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More Important NewsKitchen Design Center Unveiled at MHC Open HouseBy Lynnette Forth For The Prairie Advocate News
Area residents have a great place to purchase home building products at the Milledgeville Home Center. Recently, the store underwent a remodeling project, and was completed approximately three weeks ago. An open house will be held on Saturday, March 26th. With its nine employees, manager Joe Kelly stated, “We have a professional staff available to help with any building and remodeling needs.” At the open house, the Milledgeville Home Center will be unveiling its new Kitchen Design Center. Employee Holly Hamilton is certified in 20/20 kitchen design, and can also provide 3D drawings for the purpose of helping choose a lay-out suitable for the kitchen of your dreams. Free measuring, free delivery, and free estimates are given when you are choosing a kitchen design. Many different types of cabinetry are available, with Starmark and Armstrong being the top two brands. Meganite, Corian, and LG high-mac countertops are available as well.
A variety of building and remodeling materials are available and include: Dura ceramic tile, faucets for both kitchen and vanity, cabinet hardware, roofing supplies, as well as the option to rent an insulation blower, carpet cleaner, and floor sander. Kelly also noted, “We also have a full scale lumber yard with everything needed for your project from start to finish.” The Milledgeville Home Center will offer special cabinet discounts, refreshments, door prizes, and the chance to take a peek at the new design center during the open house.
Roadshow Comes to Freeport
Roadshow will be at the Holiday Inn in Freeport, 109 South Galena Ave., from March 22 through 26. The hours will be Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. “There was buried treasure in the backyard just waiting to be dug up and the family knew it. So one day the granddaughter decided to excavate what her grandmother, an escapee from an oppressive Russian tsarist rule, put in the dirt years ago. Turns out it was $57,000 worth of Russian gold rubles.” That’s just one story Colleen Rivera likes to tell. Witnessing such impressive finds is part of her job as a show manager for the Ohio Valley Gold & Silver Refinery’s traveling roadshow. The Springfield, Ill.-based company is in Freeport through Saturday looking to buy precious metals, jewelry, historical artifacts, antiques and other collectibles. When someone brings in an item, The Ohio Valley Refinery & Roadshow evaluates it, makes an offer, then writes out a check sending that person home with some extra cash. Our job is to find buyers for items. We’re the middle man. We try to find someone in that market interested,” said Jeramy Weese, also a show manager for the Ohio Valley Refinery & Roadshow Weese said that when an individual brings in an item, the buyers will enter the details into their online system which connects with over 10,000 collectors. Items can range from coin collections to vintage guitars and everything in between. “If we can get someone to generate an offer, they agree to the terms and we give them a check on the spot. However, if more than one collector is interested, the offer can go higher,” explains Weese. David Ford, a buyer for the company, said he enjoys traveling to different towns each week and finding new and interesting items. Just a few weeks back he had a woman come in who had bought a coin from the casino she worked at for a dollar the night before. She walked out that morning with a check for $50. She joked that this was the quickest $49 dollars she ever made. So search through your closets and bring down your items to the Holiday Inn this week. Chances are, you will walk out with a little extra money in your pocket. Admission is free to the event. For more questions, call 217-726-7590.
The West Carroll PTO “spent” 33,000 Campbell soup labels this year and rewarded each of the WC schools’ Art Departments with 11,000 points to use. Above(left) is Mary Green, art teacher at West Carroll Primary and her students with their rewards from the WC PTO. At right, Sylvia Schneider, art teacher at the WC Intermediate school, with some of the art supplies from the rewards program. (Courtesy of Theresa Duggan) Heritage Woods of Sterling Hosts ‘Heart and Soul’ Valentine’s BallBy Diana K. Lopez, Director of Marketing & Sales
On Feb 10th, 2011, Heritage Woods of Sterling hosted a Valentines Ball for residents and their families. It was a huge success. We had a packed house. Music was presented by the “The Main Street Jazz Band” from Clinton. Hors d’oeuvres, fresh strawberries stuffed with cream cheese, and dipped in white and dark chocolate, fancy cheese cakes along with an elegant punch fountain were served. Decorations in pink, red and purple, adorned the entry and dining room. Our beautician was busy all day. The gals were getting all spruced up for the “Big Event.” I wish everyone could of seen the happiness that night. It was as if 20 years had never passed. Everyone decked out for the evening, they were clapping, singing and dancing. Residents boogying in their wheelchairs, some even getting up and out of their chairs that never do, (with our assistance), enjoying to “move and groove” with the music and having a blast. We must not forget that there is still a lot of life left in our residents. We all get so caught up with our own lives, we forget they still have a life too. I am so proud that Heritage Woods of Sterling can give this back to them. We are planning a Barn Dance April 27th from 6 – 8 pm. They are already buzzing about it and don’t want this one to end so soon! For more information about Heritage Woods of Sterling, contact Marketing Director, Diana Lopez, at 815-625-7045 or stop in anytime at 2205 Oak Grove Avenue in Sterling. West Carroll Girl Scouts
