More Important News

'Entrepreneur of the Year'

During the March meeting of the Blackhawk Hills Entrepreneur & Inventors Club (E & I Club), Craig Dusing received the award for 2008 Entrepreneur of the Year.

Dusing is the owner of Carroll Industrial Molds and Carroll Industrial Coatings in Milledgeville and Electric Vehicle Solutions in Sterling. He founded Carroll Molds in 1986.

His latest venture, EV Solutions, sprang to life when he was converting his S-10 pickup truck to electric power. He noticed many of the components needed for the conversion were not readily available, so he began making conversion kits to sell.

"Craig is a valuable part of the club, and always willing to lend an ear to other members," said John Huggins, club coordinator.

The E & I Club created the award as a way to identify, honor, and support outstanding business and civic leaders of Northwest Illinois. Winners express vision and passion to imagine the future and become part of it. They also demonstrate the willingness to share their experiences and mentor others. The recipients are chosen by their peers, the club members.

The E & I Club was started over three years ago by the Blackhawk Hills Resource Conservation and Development (RC & D) to give entrepreneurs and inventors a forum to network and learn from each other as well as from resources such as the Small Business Development Center, Regional Entrepreneurship Centers, web design professionals, legal counsel and many others. For more information about the club, visit www.bheic.com.

Horse Bowl Takes Third

The Carroll Co. 4-H Jr. Horse Bowl team recently completed in the Regional contest in Boone Co. Pictured on the left side of the table are: AnnaMarie Petry, Morrison; Mary Francque, Sterling; Kathryn Kronenberg, Milledgeville; and Hayley Wilk, Milledgeville; at right is Alexandra Kronenberg, Milledgeville. Not shown is team member Dani Sheddan, Milledgeville. They placed 3rd overall.

The Jr. Horse Bowl team placed 2nd. Members were Olivia Petry, Morrison & Tommy Dyson, Thomson. In Oral Questions, Intermediate division, Mary Francque placed 1st; AnnaMarie Petry 8th overall. In Jr. Division, Hayley Wilk placed 1st; Kathryn Kronenberg, 3rd, Dani Sheddan 5th.

In horse judging contest Jr. division Kathryn placed 1st; Hayley 7th, Tommy Dyson, 10th; In Intermediate division Anna Marie placed 6th; Alexandra placed 7th and Mary 9th overall.

In Hippology Contest, Jr. Division, Dani placed 10th; Intermediate division, AnnaMarie placed 2nd; Mary 4th; Alexandra 10th over all. In Horse Bowl, number of questions answered overall, Jr. Jr. division Olivia Petry 2nd, Tommy Dyson 3rd; in the Jr. division Mary Francque 2nd. (Courtesy of Leanne Rahn, CC4-H)

EHS Inducts National Honor Society Members

Thirteen students from Eastland High School were inducted into membership of the National Honor Society in a ceremony held at the Lanark United Methodist Church on March 24, 2009. Members were selected by the faculty for meeting high standards of scholarship, service, leadership, and character. Students inducted were Seniors J Albertson, Clayton Coleman, Charlie Johnson, and Tyler Zumdahl; Juniors ­ Greta Augsburger, Olivia Barr, Blair Bates, Frankie Huggins, Karoline Kniss, Jenna Mathew, Candice Nepean, Danielle Truckenmiller, and Emelia Waugh. Previous members are Sarah Anderson, Drew Carroll, August Cassens, Haylee Endress, Bekka Foust, Lawrence Hasken, Jessica Johnson, Meagan Judd, Maddi Landherr, Damaris Linker, Karie Raab, Katie Raab, Tate Tigges, and Carson Walker.

The National Honor Society ranks as one of the oldest and most prestigious national organizations for high school students. Chapters exist in more than 60 percent of the nation's high schools and, since 1921, millions of students have been selected for membership. Millions of dollars in scholarships have been awarded to senior members since 1945 by the sponsoring organization, the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

Tim Schurman, Principal of Chadwick-Milledgeville School congratulates Tyra Haag, a 3rd grade student.Tyra has achieved 250 Accelerated Reader points, and had the honor of reading a story to Mr. Schurman. (Photo courtesy of April Tarbill)

Delp Photography Exhibit at 321 Art Gallery

The public is invited to attend the opening of Bill Delp's photography exhibit at the 321 Art Gallery on Main Street in Savanna on Friday evening, the 17th of April, from six to eight p.m. There is no admission fee and refreshments will be served.

Delp was born and raised in Savanna and, despite his years of schooling elsewhere, has remained a fervent advocate of small town living and the values this can instill in its residents. "Living in other places," he says, "taught me a great deal about life and although it allowed me to embrace and accept the differences in people, it left me with an even greater appreciation for my small town roots."

