More Important News

The Mt. Carroll Rotary Club recently made a generous donation to Tyler's Justice Center for Children. Pictured are Rich Hall, Mt. Carroll Rotary Member presenting the donation to Tina Steele-Lietz, Forensic Interviewer and Executive Director. (Courtesy of Ashley Castro)

FFA Members Attend Legislative Day at Springfield

(L to R) Stan Toepfer, Eastland FFA Advisor; Jacey Strohecker; Renee Palmer; Justin Santacruz; Samantha Sturtz; Rep. Jim Sacia; Sara Runyan; Megan Bunyer; and Toni Cline. These 7 Eastland FFA members recently attended the FFA legislative Day at the Illinois Capitol at Springfield. Along with almost seven hundred other FFA members, Eastland FFA members had the opportunity to meet with numerous representatives and their support staff during the day. The chapter presented the local legislators with an Eastland FFA t-shirt. Members also had the rare opportunity to meet briefly with Governor Quinn and have their picture taken while at the Capitol. Local Senator Tim Bivins office was also visited in the tour.

3rd quarter perfect attendance for Chadwick Milledgeville include (l-r front row) Mady Hicks, Lauren Strauss, Jasmine Sturrup, Hope Herin, Logan Rayhorn, Mason McKenna, and Jack Munz. (Back row l-r) is Abby Merema, Andrea Feary, Hunter Hatten, Connor Woodin, Cody VanDyke, and Logan Dudley.

3rd quarter perfect attendance for Chadwick Milledgeville include (l-r front row) Kaleigh Tarbill, Kyle Kendall, Dylan Janssen, and Jocelyn Folkers. (Middle row l-r) Kyle Ottens, Sabreena Hartman, Christian Atkinson, and Shelby Judd. (Back row l-r) Holly Smith, Alli Schmidt, Rachel Scidmore, Andrew McAuliffe, and Kyle Aude.

3rd quarter perfect attendance for Chadwick Milledgeville include (l-r front row) Makenzie Sack, Kate Strauss, Sydney Scidmore, Tyler Diehl, Carol Yingling, and Logan Meiners. (Back row l-r) Ryan Kendall, Chase Sarber, Treyton Selman, Regan Scidmore, Tyler Atkinson, and Abbigail Peyton.

3rd quarter perfect attendance for Chadwick Milledgeville include (l-r front row) Justin Hackbarth, Kenley Meier, Mason Phillips, Kyle Lapp, Olivia Sturrup, and Kyle Lantz. (Middle row l-r) Alec Schmidt, Carly Janssen, Alexis Janssen, Parker Litwiller, Dawson Hook, and Clayton Simpson. (Back row l-r) Stevie Adee, Alyvia Woodare, Marcus McKenna, Jaime Gennaro, Samantha Hartman, Christian Shores, and Krystal Druien. (Perfect Attendance photos courtesy of April Tarbill)

Republican Women's Club Meeting

Carroll County Republican Women will meet at 12:30 p.m. Friday, April 24th at Oakville Country Club. Milledgeville members will host the luncheon preceeding the meeting. Reservations may be made with the town chairman. The program will be given by the County Senior Citizen's Center. All women of the county are welcome to attend. Call Nina Wagner, 815-225-5054 if you have any questions.

Carroll County Crime Stoppers

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 $1000.00 and the identity of any caller will be kept strictly confidential. The Carroll County Sheriff's Office is investigating the following burglaries: Sometime after Christmas and before March 1, 2009, someone entered camping trailers stored near 14000 Law Road. Taken were several items including hand tools, a Mr. Buddy Heater and propane tanks, Troy built string trimmer, two Coleman lanterns and an older pump Remington .22 rifle. Also, sometime between March 27 and March 30, 2009, someone broke into a machine shed near 13000 Scenic Ridge Road. Taken were two large toolboxes and a large quantity of hand tools including a large socket set, an 18" Stihl chain saw and a set of locked deer antlers with the skulls still attached. Persons having information about these crimes, or the location of a wanted felon should contact Crime Stoppers at 244-STOP (244-7867).

April Art Show

The following students have art pieces in the April Art Show in the Eastland Art Gallery located in Mr. Hansen's office: K - Molly McLain, William & Melissa McLain; K - Crystal Reynolds, Kelly Robbins; 1 - Kaige Brown, Deacon Brown & Stacey Bauer; 2 - Jake Thede, Jason & Dawn Thede; 3 - Anastasia Matias, Freddy & Francisca Lagos; 4 - Alexis Smith, David & Amber Smith; 4 - Ashley Beyers, Jason & Heather Beyers; 4 - Austin Poffenberger, Todd & Tricia Poffenberger; 5 - Hunter Todd, Kyle & Rachel Todd; 6 - Gregory Wirchnianski, John & Nadia Wirchnianski; 7 - Caroline Smith, Eric & Kim Smith; 8 - Katherine Murphy, Brian & Sandra Murphy; HS - Jessica Freidag, Jonathan & Bonnie Freidag; HS - Marilyn Hammer, William & Patricia Hammer III; HS - Billi Jo Hammer, Joseph & Kristi Hammer; HS - Jack Shepard, Ramonda Hainke.

Van Brocklin Participates In Inauguration

Dusty Van Brocklin, as part of the Civil Disturbance Unit (CDU) with the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office in Virginia, had the honor of participating at the Inauguration of President Obama.

On January 19, 2009, Dusty and 25 of his fellow officers loaded onto a bus and several cruisers and caravanned into DC where they met for a series of briefings including one from the Metropolitan Police Department of DC's Chief Cathy Lanier. He was also sworn in as a US Marshall for the Day and received his Inaugural Badge commemorating the event.

Dusty found out his unit would be stationed on Pennsylvania Avenue at 13th Street, in front of the Ronald Regan Building. The next morning, at 3 a.m., Dusty and his unit left for DC again. They arrived at approximately 4 a.m. where they waited to be assigned their post. While they waited, they watched the crowd around them grow to eventually about the size of 2 million people. Around 7 a.m., Dusty took his position on Pennsylvania Avenue, approximately 10 feet from the next officer and about 3 feet from the fence line.

