Photographer to share insights

Professional photographer Willard Clay will share his experiences and insight during a free presentation to area residents on Saturday May 19. The presentation is being given as part of the 6th Annual Art and Photography Exhibit of Sinnissippi Centers.

Best known for the "Wild and Scenic Illinois " calendar series, Clay will present, "Capturing the Critical Moment in Landscape Photography" at 2 pm on Saturday, May 19th, at Northland Mall in Sterling.

"Clay has graciously agreed to come to the Exhibit and give a presentation," said Andy Jackson, marketing specialist of Sinnissippi Centers.

"Those persons who attend Clay's presentation should then be able to enhance their own photography based on his experience, advice, and instruction. We are thrilled to have him as part of this event," added Jackson.

Clay has a broad range of photo credits to his name. One example: The "Wild and Scenic Illinois " calendar series is published each year and sold in malls and other stores in Illinois and beyond.

Clay, who resides in Ottawa, Illinois, has also had his work featured in magazines, such as Audubon, Backpacker, Country, Modern Maturity, Outside, Popular Photography and the Sierra Club, as well as on Hallmark greeting cards and in LL Bean catalogs.

The 6th Annual Art and Photography Exhibit will be held on Friday and Saturday May 18 and 19 at the Northland Mall in Sterling.

The theme for this year's event is, "Creating the Canvas of Life". Featured at the event will be the art and photography of Sinnissippi Centers' consumers. Also eligible for the exhibit are consumers' family members, Sinnissippi employees and their families.

For more information on the 6th Annual Art & Photography exhibit, contact marketing specialist Andy Jackson at the Dixon office of Sinnissippi Centers at 815-284-6611.

In addition to providing a presentation as part of the Art and Photography Exhibit, Clay has agreed to donate one of his original photos to the Expressions Art Sale and Reception, which will take place April 27 at the Next Picture Show in Dixon ( 113 First Ave. ). Expressions is an annual fundraiser for The Sinnissippi Foundation.

Sinnissippi Centers is a behavioral healthcare agency serving Carroll, Lee, Ogle and Whiteside Counties. For more information about programs and services, call Sinnissippi toll-free at 1-800-242-7642. Sinnissippi has office locations in Dixon, Mt. Carroll, Oregon, Rochelle and Sterling.

Relay for Life Team Captains' meeting

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Carroll County committee is holding a Team Captains' meeting on Wednesday, April 4 at 6:45 p.m. at the Heritage Center in Lanark. In addition to registered Team Captains, this meeting is open to anyone who has an interest in saving lives from cancer and wants to learn more about becoming involved with the Relay For Life.

Relay For Life is the signature event of the American Cancer Society. It is a fun-filled, overnight event that mobilizes communities throughout the country to celebrate survivors (anyone who has ever been diagnosed with cancer), remember loved ones and raise money for the fight against cancer.

"Relay For Life is as much an awareness raiser about the progress against cancer as it is a fundraiser", said Elaine Guina, Committee Member for the American Cancer Society Relay For Life". "Individuals who are willing to give their time and energy to this exciting event, as a volunteer or participant, have made a commitment to fight back against this disease and let the community know that you can beat cancer."

Volunteers are needed to organize and recruit teams, seek community support, coordinate logistics, fined refreshments, and prizes, plan entertainment, and lend their support in any way.

For more information on the June9-10 relay For Life of Carroll County at Milledgeville High School, the April 4 meeting at Heritage Center in Lanark, or if you would like to volunteer on the Relay For Life committee, pleas contact Donna Jo Althoff at 815-244-1178

The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering and preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy and service. For more information anytime call toll free 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org

Ashby, Foltz win District I FFA Proficiency Awards

Austin Ashby, son of Jim and Lisa Ashby, and Nathan Foltz, son of Ron and Marsha Foltz each won District I FFA Proficiency Awards on March 7 at Kewanee High School. Ashby won Beef Production Placement while Foltz won Dairy Production Entrepreneurship. Both members will now advance to the State FFA Proficiency Awards Contest on March 31 at the University of Illinois.

