Gateway Development & Construction

Gateway Development & Construction workers are making progress at the new Savanna City Building, leveling the front sidewalk, and adding an entry way on the northeast end of the building. (PA photo/Tom Kocal)

Mt. Carroll Rotary Club

Emily Valentine,Volunteer Coordinator for Riverview Center Inc. Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence, Prevention and Intervention Services, was the guest speaker at the Nov. 9 Mt. Carroll Rotary Club. She is pictured with Mt. Carroll Rotarian Paul Tobin presenting the club’s annual donation to Riverview Center. (Courtesy of Barb Brierton)

That’s a Lot of Grapes!

Stockton School Teams received donations for helping to harvest grapes at Massbach Ridge Winery. Pictured from left to right: Terry Sertle, Peggy Harmston (presenting donations), Larry McPeek, Kali Schamberger, Colleen Fox, Keeley Schulz and Lisa Schoenhard.

Grapes, 30 tons of them in fact, can mean a great deal to an organization that helps to harvest them.

“Harvest time is very intense, and being able to count on local organizations to help us bring in the crop means everything to us,” said owner and winemaker Peggy Harmston. “We’re thrilled when we see these groups meet their fund-raising goals,” she continued. “Seeing the kids enjoy themselves and develop an interest in the entire process of making the juice is most gratifying.”

This year at Massbach Ridge Winery the “pickers” included members of the Carroll County Long Spurs Trap Shooting Team, Stockton Music Boosters and the Stockton Football, Volleyball and Cross Country Teams. For helping with the harvest, they were awarded funds for their organizations.

Massbach Ridge Winery produces over a dozen different wines from the grapes grown in their vineyards. Wine is made and bottled on the premises.

This year’s harvest will allow the release of two wines during the traditional Nouveau weekend starting November 19th and continuing through the 21st. Cheese samples will accompany the tasting of the new wines of 2010 during the event.

Open daily; Massbach Ridge Winery is located at 8837 S. Massbach Road, Eliza beth, IL 61028. Detailed directions can be found at MassbachRidge.com or by calling .

Coleta Fire Department Annual Pancake Breakfast

Chief Gary Buis of the Coleta Fire Dept. chats with guests during the department’s annual Pancake Breakfast held Sunday, Nov. 14 at the Fire Station. “We were busy all morning,” said Chief Buis. “Thank you for your support.” (PA photo/Andrew Williamson)

Health Beat

The Answer Fitness, Tanning & Nutrition Centers

Warmth and Light in the Fall and Winter Months

One of the two things that are always lacking in the winter is that warm rejuvenating feeling you get from standing in the heat of the summer sun. Some winters it seems like you just can’t get warmed up.

The second item we miss a lot is light: lack of light in the fall and winter can lower your level of energy and enthusiasm. Lets face it, going to work in the dark and getting home in the dark is just a little depressing.

One easy solution that can solve both these problems is tanning. Tanning provides a deep fulfilling warmth and a rejuvenating dose of light. Between the two you get warmed up way down inside and that bright dose of light energizes your spirit. Plainly stated, ”tanning in the fall and winter is very therapeutic”.

Stop in At The Answer, and let one of our 5 quality tanning beds give you a burst of light and a delicious dose of heat.

Here’s to your health.

Mark Klein

Kreative Rentals, Ltd.

Morrison Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony in celebration of the Grand Opening of Kreative Rentals Ltd., 115 E. Main Street, Morrison, IL. Kreative Rentals is a premier rental, decorating and wedding consulting business. Pictured l-r: Sandra Crouse, Main Street Coffee Shop; Ellen Smith, DQ Grill & Chill; Bart Smith, DQ Grill & Chill; Mark Kooi, Owner Audrey Kooi; Kreative Rentals; Owner Kris Muur, Kreative Rentals; Randy Muur; Melinda Gonzalez, Community State Bank; Kathy Schmidt, One Stop Marketing; Rhonda Biller, Pleasant View Rehabilitation & Health Care Center; Suellen Girard, Morrison Community Unit District # 6; and Chad Haskell, Morrison Community Hospital. (Courtesy of Morrison Chamber of Commerce)

