The Prairie Advocate office will close at noon Wed., Dec. 31, and all day Thurs., Jan. 1. See you next year!

The weather during the last full week of 2008 was as unpredictable as determining what future events will occur for the coming new year. Like the rest of Carroll County, Twin Sisters Peak at Mississippi Palisades State Park in Savanna went from ice and snow covered with temperatures at -30 degree wind chills, to fog enshrouded, to rain slicked with spring-like weather, including 50 degree temps and flood warnings - all in a one-week period.

Start the year off right with a new cat or kitten!This is Red.He is a big guy that is looking for a home.Red has been at the shelter since last summer, and he is ready for adoption. He has been neutered and is current on his shots.If you would like to meet Red or one of his friends, call Heartland and schedule an appointment. There are lots of kittens and cats ready for adoption and anxious for homes of their own. Call today . . . 815/-244-6543 or 815/273-3183.

IDNR Issues Reminder: Don't Feed Wild Deer

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is reminding Illinois residents and visitors to refrain from feeding wild deer and other wildlife in areas where wild deer are present. A ban on feeding wild deer was enacted in 2002 as part of the state's continuing effort to limit the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in the Illinois wild deer herd.

"A person's instinct may tell them that feeding a wild animal, especially during the winter months, will help that animal survive when in actuality they may be hurting that animal's ability to find food on their own," said IDNR Acting Director Sam Flood. "Areas where deer congregate have the potential to contribute to the spread of diseases that are transmitted by animal to animal contact, including CWD and bovine tuberculosis. Eliminating the feeding of wild deer will help control the spread of CWD and other diseases among these animals."

The ban includes food, salt, mineral blocks and other food products, with some exceptions. For example, bird and squirrel feeders close to homes and incidental feeding of wildlife within active livestock operations are exempt from the ban. The ban also does not prevent individuals from planting food plots. For a complete list of the exemptions see the administrative rule 17 Illinois Administrative Code Part 635 on the IDNR web site at http://dnr.state.il.us/legal/adopted/635.pdf

Feed stores, pet stores and other retail outlets are also advised not to promote the sale of salt blocks, grain or other feed for wild deer.

Chronic wasting disease is a fatal neurological disease found in deer and elk. The disease affects the brains of infected animals, causing them to become emaciated, display abnormal behavior, lose coordination and eventually die.

It is not known to be contagious to livestock or humans.

CWD has been diagnosed in wild, free-ranging deer and elk as well as in captive animals in a number of western states for many years. The first confirmed cases of CWD in wild deer in Illinois were detected in Boone and Winnebago counties in 2002. To date, a total of 240 deer have tested positive for CWD in Illinois. The affected animals were found or harvested by hunters in Boone, Winnebago, McHenry, DeKalb, Ogle, LaSalle and Stephenson counties.

IDNR continues to collect tissue samples from wild deer for CWD testing. As part of the surveillance and monitoring effort, hunters in northern Illinois are asked to voluntarily provide tissues samples from deer they are harvesting during the Special CWD and Late-Winter Anterless-Only deer seasons in January.

Pearl City Post Office Holds Passport Fair

For people planning a trip outside the country, the local Post Office can help travelers get there with the right documents.

On Saturday, January 17, 2009, the Pearl City Post Office, located at 105 S Main Street, will host a "Passport Fair" from 9:00 ­ 12:00. Postal Service sales and service associates will help residents with passport applications, fees and photos. The Pearl City Post Office regularly accepts passports Monday ­ Friday 9:00 ­ 12:00 and 1:30 ­ 3:30.

"Passport Fairs' make it easy and convenient for travelers to apply for a passport or passport card," said Pearl City Postmaster Deborah Graves.

Effective June 2009, U.S. Citizens must present a valid U.S. Passport Book, U.S. Passport Card or other travel document approved by the Department of Homeland Security, when entering the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda at land border crossings or sea ports-of-entry. The passport card is not valid for international travel by air. According to the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, this change primarily affects United States and Canadian citizens, who have previously been permitted entry by oral declaration alone. They indicated this marks the transition toward standard and consistent documents for all travelers entering the country.

Travelers can now apply for either a passport or the new U.S. Passport Card at the Pearl City Post Office. The Passport Card can only be used to travel by land or sea between the U.S. to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean.

The State Department advises passport production time averages four to six weeks.

Two identical color photos must be submitted with the passport application and according to the State Department they can be no older than six months. Passport photo service will also be available on site for an additional fee. The passport application fee must be paid with cash or check. Passports will be mailed to the customer in four to six weeks after application.

Graves also emphasized the importance of bringing the appropriate documentation, a complete list of which can be found at www.usps.com/passport.