Other West Carroll FFA members competing at the District I FFA Proficiency Awards included: Jacob Getz 2nd, Dairy Production Placement; Kali Bundy 2nd, Environmental Science & Natural Resources Management; Travis Morhardt 2nd, Aquaculture; Cody Rockafellow 3rd, Ag Mechanics Design & Fabrication; Josh McLuckie 4th, Wildlife Management; Travis Housenga 4th, Home & Community Development; Justin Boyer 4th Forestry Management; and Carmina Baltierra 4th, Floriculture.

FFA members competing in a FFA Proficiency Awards contest must have completed FFA SAEP record books, a completed evaluation form, and then interview before a panel of judges at the competition.

FFA livestock and dairy contests

The West Carroll Dairy Judging team FFA placed 2nd in the Section #2 FFA Dairy Judging contest held March 10 at the County Highway Building in Mt. Carroll. West Carroll had a team score of 580. Placing individually in the top 10 for West Carroll were Kara Durward 4th with 197, and Rachel Bork 5th with 197. Nathan Foltz, Travis Morhardt and Donovan Harridge also participated on the West Carroll team.

Also, the West Carroll FFA Livestock team placed 3rd in the Section #2 FFA Livestock Contest with a team score of 1229. Placing in the top 10 individually for West Carroll was Travis Morhardt 4th with 416. In this contest participants judged 3 rings of swine, 3 rings of beef, and 3 rings of sheep.

The West Carroll Ag Mechanics team competed in the Section #2 FFA Ag Mechanics CDE held on March 14 at AFC High School. The West Carroll FFA Parent-Member banquet is scheduled at 6:30 March 21 in the high school gym.

Banks preview meeting for trip to basket capital

The First State Bank Shannon-Polo-Lake Carroll, is pleased to announce a preview meeting to showcase our next exciting, extended ­ day trip! "A Tisket A Tasket" we'll travel to the Longaberger Basket Company, basket capital of the world! Handcrafted heirlooms, not only beautiful but useful!

Call Jo Miller at 815-864-2111 in Shannon or Teresa Wolber at 815-946-2777 in Polo to RSVP for the Longaberger Basket preview meeting scheduled at 6:30 p.m. March 28 at the Shannon Bank Community Room. The tour date is July 11-14, 2007. Due to the popularity and eager response to this tour, early sign up is recommended.

The tour begins by heading eastward, via deluxe motor coach, complete with tour guide and bank staff host. The journey ends at "The Place" off the Square in Newark, Ohio. This majestic hotel will be home for the next 4 days and 3 nights. Complete with such amenities as pool, lounge, continental breakfast and comfortable rooms.

The 4-day tour will begin with a visit to the Longaberger Company, with an opportunity to experience a "hands on basket - making adventure". Other excursions and highlights of our trip will include a tour of the Historic Roscoe Village, a canal boat ride via the Ohio and Erie Canal, wine tour and tasting of an active winery, golfing at a 5-star golf course will also be available. A special entertainment night will be discussed at our preview meeting.

Cost and scheduled departure/arrival times will be discussed at the preview meeting. Pricing for single, double, or triple occupancy is available.

Aspiring student Artists exhibition at the Freeport Arts Center

FREEPORT ­ The Freeport Arts Center is displaying student art from Freeport and area schools in Aspiring Artists: Student Exhibition, March 17 through May 5, 2007. This year's theme is "Bugs, Birds and Butterflies." Each year, Freeport and area students demonstrate extraordinary talent in producing their art. "It is always exciting to see the level of creativity students demonstrate", said Jessica Caddell, Collection's Manager of the Freeport Arts Center.

This year, the Center has encouraged teachers and students to employ bugs, birds and butterflies as a point of inspiration for the student's art. Students were encouraged to create a two or three dimensional work to be hung on the walls or from the ceiling of the Arts Center.

Every student whose work is exhibited will receive a pass for free admission for their entire family. This pass can be used to visit the center at any time during the exhibition. The student work will be on display through Saturday, May 5, 2007.

