More Important News

The West Carroll FFA Ag Mech Team that competed on March 7 at West Carroll High School. Left to right: Ashley Hunt, Jacob Ritchie, Matt Ross, Janelle Dykstra, Nate Hartman, Richard Kibodeaux, Anthony McColley, Ryan Kerr.

Two Eastland FFA members competed at the District FFA Public Speaking contest on March 8th at Blackhawk East Community College at Kewanee. Cory Snetcher competed in Extemporaneous speaking and Farrah Stubbe competed in Creed Speaking. Farrah placed second in Creed speaking and will advance to State Finals on May 5th at Illinois State University. Pictured is Farrah Stubbe.

Jacey Strohecker from the Eastland FFA Chapter recently competed at the District 1 Science Fair held at Geneseo High School on March 14th. Jacey’s project was in Animal Research and placed 1st at the Science Fair. Jacey will advance to the State FFA Science Fair to be held at the State FFA Convention at Springfield in June.

The Varsity Parly Pro team from West Carroll FFA. They will now compete at the State FFA Parliamentary Procedure Contest on March 24 at ISU in Normal, Illinois. Left to right: Dylan Williams, Chloe Carson, Audrie Ashby, Kim Durward, Demi Hess, Collin Wilkinson.

West Carroll FFA members Collin Wilkinson and Christy Ralston who participated in the District I FFA Public Speaking Contest held on March 8 at Blackhawk East College in Galva, IL. Ralston placed 1st in the FFA Creed CDE and will now compete at the State FFA Creed Speaking CDE held on May 5 at ISU in Normal, IL. Wilkinson participated in the Senior Extemporaneous CDE but did not place.

This Week at the Savanna Historical Society: Captain Silas Terry

Edward Finch will portray Captain Silas Terry, an officer in the Federal Navy during the Civil War, as the Savanna Historical Society presents “Captain Terry - Civil War Officer’” at the Times Theatre on Saturday, March 24, 2012 at 2:00 p.m.

Captain Terry relates his experiences in the Red River Expedition, his time as aide to Admiral Farragut, and his memories of commanding the detachment of sailors that escorted President Lincoln into Richmond in April, 1865. Edward Finch wears the full reenactor uniform of an officer of the Federal Navy during the Civil War for this presentation.

Currently director of the Stephenson County Museums, Edward F. Finch, the author of Beneath the Waves: The Life and Navy of CAPT Edward L. Beach, Jr., holds a doctorate in history education from Illinois State University. His biography of Captain Beach is his first book-length work.

Finch taught for over thirty years in the public schools of Freeport, Illinois, where he still resides. During his teaching career he taught Advanced Placement English Literature, British Literature, Speech, Debate, United States History and American Studies.

For eight years he coached the Freeport High School debate team—his students winning three state championships. Previously published works by Finch include entries in several encyclopedias specializing in World War II and military history. He has authored or co-authored articles or reviews in such publications as: Vitae Scholastica, The Journal of Educational Biography, Naval History, and The History Teacher.

Admission is free; donations are accepted. This Program is made possible in part by an award from the Illinois Humanities Council, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Illinois General Assembly and the Savanna Historical Society.

For more info about the programs at the Savanna Historical Society, call Jean Ferris or Connie Zink .

Eastland FFA members recently competed at the Section 1 Ag Mechanics contest held at West Carroll High School at Savanna, IL. Six teams competed with Eastland FFA placing First at the contest. Placing for Eastland in Carpentry was William Murphy First place overall, Glen Poppen placed second overall in Power, Alex Dambman placed third overall in Surveying, and Cory Snetcher placed third overall in Electricity. Also competing was Adam Zink in Welding. Eastland FFA Second team also placed first overall with Cayn Boeke competing in Electricity, Levi Shellhause competing in Welding, and Todd Wells competing in Carpentry.

Pictured (left to right) in the front row are Cayn Boeke, Glen Poppen, Alex Dambman; in the back row are Todd Wells, Cory Snetcher, Levi Shellhause, William Murphy, Adam Zink.

The West Carroll 1st hour Greenhand Officers for 2012. Left to right are Abby Maike, Reporter; Ashley Hunt, Vice President; Glenn Hoffman, Secretary; Kita Stallings, Treasurer; Christy Ralston, President; Kristen Houzenga, Sentinel.

Tax Time Draws to a Close

Tax Counselors are available to help low to moderate income taxpayers at the Senior Center until April 13. To schedule an appointment for taxes or transportation to the Senior Center, call or toll-free . Counselors are available on Wednesday and Friday mornings.