Here he stood, facing the crowd, watching the crowd until 7:30 p.m. with a break about once an hour to get coffee or soup and to warm up. In an irony, Dusty's unit was stationed next to the Illinois State Police. Dusty said that one of the most memorable moments of the day, was when the motorcade came by and Vice-President Biden and his wife were outside of the cars walking. Dusty also recalls that is was one of the coldest days of winter, but it was well worth it to be part of this moment in history.

Dusty is the son of Eddie and Kathy Van Brocklin of Mt. Carroll, the grandson of Harriet and the late Oscar Ferguson of Fort Pierce, Florida and Allen and Catherine Van Brocklin of Elizabeth, Illinois. His wife is Betsy of Leesburg, Virginia and his sister is Dustina of Louisville, Kentucky.

Scheffners Welcome New Daughter

Ryan and Ashlee Scheffner of Freeport welcomed the birth of their new daughter Nevaeh Grace Scheffner on April 14, 2009. Nevaeh was born at FHN Memorial Hospital. She weighed 7 lbs. 2 oz. and was 19 ? inches long. Grandparents are Terry and Vicki Bocker of Lanark, Randy and Lu Ann Scheffner of Freeport. Great grandparents are Evelyn Siperly of Rock Falls, Arlene Bocker of Shannon, Harmine Scheffner of Forreston and Bob and Janet Buffington of Forreston.

Kerry and Jeannie Greenwald 40th Wedding Anniversary

Kerry and Jeannie Greenwald celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on April 26, 2009. Kerry Greenwald and Jeannie O'Malley were married on April 26, 1969 at the First Presbyterian Church in Dixon, IL. Jeannie has retired after 37 years of teaching. Kerry is an area sales manager for Hughes Hybrids.

They are the parents of Angela (Andy) Shaw of Milledgeville, IL and Jessica Greenwald (fiance Peter Schillaci Jr) of Madison, WI. They have two granddaughters, Ava and Sophie Grace Shaw.

From the Fields

By Jim Morrison

Extension Educator, Crop Systems

Rockford Ext. Center, University of IL

Wet soil and cold conditions to date have caused oat planting to lag behind normal, and consequently, questions have been asked about the impact of delayed planting on the yield of spring oats.

Iowa State University research on date of oat seeding in central Iowa found that after April 15, grain yield drops about 10 percent per week during April and 15 percent per week during the first two weeks of May. They suggest oat yields are best when seeded in late March to mid-April.

Research done by University of Wisconsin at Arlington found when oats where seeded April 18, 29, May 14, and 28, yields were 76.5, 70.6, 62.0, and 46.0 bushels per acre, respectively. Expressed as a percent of maximum yield, the above four dates yielded 100, 92, 81, and 60 percent, respectively.

University of Illinois recommends planting spring oats by April 15 in northern Illinois. A fungicide seed treatment is encouraged. They should
not be planted later than May 1, unless being grown as a companion crop for forage establishment.

When drilling oats, a seeding rate of 2 to3 bushels (64 to 96 pounds) per acre or about 30 seeds per square foot is suggested. If broadcasting, the rate needs to be increased by one-half to one bushel per acre. If oats are being planted as a companion crop with alfalfa, seed only 1 to 1? bushels per acre.

Oat grain removes 0.38 pound of P2O5 per bushel and 0.20 pound of K2O per bushel. The recommended rate of nitrogen is dependent upon the soil organic matter and the presence of a legume. 50 to 70 pounds of nitrogen per acre are recommended for soil that is 2-3 percent organic matter and where no legume is seeded. If a legume is included with the oats, the nitrogen rate can be reduced by 10 pounds per acre.

Golf Tournament Fundraiser for Hanover Library

On Saturday, May 2, 2009, Storybrook Country Club in Hanover, IL, will host a "3 Person Scramble" golf tournament. The cost per 3-person team is $100 (cart not included). The tournament will begin at noon with a shotgun start.

"The proceeds from this fundraiser will go to the Hanover Township Library remodeling for accessibility building project," said James Donahoe, one of the tournament organizers and former Hanover Library Board trustee. "The library needs another $12,000 to reach its goal to complete the project, so we thought a golf tournament would be a fun way to make more money for the library." Donahoe went on say that the first place prize will be $500 based on 36 teams. "There will also be an Olympia Field Golf Package (on the US Open Course) raffle," said Donahoe.

Mark Klippert, another tournament organizer, said that the tournament is open to the public, "A brat dinner is included in the package. We'll also have a dessert and morel auction as well as live music by Tom Dewitt and the Stimulus Package beginning at 7. It'll be a fun day."

To reserve a team, please call the Storybrook Country Club at 815-591-2210 or the Hanover Township Library at 815-591-3517.

Men of Calvary and New Faith to Perform

The Men of Calvary from Sabula IAand New Faith Ministry in Song from Bellevue IA,along with The Remnants from Green Island IAwill be performing at the Christian-Gospel Music Fest at the Miles IA East Central High School Gym on Sunday April 26.

The program will start at 1 PM. Admission will be a free will donation with proceeds going to the Domestic Abuse Resource Center in Jackson County Iowa. There will also be a lunch stand provided by the Green Island Congregational Church.

The Men of Calvary are a group of gospel singers from Calvary Lutheran Church in Sabula IA. Members include Lon Papke of Miles, Dick Wall of Sabula, Larry Melaas and Craig Hatteberg of Savanna IL with accompanist Marty Krueger of Sabula. They began singing in their own church in 2001 and have since performed and shared their message in song and scripture with other churches and community events far and wide in eastern Iowa and western Illinois.

New Faith is a nondenominational contemporary music group formed by Ron Purvis and Bill Sieverding in 2003 in Bellevue. Other members include Sandy Ties, Kate Sieverding, Jacob Rodgers, John Hinke, Tami Purvis and Steve Sieverding. They have opened for Mitch McVicker, have played at the Dubuque Botanical Gardens for a concert for the Hillcrest kids and other events in the area, and have done many church services in Eastern Iowa and Illinois.