The Freeport Arts Center is located at 121 North Harlem Avenue, and is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturday from Noon-5 p.m. Tours may be scheduled by calling 815-235-9755 or you may email: artscenter@aeroinc.net. For more information, please visit our website at www.freeportartscenter.org.

Monroe Clinic named one of the nation's 100 top hospitals

MONROE, WI - Monroe Clinic was today named one of the nation's 100 Top Hospitals® by Solucient®, part of Thomson Healthcare, a leading provider of information and solutions to improve the cost and quality of health care.

The award recognizes hospitals that have achieved excellence in clinical outcomes, patient safety, financial performance, efficiency, and growth in patient volume. Only five hospitals in the state of Wisconsin received this award. This is the first time Monroe Clinic has been recognized with this honor.

The 2006 Solucient 100 Top Hospitals: National Benchmarks for Success study appears in the March 12 edition of Modern Healthcare magazine.

"Being named on the Top 100 Hospital list is a tremendous honor for us. Our mission is to achieve the highest standards in health care and by receiving this honor, it is obvious that the hard work of all of our physicians, staff, board and volunteers has indeed paid off," said Mike Sanders, President and CEO of Monroe Clinic.

Monroe Clinic is a not-for-profit health system featuring a multi-specialty clinic and hospital dedicated to bringing the best to the community. Sponsored by the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes, Monroe Clinic offers comprehensive health care with more than 80 providers, a 24-hour emergency room, home care and hospice services, as well as seven branch clinics in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois.

"Since this award is based on publicly available data, it shows that Monroe Clinic exceeds the national standards for health care. Our patients can trust that we are constantly doing our best to help them get better faster and stay healthier longer, all while providing compassionate and high-tech health care," said Dr. Frey, Monroe Clinic Chief of Staff and Pediatrician.

As a state-of-the-art health system, Monroe Clinic offers advanced medical equipment and technology combined with care and sensitivity. Patients benefit from exceptional preventive and rehabilitation services and more than 25 medical specialties.

Elaine Strassburg, Chairperson of Monroe Clinic's Board of Directors said, "Monroe Clinic staff members continuously strive to improve, and this award shows that they never tire in their quest for excellence. I am delighted to see our name among the nation's best hospitals."

Research Highlights

More than half of the winning hospitals in the 2006 study are from the Midwest, and 30 of the 100 Top Hospitals facilities are in two states - Michigan and Ohio. When researchers evaluated hospital performance on a state-by-state basis, nine out of 12 Midwest states placed in the top two quintiles. The Midwest was also the top region in hospital performance in the 2004 edition of the 100 Top Hospitals national study.

"The heavy concentration of high-performing hospitals in the Midwest represents the effectiveness and commitment of hospital leaders in the region," says Jean Chenoweth, senior vice president, performance improvement and 100 Top Hospitals programs, Center for Healthcare Improvement, Thomson Healthcare.

While the Midwest emerged as the clear overall leader in the 2006 study, 100 Top Hospitals winners in the West and South achieved the lowest expenses in the nation, and the West and Midwest set the benchmarks for profitability. 100 Top Hospitals national winners in the Northeast achieved the greatest growth in patient volume and the highest level of compliance with core measures - a set of widely accepted minimum standards of care for all patients.

Other key findings of the study include:

·If all hospitals performed like the benchmark hospitals, more than 100,000 additional patients could survive each year, and an additional 114,000 could avoid complications.

·With 25 percent higher admissions per bed, benchmark hospitals treated more patients than non-winning hospitals and also treated patients who were sicker and required more complex treatment.

·The 100 Top Hospitals facilities spent an average of 12 percent less, per discharge, than peer hospitals.

·Median total profit margin at 100 Top Hospitals winners was nearly three times the median of peer hospitals.

·Salaries and benefits were $3,200 more a year per full-time staff member at benchmark hospitals.