His interest in photography began at the age of thirteen when his mother was given a camera and a roll of film that drew no interest until Bill decided he would try using up that film. The next thing he knew, he was photographing everything that caught his eye. He had no formal photographic training to start, but now often attends seminars and professional photography conventions to enhance his skills and techniques.

Delp established his business Bill Delp Photography in 1978, built his rural studio in 1998 and feels he's been very fortunate. His life experiences have allowed him to travel off the beaten path and to seek reality among "real" people doing what they do and not have to deal with models posing for publicity. He's been able to document real events as they occur and record moments in time that might otherwise have slipped away.

Mission trips have given him true life pictures of third world people struggling to survive a life-style that would've restricted most other people to a minimum bare existence and he's been able to record their scenes/faces as is; the emotions, effort and burdens they carry are clear to see.

His favorite subject matter is the family life cycle. New born/infant photos. Special family events such as birthdays, conformations and graduation photos. He also likes weddings and showers or generational shots of baby, mom, grandmother, great-grandmother. In addition, he much enjoys travel and scenic photos.

When asked what he would like people to see in his exhibit, Delp said, "I want to share my 49 years (37 with a camera) and show that while I've lived a simple life, it has been a full one. The lack of unity in my chosen images shows the diversity of experiences I've had and I hope viewers will enjoy seeing what I've seen along the way."

The Artists Cooperative of Savanna urges the public to attend this opening, view its photos and speak with the photographer. Other artistic material done by local artists will also be displayed along with jewelry, wood work, clay items and many other one of a kind gifts and accessories.

Benefit Auction-Hog Roast-Bake Sale For Dylan Preston

A live and silent auction along with a hog roast and bake sale will be held in honor of Dylan Preston, a Lanark area child who needs a kidney transplant. The event is planned for Sunday, April 26, 2009 from 1:00 p.m.-4:00p.m. at the Mt. Carroll Church of God.

Twelve year old Dylan is listed for a kidney transplant at a Chicago hospital and his father will serve as his donor. The surgery is currently set for April 16, 2009. Funds are being raised to assist with transplant related expenses. Cash, checks and most major credit cards will be accepted at the auction for any purchase or donation.

Early consignments include: 2 night stay at the Wilderness Hotel, 1 night stay at the Kalahari Resort, golf passes at Eagle Ridge, 1/2 beef from Geh Day Farms, a signed 2008 Chicago Bears football, 4 Ice Hogs tickets, a very nice saddle, and many gift certificates and items from area businesses. This is a partial listing as more items are coming in daily. Visit www.calhounauction.com or watch the papers for the bill of sale.

"The family and friends of Dylan want to encourage everyone in the community to attend this special auction in an effort to give him a second chance at life," said Event Chair Dana Keim. "100% of the profits from the auction-hog roast-bake sale will assist with transplant related expenses.

Dylan is the focus of a fundraising campaign to assist with his medical and other transplant related expenses. Dylan's kidney transplanted early in childhood is now failing and he is now in need of a second life saving transplant. The Preston family needs an estimated $50,000 to pay their transplant related expenses.

For more information about the benefit for Dylan, or other fund raising and volunteer opportunities, contact Dana Keim at 493-1053. Dylan Preston's family has asked for assistance from the Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA), a national charity based in Bloomington, Indiana. COTA is dedicated to organizing and guiding communities in raising funds for transplant needy patients. COTA's services are completely free of charge and 100% of the funds generated by COTA fundraising campaigns are available for transplant related expenses. To hear about Dylan's story, visit www.cotafordylanp.com.

Kloepping-Stepp Engagement

Keith and Deloris Kloepping of Mount Carroll announce the engagement of their daughter Kelly Kay Kloepping to Joshua Miles Stepp, son of Debra Stepp of Chadwick and Miles and Jolynn Stepp of Mobile, Alabama.

The bride to be is a 2002 graduate of Mount Carroll High School. She is employed by Good Samaritan Society of Mount Carroll. The future bridegroom is a 2000 graduate of Milledgeville High School. He is employed by Company One Fire in Fulton, Illinois. A May 9, 2009 wedding is planned. Invitations have been sent.

Deadline Nears To Nominate The Next Illinois "Teacher Of The Year"

Nominations for the Illinois 2008-2009 Teacher of the Year are being accepted through April 30, 2009. The announcement came from the award sponsor, Teachers' Insurance Plan , a car insurance program exclusively for members of the educational community. The award will include $1,000 to the winning teacher and a $500 grant to that teacher's school. The state winner will also be eligible for the National award that
includes a special recognition and a $2,500 travel certificate.

Teachers, students and parents can nominate any of the state's more than 160,000 accredited teachers. Nomination forms are available online at www.teachers.com. To nominate an educator, or yourself, explain in 250 words or less why this teacher should be Teacher of the Year. Nominees will be judged on their ability to motivate students, their special talents, and their contribution to their school, students or educational community. Winners will be announced at the start of the next school year.

