More Important News

SADD is Sweet

Eastland High School(EHS) Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) held a bake sale to celebrate Valentine’s Day. (L to R) EHS SADD members Bailey DeMichael, Megan Schmieder, Samantha Johnson, Gentry Lessman, Karalicia Kennedy; not pictured: Lauren Swanson, Abby Hake.

Megan Schmieder, SADD member, said, “This was our first big venture to help establish our treasury and we were very pleased how much the student body at EHS supported us.”

SADD members have also been using the Fatal Vision Goggles (drunk goggles) during EHS home basketball games for free throw contests to earn funds.

SADD is the student section of the Carroll County Substance Coalition (CCSEC) which receives funding through the Partners for Success grant from the IL Department of Human Services.

Pearl City FFA has 7 Section Winners

Seven different members of the Pearl City FFA were recently named Section Winners at the Section one Proficiency Awards on Wednesday February 13 at Pearl City. As Section winners, they will advance to District competition on March 13 at Geneseo. A Proficiency Award is based on excellence in a supervised experience program area. Students compete against members from other schools by submitting records of their projects and then go through an interview with a panel of judges. Winners from Pearl City were:

• Justin Lott - Environmental Science

• Rebecca Scace - Dairy Production

• Katie Wingert - Small Animal Care and Production

• Dakota Sargent - Swine Placement

• TJ Winget - Swine Production

• Taylor Runkle - Goat Production

• Chris Cummins - Forestry Management.

River Ridge FFA Competes

On January 23, 2013 the River Ridge FFA Chapter competed in the Parliamentary Procedure and Public Speaking Career Development Event (CDE) at Stockton High School. The Parliamentary Procedure Team consisted of Chairman Noah Haskin, Secretary Codie Geisz, and Floor members Kelley Koester, Jared Krug, Brandon Smith and Tayler Meneguin. The team placed 4th overall. In the public speaking CDE Kelley Koester placed 1st in prepared speaking, Codie Geisz placed 2nd in extemporaneous, Noah Haskin placed 2nd in creed speaking and Jared Krug placed 3rd in junior extemporaneous.

River Ridge Places 1st at Poultry Judging CDE

On January 9, 2013 the River Ridge FFA chapter hosted and participated in the Section 1 poultry judging contest. The chapter placed 1st overall. Kelley Koester placed 2nd, Codie Geisz placed 3rd and Tayler Meneguin placed 7th. The team judged carcasses, live production birds, chicken products, exterior eggs and interior eggs. Left to Right: Jared Krug, Codie Geisz, Tayler Meneguin, Kelley Koester and Noah Haskin (Courtesy of Codie Geisz)

Everyone Buckle Up!

West Carroll Operation Teen Safe Driving (OTSD) has been sponsoring a “Buckle Up” Pledge at school and during basketball games.

The “I pledge to buckle up every one, every time,” poster was provided through the OTSD grant with Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) members encouraging everyone to sign. Students were pleased with how many signed and said that they always use their seatbelts.

(Courtesy of Freddie Preston)

Mount Carroll Rotary Club member Kim Riley-Smith is pictured with Feb. 12 meeting speaker Ed Messina, a builder who lives in Mt. Carroll/Chicago. (Courtesy of MC Rotary)

Mount Carroll Rotarion Brandt Hutchcraft (L) with speaker Dennis Asay of the Mt. Carroll Ambulance Assosciation, who briefed the club at their Feb. 19 meeting on the history of the service which started in Mt. Carroll in the 1960’s. (Courtesy of MC Rotary)

The Milledgeville Elementary Week 17 Thumbs Up Winners from left to right in the front row are: Kohle Bradley, Taylor Sarber, Lili Drinkall, Colton Hendrick, Andrew Britt; back row: Connor Nye, Kloey Dowse, Briana Wilkinson, Adriana Pyse, and Chase Ullrich.

The Morrison Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony on February 22, 2013 at Kreative Rentals Ltd, 115 E. Main Street, to recognize new owner Katie Jakubs. Kreative Rentals is a premier rental, decorating, and consulting business for weddings and all of your special events. Pictured l-r: Heather Toppert, Maurits & Jost Insurance; Stephanie Vavra, thecity1.com; Jean Eggemeyer, Bit O’ Bliss Candy; Katie’s father Bruce Hunter Jr.; Owner Katie Jakubs; Katie’s mother Marcia Hunter; Jennifer White, THE National Bank; Corinne Bender, Morrison Chamber of Commerce; and Marti Wood, City of Morrison. (Courtesy of Morrison Chamber of Commerce)

Carroll County 4-H & Ffa Livestock & Dairy Judging Contests Planned

By Leanne Rahn, Carroll County Program Coordinator, 4-H & Youth

Saturday, March 9, will be the annual 4-H & FFA Livestock & Dairy judging contests, at the Carroll Co. Highway Garage west of Mt. Carroll on Rt. 64.

