Appreciation Breakfast

A delicious breakfast was hosted by the Carroll County Farm Bureau and COUNTRY Financial at their 2010 Appreciation Breakfast Friday morning, July 16.

The Naaman Diehl Auditorium in Mt. Carroll was a busy place, where CCFB and COUNTRY board members, staff and volunteers served 480 members and customers a great breakfast. Fun packs were handed out to the kids, and visitors registered for door prizes offered.

Besides socializing with their friends and neighbors, guests also had the opportunity to meet RFD Radio personnel.

(Courtesy of Chastity Welch)

 

 

 

 

 

Lanark Farmers Market Has More Than One Draw

There’s more than one reason to attend the Lanark Farmers Market. Local singer/songwriter Haley Dorsch will perform at the July 20 Lanark Farmers Market. Also, you can recycle and meet up with others interested in sustainable lifestyles. (PA file photo)

Green Living

The Lanark Farmers Market continues to promote “green” living and sustainability by starting a promotion to help reduce your environmental impact and featuring a local artist. The Carroll County Farm Bureau has donated reusable shopping bags. The bags will be sold at the Farmers Market for $6.00, but the customer will get $5.00 back in “Farm Bucks” tickets that can be spent at the market’s vendors. Look for a coupon in the July 21 issue of the Prairie Advocate and get one dollar off the bag.

The plastic bags we get in grocery stores can last up to 1,000 years in a landfill, and producing these bags uses millions of barrels of oil and petroleum annually. This uses up a large amount of natural resources and creates a lot of pollution. Finally, plastic bags aren’t biodegradable. They actually break down through a process called photodegradation into smaller toxic particles that enter the food chain when animals ingest them-usually through water. Just one person switching to reusable bags over a two-year period makes a significant impact. If they used reusable bags twice a week for two years it would have the following effects: they would save approximately 832 plastic bags, enough petroleum to drive 60 miles, 11 pounds of gas, and $140 for the city in disposal fees.

Do you have a basement full of old canning jars? Give them a new life and recycle them at the market. Drop them off along with other canning supplies at the Lanark Chamber of Commerce booth and they will be given to beginner canners and those who will use them.

Another key element of the Lanark Farmers Market is supporting local producers, businesses and artists. The market is proud to feature a local singer/songwriter Haley Dorsch. She is scheduled to play at the July 20 market. Haley performed solo at the Eastland High School Battle of the Bands and now plays with the local band Abigail’s Fury.

And remember: GET IT FRESH… BUY IT LOCAL! The Lanark Farms Market is held in the City Park on W. Claremont St. every Tuesday from 3-6.

Skaggs-Weltzin exchange vows

Terry and Julie Weltzin of Chadwick are proud to announce the marriage of their son, Nathan to Roxie Skaggs on May 22, 2010 at Milledgeville United Methodist Church with Pastor Dan Sturtevant officiating.

Nathan and Roxie both attended Milledgeville High School and graduated in 2005.

Nathan graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. He will be working at the Puget Sound Navel Shipyard as a Mechanical Engineer.

Roxie graduated from Kendall College in Chicago with an Associates of Applied Science degree in Baking and Pastry Arts in 2007. She graduated from Iowa State University in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science degreen in Hospitality Management.

Nathan and Roxie moved to Seattle, Washington at the beginning of June.

 

GED Graduation

(left to right: Amanda Knautz, Bill Rowland, Beau Sedivy) of those Savanna Center students who attended graduation proudly display their certificates.

Highland Community College’s Adult Education Department held its 37th annual G.E.D. Recognition Ceremony for 112 GED (General Education Development) completers on June 23rd at the Student Conference Center on HCC’s campus.

The thirteen graduates who attended the classes at the Savanna Center held at the First United Methodist Church are: Courtney Johnson, Christopher Nortunen, and Ruth Moore, Stephen Fransen, Kellie White, Stephanie Vietmeyer, Roger Stoddard, Cory Gillen, Beau Sedivy, Amanda Knautz, Mikaela Evans, William Rowland, and Tricia Randecker. They reside in Savanna, Thomson, Milledgeville, Lanark, and Mt. Carroll. These grads range in age from 17—53 years.