Veteran's Day Supper

Mount Carroll United Methodist Church members preparing for their annual Veteran's Day supper. (PA photo/Andrew Williamson)

Mr. Eastland Pageant for a Good Cause

Eastland High School Adult Living class will be hosting a Mr. Eastland Pageant Sunday, November 21st at 2 o’clock PM. The public is invited to attend. The Mr. Eastland Pageant is in honor of Linda Ludwig, an Eastland teacher who passed away this last summer from leukemia.

The Mr. Eastland contest is a fun, pageant-like event that includes male high school seniors. During the pageant they will be engaging in typical activities, such as a talent competition.

The event is a conclusion to a four week project, Operation Cupcake. As part of their character unit, adult living students were challenged to make a difference for someone. As a result, Operation Cupcake was created to help raise money for various diseases and cancers such as breast cancer, chiari, epilepsy, lymphoma, leukemia, and infant loss. The class has been working for several weeks on the project, selling cupcakes each Thursday. The pageant is the culminating activity, which ends the project.

All proceeds from the pageant will be sent to the leukemia foundation. Tickets ($3) for this event will be sold at the door, for there are no advanced ticket sales.

We hope to see you Sunday, November 21 for a fun afternoon of entertainment, all for a good cause.

Veteran's Day

Veteran Gene Barklow signs an autograph for Shannon student Nate Strong after the Veteran’s Day ceremony November 11 at the Eastland Middle School in Shannon, prior to the Veteran’s Day luncheon. (PA photo/Craig Lang)

A large crowd paid tribute to the veterans in attendance on Veteran’s Day at Eastland High School in Lanark. The ceremony included short speeches by students as well as guest speaker Colonel Arnold P. Montgomery, Chief of Staff, Joint Munitions Command, Rock Island Arsenal. The Eastland High School band and chorus performed several numbers. The Veterans Day activities started with an honor breakfast for veterans and their spouses. (PA photo/Craig Lang)

Shannon’s Hometown Christmas

The Shannon Chamber of Commerce presents “Hometown Christmas” on Friday, November 19th and Saturday, November 20th. Local businesses, crafters and bakers welcome you to their open houses. You will find gifts of good taste-breads, pies, candies, cookies and popcorn, wine and beautifully handcrafted gifts -wooden, fabric, glass and floral, along with candles, folk art, jewelry, lunch specials and much more!

Maps of the participants are available at First State Bank Shannon/Polo/Lake Carroll and Casey’s. Look for the candy cane in front of each location. Friday night there will be a Chili Supper at the Fire Station, along with Santa and live reindeer. Kids can create an ornament to hang on the Community Christmas tree in the park. Lighting of the tree will be followed by a Christmas Light Parade. Hot chocolate and cookies will be served before and during the parade. Start the day Saturday with a pancake breakfast at the Fire Station.

Lena Fall Show

If you want one stop for all your Christmas gifts and ideas, this is the place to go and get your shopping done early this year. The fall show is scheduled for Saturday, November 20th from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Lena Community Center. Spread some Christmas cheer with a day of shopping, socializing and getting a sneak peek at all the new fall and winter fashions and products our vendors have to offer. Plenty of cash-n-carry items are available for you to take home that day.

There will be door prizes and a grand prize of $100 Lena money. We will also be collecting non-perishable food and toiletry items for our food drive to support the local food pantry. Gentlemen are welcome to attend and there is NO admission fee. A lunch stand and handicap accessibility are available. For more details call Chelsea White at (815) 275-3997 or Kristina Weaver at (815) 541-2355.

