Santa with the owner of the Dogwood Inn in Polo, Bernice Ratledge and Mt. Morris resident AlexaLin Moses, 6, during Breakfast with Santa Saturday morning. (PA photo/Andrew Williamson)

Ashley Bruggenwirth 17, and Tom Wierenga, 12, brave the cold and wind to collect and fold donated coats and clothing at the Second Reformed Church in Fulton. For 9 years the people of Fulton ad the surrounding communities have been sending donated clothes, coats and presents to the Rosebud Indian Reservation which is located in south-central South Dakota. There are approximately 20,000 people living on Rosebud. Most of these people are Sicangu Lakota (a part of the Greater Sioux Nation). Items being collected are new or used coats, clothing, children’s shoes, hats, mittens and shoebox Christmas gifts.  To make a donation call .  The items are scheduled to be delivered December 28. (PA photo/Mark Hagen)

Great River Outreach GRO-ing

Lanark Chamber of Commerce Supports Local Organizations

Top: John Huggins, Lanark Chamber of Commerce President and AmeriCorps VISTA Leader presents a check from the proceeds of the Chamber’s Hometown Cookout to Janie Dollinger, Director of the Lanark Public Library. The funds will be used to purchase books aimed toward small business ownership.

Bottom: Huggins presents another check from the Chamber’s Hometown Cookout to Leigh Anne Piper for the Pitter Patter Pantry. The funds will be used to purchase crib mattresses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Titus Jilderda reads to Mr. Schurman. Titus has achieved 250 AR points in reading, giving him the opportunity to read to the Superintendent. Titus is a 3rd grader at the Chadwick Milledgeville Elementary.

West Carroll Intermediate School fourth grade students recently entered the Illinois Council for Affective Reading Education and the Illinois Reading Council Static Sticker Decal Contest.  Students were to draw a picture, in a 4 inch square, that encourages children to read. These five students were chosen winners of the Intermediate School Competition. Front row, l to r: Carlos Rodriguez, Sydney Long, and Jackson Medley. Back row: Leland Houzenga, Mrs. Schneider (art instructor), and Ashley Ackerman. All West Carroll Intermediate School fourth graders will be entered in the state competition. (Photo courtesy of Christie Grimm)

WCPS Donates to St. Jude Children’s Hospital

These are the students turning in the top donations ($90.00 or more) for the St. Jude’s Math-a-thon at West Carroll Primary.  From left to right are Brody Artman, Maddie Dauphin, Jacob Spencer, Hannah Foltz, and Patrick Gable.  Absent was Gage Randecker. (Photo courtesy of Kari A. Baisden)

Many children at West Carroll Primary School participated in the 2009 St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Math-a-thon.  The children signed up to do math problems and collect donations for cancer research at St. Jude’s. 

“Our focus was on helping others,” said School Counselor Kari Baisden.  “We talked in class about how even small donations can really add up to a lot.  Each student was encouraged to ask five people to donate just one dollar.  If every student in the school brought five dollars, we would raise almost two thousand dollars for St. Jude’s Hospital.  Most of the students who participated raised well over the five dollar goal.” 

The actual amount raised by the fifty students who participated was $2,417.50.  “This was just about the same amount as we raised last year during the math-a-thon,” said Baisden.  “We hope to keep the participation going in the future.  I am really proud of our students; they have very big hearts.”

Remember ‘The Singing Cowboy,’ Roy Rogers?

by Stephanie Vavra

Can you still sing the television theme song “Happy Trails” or name the horses Roy Rogers and Dale Evans rode? Who was their bearded sidekick, and what was the name of the Jeep in which he rode? If you know the answers, you must have fond memories of Leonard Franklin Slye, whose stage name was Roy Rogers.

The Morrison Historical Society has invited Ted Boddiger to share the life and times of this native of Cincinnati, OH, during their Annual Meeting on Sunday, January 24, at the Odell Public Library Community Room, 307 S. Madison Street, Morrison. Promptly at 1:00 p.m. Historical Society members will enjoy their traditional, scrumptious potluck meal. The general public is invited to Boddiger’s presentation, which will begin at 2:00. Those interested in joining the organization should attend the meal as our guest. Dues are $10 per year.

Rogers was a radio personality in the 1930’s before he became the singing cowboy in American Western films. He founded the Sons of the Pioneers trio in 1934. From 1951 to 1957 he and his wife, Dale Evans, starred in a televised “Roy Rogers Show”; they hosted a variety show from 1962 to 1963. His success was a far cry from his humble beginnings as a fruit picker and cowpuncher. Rogers epitomized the American Dream.