The 14th edition of the Solucient 100 Top Hospitals: National Benchmarks for Success study uses a balanced scorecard approach and scores hospitals according to nine key organization-wide measures: risk-adjusted mortality, risk-adjusted complications, patient safety, core measures average, growth in patient volume, severity-adjusted average length of stay, expense per adjusted discharge, profit from operations, and cash to debt ratio.

More information on this study and other 100 Top Hospitals research is available at www.100tophospitals.com. For more information, go to www.monroeclinic.org .

Registration due for weather monitor volunteer training

A new volunteer program designed to increase the density of weather recording locations is being established by the Illinois State Water Survey and the National Weather Service, in cooperation with University of Illinois Extension. Volunteers are needed in northern Illinois.

The program, "Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow" (CoCoRaHS) network, is a grassroots volunteer system of backyard weather observers of all ages working together to measure and map precipitation - rain, hail and snow - in their local communities.

Volunteers need to attend a training workshop to participate as a weather observer. There are two upcoming workshops to be held on March 20 in Woodstock or March 21 in Oregon. The programs will begin at 7 pm. Advance registration is required to attend. Call the U of I Extension Center in Rockford at 815-397-7714 or e-mail churchj@uiuc.edu to register for the Oregon workshop. To attend the Woodstock workshop, phone 815-338-4747. Workshop location and other details will be distributed to the registrants. Include as a part of the registration, names of adults and youth attending with address, phone number and e-mail address if available. Be sure to also specify which site you plan to attend.

For more details about the program network, visit http://www.cocorahs.org.

Resident's idea about teacher pensions

SPRINGFIELD ­ Fran Grier of Geneseo, who taught for a few years in Michigan, wrote State Sen. Todd Sieben recently and asked about the teachers' retirement system in Illinois. From that letter and a follow-up conversation, came an idea for legislation, which Sieben agreed to sponsor.

Senate Bill 153 was approved by a unanimous vote of the Senate March 8 and is currently awaiting further action in the House of Representatives.

"Many people do not realize that quite a few of Illinois laws are based on suggestions from Illinois citizens," said Sieben (R-45th District). "Who else are better qualified to comment on the state government and the ways that it affects their daily lives? I always welcome suggestions, like this one, on ways to improve state government."

Senate Bill 153 allows a teacher to establish credit in the Teachers Retirement System for maternity leaves of absence taken in public schools outside Illinois. The teacher could purchase this credit by paying the employee and employer contributions, plus interest.

"State law currently allows teachers to obtain credit for time spent teaching at public schools outside Illinois. And currently, teachers who take maternity leaves of absence at an Illinois public school are entitled to obtain credit," Sieben said. "The one thing missing is credit for maternity leave while teaching out-of-state. Senate Bill 153 corrects that."

Hottenstein graduates basics

Air Force Airman 1st Class Dana M. Hottenstein has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

During the six weeks of training, the airman studied the Air Force mission, organization, and military customs and courtesies; performed drill and ceremony marches, and received physical training, rifle marksmanship, field training exercises, and special training in human relations.

In addition, airmen who complete basic training earn credits toward an associate degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

She is the daughter of Joanne Grote of Chana and Jeff Rolland Sr. of Coleta.

Hottenstein graduated in the year 2000 from Morrison High School and received an associate degree in 2005 from Joliet Junior College.

Bonnell graduates

Melissa Bonnell, Forreston has graduated from the Educators of Beauty located in Sterling.

She has completed 1500 hours of training, studied all phases of cosmetology education and has satisfied all graduation requirements of the college.

Bonnell is now eligible to take the Cosmetology State Board Examination and become a licensed Cosmetologist.

Bush, Ambassador of the Month

Marilyn Bush of Milledgeville who is attending Educators of Beauty in Sterling was selected as the Ambassador of the Month by popular vote of the administration and student body.

The criteria used in the selection process are based on a positive attitude, exceptional skills of the trade, customer service, excellent grades, professional appearance, good attendance, and salesmanship ability.

Bush portrayed a perfect image of a successful cosmetologist at Educators of Beauty.