Registration for the livestock contest will be 8:00 a.m. - 8:45 a.m., with the contest starting at 9:00 a.m. sharp. At this time 4-H’ers and FFA members will judge steers, heifers, production heifers, swine, sheep and have a questions class.

Dairy judging registration will start immediately following the Livestock judging contest. Registration will be from 11:45 – 12:15 p.m., with the contest starting at 12:30 p.m.

Before each contest the judge will go over what to look for when placing the classes. After each contest the judges will give reasons and placings. 4-H’ers & FFA members are encouraged to stay for both contests. You do not need to be enrolled in a livestock or dairy project to participate. The Clever Clovers 4-H Club will have a lunch stand on the grounds with breakfast and lunch foods.

We need many adults to help make the contests run smoothly, so any parents that would like to help out, please contact Leanne Rahn at University of Illinois Extension Office 815-244-9444, or lrahn@illinois.edu.

Carroll County 4-H Public Presentation Contests To Be Held

By Leanne Rahn, Carroll County Program Coordinator, 4-H & Youth

It’s time to select your topic, gather your notes and practice, practice, practice for the annual 4-H Public Presentation contests to be held Saturday, March 23.

The public speaking contest will start at 9:00 a.m., at Naaman Diehl Auditorium in Mt. Carroll. 4-H’ers may choose from the following areas for their presentation: Illustrated speech, formal speech, extempore speaking, oral interpretation, original works, speaking of horses or horticulture.

The demonstration contest will be held following the Public Speaking Contest. 4-H’ers may choose from the following area for their presentation: Food division - International, ethnic, or regional cuisine; nutrition; food science; food preservation; food safety; making food dollars count; general demonstration; horse demonstration and horticulture demonstration. Both contests will be held in the morning. Cash prizes or gift certificates will be awarded to the top 4-H’ers in each area. Registration deadline is March 11.

The public is welcome to attend. For more information, contact Leanne Rahn at Carroll County University of Illinois Extension Office at 244-9444 or lrahn@illinois.edu.

Carroll County 4-H Wonders of Washington Group to Meet

By Leanne Rahn, Carroll County Program Coordinator, 4-H & Youth

The Carroll Co. 4-H Wonders of Washington Group will meet Monday, March 4, at 7:00 p.m. in the Extension Office meeting room. Bring your committee reports.

Families participating in the Wonders of Washington program will be traveling to Washington D.C. April of 2014. Families will stay at the National 4-H Center and tour the Washington D.C. area.

For more information, contact Leanne Rahn at Carroll County University of Illinois Extension Office at 244-9444 or lrahn@illinois.edu.

New JULIE Policies Impact Contractors

The JULIE Board of Directors, representing multiple stakeholders, identified several issues and thoroughly researched, discussed and determined an enhanced extent limitation policy was needed and additional modifications were necessary on two other issues.

The following policies were approved by the Board and will be effective on July 1, 2013: 1) Amending the Extent Limitation, 2) Separate Locate Requests Following Joint Meets and 3) Elimination of “Pick-up Map/List” Request in Call Center.

Online, go to www.illinois1call.com/pdf/law/2013_policy_changes_summary.pdf to download a one-page summary outlining the policy changes for upcoming meetings with your coworkers, subcontractors and other industry contacts. An updated edition of the Excavator Handbook will be available in April.

Avoid Potential Delays

Are you still calling in locate requests each day? With spring and the busy dig season only a few weeks away, join the thousands of excavators who already use the convenient Remote Ticket Entry (RTE) option to directly input information into the system and receive their JULIE dig numbers anytime from any personal computer, without delays. Call the RTE Support Group at 815-741-5011 or register for a free, 90 minute training Webinar after which participants are able to begin entering locate requests right away.

As always, the popular E-Request (single site locate requests) option requires no training. Visit www.illinois1call.com. Call center agents are also available 24/7.

Savanna Mayoral Candidate Q&A

The community of Savanna is invited to attend a Q&A session with the candidates for Mayor of Savanna - Alderwoman Tony McCombie and Mayor Larry Stebbins. The event will be held on March 13th at 9:30 a.m. at Big Meadows Nursing Home located at 1000 Longmoor Ave.

The candidates will be asked a minimum of 10 predetermined questions, then will take a few questions from those in attendance.

Free coffee, doughnuts, and juice will be served in conjunction with Big Meadows’s monthly Community Coffee. For more information or questions please call 815-273-2238.