Mt. Carroll Blood Drive

The Mt. Carroll Methodist Church will be holding a blood drive on Friday, May 1, 2009 from 1:00p.m. until 6:00p.m. Celebrate World Red Cross Day on May 8 by making an appointment to donate blood or to volunteer at your local Red Cross Chapter.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

Tyler's Justice Center for Children wants to raise awareness of April being Child Abuse Prevention Month by providing blue ribbons at our center. The ribbons can be picked up at 400 W. Front Avenue in Stockton. The Blue ribbons are representative of Child Abuse Prevention. The ribbons can be displayed on your clothing to show your support.

By picking up a ribbon you are acknowledging the reality of child abuse and the aspiration for future prevention. The blue ribbon has been a symbol of child abuse since 1989 when just one grandmother chose to raise awareness and "make people wonder." She chose the color blue to represent the battered and bruised children that are still very much a reality today.

Concerns citizens and businesses owners have decided to make a difference in our area by participating the Tyler's Justice Center for Children Blue Kids Campaign. Check out your local businesses to be part of the Blue Kids Campaign. For only $1 you can support Tyler's Justice Center for Children and support the campaign to keep our kids safe.

Tyler's Justice Center for Children is a 501(c)3, non-profit Children's Advocacy Center which provides services to child victims of sexual and severe physical abuse. In the past, child victims of abuse were interviewed several times, by many people, sometimes in less than desirable locations like a principal's office or even the home of the perpetrator. The Center coordinates members of a multidisciplinary investigative team along with the child and his or her non-offending caregiver, allowing the child to be interviewed by a trained, forensic interviewer. This process lessens the trauma for children and allows them to disclose information in a place where they feel comfortable. The agency also provides crisis counseling and intervention for victims and their families as well as follow-up advocacy services. The Center serves Carroll, Jo Daviess, and Stephenson Counties. If you have any questions please contact the center at or .

HRRV Schedules Memorial Service

The public is invited and welcome to attend the Hospice of the Rock River Valley yearly memorial service to honor loved ones who died during the past year. The service will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 3 at the Wesley United Methodist Church, 2200 16th Ave., Sterling.

Remembering is how we carry our loved ones into the future with us. Come remember and celebrate those being missed. There will be a candle lighting service, special music, and readings. Attendees and participants do not have to have received hospice services. Light refreshments will be served following the service.

To attend, share in the remembering, and have your loved one's name included in the printings and readings, contact Chris at Hospice of the Rock River Valley, (815) 288-3673 or .

$173 Million Provided in the Recovery Act for Direct Operating Farm Loan Program

Charles Chadwell, Acting State Executive Director of USDA's Farm Service Agency in Illinois announced today that FSA has obligated all of the $173 million provided in the Recovery Act for its Direct Operating Farm Loan Program, which gave 2,636 farmers ­ almost 50% who were beginning farmers and 10% socially disadvantaged producers ­ direct loans from the agency. There were 54 loans totaling $3,563,790 in 25 counties in Illinois.

"These loans were used to purchase items such as farm equipment, feed, seed, fuel and other operating expenses and will stimulate rural economics by providing American farmers funds to operate." said Chadwell.

Applications were considered on a first come, first served basis with special emphasis placed on beginning and socially disadvantaged applicants. The maximum loan amount was $300,000.

In keeping with the president's goal for the Recovery Act, this loan funding was intended for proper investment into the agricultural sector, to benefit both family farmers and rural economics. The Recovery Act was designed to preserve or create millions of jobs throughout the country and these loans help ensure that recipients remain financially viable and local agri-businesses benefit from direct purchases.

Here is a hypothetical example of purchases made with a $100,000 direct operating loan:

- Used Farm Tractor: $45,000

- Livestock: $18,000

- Seed: $15,000

- Fertilizer: $10,000

- Fuel: $12,000

The effect of this loan reaches the local implement dealership, sale barn, the grain seed distributor, the fertilizer distributor and a local fuel dealership. For specific information on direct operating loans and other FSA farm loan programs, please visit your local USDA Service Center or FSA county office. You can also obtain information from the FSA website at http://www.fsa.usda.gov.

ACRE Program Enrollment Opens

Charles Chadwell, Acting State Executive Director of USDA's Farm Service Agency in Illinois, announced today that USDA producers can elect and enroll in the Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) program beginning April 27, 2009. ACRE is a provision of the 2008 Farm Bill.

"The Average Crop Revenue Election program is an innovative alternative to the traditional farm program safety net," Chadwell said. "This new option presents an opportunity for producers to review both DCP (Direct Counter-cyclical program) and ACRE programs and decide which one will work best for their operation."

Producers have until Aug.14, 2009, to make their decision for the 2009 crop. USDA will not accept any late-filed applications.