The IRS also reminds taxpayers that they do not send unsolicited e-mails about tax accounts, tax situations or personal tax issues. If you receive such an e-mail, most likely it is a scam. IRS impersonation schemes flourish during filing season. These schemes may take place via phone, fax, internet sites, social-networking sites and particularly e-mail.

Many impersonations are identity theft scams that try to trick victims into revealing personal and financial information. Some have links which, when clicked, download malicious code that infects your computer or directs you to a bogus form or site posing as the IRS. As always, remain cautious.

AARP Tax-Aide program provides free tax assistance and preparation throughout the country to low and moderate income taxpayers, with special attention to seniors, age 60 and older. The Carroll County Senior Center joins the Internal Revenue Service and the AARP Foundation in offering this free tax assistance to the local community.

A large crowd was on hand to celebrate the Grand Opening of Opie’s Tat’s, located at 105 W. Lincolnway, in a newly remodeled section of Quinn’s Jewelry. Opie’s offers a wide variety of artistic tattooing services specializing in custom, color, and portrait tattoos. Piercings and unique merchandise are also available. Owner Richard “Opie” Callihan has over 13 years experience, is licensed, and certified in the state of Illinois. Hours are M-Sat, 10 am – 10 pm; or call for an appointment at (815) 772-4400. Joining Opie (pictured with scissors) in the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony were Opie’s Tat’s personnel, family, friends, and Morrison Chamber of Commerce Members. (Courtesy of Corinne Bender/Morrison Chamber)

Eastland FFA Members Place Top In Section 1 Proficiency

Five Eastland FFA members placed top in Section 1 Proficiency and advanced to District competition held on March 14th at Geneseo High School. They competed against other winners from Sections 2-5. Placing 1st and advancing to State Proficiency finals were Matt Keppen in Dairy Placement and Jacey Strohecker in Agriculture Research Animal Systems. Placing second was Cory Snetcher in Beef Production Entrepreneur. Also competing was Alex Dambman in Ag Service and William Murphy in Fiber and Oil Crop Placement. Proficiency award judging consists of students keeping a record book on a supervised Experience project. They then compete with the record book and interviewing at the contest.

All About Bluebirds

Everyone is invited to enjoy All About Bluebirds - a free morning workshop filled with interesting and colorful information about our beautiful Bluebirds and how to attract them to your property.

This program will be presented on Saturday, April 7, 2012 from 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM at the Apple Canyon Lake Clubhouse located at 14A157 Canyon Club Drive, Apple River IL 61001. Directions are provided below. No reservations are necessary, and admission is free.

The workshop will start with registration at 8:30 AM when you can sign up for door prizes and enjoy beverages and home-baked goods to the sound of Bluebird songs. The program begins at 9:00 AM when local experts will demonstrate their years of experience in setting up and monitoring Bluebird nest boxes, and how the success of the Bluebird trails in Jo Daviess County has brought Bluebirds back from the brink of extinction. Find out how to get these gems of blue to raise families in your own yard.

The morning will conclude with a drawing for door prizes, and the opportunity to pick up helpful literature, purchase professional bird photos, books and nest boxes, and get free advice on setting up your own nest box. Everyone, whether new to Bluebirds or an experienced Bluebirder, is welcome and encouraged to come.

The directions to the Apple Canyon Lake Clubhouse are as follows:

From the West on Rt 20, turn left (north) onto Elizabeth Scales Mound Road and continue to Schapville Road. Turn right onto Schapville Road and continue until it ends at Scout Camp Road. Turn left onto Scout Camp Road.

From the East on Rt 20: Turn left onto Scout Camp Road in Woodbine.

From both directions: Continue north on Scout Camp Road until the first left at E. Lake Road #3. Turn left onto E. Lake Road #3 and continue until it ends at NE Apple Canyon Road. Turn right onto NE Apple Canyon Road and continue to the end at Canyon Club Drive. Turn left onto Canyon Club Drive and continue ahead to the Clubhouse at 14A157 Canyon Club Drive.

This workshop is co-sponsored by the Bluebird Recovery Program from the Conservation Guardians of Northwest Illinois, the Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, and Wild Birds Unlimited of Galena. The Conservation Guardians is part of the Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, a local nonprofit whose mission is to conserve and enhance wildlife habitat, cultural heritage, scenic vistas, and the agricultural character of Jo Daviess County and the surrounding area for future generations.

For more information on this workshop, call Julie Bruser at Wild Birds Unlimited in Galena at .

Father and Daughter Community Dance

Join us for the seventh annual St. Mary’s Father and Daughter Community Dance, “Springtime in Paris.” This special family evening will be held Friday, April 13th, 7-9:00pm, at St. Mary’s Parish Hall, 13220 Garden Plain Road. The dance is for the Morrison community ‘s fathers and daughters of all ages. Young ladies are to invite their favorite escort- father, grandfather, uncle, or brother for this memorable evening of music and dancing and fun. Admission provides the evening’s entertainment - music by Pierre’; raffle baskets of surprises and spring time gifts; and, delicious refreshments.