West Carroll Daisy/Brownie Girl Scout Troop 5103 proudly show the beautiful bouquets they made with Gwen Lowe of Flower Fan-A-See. Gwen gave a “Flowers for Kids” presentation to the troop of 25 Kindergarten through 3rd grade Girl Scouts. The girls learned many things about flowers and made own bouquet. (Photo courtesy Amanda Honchell) West Carroll FFA Wins Dairy and Places 4th in Livestock Judging Contests
The West Carroll Dairy Judging team FFA placed 1st in the Section #1 FFA Dairy Judging contest held Saturday, March 19, 2011 at the County Highway Building in Mt. Carroll. West Carroll had a team score of 899. Participating for West Carroll were Donovan Harridge, Kim Durward, Dustin Duggan, Karley Metz, Dylan Williams, Chloe Carson, and Cody Carson. This year the dairy contest consisted of 5 rings of dairy cattle and 2 rings of dairy goats. Earlier in the morning, the West Carroll FFA Livestock team placed 4th in the Section #1 FFA Livestock Contest with a team score of 1158. Participating for West Carroll were Chloe Carson, Cody Carson, Donovan Harridge, Patrick Fritz, Dustin Duggan, Ieshia Larson, Jacob Ritchie, Garrett Badtke, Karley Metz, Katessa Sibley, Clare O’Connor, Alyssa James, Lindsay Dauphin, Baanie Dandona, Paawan Dandona, Jared Root, Demi Hess, Geoffrey Carroll, Dylan Williams, Kyler Dimmick, and Caitlyn Rein. In this contest participants judged 3 rings of swine, 3 rings of beef, and 3 rings of sheep.
Chadwick Jr. High Quiz Bowl Team
The Chadwick Jr. High Quiz Bowl Team competed in the St. Mary’s Tournament on Sat. March 5th in Sterling. The team placed 3rd in their 7 team pool. In the picture are from left to right: Mrs. Alexander: Volunteer Coach, Gabriella Sheddan, Dani Sheddan, Collin Leddy, Bailey Fisch, and Betty Nicklaus. Not pictured is Rebecca Alexander who was unable to attend. Also, Leddy and Fisch placed in the Top 20 Toss-up Competition out of all 14 teams. The team will be playing on March 24th Fulton Unity Tournament. Accelerated Reader
Kate Knight, a fifth grader in Mrs. Wolfe’s class at WCIS, has earned 175 points in the Accelerated Reader Program. Congratulations, and keep on reading! (Courtesy Jennifer McGinnis) Because Nice Matters
Doug Nelson of R.C. Smith Transportation was recently named the recipient of the “Because Nice Matters” Customer Service Award for the month of February. Doug was recognized by the Morrison Chamber of Commerce for his dedication, by providing transportation services during inclement weather and late hours, in order to accommodate stranded travelers. Congratulations Doug for your great service, above normal duty requests! (Courtesy of Corinne Bender) Savanna City Hall
The Main Lobby in the new Savanna City building with receptionist area. Savanna’s new City Hall is now carpeted and nearly ready to go, with the first of April being a probable ‘move in’ date for the city staff. Chief Michael Moon also said there are plans for a public open house, possibly in late May, once some additional landscaping is done. (PA photo/Michael Miller) Holling 99th Birthday Celebration
An open house will be held on March 27 from 2-4 pm in the dining room of Big Meadows Nursing Home to honor Dorothy Holling’s 99th birthday. Dorothy was born on March 27, 1912 to Antone and Ellen VanBuer in Albany, Il. She was the youngest of 13 children. She spent most of her life in the Savanna area. She has one daughter Charlene Bell of Savanna, two grandsons Franklin and Scott Bell, and many nieces and nephews. Everyone is encouraged to attend and help Dorothy celebrate this special day. Cards may be sent to Dorothy Holling 1000 Longmoor Ave Savanna, Il 61074. Ladies Day Out Fair To Support March Of DimesCome help support the March of Dimes at our Ladies Day Out Craft Fair. The Event will be held at the Shannon Fire Department at 9 S Hickory, Shannon, IL on this Saturday, March 26th from 10 am- 4 pm. Simpol Miracles works with and for the March Of Dimes. Its mission is to offer support for families with pre-mature babies. Simpol Miracles will have a booth full of silent auction and bake sale items donated by the vendors of the event and local businesses. There will be 20+ vendors with a wide range of items from homemade crafts to purses. Also on scene will be a photographer for your Easter Family Pictures. Come have lunch with your whole family and Support the March of Dimes. Program on Genealogy Offered in FultonSupporters of Schmaling (S.O.S.) will host a genealogy program at the new River Bend Senior Center on Thursday, April 14, 2011, at 6:30 p.m. The senior center is located in downtown Fulton, Illinois, at the former fire station at the corner of 10th Avenue and 4th Street. Jeffrey Bockman will present “Extra! Extra! Read All about Your Ancestors.” This program shows the wealth of information found in newspapers that can help you learn about your ancestors and the times in which they lived. Learn how to locate some of those little gems with published extracts, online and printed indexes, or online