Producers who elect the ACRE program for a farm agree to:

· forgo counter-cyclical payments;

· accept a 20-percent reduction of the direct payments; and

· accept a 30-percent reduction in loan rates for all commodities produced on the farm.

Commodities eligible for ACRE payments are wheat, corn, grain sorghum, barley, oats, upland cotton, long grain rice, medium and short grain rice, peanuts, soybeans, sunflower seed, canola, flaxseed, safflower, mustard seed, rapeseed, sesame seed, crambe, dry peas, lentils, small chickpeas and large chickpeas.

The ACRE program was created in the 2008 Farm Bill to give producers an option in lieu of traditional counter-cyclical payments. Producers may elect and enroll in ACRE for the 2009 crop year even if they have already accepted advance direct payments under the Direct and Counter-Cyclical Program.

To elect ACRE for a farm, producers must complete Form CCC-509 ACRE, which irrevocably elects ACRE for the farm through crop year 2012. Form CCC-509, the contract to participate in ACRE, must then be completed each year the producer intends to participate and receive benefits.

For more information about the ACRE program please visit your local Farm Service Agency (FSA) county office or visit http://www.fsa.usda.gov.

Amenity Hospice Changes Name to Hospice Compassus

Amenity Hospice, a leading provider of hospice services in Davenport, announced today it will change its name to Hospice Compassus to better reflect the all-encompassing hospice work performed across the community. Amenity Hospice, located at 2230 Jersey Ridge Road in Davenport, has been providing hospice care to the local community for the past year.The local address and phone number will remain the same.

"The new name was chosen because it truly reflects our core mission and encapsulates what we do each and every day. Compassus is derived from the root of our core value of compassion. In its Latin root, compassus is defined as 'a deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it'. We recognize that hospice care is defined by each and every patient and family we serve in the local communities we reach. As such, Hospice Compassus provides tailored, compassionate care to meet the individual needs of patients and their families," said David Soldner, executive director at Hospice Compassus for the local Davenport area.

Since 1979, the affiliates of Brentwood, Tenn.-based Hospice Compassus have provided comprehensive end-of-life care and grief support for patients and families in their communities. Through their care, hospice patients are able to live their final days with peace and dignity in the comfort of their own place of residence. Hospice Compassus operates programs in 47 communities across 15 states serving an average of approximately 2,700 patients and their families per day. Consistent with the name change, the company has adopted a new identity and has unveiled its revamped web site at www.hospicecompassus.com.

Fourteen New Members Set to Join Ashford University's Honor Society

Fourteen new members will be welcomed into Ashford University's Junior-Senior Honor Society during a reception on Sunday, April 19, 2009. During the reception, set for 2 p.m. in the University Chapel on the third floor of St. Clare Hall on the Ashford University campus, the new members will receive their certificates of membership. Honor society officers and moderator Dr. Gary Heath will preside over the reception.

Joining the honor society on April 19 will be: Samantha Carlson, Clinton, IA; Rachel Caulkins, Brimfield, IL; Joshua Domski, Rockford, IL; Sonia Gillen, Clinton, IA; Amber Griswold, Clinton, IA; Jessica Hartman, Thomson, IL; Lisa Imel, Mount Carroll, IL; Lisa LaMasse, Hanover Park, IL; Amber Marlowe, Charlotte, IA; Kateri Nesbitt, Savanna, IL; Alisha Parker, Camanche, IA; Lauren Robinson, Clinton, IA; Jennifer Wood, Fulton, IL and Anne Yore, Burlington, IA.

The Ashford Junior-Senior Honor Society recognizes and encourages scholarship among juniors and seniors at the University. Membership is extended to full-time juniors and seniors who have completed at least one semester at the University and attained a semester grade point average of 3.50. Thereafter, the student must maintain a grade point average of 3.20.

The public is invited to the reception and refreshments will be served.

From the Fields

By Jim Morrison

Extension Educator, Crop Systems

Rockford Ext. Center, University of IL

With the delayed spring, questions have been asked regarding the soil temperature and how to assess stands of winter wheat. Obviously, by using a soil thermometer individuals can measure soil temperature at various depths. Daily soil temperatures can be observed at the Illinois State Water Survey web site, http://www.isws.illinois.edu/warm/soiltemp.asp

This web site displays soil temperatures, from 19 weather stations across Illinois, at a 4-inch depth under bare soil and under sod. These are temperatures recorded between 9 am and 10 am on the previous day. For example, on April 4 the 4-inch bare soil temperature was 40 to 42 degrees F in northwestern Illinois. Also available at the web site is the maximum and minimum soil temperature from the previous day.