Mark your calendar for January 24 and come share musical memories with the Morrison Historical Society.

Pamida Donations Benefit Local Food Banks & Gift Tree Programs

Every year, Pamida dedicates itself to giving back to the communities that it serves. This year, contributions are especially important due to the economic hardships numerous Americans are facing. Many are on tight budgets and, in some cases, facing outright hunger. Food banks across the nation are suffering due to a decrease in contributions over the last year, and the Pamida Foundation is proud to help the families living in their communities during such trying economic times.

This year, the Pamida Foundation is proud to announce donations, totaling over half a million dollars, to local food banks and gift-tree programs -a 30% increase over last year’s total. This year’s contributions to local food banks will be used to help stock shelves with food for families in need this holiday season. Pamida hopes to help relieve the burden food banks are facing due to lack of donations. In addition, numerous Pamida stores across the Midwest are organizing local food drives to coordinate with the Foundation donations.

The Pamida Foundation contributions toward gift-tree programs in their communities will assist with the purchase of holiday gifts for those who are less fortunate. With Americans facing tighter budgets, Pamida is hoping to bring a brighter joyful season to the families they serve in their communities through the gift-tree program.

“During these tough economic times, the Pamida Foundation is proud to give back to individuals and families who need it the most,” said Jessica Strohman, executive director of the Pamida Foundation. “We are proud to partner with our local food banks to help increase much needed donations this season and put food on the table for families this holiday. And we are excited about our gift-tree programs offering a joyful and memorable holiday for the families within our communities.”

Overall, the Pamida Foundation supports more than 800 charitable organizations that focus on education, health and social services. The ultimate goal is to better the lives of citizens in Pamida communities.

For more information about Pamida or the Pamida Foundation, visit our Web site at www.pamida.com.

HAKUNA MATATA!

Timber Lake Playhouse Sponsors Bus Trip to The Lion King

Timber Lake Playhouse (TLP) will continue its tradition of bringing quality theatre to western Illinois when it sponsors a bus trip to see The Lion King Broadway Tour in Madison, WI on Sunday, May 23, 2010.

The bus will leave from Mount Carroll early Sunday morning and arrive at the Overture Center for the Arts in Madison for the 1 p.m. performance.

Cost is $120 per person and includes the bus trip and tickets to the performance, located in the second and third row of the mezzanine.

Reservations can be made by calling (TLP accepts Visa and MasterCard), by email or by mailing a check or money order to Timber Lake Playhouse, PO Box 29, Mount Carroll, IL 61053.

About The Lion King

Over 45 million people have discovered the wonder of the 1998 Tony award-winning Broadway show inspired by the Disney movie by the same name. Now the show travels across America to bring the brilliant costumes and puppets designed by Julie Taymor right into our backyards. For more information and a ‘sneak peek’ of the tour visit http://disney.go.com/theatre/TheLionKing.

2010 Illinois Dairy Days to be held in Freeport

“Profit Potential” is the theme for the 2010 Illinois Dairy Days, a program scheduled for nine locations throughout the state in January.

“The dairy business continues to face challenging times,” said Mike Hutjens, University of Illinois Extension dairy specialist. “To help producers make correct management decisions, it is vital to have the latest information at hand. That is the driving idea behind this one-day program to help producers make the most of their resources and remain a productive part of the dairy industry.”

Joining Hutjens as presenters are U of I Extension colleagues Dave Fischer, Jim Endress, and Dick Wallace, DVM.

Topics to be covered include: feeding challenges with today’s low milk prices; optimizing forages in the lactating ration; analyzing your dairy farm financial picture; improve profits with milk quality; looking ahead in the Illinois dairy industry; reducing feed shrinkage; farm regulations decision making; and managing an efficient reproduction synchronization program.

Positioning for Success is Theme of Alfalfa Teleconference

Alfalfa production and harvesting strategies will highlight the 2010 Alfalfa Workshop-Positioning for Success hosted by University of Illinois Extension on February 8. The program is from 9:25 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and will be delivered via teleconference at the University of Illinois Extension-Stephenson County, 2998 W. Pearl City Road, Freeport. Registration begins at 9:00 am.

Alfalfa growers, dealers, and consultants will hear about current production and harvesting strategies, as well as new developments in forage varieties. Information will be presented to help fine-tune management plans that impact profitability for the 2010 crop.