Hanover Presbyterian Church to host World Day of Prayer Service

Women, men and children in more than 170 countries and regions will celebrate annual World Day of Prayer Friday, March 1st, 2013. The women of France, this year’s writer-country have chosen the theme, “ I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” The French Committee looks for a Christian response to struggles concerning immigration and for ways to welcome, “the stranger.”

This year’s service in Hanover will be held Friday, March 1st at 1:30 P.M. at Hanover United Presbyterian Church. A time of fellowship with light refreshments will follow the service. The church is handicapped accessible. This is an ecumenical service and all are welcome to attend.

Lanark Student to Serve During Spring Break

Katie Raab is one of 190 students from Northwestern College who will travel across the United States and overseas for the college’s annual Spring Service Projects (SSP) March 2–11.

This year’s teams will serve at 14 sites. International destinations include Brazil, the Netherlands, Haiti and Nicaragua. Members of the men’s soccer team will fly to Rio de Janeiro before traveling to Belo Horizonte, where they will work with after-school soccer programs in the slums. In Amsterdam, students will live and work at two Christian youth hostels, sharing their faith with guests from around the world. The team in Haiti will teach children, distribute food and provide manual labor, while those in Nicaragua will do construction work and help lead a vacation Bible school in the impoverished area of Bluefields.

Teams in the U.S. will travel to Minnesota, the South, and both coasts. In California, students will partner with Compton’s Emmanuel Reformed Church to paint a home and build relationships with people living in southeast Los Angeles. Students spending their spring break in Jacksonville, Fla., will volunteer in local schools with after-school programs.

Two teams are heading to Minnesota, where one will teach English to Somalian immigrants in Minneapolis, and another will interact with youth and participate in work projects and a community snow carnival on the Grand Portage Indian Reservation.

Additional U.S. service opportunities include an after-school program and community improvement projects in Jonesboro, Ark.; after-school programs and construction projects in New Orleans; and construction, tutoring and community cleanup in Opelousas, La. Still other Northwestern students will assist with a dental clinic and child education programs in Cary, Miss.; work in a free health clinic and learn about urban ministry and racial reconciliation in Jackson, Miss.; and serve with a ministry to ex-prisoners in Lindale, Texas.

Raab is a senior and is a social work major at Northwestern College. She will be serving with Urban Impact in New Orleans, La. Raab is the daughter of Brian and Pam Raab of Lanark.

Scholarship Applications Due Soon

The deadline for accepting The Arc of Lee County Scholarship application will be closing on March 1 at 5:00pm. The Arc will plan to award four $1,000 scholarships to qualifying Lee County students who plan to enroll or are enrolled at an accredited college or university studying in a field of Human Services, Special Education, relating to people with disabilities. To be considered for selection, students who apply must send in their application form and meet criteria in the following areas:

1. Financial need

2. Scholastic ability (attach transcripts)

3. School and community activities

4. One page essay stating goals, field of study, other pertinent information

5. Two letters of recommendation

Applications can be picked up at the main offices of any of the Lee County High Schools, Sauk Valley Community College, Newman Catholic High School, or Kreider Center. All applications, letters of recommendations, and required papers must be completed and postmarked by March 1, 2013 to The Arc of Lee County, attn: Jul Adams-Watkins,500 Anchor Road, P.O. Box 366, Dixon, Illinois 61021. The Arc of Lee County is a nonprofit sister organization to Kreider Services, inc. and advocates for people with disabilities and their families.

For more information please contact Jul at 815-288-6691 X 280.

Illinois Sheriff’s Association Announces Scholarships

The Illinois Sheriff’s Association announces that it will be awarding over $53,000 in college scholarships throughout the State of Illinois to students wishing to pursue higher education during the 2013-2014 academic year. The scholarships are to be applied to tuition, books and fees only. The student must be enrolled full time at a certified institution of higher learning within the State of Illinois.

Sheriff Kelly C. Wilhelmi, Whiteside County, will be awarding one (1) scholarship in the amount of $500.

There will be no restriction on any applicant by reason of race, age, creed, color, sex or national origin. The only limitations are as follows:

• Applicants must be permanent Illinois residents

• Scholarships must be utilized at institutions of higher learning within the State of Illinois

• Students must be enrolled as a full time student during the 2013-2014 school year (excluding summer session)

Applications are now available on-line at: www.ilsheriff.org. Students must complete the applications; answer the essay question and return all documentation to the County Sheriff’s Office in their permanent county of residence by March 15, 2013 (must be postmarked by this date).

For more information, please contact your local Sheriff’s Office, high school advising center or college financial aid office.

Ready, Set, Grow Gardening Workshop

“Ready . . . Set. . . Grow” Gardening Workshop will be held Saturday, March 9 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Sauk Valley Community College in Dixon. Join the Master Gardeners of Ogle, Lee and Whiteside counties in cooperation with Sauk Valley Community College Corporate & Community Services for this one-day event offering participants information about various aspects of home gardening. Fifteen different workshops ranging from succulent container gardens to the wonderful world of beekeeping are offered to participants.

