Elizabeth Circle Tours Tyler's Justice Center

The Elizabeth Circle of the Lena United Methodist Church recently toured Tyler’s Justice Center for Children and generously donated blankets for the Comfort Room. For more information on how you can help TJC, contact Ashley Castro, Program Coordinator at Tyler’s Justice Center for Children. (Photo courtesy of Ashley Castro)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eagle Point Kenpo Karate Donates

The children’s class of Eagle Point Kenpo Karate in Milledgeville generously and selflessly gathered many items to donate to the Chadwick / Milledgevill Helping Hands Food Pantry. This is considered our 1st annual Food Drive and plan to make it a yearly event! Seated with three wagons, full of donations, are from left to right; Front Row:Travis Tarbill (Polo), Claudia Hamilton, Madison Tarbill, and Linsey Lapp. Second Row: Owner Karen Hutchison, Drake Dublo, Kaleigh Tarbill, and Kyle Lapp. Third Row: Owner Chuck Hutchison, Collin Leddy, and April Tarbill. Not pictured; Jarod Hutchison, Liam Mitchell, Claire Mitchell, Connor Eubanks, Dimetri Garza, Destani Garza, Angela Breaton, Travis Goossens and Ashley O’Connor. (Photo courtesy of Karen Hutchison)

 

 

Mt. Carroll Rotary Club

Mt. Carroll Rotarian Jane Dixon presents a check to Pastor Mark Harkness as a donation to the Mt. Carroll Ministerial Association to be used towards Christmas food baskets. (Photo courtesy of Paul Tobin)

 

 

 

 

 

St. John’s Lutheran Calls Youth Director

Pearl City, IL—Walk into St. John’s Lutheran Church these days, and you can feel the growing excitement. People are smiling and laughing. The party atmosphere is the result of efforts to finally hire a youth director to run their family and youth programming. The congregation has spent many months planning for this moment and searching for the perfect candidate to fill the position. Their efforts will come to fruition during worship on December 13, 2009, at 9:00 a.m. when they will install Eric Stibbe as their new youth director. “It has taken an enormous amount of work, not to mention courage by our Church Council to act out in faith and take this gigantic step. We have always had a particular passion for reaching out to the Pearl City community and offering good youth and family programming. By calling Eric, we will be able to really achieve our goals and dreams,” explained Pastor Pat Esker. “We are extremely excited about Eric’s installation and invite everyone to attend worship and then join us at his reception that immediately follows that service in Luther Hall,” concluded Esker.

A native of Beloit, Wisconsin, Stibbe joins the staff at St. John’s with a Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre and a minor in religious studies from Carthage College. He has worked many years with youth at Lutherdale Bible Camp, a youth camp of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located in Elkhorn, Wisconsin.

Stibbe’s primary responsibilities will be to run and expand the current St. John’s youth group (ages 7th grade though high school) and work closely with current leaders in this ministry. The congregation hopes that Stibbe’s work will give all youth from throughout the community of Pearl City and Kent, not just St. John’s members, a place to have fun and to learn about how much God cares and loves all people. To learn about up-coming youth events and activities people are encouraged to visit St. John’s website at www.stjohnspearlcity.org or email Stibbe at Youthdir.stjohns@gmail.com.

Morrison Community Hospital CNO Retires

Morrison Community Hospital would like to announce the retirement of their well respected CNO, Jean Reed. After 31 years of service at MCH, Jean has decided to retire on December 31, 2009. For all those that know Jean Reed, it will be a day of mixed emotions.

“Jean is much more than an associate of Morrison Community Hospital; she is a friend, mentor, and member of our family. Her passion, insight, and sincere love for her patients are an inspiration to us all,” said John Perushek, CEO of Morrison Community Hospital. “Jean has worked hard and successfully during her career and has earned the opportunity to enjoy more time with her family and grandchildren. The culture that she has helped create will remain with us and we thank her for that. We will miss her immensely.”

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.

Baisden Nominated to Compete in PLA Scholarship Program

Ethan Baisden, a West Carroll High School senior, has been nominated to compete in the national Principal’s Leadership Award (PLA) scholarship program, sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). Herff Jones, Inc., funds the PLA program.  Bob Lamb, principal, West Carroll High School, today announced the nomination, which places Baisden in the national competition. One hundred national PLA winners will be chosen this spring to receive a college scholarship ranging from $1,000 to $12,000. 

“Ethan has been more involved in leadership roles more so than any student I have ever encountered.  He immerses himself in the total school program,” stated Mr. Lamb.  “He has always represented West Carroll High School with class and dignity.”