Forreston Friskies 4-H Cloverbuds, Kids in the Kitchen

by Cassie Smith

The Forreston Friskies 4-H Club Cloverbud had a Kids in the Kitchen project meeting on Monday, November 8th after school at the Forreston Library Community Room. Bryan Poster was the Mighty Cloverbud, he led us in Pledges and in roll call.

The Cloverbud started out with making a snack of Speedy Trail Mix and juice. They then got busy making ‘Ants on a Log’, ‘Chewy Chips S’more’ and ‘Pumpkin Pie in a Bag’. They sample all their master piece. They made ‘Fruit ‘n Cheese Snack mix Butterfly’ to take home. They talked about the right kinds of foods to eat and what is best choices to make. What to use to measure and how to measure. They got to take a little pumpkin pie home. They tried their skills on “Face the Cookie” game.

Our next meeting is Monday, February 14th after school at the Forreston Public Library Community Room, it is going to be ‘Caring for my pet Project Meeting’. This is for kids ages 5-8 by Sept. 1st of the school year. Older 4-H members (ages 9-18) next meeting is on February 7th , 6:00-8:00 pm at the Forreston Township Building. If anyone would like to check us out and see what 4-H is about, call Vickie Smith at or more information about clubs near you call Ogle County Extension Office at .

‘There is No Medicine Like Hope’ – Festival of Trees Begins Nov. 19

The 19th annual FHN Festival of Trees begins Friday, Nov. 19 this year, with a Gala at FHN Family Healthcare Center – Burchard Hills in Freeport to kick off the holiday season.

“There is no medicine like hope,” is a quote from lawyer and physician Orison Swett Marden. In keeping with Dr. Marden’s philosophy, this year’s FHN Festival of Trees Gala will celebrate the theme “Be Cancer Free.”

The Gala will be a fund-raiser for the FHN Leonard C. Ferguson Cancer Center, featuring Irish humorist, author and cancer survivor Conor Cunneen, as well as a live auction, hors d’ouevres, desserts, drinks and dancing. Tickets are $50 each, available online at www.fhn.org.

FHN, along with Classic Cinemas Lindo Theatre, will again sponsor the popular Festival of Trees Movie Series beginning with Megamind 3-D at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 20. Tickets are $5, and limited seating is available.

On Sunday, Nov. 21, join FHN for the Community Holiday Tree Lighting – we’ll have refreshments and holiday caroling in front of FHN Memorial Hospital at 5 p.m. A special guest will “flip the switch” to turn on Freeport’s holiday tree, and Santa will be on hand to hear children’s wishes.

FHN and the Freeport Public Library will present Holiday Storytelling and Santa Visits each Tuesday afternoon this holiday season at the library. At this free event, kids can listen to a story from 4:30 – 5 p.m. and visit Santa from 5 – 7 p.m. There’s also a full calendar of Santa Visits scheduled at the library!

Students from schools around the area will raise their voices in song for Singin’ at the King beginning at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 1 at the King Community Campus in Freeport.

This year’s Community Festival of Trees will be on display Sunday, Dec. 5 through Friday, Dec. 31 at the Freeport Public Library. On Dec. 6, the Highland Community College Children’s Choir will perform a holiday concert beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the library.

Finally, join FHN and the residents of Freeport’s Stephenson Street and Lincoln Boulevard at dusk Sunday, Dec. 19 for the FHN Festival of Trees Luminary Walk along the city’s most well-known streets.

Information on all FHN Festival of Trees events, including a full FHN Holiday Movie Series lineup and the full slate of Santa Visit times and dates, is available at www.fhn.org.

FHN Foundation Donates Wii Fun Center™ to FHN Memorial Hospital

Being in the hospital is no fun. The FHN Foundation hopes to provide a little bit of fun for kids who need to stay in the hospital, however, with the donation of a Wii Fun Center™ to FHN Memorial Hospital.

The Wii Fun Center™ is a mobile entertainment unit consisting of a Sharp AQUOS™ LCD television, DVD player and Nintendo Wii™ gaming system.