The Remnants is a contemporary group from Green Island with members Sue Hayward and Sue Ostert. They have been together since 2007 and have performed in area churches and nursing homes.

Get Connected with Poetry Connection

On Wednesday, April 29, the Eastland Middle School, 601 South Chestnut Street, Shannon, Illinois, will be hosting the Poetry Connection Coffeehouse at 6:30 pm. Students, students' parents, and the public are invited to attend.

Sergio Wals, musician, and Jeff Mondak, children's poet and songwriter, will team up as they present a collection of poetry through readings, and lively musical selections and songs.

The coffeehouse event is a culmination of a year-long poetry project, organized by Eastland School District, to expose the district's Kindergarten through eighth grade students to quality poetry, and to foster a community-wide appreciation for the poetry genre.

Funding for this event was made possible by the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, the Freeport Art Museum, the Illinois Reading Council, the Lanark Public Library, and the Friends of the Lanark Public Library.

For planning purposes, an RSVP to the Eastland Middle School at 815-864-2300 is requested for those who wish to attend.

County Transportation Surveys Collected Thru April 30

. . . And This Project Won't Collect More Taxes!

Members of the Transit Partnership Group decided on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 that they will continue to distribute and collect Transportation Surveys until Thursday, April 30, 2009.

These surveys are gathering information to develop a public transportation system for Carroll County residents. And, other than a small fee for fare, no taxes will be collected for this system.

Taxes: No Fare: Yes

"Our setting up the transportation system won't mean increased taxes for you either," said Laurie Gungel, spokesman for the Transit Partnership Group (TPG). "The State of Illinois is providing funding for our new 'system.' You will probably pay something for your ride. We don't know how much that is."

The TPG will meet again in mid June to review results of survey distribution which began in February, 2009. Responses from 2-5% (333-500 surveys) of all those living in Carroll County are sought ­ over 400 have been turned in so far.

Residents can also find surveys and return surveys to boxes at any Public Library in Carroll County: Chadwick, Lanark, Mt. Carroll, Savanna, Wysox Township, and York Township, as well as the First State Bank of Shannon at 1 S. Linn St., Shannon and the Carroll County Senior Center in Mt. Carroll,

If you are a member of a group, club or association, and can help in distributing surveys, contact Laurie Gungel at 815-273-1153.

News From Capitol Connection

Illinois' shuttered historic sites to reopen

Employees and communities throughout the state received good news this week, when the reopening of over a dozen state historic sites was confirmed by the Quinn administration.

In early April, the General Assembly approved the $1.6 million appropriation necessary to reopen the sites. Several sites are scheduled to reopen on April 22, with other facilities opening later due to maintenance needs. Senate Republican lawmakers applauded the reopening, noting that these sites are not only important to Illinois' tourism industry, but are critical to ensure the preservation of the state's vibrant history and heritage.

Despite strong opposition, former governor Rod Blagojevich closed the sites last November, and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), lawmakers and the public have been working for months to see the sites reopened.

Medicaid providers to receive payment

Illinois Medicaid providers are undoubtedly relieved after receiving notice this week that the governor has plans to utilize $200 million in federal dollars to pay down the state's staggering Medicaid debt.

For years, Illinois has lagged behind in payments to hospitals, nursing homes, pharmacies and physicianswith the average payment taking 150 days and some providers waiting as long as 350 days to receive payment.

Medicaid providers noted that the delays contributed to significant economic problems, in some cases leading to lay-offs and facility closures. Additionally, many physicians were forced to cut backand even ceasetreating Medicaid patients due to the lengthy wait for reimbursement from the state.

The federal government will give the state stimulus dollars to help cover Illinois' overwhelming Medicaid obligations on the condition that the state reduces the payment cycle to 30 days or less by June 1.

Visit the Illinois Senate Republican "Capitol Connection" at capitolconnection@ilsenategop.net.

Milledgeville Hotshots 4-H Club Hold Meeting

By Shaunte Padilla, Milledgeville Hotshots 4-H Club Reporter

The Milledgeville Hotshots met on April 9, at the Milledgeville State Bank. The meeting began at 7:05 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mitchell Rahn and the 4-H pledge was led by Taylor Kent. There were no new visitors and no new members. Rachel Rahn gave the Secretary's report. Mary Francque gave the Treasure's Report. The club had one outstanding bill and it was to pay for the Relay For Life entrance fee.

Lori Keppen gave the leader's report and federation report. The Milledgeville Hotshots are to provide dessert at the May federation meeting. The meeting will be on May 16, at the Carroll County Fairgrounds. Mary Francque and Anna Marie Petry gave the Jr. Ambassador report. The Jr. Ambassadors are making tie blankets, tie pillows, and tray favors as their service learning project.

Bryan Hollewell gave the Horse Committee Report. Sara VenHuizen gave the Dog Committee Report. Obedience Clinics will start in May at the Carroll County Fairgrounds. There was a Relay For Life meeting after the 4-H Meeting. The 4-H appointed a new Secretary and historian due to the previous moving. The new secretary is Brittney Nelson and the new historian is Anna Marie Petry.

Mary Francque, Nikki Nash, and Shaunte Padilla will be making a silent auction basket for the fair. Alex Schuldt gave a speech on dogs and sewing. Nikki Schuldt gave a speech on photography and cooking. Shaunte Padilla gave a speech on dogs. Tommy Dyson gave a speech on horses.

The Meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m. The next meeting will be May 13, 2009.

New Handbook Provides Information for Private Well Owners

Most rural homeowners and farm families in northern Illinois depend on private wells for their water supply. The type, depth, and quality of the well may vary, but the basic system, concept and concerns are similar.

To help private water system owners develop and maintain a safe, adequate and dependable water system, whether for home or farm use, the MidWest Plan Service has published several versions of the "Private Water Systems Handbook". The newest 144-page edition was just published and is available through local University of Illinois Extension offices or on-line. The cost is $32.00. To order on line, go to www.mwps.org.