Good Neighbor Care “Goes Green” for St. Patrick’s Day, as residents and their guests enjoyed an extra special day at Good Neighbor Care of Sterling. Bag Piper Duane Dickison provided the touch of Ireland with his instrumental tunes. Residents enjoyed a feast of appetizers, finger food, desserts and refreshments. Jim Partridge (Photo) won the “best dressed” contest with his green cap, shirt and HUGE pair of shades. (Courtesy of Kathy Schmidt)

For Valentines Day, West Carroll Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) through Operation Teen Safe Driving (OTSD) sponsored a “Keep Your Heart Beating No Texting and Driving” pledge. Through the grant, students have learned that texting takes our eyes off the road for an average of 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that is like driving the length of a football field completely blind! The OTSD grant is sponsored through the IL Department of Transportation (IDOT), the Ford Motor Company and The Allstate Foundation.

The Milledgeville SADD during their OTSD (Operation Teen Safe Driving) campaign. Here the entire high school forms the letters “OTSD.” IDOT awarded them $2000.00 to promote safe driving.
(Photo courtesy of Barb Peugh, SADD Advisor)

Indy Douglas shakes hands with Congressman Bobby Schilling the day Indy passed his Board of Review to become an Eagle Scout. The Congressman presented Indy with a flag flown over the White House on November 28th, 2011. He is the son of Sally and Mark Douglas of Coleta, IL.

The Morrison Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce Cindy Shambaugh, waitress at The Forest Inn and KJ’s Bar & Grill, the recipient of the “Because Nice Matters” Customer Service Award for the month of March. Cindy was nominated for her caring attitude towards her customers; her outstanding work ethic, and sunny disposition; day in and day out; through good times and challenging times; not because nice is easy, but because nice matters! If you have received exceptional customer service from a business in the Morrison area, contact the Chamber and tell us about your experience.
(Courtesy of Corinne Bender)

‘The Kingsmen Quartet’ to Perform

Continuing with its 2012 Concert Series, Emmanuel Reformed Church welcomes “The Kingsmen” to its sanctuary on Friday, March 30, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. No tickets are needed although a free-will offering will be received.

Invite your friends and neighbors to this evening of exciting spirit filled music. For more information, please go to www.emmanuelreformedchurch.org and click the “concert series” button or call the church office at .

4-H Splash Event to be Held in Shannon

A 4-H Splash Event will be held at the Shannon Bowling Alley for all youth 8-18 and adults that are interested in learning more about the Carroll County 4-H program or in joining. The event will be held from 1:00-3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 3.

There will be bowling (2 games), pizza & pop, robotics, 4-H projects to view, plus much more. Cost is $3.00 per person or $6 per family. Come meet current 4-H members and see what they are doing in 4-H. Mark your calendar and plan to attend. It will be fun! For more information, contact Leanne Rahn at Carroll County University of Illinois Extension Office at 244-9444 or .

MCH Sponsoring Community Food Drive for Local Pantry

In correlation with National Nutrition Month®, the Morrison Community Hospital Dietary Department is sponsoring a community food drive. The food drive will benefit the Morrison Friends Food Pantry. “We felt that there was no better way to celebrate National Nutrition Month® than to give back to the community. Times are difficult and there a lot of people in need,” said Dody Ogburn, Director of Dietary Services. “Plus, the food drive will come at an opportune time with Easter quickly approaching.”

Non perishable items may me dropped off in the Morrison Community Hospital front lobby from March 19th – March 23rd. Drop off times are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Some suggested items for donation include canned fruit and vegetables, cereals, boxed and canned foods and bottled juices. Some toiletry items such as bars of soap, toothpaste, shampoo, laundry detergents and dish soaps would also be beneficial. If an individual would like to donate cash to the pantry, the Morrison City Hall does accept cash donations for the pantry.

“Since 2009 we have served an average of over 200 people a month, that’s about a 30% increase. We are so thankful that we have a supportive community and organizations like MCH that help us to serve those in need,” said Kaywyn Beswick, a representative of the pantry. Morrison Community Hospital would like to thank the community and staff in advance for their support. Morrison Community Hospital is located at 303 N. Jackson St. Morrison, IL. For more information please call .

Schilling: ‘Promote Manufacturing Here in Illinois’

QCA Manufacturer to Produce Industrial Hand Tools to Aid U.S. Navy

The Quad Cities and Galesburg have received some good news.