“When a child is hospitalized, we will be able to bring the Fun Center right to his or her bedside,” said Christine Francini, BSN, Women’s Service Line director. “Having a Wii and DVD player can make the hours go by faster, and help alleviate the stress of being in the hospital. It makes it feel a little bit more like home.”

Each Wii Fun Center is valued at $4,250. The FHN Foundation’s sponsorship of the program for FHN Memorial Hospital will pay for the equipment, shipping and administration as well as for repair and maintenance for the life of the unit. The Fun Center is expected to be delivered to the hospital early in 2011.

“We’re pleased to be able to give something that will have such a visible and important benefit,” said Terrence Egan, FHN Foundation executive director. “Most of the time, the Foundation works behind the scenes to purchase necessary equipment that may not seem all that exciting, but is very important. So, it’s a nice change to be providing something very visible that will be so much fun for our young patients.”

For more information on the FHN Foundation and how you can help support the critical needs of FHN, visit www.fhn.org or call .

European Village Display

Arlene Rose Considine, collector of Christmas of the past items, will display European village buildings at Fulton’s Windmill Cultural Center weekends from November 6-December 12. Saturday hours are 10-5 and Sunday 1-5. A reception for Considine will be held on Sunday, November 7 from 2-4.

“Be it Ever So Humble” is the theme of this holiday exhibit. Considine features a collection of small half timbered, stuccoed, stone houses with straw roofs similar to village homes throughout Europe. Local crafts people helped construct and decorate the humble homes. Al Westphal, Clinton, built many of the houses. Robert Cook, Morrison, specialized in straw roofs and chimneys. Geri Scheckel Evans, Preston, Kris Vetters of Hamm, Germany, and Considine painted the half timbered strips. Another group of smaller antique German houses are also part of the exhibit and both collections are surrounded by forests.

Considine is an annual traveler to Europe purchasing Christmas related items and gleaning ideas for displays. Her exhibits have been at the German American Heritage Center in Davenport and at several churches and museums in the area. This display is in keeping with the Windmill Cultural Center’s handmade model European windmills.

The display at the Windmill Cultural Center is free and open to the public.

FHN Lights Community Holiday Tree Nov. 21

Head west to FHN Memorial Hospital after the Mistletoe Walk in downtown Freeport Nov. 21 for the FHN Festival of Trees Community Holiday Tree Lighting.

The public is invited to listen to holiday carols and share cookies and cocoa at 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 21 in front of FHN Memorial Hospital, 1045 W. Stephenson Street in Freeport. Freeport Mayor George Gaulrapp, Stephenson County Board Chairman John Blum, FHN President and CEO Michael Perry, MD and of course, Santa Claus will be there to flip the switch and turn on Freeport’s holiday tree for the season.

The Community Holiday Tree Lighting is part of the annual FHN Festival of Trees. For more information on the FHN Festival of Trees, including a full schedule of events, visit www.fhn.org.

Brush Up on Preventing the Most Common Disease in Dogs and Cats

By Brittany Way

U of I College of Veterinary Medicine

Call it “gingivitis,” “periodontal disease,” or another term related to gum disease, but it amounts to the same thing: if you’re not paying attention to the health of your pet’s mouth, the problems that arise there could come back to bite you.

Gum disease is the most common disease affecting dogs and cats, according to the Veterinary Oral Health Council. Its consequences go far beyond bad breath. In fact, left untreated, gum disease can lead to bacterial infections that spread throughout your pet’s body. That’s why, just like people, pets need routine cleaning and brushing to keep their teeth and mouths healthy.

How do you tell your animal has periodontal disease? Unfortunately, there aren’t many overt signs, but according to Dr. Mary Buelow, a veterinary dentistry resident at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana, your pet may have a diminished appetite, may suddenly prefer canned food to dry food, and may even drop pieces of food when eating. You may also notice bleeding or loose teeth. However, you may see no clinical signs at all, which is why visits to your veterinarian are so important.

