it easy for you, as we travel to the Overture Center for the Arts in Madison, Wisconsin to see a musical comedy called GUYS & DOES on Saturday, January 22, 2011, which promises more “bang for your buck”, the wacky and wonderful excursion into the world of Wisconsin deer-hunting. Join mill worker Fritz Dingleheimer as he, once again, heads UP NORT’ for that much needed break in his routine. Puzzled over what to get his wife of 30 years for Christmas, and numbed by the mindless repetition of his job at the Nekoosa paper mill, this noble hunter, known as the “Wizard of Whitetails” can’t wait to drink in the peace and quiet (and beer) found in the northern pines on his annual deer hunting trip. It would all be perfect, except this time around his only companion is his daughter’s boyfriend, Duane Puddles, who is ANYTHING BUT a hunter. He is sensitive, likes to read self-help books and constantly needs to share and hug. Add to the mix Joe Jimmy Ray Bob Johnson III, a Texan who is seeking the rare albino deer, but his methods and actions prove to be less than noble. “GUYS & DOES” is full of humor, heart and wonderful melodies. Whether you are a hunter, a spouse of a hunter or never even considered hunting, this show still “aims” to please. $68.00 per person. Pricing includes bus, theatre ticket, and evening meal at Old Country Buffet, tax and tips. We will depart from Milledgeville State Bank at 12:15 p.m. We will have an early arrival in Madison, giving everyone a chance to visit the many shops near the theatre, or take the opportunity to have a snack or drink before the show. Showtime is at 4:00 p.m. After the show, we will travel just 10 minutes to the Old Country Buffet for our evening meal. Return time to Milledgeville is, tentatively, 9:00p.m. Tickets are limited. Making payment in full reserves seats. This trip would make a great “Christmas Gift”; we will provide a gift note for you to present. If you have questions, please contact Deb at Milledgeville State Bank, 815-225-7171 Snow and Ice Can Harm EvergreensEvergreen plants can be harmed by winter’s snow and ice, said a University of Illinois Extension plant pathologist. “Inspect your plants for winter damage,” said Jim Schuster. “Snow can cause excessive bending down of evergreen branches to the point of breaking. These broken branches will always be weak if you try to bend them back up or tie them back up. “Consider cutting them off and, if possible, train neighboring branches to grow and fill in the gaps.” To avoid breakage or other injury, brush the heavy, wet snow off of the plants as soon as it stops snowing or even while it is snowing. Do not beat on the branches to remove the snow. Use a broom to lightly push or brush the snow off the branches. “Sometimes the snow bends the leader of the evergreen over,” he noted. “If the leader remains bent for a long time, it may not return to its normal position after the snow melts. “Carefully brush the snow off the plant. If after removing the snow, the plant stays bent, it may need some extra support. To correct this problem, the leader has to be straightened and then tied or anchored in place.” If the tree is not too big, a stake can be tied to the trunk below the bent tip. Then the bent leader can be tied upright to the stake. The stake needs to remain in place for several growing seasons until enough new internal wood is made to support the damaged wood in the upright position. However, if the tree is very large, guide wires anchored to the ground may have to be used for several years. If the tree has multiple leaders like many arborvitae and junipers have, the leaders may spread outward like the spokes in a wagon wheel. “You may not need to stake or guide wire the multiple leader plants,” he said. “Instead, pull the stems back upright and tie them in one big circle rather than tying individual leaders.” At least once a year the tied areas need to be untied and retied at slightly different heights. If the ropes are never adjusted, the ropes can strangle and kill the leader. “Even though it may sound and look odd, panty hose makes a better material for tying your tree to a stake,” Schuster noted. “Panty hose do not cut into the plant tissues like rope or wire. Nylon also takes longer to fall apart so it can be used longer. To help the nylon blend in better, use brown or green panty hose. In addition, cut the pants portion out and use just the leg portion for tying.” Ice can be more difficult to remove, he added. “Trying to remove ice from bent-over plants often results in greater damage,” he said. “Instead wait for the ice to melt and then straighten and tie the branch upright if necessary.” 