Amanda Knautz and William Rowland represented the Savanna Center as student speakers. They told of their journeys through the preparation and testing process required to pass the five GED tests and earn their certificates. Amanda and Bill thanked family members, friends, volunteer tutors, and the adult education instructor for their support and guidance.

For more information about the Adult Education Program, contact Linda Jachino, Savanna Site Coordinator, at 815-273-4760.

For the purpose of compliance with Section 511 of Public Law 101-166 (the Stevens Amendment), approximately 21% of federal funding supports this program.

Stephenson County Fair

The Stephenson County Fair enjoyed a week of dry, but hot weather during its run July 13-18 in Freeport at the Stephenson County Fairgrounds. On Youth Night July 13, several members of local media participated in the “Celebrity Showmanship” event with members of the Stephenson County 4-H.

(Right) Prairie Advocate publisher Tom Kocal (2nd from right) and WCCI station manager Brian Reusch (center, red shirt) show their hogs and share their “knowledge” of their hog partners at the Grandstand before judges Bruce Johnson,manager of the Stephenson County Farm Bureau, and Terry Bocker of Lanark. 4-H members trained the celebrities an hour before the show with hog showmanship tips and info about their hog. Reusch and his buddy placed third.

(Below) Paula and Bob Ackerman and their daughter Ava, from Pecatonica, enjoy a stroll through the Home Ec Building at the Stephenson County Fair.

(PA photos/Lynn Kocal)

Milledgeville American Legion

The Milledgeville American Legion hosted a presentation of the students they sponsored that attended the American Legion Boys and Girls State Convention at the MV legion Hall on Tuesday evening, July 13. Nearly 15 Milledgeville businesses also donated to help offset the cost of attendance at State. Ethan Flynn, Dean Hollowell, Katie Hutchison, and Brady Kness shared their experiences with their parents and the Legionnaires. Not in attendance were Haley Patterson and Keegan Neubauer. (Photo, L to R) Jodi, Ethan and Darrin Flynn, Dean, Bryan and Steve Hollowell, Katie and Liz Hutchison, and Brady, Valeria and Judy Kness. (PA photo/Craig Lang)

Morrison City Offices Adopt Summer Hours

Effective on Monday, July 12th Morrison City Hall will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the remainder of the summer season. The new hours will be in effect beginning on Monday, July 12 through the Labor Day weekend.

A customer count was conducted in the summer of 2009 and again in March/April of this year. During the time between 4:00 and 4:30 there were only one or two customers at the counter per week.

Customers will still have access to the other means of bill paying. After hours, water bills can be placed in the drop box located between the south doors of the building. Other options include mailing and auto-pay through your bank. Contact us at 815/772-7657 to make arrangements for automatic payment. Of course, you may still drop off the bill when the office is open.

For more information, contact Morrison City Hall at 815/772-7657 or check the website: www.morrisonil.org

Carroll County Sheriff’s News

On July 13 a Carroll County Sheriff’s deputy attempted to make a traffic stop on a vehicle for speeding. The vehicle was westbound on Illinois Route 64 from Oil Valley School Road. The vehicle did not stop and reached speeds near 100 miles per hour.

The vehicle traveled through Savanna at high speeds and was involved in an accident with a Savanna police car north of Savanna. There were no injuries from the accident. The vehicle then went off the roadway and the driver, Eric C. Hentges, 47, of Rockford, Illinois was taken into custody.

Hentges was charged with speeding, driving while license revoked, disobeyed traffic control device, reckless driving, aggravated fleeing and attempting to elude police, DUI and DUI with a blood alcohol concentration of over .08. Hentges was taken to the Carroll County Jail where he will appear before a judge on July 14. Assisting the Sheriff’s Department were the Savanna Police, Thomson Police, Mt. Carroll Police, Illinois State Police and the Savanna Fire and Ambulance Departments.

Bivins Puts His Money Where His Mouth Is

After months of calling on Gov. Pat Quinn to freeze hiring and spending, State Sen. Tim Bivins (R-Dixon) says his district legislative office has come in under budget for the third year in a row.

Bivins finished the fiscal year with money to spare in his legislative account – which he has returned to the state’s coffers.