If you do notice signs, a dental exam is in order. In addition, your pet’s teeth should always be checked as part of routine visits to your veterinarian, with dental cleanings performed as needed. Although certain breeds have a predisposition for periodontal disease, including small breed dogs and greyhounds, all pets can develop periodontal disease. Regular dental cleaning is imperative to detect and prevent gum disease.

What happens in periodontal disease? First, plaque builds up on the teeth. Gradually the bacteria in the plaque invade the gingiva (gums) and other tissues. Without treatment, bone and soft tissues around the tooth can be lost to infection, and eventually the tooth itself will be lost. In time, the bacteria can enter the bloodstream and affect the overall health of your pet.

Fortunately, you can prevent tartar and plaque from building up by brushing your pet’s teeth. Many styles of toothbrushes and flavors of toothpastes specifically for pets are available. Dr. Buelow notes that feeding dry food can potentially be helpful, but that practice alone will not prevent periodontal disease. The Veterinary Oral Health Council maintains a list of special diets and other products approved for reducing plaque and tartar buildup; see http://www.vohc.org.

For more information about your pet’s dental care and oral health, speak with your local veterinarian.

University of Illinois Offers New Online Course in Crop Advising Next Spring

The University of Illinois’ Department of Crop Sciences is offering a new online course, Principles of Crop Advising (CpSc 412), for the first time next spring.

Crop sciences faculty will provide instruction covering the fundamentals in agronomic management of field crops with an emphasis on crop production and crop protection principles.

“Knowledge accumulated in this course will help students prepare for a career within commercial agriculture as well as provide updates on current agronomic issues,” said Mike Gray, U of I professor in crop sciences and Extension entomologist. “This course will assist students as they prepare for the Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) examination or provide professionals already in the commercial agriculture field with continuing education units.”

Lectures will occur on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 9:45 p.m. and will be taught electronically using the Elluminate Course Delivery System (www.elluminate.com). A textbook will not be required for this course.

Because lectures will be delivered twice weekly, the course will conclude at mid-semester on March 7, enabling students more time to continue preparations for the 2011 growing season.

The course outline of instructors and lectures is as follows:

January 12 - Instructors, Howard Brown and Mike Gray, Course Orientation

January 19 - Howard Brown, Physical, Chemical, and Biological Properties of Soil

January 24 - Howard Brown, Soil Erosion and Management

January 26 - Fabian Fernandez, Nutrient Management

February 2 - Vince Davis, Soybean Development and Function

February 7 - Vince Davis, Management of Soybean Crop Systems

February 9 - Emerson Nafziger, Grain Crop Plant Development and Diagnosis

February 14 - Emerson Nafziger, Grain Crop Management

February 16 - Mike Gray, Fundamentals of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

February 21 - Mike Gray, Management of Key Insect Pests of Field Crops

February 23 - Aaron Hager, Integrated Management of Today’s Weed Spectrum

February 28 - Terry Niblack, Elements of Plant Pathology and Disease Diagnosis

March 2 - Carl Bradley, Principles of Epidemiology and Disease Management

March 7 - Course wrap-up

Students interested in this course who have not been formally admitted to a degree program at the University of Illinois should register as a “non-degree” seeking student. To register as a non-degree student, go to www.outreach.uiuc.edu and select “NON-DEGREE Registration” under the registration link on the left side of the screen. This will enable you to earn credit for the course and apply for CCA credits.

Questions may be directed to Mike Gray at . For more information, check out The Bulletin, an online publication written by U of I Extension specialists in crop science, at http://ipm.illinois.edu/bulletin/.

2010 Illinois Farm Economics Summit Scheduled

To help producers navigate another season of agricultural challenges, University of Illinois Extension has scheduled the 2010 Illinois Farm Economics Summit, a series of five December meetings to be held across Illinois. The theme is “The Profitability of Illinois Agriculture: Managing in a Strong Ag Economy.”