Mark Dwyer, Director of Horticuluture at the Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville, Wisconsin will be the keynote speaker on “Ornamental Edible Gardens.” While growing our own food is not a novel concept, the approach of incorporating “ornamental edibles” throughout our landscapes is an innovative and beautiful approach. Ornamental edibles are plants that provide significant beauty but are also dual-purpose in that they provide food, flavoring or other attributes that make them “kitchen-worthy.” Learn how to incorporate a wide range of ornamental edibles into your garden borders, containers, and any open nook and cranny.

Registration cost is $40 per person which includes a continental breakfast, buffet lunch, chance to win door prizes, and a welcome bag courtesy of Ball Seed Company.

Master Gardeners will be available to answer your gardening questions along with vendors with gardening information and items for purchase. For more information, contact University of Illinois Extension - Ogle County at 815.732.2191 or University of Illinois Extension - Lee & Whiteside County at 815.835.2070. or visit their website at: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/bdo Registration is required by March 1.

Save the Date for Annual Heritage Arts Workshop

Heritage Arts Make and Take Workshop is an event sponsored by University of Illinois Extension and the Home Community Education Associations of Carroll, Jo Daviess, Stephenson and Lee Counties. This workshop promotes the continuation of skills and arts once passed down from generation to generation. This workshop will take place at Naaman Diehl Auditorium in Mt. Carroll on Saturday, April 6th from 9am-3pm. Naaman Diehl Auditorium is located at the intersection of Routes 64 & 78 in Mt. Carroll attached to the Farm Bureau Building. For more information visit our webpage at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/clw/news/news28698.html or call the Carroll County Extension Office at 815-244-9444.

Easter Pageant: ‘The Promise’ March 24

On Palm Sunday, March 24th at 7:00 p.m. vocalists and actors from churches in Milledgeville, Chadwick and Lanark will come together at The Brethren Church, 521 North Main in Milledgeville to present the Easter Pageant: “The Promise.” The pageant features a family that provides central narration: Grandpa – portrayed by Pastor Jim Black; with Sydney Pauley as his granddaughter and Matthew Biller as his grandson.

The family is out for an evening walk while the children’s mother is preparing to give birth to the newest member of their family. Their conversation turns to babies and the promise embodied in a new life and, in turn, to the story of the greatest birth of all: the Promised One, Jesus.

As the family seats itself around a fire for an evening of story telling, various “vignettes” from the life of Jesus are portrayed dramatically around them. From time to time, the family itself becomes part of the drama, interacting with various Bible characters as the children’s imagination seemingly “comes to life.”

We invite everyone to join us on Sunday, March 24th at 7:00 p.m. at The Brethren Church on Main Street in Milledgeville. A love offering will be taken up during intermission to help with expenses for the production.

‘Meet the Candidates’ Forum for Morrison Mayor and City Council

In anticipation of the upcoming April 9, 2013 elections, the Morrison Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors will host a “Meet the Candidates” night on Thursday, March 21, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. at the Morrison Community Room, 307 S. Madison Street, Morrison, IL. The event will be moderated by Stephanie Vavra, owner and publisher of thecity1.com.

A dozen candidates are running for City of Morrison positions of Mayor or Alderman. Invited candidates running for Morrison Mayor are Sarah Thorndike, R. Everett Pannier, Marti (Martha) Wood, and David J. Jindrich and for City Council are Ward 1: Dale Eizenga and Cheryl Bush; Ward 2: Harvey D. Zuidema and Nancy J. Riggen; Ward 3: Curt Bender and Vernon Tervelt; and Ward 4: David G. Helms and Ward 4 (2-year unexpired term) Scott Connelly.

Each panelist may make a 2-minute opening statement, respond to questions from the moderator for 2 minutes, then offer a 1-minute closing statement.   For fairness, the same questions will be posed to each mayoral and each aldermanic candidate. No questions will be entertained from the audience and there will no debating between the candidates.

This “Meet the Candidates Night” forum is meant to be just that, an opportunity for the electorate of Morrison to meet the candidates and hear their positions on relevant local issues.

The public is urged to suggest questions for the panel.  Please indicate whether your question is for a mayoral or aldermanic position.  Final decisions on questions rest with the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

Kindly submit questions in writing by Monday, March 18, to either:

stephanie@thecity1.com, or thecity1.com office, 218 W. Main Street, Morrison, IL  61270. morrisonchamber@frontiernet.net, or the Chamber office, 221 W. Main Street, Morrison, IL  61270.

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