“We came in under budget by about 32 percent, so I am putting my money where my mouth is, and returning $26,817 to the state. I figure if I ask the Governor to cut back, then I need to do the same,” Bivins said. “I learned my budgeting skills from working as a county sheriff—we were consistently under budget, even in the lean years.”

The 45th District Senator says he also chose to not print and mail his annual legislative newsletter because of the state’s financial crunch.

“It is important that lawmakers report to their constituents after each legislative session and update them on what new laws were passed, and about the state’s financial condition,” Bivins said. “I decided the expense was too much this year because of the state’s fiscal constraints. The information that would have been in a newsletter can be found on my legislative Web site at bivins.senategop.org/

Christmas In July For Our Troops

Sullivan’s Foods is teaming up with the Savanna VFW Post 2223 and Savanna American Legion Post 148 to give some of our soldiers overseas a hint of Christmas in July. If you know a soldier in Iraq or Afghanistan, bring in their name, address, and a photo if available to Sullivan’s Foods at 217 Chicago Ave. The names will be posted in the front of the store as candidates for local citizens to send a care package to. The Savanna VFW and Savanna American Legion will take care of packaging and shipping out the care packages, but we need help filling them! You can pick up a list of commonly requested items at the service counter at Sullivan’s Foods. Any items purchased for the boxes will be collected by the Savanna VFW at Sullivan’s Foods on Saturday, July 24th or Saturday, July 31st between 8 AM and 4 PM. You can also drop off items during the week at the Savanna VFW, located at 409 Main Street. Cash donations to help with shipping charges are also appreciated. Let our soldiers know we care!

Sen. Bivins and Rep. Sacia To Host Financial Safety Seminar Aug. 17

Information about consumer fraud and identity theft will be featured at a Financial Safety Seminar being sponsored Aug. 17 by State Sen. Tim Bivins (R-Dixon) and State Rep. Jim Sacia (R-Pecatonica).

Admission is free and refreshments will be served.

The Seminar is scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to noon Aug. 17 at the Senior Resource Center at the Lincoln Mall, 1237 W. Galena Ave. in Freeport.

A representative from the Attorney General’s office will talk about consumer fraud prevention, the “Do Not Call” Registry, identity theft protection, and understanding telecommunication scams.

For more information, call Bivins office at 815-284-0045.

Morrison Early Learning May Be Axed

The Morrison Schools Foundation is closing on its goal to save the Morrison Early Learning Program (MELP.) IF EVERY RESIDENT OF MORRISON DONATED $1.40 to the “PreK Fundraising Campaign” THE GOAL WOULD BE A REALITY. The money must be reached by Saturday, July 31 to fund the class from 2010 to 2011.

Andrea Wakeman reported, “This week’s SPIKE UPDATE is $3,841! Keep up the great support at Farmers’ Market and Dino Buckets. DON’T FORGET to register for one of the great events going on Saturday, July 31 at our Family Fun Day! Our GOAL is $10,000.

Her financial report of the Morrison Schools Foundation on Tuesday, July 13, 2010, shows the “PreK Fundraising Campaign” effort. This critical campaign is designed to maintain the Morrison Early Learning Program.

The foundation has built a comprehensive day of enjoyment and community fundraising on Saturday, July 31. There is a golf outing which includes lunch, children’s Dino Dash run, carnival, craft fair and food booth, baggo tournament, concession food at the Morrison Sports Complex, and music to end the evening.

Registration forms for all the activities and craft vendors are due Thursday, July 22. See longer version at http://www.thecity1.com/all-current-year-articles/10-school-news/2066-spike-the-dinometer-update.html

Carroll Co. 4-H Fair July 31, August 2-7

Everyone is invited out to the Milledgeville Fairgrounds to see what the 4-H’ers are doing and their accomplishments July 31 & August 2-7 during the Carroll County 4-H Fair.

4-H’ers have been working all year on their projects for the climatic moment of having them judged at the 4-H Fair. Schedule for 4-H Fair week is:

Saturday, July 31, in the 4-H Building - 9:00 a.m. general projects and Cloverbud judging. 4-H exhibits can be found in the 4-H Exhibit Building across from the Hospitality Tent.