Neal Martin, forage agronomist at the US Dairy Forage Research Center at Madison, Wisconsin will discuss “What New Developments in Forages Mean to Producers”. “Harvesting Biomass Crops” will be presented by Kevin Shinners, University of Wisconsin agriculture engineer.

Keith Johnson, Extension forage specialist, Purdue University, will share “Tips for Successful Stand Establishment”; and Jim Endress, University of Illinois Extension educator, farm management, will answer the question “Who Should Harvest my Alfalfa-a Custom Operator or Me?” Participants will view color slides used in the presentations and can interact with the speakers. Handout materials will be available.

Continuing education units for Certified Crop Advisers have been requested. The program is sponsored by University of Illinois Extension.

For more information and to register, contact the University of Illinois Extension-Stephenson County at or register on-line at www.extension.uiuc.edu/stephenson . Registration cost is $5.

Commercial displays will be at the local Dairy Days programs.

Joining U of I Extension in sponsoring the program is the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Dairy Days will be held in Freeport at Highland Community College in the Student Conference Center (building H) on Wednesday, January 20, 2010. The program begins at 10:00 a.m. and concludes at approximately 2:30 p.m. Commercial displays will be available. Registration is $15 and must be made before January 15. Kolb-Lena Cheese Company, Stockton Cheese, and Swiss Valley Farms will cover the charge for their patrons.

For more information or to register for the Dairy Days program to take place in Freeport call the University of Illinois Extension-Stephenson County at (815) 235-4125 or visit our website at www.extension.uiuc.edu/stephenson to register on-line.

The same program will be held at the Elizabeth Community Center on January 19. For more information on the Elizabeth program call (815) 858-2273.

Questions to ask before donating to a charity

Most charities rely heavily on the goodwill of individual donors during the holiday season to fund their activities throughout the coming year. Last year, charity contributions totaled $307.65 billion: 75 percent of this total came from individuals, according to the Giving USA Foundation. The Better Business Bureau advises donors to research a charity prior to giving and provides five questions to ask when vetting where to contribute this holiday season.

“The holidays are all about giving, not only to friends and family, but also to those in need,” said Dennis Horton, Director of the Rockford Regional Office of the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois. “When donating to a charity, give wisely by vetting the organization fully; this will ensure your dollar goes as far as it can to help those less fortunate.”

BBB recommends asking the following questions before choosing to donate to a specific charity this holiday season:

Is this a charity I can trust?

Look at the appeal carefully; some charities’ names sound the same. Don’t be fooled by names that look impressive or that closely resemble the name of a well-known organization. Visit www.bbb.org to find out whether a charity meets the 20 BBB charity standards that address charity governance, finances, fund raising, donor privacy, and other accountability issues. Also check with your appropriate state government authorities (this is usually a division of the state’s office of the attorney general) to verify the charity is registered to solicit in your state.

How will the charity use my donation?

Ask questions about how your donation will be used. Beware of appeals that bring tears to your eyes but tell you little about what the charity is doing about the problem it describes so well. For example, if the charity says it’s helping the homeless, do they explain how (shelter, food, medical care) and where this is taking place?

Watch out for statements such as “all proceeds will go to the charity.” This can mean that only the money left after expenses, such as the cost of written materials and fund raising efforts, will go to the charity. These expenses can be high, so check carefully.

Can the charity actually use what I’m donating?

All charities welcome the receipt of monetary donations, but some also solicit in-kind donations such as clothing, food, and toys. If you’re planning to donate items to a worthy cause, make sure you know the in-kind contributions your charity prefers. For example, a food bank may prefer food items that are not perishable such as canned goods, and a toy drive may be seeking new and not used toys.

Am I feeling pressured to give?

Don’t succumb to pressure to give money on the spot, either immediately over the phone via credit card or by allowing a “runner” to pick up a contribution. Take the time to research the charity fully; the charity that needs your money today will welcome it just as much tomorrow.

For more advice on giving over the holidays and to view reports on charities visit www.bbb.org

Register Now for February ACT Test

Registration is now open for the February 6, 2010 ACT achievement test. Students who wish to take the college admission and placement exam must register before January 5, 2010. Please note that no test centers are scheduled in New York State for this date.

The ACT is a curriculum-based achievement exam. It tests what students have actually learned in school, not their aptitude for learning. The ACT also measures what students need to know to be ready for entry-level college-credit courses based on ACT College Readiness Standards™. Every student’s results can be tied directly to these consistent standards.

