More Important News

Brownies Help Food Pantry

Chadwick-Milledgeville area 2nd and 3rd grade Brownies from Troop 5311 recently organized a “Pajamas for the Pantry” day for the Helping Hands Food Pantry in Milledgeville. The photo shows the girls presenting pantry coordinator Deb Bailey 255 food items and monetary donations totaling $221.40. Chadwick-Milledgeville students in all grades donated to be allowed to wear pajamas to school that day. (Submitted by troop leader Angela Shaw and Kim Matthews)

2013-2014 Section 1 FFA Officers Elected

On Thursday, May 2nd, 2013 members representing the FFA Chapters of Section 1 met at the Zion Community Church in rural Pearl City, IL to hold their annual Banquet and Officer Elections. Members, Delegates, Advisors, and Guests enjoyed a meal and camaraderie before getting down to the business of electing the officers for the 2013-2014 school year. Eighteen delegates representing nine schools had the difficult task of selecting six officers from the field of seven qualified candidates.

The 2013-2014 Section 1 FFA officer are as follows: President – Chloe Carson, West Carroll, Vice President – Joseph McGinniss, Lena-Winslow, Reporter – Dylan Williams, West Carroll, Secretary – Jordon Oellerich, Lena-Winslow, Treasurer – Tyler Pieper, Dakota, and Sentinel – Tayler Meneguin, River Ridge.

Special thanks to the Zion Community Church for the use of their facilities.

Section 1 FFA is made up of twelve FFA Chapters: Eastland, Freeport, Dakota, Durand-Pecatonica-Winnebago, Forreston, Lena-Winslow, Orangeville, Pearl City, River Ridge, Scales Mound, Stockton, and West Carroll. These schools represent one of the twenty-five sections that make up the Illinois Association FFA. For more information about the FFA please visit www.ffa.org or www.illinoisffa.org or contact your local Agriculture Teacher/FFA Advisor.

West Carroll High Holds Graduation

The West Carroll High School choir sang “The Song Has Just Begun” during the WCHS Graduation Ceremony, held on May 13, 2013 under the direction of Scott Mattison. Approximately 75 WCHS students received diplomas. (PA photo/Lynnette Forth)

WCSWCD Announces 2013 Photo Contest Winners

Whiteside County Soil and Water Conservation District Education Foundation is pleased to announce the winners for the 2013 Photo Contest.

The photo contest was open to all Whiteside County grade K-12 student. All photos were to be taken by the students, and entry subjects were limited to natural landscapes, wild animals, wild birds, wild plants, insects, wild fish, or their habitats.

Photos could also be of hunting and fishing activities or conservation practices. This year we had entries for K-4th Grade and 5th – 8th Grade. The 1st place winner in each category received a $50 cash prize and a copy of Aldo Leopold’s book, “A Sand County Almanac.” 2nd place photos in each category received a $25 cash prize and a copy of the same book. The overall winner also received a digital camera package and advanced to the AISWCD state photo contest that will be held in July in Springfield, IL.

This year’s winners were:

K-4th - 1st Place: Kaleb Workman - Kindergarten, Sterling, IL; 2nd Place: Owen Farral – 1st Grade, Prophetstown, IL.

5th – 8th - 1st Place: Molly Jacobs – Age 13, Sterling, IL; 2nd Place: Carsen Farral – 5th Grade, Prophetstown, IL.

The Overall winner was Molly Jacobs.

Thank you to everyone who entered our photo contest and congratulations to all of our winners.

Please visit our website at www.whitesidecountyswcd.com to learn more about our education foundation and any upcoming contests.

Main Street Art Guild Featured Artist

Artist Erin Marie Clark of Dixon, IL is the Main Street Art Guild featured artist, with her work on display through the month of June at the Market Street Commons building in downtown Mount Carroll. (Courtesy of MSAG)

Spring Valley Reformed Church Memorial Day Event

On Monday May 27th, Spring Valley Reformed Church would like to welcome everyone to attend our annual Memorial Day event. We will be serving a barbecue dinner from 5-7pm. Following, The Benson Family will be performing a wonderful evening of music beginning at 7pm. The Benson Family Singers are a family music group from southern Minnesota. Peter & Rachelle, along with 3 of their sons, David, Aaron and Luke have a unique ministry consisting of barbershop, bluegrass, and gospel music. They specialize in tight, a cappella harmonies and also play a variety of instruments including guitar, banjo, bass, violin and mandolin. Together they have performed for many shows, festivals, fairs, churches and private events throughout the Midwest. The Bensons use their music, humor and message to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. Don’t miss the incredible family experience. The dinner will be held indoors and the concert will be held outdoors at our Drive-In service area. You can park in that area and enjoy the concert from your car or bring some lawn chairs. To know more, visit http://www.bensonfamilymusic.com/. You can also follow Spring Valley Reformed Church on Facebook or call the church at .