“A major issue over the past year was the weather, with the wettest and latest harvest in memory, a deluge of spring and summer rainfall in some places, and hot everywhere,” said Scott Irwin, U of I professor of agricultural and consumer economics.

“In spite of all this, the economic outlook for Illinois agriculture is generally positive. High crop and livestock prices have bolstered incomes and balance sheets. In good times like these, producers can still use help managing farm businesses effectively and dealing with large risks,” he said.

Program speakers will explore the farm profitability outlook and management challenges from several perspectives, including the direction of prices, outlook for farm returns, when to sell corn and soybeans, new tax legislation, land rents, and crop insurance choices. The fast-paced meetings will allow plenty of time for questions from the audience.

Each session begins at 7:45 a.m. and concludes at 1:30 p.m. The registration fee is $50 per person and includes lunch, refreshments, and all meeting materials. Pre-registration deadline is Dec. 6. Registration at the door will be $65 per person as space permits.

Dates and locations are:

• Monday, December 13, 2010 - Champaign, IL I Hotel and Conference Center

• Tuesday, December 14, 2010 - Sycamore, IL Center for Agriculture

• Wednesday, December 15, 2010 - Galesburg, IL Best Western Prairie Inn

• Thursday, December 16, 2010 - Bloomington, IL Doubletree Hotel

• Friday, December 17, 2010 - Mt. Vernon, IL Holiday Inn

Registration may be completed online at http://www.farmdoc.illinois.edu/. Registration brochures are also available at local U of I Extension offices.

Additional information can be obtained by contacting Sue Esposito at .

Recovery Oriented System of Care - Funding for a More Supportive System of Care

Sometimes, the most difficult step for someone facing an addiction is the first one: seeking help. But the road to recovery can also be paved with twists, turns and detours. Thanks to new grant funding awarded to Sinnissippi Centers recently, those facing an addiction will see a more comprehensive system of care that could mean fewer bumps along the road to recovery.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has awarded Sinnissippi Centers a grant under the Recovery Oriented System of Care program and the Illinois Department of Human Services has awarded two grants to Sinnissippi Centers to provide recovery support services. The three grant-funded projects will work together in a coordinated way to form the best possible, and recovery oriented, system of care for those facing an addiction.

“At Sinnissippi Centers, we have long worked toward the goal of establishing a wider range and streamlined system of care for individuals facing an addiction that covers the entire spectrum from pre-treatment to treatment to post-treatment,” says Natalie Andrews, Sinnissippi’s Director of Addictions Services.

“The basic principles for a Recovery Oriented System of Care are that there are many pathways to recovery and that recovery is self directed, empowers the individual, is holistic, is equally well adapted to all cultural backgrounds, promotes overall health and wellness, and is supported by family, peers and allies,” adds Andrews.

The SAMHSA and DHS funding will enable Sinnissippi to establish a recovery oriented system of care that, for the first time, will allow for community outreach in supporting individuals in their treatment and recovery from an addiction. The Recovery Oriented System of Care is a framework that allows each community to address recovery by encouraging individuals to rejoin and rebuild their lives in the community.

Leading Sinnissippi’s recovery support services is Recovery Coordinator Jason Brown. Brown has fifteen years experience working in the addictions field in Tucson, Arizona. He is familiar with recovery support services which include the use of peer mentors and individuals in recovery.

“This is an exciting time for the community to come together and embrace the culture of recovery and coordinating the system of care,” says Brown.

Key to the outreach will be a myriad of recovery support services that have proven to be critical to an individuals’ success before, during and after treatment. One of the areas that is a key emphasis of the project is a focus on those who are unemployed or underemployed. The goal of employment based recovery services is to assist the individuals in reentering the workforce or increasing their employment level which allows them to be fully engaged in the community, which can as central to their recovery process.