9:30 a.m. Foods judging -

9:45 a.m. Flower arranging – Hospitality Tent

10:00 a.m. Home Furnishings & Child care judging

10:30 a.m. Bicycle Judging

2:00 p.m. Style show in the Hospitality Tent - open to the public;

followed by Champion award presentation; followed by State Fair meeting;

Sunday, August 1, & Monday, August 2 the 4-H Federation will be

serving a pulled pork sandwich meal from 5:00-7:00 p.m. in the 4-H exhibit building. Cost is $5.00 for sandwich, chips, brownie and bottle of water. Carry out only.

Monday, August 2 - 9:00 a.m. Beef Breeding Judging, Beef Bucket Calf, Beef Feeding, Rate-of-Gain;

10:00 a.m. Cat Judging – Hospitality Tent

11:00 a.m. Rabbit judging

12:45 p.m. Poultry Judging – Poultry Barn

1:30 p.m. Sheep Judging

2:00 p.m. Goat Judging

5:00 – 6:00 p.m. Supper for swine project families

6:00 p.m. Swine judging – east end of Poultry Barn

Tuesday, August 3 –

7:00 p.m. 4-H Livestock & Small Animal Auction, Poultry barn

Wednesday, August 4, 8:30 a.m. Horse & pony judging – 4-H Horse Arena (Rain date is Friday, August 6)

Thursday, August 5, 9:00 a.m. Dairy Judging – Dairy Ring

3:30 p.m. Cowboys & Clowns event for 4-12 yr olds

5:30 p.m. Parade of Champions in front of the grandstand

5:45 p.m. Crowning of 4-H Ambassadors on the stage

6:00 p.m. Chicken Scramble for 5-7 yrs old – pre-registration needed

Hands-on activities for the kids will be offered in the 4-H Building – Wednesday & Thursday during the afternoon after 1:00 p.m.

Saturday, August 7th, 7:00-8:00 p.m. All exhibits are released.

Be sure to visit the Children’s Farm sponsored by the 4-H & Farm Bureau. It will be open Wednesday thru Saturday during Kid’s Day hours.

The Farm will feature popular farm animals, a chance to do 6 different farm chores and a fun packet to take home. We will be located next to the 4-H Building.

And of course a visit to the 4-H Fair would not be complete without an ice cream treat from the 4-H Federation ice cream stand. The ice cream stand is located under the grandstand, and will be offering soft serve ice cream, sundaes and flurries. So, come one, come all, to the 2010 4-H Fair and see what our 4-H county youth are doing!

Carroll County 4-H Livestock & Small Animal Auction

The Carroll County 4-H Livestock & Small Animal Auction will be held on Tuesday, August 3, at 7:00 p.m. at the Carroll County Fairgrounds in Milledgeville. We will be located in the east end of the Poultry Barn. 4-H’ers will be selling steers, poultry, hogs, rabbits, goats and sheep.

If you can’t make it to the auction, be sure to listen to WCCI 100.3 FM. They will be broadcasting live.

Public Auction Services of Polo will be conducting the auction with auctioneer Lenny Bryson.

For more information contact Leanne Rahn at the Carroll County Extension Office at 815-244-9444 or lrahn@illinois.edu, Jim Ruter 815-864-2004 or Brian Witt 815-493-2387.

Carroll County 4-H To Hold Silent Auction

A silent auction will be held in the 4-H Building during the Carroll County Fair August 2-7 at the Milledgeville Fairgrounds. Thirteen different theme baskets will be available for bids. They are: Kids In the Kitchen, Bed & Breakfast, Pillows & Pillowcases, Sit back & Relax, Illini, Bath & Body, Beach, Scrapbooking, Game Night, Let’s Eat Out, Tastefully Simple, 4-H Fun and Sewing Basket Treasures.

Silent auction bids will be taken up to 6:00 p.m. Saturday, August 7 in the 4-H Building. Lucky bidders can pick up their basket between 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. that night.

All proceeds from the auction will go to the Carroll County 4-H Federation. It will be used for educational programs, scholarships to leadership conferences, 4-H promotion and much more during the 4-H year. So don’t forget to come out and bid!