100 Years of Illinois Birds Presents a Century of InformationA new book, Illinois Birds: A Century of Change, literally took 100 years to write. The first comprehensive survey of birds in Illinois was conducted from 1906-1909. It was repeated from 1956-1958 and a technical book was written comparing the two surveys. When the 100-year anniversary of that first survey was approaching, ornithologists Mike Ward, Jeff Walk, Steve Bailey, and Jeff Brawn seized the window of opportunity to do it again and write a book, this time with 100 years of data, lots of pictures, and a broader appeal. “Many things have changed since 1906. They didn’t have bird books or mp3 players with bird calls on them. They carried guns, and if they could not identify the bird, they likely shot it,” said Ward who is an author of the book. “It’s also harder today to walk randomly across Illinois as they did then because of private land issues, so it’s unlikely that we walked in their exact same footsteps, but we know we were in the same general area.” The researchers also walked down Michigan Avenue. “Most ornithologists avoid urban areas,” Ward said. “But a lot of great conservation happens in the forest preserves in Cook, McHenry and Lake counties. Fifty years from now, most of northern Illinois will probably be one large metropolis and understanding the dynamics of bird populations in urban areas is going to be important for the future management of species in these areas.” Ward said the book is filled with pictures and figures, largely due to the fact that in 1906 the surveyors carried a “state of the art” camera and were told to take a lot of photos. “We have several pictures in the book that were taken in the exact same spot in 1906, 1956 and 2006 so you can see how Illinois has changed and in some cases has not changed. There are areas in central Illinois where the only change in the last 100 years is that now the field is a soybean field instead of a corn field. There are areas in southern Illinois that have gone from ag fields in 1900s to a forest in 1950s, back to ag fields in the 2000s.” What’s changed bird-wise in the past century?Walk said 26 species were found in the 2000s, but not 50 or 100 years ago, including wood ducks, house finches, and collared doves. While only one species has been eliminated from Illinois, there are several species that are declining. “What we were really struck by is that shrubland and savanna birds such as red-headed woodpeckers, brown thrashers, field sparrows, and bobwhites have been declining for about a century and grassland birds such as pheasants, meadowlarks, dickcissels, and bobolinks have declined dramatically in the past 50 years.” If this downward trajectory continues, field sparrows and bobwhite are going to be in bad shape, said Ward. “Shrubland birds don’t need a lot to survive, just some messy shrubbery. Everything is so manicured today. If we don’t mow roadsides until July, that would serve as a good habitat for them.” Ward said that stepping in now and making them a conservation priority will bode well for them in the future. “We know that conservation measures taken early in a species decline are much more effective than waiting until there are only a handful left. This survey, combined with the first two, gives us a really good handle on what the conservation priorities should be in the future,” Walk said. Walk said the 1900s survey gave them a baseline. “In the 1950s they had seen some changes, but they had only two data points. Now we have three and better statistical tools to look at long term trends, so we have a much better grasp on how things have changed over the last 100 years.” With three surveys spanning 100 years, there are huge amounts of data to crunch. Brawn, T.J. Benson, and Jill Deppe provided technical expertise in developing population models using techniques that weren’t available 100 or even 50 years ago. “We were able to take the 1900s data, the 1950s data and the modern data and model it to make stronger inferences about what’s gone up, what’s gone down and what hasn’t changed,” Brawn said. Another unique addition from the 2000s survey is personal interviews. “We learned from talking with people that their perceptions of what was happening with the bird populations were pretty accurate,” Walk said. “They recognized that wild turkeys and Canada geese were increasing and that there were fewer pheasants and quail.” Walk said there is definitely a need for education, however. Most people perceived the greatest conservation need with forest birds and didn’t recognize that the grassland birds were in far more danger. The book isn’t a compendium of every single bird that occurs in Illinois, but it is a compendium of the major birds that people are most familiar with, Brawn said. The book provided information on how the birds and the landscapes of Illinois have changed. The last chapter of the book offers some predictions of what might happen in the future. “We think species such as hawks are going to be fine because they appear to be adapting to living with humans in urban areas. Currently crows can be seen in urban areas having learned to eat French fries out of garbage cans at fast food restaurants. “One hundred years ago, they avoided towns. The species that will thrive in Illinois are likely the ones that can cope with humans,” Ward said. Mike Ward is an assistant professor in the U of I Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (NRES) and a research scientist at the Illinois Natural History Survey. Jeff Walk is the director of science for the Illinois chapter of The Nature Conservancy. Jeff Brawn is an ornithologist and head of the Department of NRES in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois. Other authors are Thomas Benson, Jill Deppe, Stacy Lischka, and Steven Bailey, with the foreword written by Jean Graber who conducted the 1950s survey with her husband Dick. This survey was funded by the Illinois Department of Natural Resource’s State Wildlife Grant Program from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Illinois Birds: a Century of Change is a 230-page, full-color book, published by the University of Illinois. It is available for $25.00 plus $6.25 for shipping by emailing birdbook@inhs.uiuc.edu. Protecting Fruit Trees from Winter Freeze InjuryThe fruit trees grown in Illinois, particularly the northern part of the state, are winter hardy but can still be injured by severe winter temperatures, said a University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator. “The extreme cold winter temperatures and high fluctuations between day and night temperatures may cause injury to fruit trees,” said Maurice Ogutu. “The flower buds, young shoots, tree trunks and roots of fruit trees can be killed by freezing temperatures. The plant tissues are injured more when there is an exceedingly fast drop in temperature at night during winter. The situation becomes worse when it is accompanied by strong winds. The damage is even more severe on frozen areas that thaw very fast.” There are different types of winter freeze injuries that may occur underground and on the above-ground parts of fruit trees in home gardens. A crown or collar injury may occur on the trunk near the ground surface and may extend a few inches below the soil surface, killing the bark of the tree and leading to reduction in surface area for movement of sap back to the roots. A crotch injury may occur at the point where the branch joins the trunk and may lead to the development of a canker on the affected areas and require that the branch be pruned. A winter scald or sunscald may develop on the south or southwest sides of the tree trunk and lower branches due to rapid drop in temperatures on cold, sunny days in midwinter. The sunny side of the trunk thaws while the other side is still frozen, leading to cracking of the bark that may expose the woody part of the stem. The split area may develop into a wound that may turn into a canker that can kill the tree. “The young shoots and twigs from the growth that occurred late in the season are not winter hardy and can be killed by severe winter temperatures,” he said. “The injury may also occur to leaf and flower buds. Apple leaf and flower buds are more resistant to winter injury than in other fruit trees. “In northern Illinois, more damage may occur on peaches and other fruit trees that are sensitive to extremely cold winter temperatures leading to death of leaf and flower buds. The bud or shoot death can be minimized by not fertilizing fruit trees with high nitrogen fertilizers in late summer or early fall, and reducing or stopping irrigation in early fall. It can also be minimized by growing fruit tree varieties that are winter hardy and adapted to the area.” The roots can also be killed by cold, winter temperatures, particularly the roots that are closer to soil surface. The symptoms of severe cases of root injury may be manifested on shoots and are mostly observed in midsummer. “The fruit trees grafted on dwarfing rootstocks that are shallow-rooted need to be mulched in winter to protect roots from winter injury,” Ogutu noted. Sunscald can be managed by wrapping the tree trunks and lower branches on the southwest-facing side with burlap, aluminum foil, craft paper or special tree wraps. These are referred to as trunk guards. The trunk guards can be used in younger trees that have been in the garden for the last two or more years. The trunk guards should be of light color so that they can reflect sunlight during winter, thereby reducing the temperature on the bark. The trunk guards must be removed in early spring. “White latex paint has also been used to protect fruit trees from sunscald for more than one winter,” he said. “White latex paint used for interior painting is much better than other types. Do not use oil-based paint as they can injure the tree.” Trees to be treated in this manner need to have been planted at least two years ago. They should be painted in late fall so that the paint can stay on the bark longer. Paint the trunks on sunny, warm days so that the paint will dry quickly. In order to avoid tree injury, do not paint when the air temperature is below 50 degrees F. Apply the paint using a brush or other materials such as a sponge to get a thick coat that provides better protection. “The whole trunk can be painted, although the southwest, west, or south parts of the trunk may need more protection,” Ogutu said. “The parts of the trunk that need to be protected by the paint should be at least 18 inches above the ground and may extend into parts of the trunk above the lower limbs into the 10 to 12 inches from the base of each of the lower branches.” Checklist for Packing the Perfect Food BasketThis time of year many non-profit organizations and religious groups prepare donations of food baskets for families in need. The challenge is to pack it with what’s truly needed and useful. University of Illinois nutritionist Karen Chapman-Novakofski developed a website with information about packing food baskets after receiving requests from organizations who wanted to include healthier options for food drives. “It can be difficult for people to think of meals made from non-perishable foods,” Chapman-Novakofski said. “Trying to think of achieving food guidelines with all non-perishable goods can be very challenging. For instance, dairy products that are non-perishable are limited, so choosing calcium-fortified grains can be a healthy option. Meat and protein foods are also limited. And trying to find ways to make canned vegetables more appealing — not just a can of vegetables—was also a goal