searches. Jeffrey Bockman is a Genealogy lecturer and writer. He was a contributing editor for the Everton’s Genealogical Helper and a feature writer for the Heritage Quest Magazine. His articles have also appeared in various other publications. He was the President of the DuPage County Genealogical Society for 5 terms. He is the author of Give Your Family A Gift That Money Can’t Buy, a book that encourages people to record and preserve their family’s history. This program is made possible in part by an award from the Illinois Humanities Council, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Illinois General Assembly. The event is free and open to the public. The supporters of Schmaling Memorial library encourage the public to attend this event to learn more about genealogy research and celebrate National Library Week. For more information, please contact Heidi Kolk (815) 589-3160 or hkolk@hotmail.com . The Marian Baker Award For Excellence In Child CareIn 1999, 4-C Community Coordinated Child Care established the Marian Baker Award for Excellence in Child Care in memory of a long time friend and board member, Marian Baker. The award is designed to recognize an individual who possesses the dedication and passion, which Marian exemplified in her role as teacher, board member and child advocate. The public is invited to submit nominations. The nominee must work in an early childhood education program, including but not limited to child care centers and family day care homes within the counties of DeKalb, Ogle, Lee, Carroll, Whiteside or McHenry. The recipient will receive a $250 stipend. Nomination packets can be requested by contacting Sylvia at 815-758-8149 or 800-848-8727 extension 221, email: sylviai@four-c.org or visit our website at www.four-c.org to print the forms. All nominations must be received in the 4-C office no later than 4:30 p.m. on Monday, April 8, 2011. The awards will be presented at the 4-C Annual Meeting on Wednesday, April 27, 2011. 4-C was established to promote children’s well being by advocating for quality affordable, accessible childcare. We support parents and those providing childcare by offering information, education, resources and services. 4-C Friend Of A Child AwardIn 1989, 4-C Community Child Care established the Friend of the Child Award in order to recognize the outstanding efforts of individuals and organizations in our six county area (DeKalb, Ogle, Lee, Carroll, Whiteside and McHenry) that have made a difference in the lives of young children. Past winners have included childcare program administrators, policy makers, organizations with histories of support for children/Child care and community leaders. The public is invited to submit nominations for the 4-C Friend of a Child Award. The nominee must live within 4-C’s service delivery area-DeKalb, Ogle, Lee, Carroll, Whiteside and McHenry counties. Nomination packets can be requested by contacting Sylvia at 815-758-8149 or 800-848-8727 extension 221, email: sylviai@four-c.org or visit our website at www.four-c.org to print the forms. All nominations must be received in the 4-C office no later than 4:30 p.m. on Monday, April 8, 2011. The award will be presented at the 4-C Annual Meeting on Wednesday, April 27, 2011. 4-C was established in 1971 to promote children’s well being by advocating for quality, affordable, accessible childcare. We support parents and those providing childcare by offering information, education, resources and services. Super Recycling EventNorthwest Illinois residents can recycle used oil, antifreeze, household and automotive batteries, electronics, latex paint, and fluorescent lights from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Saturday, April 2nd, at the University of Illinois Extension parking lot in Mt. Carroll, near the intersection of highways 78 and 64/52. A new service offered this year is document shredding. All office and personal documents, including CDs and disks will be shredded on site. Fees apply to the following: latex paint based on container size(quart - $1.50, gallon - $2.50, 2 gallon - $3.50, 5 gallon pail - $8.00) and tube fluorescent lights with a fee of $1.00 per 4 ft. or smaller and $2.00 for any tubes longer than 4 ft. Most recycled materials can be dropped off for free including used oil, antifreeze, electronics, batteries and compact fluorescent lights (CFL’s are collected courtesy of Jo-Carroll Energy’s recycling program). A household hazardous waste collection that is limited to Carroll and Jo Daviess County residents. There is a $10.00 participation fee per household to drop off household hazardous waste. Household hazardous waste includes household cleaners, automotive products, yard pesticides and garden products, paints and varnishes. The program is sponsored by the Green Fair Alliance, the Jo-Carroll Solid Waste Agency, and University of Illinois Extension. For questions, contact Maggie Friedenbach, Recycling and Conservation Programs Coordinator, 815-244-9444, or mfrieden@illinois.edu. Volunteer Drivers for Golden Meals NeededVolunteer drivers are needed to deliver hot meals to homebound senior citizens in Milledgeville Monday through Friday. Golden Meals has contracted with the Bird House Cafe to provide lunch for the elderly. Lunches will be picked up at the Cafe and delivered to homes. (Time of pick up not available at this writing; possibly by 11 a.m.) This ministry can not and will not start until