Honsa Ergonomic Technologies, Inc. in Milan, IL has received a new naval contract to build American-made tools, the largest naval contract of its kind. Honsa will be upgrading some of the U.S. Navy’s industrial hand tools with their ergonomic technology in an effort to improve workers’ safety and health. The new tools will be provided to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for their ship recycle program—the PSNS will be utilizing Honsa chipping hammers to aid the recycling process.

Congressman Bobby Schilling (R-Colona) visited Honsa on Friday as Honsa CEO Thomas Honsa announced this major victory for the area, saying this was a great win for this area.

“Several local machine shops and foundries will benefit from this contract,” Honsa said. “We are grateful for the opportunity to provide the U.S. Navy with a quality product. We look to start production and ship within three weeks.”

In addition to the creation of several new jobs at Honsa, this contract will result in more business for Fosbinder Fabrication and Boymun Machine Company, two machine shops in the Quad Cities. It will also provide new work for Aluminum Castings Co., a foundry in Galesburg.

Congressman Schilling said he is excited to see this contract benefit the community.

“Manufacturing plays a vital role in this area’s economy,” Schilling said. “We have the best workers, the best technology, and the best infrastructure. We need to continue to do everything we can to promote manufacturing here in Illinois. Innovators like Thomas Honsa are critical to the future of this great nation.”

Vicky Miller, Director at the Illinois Procurement Technical Assistance Center at Black Hawk College, praised Congressman Schilling for his record of promoting small business growth.

“Small businesses in this area have received wonderful and meaningful support from Congressman Schilling,” Miller said. “Schilling understands how important Small Businesses’ role is in job creation and has helped them with providing a pro-growth environment favorable to their industries. He has been a tireless advocate for economic expansion in this area.”

Whiteside County 4-H Drive-Thru Pork Chop Barbecue

The Spring Whiteside County 4-H Drive-thru Pork Chop Barbecue will occur Thursday, April 12, 2012. You are invited on behalf of all the Whiteside County 4-H’ers to come and support the Whiteside County 4-H Program by purchasing pork chop meals for your family to enjoy at home.

The drive-thru will be held at the Whiteside County Extension office at 100 East Knox Street in Morrison. The event will occur from 4:30 to 6:30 pm where you can drive thru and pick up a great meal cooked by the Whiteside County Pork Producers and take it home to your family. There will also be various drop off locations at designated times for those who do not live in the Morrison area; however, tickets must be pre-purchased for the drop off sites.

The five other drop-off locations are as follows:

Fulton – at the Shell Gas Station Parking Lot at 4:30 pm;

Prophetstown – at the United Methodist Church Parking Lot at 5:00 pm;

Tampico – in front of the Community Building at 5:30 pm;

Erie – at St. Ambrose Parking Lot at 6:00pm; and

Sterling – at the Sauk Valley News Parking Lot at 6:30 pm.

Tickets must be pre-purchased by March 23, 2012.

Prices are $7.00 for a one chop sandwich dinner and $9.00 for a two chop sandwich dinner which includes the sandwich(es), chips, applesauce and a cookie.

For tickets contact your local 4-H family or club or contact the Whiteside County Extension office at by Friday, March 23, 2012. A limited number of walk-up/drive-thru’s without tickets will be available at the Morrison pick-up location only, but to be guaranteed a great meal get your tickets in advance!

Thank you for helping support your Whiteside County 4-H Program.

Nurses Notes

By Karen Wilhelms | Eastland School Nurse

Parents of K, 2nd and 6th grade students: Many school dental forms still have not been submitted to the nursing office. These forms must be received by May 15th and can be dated 18 months prior to that date. If your child has seen the dentist; please contact the dental office and get a copy sent to the school. If your child has not seen the dentist, please make an appointment to complete this mandated state requirement and get it submitted before the deadline. State law dictates that report cards are to be held if this report is note received. If you have any questions, contact the school nurse at .

Here’s a reminder that if your child received a hearing or vision referral, to please get your child seen. Academic success in school is very closely tied to how your child sees or hears. The sooner that this can be taken care of, the sooner your child can achieve and succeed in school. If you need some financial assistance with the vision exam, please contact me as I have some assistance available. Please feel free to call me if you have any questions, in the morning I am at the Middle School, and in the afternoon at the Elementary School, .

Also as a reminder, March is Poison Prevention month, I will be in the PreK-2 classrooms with a video called, “Stop and Ask First.” This video stresses that children ask parents if items they are unfamiliar with, not touch the item, but rather ask the parent if it is safe for them. Many poisonous items in our world look very similar to items that are safe for kids to handle. Please use caution in the handling of poisonous items at home, household cleaning supplies, paint, varnish, antifreeze, and other common household poisons.