of the site.” Chapman-Novakofski had help from two undergraduate dietetic students, Maegan Walrath and Maria Thomas. “It was more difficult to plan a day’s worth of meals than we had originally thought,” she said. The site, “Making the Most of Your Food Basket Donations” (http://urbanext.illinois.edu/foodbaskets/) has sample menus, shopping lists, and recipes for foods made from non-perishable food items. Although the site was primarily developed for groups who wanted a little more structure to their food drives or food baskets, Chapman-Novakofski said the information would work for care packages for soldiers as well. “Just recently someone asked me for healthy ideas for a backpack program they wanted to develop to send food home for a family of four with a school-aged child. We used a lot of the same information and expanded it a bit.” Expanded Grain Storage to Serve Area Farmers, Create More JobsPearl City Elevator, the largest agricultural business in Stephenson County, will break ground next year for a major dry fertilizer storage and mixing facility and a large UAN liquid storage and mixing facility adjacent to the Adkins Energy ethanol plant in Lena. Pearl City Elevator and Adkins Energy LLC, both locally owned by farmer producers, are working together on the project, which will increase grain storage. In addition, the 2+ miles of railroad siding connecting Pearl City’s existing Lena storage facility (known as Alliance Commodities) to Adkins Energy LLC and to the CN Railroad grid will open up local access to many new markets as well as the export markets in the Gulf of Mexico. “By creating access to export markets in Lena, we create new options for local farmers that will allow them to take advantage of the best pricing scenarios,” said Ron Bremmer, a farmer-owner and current chairman of Pearl City Elevator. “Currently, farmers who want to market their grain on the rail markets face significant transportation costs to move their grain to the rail terminals. This new facility will bring more storage options and decrease transportation and labor costs for the producer. This will give more options to more ag producers, including Adkins Energy LLC.” The project has strong support from the Village of Lena, the Lena Economic Development Corporation, Stephenson County and the Northwest Illinois Development Alliance (NIDA). The site is in the Freeport/Stephenson County Enterprise Zone as well as a local TIF district, though the Adkins and Pearl City Elevator partners don’t plan to request TIF benefits. Dennis Bergman, Village President, Village of Lena, said “We are pleased that Pearl City Elevator has decided to expand its Lena facility. This project means more revenue for the village as well as economic development through job creation in the region. Building the facility will create good construction jobs and when it’s complete, Pearl City Elevator will need full-time, long-term employees to run it.” Tyson Terhune, Lena Economic Development Corporation, agreed. “Having Pearl City Elevator expand its operations in Lena is a big plus for our community. With our primary focus on economic development, it’s great to see a business that will not only add direct jobs here but also will have such a positive effect on other supporting businesses. This will really help to strengthen our competitive position in agribusiness for Northwest Illinois as we work together with the Village to create the best possible business environment in Lena.” Pearl City Elevator officials estimate that this multimillion dollar facility expansion will create 10 local permanent, full-time jobs. “We’re in business to help our local producers and communities,” said Todd Block, general manager of Pearl City Elevator and Adkins Energy LLC. “Cooperative-owned projects like this one benefit not only the ag producers in the community, but the many local businesses we all frequent, from grocery stores to restaurants, hardware stores and more. Local contractors will work on this facility, using materials bought in Stephenson County.” John Blum, Chairman, Stephenson County Board, said, “Pearl City Elevator and Adkins Energy continue to be strong leaders in our regional agricultural economy. This planned expansion will strengthen local links with national markets, provide efficiencies for our farmers, and add great value to our local economy. We appreciate their vision and leadership as well as their financial confidence here in Stephenson County.” The expansion project will have a regional impact as well. Tess Dahm, Associate Director, NIDA, said, “We are very excited about Pearl City Elevator and Adkins Energy’s expansion plans in our region. They have been a key player in the agri-business sector of our regional economy and this expansion will bring even more value to our area. We very much appreciate their continued confidence and investment in Northwest Illinois.” Did You Know . . .When King George III surrendered to the United States, he did so with each of the individual states because each state was considered a separate country. How times have changed. The Federation that was subject to the states and was created for their benefit in trade, defense and twelve other reasons, had nothing to do with the citizens of those states, which people referred to as “my country.” The states individually agreed in basic unalienable rights and they are included in each state’s constitution. Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Continues to be a ProblemIf you have plans to share the Holidays with any children under the age of one year old, please consider getting an immunization for pertussis now to prevent possible spread of the illness to an infant. Pertussis (Whooping Cough) continues to be an ongoing problem in our community, as well as many other communities throughout our nation. Whiteside County Health Department is offering free Tdap (Combined Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis Vaccines) vaccine on a walk-in basis to anyone who comes into contact with children under age one year. Recently, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices included this vaccine recommendation to include all age groups. Please call Whiteside County Health Department at (815) 626-2230, ext. 1203, for further information, or walk-in at the Health Department, 1300 W. 2nd St., Rock Falls, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. or 1 to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday to receive this vaccine. Whiteside County CHC Receives Dental Imaging GrantThe Whiteside County Community Health Clinic is pleased to announce it has received a Dental Imaging Grant which will enable its dental patients to receive quicker and better treatments. The $75,000 grant from Illinois Children’s HealthCare Foundation will allow the Whiteside County Community Health Clinic in Rock Falls, to purchase new digital imaging equipment and to provide dental education to children. “We are very excited that we are able to upgrade our dental department with this digital imaging grant, and to give our clients higher quality and more efficient care,” said Beth Fiorini, Whiteside County Public Health Administrator and Executive Director of Whiteside County Community Health Clinic. The grant allows the Health Department to purchase computers for each dental exam room and digital sensors which will allow dentists to view dental images that were just taken seconds earlier, said Dan Wells, Director of Information Systems at Whiteside County Health Department. “The new imaging equipment is going to increase the speed of seeing dental images dramatically,” said Dr. William Yemm, DDS, Dental Director of the clinic. “It’s really good for our clinic. It is going to increase our diagnostic capacity.” The equipment purchased from the grant, including computer software to transfer the image directly to a patient’s electronic record, will enable the Dental Clinic to see more patients, Wells said. The Dental Clinic also is purchasing computer monitors to place in exam rooms to let patients view information about their dental procedures. This education will translate into better dental hygiene and oral health for children and adults. The Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation, of Oak Brook, Ill., has a mission to ensure every child in Illinois has the opportunity to grow up healthy. Frederick Graduates from Columbia College-FreeportJeffrey Frederick, Mount Carroll, graduated from Columbia College-Freeport on Nov. 6 at the Highland Community College Student Conference Center, in Freeport, Ill. He acquired a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice Administration. Established in 1996 on the campus of Highland Community College, Columbia College-Freeport was originally requested by community leaders who desired a four-year degree program in the city. Columbia College-Freeport is part of the college’s extended network of more than 30 Nationwide Campuses across the country. For more information, visit www.ccis.edu. FEMA Encourages Americans to Resolve to be Ready in 2011With the holiday season upon us and 2011 fast approaching, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is encouraging all Americans to make emergency preparedness one of their New Year’s resolutions for the coming year. Throughout the rest of December, FEMA Region VII will promote Resolve to be Ready in 2011, a nationwide effort to urge individuals, families, businesses and communities to focus on being ready and aware of all the hazards that exist in their communities. “Emergencies can happen at anytime, anywhere,” said Beth Freeman, Administrator of FEMA Region VII in Kansas City, Missouri. “They can range from natural disasters such as flooding to events such as power outages. The key to successful emergency response, regardless of the nature of the event, is personal preparedness. During this holiday season, make a resolution to be prepared through a few simple steps: get an emergency supply kit, make an emergency plan and be informed of the hazards in your area.” According to a study by researchers at the University of Scranton, Americans who make New Year’s resolutions are 11 times more likely to succeed in meeting a goal or tackling a problem than individuals that do not. Resolve to be Ready 2011 is one resolution anyone can keep thanks to the tools and resources available at www.ready.gov or the Spanish language site, www.listo.gov. These sites include important information such as how to put together a kit, make a plan and stay informed. Resolve to be Ready in 2011 is led by FEMA’s Ready Campaign in partnership with Citizen Corps and The Advertising Council. Local events are happening all over the country to underscore the importance of getting people of all ages to make a resolution to be prepared for emergencies. For more information on the Ready