The MidWest Plan Service (MWPS), is a university-based publishing cooperative dedicated to publishing and disseminating research-based, peer-reviewed, practical, and affordable publications. Established in 1929 and publishing since 1933, MWPS is one of the oldest regional cooperative efforts of land-grant universities in the United States. To date, more than 2 million agricultural building plans and 1.3 million related publications have been disseminated by MWPS. All MWPS publications receive stringent review by professionals in relevant fields.

Some of the topics in the newest water system publication include planning for water usage; well construction, care and location; cisterns, ponds and springs; water testing and treatment; maintenance of the system and other related topics.

EMS Hosts 'The Last Great Race'

Eastland Middle School in Shannon will host the 17th annual Eastland Iditarod on Friday, May 1 at 1:00 p.m.

The Race will begin with official starters Damaris Linker and Abbie Hare, Eastland High School Seniors that helped to lead Eastland High School Volleyball team to its first State Championship, and will end with an awards ceremony in the school's gymnasium.

Eastland Third Grade students have been learning about "The Last Great Race", the Alaskan Dog Sled Race, in the classroom under the guidance of Sue Lamoreux, Amy Snyder and Connie Zuck, and in Physical Education class with Kristy Pierce and Scott Hartman. Eastland's Great Race will consist of six dog sled teams trying to complete all the required tasks of this grueling mile long course, while displaying good teamwork and sportsmanship. "The lessons learned on the trail of team cooperation and hard work toward the common goal of completing and possibly winning this great race will be evident," said race coordinator Kristy Pierce.

Local Veterinarian Allan Schroeder and school nurse Stacy Kalina will be making sure that all "dogs" are receiving outstanding care during the race. The race also has many wonderful parent volunteers that help out at various checkpoints throughout the race that teams are required to stop at.

Come join the fun at the 17th annual Eastland Iditarod. If you need more information or if you have any questions please contact Kristy Pierce at Eastland Middle School.

'Go Green' on Earth Day

Eastland FFA and Eastland Student Council will be sponsoring a "Go Green Day" by encouraging students to car pool on Earth Day, April 22. Students who either ride the bus or car pool will be treated to free donuts and juice at school.

Students who car pool or ride a bus will receive a coupon to redeem donuts when they enter the school on April 22. Students who walk or ride bicycles also qualify. The class with the largest percent participation will be treated to an ice cream party.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

Tyler's Justice Center for Children wants to raise awareness of April being Child Abuse Prevention Month by providing blue ribbons at our center. The ribbons can be picked up at 400 W. Front Avenue in Stockton. The Blue ribbons are representative of Child Abuse Prevention. The ribbons can be displayed on your clothing to show your support.

By picking up a ribbon you are acknowledging the reality of child abuse and the aspiration for future prevention. The blue ribbon has been a symbol of child abuse since 1989 when just one grandmother chose to raise awareness and "make people wonder." She chose the color blue to represent the battered and bruised children that are still very much a reality today.

Concerns citizens and businesses owners have decided to make a difference in our area by participating the Tyler's Justice Center for Children Blue Kids Campaign. Check out your local businesses to be part of the Blue Kids Campaign. For only $1 you can support Tyler's Justice Center for Children and support the campaign to keep our kids safe.

Tyler's Justice Center for Children is a 501(c)3, non-profit Children's Advocacy Center which provides services to child victims of sexual and severe physical abuse. In the past, child victims of abuse were interviewed several times, by many people, sometimes in less than desirable locations like a principal's office or even the home of the perpetrator. The Center coordinates members of a multidisciplinary investigative team along with the child and his or her non-offending caregiver, allowing the child to be interviewed by a trained, forensic interviewer. This process lessens the trauma for children and allows them to disclose information in a place where they feel comfortable. The agency also provides crisis counseling and intervention for victims and their families as well as follow-up advocacy services. The Center serves Carroll, Jo Daviess, and Stephenson Counties. If you have any questions please contact the center at 815-947-6030 or tylerscenter@aeroinc.net.

HRRV Schedules Memorial Service

The public is invited and welcome to attend the Hospice of the Rock River Valley yearly memorial service to honor loved ones who died during the past year. The service will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 3 at the Wesley United Methodist Church, 2200 16th Ave., Sterling.

Remembering is how we carry our loved ones into the future with us. Come remember and celebrate those being missed. There will be a candle lighting service, special music, and readings. Attendees and participants do not have to have received hospice services. Light refreshments will be served following the service.

To attend, share in the remembering, and have your loved one's name included in the printings and readings, contact Chris at Hospice of the Rock River Valley, (815) 288-3673 or beareve@hospicerockriver.org.

$173 Million Provided in the Recovery Act for Direct Operating Farm Loan Program

Charles Chadwell, Acting State Executive Director of USDA's Farm Service Agency in Illinois announced today that FSA has obligated all of the $173 million provided in the Recovery Act for its Direct Operating Farm Loan Program, which gave 2,636 farmers ­ almost 50% who were beginning farmers and 10% socially disadvantaged producers ­ direct loans from the agency. There were 54 loans totaling $3,563,790 in 25 counties in Illinois.

"These loans were used to purchase items such as farm equipment, feed, seed, fuel and other operating expenses and will stimulate rural economics by providing American farmers funds to operate." said Chadwell.

Applications were considered on a first come, first served basis with special emphasis placed on beginning and socially disadvantaged applicants. The maximum loan amount was $300,000.

In keeping with the president's goal for the Recovery Act, this loan funding was intended for proper investment into the agricultural sector, to benefit both family farmers and rural economics. The Recovery Act was designed to preserve or create millions of jobs throughout the country and these loans help ensure that recipients remain financially viable and local agri-businesses benefit from direct purchases.

Here is a hypothetical example of purchases made with a $100,000 direct operating loan:

- Used Farm Tractor: $45,000

- Livestock: $18,000

- Seed: $15,000

- Fertilizer: $10,000

- Fuel: $12,000

The effect of this loan reaches the local implement dealership, sale barn, the grain seed distributor, the fertilizer distributor and a local fuel dealership. For specific information on direct operating loans and other FSA farm loan programs, please visit your local USDA Service Center or FSA county office. You can also obtain information from the FSA website at http://www.fsa.usda.gov.

