More Important News

Hanover’s Class of 1967 alumni passed out free items and words to the Hanover Spirit Song in the brutal heat during the annual Hanover Days Parade on July 3rd, in Hanover. (PA photo/M. Miller)

A Ribbon Cutting celebration in Mount Carroll! Members of the Mount Carroll Chamber, Bob Hatheway, President (rIght), Laura Miller, Marketing & Events Coordinator, Sybil Doty, Treasurer, and Catherine Pokropinski, Secretary, gathered with friends and owners in celebration of the new facade remodeling at the Mt. Carroll Café at 314 North Main St. in Historic Downtown Mount Carroll on Thursday, July 5th. Business owner Steve, and wife Rita Jusufi with Julie, and Gazman Jusufi, and employee Kerry Glass. (Courtesy of MC Chamber/A. Williamson)

Gerald Bork, Carroll County Democrat Chairman, presents the Carroll County Democrats Scholarship of $250 to Jennifer Burnett of Shannon, IL, a recent graduate of Eastland High School. To be eligible, students must be studying Political Science, Government, Law, or a related field. Jennifer will be attending Highland Community College in Freeport, working toward a PhD in Criminal Psychology. (Courtesy of G. Bork)

We’re Looking for a Few Top Dogs!

Tongues and tails will soon be wagging at CGH Medical Center. Beginning September 1, specially trained canines will be regular visitors at the hospital as part of the new Love on a Leash Dog Therapy Program.

“We are excited that animal-assisted therapy is now a reality, thanks to the generosity of the CGH Health Foundation,” said Sheila Brune, director of Service Excellence and program coordinator. “This will positively impact our patients and the community. We are always looking for a wow factor to complement the excellent care we provide.”

The goal of the program is to bring joy, comfort and companionship to patients interacting with the dog/handler team, and we want to ensure that the program’s health, safety and training requirements promote the well-being of patients, as well as the dog/handler team. With this in mind, we have a comprehensive application, screening and training program.

If you are interested in becoming a dog/handler therapy team at CGH, please join us on Sunday, July 15 as qualifying dogs will go through a temperament and obedience evaluation by professional dog trainers. Testing will be held from 8-9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m.-noon and 1-2:30 p.m. in the CGH Medical Center Ryberg Auditorium, 100 E. LeFevre Road, Sterling. The cost of the temperament training is $35 (tax deductible) and pre-registration is encouraged. To download an application, visit www.cghmc.com/dogs.

Teams that pass will attend a day and a half training course at the hospital that includes mock and trainer-supervised patient visits, and a briefing on hospital policies and infection control practices. This training – scheduled for August 19 and 20 – will prepare teams for hospital visits.

If your dog consistently performs the following commands: sit, stay, recall and down without treats; walks at your side, loosely on a leash, without pulling; is at least one year of age; and gets along well with other dogs, he or she may qualify as a therapy dog. In addition, your dog should love people, should not be overly vocal, and should handle stress well. To learn more about the qualities that we look for in a therapy dog, visit www.cghmc.com/dogs or call Lauren Bishop at (815) 625-0400, ext. 5567.

DO YOU HAVE A TOP DOG?

CGH to Begin Love on a Leash Dog Therapy Program – Temperament Testing
to be Held July 15

Tongues and tails will soon be wagging at CGH Medical Center. Beginning September 1, specially trained canines will be regular visitors at the hospital as part of the new Love on a Leash Dog Therapy Program.

“We are excited that animal-assisted therapy is now a reality, thanks to the generosity of the CGH Health Foundation,” said Sheila Brune, director of Service Excellence and program coordinator. “This will positively impact our patients and the community. We are always looking for a wow factor to complement the excellent care we provide.”

The goal of the program is to bring joy, comfort and companionship to patients interacting with the dog/handler team, and we want to ensure that the program’s health, safety and training requirements promote the well-being of patients, as well as the dog/handler team. With this in mind, we have a comprehensive application, screening and training program.

If you are interested in becoming a dog/handler therapy team at CGH, please join us on Sunday, July 15 as qualifying dogs will go through a temperament and obedience evaluation by professional dog trainers. Testing will be held from 8-9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m.-noon and 1-2:30 p.m. in the CGH Medical Center Ryberg Auditorium, 100 E. LeFevre Road, Sterling. The cost of the temperament training is $35 (tax deductible) and pre-registration is encouraged. To download an application, visit www.cghmc.com/dogs.

Teams that pass will attend a day and a half training course at the hospital that includes mock and trainer-supervised patient visits, and a briefing on hospital policies and infection control practices. This training – scheduled for August 19 and 20 – will prepare teams for hospital visits.

If your dog consistently performs the following commands: sit, stay, recall and down without treats; walks at your side, loosely on a leash, without pulling; is at least one year of age; and gets along well with other dogs, he or she may qualify as a therapy dog. In addition, your dog should love people, should not be overly vocal, and should handle stress well. To learn more about the qualities that we look for in a therapy dog, visit www.cghmc.com/dogs or call Lauren Bishop at (815) 625-0400, ext. 5567.

Carroll County 4-H Receives Grant

Donna Schriner, member of the Illinois Agri-Women, presented Mary Francque of the Milledgeville Hotshots 4-H Club and currently Carroll County 4-H Federation President and 4-H Ambassador with a $500 grant to be used for agriculture educational materials in the Children’s Farm tent sponsored by the Carroll County 4-H and Carroll County Farm Bureau. The Children’s Farm is a fun and educational activity provided during the week of the Carroll Co. Fair and 4-H Fair.