Campaign and Citizen Corps, visit Ready.gov and CitizenCorps.gov. Follow FEMA online at www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications. FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. Webinars Guide Direct Farm Businesses through Legal MazeIn today’s food marketplace, more health-conscious consumers are seeking out local sources of food, and they are increasingly turning to direct farm businesses – such as farmers’ markets, roadside stands, and U-pick operations – to fill their needs. The farmers who run these businesses stand to benefit greatly from this demand: Selling directly to consumers increases the farmer’s share of the consumer’s food dollar, and building a connection with customers and the community can make farming a more enjoyable and rewarding experience. However, managing a successful direct farm business can be difficult due to a labyrinthine set of laws and regulations. These laws are implemented and enforced by more than a dozen local, state, and federal government authorities that each have their own (sometimes overlapping) requirements. Just figuring out who to contact about a particular law or regulation can sometimes be a daunting task. To help guide direct farm business owners through this maze of laws, A. Bryan Endres (an Associate Professor of Agricultural Law at the University of Illinois) and Nicholas R. Johnson (an Illinois attorney) have developed a webinar that clarifies some of the unique legal issues pertaining to direct farm businesses. Sponsored by the Illinois Bar Foundation, the Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research (CFAR), North Central Risk Management Center, and the University of Illinois Extension, the webinar and related web content touches upon general business topics such as taxation, labor and employment, business planning and setup; rules and regulations that apply to specific direct farm business products (such as dairy, eggs, grains, honey, livestock and poultry, fruits and vegetables, and organic produce); and other legal issues that may arise in the context of establishing and operating a direct farm business. The first webinar Managing Legal Risks in the Direct Farm Business will be held on Tuesday, January 25 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. A second webinar, Managing Legal Risks in the Direct Farm Business Follow-Up, will be held on Thursday, March 3 from 6:00-7:30 pm. will address those outstanding questions and/or issues that came up in the first webinar and that needed additional research by Bryan Endres and Nick Johnson. The program will also provide an opportunity for participants to ask additional questions. Both Webinars will be hosted locally by the University of Illinois Extension-Stephenson County, 2998 W. Pearl City Road, Freeport. To register for the webinar call the University of Illinois Extension-Stephenson County at (815) 235-4125 or on-line at www.extension.illinois.edu/stephenson. Participants can register for both webinars for only $10. NAMI of Sauk Valley Meets December 28National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Sauk Valley will meet at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, December 28, at the Sinnissippi Centers, 325 IL Rt. 2, Dixon. This meeting provides education as well as support to families struggling with a diagnosis of mental illness in a relative or friend. NAMI of Sauk Valley is an affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness and NAMI Illinois, serving the residents of Ogle, Lee, Carroll and Whiteside Counties. For more information on NAMI or upcoming activities, contact Mary Ann Hutchison, local president, at 815-244-1405, or e-mail namisaukvalley@gmail.com. Deep Water AquaciseThe City of Morrison Rec Program will begin its next class of Deep Water Aquacise on January 3, 2011. Mid-to-high intensity water exercises will be done in the deep end. You do not have to be an experienced swimmer, however, you should be comfortable in the water. The Rec program will supply all the necessary water equipment needed for the class which includes flotation belts and water bar bells. The class will meet at the Morrison High School Pool on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 6:00 - 6:45 a.m. and will run through March 25, 2011. There will be approximately 36 sessions. The total registration cost for the class is $80.00. Make plans to join the class. The water has been perfect and the exercise lots of fun. If you would like to register, contact Theresa Farrell at 815-718-2690 or by e-mailing her at mtfarrell@mchsi.com. Mysterious Unveiling Announced Suspense, intrigue, mystery - what a way to start the new year. Yellow Creek Quilt Designs (formerly Sew Many Antiques) in Pearl City will be holding a mysterious unveiling on Jan. 2, 2011 from 1-4 with the actual unveiling taking place at 2:30. There will be live entertainment provided by Stringwinders, appetizers provided by Yellow Creek Inn & Yellow Creek Quilt Designs. You’re not going to want to miss this, so come and be a part of the excitement! Register for Leadership CafeFor Non Profit Leaders and Board MembersContinuing our partnership with the Freeport Chamber of Commerce and the Northern Illinois Center for Non Profit Excellence, we will continue to offer the popular Leadership Café series for non-profit administrators and board members. We are pleased to announce the following Leadership Café program in 