Midwest Industrial Trade

Receiving their Certificate of Achievement from Midwest Industrial Trade School in Stockton for pipe welding, carbon steel and stainless steel welding are (L to R) Daniel Patterson, Course Instructor Chad Eshleman, Gary Collier, Jeremy Tucker, Craig Story, and Nick Albrecht. (PA photo/Craig Lang)

Kayleigh Leddy Named March Student of the Month

Milledgeville High School students of the month are nominated and voted upon by the high school faculty. Faculty members select their nominations based on which student has performed or surpassed ‘above and beyond’ expectation in their classes.

Kayleigh Jo Leddy is the daughter of Joe and Kelly Leddy, and is a junior. She is a true leader. She is someone you can always count on to follow through with her commitments. Kayleigh tries her best at whatever task she is given. She contributes classroom discussions and has a very positive attitude.

Her career goal is to major in Secondary Education, which ties in with her Favorite class, English: “I want to teach it when I grow up.”

Her Top teacher is Ms. Riehle. “She is so easy to talk to and has an amazing sense of humor,” Kayleigh said.

Kayleigh’s Extracurricular activities include softball, basketball, volleyball, dance, poms, ASA softball, NLV volleyball, student council, National Honor Society, band, choir and jazz choir.

What tunes will you find on her iPod playlist? Pop, Rap & Country.

Favorite actor: Will Smith; Favorite movie: Hitch; Last good book I read: The Hunger Games; Hobbies: Dance, sports & hanging out with friends.; Favorite games: Just Dance; Favorite food: Spaghetti; Biggest fear: Owls!

Being involved in athletics, Kayleigh’s pet peeve is “When someone in a sport offers a hand to help another player up and they don’t take that offer.

“If I could meet one person it would be my twin because I heard everyone has one in the world and I’d like to meet mine.”

Kayleigh said that next to her name in the dictionary would be the word: Enthusiastic.

“The thing I like most about my home town is everybody knows everyone. The person that has been most influential in my life is my grandma because she has been my role model for all my life. She loves all her grandchildren and she is always there to talk to. I love talking, eating and playing cards with her. I can always count on her - I love her so much!”

Congratulations, Kayleigh Jo Leddy, Milledgeville High School’s March Student of the Month!

Open House for Mulligans

An open house will be held for John and Sharon Mulligan, Lake Carroll residents, at the Senior Center in Mount Carroll on Tuesday, May 21, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. John has been a van driver and Sharon the bookkeeper for Carroll County Senior Services Organization for many years.

The public is invited to drop by, enjoy some refreshments, and reminisce with the Mulligans and the Senior Center staff and board members.

“We have really enjoyed our time working for the Senior Center and have met lots of really nice people that we wouldn’t have otherwise met. It has been an eye-opener for all the services, activities, and things available for the Seniors here. We even enjoyed a few trips and outings ourselves,” Sharon said.

“John’s and Sharon’s commitment and expertise will be greatly missed by the Center,” stated Nancy Gable, executive director of the organization. “We wish them all the best for the future.”

The Carroll County Senior Center is located at 306 N. Main St. in downtown Mount Carroll with hours of 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday-Friday.

For additional information, call the Senior Center at or toll free , or stop in at 306 N. Main St., Mount Carroll, between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Savanna to Receive $2 Million EDA Funds for New Wastewater Treatment Plant

While meeting with new Savanna Mayor Tony McCombie on Monday, May 13, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) announced that the City of Savanna will receive a $2,020,000 investment through the Economic Development Administration to help construct a new wastewater treatment facility. This investment will help create 20 new jobs and retain 220 jobs.

“I’m pleased to announce this new investment today which will help build a new job-creating wastewater treatment facility in Savanna,” said Congresswoman Bustos. “This will not only create or retain many local jobs, but it will help spur further growth, private investment and promote crucial flood disaster resiliency for the region.”