We look forward to seeing you during fair week!

Children’s Farm at the Carroll County Fair

The ever popular Children’s Farm will be returning to the Carroll County Fair this year sponsored by the Carroll County 4-H and Carroll County Farm Bureau.

The Farm will be open Wednesday, August 4 thru Saturday, August 7 during the following hours. Wednesday will be 12:00 – 7:00 p.m., Thursday 4:30 – 7:30 p.m., Friday 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. and Saturday 12:00 – 5:00 p.m. Children will have the opportunity to see and pet traditional farm animals and learn about them – what they eat, how big they get, what we use them for. They will also get to do six different farm chores such as picking apples, milking a cow, finding a needle in a hay stack, digging for potatoes, gathering eggs and scooping manure. After chores are completed everyone gets to take home a fun pack of prizes and information.

The Children’s Farm will be located right next to the 4-H Building. Be sure to stop by and see what’s happening down on the farm. For more information contact Leanne Rahn at University of Illinois Extension Office 815-244-9444 or lrahn@illinois.edu or Chas Welch at the Farm Bureau at 815-244-3001.

Whiteside Co. Fair Premium Books Available

Premium books for the 140th Annual Whiteside County Fair, which runs August 17th – 21st are now available at banks throughout the county. Over $129,000 in premiums will be offered in prize money to the winners in over 1,500 different classes.

The fair premium book serves as a road map to the fair and all of the shows and events, along with providing the entry forms and processing information necessary to enter the dozens of judged competition classes.

NOW AVAILABLE – ON LINE ENTRIES. The Whiteside County Fair now accepts Visa and MasterCard for entries and ticket purchases. You can make your entries online by following the premiums link at www.whitesidecountyfair.org and use your Visa or MasterCard for payment. All the information you need to get ready for the Whiteside County Fair is at your fingertips on our website.

Pertussis Outbreak Continues in Whiteside County

Pertussis (whooping cough) is ongoing in Whiteside County. As of July 15th, there have been 12 confirmed and 7 probable cases of pertussis reported to the health department. Persons with pertussis are now being diagnosed outside of the original outbreak location. These individuals encompass all ages and reside throughout the county.

If your doctor feels you could have pertussis, it is important for you to be treated with the proper medicine and isolate yourself at home for 5 days.

Immunizations are necessary to prevent pertussis. Immunizations are given to babies, children and now adults less than 65 years of age to prevent pertussis. Immunizations are available at the health department on a walk in basis from 8-12 AM and 1-4 PM Monday thru Friday. Contact the Whiteside County Health Department at 815-626-2230 for additional information.

Pertussis can result in hospitalization and death in babies less than one year of age. Protect yourself and everyone around you. Get immunized!

Conservation Tillage Expo Features Equipment Demonstrations

On August 11, 2010, the Carroll County Soil and Water Conservation District will host a Conservation Tillage Expo that will demonstrate various tillage systems. Vertical tillage equipment, that addresses both crop production and soil conservation, will be featured. The demonstration will be located four miles north of Thomson, Illinois just west of Illinois Route 84 on 4 Mile Road. Six area dealers will demonstrate their equipment and be available to answer questions. Equipment to be featured includes: Case True-Tandem 330 Turbo (Birkey’s-Polo), Salford RTS (Dambman Service-Milledgeville), Landoll 7430 VT Plus (Merema Brothers-Fulton), McFarlane Reel Disk (Kunau Implement-Preston, IA), HCC Smart-Till (R Equipment-Utica), and Great Plains Turbo-Till (Peabudy’s Inc.-Sterling).

From 3pm to 4pm, attendees will have the opportunity to view areas previously tilled by each piece of equipment. The areas will be tilled earlier in the day and measured for crop residue by the staff from the Carroll County SWCD and Natural Resources Conservation Service. This will give attendees the unique experience of comparing the levels of crop residue left after each tillage tool. At 4pm, dealers will each be giving a presentation to the crowd on the equipment they are featuring. Dealer presentations will also include a live demonstration of each tool. At the conclusion of the demonstrations, a picnic style dinner will be provided by the Carroll County SWCD. The meal will be provided to those who register in advance by calling (815)244-8732 x3 or sending an email to carrollcoswcd@gmail.com . There is no cost for attendance.

Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to view and compare the latest in vertical tillage systems! Make your reservations today!

The Big SQUEEZE- With a Twist of Green

Last October the Big SQUEEZE Committee and the Morrison Community Hospital Foundation teamed up to raise approximately $35,000 toward improving women’s health services at the Morrison Community Hospital. We presented an opportunity for the community to enjoy a unique entertainment experience and to generously contribute toward the purchase of a digital mammography machine. The Big SQUEEZE turned out to be an inspiring two day celebration with four separate events held at the Prairie Ridge Golf Course in Morrison, IL. Hundreds of individuals participated in the afternoon tea, walk for women’s health, golf tournament, auctions, and cocktail party. It was not only a memorable weekend of awesome community spirit, but a great chance to honor loved ones who have or are battling cancer and remember those who have lost that battle.

This year, coordinators are planning The Big SQUEEZE with a twist . . . a twist of green! Friday, October 1 a formal afternoon tea will be presented at 3pm. On Saturday morning, October 2, “walk the course” will give everyone an opportunity to enjoy the beautiful Prairie Ridge Golf Course. The course is reserved in the afternoon for our golf outing. The twist of green comes Saturday evening with The Big SQUEEZE presenting Luau on the Greens. Offered will be a Polynesian buffet, Polynesian entertainment, live and silent auctions, and a few surprises. Proceeds from all events will still benefit women’s health, promote breast cancer awareness, and bring the community together for a fun-filled weekend. However, this year the event has the ability to positively impact a broader range of patients as well.

This year’s goal is to raise funds to help Morrison Community Hospital purchase a PACS system. The Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) is capable of storing, retrieving, transporting, displaying and printing medical images throughout the hospital. Here are some of the ways the PACS system will benefit the patient:

- Decreased radiology report turnaround time

- Shorter wait times for diagnosis and treatment

- Instant display of vital patient information

- Simultaneous distribution of patient radiology information to multiple locations

- Increased radiology efficiency.

Watch The Prairie Advocate News and www.pacc-news.com for more information about the Big SQUEEZE that will be released soon. Mark your calendars now for October 1st and 2nd.

The Morrison Community Hospital, MCH Foundation, and the Big SQUEEZE Committee would like to thank our sponsors. Because of their generosity we are able to offer a truly spectacular weekend. There are many sponsorship opportunities available. If you are interested in joining our effort to create a healthier community and support the Big SQUEEZE weekend through sponsorships or donating an auction item, please contact Chad Haskell, MCH Director of Communications, at 815-772-5510. For more information about the Morrison Community Hospital visit their website at www.morrisonhospital.com

Cal Vandermyde Family to be Honored at 140th Whiteside County Fair

The Whiteside County Fair Board is proud to announce Cal Vandermyde & Family as the “2010 Friend of the Fair” honoree. Since 1989, the board has sought to honor those who have made an extra effort to support and make the annual Fair as much fun as possible for all those who participate and attend the many shows and events. This year, the board offers its sincere gratitude and appreciation for the many years of friendship and for everything that Cal and his family has done for the Whiteside County Fair.

Bingo is back again this year thanks to Pearl City Lions Club that will be open every week night of the fair from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. and Saturday from 3:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

The Grandstand entertainment starts with the demolition derby on Tuesday, August 17th at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 18th the Draft Horse Halter Judging starts at 1:00 p.m., and Next-Level Pro-Bullriding Productions will entertain the crowd as the featured entertainment and at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, August 19th at 8:00 a.m. the (preliminary) Draft Horse Hitches will be judged, and at 5:00 p.m. the Twilight Harness Races will begin. After the races you will get to see the final of the Draft Horse Hitches & Western Speed Events. Five classes of souped-up tractors and trucks will take over the grandstand on Friday, August 20th at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, August 21st at 6:30 p.m. the second demolition derby will finish off the fair’s five-day evening grandstand events.

For those with a sweet tooth, chances will be sold at a nominal cost to test entrants’ luck at winning a tasty treat in the “cake walks” and “pie parades” held Tuesday through Friday at 4:00 p.m. at the culinary department in the large exhibition hall north of the secretary’s office.