High school principals from across the country were able to nominate one of their student leaders. Nominees were selected based on their leadership skills, participation in service organizations and clubs, achievements in the arts and sciences, employment experience, and academic record. They were also required to write an essay. 

While at West Carroll High School, Baisden has been an officer of NHS and FFA, and class president.  He has represented WCHS at state in Pep band, FFA Soil Competition, ParliPro Competition, and record book for Horticulture.  Ethan has lettered in football, wrestling, and track and is a member of the Thunder band, choir, drama club, and science club.  He has played many roles in the school musicals and plays.  He has competed on the West Carroll Envirothon and the Tech Trek academic teams.  All of these things are the makings of a well-rounded student. This fall he plans to attend the US Coast Guard Academy, Luther College or Monmouth College and study Biology/Zoology and environmental science. 

“Every year the nominees for the Principal’s Leadership Award are just phenomenal and Ethan is no different,” said Gerald N. Tirozzi, executive director, NASSP. “He is an excellent example of what a true student leader embodies and deserves to be commended for his excellence in the classroom and community.”

In recognizing leadership in co-curricular activities as well as academic performance, the PLA scholarship recognizes the importance of a well-rounded education. Co-curricular activities are an essential part of the school curriculum. 

 

Milledgeville High School November Students of the Month

Congratulations to the Milledgeville High School Students of the Month for December. They are from l-r: Ian Fredericks, Nick Nelson, Keegan Neubauer, Ethan Silvius.

Due to their scholastic excellence and school pride, these students have been selected as the Milledgeville High School November Students of the Month.

Senior Ethan Silvius is involved in several activities in and out of school, including basketball, track, National Honor Society, dual credit college courses, and playing euchre with friends.

Ethan’s career goal is to become a social studies teacher. His favorite subjects are “a tie between American Problems with Mr. Pasch and Contemporary U.S. History with Mr. Wroble,” Ethan said.

He is the son of Paul Silvius and Candy Silvius, both of Milledgeville.

Keegan Neubauer is a junior, and is involved in football, basketball, track, and AAU league. In addition, he works for his mothers catering business Creative Cuisine, located in Sterling.

“I am interested in becoming a math teacher,” Keegan said, which explains his favorite subject: Advanced Math with Mr. Knutti.

His parents are Tom and Michelle Neubauer of Milledgeville.

Sophomore Ian Fredericks’ activities in and out of school are football, track, and log splitting.

The son of Al and Jill Fredericks of Chadwick, Ian is undecided about his career goal. Favorite subject: Government with Mr. Wroble.

Nick Nelson, a freshman, is involved in football, basketball, track and FFA.

“I hope to become a physical therapist or an athletic trainer,” said Nick, whose favorite subject is P.E. with Mr. Kelly.

He is the son of Allen Nelson of Milledgeville and Billie Jo Law of Lyndon, Kansas.

 

The Great River Outreach Continues to Serve

 

On Friday, November 20th at the Table, their 3rd annual Thanksgiving luncheon was held.

(Top photo) Four pastors on the board of directors were on hand to help with the luncheon. (L to R) Pastor Floyd West, Pastor Mike Wey, Pastor Wayne Carvelle, and Pastor Larry Thomson.

Over 100 meals were served to members of the community. Chef Penny Von Essen and her cadre of volunteers made the occasion memorable.

The meal was traditional Thanksgiving fare - Turkey and all the trimmings including a vast array of desserts. In the bottom photo, Linda and Kathy Parks are at the serving table, ready to enjoy the delicious fare.

The Table has been serving lunch free of charge since Sept. 2007 and has served over 15,000 meals through November 2009. “We now have two locations - The New Unity Deliverance Church dining room in Savanna and the United Methodist Church in Mt. Carroll,” said Board member Pastor Floyd West. “We want to express our sincere thanks to both churches for allowing the use of their facilities. Certainly also we thank all our volunteers, donors and staff for a job well done.”

The annual Christmas lunch and Open House is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 18th - 11:30 AM until 1:00  at the Table in Savanna, 926 Viaduct Rd. (New Unity Deliverance Church rear entrance) and the public is invited.

 

 

 

CGH Medical Center Receives Patriotic Employer Award from the U.S. Department of Defense

On behalf of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an organization within the United States Department of Defense, Senior Master Sergeant Gary Velasquez (CGH Plant Operations and Maintenance) recently presented CGH Medical Center, Sterling, with a “Patriotic Employer” award. The award, given to managers, supervisors or companies in appreciation of their military-member employee support, can only be given if nominated by an employee involved in the military.