This EDA investment demolishes the City of Savanna’s old flood-damaged water treatment plant and constructs a new facility in a location that will be able to support the expansion of two manufacturing companies and to spur continued growth in the region. The old plant was overwhelmed by significant flooding on the Mississippi River, and the region suffered severe economic loss.

The investment will assist in the region’s long-term recovery efforts, create jobs and promote disaster resiliency and private investment in the region. This project is funded through the FY 2012 Disaster Relief Opportunity administered through the U.S. Economic Development Administration.

MIT Graduation

The Morrison Institute of Technology graduation was held on April 27, 2013. All students graduating received the Associate in Applied Science Degree in Engineering Technology or Networking Administration.

Among those graduating was Calvin Bates, the son of Carl and Bobbie Jo Bates of Mt. Carroll. Calvin received his degree in the Engineering Technology field. He attained a spot on the President’s List with a grade point average of 3.95 and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a cumulative grade point average of 3.87. Calvin received the Construction Technology award.

Sterling Educators of Beauty News

Ariel Becktel of Savanna, Illinois has enrolled at Educators of Beauty located in Sterling, IL. She will be studying all phases of cosmetology training. After completing 1500 hours Ariel Becktel will be eligible to take the Illinois State Board Examination and become a licensed cosmetologist, skin esthetician and nail technician.

Auditions for The Adventures of Robin Hood

Plum River Playhouse is holding auditions for the youth play The Adventures of Robin Hood by Michele L. Vacca. There are six male and three female speaking parts and any number of extra ‘merry men’ and palace guards. Cast ages are between 9 and 18. Peter Woodruff will direct the play.

Auditions will be held at the Hanover Township Hall Wednesday, May 15, 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm and at Stockton High School, Thursday, May 16, 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm.

Show times are July 11 and 12 in Stockton, July 13 and 14 in Hanover, and July 19, 20, and 21, Orangeville.

If unable to attend a scheduled audition but would like to participate, contact Peter Woodruff at or .

For more information, call or email .

Bingo Callers Needed

The River Bend Senior Center is looking for a Bingo Caller on the 1st, 3rd and 4th Wednesdays of the month. Lunch is at 11:30 and Bingo starts 12-12:15. Please call the Senior Center if you are available at , or stop by. River Bend Senior Center & Transit Facility, 912 4th Street in Fulton.

Haying and Grazing of a Cover Crop for the 2013 Crop Year

The USDA today announced that due to cold and wet weather in many states it is providing Approved Insurance Providers the option to allow haying and grazing from the current May 10th deadline to May 22nd.

The USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) identified areas with the May 10th deadline where the wet, cold spring has delayed normal cover crop growth and normal spring planting preparations. There may also be areas where it may not be possible for producers to enter the field to terminate the cover crop or plant at this time.

Producers in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan seeking to continue haying or grazing a cover crop should contact their Approved Insurance Providers (AIP) to discuss eligibility. Because circumstances will be different for each producer, the AIPs may, at their sole discretion, make a determination to approve the request.

Under the existing policy in the seven identified states, a producer must not hay, graze, or harvest a cover crop after May 10, 2013 in order to insure a spring crop. The existing policies also provide specifics of when the cover crop must be terminated before planting the spring crop.

This decision does not affect the date by which the crop must be terminated or the planting dates.

More information for producers and agents can be found on the RMA website at http://www.rma.usda.gov/bulletins/managers/2013/mgr-13-004.pdf.

Farm Program Signup

Douglas Olson, Vice Chairman of the Carroll County FSA County Committee, said “The sign-up period for DCP and ACRE are still open.” The ACRE sign-up period will end on June 3, 2013 and the DCP sign-up period will end on August 2, 2013. The 2013 DCP and ACRE program provisions are unchanged from 2012, except that all eligible participants in 2013 may choose to enroll in either DCP or ACRE. This means that eligible producers who were enrolled in ACRE in 2012 may elect to enroll in DCP or may re-enroll in ACRE in 2013. Likewise producers who were enrolled in DCP in 2012 may opt for ACRE enrollment in 2013. Additionally, according to Olson, producers in the 2012 ACRE program have until July 15, 2013, to bring in their 2012 production evidence.

Olson urges producers with any questions to contact the Carroll County FSA office for more information or to make an appointment to enroll.