ACRE Program Enrollment Opens

Charles Chadwell, Acting State Executive Director of USDA's Farm Service Agency in Illinois, announced today that USDA producers can elect and enroll in the Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) program beginning April 27, 2009. ACRE is a provision of the 2008 Farm Bill.

"The Average Crop Revenue Election program is an innovative alternative to the traditional farm program safety net," Chadwell said. "This new option presents an opportunity for producers to review both DCP (Direct Counter-cyclical program) and ACRE programs and decide which one will work best for their operation."

Producers have until Aug.14, 2009, to make their decision for the 2009 crop. USDA will not accept any late-filed applications.

Producers who elect the ACRE program for a farm agree to:

· forgo counter-cyclical payments;

· accept a 20-percent reduction of the direct payments; and

· accept a 30-percent reduction in loan rates for all commodities produced on the farm.

Commodities eligible for ACRE payments are wheat, corn, grain sorghum, barley, oats, upland cotton, long grain rice, medium and short grain rice, peanuts, soybeans, sunflower seed, canola, flaxseed, safflower, mustard seed, rapeseed, sesame seed, crambe, dry peas, lentils, small chickpeas and large chickpeas.

The ACRE program was created in the 2008 Farm Bill to give producers an option in lieu of traditional counter-cyclical payments. Producers may elect and enroll in ACRE for the 2009 crop year even if they have already accepted advance direct payments under the Direct and Counter-Cyclical Program.

To elect ACRE for a farm, producers must complete Form CCC-509 ACRE, which irrevocably elects ACRE for the farm through crop year 2012. Form CCC-509, the contract to participate in ACRE, must then be completed each year the producer intends to participate and receive benefits.

For more information about the ACRE program please visit your local Farm Service Agency (FSA) county office or visit http://www.fsa.usda.gov.

Amenity Hospice Changes Name to Hospice Compassus

Amenity Hospice, a leading provider of hospice services in Davenport, announced today it will change its name to Hospice Compassus to better reflect the all-encompassing hospice work performed across the community. Amenity Hospice, located at 2230 Jersey Ridge Road in Davenport, has been providing hospice care to the local community for the past year.The local address and phone number will remain the same.

"The new name was chosen because it truly reflects our core mission and encapsulates what we do each and every day. Compassus is derived from the root of our core value of compassion. In its Latin root, compassus is defined as 'a deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it'. We recognize that hospice care is defined by each and every patient and family we serve in the local communities we reach. As such, Hospice Compassus provides tailored, compassionate care to meet the individual needs of patients and their families," said David Soldner, executive director at Hospice Compassus for the local Davenport area.

Since 1979, the affiliates of Brentwood, Tenn.-based Hospice Compassus have provided comprehensive end-of-life care and grief support for patients and families in their communities. Through their care, hospice patients are able to live their final days with peace and dignity in the comfort of their own place of residence. Hospice Compassus operates programs in 47 communities across 15 states serving an average of approximately 2,700 patients and their families per day. Consistent with the name change, the company has adopted a new identity and has unveiled its revamped web site at www.hospicecompassus.com.

Fourteen New Members Set to Join Ashford University's Honor Society

Fourteen new members will be welcomed into Ashford University's Junior-Senior Honor Society during a reception on Sunday, April 19, 2009. During the reception, set for 2 p.m. in the University Chapel on the third floor of St. Clare Hall on the Ashford University campus, the new members will receive their certificates of membership. Honor society officers and moderator Dr. Gary Heath will preside over the reception.

Joining the honor society on April 19 will be: Samantha Carlson, Clinton, IA; Rachel Caulkins, Brimfield, IL; Joshua Domski, Rockford, IL; Sonia Gillen, Clinton, IA; Amber Griswold, Clinton, IA; Jessica Hartman, Thomson, IL; Lisa Imel, Mount Carroll, IL; Lisa LaMasse, Hanover Park, IL; Amber Marlowe, Charlotte, IA; Kateri Nesbitt, Savanna, IL; Alisha Parker, Camanche, IA; Lauren Robinson, Clinton, IA; Jennifer Wood, Fulton, IL and Anne Yore, Burlington, IA.

The Ashford Junior-Senior Honor Society recognizes and encourages scholarship among juniors and seniors at the University. Membership is extended to full-time juniors and seniors who have completed at least one semester at the University and attained a semester grade point average of 3.50. Thereafter, the student must maintain a grade point average of 3.20.

The public is invited to the reception and refreshments will be served.

JCE Implements Rate Adjustment

Jo-Carroll Energy has announced it will implement a rate adjustment that will increase the cooperative's residential rates about 7.1 percent or $5 per month for the average user effective May 1. Members were notified of this increase at the cooperative's 70th annual meeting on April 4.

"We believe that reliable electric service at a reasonable price is something our members can count on and that we deliver on a daily basis," said Michael Hastings, Jo-Carroll Energy president and CEO. "Regrettably, to maintain the quality, reliability and stability of the services we provide it is necessary for us to adjust our pricing structure."

For residential members, this rate adjustment has two portions:

· For most residential members, there will be a $1 increase in the facility charge, increasing the charge from $8 to $9. For members in the cooperative's legacy territory, the facility charge will remain at $18. The facility charge is in place to help cover the cooperative's fixed costs in providing electricity to its members. Of the 40 plus co-ops in Illinois and Wisconsin, $18 is the lowest overall facility charge among traditional rural co-ops.

· The base rate will increase from .081 to .095 cents per kilowatt hour for all residential members.

"At the time of the acquisition of the Alliant Energy territory, we promised that rates would be equalized over a five to seven year period," Hastings noted. "This rate adjustment is the first step in consolidation of the two different rate systems for our legacy territory and the acquired territory."

The cooperative will continue to utilize the wholesale power cost adjustment, or PCA, charge. The cooperative can adjust the PCA up or downand it can be a negative numberas wholesale prices change based on fluctuations from power suppliers.

The new rates include increased power costs in the base rates. These changes provide for a greater portion of the power costs to be covered in the base rates, lowering what is required to be recovered in the PCA charge.