Regarding winter wheat, a stand of 25 to 30 plants per square foot is generally considered optimum. 15 to 20 plants per square foot is the minimum population needed to keep a field in the spring. If one can wait and count tillers, they can compensate, to a certain degree, for a low plant count. About 60 productive (head-bearing) tillers per square foot are needed for an adequate stand. Take stand counts at several locations across the field so a representative sampling is obtained.

When taking stand counts, check the condition of the crown of the plant. The crown, a source of carbohydrate storage, needs to be ? - to 1-inch below the soil surface. If the crown is firm and white and new roots are developing, the plant is probably in good condition. As long as the crown is alive, the plant can produce new leaves.

To get a head start on assessing the health condition of wheat, dig shovelful "plugs" of soil and wheat. Put them in a sunny, cool area (unheated enclosed porch) and check the crowns for new growth in about a week.

Further information is available at your University of Illinois Extension office.

Hanover Township Library Among Grant Winners

Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White has awarded FY2009 Live and Learn Construction Grants to seventeen Illinois public libraries to help pay for essential capital improvements.

The Hanover Township Library will receive $50,000 to install remotely operated front doors, handicapped accessible restrooms, and a 630 square feet addition to the rear of the building. The addition will give the needed space for handicapped maneuverability throughout the entire library and for handicapped accessible media and computer sections in the existing building.

"Throughout this past year, we have been working to meet our goal of $125,000 to bring our 52-year old library into compliance with the American With Disabilities Act so that the library's resources are accessible to all," said Dan Griffin, Hanover Library Board President. "We are very appreciative to Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White for awarding us this grant, as it brings our total money raised to date to $113,140. We also thank all the individuals, organizations, businesses, Hanover Township Board, and everyone who have donated to the building fund. This grant and the generous donations from the Hanover community insure that the library's building project is going to become a reality. "

"This competitive grant program assists public libraries each year in paying for the cost of projects such as remodeling for handicapped accessibility, new carpeting, interior or exterior painting, and in some cases new construction or additions to existing facilities," White said. "Many of our public libraries simply don't have sufficient funds to pay for these improvements on their own. Our public libraries are cornerstones of our communities, and they have never been more important. More and more citizens are using their local public library during these difficult economic times. I am pleased to be able to award these grants through the Illinois State Library to help maintain our public libraries as the best resource available to citizens for information."

Music and Magic in May

Alan St. George will again host "Music & Magic," an entertaining weekend to be held May 15, 16 and 17, which will benefit three non- profit organizations. A new show will feature music, magic and drama.

Those who attended previous magic shows at the Alan and Adrianne St. George Theatre for the Arts, 800 Chicago Avenue in Savanna, were delighted with the magic and illusions of Jonathan Neal Brown and Joel Ward, world class magicians from the west coast. Audience members were thrilled with their high energy, fast paced performances involving rings, scarves, live doves, cards and disappearing performers.

Alan St. George has announced he was again able book these two performers for the May event and will donate proceeds to The Savanna Historical Society, 321 Co-op Art Gallery and Adrianne's Angels: St. George Pet Rescue. The May performances will feature requested encore routines and some completely new material.

Due to several requests, tenor Thomas Booth will again perform at the May event. Booth, who performed the "Remembering Mario Lanza' event in October 2007, will present a program of several requested songs. As a noted soloist with the Metropolitan Opera for nine years, Thomas Booth has delighted audiences both nationally and internationally.

Audiences of all ages will enjoy the continuing magical drama of 'The Magyk Tsar' featuring Alan St. George and his associates, Jess Peterson and Elton Litzner. Through the wonder of magic, intrigue and drama, more of the story of Nicholas and Alexandra, the last Imperial family of Tsarist Russia, will be revealed. The full evening of music and magic is sure to delight everyone.

Performances will be held Friday, May 15, and Saturday evenings, May 16. A matinee performance will be Sunday afternoon, May 17. Free popcorn and beverages will be served during intermission. Curtain time for the evening performances will be 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $22 for preferred seating, and $17 for general admission seating. Children under the age of 18, in the general seating section, are $12. The Theatre is not handicapped accessible. Tickets are now on sale online at http://www.MagicInSavanna.com or by calling Facemakers, or Jean Ferris, .

JCE Implements Rate Adjustment

Jo-Carroll Energy has announced it will implement a rate adjustment that will increase the cooperative's residential rates about 7.1 percent or $5 per month for the average user effective May 1. Members were notified of this increase at the cooperative's 70th annual meeting on April 4.

"We believe that reliable electric service at a reasonable price is something our members can count on and that we deliver on a daily basis," said Michael Hastings, Jo-Carroll Energy president and CEO. "Regrettably, to maintain the quality, reliability and stability of the services we provide it is necessary for us to adjust our pricing structure."