The two grants Sinnissippi Centers has received from DHS will fund more support services. Funding from the first grant will allow Sinnissippi to serve individuals with an open DCFS case where substance use has been identified as a key factor in the DCFS integrated assessment.

These individuals and their family members can become involved with a recovery specialist to assist them in navigating the system of care and identifying what supports will reduce stress and increase wellness.

“Different factors, like stressors, can serve as triggers for someone to fall into an addiction or experience a relapse in their recovery,” says Brown: “Employment related stress, relationships, finances, and other stressors, for instance. At the same time, many things like family support, employment support, and other recovery support services that can be tailored to each unique individual go a long way in helping prevent relapse, and better supporting the individual in their recovery all the way from pre-treatment to post treatment.”

The second DHS grant will allow for women with children, pregnant moms, youth and their families to receive transportation services to treatment.

Lack of adequate transportation is consistently identified by Sinnissippi clients, as well as the population at large, as one of the major stumbling blocks to access medical and behavioral healthcare services, as well as a barrier to other needs.

Feel free to contact Sinnissippi Centers at to learn more about the recovery oriented system of care and how you can become involved in these projects.

Sauk Valley Tea Party Holds Post Election Organizational Meeting

Thirty-four interested citizens and members of the Sauk Valley Tea Party attended an organizational meeting last Tuesday night, November, 9th at the Comfort Inn, Dixon IL. During the meeting executive officers were elected for the upcoming year and a meeting schedule was set for 2011. It was decided that regular monthly meetings will continue to be held in Dixon at the Comfort Inn on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 6:30pm, beginning January 25th, 2011.

Tentative plans were also made at the meeting to organize additional rallies during the upcoming year on April 15th, July 4th, and September 12th. Other topics were discussed including: increasing group communication and membership, increasing attendance at local board and other governmental unit meetings, providing Constitution and other educational materials to the public, and developing a new apparel logo incorporating the group’s new TEA acronym, “Truth Empowers America”.

The Sauk Valley Tea Party is comprised of citizens from the Sauk Valley Area who share the common goals of restoring the Federal Government to its rightful role in our Republic, holding our elected officials accountable, increasing the turn over of politicians through term limits, reducing the size of government, ending corruption, and placing responsibility back squarely on the shoulders of each of us to help improve our communities.

For more information about the Sauk Valley Tea Party and to learn how “Truth Empowers America”, please visit http://www.saukvalleyteaparty.com.

Financial Aid Night for Parents of MHS Seniors

Attention Parents of college-bound seniors, on November 17, 2010 at 6:30 PM, Mrs. Robinson, MHS Guidance Counselor, will be hosting a financial aid presentation explaining the financial aid process and the FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The FAFSA is required of all college students who accept financial assistance in the form of grants, scholarships, federal student loans, and work study programs on campus. Sauk Valley Community College and Illinois Student Assistance Commission representatives will be presenting information and answering questions. Seniors’ parents who have not yet experienced this process with an older child or who are seeking updates on any new rules should attend this important presentation. This presentation will be held in the high school library.

2011 Wildlife/Historical Bus Tour

The Eagle Nature Foundation is proud to once again offer 4-hour bus tours to see wintering bald eagles along the Mississippi River. With the bald eagle population which winters along the Mississippi River decreasing, the chances of seeing great numbers of bald eagles during these tours is also decreasing.

Terrence Ingram, who leads the tours says, “I hope people who have never seen a bald eagle in the wild will take advantage of these tours while there are still birds to be seen.”

The Midwestern bald eagle population appears to have peaked about the year 2000 and has been on a gradual decline ever since. Last year the bald eagles did not seem to be able to find their favorite food, gizzard shad, along the river, and so moved inland trying to find anything else to eat. In the past bald eagles would find enough fish, so they could not only survive, but increase their body weight in preparation for migrating and nesting. During the past few winters they have expended their energy just finding enough food to survive, which is one of the causes of poor reproduction the following spring.