Commercial members will also see an increase in rates. Finally, residential natural gas members will see a rate increase. Residential natural gas members will see an increase in the monthly facility charge from $7.00 per month to $8.00 per month. The per therm distribution charge will also increase by 2 cents per therm. The cost of the natural gas itself will continue to be passed straight through with no mark-up in costs. Those costs are projected to decrease for the 2009-2010 heating season.

Several key areas have a significant impact on wholesale power costs. Among these are the major investments in environmental controls, renewable energy resources and energy efficiency programs by electric power suppliers and the rising costs for coal and its transportation including barge freight rates and rail rates.

Stockton Pastors to Preach on Caring for God's Creation

In a unique interfaith collaboration, Stockton ministers Pastor Jones of the Wesley, Kent and Willow United Methodist Churches, Pastor Stees of Christ Lutheran Church and Rev. Ziegler of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Stockton will be urging the members and the larger community to become even better stewards of God's beautiful blue-green planet Earth. They're concerned about the increasing amount of CO2 in the atmosphere that has caused global warming and climate change and as a consequence is harming God's creation. On one of last two Sundays in April they will preach a sermon about caring for God's creation.

To help people be even better stewards of God's creation, they are co-sponsoring a four-session course called, "Low Carbon Diet: A 30 Day Program to Lose 5000 Pounds." This course offers very simple yetdramatic ways that everyone can do to reduce the amount of CO2 that they release into the atmosphere. The Northwest Illinois Audubon Society feels the course is so important that it has been promoting and offering the course. The Low Carbon course is open to the public. Individuals who bring an incandescent light bulb to the first class on April 29 will receive in exchange a compact fluorescent bulb to help reduce their CO2 emissions.

The course meets for four sessions on Wednesday nights: April 29, May 13, May 27, and June 3. The sessions will be held in Stockton at 126 W. Benton Avenue, starting at 7:00 p.m.and ending no later than 9:00 pm. Laura Dufford will be the facilitator. There is a charge for the course book. Registration for this first course is limited to ten people. People can sign up for the course by contacting Rev. Ziegler at 815-947-3812 or Pastor Jones at 815-947-2541. Other courses will be planned for those interested beyond the first ten to register.

Pizza Luncheon & Meeting

Stewards of the Upper Mississippi River Refuge are hosting their monthly meeting on Friday, April 17 at 11:00 at the Ingersoll Wetlands Learning Center. The Center is located 4 miles south of Savanna, on Riverview Road.

Please RSVP with your pizza selection by Wed., April 15. If you're interested in being involved with the Stewards, but unable to attend the meeting, please call Pam Steinhaus at 815-273-2732, ext 16 or Cecil Johnson at 815-266-1615.

Hospice of the Rock River Valley Celebrates its Volunteers

Hospice and palliative care volunteers make sure that the people they care for and their families find hope within each day, have their dignity preserved, and are surrounded by love even at the final moments of life. Most hospice volunteers choose to give their time helping others because of their own experiences with the compassionate care hospice provided to their dying loved one.

Hospice began in this country about 30 years ago as a largely, volunteer-driven community movement, and volunteers continue to be at the heart of hospice. The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization reports that there are an estimated 400,000 hospice volunteers providing more than 16 million hours of service to hospice programs each year. The typical hospice volunteer devoted 45.1 hours of time last year.

At Hospice of the Rock River Valley, more than 300 volunteers provide 4500 hours per year to help HRRV care for patients and families in our community. "Hospice volunteers are a valuable component of the compassionate care that HRRV offers to people in our community. Volunteers bring hope, love, and dignity to families who are going through one of life's most difficult times," commented Judy Jellerichs, Volunteer Coordinator. "We are pleased that we have this opportunity to honor our hospice and palliative care volunteers."

It is federally mandated under Medicare that five percent of all patient care hours be provided by trained volunteers. Hospice of the Rock River Valley volunteers consistently provide 12% or more each year. This regulation was included in the Medicare hospice legislation to recognize the vital role that volunteers play in the hospice philosophy of care. These dedicated volunteers are integral members of the interdisciplinary team of professionals who provide care at the end of life.

Libertarians Back Secret Ballot Voting Rights in Union Elections

America's third largest party warns concerned citizens that plans to scrap the right of workers to a secret ballot in union elections are far from dead. Libertarians also warn that such "card check" legislation also destroys hundreds of thousands of jobs as the nation attempts to revive its economy.

"The right to vote by secret ballot is one of our most cherished institutions for a reason. It protects people from those who would use violence or intimidation to achieve their goals," said William Redpath, Libertarian National Committee Chair. "The card check bill currently in Congress that strips workers of their basic voting rights in union organizing matters is far from dead, and it threatens not just workers' rights and safety, but it threatens people's jobs as well," said Redpath.

Card check allows a union to organize by confronting employees with a so-called "signature card" supporting the creation of a union in their work place. The union would maintain control and possession of the cards, along with the names and personal information of the employees, until they get enough signatures to force unionization. In many cases, the person demanding the signature would be the employee's supervisor.

"A good union shouldn't fear a secret ballot. Stripping workers of that right only empowers bad unions to organize through coercion," said Redpath.

Allowing a union to form by simply coercing workers to publicly sign cards could force businesses to slash as many as 600,000 jobs nationwide, according to research from The Alliance To Save Main Street.

74 percent of rank-and-file union workers oppose the card check legislation in Congress, a January 2009 McLaughlin & Associates poll finds.

Once a majority of workers submit to the signature card demands, the union could then begin collecting dues from the workers' paychecks without ever having a secret ballot election on the matter.

"These signature cards strip workers of their right to a secret ballot, allowing an unscrupulous union boss to organize a workplace by simply bullying or threatening a minority of the workforce into signing signature cards," said Redpath. "There's a reason we don't allow signature cards in elections for political office, and those concerns over violence and intimidation are just as valid in the workplace."

It would also allow union bosses to pocket an additional $7 billion in forced dues, according to the National Right to Work Committee. Much of that $7 billion could find its way into the campaign accounts of card check supporters, through extensive union political donations, giving senators much incentive to pass the forced unionism-friendly bill.

