Adrianne's Angels

A new Carroll County animal welfare group became official on March 31, "Adrianne's Angels - The St. George Pet Rescue." Alan St. George (President) has launched this effort in memory of his late wife Adrianne, who had a great love of animals.

The group held their first meeting at Havencrest Castle in Adrianne's favorite room: The Fragonard Music Room. The room is adorned with paintings which include Adrianne's beloved dogs. Members wore pink for their first group photo to honor "The Pink Princess." Officers include Lorna May (Vice President), Sandi White (Secretary), Irene and Al McIntosh (Treasurer), Jessica Peterson (Director), Mayor James Mantle (Shannon), and Mary LaShelle (Directors).

The pet rescue group will have many fundraisers to support the needs of companion animals in the county as well as homeless or abandoned animals. A benefit for Adrianne's Angels, The Savanna Historical Society and the 321 Co-op Gallery will be held May 15, 16 and 17 at The Alan & Adrianne St. George Center for the Arts. Information and tickets for MUSIC AND MAGIC IN SAVANNA can be obtained at www.MagicInSavanna.com. or call (815) 244-PETS.

Tree City USA Communities in Illinois Recognized at 2009 Conference and Awards Ceremony

As the Tree City USA program celebrates its 33rd year nationwide, Illinois is recognizing 191 communities in the state this year that are receiving the Tree City USA designation for managing their local community forest resources for enhanced citizen safety and welfare.

"Tree City USA is an important and highly sought after designation for communities dedicated to maintaining a healthy community forest," said Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Director Marc Miller. "We applaud the efforts of our Illinois Tree City USA communities."

The Tree City USA program is a part of the Urban and Community Forestry profession and the $4.7 billion natural green industry in Illinois. Tree City USA promotes tree planting and care programs in urban areas and calls public attention to the economic, health, and aesthetic benefits trees offer. Citizen participation in community reforestation and beautification efforts is encouraged through the program.

"The National Arbor Day Foundation is proud of Illinois' efforts to not only promote the Tree City USA program in their communities, but we are pleased to note that they have gone above and beyond in their forestry programs," said Dan Lamb of the National Arbor Day Foundation. "Illinois provides great leadership and is offered as a model for states that are looking to promote innovative comprehensive urban forest management."

To be eligible to participate in the Tree City USA program, a community must legally designate a city official or volunteer tree advocate as having authority over the management and care for the urban forest. The second standard is to have a community tree ordinance that specifically recognizes the designated tree authority and identifies urban forest management and tree care standards that the community will abide by. The community must also expend at least $2 per resident for its urban forestry program. Illinois communities have expended an average of $11.50 per capita ­ an amount well over the national standard. The final requirement is to conduct an annual Arbor Day tree planting ceremony with an official Arbor Day proclamation being developed for announcing the day of the celebration.

"Tree City USA communities have an economic impact, historically spending more than $83 million collectively on tree planting and tree care," said IDNR Program Administrator Dr. Reinee Hildebrandt. "Community trees and local forestry programs pay us back. Management of local urban forests helps to diversify the forest species within the canopy."

Local Tree City USA Milestones include FORRESTON, 9 years; LANARK, 16 years; MOUNT CARROLL, 21 years; and STOCKTON, 6 years.

Huggins Earns Certification

John Huggins of Lanark has received a Professional Community & Economic Developer (PCED) certificate. The Community Development Council (CDC) is a nonprofit organization founded to promote the advancement of standards of competence for community development professionals through accreditation of community development educational programs, professional certification, and the development of community volunteer leaders.

Huggins currently serves as an AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteer for Blackhawk Hills RC & D and the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs, the coordinator for the Blackhawk Hills Entrepreneur & Inventors Club, Vice President of the Lanark Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Carroll County CEDS (Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies) committee. In the past, he has also served as an alderman for the City of Lanark and as president of the Carroll County Economic Development Corporation.

The Professional Community & Economic Developer is the professional certification designated by the CDC. It is available to professional community developers who are engaged in a purposeful effort to enlist individuals in the community to collaboratively work to shape and guide the development and economic prosperity of their community making full use of local and external resources. Over 200 individuals have received the Certified Community Developer designation nationally.

Help the Poor People

By Colton Haag, Chadwick, Illinois

At Unity Christian School in Fulton, we are saving money to buy animals for the poor people. Every ten dollars we raise, we can buy another animal. If you want, you can bring money for poor people, to help them raise animals. If you do, these people can use the animals to make more money. They can milk the cows and eat eggs from the chickens. If you want to help us raise more money for the poor people, you will be a good help. We want to help them because God tells us to act justly in Micah 6 : 8. To act justly is to make sure that other people have a share and have enough. (Courtesy of Helen Andringa, UCS)

March Students of the Month at MHS

Milledgeville High School congratulates the following students for being chosen as the March Students of the Month.