The ACT test has four sections — English, mathematics, reading and science — and takes about three hours to complete. Students who take the ACT Plus Writing complete an optional writing test that requires an additional 30 minutes. Unlike other exams, students are not penalized for guessing or answering all the questions on each test section. In fact, it is beneficial for test takers to answer all questions within the time allowed.

During registration, students may select up to four universities to receive their score reports. ACT scores are accepted by all four-year colleges and universities across the United States. ACT reports scores only when requested to do so by the student. Additional score reports are available for a small fee.

All students complete a detailed inventory of questions during ACT registration. Each test taker receives an ACT score report that includes a wide variety of information to assist with high school course selection, college readiness, career planning, and college admissions.

The cost for the ACT test without writing is $32. When combined with the optional ACT Writing Test, the total cost is $47. Students who qualify may apply for a test fee waiver through their high school counselor.

The ACT website, www.actstudent.org, has helpful information, free sample items, and options to order inexpensive test prep materials to assist test takers get ready for the exam. However, the best preparation is to take rigorous core courses in school, study hard, and learn the academic skills needed in college.

Most students register online at www.actstudent.org. Students may also pick up registration forms from their high school counseling offices; these forms must be postmarked by January 5, 2010. Late registration is available until January 15, 2010 for an extra $21 fee.

Children Learn Fire Safety Through ‘Sparky’s Web Site’

The Sparky the Fire Dog® Web site, belonging to the official mascot of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), has been redesigned to include new features that keep kids entertained, engaged, and most importantly, informed about fire safety.

Since 1951, Sparky has been teaching children about fire safety and today his Web site, http://www.sparky.org, is the way many children are choosing to connect with the fire-safety icon. On the site, children are encouraged to learn by interacting with Sparky and exploring his online world.

According to NFPA reports, each year nearly 300 children ages 3-9 die as a result of fire in the U.S.

“Although the internet wasn’t around when Sparky was a pup, children today haven’t known a world without it,” said Amy LeBeau, NFPA’s communications manager of public education. “It not only provides a valuable way to reach children on an individual basis about fire-safety in a format they enjoy, it actually allows them to teach themselves safe behaviors by interacting with Sparky and helping him.”

Sections of the site include interactive games for readers and non-readers; “Cool to do” activities updated monthly; printable coloring sheets, including several in Spanish; escape planning grids; fire truck games and activities; short animated safety videos; Sparky ecards; and much more.

Adults can also learn a thing or two with a new special section developed especially for parents, educators, and members of the fire service looking for valuable information and resources to share with young audiences.

“NFPA holds Sparky’s Web site to the highest standards and provides it as a completely non-commercial online environment where children can go learn about fire safety,” LeBeau added. “We have created an environment where parents and educators don’t need to worry about children accessing inappropriate content.”

Private Pesticide Safety Education Clinic

The Illinois Pesticide Act requires individual farmers to become certified as a Private Pesticide Applicator in order to purchase and use restricted use pesticides (RUPs). These products will clearly state the words “Restricted Use Pesticide” on the label. Common examples include the insecticides Counter, Force, and Pounce, and the herbicides Atrazine, Gramoxone Max, and Harness.

To become certified, you must pass a closed-book, 50 question examination administered by representatives of the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDA). Once passed, a three-year certification license will be issued by the IDA upon receipt of a $20 licensing fee. To help you prepare for the examination, the University of Illinois Extension offers Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) clinics as well as a training manual and workbook that can be purchased at area Extension offices. The manual was revised in 1999, and the workbook was revised in 2005. Use the manual as a reference to complete the workbook before attending a clinic.

The University of Illinois Extension-Jo Carroll Unit will host its last training & testing at the Carroll County Farm Bureau Building in Mt. Carroll on Tuesday January 12. The clinic training fee is $30 and pre-registration is requested. The clinic will run from 9 a.m. to noon and will be followed by a test that will be administered by the IDA. For more information or to register for the clinic, call the Carroll County office at (815) 244-9444 or register online at http://jdc.extension.uiuc.edu where credit card payment is also accepted.