Participants on these tours don’t just see bald eagles, but they live with them for four hours; visiting 4 historic wintering areas, feeding and roosting areas, bald eagle nests, and possibly migrating eagles. Mr. Ingram discusses the birds’ life history and shares his 50 years of research on these birds, as well as pointing out other wild birds and animals along the way.

The three 4-hour tours leave Stoney Creek Inn in Galena at 8:00 am on the mornings of Jan. 15, Feb. 12 and Feb. 26. The cost is $85 for adults and $60 for children under age 17. There is a $10 per seat cash discount and anyone who registers before Dec. 31 will receive an additional 10% discount. For an informational brochure, or to make reservations for any of these tours, contact: ENF, 300 East Hickory St. Apple River, IL 61001. Ph

For more information contact: Terrence N. Ingram, Exec. Director, Eagle Nature Foundation, 300 East Hickory St., Apple River, IL 61001 Phone .

2011 Nebraska Bald Eagle Bus Tours

The Eagle Nature Foundation is proud to once again offer the 4-day bus tour on March 14-17, 2011 to Nebraska to witness the annual migration stopover of Sandhill Cranes. At least 80% of the world’s population of Sandhill Cranes, over 500,000, stop along the Platte River in central Nebraska during their northward migration to nest in the far reaches of Canada. They stop to fatten up for the final leg of their journey and to get ready for nesting. One evening of the tour is spent on a bridge over the Platte River watching the cranes come to the river to roost on the islands. Besides seeing the cranes, participants may see tens, if not hundreds of thousands of Snow Geese as well. Terrence Ingram, trip leader, will try to point out all of the other animals that may be seen during the tour, including bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, blue and Canada geese, prairie dogs, and whooping cranes.

A trip to central Nebraska would be amiss if the early history of our pioneers was not seen as well. There are planned stops at the Stuhr Pioneer Musuem; Pioneer Village; Fort Kearney, first fort on the Oregon Trail; and the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument, which takes a person through the history and pioneer development of Nebraska; the Hastings Museum of Natural and Cultural History; and the 1865 steamboat, Bertrand, which sank on the Missouri River carrying goods to Montana. Other wildlife areas that will be visited include the DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge; Nebraska’s Rainwater Basins; Crane Meadows; and the Rowe Sanctuary and Iain Nicolson Audubon Center with its strawbale building and crane blinds on the Platte River.

The tour leaves 8:00 am March 14 from Stoney Creek Inn in Galena, IL. The cost for the tour is $850 per person, or $750 dbl-occ. There is a cash discount rate of $750 per person or $650 dbl-occ. Anyone who registers before Dec. 31 will receive an additional 10% discount. For an informational brochure, or to make reservations for this tour, contact: Eagle Nature Foundation, 300 East Hickory St. Apple River, IL 61001. Ph

For more information contact: Terrence N. Ingram, Exec. Director, Eagle Nature Foundation, 300 East Hickory St., Apple River, IL 61001 Phone .

Morrison Rec Table Tennis League

Registrations are being taken for the City of Morrison 2011 Table Tennis League. Registrations are available at City Hall, 200 W. Main, Morrison, Illinois or on-line at www.morrisonil.org or thecity1.com and are due by Friday, December 17, 2010.

The league is open to anyone in grades five through adult. The league will meet each Monday evening beginning January 3, 2010 through March 28, 2011 at the Southside School on Academic Drive in Morrison.

Fifth graders will meet from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. and have clinic times and scheduled matches. Fifth graders are asked to have their own paddle, preferably a small, smooth rubber paddle. All other age groups will begin their league at 6:30 p.m.

The Registration fee is $10.00 and is payable to the City of Morrison. Remember registration forms are due at City Hall by Friday, December 17, 2010. They should be mailed or delivered to City Hall, 200 W. Main, Morrison, IL 61270. Any questions can be directed to Janet Fisher, Coordinator at or Theresa Farrell, Director at or .