we have volunteers; the hoped for date to begin is April 1st. You do not have to be a church member to receive meals or volunteer; anyone who wants to learn more or help mat call Trinity Lutheran (initial coordinator) at815-225-7410. Thank you. Monthly Meals for Senior CitizensThe monthly luncheon, formerly called Golden Meals Get Together, continues with a new name: Milledgeville Grace Meal. These meals are prepared on site (free will offering). So far, the women (and a few men) from the Methodist and Lutheran churches are joining forces to provide a hot meal and social time to those who are interested. (no church membership required.) The first official Milledgeville Grace Meal gathering is Tues. Ap. 12th, 11:30 am at Trinity Lutheran (on the corner of Hwy. 40 and Stover Avenue, handicap accessibility under the canopy @ the NE door) Hosted by the Methodist Church. To make a reservation call Roger and Vicki Hinrichs, 225-7853 by Friday, April 8th. Plan to attend for a good meal and a good time. Celebrate AgIn March, we celebrate National Ag Month with March 15th specifically being celebrated as National Ag Day. Did you know American agriculture not only provides you food and clothing, but also helps meet needs around the world? Agriculture is so much larger than most people realize. One Illinois farmer feeds a total of 155 people! Agriculture is responsible for some 22 million jobs in the United States with fewer than 2 million of those being actively engaged in farming. Meet Farmer George - At the LibraryIn celebration of National Ag Month, the Carroll County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee donated three ag books to each of the libraries in the county along with the school libraries. Two of the books are, “Awesome Agriculture: Pigs an A-to-Z Book” and “Pigs and Pork in the Story of Agriculture”. Both books are co-written by Susan Anderson and JoAnne Buggey. They are targeted for children ages 4-6, and 7 and up, respectively. They are the second in the Awesome Agriculture for Kids series. The third book is “Farmer George Plans a Nation” by Peggy Thomas and it is appropriate for grades 4-8. So head on out to your local library and learn about the important things pigs do for us and Farmer George. Scholarship OpportunitiesThe Carroll County Farm Bureau Foundation 2011 scholarship application deadline is Thursday, March 24, 2011. This year they will be offering five $1000 general scholarships along with the Harold Schmidt Memorial Forestry Scholarship in the amount of $1000. To be eligible for all of the scholarships, applicants must meet the following criteria: must be a high school graduate; must be a Carroll County Farm Bureau member, spouse of a member or member’s child; must be accepted for enrollment or be enrolled at an accredited college, university, community college or technical school; must exhibit potential for successful completion of course of study; and must be a resident of Illinois. The general scholarships require a student to be majoring in agriculture, agribusiness, or an ag-related field. The Harold Schmidt Memorial Forestry Scholarship requires a student to be enrolled in Forestry, Wood Science, Wildlife Biology, Botany, General Biology, or other related disciplines as listed on the application. Scholarship applications have been mailed to all Carroll County high school guidance counselors, FFA Advisors, and are available at the Carroll County Farm Bureau office or our website at www.carrollcfb.org. Completed applications must be returned to the Carroll County Farm Bureau by Thursday, March 24, 2011. For questions or more information contact Chas Welch at 244-3001 or by email at carrollcfb@grics.net. Books By the BushelThe Carroll County Farm Bureau Foundation has recently announced a new program to help with agriculture education. They are giving away Books by the Bushel to organizations in the county that can benefit from a bushel basket of ag books. The books are geared for children on a variety of ag topics which include: Century Farming: One Hundred Years on a Family Farm, Diary of a Worm, From Wheat to Pasta, and more. Applications to apply for the books by the bushel are available through the Carroll County Farm Bureau office or off of our website at www.carrollcfb.org. Anyone can apply for this. Completed applications must be returned to the Carroll County Farm Bureau by Thursday, March 24. For questions or more information contact Chas at 244-3001 or by email at carrollcfb@grics.net. As Birds Hatch, Citizens Track Life at the NestNestWatchers help scientists study the family lives of birdsWhether in a shrub, a tree, or a nest box, bird nests are all around us. Each spring and summer, volunteers across the country visit nests and report their findings to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s NestWatch project at www.nestwatch.org. NestWatchers keep track of how many eggs are laid and how many hatch. As the young birds grow, participants collect valuable data on the nesting success and survival of birds. “NestWatch helps people of all ages and backgrounds connect with nature,” says project leader Jason Martin. “The information that our dedicated citizen scientists collect allows us to assess the impact of threats to birds, including environmental change and habitat destruction, and to better understand complex nesting behaviors.” For example, NestWatch data show that the nesting behaviors of Eastern