CRP Sign-Up Starts Soon

Alan Flikkema Chairman of the Carroll County Farm Service Agency County Committee said “USDA will conduct a four-week general sign-up for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), beginning May 20 and ending on June14.” Also according to Flikkema USDA has just announced a continuous CRP sign-up, for practices such as waterways, and filter strips, which is to begin May 13 and runs through September 30. CRP protects the nation’s natural resources through voluntary participation, while providing significant economic and environmental benefits to rural communities across the United States.

Currently, about 27 million acres are enrolled in CRP. Producers that are accepted in the program can receive cost-share assistance to plant long-term, resource-conserving covers and receive an annual rental payment for the length of the contract which is 10-15 years.

Contracts on 3.3 million acres of CRP are set to expire on Sept. 30, 2013. Producers with expiring contracts or producers with environmentally sensitive land are encouraged to evaluate their options under CRP. According to Flikkema, Carroll County has 183 CRP contract’s for 2350 acres expiring September 30, 2013 that will be eligible to re-enroll if the eligible landowner, wish to do so.

Flikkema urges producers with any questions to visit or contact their local FSA office or go to www.fsa.usda.gov.

Acreage Certification

Lynn Bower, Member of the Carroll County Farm Service Agency County Committee said “After spring planting, producers should certify their 2013 acreage.” According to Bower filing an accurate acreage report for all crops and land uses, including failed acreage and prevented planting acreage, can prevent the loss of benefits for a variety of programs.

Additionally failed acreage must be reported before disposition of the crop. Prevented planting must be reported no later than 15 days after the final planting date.

Acreage reports are required for many Farm Service Agency programs. For spring and summer planted crops enrolled in programs other than NAP (Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program), acreage reports are to be certified by July 15.

Bower urges producers with questions on the acreage certification process to contact their local FSA office.

Mayfest Memorial Weekend

The 32nd annual Mayfest will be held Memorial Day Weekend at Campbell Center

May 24th-26th. There will be a craft show, food tent, Rotary beer and wine garden, kids’ entertainment, juried art show and continuous musical entertainment all weekend. The 5K Walk/Run will begin at 8 am on Saturday and the classic car show and bike tour will be held on Sunday. The music features a DJ on Friday evening, The Fast Clydes (50’s Rockabilly) and Bruce Kort and the Infarctions (Blues & Boogie) on Saturday night,

The Legends (Rockin’ Oldies) and Hi Infidelity (Chicago Rock Band) on Sunday as well as Open Mic performers on both days.

Entertainment gate price is $6 per person in advance and $8 at the gate. Children under 5 are free. Admission buttons, good for the entire weekend, can be purchased at the reduced price at several Mt. Carroll businesses. They also may be purchased by credit card before May 24th by calling . For more information, call or or contact Mayfest at 320 N. Main St., Ste. 101, Mt. Carroll, IL 61053.

Raab Graduates from Northwestern College

Katie Raab was among 259 graduating seniors at Northwestern College’s commencement ceremonies Saturday, May 11. Twenty-two students received Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees, while the rest of the graduating seniors were granted Bachelor of Arts degrees.

The Rev. Dr. Thomas De Vries, general secretary of the Reformed Church in America (RCA), addressed the graduates in a speech entitled “Life in the Fast Lane.” An honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree was conferred upon the Rev. Dr. Syl Scorza, who taught religion at Northwestern College from 1959 to 1990 and was a leader in the RCA.

Raab of Lanark majored in social work at Northwestern College. She is the daughter of Brian and Pam Raab.

Northwestern College is a Christian college of more than 1,200 students in Orange City, Iowa. Rated the nation’s sixth-best baccalaureate college by Washington Monthly and a top-10 Midwestern college by U.S. News & World Report magazine, Northwestern provides an education committed to academic rigor and a Christ-centered worldview.

Avoiding Tickborne Disease

As the weather warms up and people spend more time outdoors, it’s important to take precautions against tick bites and the illnesses they can carry, like Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease, tularemia and ehrlichiosis. Tickborne diseases can cause mild symptoms, severe infections requiring hospitalization and even death. Last year in Illinois, preliminary numbers show 50 cases of ehrlichiosis, four cases of tularemia, 204 cases of Lyme disease and 151 cases of Rock Mountain spotted fever, which included one death.

“Diagnosing tickborne illness is based largely on the patient’s knowledge that they’ve been bitten by a tick and the signs and symptoms of illness,” said Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck. “While antibiotics can treat illnesses due to tick bites, it’s best to avoid tick bites altogether by taking some simple precautions.”