The bill is considered stalled in the Senate after past supporters Arlen Specter (R-PA), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) announced they could not support the bill as written. But the impending arrival of Senator-elect Al Franken (D-MN) may give anti-ballot forces the votes they need to pass card check, and any changes to the bill allow Specter, Lincoln or Feinstein to switch their allegiance back.

"Opponents of secret ballot voting rights want you to think card check is dead. They're wrong. Voters need to call their senator at 202-224-3121 (the Capitol switchboard) and tell them to oppose the very-much-alive card check bill," said Redpath.

The Libertarian Party is America's third-largest political party, founded in 1971 as an alternative to the two main political parties. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party by visiting www.LP.org. The Libertarian Party proudly stands for smaller government, lower taxes and more freedom.

Hemispheric Timing Shows Oceans are Source of CO²?

Australia's Tom Quirk, an Oxford-trained research physicist, noted that carbon 14 molecules from nuclear weapons testing in the 1950s and '60s took some years to travel through the atmosphere between the northern and southern Hemispheres.

Quirk further noted that about 95 percent of the CO² from fossil fuels has been emitted in the Northern Hemisphere. Thus, there should be a lag between the variations in CO² levels at the Northern Hemisphere's stations such as Mauna Loa, and Southern Hemisphere stations such as Antarctica.

But he has found no time differences between the CO² variations in the two hemispheres.

"The seasonal variations in CO2 and the lack of time delays between the hemispheres suggest fossil-fuel-derived CO² is almost totally absorbed locally in the year it is emitted," he says. "This implies that natural variability of the climate is the prime cause of increased CO2, not the emissions of CO² from the use of fossil fuels."

Dial back to 2006, when Al Gore's released his movie, An Inconvenient Truth. Mr. Gore showed us 400,000 years of the ice record from Antarctica's Vostok glacier.

Temperatures and CO² levels in the ice record moved radically up and down together through four Ice Ages and four interglacial warmingsincluding the Modern Warming.

Then Gore got on a lift truck and soared himself 30 feet into the air, drawing upward a horrifying graph that predicted a parboiled planet.

Gore told us that more CO² in the atmosphere meant higher temperatures. That was the huge technical error in his movie. More recent Antarctic studies, on more refined time scales, have shown that instead of causing warming, the CO² levels respond to warmingslowly.

Apparently, the oceans absorb massive amounts of CO² from the air every time they cool. The oceans hold at least 70 times as muchCO² as the air, and cold water holds more of any gas under the laws of physics. Since 1850, the planet had been slowly and erratically warming as we transitioned out of the Little Ice Age. Atmospheric CO² rose slowly. This was the warming phase of the solar-linked Dansgaard-Oeschger cycle that happens every 1,500 years.

The environmental movement gave Dansgaard and Oeschger the "environmental Nobel"the Tyler Prizein 1996 because they thought the Antarctic ice record proved that CO² regulates our global temperatures. But today we know that the correlation between CO² and temperatures over the past 150 years is only 22 percent. The correlation with sunspots is 79 percent.

Now the most accurate ocean temperatures ever recordedfrom the Argo diving floatssay the oceans stopped warming in 2003. Global surface temperatures have followed, dropping sharply over the last several years.

Dr. Roger Pielke, Sr., the former Colorado State Climatologist, wrote in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society in 2003, "it is the change in ocean heat content that provides the most effective diagnostic of global warming and cooling." Nor does Dr. Pielke think there is any place on earth that a large amount of latent warming could be "hidden."

Josh Willis, a loyal Jet Propulsion Laboratory bureaucrat, says the global and ocean cooling "does not contradict the climate models. In fact, many climate models simulate four to five year periods with no warming in the upper ocean from time to time." However, a quick survey of the climate models has failed to find any such no-warming predictions published.

We must face the fact that the earth is now cooling, and any drastic actions to reduce fossil fuel emissions are premature. Dr. Kanya Kusano of Japan's Earth Stimulator Project recently advised his government that the need for such actions is based on an "unproven hypothesis."

Scientific maxim: If you theory doesn't fit observed reality, change your theory.

Sources:

Temperatures changing before CO² levels:

1. H. Fischer et al, 1999. "Ice Core Record of Atmospheric CO² around the last Three 3 Glacial Terminations," Science 283: 1712-714.

2. N. Caillon et al., 2003, "Timing of Atmospheric CO² and Antarctic Temperature Changes Across Tiermination III," Science 299: 1728-1731.

Oceans Now Losing Heat:

Craig Loehle, "1,500-Year Climate Cycles, Broken Hockey Stocks, and Ocean Cooling," Energy and Environment Vol. 20, 2009.

Lack of Time Differential in Hemispheric CO² levels:

T. Quirk, "Sources and Sinks of Carbon Dioxide," Energy and Environment Vol. 20, pp. 103-119, 2009.

DENNIS T. AVERY is an environmental economist, and a senior fellow for the Hudson Institute in Washington, DC. He was formerly a senior analyst for the Department of State. He is co-author, with S. Fred Singer, of Unstoppable Global Warming Every 1500 Hundred Years, Readers may write him at PO Box 202, Churchville, VA 24421 or email to cgfi@hughes.net

Apologia: I deeply regret my misstatement that CO² levels are Mauna Loa were declining (April 8, 2009 Prairie Advocate). They are not. Nor is there clear evidence that the increase in atmospheric CO² is yet slowing. In the past, I have demanded a higher standard of evidence than I had for the first edition of this column, and will return to that policy.

JCE Members Hear of Company's Future Plans

One of the largest crowds in Jo-Carroll Energy's annual meeting history turned out Saturday, April 4, to mark the 70th anniversary of the electric cooperative. More than 500 people were served a pork chop luncheon prior to a meeting where members learned of the Cooperative's future plans, heard board election results and voted on bylaw changes at the meeting held at Highland Community College West.

Joe Mattingley, Jo-Carroll Energy's board chairman, reminded the crowd that it was 70 years ago in March of 1939 that a group of area farmers met at the Elizabeth High School to discuss the possibility of bringing service to the rural areas of Jo Daviess and Carroll counties.