Velasquez, who also serves as a member of the 182nd Airlift Wing, Air National Guard, out of Peoria, IL, nominated CGH after his recent return from deployment in Iraq. During his employment at CGH, Gary has also served in Afghanistan and Germany.

“I wanted to find some way to thank CGH for its support during my various deployments,” Velasquez said. “I know everyone pulls together to help cover shifts and work extra hours in my absence, and I can’t thank all of you enough.” Norm Deets, CGH Chief Operating Officer, and Bob Lehman, Director of Plant Operations and Maintenance, accepted the award, which included an honorary certificate and Patriot lapel pin.

“We are pleased and honored to receive this recognition,” said Deets. “We will proudly display this award for all of our employees and patients to see, as a sign of our support of the men and women who serve in today’s military forces. More importantly, however, I thank Gary, and all those who serve or have served, for the sacrifices they make to protect our country and our freedom.”

ESGR was established in 1972 to promote cooperation and understanding between Reserve members and their civilian employers and to assist in the resolution of conflicts arising from an employee’s military commitment. The nation’s Reserve components comprise approximately 48% of the United States’ total available military manpower. The Reserve forces spend more time away from their loved ones and the workplace defending our nation, while supporting a demanding operations schedule and training to maintain their mission readiness. In this environment, civilian employers play a critical role in the defense of the nation by complying with existing employment laws the protect the rights of workers who serve in the Reserve component.

State Salutes Six Eastland High Students as ‘The Best and the Brightest’

Lanark, IL – Eastland High School’s Principal Jay Ritchie is pleased to announce that six Eastland High School students have been recognized as “2009-2010 Illinois State Scholars”. The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) gives this prestigious award annually to help recognize students who are among “the best and the brightest” of the more than 150,000 Illinois high school seniors in the Class of 2010.

This year’s winners from Eastland High School are Greta Augsburger, daughter of Kerri Archer of Lanark and Marc Augsburger of Saginaw, MI; Olivia Barr, daughter of Brian & Dawn Barr of Shannon; Blair Bates, daughter of Ernie & Sarah Bates of Lanark; Francesca Huggins, daughter of John Huggins of Lanark and Diane Parcell of Louisville, KY; Jenna Mathew, daughter of Jeffrey & Victoria Mathew of Shannon; and Emelia Waugh, daughter of Reese Waugh of Genoa and Stacy Kalina of Lanark.

Illinois State Scholar winners rank in the top ten percent of the state’s high school seniors from 798 high schools. Selection is based on SAT, ACT and/or Prairie State Achievement Exam scores, and/or class rank at the end of the junior year. High school counselors work in conjunction with ISAC to determine the winners. At least a half million Illinois State Scholars have been recognized in the past 50 years.

West Carroll Honors Illinois State Scholars

 

Savanna, IL – West Carroll Principal Bob Lamb is pleased to announce that 7 West Carroll High School students have been recognized as “2010 Illinois State Scholars”. The prestigious award is given annually by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) which is recognizing 19,345 high school students from across the state as this year’s State Scholars.

“These seven students are another example of what great kids we have here at West Carroll High School.” stated Dave Baisden, WCHS counselor.  “They are a very involved in the school climate, as well as, being good students. The following students exemplify academics, scholarship, and hard work.  They are very deserving of the honor of 'Illinois State Scholar.'”

Megan Fitzpatrick, daughter of Jeff and Judy Fitzpatrick; Maria Heath, daughter of Dale and Diane Heath; Brittany Mills, daughter of LeAnne Mills; Emily Rath, daughter of David and Mary Kay Rath; Jaimie Storjohann, daughter of T.J. Coyle and Mark Storjohann; Rebecca Titus, daughter of Joe and Deonne Titus; and Rebeccah Yuswak, daughter of Michael and Julie Yuswak.

Illinois State Scholar winners rank in the top ten percent of the state’s high school seniors from

752 high schools in all 102 counties.  Selection is based on SAT, ACT and/or Prairie State

Achievement Exam scores, and/or class rank at the end of the junior year. High school guidance counselors work in conjunction with ISAC to determine the winners.

Bell Ringers needed!

Volunteers needed to ring the bell for The Salvation Army. We ring on Fridays and Saturdays until Christmas!

75 % of the money we recieve stays in Savanna to help people through out the year.

Please contact Karen Carvell The Salvation Army Service Extension Representative @ 815 273-7062

Merry Christmas!

Better Business Bureau Warning on NEW H1N1 Email Scam

The BBB is warning of fake H1N1 emails from the Center of Disease Control that began hitting email boxes on December 1st.