Bluebirds vary geographically. Because high air temperature increases the likelihood that eggs will not hatch, southern bluebirds compensate by beginning incubation before all eggs in a clutch are laid, unlike northern bluebirds. This tactic allows the birds to have more control over egg temperature, increasing the likelihood their eggs will hatch. “I consider NestWatch a huge electronic treasure chest,” says Pauline Tom, a NestWatch participant and president of the Texas Bluebird Society. “My efforts now go far beyond my backyard because as a citizen-science participant, I’m a member of the world’s largest research team.” All materials and instructions on how to participate are available on the NestWatch website at www.nestwatch.org, including directions on how to find and monitor nests without disturbing the birds. It’s fun, easy, free—and it ultimately helps the birds. “Armed with the knowledge we get from NestWatch data, we can take the necessary steps to help birds survive in this changing world,” said Martin. The immensely popular NestCams are also back online, presenting live video from the nests of Barn Owls, bluebirds, wrens, Wood Ducks, and many other species. Visit www.nestcams.org to take a peek into the hidden lives of nesting birds. “Reagan in Whiteside County” Traveling ExhibitA coalition of volunteers representing Whiteside County Historical Museums have worked together to create a traveling exhibit entitled, “Reagan in Whiteside County” which will be open to the public at various venues & events throughout Whiteside County during 2011. The exhibit, which highlights Reagan’s ancestral roots and early years in Whiteside County, includes pictures and historical documents contributed by the Fulton, Morrison, Sterling/Rock Falls & Tampico Historical Societies. This exhibit will travel throughout Whiteside County and time slots are still available to organizations throughout the region who would like to have it on display. The scheduled locations & dates are: Sterling/Rock Falls Historical Museum - March through April 27 Morrison History Museum- April 28 - May 1 Downtown Fulton during Dutch Days May 6, 7 Nellie Reagan Event in Tampico – Mother’s Days, May 8th Reagan Birthplace in Fulton - May 10 Morrison History Museum - Memorial Day Weekend Reagan Birthplace in Tampico - June through August 8th Dixon Public Library – Aug 9-14 Sterling/Rock Falls Historical Museum - 1st weekend in December For more information or to set up a time when the exhibit could be displayed in your area contact Mary Ellen Brackemyer mailto:mebracke@yahoo.com In the ServiceArmy National Guard Pvt. David J. Gonzalez has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises. He is the son of Suzette Gonzales of Fourth St., Sterling, Ill. Gonzalez graduated in 2007 from Sterling High School. It’s March, Let’s Start Seeds IndoorsMid-March is a good time to start seeds indoors. Most annual and vegetable seeds need from 6-12 weeks to grow to be full size transplants. If we start in mid-March, the plant will be ready mid- to late May. 1. Be sure that all containers (flats, cell packs, etc.) are clean. 2. Fill containers with potting mix. Potting mixes are often dry, so moisten them before use. If using peat pellets, soak them in water so they expand. 3. In flats: make shallow rows and plant seeds in the rows. In cell packs or peat pots: put 1-3 seeds per cell or pot. In peat pellets: put 1-3 seeds in the indentation. For all, cover seed at a depth 2-3 times the diameter of the seed. 4a. The pots and flats can be placed in clear plastic bags to form ‘mini-greenhouses’. The plastic bag will help retain the moisture in the potting mix. Keep the plastic bag in a warm site (65-75 degrees), but out of direct sun. 4b. If the pots are not placed in a plastic bag, check daily to see if the potting mix needs additional water. It should be consistently moist, but never wet. Keep seeds at 65-75 degrees. Place under fluorescent lights. 5. Good light is needed to produce strong seedlings. Fluorescent lights are very beneficial. Special grow lights are NOT needed. Regular fluorescent tubes can be used. Lights should be on 14-16 hours each day and kept about 2 inches above the tops of the seedlings. 6. Harden off the seedlings before transplanting outside. This acclimates the seedlings to their new environment. A few days before transplanting, put the seedlings outside in a shady, sheltered spot for a few hours. Increase the length of time each day, gradually raising the time to 24 hours a day. At this point, seedlings are ready to transplant. This process will be governed by the weather. Do not put tender seedlings outside if the weather is too cold or windy. For more information, contact the Whiteside County – 100 East Knox Street – Morrison, IL 61270; Phone: 815 772-4075 FAX: 815 772-4077; Email: whiteside_co@extension.uiuc.edu – Website: www.extension.uiuc.edu/whiteside Too Early for Lawn CareThere is still snow on the ground now, but as soon as it melts, many homeowners will start to think about lawn care. It is common to see people putting fertilizer and crabgrass control down way before spring arrives. It is best to wait until the right time arrives. We really should not do much to lawns until at least April. Crabgrass will not germinate until the SOIL temperature is above 55 degrees for 5-7 consecutive days. That normally does not happen until late April or early May. To apply a crabgrass