For residential members, this rate adjustment has two portions:

· For most residential members, there will be a $1 increase in the facility charge, increasing the charge from $8 to $9. For members in the cooperative's legacy territory, the facility charge will remain at $18. The facility charge is in place to help cover the cooperative's fixed costs in providing electricity to its members. Of the 40 plus co-ops in Illinois and Wisconsin, $18 is the lowest overall facility charge among traditional rural co-ops.

· The base rate will increase from .081 to .095 cents per kilowatt hour for all residential members.

"At the time of the acquisition of the Alliant Energy territory, we promised that rates would be equalized over a five to seven year period," Hastings noted. "This rate adjustment is the first step in consolidation of the two different rate systems for our legacy territory and the acquired territory."

The cooperative will continue to utilize the wholesale power cost adjustment, or PCA, charge. The cooperative can adjust the PCA up or downand it can be a negative numberas wholesale prices change based on fluctuations from power suppliers.

The new rates include increased power costs in the base rates. These changes provide for a greater portion of the power costs to be covered in the base rates, lowering what is required to be recovered in the PCA charge.

Commercial members will also see an increase in rates. Finally, residential natural gas members will see a rate increase. Residential natural gas members will see an increase in the monthly facility charge from $7.00 per month to $8.00 per month. The per therm distribution charge will also increase by 2 cents per therm. The cost of the natural gas itself will continue to be passed straight through with no mark-up in costs. Those costs are projected to decrease for the 2009-2010 heating season.

Several key areas have a significant impact on wholesale power costs. Among these are the major investments in environmental controls, renewable energy resources and energy efficiency programs by electric power suppliers and the rising costs for coal and its transportation including barge freight rates and rail rates.

Stockton Pastors to Preach on Caring for God's Creation

In a unique interfaith collaboration, Stockton ministers Pastor Jones of the Wesley, Kent and Willow United Methodist Churches, Pastor Stees of Christ Lutheran Church and Rev. Ziegler of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Stockton will be urging the members and the larger community to become even better stewards of God's beautiful blue-green planet Earth. They're concerned about the increasing amount of CO₂ in the atmosphere that has caused global warming and climate change and as a consequence is harming God's creation. On one of last two Sundays in April they will preach a sermon about caring for God's creation.

To help people be even better stewards of God's creation, they are co-sponsoring a four-session course called, "Low Carbon Diet: A 30 Day Program to Lose 5000 Pounds." This course offers very simple yetdramatic ways that everyone can do to reduce the amount of CO₂ that they release into the atmosphere. The Northwest Illinois Audubon Society feels the course is so important that it has been promoting and offering the course. The Low Carbon course is open to the public. Individuals who bring an incandescent light bulb to the first class on April 29 will receive in exchange a compact fluorescent bulb to help reduce their CO₂ emissions.

The course meets for four sessions on Wednesday nights: April 29, May 13, May 27, and June 3. The sessions will be held in Stockton at 126 W. Benton Avenue, starting at 7:00 p.m.and ending no later than 9:00 pm. Laura Dufford will be the facilitator. There is a charge for the course book. Registration for this first course is limited to ten people. People can sign up for the course by contacting Rev. Ziegler at or Pastor Jones at . Other courses will be planned for those interested beyond the first ten to register.

Pizza Luncheon & Meeting

Stewards of the Upper Mississippi River Refuge are hosting their monthly meeting on Friday, April 17 at 11:00 at the Ingersoll Wetlands Learning Center. The Center is located 4 miles south of Savanna, on Riverview Road.

Please RSVP with your pizza selection by Wed., April 15. If you're interested in being involved with the Stewards, but unable to attend the meeting, please call Pam Steinhaus at , ext 16 or Cecil Johnson at .

Hospice of the Rock River Valley Celebrates its Volunteers

Hospice and palliative care volunteers make sure that the people they care for and their families find hope within each day, have their dignity preserved, and are surrounded by love even at the final moments of life. Most hospice volunteers choose to give their time helping others because of their own experiences with the compassionate care hospice provided to their dying loved one.

Hospice began in this country about 30 years ago as a largely, volunteer-driven community movement, and volunteers continue to be at the heart of hospice. The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization reports that there are an estimated 400,000 hospice volunteers providing more than 16 million hours of service to hospice programs each year. The typical hospice volunteer devoted 45.1 hours of time last year.

At Hospice of the Rock River Valley, more than 300 volunteers provide 4500 hours per year to help HRRV care for patients and families in our community. "Hospice volunteers are a valuable component of the compassionate care that HRRV offers to people in our community. Volunteers bring hope, love, and dignity to families who are going through one of life's most difficult times," commented Judy Jellerichs, Volunteer Coordinator. "We are pleased that we have this opportunity to honor our hospice and palliative care volunteers."

It is federally mandated under Medicare that five percent of all patient care hours be provided by trained volunteers. Hospice of the Rock River Valley volunteers consistently provide 12% or more each year. This regulation was included in the Medicare hospice legislation to recognize the vital role that volunteers play in the hospice philosophy of care. These dedicated volunteers are integral members of the interdisciplinary team of professionals who provide care at the end of life.