Highland’s Boyer Colloquium to Feature ‘Endgame’ Author Derrick Jensen

The 2012 Boyer Colloquium, “Endgame: An Evening with Derrick Jensen,” will begin at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 19, 2012, in the Highland Community College Student/Conference Center. This event is free and open to the public.

Jensen, an award-winning author and environmental activist, will discuss the attention-getting premises of his non-fiction work “Endgame,” including why industrial civilization is not sustainable and how economics dictate social policies. Not one for coddling his audiences, Jensen offers a revolutionary message of change capable only through a dramatic restructuring of society. As reviewed in the San Francisco Chronicle, Jensen is a “formidable thinker unafraid of showing us, with unsettling precision, the countless ways we are allowing ourselves and our planet to be killed.”

As a previously-named Press Action Person of the Year, Jensen is the author of 20 books and was honored as one of Utne Reader’s “50 Visionaries Who are Changing Your World.” He is also a contributing writer for numerous publications including Orion, Audubon and The Sun. As a former educator, he has addressed diverse audiences from college students to prison inmates.

The Boyer Colloquium, an annual event sponsored by the late Dr. M. E. Boyer, was created in 1994 to help students and communities understand the importance of the inter-relationships between ethics, economics, and ecology. True to this mission, Jensen’s improvisational style and unconventional approach easily weave together seemingly unrelated issues for a moving audience experience. The Boyer Colloquium Committee believes that if communities comprehend the issues, the history of previous decisions and ramifications of prior actions, they will be better positioned to make informed decisions.

For more information, a full history of the colloquium can be found by visiting www.highland.edu/boyer. Campus maps are available on the Highland website and directional signage will be posted on campus the evening of the event.

Kiwanis Easter Egg Hunt

On Saturday, April 7, 2012, the Morrison Kiwanis will hold their annual Easter egg hunt at Kiwanis Park, on N. Genesee Street, Morrison, IL, beginning at 10:00 a.m. There is no rain date. The location is west of the former high school baseball field.

Morrison High School Key Club will assist in the event, as will the Easter Bunny, who will arrive by Morrison Fire Department escort.

Separate age groups will take to the field. These are ages 0 to 2; 3 to 4; 5 to 6; and 7 to 8. Please bring your own container, and a camera for cute photos with the Easter Bunny.

Some eggs contain prizes, so please open them before leaving the park. Kindly recycle the eggs before departing, also.

NAMI Sauk Valley Meets March 27

NAMI Sauk Valley will meet at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 27, at the Sinnissippi Centers, 325 IL Rt. 2, Dixon. This meeting provides education as well as support to families struggling with a diagnosis of mental illness in a relative or friend. An update of the NAMI Illinois activities and local programs will be given.

NAMI Sauk Valley is an affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness and NAMI Illinois, serving the residents of Ogle, Lee, Carroll and Whiteside Counties. For more information, contact Mary Ann Hutchison at or e-mail .

American Red Cross Gala Dinner

It’s not too late! Join the Board of Directors, staff and volunteers of the American Red Cross Northwest Illinois Chapter as they raise money for their Disaster Services and Services to the Armed forces programs through their fifth annual “It’s a Red Affair” gala dinner.

The dinner, from 5:30 to 10 p.m. at the Freeport Country Club, features live and silent auctions and State Rep Jim Sacia as the auctioneer. For more information or to RSVP, call Diana at .

Entrepreneur & INNOVATORS Meet

Please note this is the 4th Thursday of the month, the new date for the monthly meetings of the new Entrepreneur and Innovators group. They will meet at 6:30 pm on Thursday, March 22 at Carroll Industrial Molds, 202 N. Washington St. in Milledgeville, IL.

Carroll Industrial Molds was founded in 1986 by Craig Dusing, President. They grew from an 800 sq. ft. to a 36,000 sq. ft. facility. CIM serves a variety of customers around the world in the transportation, industrial, and consumer industries.

Presenter is Dan Nederhoff, President of Milledgeville State Bank. Round-table discussion topic: How to find and keep good employees. Where do you look? Do you use an online job search site? How do you hold onto a good employee once you find them?

Why the new name? Some members may not fit the textbook definition of an “entrepreneur” or “inventor”. Some are community leaders looking to assist, promote or encourage business owners and inventors. Others are business owners that have been in operation for many years, but are looking for new ways of doing things or ways to keep up with the times. So, “inventors” has changed to “innovators” to encompass inventors and a wider range of business and community leaders.

For more information, please contact John Huggins, Coordinator at or email jhuggins#bheic.com.