The BBB has received reports of the fraudulent phishing emails regarding a State Vaccination Program supposedly sponsored by the CDC.

The message states that anyone who is age 18 or over must complete a vaccination profile on the CDC’s website www.cdc.gov whether they intend to be vaccinated or not. They are then instructed to click on the supplied link and provide the required information.

Users who click on the link are at risk of having a malicious virus installed on their computers.

“As we understand it the virus is a version of the Banker trojan, which steals usernames and passwords when you are online doing your banking” says Dennis Horton, Director of the Rockford Regional Office of the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois.

To prevent becoming a victim the BBB reminds users:

Do not follow unsolicited links and do not open or respond to unsolicited email messages.

Use caution when visiting unfamiliar websites.

Always use caution when entering personal information online.

Additionally, the BBB advises that you check out any offer or business first before you make your buying decisions visit www.bbb.org.

A copy of the fake email is supplied below:

From: CDC [mailto:info@cdcmails.gov] 
Sent: Wednesday, December 02, 2009 3:07 AM
To: 
Subject: Your personal Vaccination Profile

You have received this e-mail because of the launching of State Vaccination H1N1 Program.

You need to create your personal H1N1 (swine flu) Vaccination Profile on the cdc.gov website. The Vaccination is not obligatory, but every person that has reached the age of 18 has to have his personal Vaccination Profile on the cdc.gov site. This profile has to be created both for the vaccinated people and the not-vaccinated ones. This profile is used for the registering system of vaccinated and not-vaccinated people.
Create your Personal H1N1 Vaccination Profile using the link:

Beverage Server Training Available Locally

Carroll County Substance Education Coalition’s (CCSEC ) Project Coordinator for the Strategic Prevention Framework-State Incentive Grant (SPF-SIG), Carol Geary, has announced Training for Intervention Procedures (TIPS) certification class will be offered on Wednesday, December 16th . The class will take place at the Land of OZ in Mt. Carroll from 9AM-3PM, with lunch being provided for those taking the class. The class is offered free to any Carroll County business and their employees that sell alcoholic beverages.

The response from local servers/business’s who have been TIPS trained is very positive. 25 servers in Carroll County from 11 businesses have completed and passed the training. 92% of those who attended reported that they learned new information and felt the training increased their confidence in handling difficult situations, and 72% feel the training should be required.

TIPS is a positive approach towards serving alcohol responsibly. TIPS training is used to educate retailers and their servers about responsible alcohol sales, how to protect their business and their staff from lawsuits including legal problems related to underage drinking. TIPS also teaches strategies for handling intoxicated patrons and how to apply strategies identifying potential problems

Servers of alcohol can be instrumental in reducing the incidence of customer intoxication and underage alcohol purchase. The purpose of TIPS is to help people create the kind of environment that promotes safety and responsibility wherever alcohol is sold and consumed.

Geary, along with grant assistant, Freddie Preston, are certified to teach the course. Both Geary and Preston will be able to do the TIPS training, along with the Beverage Alcohol Sellers and Servers Education and Training (BASSETT) program. Both programs are approved by the Illinois Liquor Control Commission (ILCC). Businesses who have certified TIPS staff on premises may be able to receive a discount on their dram shop insurance.

Geary said it is the job of businesses to be profitable and it is the TIPS trainer’s job to help the business keep as much profit as possible by reducing the possibility of fines for infractions of liquor laws. Geary stated, “By offering this training we are hoping to help local sellers and servers identify potential problems and protect themselves and their businesses from possible fines, loss of liquor licenses and lawsuits.”

If you would like to register for the class please contact Geary or Preston at the University of Illinois Extension’s Mt. Carroll Office at 815/244-9444 or email Geary at: cgeary@illinois.edu.

142 Attend College Ag Day

Ag in the Classroom hosted a College Ag Day on Thursday, November 19th from 9:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the River Valley Complex in Leaf River.  This was a great opportunity for area students to meet locally with representatives of various colleges and universities. 

The following college and universities were in attendance to answer questions from students:  Black Hawk College-East, Highland Community College, Illinois State University, Joliet Junior College, Kishwaukee College, Parkland College, Universal Technical Institute, University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Western Illinois University, and Wyotech.  High schools that took advantage of the event were:  Byron, Eastland, Forreston, Polo, Rochelle, and Stillman Valley. Agriculture in the Classroom is a program to help students gain a greater awareness of the role of agriculture in the economy and society.  Students learn that thousands of farm products are in the world around them—on their plate, in the clothes they wear, in the medicine that makes them well, and in earth-friendly fuels and plastics.  