Recommendations to avoid tick bites:

Walk in the center of trails so weeds do not brush against you.

Use repellent that contains 20 to 30 percent DEET on exposed skin. Always follow product instructions.

Use products that contain permethrin to treat clothing and gear, such as boots, pants (especially they cuffs), socks and tents. Or look for clothing pre-treated with permethrin.

Tuck long pants into your socks and boots. Wearing light-colored pants makes ticks easier to see.

In areas where there are ticks, check yourself, children and other family members every two to three hours for ticks (especially ears, hair, neck, legs and between the toes).

If you let your pets outdoors, check them often for ticks. Ticks can “hitch a ride” on your pets, but fall off in your home before they feed. Tick collars, sprays, shampoos, or monthly “top spot” medications help protect against ticks.

If you do find a tick, on yourself, others or pets, remove it promptly. The best way to remove a tick is to grasp it with fine-point tweezers as close to the skin as possible and gently, but firmly, pull it straight out. Do not twist or jerk the tick. Wash the bite area and your hands thoroughly with soap and water and apply an antiseptic to the bite site.

Within two weeks following a tick bite, if you experience a rash that looks like a bull’s-eye, or a rash anywhere on your body, or an unexplained illness accompanied by fever following, call your doctor. The most common symptoms of tick-related illnesses can include fever, chills, aches and pains, and rash. Early recognition and treatment of the infection decreases the risk of serious complications.

More information about preventing tick bites and disease can be found at http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/pccommonticks.htm.

FPRF to Meet

The Friends of the Pecatonica River Foundation (FPRF) will hold their monthly meeting on Thursday, May 16, 2013 at 7:00 pm at The Rafter’s Restaurant, 9426 West Wagner Road, Lena, Illinois in the Cafe’ Dining Room and you are invited. President Joe Ginger will be in charge of the meeting. The FPRF will be discussing continued work at Atten’s Landing, 2013 river events & activities, plans for river development, maintenance, and recreation in Stephenson County. We will be reviewing equipment repair updates and discussing relocation of our equipment (we are still looking for storage) , plans for future meetings, activities and more. We are a fun and active 501 (c)3 Not-for-profit organization. Please come and join us. All are welcome.

2013 Crop Marketing Program

The Sauk Valley Bank in conjunction with the Carroll, Lee, Ogle and Whiteside County Farm Bureaus will host a harvest crop marketing workshop on the evening of June 19th, at the Comfort Inn, in Dixon, IL. “Crop Risk Management in Volatile Times” is a two hour seminar designed specifically for producers to help them manage risk associated with the current volatility in the commodity markets and identify market conditions to capture profit margins through 2013.

Dr. Steve Johnson, Iowa State University Extension Farm Management Specialist, will facilitate the program. Steve serves as the Farm & Ag Business Management Specialist in Central Iowa for Iowa State University Extension. He presents at more than 100 meetings, workshops, seminars and conferences across the Corn Belt and interacts with more than 10,000 producers annually.

He holds BS and MS degrees from Iowa State University and his Ph.D. from Colorado State University. Steve specializes in topics related to grain marketing, government farm programs, crop insurance and other risk management strategies. He writes and trains on topics related to government farm programs, grain production contracts, farmland leasing and related crop income issues. He contributes to articles featured in a variety of farm magazines, websites, e-newsletters and other print and electronic media. Steve posts monthly a free newsletter, updates and regular webcasts that can be found on his university web site. That information can be found with a Google search for the words: Polk-County-Farm and Management.

During the two hour program producers will examine the following topics:

Weather and Price Outlook, Outside Markets and Speculative Investors, U.S. and Global Economies

Marketing Strategies and Tools, and 2014 Government Farm Program Prospects.
The workshop on June 19th begins at 7:00 p.m. at the Comfort Inn, 136 Plaza Drive, in Dixon, IL. This workshop is free to all participants, however, advanced registration is required. If you plan to attend, please register with the Carroll County Farm Bureau by June 12th. For more information on the workshop, or to register, contact the Carroll County Farm Bureau,

Morrison Police Department Announces the Helmet Incentive Program for 2013

Morrison Police Chief Brian Melton is proud to announce the Helmet Incentive Program again this year! The program is to promote bicycle safety among our youth and is only possible through the continued partnership and support of the Dairy Queen Grill & Chill, owners Ellen and Bart Smith.