Freshman Abbie Habben is involved in several activities that include volleyball, cheerleading, and track. Her favorite class is Geometry with Mr. V., and her favorite meal served in the cafeteria is chicken strips.

"I think I was chosen for student of the month because I work hard in class, and get good grades," Abbie said.

Regarding her future educational/career goals, Abbie said "I plan on going to college and becoming an elementary teacher.

She is the daughter of Dan and Beth Habben.

Sophomore Ethan Flynn is the son of Darrin and Jodi Flynn. He is involved in Basketball and Baseball, his favorite class is Government with Mr. Wroble, and pizza is his favorite meal served in the cafeteria.

"I think I got student of the month because I try in everything that I do, even if I don't like the project," Ethan said. He added that his future educational/career goals are "to attend college and hope to become a Police Officer."

Keali Engelkens is a junior, the daughter of Jody and Keith Engelkens. Keali is active in softball, volleyball, basketball, student council, National Honor Society, chorus, and is the Class President.

"My Advanced Math class with Mr. Rahn" is her favorite class, and pizza is her favorite cafeteria entree.

As to why Keali thinks she was chosen to be student of the month, she replied "I'm a good student and I try to be a positive role model for other students. She said her future educational/career goals are "To go to college and become a teacher and get my master's degree."

Senior Ryan Imel is the son of Thomas and Sandy Imel. He participated in football, his favorite class is contemporary US history with Mr. Wroble. Ryan says his favorite meal served in the cafeteria is "any meal that has a dessert that people don't mind giving away to me."

Ryan added that the reason he was chosen as student of the month is "due to my sincere desire to learn in every class. I also believe my work ethic and positive attitude have gained respect from my teachers and classmates."

Ryan's future plans are to go to Sauk Valley College and then transfer to a four-year school and major in education.

Butterfly Gardening Program

The University of Illinois Extension-Stephenson County and the Freeport Public Library are once again offering their Spring Library Gardening Series. The first program, Butterfly Gardening, will be offered on Thursday, April 16 from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm at the library. Butterfly Gardening will give participants an opportunity to learn about the types of butterflies found inNorthern Illinois. Host plants and nectar plants that are best suited for Northern Illinois and the types of butterflies that they attract will also be discussed. Amazing photographs of native butterflies and their colorful surroundings will be a feature of the program.

This program will be presented by Anita Duray of Freeport, who is a U of I Extension Master Gardener in Stephenson County. To register for this program and the others in the series, please call the University of Illinois Extension-Stephenson County at (815) 235-4125 or register on-line at www.extension.uiuc.edu/stephenson.

PAL Host 4 Workshops

The Palisades Art League has announced that it will be sponsoring four workshops in 2009 that will be available for both members and the general public to attend.

The first will be held from 9 am to 4 pm on Aril 18th in the lower level of the 321Art Gallery on Savanna's Main Street. It will be instructed by Terri Milburn, a resident of Savanna, who previously taught for many years in the Rockford area. Participants will need to provide their own supplies, including a 16" by 20" canvas, but can choose their subject matter. Those wishing to attend are urged to prepay in order to reserve space. Full particulars can be had by calling Judy Gentile at (815) 273-1143 or contacting her at djg@mchsi.com .

Additional workshops are planned for the rest of the summer. These are Photography by Cecil Johnson on May 16th , Watercolor by Karen Vroman on June 20th and Oil Painting by Gloria Rendleman on August 1st.

Hunt Completes US Army Training

Army National Guard Pvt. Phillip W. Hunt 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 Laura Hunt of Savanna, IL, and nephew of Ryan Guenzler of Mill St., Mount Carroll, IL. The private is a 2008 graduate of West Carroll High School, Savanna.

Mark Your Calendar for the Whiteside County Fair

The Whiteside County Fair is getting ready for another five days of great entertainment this year, beginning the morning of Tuesday, August 18 and running right through Saturday, the August 22 finale. The 139th Annual Fair, held at the fairgrounds in Morrison, IL, will start and end with a bang, with the crowd-pleasing demolition derbies remaining as the opening and closing evening grandstand events.

- Tuesday, August 18th is the first demolition derby of the fair. Check www.whitesidecountyfair.org for the 2009 Demo Derby Rules.

- Wednesday, August 19th entertainment, you will see Pro-Bull Riding provided by Next Level Productions with the areas best bull rider competitors putting on a great bull riding show for you.

- Thursday, August 20th at 5:00 pm will be our 3rd year of Twilight Harness Racing at the Whiteside County Fair. This was such a big hit the last two years we are doing it again this year. Following this will be Draft Horse Hitches & Western Speed Events. This will be a great night to see Harness Racing, the Beautiful Draft Horses, and the Speed Event Horses.