Ag in the Classroom is offered through the University of Illinois Extension-Ogle County in partnership with Carroll County Farm Bureau, Ogle County Farm Bureau, Carroll County Soil & Water, and Ogle County Soil & Water.  For more information about the program, call the Ogle County Extension Office at (815) 732-2191.

Flu Shots Available

Whiteside County Health Department has received a supply of seasonal flu vaccine. It is available for all people on a walk-in basis at the Rock Falls Health Department Facility (across from Rock Falls High School) Monday-Friday from 8:00 am-12:00pm and 1:00pm – 4:00pm.

The cost is $25 per shot, with reduced pricing for children under 19 years of age. Medicare and Medicaid are accepted. Excludes Secondary Advantage PPO & HMO(see your physician)

Whiteside County Health Department will have extended clinic hours on Tuesday, December 8th and Wednesday, December 9th until 7:00 pm to facilitate priority groups receiving the H1N1 vaccine at the Rock Falls Health Department Facility (across from Rock Falls High School.)

Priority groups include children ages 6 months -24 years; caregivers of children under 6 months of age; pregnant woman; healthcare workers/first responders; ages 25 - 64 with underlying medical conditions.

Children age 9 and under are encouraged to get their 2nd shot.

For more information go to www.whitesidehealth.org.

Candle Safety Burning and Maintenance

During the holidays, lighting candles always adds ambiance to your Christmas decor. Here are some tips to ensure that the ambiance remain a pleasant one!

- NEVER LEAVE A BURNING CANDLE UNATTENDED

- Never burn candles on or near flammable materials, such as furniture, drapes, bedding, carpets, books, paper, flammable decorations, etc.

- Keep burning candles away from drafts, vents, and air currents. Ceiling fans can cause drafts.

- Burn candles on sturdy, flat, stable surfaces. Candles will burn evenly on a level surface.

- Keep candles out of reach of children and pets.

- Always use a candleholder specifically designed for candle use. The holder should be heat resistant, sturdy and large enough to contain any drips or melted wax. Carefully follow all manufacturer instructions.

- Do not burn a candle longer than the manufacturer recommends.

- Trim wick approximately 1/8 – 1/4 inch each time before burning. Long or crooked wicks cause uneven burning, dripping, smoke, and sooting.

- Keep the wax pool free of wick trimmings, matches and debris at all times.

- Never touch or move a votive or container candle when the wax is liquid.

- Candles should be placed at least 3 inches apart from one another. This prevents the candles from melting one another, as they can create there own draft and cause improper burning.

- Do not extinguish candles with water. Water can cause hot wax to splatter and cause glass containers to break.

- Never blow out candles, as the wax can splatter. One of the safest ways to extinguish a candle is to use a candle snuffer, or dip the wick in the melt pool.

- Extinguish the flame if it comes to close to the container or holder. This prevents possible heat damage to container/surface, and prevents glass container from cracking or breaking.

- Extinguish pillar candles if the wax pool reaches the outer edge.

- Never use a candle as a light when you go into a closet to look for things.

- Never use a candle for light when fueling equipment such as a lantern, or kerosene heater.

- Flashlights and other battery powered lights are much safer light sources than candles during a power failure

- Burn candles in a well-ventilated room.

 

Horse Sense

A Cough and a Wheeze May Signal Heaves

A horse diagnosed with “heaves” has been known by many names over the years. At one point the disorder was commonly referred to as COPD, short for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a condition that is linked to tobacco smoke in humans. Because COPD in humans is very different than heaves, the term COPD is no longer used in reference to horses. Instead, the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine recommends the disorder be termed recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) or heaves. Heaves is more similar to human asthma and involves inflammation and constriction of the lower airways of the lung.

Dr. Kara Lascola is a clinical assistant professor at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana, who specializes in equine internal medicine. She explains that, “horses with RAO tend to be older, with owners often complaining of exercise intolerance and episodes of dyspnea [difficulty breathing]. Cough and nasal discharge may or may not be present.”

Some horses may even have more severe signs such as flared nostrils, wheezes on expiration, and a heave line. A heave line is a classic symptom in horses with long-standing heaves. Because they are using increased effort to exhale air out of their lungs, the abdominal muscles used in breathing become more developed. This muscle development creates a visible line (heave line) around the bottom of their rib cage.

Diagnosing these horses can sometimes be complicated especially if the condition is not very severe. “Horses may initially present with subtle clinical signs,” explains Dr. Lascola, so it is important to rule out other causes of airway inflammation such as an infection, or a completely different type of respiratory disease called inflammatory airway disease (IAD).