"When the founders of Jo-Carroll Electric Cooperative first met, not far from where you are seated today, they were seeking to improve the life for the rural residents of Carroll and Jo Daviess counties," Mattingley said. "It could not have been an easy undertaking. And, although we have seen some remarkable changes and advances since 1939 our guiding principles have not changed."

Continuing on the historic theme, Jo-Carroll Energy President and CEO Michael Hastings noted, "In seven decades, our membership has grown from a handful of 60 members to more than 26,000 electric and natural gas accounts owned by 19,000 members. Our membership continues to grow and diversify as we serve not only farms but commercial and industrial facilities, rural second homes and cities and villages within our service area."

The biggest challenge for the Cooperative came in 2005, he said, when Jo-Carroll Energy announced an agreement to acquire Alliant Energy's electric and natural gas service territory in Jo Daviess, Carroll and Whiteside counties. The Cooperative is "poised for additional growth as we look at new services and take an active role in the economic development of our region," he said. However, he continued that the Cooperative faces the same challenges as its members: the cost of almost everything continues to rise.

Hastings' comments prefaced the announcement of a rate adjustment effective May 1. He said residential rates will increase approximately 7.1 percent or $5 per month for the average user.

"Wholesale power costs are driving this rate increase," Hastings said. "Another significant challenge is the rising cost for coal and rail transportation. Fuel to operate generating facilities ­ primarily coal ­ account for the largest annual expense for our wholesale electric suppliers and rail costs to deliver coal are much higher than in the past."

Residential natural gas members will see an increase as well, with the monthly facility charge increasing from $7 to $8 per month and the delivery charge increasing 2 cents per therm.

However, in discussing the volatility of natural gas prices, Hastings said that costs have plummeted since July of 2008 when they were around $1.40 per therm.

"The bottom line is that our members should see double digit decreases in their natural gas bills from Jo-Carroll Energy during next fall and winter," he said.

Hastings encouraged members to get involved in the Our Energy, Our Future campaign, urging Congress to look for affordable options for energy issues and climate change. He suggested the members send messages to Congress through the www.ourenergy.coop website.

He also urged Cooperative members use energy wisely. "Energy efficiency can be a powerful resource, one that will help cut demand and your energy bills," Hastings noted. "When it comes to what you pay for energy, rates are only half the story. Just as important as the rate is the amount of energy you use. Being energy efficient means doing things in your home you normally would but in a smarter way."

Hastings assured members that the Cooperative is placing emphasis on internal cost control and cost reductions. "Maintaining desired service levels, but doing so cost effectively is the priority," he said.

At the same time, Jo-Carroll Energy continues to build and strengthen its member services. Part of that growth is the construction of a territory-wide substation communication infrastructure. The recent erection of a 150' tower at the Cooperative's Elizabeth headquarters signaled the beginning of a network, that when completed in 2010, will allow communication between headquarters and dozens of electric and natural gas substations located from East Dubuque to Albany.

"Besides providing system efficiency improvements, the high reliability backbone is a major step in Jo-Carroll Energy's strategy to offer in-home smart grid capability and high speed internet access to members throughout our service territory and beyond," Hastings said, adding the Cooperative's plan includes the goal of providing high speed internet access to 100 percent of Jo-Carroll Energy's members. Beyond that objective, the backbone gives the Cooperative the capability to begin implementing advanced metering infrastructure, paving the way for numerous member advancements.

Hastings also gave an update on the proposed Sand Prairie Station biomass plant. Although projected construction costs for the plant have increased a great deal, it is still a project that would help ensure long-term rate stability for Cooperative members and provide additional jobs in the local economy, he said.

Hastings summarized Jo-Carroll Energy's involvement in the Tri-County Economic Development Alliance, Inc. (TCEDA), an organization that is designed to spur economic development in a three-county area of northwestern Illinois. Jo-Carroll Energy has made economic development a strategic priority.

"The quality of life of our Cooperative members is dependent on the availability of jobs and a reasonable median income," Hastings said. "Jo-Carroll Energy's presence in the three counties provided an opportunity to launch a regional economic development initiative."

Illustrating the cooperative difference, Hastings told Jo-Carroll Energy members these projects "are tangible examples of the kind of commitment your Cooperative makes to you and our other members every day. For a co-op, service means more than just making sure energy is flowing. Everything we do is done with the best interests of our members in mind. We work to make sure our members and communities are thriving."

Members also heard the results of the election for the Cooperative's board of directors. Directors Pat Smith, District 5, and David Senn, District 7, were re-elected to the board. Members in District 8 elected a new director, Richard Holesinger of Fulton, who succeeds long-time board member Vernon Law of Savanna.

Hastings recognized Law for his 38 years of service, noting that he had been on the board for more than half of the Cooperative's history. Law provided leadership, at both the cooperative level and at the statewide association. He witnessed and helped guide the Cooperative through its growth.

After election results were announced, Cooperative attorney John Cox reviewed the bylaw amendments. Members approved bylaw changes that address the Cooperative's entry into the broadband business as well as provisions that address the way Cooperative directors are elected.

Feeling Stretched Caring for an Older Adult?

Balance your life with "Powerful Tools for Caregivers". Powerful Tools for Caregivers is an educational series designed to provide you with
the tools you need to take care of yourself while caring for an older adult.

This program will help family caregivers to: reduce stress, improve self confidence, better communicate your feelings, balance your life, increase ability to make tough decisions and locate helpful resources.

Classes consist of six, 2 ? hour sessions held once a week. Two experienced class leaders will conduct each session. Interactive, discussions and brainstorming will help make the "tools" you choose and put them into action for your life.

Classes will be held at Highland West in Elizabeth, IL. From 1:00 to 3:30 pm. Sessions are held every Tuesday and begin on April 28, 2009. For more information or to register, contact Linda Nobis in the Galena Office of the Senior Center at 815-777-1316. This class is sponsored by Volunteer Hospice of Northwest Illinois and Jo Daviess Office of the Stephenson County Senior Center.

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