- Friday, August 21st we have five classes of souped-up tractors and trucks taking their turn pulling down the track. We will also have the lawn tractors doing their pulls at the same time right in front of the grandstand.

- Saturday, August 22nd, the second demolition derby will finish off the fair's five-day evening attractions. As always, the fair board strives to provide something for everyone, young and old alike.

- Wilson Family Rides will entertain the kids and adults again this year with their outstanding carnival and midway attractions, providing a festive and fun time for everyone.

Transit Partnership Group to Meet on Survey

Members of the Transit Partnership Group will meet on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 at 1 pm at the Carroll County Farm Bureau at corner of Routes 64 and 78 in Mt. Carroll

The Transit Partnership Group (TPG) will review results of survey distribution which began in February, 2009. Responses from 2-5% of all those living in Carroll County are sought ­ over 200 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 or club or association, and will help in distributing surveys, contact Laurie Gungel at 815-273-1153.

Phase Out of Duck Blinds in Pool 13

The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service is reminding duck hunters that permanent duck blinds are being phased out of Pool 13 of the Upper Mississippi River Refuge and hunters are required to remove all blind materials, including old blind debris located within 100 yards of their blind by May 1, 2009. No burning, burying or other method of disposal will be allowed on the Refuge. All materials must be removed from the Refuge. Failure to remove your blind will result in the issuance of a Violation Notice (citation) and fine.

In August 2006, the Refuge completed its Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP). One component of the CCP was the elimination of permanent hunting blinds and the practice of leaving decoy sets overnight on the Refuge. In order to give hunters more time to adapt alternative hunting methods, the Refuge used a phased approach to blind removal. These regulations were implemented beginning in Pool 12 after the 2006 season and in Pool 14 after the 2007 season. Now that the 2008 waterfowl season has come to a close, the use of permanent blinds is no longer allowed anywhere on the Refuge, including Pool 13.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages 105 million acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses 552 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. For more information, contact Ed Britton, Savanna District, 7071 Riverview Road, Thomson IL 61285, or call 815-273-2732 ext 11.

Now CO2 is Declining as well as Temperatures

The atmospheric CO2 levels at Hawaii's Mauna Loa observatory have declined since 2004. How can this be when humans keep emitting more greenhouse gases? Could declining atmospheric CO2 levels mean that the whole Greenhouse Warming theory is collapsing?

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 moved radically together, up and down 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 warming.

Apparently, the oceans absorb massive amounts of CO2 from the air every time they cool. Since 1850, the planet has been slowly and erratically warming as we transitioned out of the Little Ice Age. This is due to a solar-linked Dansgaard-Oeschger cycle that happens every 1,500 yearshence the historic Roman Warming and the Little Ice Age.

CO2 levels in the atmosphere have risen over the past 150 years and certainly since 1976. But that surface warming stopped in 1998. Now the most accurate ocean temperatures ever recorded tell us that the oceans stopped warming in 2003, and the CO2 emissions from Mauna Loa began to decline the next year! Have the oceans begun re-absorbing the CO2 they released as they warmed from 1976-1998? (The global thermometer record has plunged about 0.5 degree C since early 2007.)

JoshkWillis, 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. Nor can the "lost heat" be "hidden" anywhere on the planet. There's too much of it.

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."

There's more. An elegant bit of research by Britain's Tom Quirk noted that Carbon 14 created by nuclear weapons testing in the 1950s and '60s showed it took some years for exchanges of CO2 between the northern and southern Hemispheres. And about 75 percent of the CO2 from fossil fuels has been emitted north of Mexico and Egypt. Quirk logically concluded there should be a lag between the changes in CO2 levels at the Northern Hemisphere's Mauna Loa and the South Pole, with Mauna Loa leading the parade. Instead, Quirk found no time differences between the CO2 levels at the two far-distant sites.

He notes: "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. 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." Is this the oceans' global re-absorption of CO2 from the atmosphere?

Scientific maxim: If your 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.

Decline in Mauna Loa CO2 levels:

1. Mauna Loa Rate of Change, Graphed by Alan Siddons,

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/03/21/recent-ocean-heat-and-mlo-co2-trends/

2. Lack of hemispheric lag on CO2 changes:

3. 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

Eastland FFA Competes Section 1 Dairy Contest

Three members of the Eastland FFA competed at the Section 1 Dairy Judging Contest held at Orangeville. Brett Ebersole placed 8th overall individual at the contest. Also judging for Eastland were Jordan Ruter and Austin Schriner.

NW IL Envirothon

Two teams competed recently at the North West Illinois Envirothon held at Highland Community College. Thirty two teams competed from all North West Illinois. Students were tested on their knowledge skill of areas of Soils, Aquatics, Forestry, Wildlife, and other related environmental areas at the contest. Each team was also required to make a presentation on a issue related to the environment.