In some cases, a good history will lead to a diagnosis of heaves, but in others, a bronchoalveolar lavage may be necessary. This procedure involves collection and evaluation of fluid present in the airways of the lungs. It is relatively quick and may be performed while the horse is standing and sedated. The fluid is viewed under a microscope to look for certain types of inflammatory cells and the presence of mucous or possibly pollen spores—all of which can provide important information about the cause and severity of the disease.

Dr. Lascola is also using a new, noninvasive lung function test to improve the diagnosis of airway disease in horses. Similar lung function tests have been used for the diagnosis of asthma in humans. Of course the challenge veterinarians face, compared to human physicians, is encouraging a 1,200-pound horse to exhale on command. The device used by Dr. Lascola, as well as many other veterinarians, has been designed to overcome these challenges in order to better diagnose equine patients with certain respiratory diseases, such as heaves or inflammatory airway disease.

As for treatment, the most important component is environmental management. A strong link exists between exposure to allergens such as mold and dust and the development of heaves. It is important that the horse be housed to minimize exposure to potential allergens. Full or increased turn-out on pasture and reduced exposure to hay dust are critical. In addition, your equine veterinarian may prescribe corticosteroids and bronchodilators to reduce the inflammation and constriction of the airways.

For more information on heaves, please contact your local equine veterinarian.

Pre-Purchase and Pre-Adoption Pet Counseling

After staring at two-month-old Labrador puppies at the shelter, the innocent look in their eyes is sometimes too hard to resist. But adopting or purchasing a dog on impulse usually does not end well.

Adding a new dog to your life is an exciting and sometimes daunting experience. It’s hard to know what to expect. Dr. Kelly Morgan is a veterinarian at the Chicago Center for Veterinary Medicine, a program of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in Urbana. She is also pursuing board certification with the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists.

She says, “with pre-adoption counseling, we try to help new pet owners have realistic expectations.” The thought is if owners can be prepared ahead of time about the needs of their pet, they will be more likely to keep the pet the entirety of its life and have a strong human-animal bond.

While the breed of dog may play a role in what animal is selected, pre-purchase counseling is much more than a discussion on what breed is best for your family. Consultations cover many topics that potential pet owners may forget about. Some of the issues discussed with a veterinarian during a pre-adoption counseling session at the Chicago Center for Veterinary Medicine are:

• How much exercise will my dog need?

• How often will my pet need to be groomed?

• Will my pet need to be housebroken?

• Is my pet good with children, or other pets?

• Will my dog need obedience training?

• Are there any underlying medical conditions that will require treatment?

It is important that owners consider the demands of having a puppy or younger pet around the house versus those of an older dog. “Usually by four years of age dogs have their personality established. If they are friendly with kids or other animals at this age, they are likely to remain that way throughout their life,” explains Dr. Morgan. Animals of this age would also be a good choice for a busy family that may not be able to devote a lot of time to house training and obedience training.

Although certain breeds may be known for certain personalities, “dogs can vary widely even despite breed,” notes Dr. Morgan. Pets are individuals just like humans, so it is important to pay attention to the behavior of a dog you are interested in.

Shelter staff are a great resource when it comes to assessing a particular animal’s disposition. Even if a dog comes in with no history, the people that are around the animal are usually pretty good at giving an accurate depiction of that animal’s personality.

The reason Dr. Morgan stresses the importance of pre-adoption counseling and getting to know what type of personality a dog has before taking it home is because the number one reason dogs are relinquished to shelters is behavior.

Each year millions of dogs enter shelters because their owners may have not been realistic about their canine companion’s needs. A pre-purchase consultation with a veterinarian can help ensure that whether you adopt a Burmese mountain dog or a bichon frise, you’ll be off to a good start.

For more information contact your local veterinarian.

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.

Carroll County Soil & Water Conservation District Seeks Directors

Have you ever considered serving as a director for your Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD)? Are you interested in helping to shape the future of natural resources in Carroll County?

If you are of legal age and either own or reside on land located in Carroll County, then you are eligible to serve as a director on the Carroll County Soil & Water Conservation District Board. The Carroll County SWCD is currently seeking interested individuals willing to serve a 2-year term as an SWCD director.

If you would like more information or would like to have your name on the ballot for the 2010 election, please contact the Carroll County SWCD at (815) 244-8732 ext. 3. Interested parties should respond by December 18, 2009.

Workshop for Farm Women

Helping farm women develop their management and decision-making skills and gain confidence in agriculture, the workshop program “Annie’s Project – Education for Farm Women” is being offered in Mt. Carroll during February. Dates of the five session series includes February 9, 16, 23 & March 2 & 9 with each session running from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Naaman Diehl Auditorium, Mt. Carroll.