There is a Santa, and He’s Coming to Illinois

Mary Anne Meyers

Illinois News Connection

If any child in Illinois doubts whether Santa will be here for Christmas, all that child needs to do is contact the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). NORAD spots Santa on radar every year and notifies Illinois children. The project started more than 50 years ago when a child accidentally called NORAD asking whether anyone had seen Santa. Ever since that day, NORAD has been tracking Santa for children in Illinois and all around the world. 
NORAD spokesman, Lt. Desmond James, says they use lots of high tech equipment to watch for Santa.
“We’ve got satellites, we got radars, we got fighter jets, and in addition, just for his journey, we use something called Santa Cams. That’s how we’re able to pick the video that we put up on onto the Web site.”
The project is funded by corporate sponsors and volunteers - nearly 1,200 volunteers every year, adds James.
“They’re military, they’re friends, they’re family and they come in on Christmas Eve just to answer phones and answer emails and be part of this huge operation.”
As soon as Santa is spotted approaching North America, two CF-18 fighter jets from the Canadian region of NORAD will fly up to welcome him. But James says they won’t be escorting Santa all the way to Illinois.
“He travels a lot faster than we do. So, we just make sure that he knows that we’re up there and doing our thing as we’ve been doing for decades now and he enjoys it and he continues on his way.”
Last year, NORAD’s Web site got more than 15 million hits, and volunteers answered more than 80,000 emails and phone calls. For Christmas Eve tracking, visit www.noradsanta.org.


Whiteside County SWCD’s Photo Contest & Education Grant

Whiteside County’s Soil & Water Conservation District’s Education Foundation is sponsoring a photo contest for students in 3 age brackets: K-4, 5-8, & 9-12. Entry subjects are limited to natural resources such as natural landscapes or habitats and wild animals. Each grade category winner will receive a $100 cash prize and a copy of Aldo Leopold’s book “A Sand County Almanac”. Second place photo awards in each grade category will be $50 plus the above book. Third place in each category will receive $25 plus the Leopold book. Entries will be accepted Jan 4 through May 28, 2010 at the Whiteside SWCD Office.

Whiteside County SWCD Education Foundation is also presenting an Education Grant up to a maximum of $1000 available to schools and teachers or their classrooms for grade levels Pre-K thru 12th grade. Grant requests are to promote and support natural resource or environmental education and may include items or developments broad in scope such as books or software, field trips, or development of a butterfly garden.

For a detailed spec sheet with information covering the photo contest or the grant application contact: Attn: Rhonda , Whiteside County SWCD Office, 16255 Liberty Street, Morrison, IL. 61270; Phone #: , Ext. 3; Fax #: ; or e-mail:.

GED Classes Begin

The Adult Education Department of Highland Community College’s GED (high school equivalency) / Basic Skills classes will begin Spring Semester on Monday, January 4, 2010, in Savanna.

Adult Education classes are free to area residents who are 17 years or older and not enrolled in any school. Each student progresses at his/her own pace, and all personal information is confidential.

Savanna classes will meet on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:30 A.M.—12:00 noon at the 1st United Methodist Church, 2100 Chicago Avenue.

Enrollees and returning students need to bring their social security cards, photo ID, and, if applicable, their public aid case numbers to class.

Teens also need a withdrawal letter from their last school stating that they are no longer enrolled in that school and the date they were dropped before they can enter class.

A GED test preparation online course and private tutoring are available for those who cannot attend class or need extra instruction. These services are also free.

Adult education provides residents the opportunity for a “second chance” that can lead to getting a job or a better job, enrolling in college or vocational school, entering the military, or fulfilling some other personal goal.

Enrollment in advance is required. For more information or to enroll in an Adult Education class, contact Linda at or the HCC Adult Education office at .

For the purpose of compliance with Section 511 of Public Law 101-166 (the Stevens Amendment), approximately 50% of federal funding supports this program.

In the Service

Gary H. Francisco graduated from Officer Candidate School (OCS) Phase III training at North Fort Lewis, Tacoma, Wash., and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army National Guard. OCS students are selected, considered, and drawn from colleges, active-duty and Reserve Component enlisted ranks, and direct commissionining.

The two-week Phase III training is the final phase of a three-phased, 14-month training period. The national guard officer candidate received “basic soldiering” instruction in leadership, professional ethics, soldier team development, combined arms tactics, weapons defense, squad drill, intelligence, land navigation, maintenance, communications, staff and general military subjects, field training exercises, and physical training and conditioning.

Officer candidates are tested and evaluated in leadership skills and team work abilities required of a commissioned officer. Students utilize acquired skills to function in “leader and follower” positions in squad and platoon-sized elements in a stressful and demanding field environment involving various tactical situations.

The second lieutenant will serve as a member of a designated unit in the Illinois Army National Guard. The soldier has served in the military for 10 years.

Francisco is a 1998 graduate of Savanna High School, Ill.