The Morrison Police Department’s Helmet Incentive Program offers an incentive to those children (ages 3-16) that wear their helmet when bicycling. Chief Melton explains, “Starting today and through the summer months, anytime a Morrison Police Officer observes a child between the ages of 3 and 16 riding their bicycle with a helmet on, the Officer will reward that child with a coupon for free ice cream from the Dairy Queen.” Melton continues, “We hope this program encourages our youth to wear their helmets and practice bicycle safety when riding.”

Melton closed with, “We are very grateful to the Dairy Queen Grill & Chill, Ellen and Bart Smith and their staff for their continued support. Most importantly, we are excited about having the opportunity again this year for the program! We hope to reward even more children this year … so wear your helmets and encourage others to do so as well!”

Protect Your Bicycle Program Offered by Lanark PD

The Lanark Police Department is encouraging residents to register their bicycles within the city. There is no fee for this service.

Registration must be done in person (with the bicycle) at the police department . By registering bicycles, lost or stolen bicycles that are recovered can be returned to the owner. Call (815) 493-6931 to setup a time.

Save the date of June 15th, from 9:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. for the Lanark Bicycle Rodeo in the municipal parking lot behind the Exchange State Bank. Watch for details.

Mini-Masterpieces Featured at Freeport Art Museum

Back by popular demand, Mini Masterpieces are coming to the Freeport Art Museum!

Over sixty-five local and regional artists have signed up to donate works measuring 6 x 6 inches for this unique fundraising exhibition. Held biannually, Mini Masterpieces challenges artists to create miniature works in a wide variety of media from painting and photography to sculpture—as long on the final work measures six inches square.

The opening reception is a ticketed event featuring gourmet appetizers, top-selling wines and an exhibition catalog. Each miniature work of art is for sale by silent auction during the evening event beginning at $25. This exhibition is designed to encourage the purchase and appreciation of art work at an affordable price and all proceeds will benefit the Freeport Art Museum.

Works will be displayed anonymously on the main gallery walls during the opening reception and auction. Artist names will be revealed to the buyers at the end of the evening. All pieces remain on display until the exhibition closes on July 27th.

This one-of-kind event is open to the public. Tickets are $10 and are available in advance or at the door. Please call the Freeport Art Museum at ( for more information or to purchase tickets.

The Mini Masterpiece Exhibition will open Friday, June 7, 2013 and run through July 27, 2013. This event is sponsored by Wipfli, LLC

Farmers Must Access Fields With ‘Conservation Care’

Whiteside County Farmers are glad the drought of 2012 is over, but now they are dealing with the effects of this spring’s heavy rains. Once it dries, farming operations will proceed at a rapid pace. However, farmers must do so in a careful manner and be mindful of their conservation credo.

The heavy rains experienced by much of the area in mid-April took a toll on area fields. Areas that needed conservation practices such as grassed waterways, filter strips, basins and grass seeding were affected the most. Areas that normally do not experience erosion problems were also affected. Because NRCS understands that farmers must follow their USDA compliance plan AND get into their fields, NRCS would like to offer a few suggestions on how to successfully approach the sticky situation.

Although tilling the soil may not be allowed in your conservation compliance plan, it may in fact be the only way to re-establish a drive-able landscape that you can plant. Here are some steps to take to keep you in compliance for your Highly Erodible Land.

Grab your camera. Take a few photographs to document field conditions you face. If gullies exist or residue has drifted into piles, pictures will confirm that situation. Keep the pictures for later use and evidence just in case your tract comes up for a random spot review or a whistleblower reports it.

Don’t till up the entire field for just a few bad spots. Use tillage only in truly troubled/problem spots; only perform the amount needed to till in ruts. Only till damaged areas that need it—leave other areas alone.

If you have other critical areas or problems or special circumstances that call for unique or extreme measures, photograph them and be sure to let your NRCS staff know what the situation is. They can advise you on what action will work best and will be familiar with it if your land shows up on a spot review sometime next year. They can make a note of it for later reference, if needed.

Keeping these guidelines in mind should give producers peace of mind as they deal with current conditions and worry what it may mean for the year. If you run soil tests or have other records that document conditions, keep them; have them available if documentation is needed.

Remember, when conducting compliance reviews, NRCS always looks at recent AND long-term conservation history. If you must perform management techniques that fall outside of your usual and ordinary activities, NRCS must ensure the tillage or operations performed were indeed necessary and were the best management decision or option available.