Libertarians Back Secret Ballot Voting Rights in Union Elections

America's third largest party warns concerned citizens that plans to scrap the right of workers to a secret ballot in union elections are far from dead. Libertarians also warn that such "card check" legislation also destroys hundreds of thousands of jobs as the nation attempts to revive its economy.

"The right to vote by secret ballot is one of our most cherished institutions for a reason. It protects people from those who would use violence or intimidation to achieve their goals," said William Redpath, Libertarian National Committee Chair. "The card check bill currently in Congress that strips workers of their basic voting rights in union organizing matters is far from dead, and it threatens not just workers' rights and safety, but it threatens people's jobs as well," said Redpath.

Card check allows a union to organize by confronting employees with a so-called "signature card" supporting the creation of a union in their work place. The union would maintain control and possession of the cards, along with the names and personal information of the employees, until they get enough signatures to force unionization. In many cases, the person demanding the signature would be the employee's supervisor.

"A good union shouldn't fear a secret ballot. Stripping workers of that right only empowers bad unions to organize through coercion," said Redpath.

Allowing a union to form by simply coercing workers to publicly sign cards could force businesses to slash as many as 600,000 jobs nationwide, according to research from The Alliance To Save Main Street.

74 percent of rank-and-file union workers oppose the card check legislation in Congress, a January 2009 McLaughlin & Associates poll finds.

Once a majority of workers submit to the signature card demands, the union could then begin collecting dues from the workers' paychecks without ever having a secret ballot election on the matter.

"These signature cards strip workers of their right to a secret ballot, allowing an unscrupulous union boss to organize a workplace by simply bullying or threatening a minority of the workforce into signing signature cards," said Redpath. "There's a reason we don't allow signature cards in elections for political office, and those concerns over violence and intimidation are just as valid in the workplace."

It would also allow union bosses to pocket an additional $7 billion in forced dues, according to the National Right to Work Committee. Much of that $7 billion could find its way into the campaign accounts of card check supporters, through extensive union political donations, giving
senators much incentive to pass the forced unionism-friendly bill.

The bill is considered stalled in the Senate after past supporters Arlen Specter (R-PA), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) announced they could not support the bill as written. But the impending arrival of Senator-elect Al Franken (D-MN) may give anti-ballot forces the votes they need to pass card check, and any changes to the bill allow Specter, Lincoln or Feinstein to switch their allegiance back.

"Opponents of secret ballot voting rights want you to think card check is dead. They're wrong. Voters need to call their senator at (the Capitol switchboard) and tell them to oppose the very-much-alive card check bill," said Redpath.

The Libertarian Party is America's third-largest political party, founded in 1971 as an alternative to the two main political parties. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party by visiting www.LP.org. The Libertarian Party proudly stands for smaller government, lower taxes and more freedom.

Hemispheric Timing Shows Oceans are Source of CO²?

Australia's Tom Quirk, an Oxford-trained research physicist, noted that carbon 14 molecules from nuclear weapons testing in the 1950s and '60s took some years to travel through the atmosphere between the northern and southern Hemispheres.

Quirk further noted that about 95 percent of the CO² from fossil fuels has been emitted in the Northern Hemisphere. Thus, there should be a lag between the variations in CO² levels at the Northern Hemisphere's stations such as Mauna Loa, and Southern Hemisphere stations such as Antarctica.

But he has found no time differences between the CO² variations in the two hemispheres.

"The seasonal variations in CO₂ and the lack of time delays between the hemispheres suggest fossil-fuel-derived CO² is almost totally absorbed locally in the year it is emitted," he says. "This implies that natural variability of the climate is the prime cause of increased CO₂, not the emissions of CO² from the use of fossil fuels."

Dial back to 2006, when Al Gore's released his movie, An Inconvenient Truth. Mr. Gore showed us 400,000 years of the ice record from Antarctica's Vostok glacier.

Temperatures and CO² levels in the ice record moved radically up and down together through four Ice Ages and four interglacial warmingsincluding the Modern Warming.

Then Gore got on a lift truck and soared himself 30 feet into the air, drawing upward a horrifying graph that predicted a parboiled planet.

Gore told us that more CO² in the atmosphere meant higher temperatures. That was the huge technical error in his movie. More recent Antarctic studies, on more refined time scales, have shown that instead of causing warming, the CO² levels respond to warming slowly.

Apparently, the oceans absorb massive amounts of CO² from the air every time they cool. The oceans hold at least 70 times as muchCO² as the air, and cold water holds more of any gas under the laws of physics. Since 1850, the planet had been slowly and erratically warming as we transitioned out of the Little Ice Age. Atmospheric CO² rose slowly. This was the warming phase of the solar-linked Dansgaard-Oeschger cycle that happens every 1,500 years.