Eastland placed 20th and 30th at the contest. Competing for Eastland were: Team 1: Justin Grisham, Matt Miller, Jordan Ruter, Justin Santacruz, and Austin Schriner. Team 2: Megan Bunyer, Renee Palmer, Jordan Price, Jacey Strohecker, and Adam Zink.

Eastland FFA Holds Annual Awards Banquet

Eastland FFA held its annual Awards Banquet at Eastland High School. Awards given included Star Greenhand awarded to Katelyn Janssen
and Cory Snetcher, Star Chapter degree given to Sara Runyan, Star Agriscience Degree given to Dan Schoeninger, Public Speaking Awards given to Megan Bunyer, Sr division; Shelby Corey, Senior Division; Toni Cline, Sara Runyen, Jordan Price, and Cory Snetcher all in Junior Division. Also receiving awards were the outstanding PreVet students ­ Logan Feltmeyer and Jessie Snyder.

The outstanding FFA member Award went to Jordan Ruter. Honorary FFA Chapter Degrees were bestowed on David Janssen and Deb Miller. Other awards given included Foundation Certificates and Greenhand and Chapter FFA Degrees.

Eastland FFA to Host Blood Drive

Eastland FFA will host its annual Spring Blood drive on April 30 from 1:30 to 6:30 pm. Mark your calendar for this event. Rock River Blood Center will be the collecting agency. All blood collected is used in the area hospitals. Light refreshments will be served at the Blood Drive.

It is always a good time to give blood as someone is in need of blood every two seconds. Anyone 16 years of age or older is welcome to give blood. All individuals giving blood must bring a photo ID with date of birth. Save a life, give blood.

Plan to 'B There'

This year's Savanna Chamber of Commerce Ladies Day Luncheon is planned for April 22nd at the House of Events in Savanna. The featured speaker and Savanna native is Michele Brown Beschen. Michele hosts B. Originals on DIY Network and has also appeared on Good Morning America and most recently on the daytime Rachel Ray Show.

B. Original celebrates creativity and originality by putting new imaginative twists on doing it yourself. Michele shares her taste for the eclectic and passion for the unconventional to show you how to "B" innovative and inventive with anything and everything! She'll show the "power" in owning tools and take viewers on a creative adventure that will inspire them to look at things differently and forge their own creative path.

"Michele's show frequently has guest stars right here from Savanna: her parents, Mary Ellen & Ron Brown, her brother, Rory Brown, and Aunts Dee Dee Prowant, and Kathy Holmes," said Pam Brown, Savanna Chamber of Commerce director. "We hope you can join us to welcome our home town star on April 22nd."

The Annual Event starts at 11:30 a.m. at the House of Events with a luncheon of Chicken Ala King, Salads, dessert, rolls and beverage for $15.00 per person. Reservations are due ahead of time with checks/payment payable to the Savanna Chamber of Commerce the day of the event. Contact the Chamber at 815-273-2722 or savchamber@grics.net.

Corporate sponsors of the event: Miner, Gilroy & Meade CPA, PC; Blue Appraisals, THE National Bank, Ashford University, Riverside Dental, Savanna Thomson State Bank, and The Prairie Advocate News.

Cary Shepherd, National Chain Saw Applications Instructor for Husqvarna Professional Products, Inc. conducted a professional chain saw applications course at the Farm Bureau building in Mt Carroll, IL on March 13. Shepherd provided a great day of learning to many local tree professionals, land owners and government employees. A variety of topics were covered including safety, personal protective equipment, chain saw maintenance and many more. The workshop concluded with a demonstration in which Cary fell a tree. This workshop was sponsored by the local Husqvarna dealer, The Woodshed, Mt. Carroll.

The Carroll Co. 4-H Jr. Ambassador group has been working on learning about service learning and team building and have selected a project for their community service. They will be making fleece lap blankets, pillows and tray favors for cancer patients at FHN in Freeport. Jr. Ambassadors for this year are L to R, front row: Rebecca Alexander, Chadwick; Sam Woessner, Shannon; and Dena Harridge, Mt. Carroll. Back row L to R AnnaMarie Petry, Morrison; Alexandra Kronenberg, Milledgeville; and Mary Francque, Dixon. (Courtesy of Leanne Rahn, Community Worker, 4-H & Youth)

Pack #55Chadwick-Milledgeville Cub Scouts visit with K-9, Illo. Deputy Holland and Illo, from the Carroll County Sheriff's Department,met with Pack #55 and gave a presentation on how they train together, learned some of the commands used by Deputy Holland, and answered all of their questions. (Courtesy of Sheila Dublo)

world wide web prairie advocate