preventer now, would be a waste of time and product. Just because it is being sold in the store, does not mean it is time to apply it. Lawn fertilizers are often applied too early as well. Wait until May to put on the first application of fertilizer. At that time the plants will be able to utilize the fertilizer and will be able to take it up from the soil. A rite of spring seems to be scalping the lawn. This really does not need to be done. For the first mowing of spring, you may want to set you mower blade a little lower, but you NEVER need to scalp the lawn. Some rites of spring should just be forgotten. For more information, contact the Whiteside County – 100 East Knox Street – Morrison, IL 61270; Phone: 815 772-4075 FAX: 815 772-4077; Email: whiteside_co@extension.uiuc.edu – Website: www.extension.uiuc.edu/whiteside Corn and Soybean Prices: Mission Accomplished?In the Jan. 18 Weekly Outlook, it was suggested that corn and soybean prices had the dual objectives of (1) allocating old-crop supplies so as to maintain pipeline supplies at the end of the year and (2) directing spring planting decisions. “Specifically, these prices needed to ensure an increase in corn acreage and maintain soybean acreage at the 2010 level,” said University of Illinois economist Darrel Good. For soybeans, the declining pace of both the domestic crush and exports, along with the prospects for a large increase in double-cropped acreage in 2011, suggested that soybean prices had increased enough by mid-January to accomplish the dual price objectives. “That conclusion was reinforced by the improving condition of the Brazilian soybean crop and prospects for a record harvest in 2011. The USDA confirmed prospects for a record large Brazilian soybean crop last week,” he said. Soybean prices increased another 40 cents from Jan. 18 to the peak on Feb. 9. Since then, May 2011 soybean futures have declined about $1.30. The decline in November 2011 futures has been only slightly less, he said. “For corn, the conclusion in mid-January was that prices would need to remain very strong to slow the pace of consumption and to motivate a large increase in planted acreage,” Good noted. May 2011 corn futures increased nearly 60 cents from Jan. 18 to the peak on March 4. December 2011 futures increased about 40 cents to the much earlier peak on Feb. 11, he said. “Corn prices have declined sharply since early March and are now back to the level of mid-January. The rapid decline suggests the market believes that corn prices have accomplished their objectives. The likelihood that old crop consumption has been slowed enough comes from two perspectives,” he said. First is the macro-perspective. Recent world events are seen as a threat to the fragile economic recovery that is under way. Political unrest in North Africa and the Middle East has pushed crude oil and gasoline prices nearly 15 percent higher in the past month. Those higher prices could slow economic growth and curb commodity demand, including demand for agricultural commodities, he noted. “Now the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan may challenge the Japanese and world economies, pointing to the possibility of a further slowdown in global demand growth,” he said. The second perspective of corn demand comes from the flow of information relative to the pace of consumption. During the first half of the 2010-11 marketing year, ethanol production, and presumably the amount of corn used for ethanol production, was 15 percent larger than during the same period last year, Good said. “Last year, however, ethanol production was relatively small during the first half of the corn marketing year and accelerated rapidly in the last half of the year. Year-over-year increases in ethanol production will be much smaller for the last half of the 2010-11 marketing year. Still, use during that period needs to be only 2.3 percent larger than use of a year ago to reach the USDA projection of 4.95 billion bushels of corn used for ethanol production,” he said. The pace of corn exports has also been slow enough that the USDA projection of marketing-year exports of 1.95 billion bushels is not expected to be exceeded. Although the pace of corn export sales accelerated during the five weeks ended Feb. 24, the pace of shipments remains generally slow. Cumulative marketing-year export inspections through March 10 were about 10 million bushels less than the total of a year ago, he said. “In addition, Census Bureau estimates of corn exports through January were only 26 million bushels larger than cumulative inspections. Last year, census estimates through January exceeded inspections by 63 million bushels,” he said. Like last year, exports will have to increase rapidly in the last half of the year in order to reach the USDA projection for the year. That pace may now be threatened by the situation in Japan, although not much is known about damage to total port capacity, transportation infrastructure, or the livestock industry. Japan is the largest importer of U.S. corn, and as of March 3, 116 million bushels of corn sales to Japan had not been shipped, he noted. “Finally, corn prices have been pushed lower by ideas that producers have already made plans for a large increase in corn acreage in 2011. Some are projecting planted acreage above the USDA expectation of 92 million acres and even above our calculation of a needed 93 million acres. These expectations of large