Good Samaritan Society Easter Coloring Contest & Egg Hunt

The Good Samaritan Society-Mount Carroll is hosting its annual Easter Coloring Contest for children up to nine years old. The coloring contest is open for the following age groups; 3 years and younger, 4 -6 years, and 7-9 years. If you are interested in entering the coloring contest, please color the page that corresponds to the age group.

Entry forms are available at the Good Samaritan Society-Mount Carroll, and the following Mount Carroll banks: THE National Bank, Savanna-Thomson State Bank, and the Mount Carroll Banking Center. Return the colored pages no later that March 23 to Good Samaritan Society-Mount Carroll, 1006 N. Lowden Rd., Mount Carroll.

The center’s residents will judge the entries the week of March 26th. Prizes will be awarded in each of the three age categories, so please be sure to include your address and phone number.

The Annual Easter Egg Hunt for children up to nine years of age will be held on Saturday, March 31, at 10:00 a.m. on the lawn at Good Samaritan Society-Mount Carroll. Rain date is set for Saturday, April 7. Please bring your own baskets to collect eggs during the Egg Hunt. Refreshments will be served and prizes for the Easter Coloring Contest awarded after the egg hunt.

For information contact Adrienne Johnson, Activity Director, at .

Local Winery Tour

The Carroll, JoDaviess, and Stephenson County Farm Bureaus® have arranged a one day tour of local wineries. On Saturday, April 21st, a ticket purchased from one of the participating County Farm Bureaus will get you into five wineries for tastings.

You will get to enjoy the fine wines locally produced at Silver Moon Winery in Lanark, Famous Fossil Winery in Freeport, Massbach Winery in Elizabeth, Rocky Waters Winery in Hanover, and Galena Cellars Winery in Galena. This is a self-guided tour, which can be explored in any order. So start your day close to home or end your tour close to home, whichever suits your pleasure. Cost is $25 and gets you tastings at all five wineries plus snacks.

Contact the Carroll County Farm Bureau at , JoDaviess County Farm Bureau at , or Stephenson County Farm Bureau at for more information.

SWCD Scholarships Due

The Deadline is fast approaching for the Carroll County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) Scholarship. Students who are either currently a senior or have graduated from a Carroll County School are eligible to apply. Students who will be studying an agricultural major are encouraged to apply for this $500.00 Scholarship which is based equally on Scholastic Achievement, Financial Need, and Extra Curricular Activities.

Applications may be picked up at our office at 807-C South Clay Street in Mt Carroll. Deadline is Friday, March 23rd. Any questions may be directed to the SWCD staff at , extension 3.

The Savanna Smiles Hold March Meeting

By Izabella Fredericks, Savanna Smiles 4-H Club Reporter

Old business was federation meeting reminder for April 22nd at the park in Mt. Carroll where they will have a pot luck and games.

Jr. Ambassadors will meet March 27th in Mt. Carroll at 6:30.

The club voted to pay for the postage that the Rices paid to mail the items for the service people.

Our club will sponsor a trophy for the horse show at the 4-H fair this year. They voted and said ok.

Our next meeting is the 7th of April.  We will go to the Lightning Bugs 4-H Club at Gordon Jones Home to help with Special Olympic practice.

Belle gave a talk on sewing and Tashina showed us a picture she drew of the Titanic.

The Carroll County Kids 4-H Hold March Meeting

By Nicki Adolph, Carroll County Kids 4-H Club Reporter

The February meeting was at the Mt. Carroll Methodist Church. At the meeting the 4-Hers made a total of 15 walker bags to be given to residents at the Good Samaritan Home. The Clover Buds made a bead project.

Livestock Judging is on March 17. The public speaking contest is on March 31. Our club will be serving the meal at the Forestry Banquet on March 27 at Naaman Diehl.

The next meeting will be on Sunday, March 25 at the Mt. Carroll Methodist Church at 2 p.m.

Carroll County 4-H Jr. Ambassador Group To Meet

By Leanne Rahn, Carroll County Program Coordinator, 4-H & Youth

The Jr. Ambassadors will be meeting Tuesday, March 27, at 6:30 p.m. in the Extension Office Meeting room in Mt. Carroll. They will continue with work and planning of their service learning project. Contact Leanne Rahn at the Carroll County University of Illinois Extension Office for more information on how to join the Jr. Ambassador team. Please call or e-mail HYPERLINK “mailto:” Bring a friend.

Carroll County 4-H Public Presentation Contests To Be Held

By Leanne Rahn, Carroll County Program Coordinator, 4-H & Youth

It’s time to select your topic, gather your notes and practice, practice, practice for the annual 4-H Public Presentation contests to be held Saturday, March 31.

The public speaking contest will start at 9:00 a.m., at Naaman Diehl Auditorium in Mt. Carroll. 4-H’ers may choose from the following areas for their presentation: Illustrated speech, formal speech, extempore speaking, oral interpretation, original works, speaking of horses or horticulture.