If you approach the problem sensibly, document actual conditions and the decisions you’ve made and you’ve communicated with NRCS, you can remain in conservation compliance. For more information about these special compliance issues, visit with your NRCS staff located at your county USDA Service Center today.

Contact us at the Whiteside County NRCS, 16255 Liberty Street, Morrison, IL 61270; Phone ; Fax .

Highland Summerset Theatre Auditions for ‘Big River’

Highland Community College’s 40th season of the Summerset Theatre will be auditioning for “Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” on May 11 and 13. Auditions on Saturday, May 11, will be held from 10 a.m. to noon, and auditions on Monday, May 13, will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Ferguson Fine Arts Center.

The director is seeking singers, dancers, actors, and musicians for guitar, fiddle, banjo and harmonica. All ages encouraged to audition. Performances will be held July 5, 6, 11, 12, 13 and 14 on the Ferguson Fine Arts stage.

Based on Mark Twain’s novel, this Tony Award-winning musical follows Huck Finn on his adventures along the mighty Mississippi. “Big River” is a hilarious, suspenseful, heartwarming celebration of pure Americana - perfect for the entire family - with a jubilant score of Cajun, gospel, country, folk, and blues by country music legend Roger Miller.

For more information, contact Allen Redford .

95% of Illinois Taxpayers Held Hostage by State Pension Cartel

Pension reform could be easy if there were no government-union bosses – and the votes they deliver – according to Taxpayers United of America (TUA).

“The entire State of Illinois has been brought to its knees by about 5% of its population,” said Rae Ann McNeilly, TUA executive director.

“The debt to accommodate this 5% has grown to about 200% of the state’s annual budget. Using liberal actuarial standards, Illinois’ pension debt hits the $100 billion mark sometime this month, and that debt is created by the pension funds that serve only 5% of the state’s total population.

“How is it that this 5% of the population has such total control over the entire state? Government unions. Government-union bosses deliver the votes to keep politicians in power. The state of Illinois is being held hostage by cowardly legislators who are so worried about the votes of the rank and file that they are willing to steal massive amounts of wealth from the rest of the state’s population to prop up a system that is a proven failure.”

McNeilly asserted that “Pension reform could be relatively easy if we didn’t have government unions. We have reached the point where government unions have outlived their usefulness and are actually a threat to the entire state’s economy and general welfare.

“There should be no Constitutional protection for union thugs who pillage the state’s coffers for the benefit of a few and the legislators who kowtow to their demands. There should be no more laws that protect this corrupt system of election quid pro quo.

“None of the proposed pension reform bills even attempt to address the cause and effect that has brought the state to its knees. The current pension system places tremendous amounts of money in the hands of government bureaucrats who have never demonstrated responsibility with such assets.”

McNeilly observes that pensions, as we know them, rely on steady growth and prediction of the future. “All across the country, these systems have failed. Pension reform that does not permanently eliminate the possibility of unfunded liabilities by replacing them with defined contribution retirement savings is a smokescreen and shows disregard for 95% of the state’s population.

“The ‘Madigan bill’, being touted by Chicago machine boss and Ill. House Speaker Michael Madigan (D), not only falls short of eliminating unfunded liabilities, but worse, it guarantees that no matter how outrageous the pension debt gets, taxpayers must pay the pension bill before all others. This bill actually affords even more protection to the 5% at the cost of the 95%.”

“The ‘Cullerton bill’, which Senate leader John Cullerton purports will provide ‘real and substantial reform for a generation to come’, falls short on nearly every level and relies on the employees making the choices between COLAs and hospitalization. Both need to be cut if we intend to stay afloat.”

“Neither of the proposed bills is a panacea or even provides a margin of relief to taxpayers. It’s time for lawmakers to do their job and fix this problem as though there were no government union bosses to appease. Pension reform can be that simple. Pass the laws necessary to do the job and pass a bill that gets a state Constitutional amendment on the ballot that makes it legal to do what is in the best interest of 95% of the state.”

“Real pension reform must: 1. End pensions for new hires and implement a 401k type retirement savings program with no guarantees that hold taxpayers hostage. 2. Increase current employee pension contributions to reflect private sector levels. 3. End COLA’s entirely. 4. Raise the retirement age to 67 and continue to raise it as life expectancy increase. 5. Require all government employees and retirees to contribute 50% to their healthcare premiums.”