Using several agriculture industry and University of Illinois Extension educators as speakers, Annie’s Project will cover topics that include keeping track of financial records, interpreting financial information, understanding insurance options (liability, health, life, long-term care, crop, etc.) leases, retirement and estate planning, risk management, commodity marketing basics, soils and crop basics, and much more.

The course fee is $75 which covers the cost of a program binder, computer software, handout materials and refreshments. For more information or to obtain a program flyer, contact Carroll County Extension at 815-244-9444 or e-mail seoconno@illinois.edu. Sign up today as space is limited. Program sponsors include 1st Farm Credit Services, Ag & Small Business Service of Lena, and University of Illinois Extension.

Plot Results Available at Jo-Carroll Extension Offices

Detailed results are now available at the Mt. Carroll and Elizabeth Extension offices for the nine Jo-Carroll Extension Unit soybean variety and corn hybrid plots harvested for 2009.

Carroll County plots include: two reduced tillage corn plots hosted by Sam Dykstra, Mt. Carroll where 35 corn-on- soybean entries averaged 209 bushels per acre and 40 corn-on-corn entries averaged 208 bushels; a no-till corn-on-soybean plot hosted by Phil Michael, Lanark, where 30 entries averaged 209 bushels; a reduced tillage soybean plot at Sam Dykstra’s where 31 entries averaged 51 bushels and a no-till soybean plot at Phil Michael’s where 33 entries averaged 64 bushels.

Jo Daviess County plots included a no-till soybean plot hosted by Kyle Embry, Hanover, where 30 entries averaged 54 bushels and a no-till corn plot which has yet to be harvested. Two reduced tillage corn plots hosted by Wayne Simmons, Stockton, were not harvested for yield results due to hail damage

Plot sponsors included twenty participating seed companies and University of Illinois Extension. For each no-till plot, additional assistance and sponsorship included the Carroll County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Jo Daviess County Soil and Water Conservation District in their respective counties. Plot results booklets can be picked up at your local Extension office or are available by e-mail by contacting Mark Maidak, Jo-Carroll Unit Director, at mmaidak@uiuc.edu

2010 Shepherds’ Clinic Programs Set

University of Illinois Extension will be conducting its annual two-part Shepherd’s telenet workshop at area Extension offices on January 4 and 11, from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

The workshop fee at the Jo-Carroll Unit is $5 per person to cover handout materials. Pre-registration is required by calling 815-244-9444 if you plan on attending in Mt. Carroll or 815-858-2273 if you want to attend in Elizabeth. Registrations are requested by December 23.

Topics included for the January 4 telenet are “Preventing and Treating Hypothermia in Newborn Lambs” by Dr. Clifford Shipley, University of Illinois and “Is there a Future for Producers Selling Sheep Poo” by Becky Weber and Charley Bedinger. Topics for the January 12 telenet include “Sheep Fencing for Improved Animal Control & Reduced Predation” by Dean Oswald, Area Extension Specialist, Kewanee and “How We Manage our 6,000 Head Ewe Flock” by Donna May, Suffolk producer, Idaho and “Future of the Sheep Industry” by Richard Cobb, Extension Sheep Specialist.

Questions About College?

Adam Lechnir works for the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC).  ISAC is an agency of the State of Illinois that strives to make college accessible and affordable for all Illinois residents.  Lechnir is part of a new outreach program called the ISACorps.  The goal of the ISACorps is to assist families with the college going process. 

“While my services are free and open to anyone, the main goal of the ISACorps is to help first-generation, low-income college students get into a post-secondary institution and finance their education,” Lechnir said.  “Many families are unaware that the State of Illinois, the Department of Education at the federal level, and colleges have many financial programs to help our lower income students pay for college.

Lechnir offers individual counseling, small group workshops and presentations on anything and everything related to the college going process.  “Moreover, I work strictly in the very Northwestern region of Illinois.  I am in the area quite a bit, and am trying to spread the word about the ISACorps.”

Contact Adam Lechnir by email at ALechnir@isac.org or by phone at (815)-721-4851.

Section 1 FFA Parliamentary Procedure CDE Results

Held at River Ridge December 3, 2009

Top Teams

Dakota 908

West Carroll 846

Eastland 659

River Ridge 444.5

Stockton 288

Chairmen

Anthony White Dakota

Garrett Heidenrich Stockton

Kara Durward W. C.

Veronika Rone RR

Austin Sargent Eastland

Secretaries

Audrey Ashby W.C.