The demonstration contest will be held following the Public Speaking Contest. 4-H’ers may choose from the following area for their presentation: Food division - International, ethnic, or regional cuisine; nutrition; food science; food preservation; food safety; making food dollars count; general demonstration; horse demonstration and horticulture demonstration. Both contests will be held in the morning. Cash prizes or gift certificates will be awarded to the top 4-H’ers in each area. Registration deadline is March 21.

The public is welcome to attend. For more information, contact Leanne Rahn at Carroll County University of Illinois Extension Office at 244-9444 or .

Carroll County 4-H Volunteer Banquet Planned

By Leanne Rahn, Carroll County Program Coordinator, 4-H & Youth

An appreciation supper is planned for all Carroll County 4-H Volunteers for Monday, April 2. Location of the fun will be Farm Bureau Building in Mt. Carroll. The supper will start at 6:15 p.m. 4-H volunteers will receive an invitation. Come prepared for a great meal and fun. Following the supper will be a Leader’s Meeting

Reservations are due by March 27 and can be made by calling Leanne Rahn at , e-mailing to or stopping by the Carroll County University of Illinois Extension Office in Mt. Carroll.

Don’t miss out on a night of fellowship and fun!

Carroll County 4-H Archery Group to Hold Workshop

By Leanne Rahn, Carroll County Program Coordinator, 4-H & Youth

A 4-H archery workshop will be held on Saturday, March 24, starting at 1:00 p.m. for all 4-H’ers enrolled in the archery project and for any non-4-H youth between the ages of 8 and 18 that would be interested in joining the archery group. The workshop will be held at the Mike & Jodi York farm located at 25269 E. Locust Rd., Lanark. If you are interested in attending, please contact the Carroll Co. Extension Office for details on what to bring. Dress for the weather.

If you have any questions, please call Leanne Rahn at or .

4-H Swine PQA Class to be Held

By Leanne Rahn, Carroll County Program Coordinator, 4-H & Youth

Carroll County 4-H will be having a Swine PQA class on Tuesday, April 3 in the Extension Office meeting room starting at 6:00 p.m. All 4-H swine project members must attend to be certified to exhibit at the 4-H Fair. Reservations are due by March 30 and can be made by calling Leanne Rahn at , e-mailing to or stopping by the Carroll County University of Illinois Extension Office in Mt. Carroll.

Morrison Ecumenical Chorus To Perform “Messiah”

The Morrison Ecumenical Chorus will present the Lent and Easter portions of G.F. Handel’s “Messiah” on Palm Sunday, April 1. The performance will be at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Morrison beginning at 7 p.m. These “Messiah” concerts have been sponsored by the Morrison Ministers Council since 1956. A free-will offering will be taken to cover expenses, with any excess proceeds used to fund other Morrison Ministers Council projects.

The chorus, which includes singers from Morrison, Erie, Prophetstown, Mount Carroll, Chadwick and Clinton, will be under the direction of Kathy Janicek, choir director at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Morrison. Accompanist will be Christine Holmer of Clinton, Iowa. Soloists will be soprano Connie Swanson-DeSpain, mezzo-soprano Laurie Wilkins, tenors Eric --–Phend and Luke VanderBleek, bass Mark Kapusinski and trumpet Ben Logan.

The entire community is invited to attend this concert which has become a significant part of Holy Week observations for both the singers and the audiences.

Unconstitutional Gun Registration Practice Challenged

Since 1995, the City of Rockford has required anyone that wants to purchase a handgun in the city to fill out a registration card at the point of purchase. which is then forwarded to the city. The practice has gone unnoticed for the past 17 years, but is being revisited with the current atmosphere of interest in government accountability.

“This gun registration law within the City of Rockford must be eliminated without condition,” said David Hale, Rockford Tea Party Coordinator. “We do not seek to repeal and replace it - we seek to have this unconstitutional violation of our 2nd Amendment rights eliminated completely. We are calling on the Rockford City Council and Mayor Morrissey to immediately strike this law/ordinance from the books.”

The justification for gun control laws, especially in Illinois, is generally that the laws will be a crime deterrent. But statistics prove otherwise, and Rockford’s crime rate statistics are no different.

“After 17 years on the books, gun crime and violent crime have increased to make Rockford one of the most violent cities in the state,” Hale stated. “There is no justification for the law in Rockford, and no need for City leaders to continue to allow this law to remain on the books.”

An Unconventional Professor Featured in Film

Another film in the WORK series at the Savanna Museum and Cultural Center in conjunction with the Smithsonian Exhibition, The Way We Worked, will be titled “Professor”. It will be shown at 2:30 pm at the museum at 406 Main Street in downtown Savanna, IL on Saturday, March 24th and Sunday, March 25th.