“And while we are at it, maybe we should ban government unions and Constitutional protections to special interest groups.”

NAA Research Reveals U.S. Consumers Still Rely on Newspapers When Buying

More than 8 in 10 adults – 81 percent – took action in the past month as a result of seeing a newspaper ad, new research from the Newspaper Association of America shows. More than half made an actual purchase.

“How America Shops and Spends 2013,” conducted for NAA by Frank N. Magid Associates, measures patterns of behaviors in U.S. consumers, including advertising media usage for shopping and purchasing, the role of newspaper media in purchase decisions, the use of preprints and coupons, and online shopping actions.

“This research reaffirms the power of newspaper advertising to engage consumers, and what’s more, its ability to drive them to take action,” said NAA president and CEO Caroline Little. “Consumers live in an advertising-saturated world and advertisers want to reach consumers who actually see their ads and engage with them. As this research once again confirms, newspaper media do just that. Newspaper media help advertisers cut through the clutter and influence consumer shopping decisions.”

“How America Shops and Spends 2013” reveals several key trends in U.S. shopping patterns that are important for advertisers to consider, including:

* Newspapers ranked first or tied for first place in seven of 12 benefit statements related to advertising platforms, with the top three being “you check for your regular shopping,” “most valuable in planning shopping” and “most believable and trustworthy.”

* Print newspapers scored highest at 62 percent out of 19 advertising sources used by survey participants to plan shopping or make purchasing decisions in the last seven days. When combined with newspaper websites, the net number totaled 66 percent.

* Survey participants who self-identified as nonreaders of newspapers nevertheless reported using them. Three of the top five actions from a list of 13 related specifically to advertising: clipping a coupon (16 percent), checking sales in local stores (16 percent) and comparing prices for items they intended to purchase (12 percent).

* Nearly 9 out of 10 – 86 percent – of those who used online circulars also took some action as a result of a print newspaper insert in the past 30 days.

“How America Shops & Spends 2013” features data culled from 2,000 nationwide interviews with individuals 18 years or older. Learn more about this study at http://www.naa.org/About-NAA/Events/Archives/2013/NAAmediaXchange/4-How-America-Shops-and-Spends.aspx.

May Art Exhibit at Eastland

The following students have art pieces in the May Art Show in the Eastland Art Gallery located in Supt. Mark Hansen’s office at the Eastland Elementary School in Lanark:

K - Ella Peterson parent Katie Peterson; 1st – Brady Sweitzer parents Michael & Stephanie Sweitzer; 2nd – Grace Meador parents Jeff & Elisha Meador; 3rd – Samantha Fink parents Christopher & Deanna fink; 4th – Paige Bardell parents Andrew & Rae Bardell; 5th – Daniel Sauer parents Jared & Sue Sauer; 6th - Jake Thede parents Jason & Dawn Thede; 7th – Jared Wilczynski parents Vincent & DeeAnn Wilczynski; 8th – Ismael Flores parents Clark & Judith Halstead, High School – Bailey Heckman parents Larry & Robin Heckman; Shawna Saunders parents Leonard & Lesli Saunders; Shawn Larak parents Bryan & Wendy Larak; and Madison Parker parents Mike & Stephanie Parker.

Get Your Mayfest Buttons Early and Save!

Early button sales have begun for the Mount Carroll Chamber of Commerce Mayfest celebration. Buttons are only available for a discounted price of $6 each until noon on the first day of the festival, Friday, May 24th.

This year entry buttons will be required inside the fenced area that encloses the performance stage area and the Rotary Beer and Wine Garden. Children 5 and under will not be required to have a button when accompanied by an adult with a button. Mayfest buttons will be available for purchase during the festival for $8 apiece.

Buttons may be purchased early for the reduced price at the following Mount Carroll businesses: Brick Street Coffee at Market Street Commons, Mt. Carroll Bowling Center, dabluz boutique and shops @ Glenview, Good Samaritan Society-Mt. Carroll, Kallemezoo’s, Land of Oz, the Mirror Democrat Office, Mt. Carroll Banking Center, Mt. Carroll Home Center, Mt. Carroll Mobil, Pharmacy Center, Savanna-Thomson State Bank, Schneider House Furniture & Flooring, Shaw’s Market Place, Sievert’s Steak-n-Stuff, THE National Bank, and the Savanna Times Journal Office.

For more information, contact the Mount Carroll Chamber of Commerce at 1-.