Harness racing takes over the racetrack Thursday at 5:00 p.m. with track records up for grabs. Friday and Saturday the action starts each day at 1:00 p.m. Children’s pedal pulls are scheduled on Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. and Saturday at 12:00 noon, with six divisions for youngsters ages 4 through 12. Grandpa Cratchet will once again be joining us at the fair to entertain the kids, and there will be two bicycles given away each day of the fair.

Over $129,000 in premiums will be offered in prize money to the winners in over 1,500 different classes. The 60-page premium books are available at banks throughout the county or on line directly from the fair website.

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

As always, the fair board strives to provide something for everyone, young and old alike. For more information, please visit us at www.whitesidecountyfair.org

Changes in Carroll County Fair Book

Kim Gebhardt, Carroll County Fair Publicity Chairperson, announces three changes to the 2010 Carroll County Fair book released last week.

1) Under Department N Education, Poster Requirements (pg 42), store front window requirements and car window requirements state that each must be on display for two weeks before the first day of the fair. This requirement is changed to only one week prior to the first day of the fair.

2) Under Department J Produce (pg. 33) and Junior Produce P - J (pg. 45), Entries will be accepted from Noon to 6:00 PM Sunday and Noon to 6:00 PM Monday with Judging on Tuesday.

3) The Cake walk on the main schedule shows it will be Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday. The cake walk is actually Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday.

For questions or more information, please contact Kim Gebhardt at 815-225-7920.

Master Naturalist Program Filling Up

Registration is filling up for the 2010 Northwest Illinois Master Naturalist Program through the Jo-Carroll Extension Unit. Interested participants are encouraged to register before space fills up by the start of the first class, scheduled for August 2nd.

The program will meet weekly on Monday mornings from 8-1 for three months from August through October. Each class will be held at a different location throughout the Jo-Carroll area pertinent to the topic to be covered. Once training is completed, participants are expected to complete a volunteer service project to become a certified Master Naturalist. Once certified, the Master Naturalists are expected to annually conduct some level of volunteer stewardship and continuing training to maintain their certification.

The curriculum will cover topics ranging from natural history, understanding the natural world, communicating with nature, and environmental ethics & philosophy. The course will also teach people about the natural communities ranging from aquatics, grassland, forestry, special communities, agricultural, and urban communities. Also covered will be ecosystems management, archaeology, and volunteer service projects opportunities.

Interested participants are encouraged to contact the Jo Daviess Extension Office at 815-858-2273 to register. On-line registration is also available at: http://jdc.extension.uiuc.edu. Questions about the program can be answered by Chris Kirkpatrick, Natural Resources Coordinator for the Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation and the University of Illinois Extension at 815-858-9100 or chris@jdcf.org. Paid participants are filling up on a first come first serve basis.

Hultgren Raises over $300,000 in 2nd Quarter

The Hultgren for Congress campaign announced today that it raised $309,080.00 in the quarter ending June 30 and has $244,669.00 cash on hand.

“I am pleased with the strong support I continue to receive from throughout the 14th Congressional District,” said State Senator Randy Hultgren.

“I realize that we have a long way to go to match the hundreds of thousands of dollars that special interest groups have poured in to my opponent’s campaign,” said Hultgren. “Therefore, I am pleased to announce the addition of Lisa Wagner, of Lisa Wagner and Company, an expert in fundraising with a long track record of success, to my finance team.”

“Lisa’s expertise in fundraising and unique knowledge of the 14th congressional district will serve our campaign well as we continue to build the resources we need to deliver our positive message of more jobs, less government intrusion in the marketplace and increased accountability of our federal government,” said Hultgren.

‘Hello, Welcome To Your Post Office’

Local Postmasters will be in lobbies to assist customers

Have you ever wanted to meet the postmaster in your town? Well, now you can.

The Northern Illinois District of the U. S. Postal Service has designated the weeks of July 19 and July 26 as Meet Your Postmaster Weeks.

Postmasters will be at select lobbies throughout the district answering customer’s questions, providing assistance, and looking for suggestions on how to improve customer service.