An Iowa University professor challenges his students, the university that employs him, and the purpose of teaching a volatile subject like the Holocaust. Rabbi Jay Holstein tells his students he is annoying and cranky, adding that some will not succeed in his classes. This film might show that one man can change the world, even from his closet he calls an office. Approx. 60 minutes long.

The Smithsonian Exhibition continues until April 7th with hours from 2:00 to 6:00 pm, Wednesdays through Sundays at the museum. Several businesses also have provided displays that highlight the way their employees work.

The film is presented in part by the Savanna Historical Society, the Illinois Humanities Council and the Smithsonian Institution. Admission is free, donations are accepted.

Meet Nellie Reagan

Nellie Reagan, Ronald Reagan’s mother will be at the Morrison’s Heritage Museum, 202 E. Lincolnway, Morrison, IL. on Sunday, April 1, 2012 at 1 p.m. Nelle Clyde Wilson Reagan, originally from Fulton, IL is played by Pam Leavens-Blecha, and interviewed by Barb Mask. Both women are residents of Fulton.

Ronald Reagan used his mother’s Bible at his inaugurations as both Governor and President. The woman of some import and political influence with President Reagan will tell her story to the audience.

Dress is casual and light refreshments will be served. The event is free and open to the public.

SHS Gets Energy Grant for Museum Windows, Geothermal Units

The Savanna Historical Society NFP is pleased to announce that they’ve received a grant of $50,100 for additional energy efficient improvements to the Savanna Museum and Cultural Center. The grant was awarded by Blackhill Hills Resource and Conservation District of Rock Falls and adds to to an earlier award of $42,624 for Energy Efficency Community Block (EECBG) funds that assist communities and local governments with projects promoting energy conservation at community facilities.The new grant supports the Society’s efforts to replace facade windows and adds 2 geothermal HVAC units inside the Center.

The Center’s facelift replaces windows in the former Allied furniture building. According to Al Geistkemper, former owner of Allied, the windows were boarded up in the late 1950’s after a storm caused damage to the windows. Until the storm made it necessary for Al to board them up, the large windows held the grand displays of furniture that help bring in his customers.

The Center’s new windows will carry on Allied’s tradition of grand displays. In total, almost 600 sq ft, of window displays on the second floor will invite visitors to the railroad stories exhibits and to see the Galley of Civil War Gallery soldiers on the third floor.

“The Society believes strongly in building energy savings into the new museum,” said Board President John Pokornik. The facade windows replace single pane glass with new high performance low e glass and combine it with a geothermal HVAC system installed in 2010. An earlier EECBG grant added storefront windows and doors, 50 LED track light fixtures and 3 energy efficient hot water heaters. The hot water heaters are supplied with geothermally heated and cooled water for additional energy and cost savings.

“A geothermal system is a big ticket item but with outstanding volunteers, great community support and a variety of grants, we are getting the job done,” said Pokornik.

The first step was for volunteers to remove the old Allied 1 Million BTu boiler. Then, in 2010 a geothermal easement was donated by next door neighbor John Lieberg so the geo wells could be dug. The Society combined its funds with a $44,000 incentive from the Association of Illinois Electric Coops and dug ten 300’ geothermal wells to feed the HVAC system. A total of 6 geo units are needed to heat and cool the 16,000 sq ft building and, with help from an Illinois Tourism Attraction Development grant, the Society presently has two operating units.

The new EECBG award adds two geo units at a cost of $20,200 each. One unit will be installed on the second floor where five area railroad clubs are building a 1,000 sq ft replica of Savanna in its railrailroad heyday. The high quality model will be part of a larger exhibit that is underway.

The second unit wil be installed on the south half of first floor, where the Society is currently sponsoring a Film Festival as part of its Smithsonian “The Way We Worked” exhibit until April 7th. Until now, the Society has used space heaters to heat the temporary theatre area during the film festival.

This week the new geo unit will be installed and will provide heating and cooling comfort for film festival go-ers. A local favorite, the film “Workin’ on the Railroad” is shown every weekend of the exhibit. The film, provided by a grant from the Illinois Humanities Council, is a professionally-produced oral history featuring Savanna’s retired railroaders. As exhibits are developed on the second floor, the film will be shown to visitors arriving to experience the railroad stories.

The City of Savanna is the sponsor of the application on behalf of the Savanna Historical Society NFP . The City Council unanimously approved the amendment to extend the EECBG grant at its meeting on March 13th. William Tonne, Chairman of the Council, signed the Amendment on behalf of Blackhawk Hills RC & D.