Top Trends for 2009

Top Trend # 8:

Little People Squeeze

With 2008 ending on an economic downturn, The Trends Research Institute forecast an imminent onslaught of "Hassle Taxes" to be levied by governments at every level from local to federal in 2009.

"Intended to make up for shortfalls in revenue brought on by the economic crisis, we predicted the taxes would "squeeze the already squeezed" while leaving the most wealthy relatively untouched," says Trends Research Institute Director, Gerald Celente.

Right on schedule, Governor David Paterson of New York proposed 130 new or sharply raised taxes on a broad range of items including: Soda pop, taxi rides, haircuts, movie tickets, music downloads. If the Paterson proposal is implemented, almost no aspect of daily life will be left untaxed.

New York is not alone . . . most statesare imposing "hassle taxes" and raising propertyand schooltaxesdespite dramatically declininghome values.

While theunfair and burdensome taxes will fail to balance budgets, they willsucceed in infuriating the general public ­ to such an extent that tax revolts will break out around the country, along with incendiary displays of both civil and uncivil disobedience.

Blind to therepercussions, governmentsdo not recognizethat revolution, not prosperity, is just around the corner.

That's not all.Beyond tax revolts and civil disobedience, 2009 will be a tumultuous year. Trends foreboding and trends promising:

· The Collapse of '09: Markets will tumble and major businesses will fail.

· The Greatest Depression: Worse than the 1930's Depression. Why?

· Revolution: What will be the spark that ignites it? Who will fire the shot heard around the world?

· Obamarama: High hopes, broken promises: Some victories, major failures.

· Economic Slim-Fast: Like it or not, Americans will go on a spending diet and food diet.

· Bush Gardens: Lawns out, Edible Landscaping in. Why Bush Gardens?

· Whole Health Healing: 2009 marks a year of "attitude change" for the on-trend health aware.

· Little People Squeeze: Politicians will put the financial squeeze on the already squeezed.

· Regenerative Medicine: The time is ripe for stem cells to come out of the laboratory and into the clinic.

· That's Entertainment. Lifting spirits ­ and drinking them ­ will be big business and major pastimes during the Greatest Depression.

· College Crash: Following the equity market meltdown, the real estate bust and the retail unraveling, comes the college crash.

For more information on the Trends Research Institute, visit their web site at www.trendsresearch.com

Editor's Note: Though Trends Research Institute has a good track record, The Prairie Advocate wants to emphasize that these are national trends and not necessarily local ones.

The Prairie Advocate believes that today's economy doesn't have to be all gloom and doom. See "Heart of the Matter" Nov. 5, 2008. For help on what to do in this current economy, visit www.pacc-news.com to view a video, www.solari.com, http://www.financialpermaculture.com, or http://www.financialpermaculture.org.

Free GED Classes Resume in Savanna

The Adult Education Department of Highland Community College will resume GED/Basic Skills classes the week of January 12, 2009, in Savanna.

Adult Education classes are free to area residents who are 17 years or older and not enrolled in any school. Each student progresses at his/her own pace, and all personal information is confidential.

Savanna classes will meet on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:3011:30 A.M. and 6:00-8:00 P.M. beginning Monday, January 12th at the 1st Methodist Church, 2100 Chicago Avenue.

A New Student Orientation will be held one-half hour before each class. Enrollees need to bring their social security cards and, if applicable, their public aid case numbers to class.

Teens also need a withdrawal letter from their last school stating that they are no longer enrolled in school and the date when they were dropped.

Enrollment in advance is required. For more information or to enroll in an Adult Education class, contact Linda at 815-273-4760 or the HCC Adult Education office at 815-599-3460, and Vanderschaaf at 815-772-3616.

Transportation Plan Committee to Meet

The Human Services Transportation Plan (HSTP) - Region 1 - Transportation Committee will be held on Wed., Jan. 7, 2009 at 10 am at the NICAA offices on the second floor of the Freeport Post Office, 103-109 N. Chicago Ave. This meeting is open to the public.

The HSTP is federally mandated as a part of Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). HSTP is a unified comprehensive strategy for delivery of services that identify the transportation needs of persons with disabilities. older adults, and persons of limited income. It lays out strategies for meeting these needs and prioritizes the services.

The Illinois Department of Transportation has formed agreements with Regional Planning agencies throughout the state for the purpose of preparing and implementing the plan. North Central Illinois Council of Government (NCICG) is the local agency that will prepare plans for Region 1 (Carroll, JoDaviess, Stephenson, and Winnebago counties) and Region 3 (Bureau, DeKalb, LaSalle, Lee, Ogle, and Putnam counties).

More information is available at www.ncicg.org or contact Jeff Joyce at 815-875-3396.

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