Meet Your Postmaster Weeks is a new initiative created by Northern Illinois District Manager Bob Hart. The goal is to improve the customer experience.

“The Postal Service is continually looking for ways to make visits to our retail lobby quick, easy and convenient,” said Hart. “This is an opportunity for our Postmasters to personally thank their customers for doing business with them and learn how the local Post Office can serve them better.”

To learn when the postmaster in your town will be in the lobby, please contact your local Post Office. To find a Post Office location and phone number, go to www.usps.com.

Adult Literacy Volunteer Tutors Recognized

Highland Community College’s Adult Education Department recognized 12 tutors from Carroll and JoDaviess Counties at an appreciation picnic on June 22nd at the Savanna First United Methodist Church.

Those who tutored Carroll County students are: Vivian Eaton, Suzanne Atherton, Sherri Miller, Louise Kallemeyn, Sandy Mangler, Rosemary Burns, Deb Swanson, and Charlene Collins. Together, they provided 82 hours of instruction to 24 students.

Jo Daviess County students worked with Pat Nack, John Williams, Ed Ersfeldt, and Tracy Heidenreich, either at the Galena Public Library or HCC West in Elizabeth. These tutors donated 53 hours of instruction to ESL (English as a Second Language) and GED (high school equivalency) students.

Also recognized at the picnic were supporters of the program: Don and Connie Kramer, Rev. Larry Thomson, Dorie Schnitzler, and Joe Belander from the church; and the head librarians from Mt. Carroll, Savanna, and Galena, who provided tutoring space this year.

Savanna GED grad and current HCC student Nora Johnson shared her story of deciding to enter GED class and then pursue a graphics arts certificate at HCC. She displayed a painting that earned a 2nd place award in a recent college art exhibit.

Throughout HCC’s district, there were 62 adult volunteer literacy tutors this year who donated 1805 hours of instruction to 203 students in reading, writing, math, and English.

For more information about the literacy program, call Linda Jachino, Literacy Site Coordinator, at 815-273-4760.

From the Fields

By Jim Morrison

Ext. Educator, Crop Systems

Rockford Extension Center, U of I

Roadways and highways are becoming one of the major pathways by which invasive plants spread. An invasive plant is one that has the ability to thrive and spread aggressively outside its natural range. A naturally aggressive plant may be especially invasive when it is introduced to a new habitat.

So be on the lookout for invasive plants lurking along highways and interstates. Wind and air movement from passing vehicles help disperse seeds. Cutting and mowing, and regular road maintenance activities can aid in the spread of these invasives.

This column will mention some of the invasive species in Illinois, particularly those you may notice while travelling on roads. There are more invasive plants than those listed here; and remember, there are many native species along Illinois roadsides as well.

Common teasel is a purple flowering plant that may reach 6 to 7 feet in height. While beautiful to look at, it does not take long for this plant to quickly form a monoculture that excludes all natural vegetation. Teasel plants produce over 2,000 seeds per plant and the seeds get spread by mowing along roadways.

Spotted knapweed has a very deep tap root that may aid in soil erosion and surface runoff. It releases toxins that prevent native plants from growing, making restoration difficult. Flowers are purple to pink in color and occur on small flower heads.

Autumn olive can be identified by the underside of its leaves that are silvery and dotted; it produces yellow flowers and red fruits. This plant was introduced to control erosion but tends to crowd out native plants.

Tree-of-heaven grows rapidly and establishes in dense stands (like autumn olive). It overruns native vegetation and produces toxins that prevent native growth. Tree of heaven resembles the sumacs and hickories, but is easily distinguished by the glandular, notched base on each leaflet and large leaf scars on the twigs.

Poison hemlock forms dense stands along roadways and in ditches. Stems are hollow, ribbed, and purple-spotted. While it grows quickly and displaces native plants like the plants listed above, it also can harm people. All parts of the plant are poisonous and the plant sap can also irritate the skin, causing rashes. It is also poisonous to livestock.

Pictures of the above mentioned invasive plants can be found in the University of Illinois Home, Yard, and Garden Pest Newsletter, July 16, 2010 issue, available at this web site http://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu/article.php?id=226 Another reference is the Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, see this web site http://www.invasive.org/