corn acreage underscore the importance of the USDA’s March 31 Prospective Plantings report,” he said. For more information, contact the Whiteside County – 100 East Knox Street – Morrison, IL 61270; Phone: 815 772-4075 FAX: 815 772-4077; Email: whiteside_co@extension.uiuc.edu – Website: www.extension.uiuc.edu/whiteside Whiteside County 4-H Drive-Thru Pork Chop BarbecueThe Spring Whiteside County 4-H Drive-thru Pork Chop Barbecue will occur Thursday, April 7, 2011. You are invited on behalf of all the Whiteside County 4-H’ers to come and support the Whiteside County 4-H Program by purchasing pork chop meals for your family to enjoy at home. The drive-thru will be held at the Whiteside County Extension office at 100 East Knox Street in Morrison. The event will occur from 4:30 to 6:30 pm where you can drive thru and pick up a great meal cooked by the Whiteside County Pork Producers and take it home to your family. There will also be various drop off locations at designated times for those who do not live in the Morrison area; however, tickets must be pre-purchased for the drop off sites. The five other drop-off locations are as follows: • Fulton – at the Shell Gas Station Parking Lot at 4:30 pm; • Prophetstown – at the United Methodist Church Parking Lot at 5:00 pm; • Tampico – in front of the Community Building at 5:30 pm; • Erie – at St. Ambrose Parking Lot at 6:00pm; and • Sterling – at the Sauk Valley News Parking Lot at 6:30 pm. Tickets must be pre-purchased by March 25, 2011. Prices are $7.00 for a one chop sandwich dinner and $9.00 for a two chop sandwich dinner which includes the sandwich(es), chips, applesauce and a cookie. For tickets contact your local 4-H family or club or contact the Whiteside County Extension office at 815/772-4075 by Friday, March 25, 2011. A limited number of walk-up/drive-thru’s without tickets will be available at the Morrison pick-up location only, but to be guaranteed a great meal get your tickets in advance! Thank you for helping support your Whiteside County 4-H Program!!! Thomson Causeway Recreation Area to Remain Closed To CampingThe U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mississippi River Project announces that the Thomson Causeway Recreation Area, Thomson, Illinois will NOT OPEN for camping until May 20, 2011. This is due to a delay in the construction of improvements to the sanitary facilities leaving the area without sewer or water. The area will remain open to day use only, including activities such as boat launching, fishing, and picnicking. When complete, the improvements at the park will include: partial renovation of the two existing shower facilities, Thomson city sewer and water brought into the recreation area to serve existing facilities, and a renovated multi-lane dump station along Lewis Avenue. For further information on this closure, please contact the Thomson Park Rangers at 815-259-3628. To learn more about the Mississippi River, you are encouraged to visit www.missriver.org. Crime Stoppers: Taking a “Bite” out of Crime in Carroll CountyMaybe it’s the economy, maybe it’s the time of year, or maybe they think they can get away with it. For Carroll County Crime Stoppers, 2010 was definitely a big year. Probably the biggest story of “taking a bite out of crime” for CC Crime Stoppers was the “anonymous tips” that were called in regarding the numerous school burglaries which took place last spring. These school burglaries took place in Carroll and surrounding counties. The public assisted police, through using the “hot line” Crime Stoppers maintains for reporting illegal activity (815-244-STOP or 815-244-7867). Several “tips” from the public, just for those burglaries alone, resulted in arrests that have or will result in convictions. During the 2010 year, Crime Stoppers received more calls with crime solving information than in any one year since it’s’ existence,” says Mike Siciliano, Chairman of Carroll County Crime Stoppers. Siciliano continued, “While the public’s response has been exceptional, the phrase, ‘Crime doesn’t pay, but we do’, has been well tested with a record number of cash payouts to anonymous callers whose tips led to the arrest and conviction of offenders.” Crime Stoppers is a non-profit organization. Crime Stoppers does receive some funding through the courts when certain fines are paid. But with the banner year of crime reporting they have just experienced, Crime Stoppers needs some extra monetary support. Crime stoppers rarely relies on public donations, but now finds itself in the position of needing some additional funding to continue to operate their anonymous hot line for crime reporting. Sheriff Jeff Doran says, “Keeping track of what goes on in rural communities, like ours, can be difficult for law enforcement agencies without the help of the public. Crime Stoppers offers safety in reporting for those using the hot line (815-244-STOP/7867). ” If you, your organization or business would like to make a donation or become involved to help sustain Crime Stoppers important work in keeping our communities safe, contact any of the directors listed and help us take a “Bite out of Crime” in Carroll County. Directors: Mike Siciliano – 815-493-6148 Quinn Kosmecki – 815-718-5877 Rich Walendukanis – 815-493-2104 Randy Law – 815-589-3368 Kandi Corbett – 815-244-5116 or 815-589-2200 Larry Miller – 815-684-5148 Kim Sturtevant – 815-493-2983 Freddie Preston – 815-541-6983 John Smith – 