Statewide financial housing program

The First Savanna Savings Bank has announced that it is participating in a statewide affordable housing program, known as Downpayment Plus, that focuses on providing financial assistance to qualified low income home buyers in Illinois that need help un meeting the downpayment requirements and closing associated with buying a home.

Steve McIntyre, First Savanna Savings Bank said that qualified homebuyers aspiring to purchase a home but lacking sufficient funds to pay the down payment and closing costs may qualify for a grant designed specifically to address this issue.

To qualify for grant consideration, an applicant's aggregate annual household income must be 80 percent or less than the area median family income, adjusted for family size. For example, to qualify the annual household income of a family of four seeking to purchase a home in Carroll or Jo Daviess County cannot exceed ($44,900). "The program's income limit detail," said Steve McIntyre.

Downpayment Plus grants are funded by the Chicago Federal Home Loan Bank. The Illinois League of Financial Institutions administers the program.

Qualified families needing downpayment and closing cost assistance must apply for home financing at The First Savanna Savings Bank and meet the institution's loan underwriting criteria.

A qualified household will be eligible to receive up to $5,000 in subsidized assistance for the acquisition of an owner-occupied one or two family dwelling. A homebuyer must make a cash contribution of at least $750 towards the purchase of the home.

The First Savanna Savings Bank will apply for the grants on behalf of its borrowers. Borrowers may not apply for grants directly. Borrowers must receive home ownership education to help ensure that they understand the home buying process as well as the financial responsibilities of home ownership.

Steve McIntyre said that this program will help many Illinois families overcome one of the major obstacles to realizing the dream of home ownership ­ the inability to afford the downpayment and closing costs.

The Downpayment Plus program uses funds set aside from earnings of the Chicago Federal Home Loan Bank for the purpose of assisting low income families.

The First Savanna Savings Bank has been a long time member of the Chicago Federal Home Loan Bank. In past years, The First Savanna Savings Bank has assisted several area First Time Homeowner's in obtaining the Downpayment Plus Grants. In fact, The First Savanna Savings Bank has participated continuously in this Grant Program beginning in 1996.

For specific information on the Downpayment Plus Program, contact Steve McIntyre at 815-273-3811 or stop in at 301 Main St., Savanna, IL 61074.

Funding available for relatives raising children

Nearly 8000 children in northwestern Illinois are being raised by grandparents or other relatives. Many face major financial burdens because they live on a fixed income. The stress is often overwhelming.

Northwestern Illinois Area Agency on Aging (NIAAA) has funding and other services available to assist with their caregiving challenges. We have state and federal funding for food, clothing, furniture and other emergency needs.

NIAAA also assists by providing information and support through groups and educational opportunities.

For additional information, please call Teresa Colvin at (815) 226-4901 or 1-800-542-8402.

Help stop crime

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 and the identity of any caller will be kept strictly confidential.

The Carroll County Sheriff's Office is investigating the theft of copper wire from the signal poles along the railroad tracks near SouthEast Lane in Mt. Carroll. Sometime during March 10 unknown subjects removed more than 18,000 feet of bare single stand 10 gauge copper wire. This crime, besides being expensive, is dangerous because severing the wire disables the signals on the line. If you have information about this theft or you see suspicious activity along the tracks. Please notify the Sheriff's Office or call Crime Stoppers immediately. Loss due to theft and damage exceeds $3,000.

The Savanna Police Department is investigating two burglaries that occurred on March 9. In each case, two male subjects described as Caucasian 6' tall and Hispanic 5'5" tall approached homes in Savanna. They engaged the residents in conversation about the neighboring property. They claimed to have purchased the property and wished to discuss the property lines. While the residents were occupied an unseen accomplice entered their house, searched for and found valuables and cash. Loss exceeds $300. Two other similar instances of failed attempts were also reported. Suspects were driving a white Ford pickup truck.

Persons having information about these crimes or the location of a wanted felon should contact Crime Stoppers at 815-244-STOP (244-7867).