Sara Miller Dakota

Alex Huschet Stockton

Renee Palmer Eastland

Allison McLane RR

Floor Members

Hannah Pieper Dak

Matt Strauch WC

Audrey Ashby WC

Ethan Baisden WC

Parker Ludeking Dak

Montana Mosel WC

Rachel Trumpy Dak

Matt Koppen East

Beccah Yuswak WC

10. Cory Snetcher East

A FFA Parliamentary Procedure contest consists of taking a 25-question multiple choice test, a 10-minute demonstration properly using parliamentary motions, and answering questions about the demonstration from the judges following the presentation.

Dakota and West Carroll will now advance to the District I FFA Parliamentary Procedure Contest held in January at Amboy High School.

Special thanks to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville for supplying the judges for the contest.

Last Day For Gifts

Just a reminder that December 15 is the last day for gifts for the wounded Veterans at Walter Reed Army Hospital. If you don’t have time to go shopping, give us your donation and we will do the shopping for you.

Drop-off boxes are located at THE National Bank in downtown Mt. Carroll and the VFW in downtown Savanna.

Thank you for helping make this a better Christmas for our men and women in the armed forces who have sacrificed much for our freedom. For more information, call John McConnel at 815-244-6534.

Taylor’s Welcome Nolan Tobias

Toby and Jennifer Taylor of Lanark welcomed a new baby boy, Nolan Tobias Taylor, into the world on December 4, 2009. Nolan was born at the Monroe Clinic in Monroe, WI.

He has two brothers, Carson age 6 and Cooper age 3. Grandparents are David & Janalee Boelkens of Lanark, Mark & Cindy Curtis of Shannon, and John & Christy Taylor of Effingham, IL. Great-grandparents are Richard & Madelyn Koester of Effingham, Charlene Hightower of Effingham and Paul Taylor of Effingham.

Story Time With Mrs. Claus

Heck’s Frozen Meals and CONTACT’s Curbside Coffee will be having Story Time with Mrs. Claus on Saturday, December 12, 2009 from 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. at Heck’s Frozen Meals, 1100 W. Galena Ave. in Freeport. 

Kids are invited to come in and listen to Mrs. Claus read some of her favorite Christmas Stories and parents are invited to shop the many sepciality items at Heck’s Frozen Meals and CONTACT’s Curbside Coffee.  Items include Pumpkin Rolls, Cheese and Meat Trays, Cookie Trays, and specialty gift baskets. 

For more information call Heck’s at 815-232-9400.

NARFE News

Chapter 604 of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) Association will hold their monthly meeting at noon Thursday, December 17th, at the House of Events, Savanna. A luncheon buffet will be available at noon for those who wish to eat.

The business meeting will follow at 1:00. Come and share your Christmas cheer with your NARFE friends and neighbors. All active and retired federal employees, spouses and survivors, are cordially invited.

Carroll County Soil & Water Conservation District Seeks Directors

Have you ever considered serving as a director for your Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD)? Are you interested in helping to shape the future of natural resources in Carroll County?

If you are of legal age and either own or reside on land located in Carroll County, then you are eligible to serve as a director on the Carroll County Soil & Water Conservation District Board. The Carroll County SWCD is currently seeking interested individuals willing to serve a 2-year term as an SWCD director.

If you would like more information or would like to have your name on the ballot for the 2010 election, please contact the Carroll County SWCD at (815) 244-8732 ext. 3. Interested parties should respond by December 18, 2009.

Carroll County Crime Stoppers Need Help With Rt. 84 Crimes

Carroll County Crime Stoppers is requesting your help in solving the following crimes. Information leading to an arrest could earn the caller a reward of up to $1,000.00 and their identity will be kept strictly confidential.

The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office is investigating burglaries in the Thomson-Savanna area near Route 84. Some time in the week preceding November 20, 2009 someone broke into a locked building located on a lane south of Neumiller Farms along Route 84. Taken were a 2000 model year 50-hp Yamaha boat motor, decoys, lifejackets, a battery and other equipment. Sometime between the evening of December 1, 2009 and the morning of December 2, 2009 someone broke into Fish Are Us, a fish market located on Route 84 just north of Riverview Road. Taken were three (3) 12-gauge shotguns.

Sometime in the week, proceeding December 3, 2009 unknown subjects broke into several storage sheds located on Route 84 across from the Airport. Damage and loss exceeds $5,000.00. The owner of this business is offering an additional reward above Crime Stoppers should the tip lead to a conviction.

Persons having information about these crimes, or the location of a wanted felon should contact Crime Stoppers at 244-STOP (244-7867).