815-244-4261 Carol Geary – 815-244-9444 or cgeary@illinois.edu ‘Turn Around, Don’t Drown’ on Flooded RoadwaysA thick snowpack in the upper Midwest combined with the potential for heavy rainfall in March and April could be the recipe for flooding in many parts of Illinois this spring. During National Flood Safety Awareness Week March 14-18, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and the National Weather Service (NWS) are encouraging Illinois residents to learn more about flooding and what they can do to stay safe. “There’s a good chance we could see severe flooding in one or more areas of the state this spring,” said IEMA Director Jonathon Monken. “Flooding not only causes damage to property, it can also be deadly. We want to make sure people are aware of the dangers and know how to prepare and stay safe before spring flooding occurs.” Monken said in addition to promoting public awareness of flood issues, IEMA representatives have begun meeting with local officials in several areas of the state to prepare for potential spring flooding. Nearly 100 flood-related deaths occur in the U.S. each year. The most dangerous type of flooding is a flash flood. Most flash floods are caused by slow-moving thunderstorms and occur most frequently at night. Many people underestimate the power of water. Six inches of fast-moving water can knock an adult off his or her feet and it only takes 18-24 inches of rushing water to carry away most vehicles, including trucks and SUVs. “Flood Safety Awareness Week’s primary purpose is to increase public knowledge of the dangers of flooding,” said Darrin Hansing, Service Hydrologist with the NWS in Lincoln. “A majority of flood-related fatalities are the result of people driving across flooded roadways. These deaths are preventable. For your safety please remember, ’Turn around, don’t drown.’” IEMA and NWS have developed a Severe Weather Preparedness Guide, which includes information about floods as well as tips on what people should do before, during and after a flood. The guide is available on the Ready Illinois website at www.Ready.Illinois.govor by calling (217) 785-9888. April 2011 Trivia NightOne hundred new questions –10 questions from 10 categories – are ready to test the knowledge of teams at the Carroll County Haiti Mission Project’s ninth Trivia Night fund raiser on Saturday, April 2 at Buck’s Barn, north of Thomson. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top two teams. Registration fee is $10 per person. Teams of 4-6 can register online at http://cchmp-022008a.tripod.com/trivia.html, by sending their team information to libberton@grics.net, by calling Larry Libberton at 815.244.1357 or on the night of the event. It is recommended that teams register prior to the event. Libberton said that teams that register online will receive one free trivia answer with their registration confirmation. Doors will open at 6 p.m., with the competition set to begin at 7 p.m. Competition will consist of 10 rounds of 10 questions from 10 categories. All of the money raised during the event will help fund the group’s mission work in Haiti. Formed in 2001, CCHMP teams travel to Haiti three times each year. The group’s projects include continued work on its medical/dental clinic, support of several schools, sponsorship of schoolchildren and a new water purification program. In June a team will make the group’s 31st trip to Haiti. For more information on CCHMP, visit the group’s website: http://cchmp.tripod.com. Morthland Moves ‘Dawn’s Law’ Out of CommitteeState Representative Rich Morthland (R-Cordova) passed a bill out of committee last week that would increase penalties associated with fatal accidents for those driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Morthland’s House Bill 3522 would provide that a third or subsequent DUI violation that results in death will be a Class X felony. Under the proposed law, a convicted defendant would face a prison term of at least 10 years with maximum restrictions on time off for good behavior. Morthland’s bill passed out of House Judiciary II – Criminal Law committee on a 4-1 vote. “I’m glad that the committee understood the importance of this legislation,” Morthland said. “We need to send a clear message to repeat DUI offenders that their actions endanger others and if the worst happens, the consequences will be severe.” Morthland’s legislation is in response to the death of Moline resident Dawn Murrillo, who was seven weeks pregnant when she was killed in a hit and run collision by an alleged drunk driver. Ms. Murillo was hit by a truck on Halloween as she was crossing a Moline street while trick-or-treating with her 8 year old son. The alleged driver of the truck, has been charged with one count each of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol resulting in an accident or death, aggravated driving under the influence with no valid driver’s license, driving while license revoked for driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. “A pattern of drunk driving is a serious matter. It’s time that the Illinois legal system reflects this fact,” Morthland said. “I need to add a minor amendment to the ‘Truth in Sentencing Provision’ and this bill will be ready for the House Floor.” The Illinois House will not be in session this week. Rep. Morthland will be in district, available for interviews on this issue and others
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