The environmental movement gave Dansgaard and Oeschger the "environmental Nobel"the Tyler Prizein 1996 because they thought the Antarctic ice record proved that CO² regulates our global temperatures. But today we know that the correlation between CO² and temperatures over the past 150 years is only 22 percent. The correlation with sunspots is 79 percent.

Now the most accurate ocean temperatures ever recorded from the Argo diving floatssay the oceans stopped warming in 2003. Global surface temperatures have followed, dropping sharply over the last several years.

Dr. Roger Pielke, Sr., the former Colorado State Climatologist, wrote in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society in 2003, "it is the change in ocean heat content that provides the most effective diagnostic of global warming and cooling." Nor does Dr. Pielke think there is any place on earth that a large amount of latent warming could be "hidden."

Josh Willis, a loyal Jet Propulsion Laboratory bureaucrat, says the global and ocean cooling "does not contradict the climate models. In fact, many climate models simulate four to five year periods with no warming in the upper ocean from time to time." However, a quick survey of the climate models has failed to find any such no-warming predictions published.

We must face the fact that the earth is now cooling, and any drastic actions to reduce fossil fuel emissions are premature. Dr. Kanya Kusano of Japan's Earth Stimulator Project recently advised his government that the need for such actions is based on an "unproven hypothesis."

Scientific maxim: If you theory doesn't fit observed reality, change your theory.

Sources:

Temperatures changing before CO² levels:

1. H. Fischer et al, 1999. "Ice Core Record of Atmospheric CO² around the last Three 3 Glacial Terminations," Science 283: 1712-714.

2. N. Caillon et al., 2003, "Timing of Atmospheric CO² and Antarctic Temperature Changes Across Tiermination III," Science 299: 1728-1731.

Oceans Now Losing Heat:

Craig Loehle, "1,500-Year Climate Cycles, Broken Hockey Stocks, and Ocean Cooling," Energy and Environment Vol. 20, 2009.

Lack of Time Differential in Hemispheric CO² levels:

T. Quirk, "Sources and Sinks of Carbon Dioxide," Energy and Environment Vol. 20, pp. 103-119, 2009.

DENNIS T. AVERY is an environmental economist, and a senior fellow for the Hudson Institute in Washington, DC. He was formerly a senior analyst for the Department of State. He is co-author, with S. Fred Singer, of Unstoppable Global Warming Every 1500 Hundred Years, Readers may write him at PO Box 202, Churchville, VA 24421 or email to

Apologia: I deeply regret my misstatement that CO² levels are Mauna Loa were declining (April 8, 2009 Prairie Advocate). They are not. Nor is there clear evidence that the increase in atmospheric CO² is yet slowing. In the past, I have demanded a higher standard of evidence than I had for the first edition of this column, and will return to that policy.

Sen. Bivins: May 6 Is Veterans' Legislative Day In Springfield

SPRINGFIELD ­ State Sen. Tim Bivins (R-Dixon) is encouraging all Illinois veterans, and friends and families of service members to participate in a special Veterans Legislative Day set for May 6 in Springfield.

The Legislative Day will provide briefings, updates from members of the Senate's Veterans Affairs Committee, and opportunities for veterans to meet with legislators. It is sponsored by the Senate Republican Caucus. Sen. Bivins serves as Republican spokesperson for the Veterans Affairs Committee.

The event will begin with check-in from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. in the Artisans Building at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. The day's programs will begin at 11:00 a.m. Lunch will be provided for all veterans and their guests who RSVP by April 24.

Registration is being conducted online at http://www.vets.senategop.net. Those who do not have Internet access, can make reservations by calling .

Additional information, including a map showing the location of the Artisans Building, as well as updates on the event, is also available at the Web site.

Although sponsored by the Republican Senators, Sen. Bivins emphasized that the event will be strictly non-partisan.

Feeling Stretched Caring for an Older Adult?

Balance your life with "Powerful Tools for Caregivers". Powerful Tools for Caregivers is an educational series designed to provide you with the tools you need to take care of yourself while caring for an older adult.

This program will help family caregivers to: reduce stress, improve self confidence, better communicate your feelings, balance your life, increase ability to make tough decisions and locate helpful resources.

Classes consist of six, 2 ? hour sessions held once a week. Two experienced class leaders will conduct each session. Interactive, discussions and brainstorming will help make the "tools" you choose and put them into action for your life.

Classes will be held at Highland West in Elizabeth, IL. From 1:00 to 3:30 pm. Sessions are held every Tuesday and begin on April 28, 2009. For more information or to register, contact Linda Nobis in the Galena Office of the Senior Center at . This class is sponsored by Volunteer Hospice of Northwest Illinois and Jo Daviess Office of the Stephenson County Senior Center.