2011: Amy Morris, Development Director of RAMP, will present “The Difference between Fundraising and Development,” a program on how to use fundraising to build capacity and sustainability for your organization—bridging the gap between “fundraising” and “development.” Leadership Cafe is Tuesday, January 11, 2011, 12 Noon – 1:00 PM, at the Stephenson County Farm Bureau Building, 210 W. Spring Street, in Freeport. Registration for Cafe (including lunch) is $10.00. The cost of the Leadership Café series is being subsidized by the NICNE Stephenson County Scholarship Program which is made possible by a donation from the Freeport Community Foundation and the partnership with the University of Illinois Extension-Stephenson County. The scholarship provides 50% of the registration fee for any NICNE program, locally or in Rockford, for Non Profits in and serving Stephenson County. Without this scholarship program, the cost of the café would be $20. For more information about NICNE, please visit: http://www.rockford.edu/?page=NICNE. RSVP by Monday, January 10, 2011 to University of Illinois Extension-Stephenson County, (815) 235-4125, mklarson@illinois.edu or register online (with credit card): http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/stephenson Ice Skating at Read Park RinkThe Read Park Ice Skating Rink is now open to the public until further notice. General hours for public skating will be from dawn until 9:00 PM, Monday – Sunday. However, the rink may be closed periodically for maintenance and scheduled programs. Please call the Freeport Park District’s ice skating and sledding hotline at 815-235-6114 ex. 8 for the latest conditions and facility closures before making a trip to the ice rink. The Read Park Ice Rink is an outdoor facility located on American St. near the Read Park Family Aquatic Center. Thursday nights will be reserved for ice hockey at the Read Park Ice Rink from 6:30 – 9:00 PM. General skating may be closed at this time to accommodate full rink hockey. There is no cost to participate. Read Park Youth Ice Skating ClassesYouth Learn-to-skate and an Intro to Hockey classes will be offered in January and February. Pre-registration, including participation fee, is required for these programs. For more information or to register for the Youth Learn-to-skate and/or Intro to Hockey programs, please visit the Freeport Park District website at www.freeportparkdistrict.org, call us at 815/235-6114 ext 0, or stop by the Freeport Park District office, 1122 S. Burchard Ave. Christmas Eve ServicesChristmas Eve will be celebrated in the United Methodist Church in Morrison with a variety of three worship services and times. Each worship service, “Come and Celebrate Christmas,” is open to everyone and each will have a different emphasis. Pastor Dan Schenck will lead each of the worship services. A Noon Communion Service will be held on Christmas Eve. This thirty-minute worship is for all those who desire to celebrate the eve of the Savior’s birth with Holy Communion. The United Methodist Church recognizes an open communion table for any who wish to partake. The 5:00 P.M. service will be for families, especially those with children. Come, experience the message of Christmas in word and song. This service will be for everyone with special emphasis on families and children. The third and final Christmas Eve service at 9:00 P.M. will be celebration of Christ’s birth with Lessons and Carols in a candlelight setting. The Sanctuary Choir will sing “Beneath the Star,” “Breath of Heaven,” “Song of the Crib,” and “Once Upon This Silent Night.” Come, join in this beautiful celebration of Christmas! You are welcome! Tax-Aide Program at Carroll County Senior CenterTax documents will soon be arriving in the mail. Once again the Carroll County Senior Center will offer the Tax-Aide program to the community. Volunteers are trained to assist low and middle income taxpayers with an emphasis on those over 50. Tax preparation will be for individual taxes - no farm income, rentals, partnerships or other business returns. Counselors will post an Out of Scope poster at the site. Counselors will be available Wednesday and Friday mornings at the Senior Center, Mount Carroll beginning February 9. Taxpayers are reminded to bring a copy of last year’s tax return (2009), Social Security cards or other official documentation for themselves and all dependents. Other documents to include are: - W-2 forms showing income from each employer - Unemployment compensation statements - SSA-1099 forms showing Social Security benefits received - RRB-1099R forms showing railroad retirement benefits received - All forms showing interest and dividends (1099-INT, 1099-DIV, 1099-B, etc. - Documentation showing original purchase prices of assets sold - 1099-MISC forms showing any miscellaneous income - 1099-R forms for pensions and annuities - ll forms indicating income taxes paid - Receipts, canceled checks, or other records for itemizing deductions - Real estate tax receipt with the property identification number - Records of internet or mail-order purchases which did not include Illinois sales tax. The Tax-Aide program is sponsored by the IRS, AARP Foundation and the Carroll County Senior Service Organization. There is no fee for this service. Appointments are necessary and may be made by calling the Senior Center at 815-244-1800 or 866-214-1959.
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