These grant funds have been made available to several organizations throughout the state by the not-for-profit arm of the Illinois Agri-Women, the Illinois Agricultural Resource Council, Inc. to support agriculture educational opportunities and encourage ideas that other organizations might utilize. Other projects supported this year have included expansion of publicity for the Stockton FFA pumpkin patch, scholarships for previous participants of the career discovery conference “Women Changing the Face of Agriculture”, a greenhouse at the LaMoille FFA and support for the Livingston County Ag Fair Ag Olympics.

IFACE Awards Grants to Local Organizations

The Fulton Association for Community Enrichment (FACE) awarded 7 grants to local organizations on Thursday, July 5, 2012. The community foundation held the event at the Triple Play Banquet facility inFulton, Illinois. A total of $4500 was granted to local organizations by FACE. The evening included a 5-year anniversary celebration for FACE. The D.S. Flikkema Foundation also awarded $3,550 in grants to 8 local organizations at the same event.

Representatives from each organization attended the ceremony to accept the grant checks. FACE President Troy Hartman introduced each representative and gave a synopsis of their grant requests. Those organizations awarded either a FACE or a D.S. Flikkema Foundation grant are as follows:

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Clinton was awarded $600 from FACE and $400 from the D.S. Flikkema Foundation for background checks for mentors to Fulton “Littles.”

Schmaling Memorial Library was granted $900 from FACE and $100 from D.S. Flikkema Foundation for the “Reading is Listening @ Schmaling” books on CD program.

The Volunteer Educators at the Windmill Cultural Center were awarded $300 from FACE for their Wild Winter Wednesday programs. They also received $700 from the D.S. Flikkema Foundation for a cultural exchange with an Irish mill complex.

Unity Christian High School was awarded $750 from the D.S. Flikkema Foundation for their wellness program.

The Fulton Chamber of Commerce received $880 from FACE for new signs to be designed, printed, and installed along the Great River Bike Trail.

The River Bend Senior Center was awarded $500 from FACE for new kitchen equipment.

EASY, Extracurricular Activity Support for Youth, received $570 from the D.S. Flikkema Foundation to help cover costs of extracurricular activities at Fulton High School.

River Bend Unit District #2 was awarded $900 from FACE and $100 from the D.S. Flikkema Foundation for teachers to attend an iPad Summit workshop.

The Fulton Historical Society received $420 from FACE and $430 from the D.S. Flikkema Foundation for a new computer and software.

Fulton Recreation was granted $500 from the D.S. Flikkema Foundation for upgrades to Kiwanis Park baseball field. The Fulton Kiwanis Club also presented them with a check for $280 to cover the remainder of their grant request for their field upgrades.

FACE would like to thank all of the organizations who applied for grants in 2012. For more information about FACE, please contact Connie Koehn at (815) 589-2646.

Treasurer Rutherford Completes
Economic Development Trip to South Korea

Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford has completed a six-day, non-taxpayer funded economic development trip to South Korea. “This trip was tremendous. I arrived with the opportunity to build relationships between Illinois businesses and the Koreans, and it was very successful,” said Rutherford.

In addition to business development meetings, Rutherford’s trip was highlighted by visits with Illinois troops stationed in South Korea and Illinois sailors aboard the USS George Washington. The meetings were a moving reminder to Rutherford of the tremendous service being provided by men and women across the globe. “Instead of marching in parades on July 4th this year, I enjoyed spending my holiday making phone calls to the families of Illinois military members I met to share with them details about my visits with their loved ones and personally thank them for their sacrifices,” said Rutherford.

While in South Korea, Rutherford’s schedule included business development meetings with:

- A Korean-based LED technology manufacturer that is expected to announce the opening of a Central Illinois facility. Their expansion to Illinois will immediately add several technology sector jobs to the local economy with the possibility of expansion.

- Caterpillar, Boeing, Groupon and Leo Burnett executives, four of the Illinois companies who are doing business in Korea, to discuss how trade partnerships can be further developed between Korea and Illinois

- Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Kyung Shik Sohn, who also serves as the chief executive for CJ Group, a global company that does a great deal of business in the United States and who has recently visited Illinois.

- Hankook Steel, owners of the world’s largest milling machine. Hankook is a partner of Sam Metal Technologies in Schaumburg and their leaders expressed their desire to import more materials from the United States.

- Haman county governor who told Rutherford he was the highest ranking U.S. official to visit the region. An executive from an Illinois company with roots in Haman flew to Korea to join the meeting.

- The Korean Smart Grid Institute and the Korea Electric and Power Corporation who are involved in Illinois’ Smart Grid project.

Illinois already exports more than $800 million to South Korea annually but those numbers are expected to rise by nearly 50 percent because of the free trade agreement signed between the United States and South Korea earlier this year.

Additional events included laying a wreath at the War Memorial of Korea for fallen soldiers from Illinois, a visit to the Korean Demilitarized Zone along the 38th parallel, a gathering in Seoul with alumni from various Illinois universities, a speech about Illinois’ efforts to combat substance abuse to a Korean advocacy group, and a meeting with the mayor of Chicago’s sister city, Busan.

Attorney Steve Kim, who accompanied Rutherford on the trip, leads a volunteer panel of professionals that audit the State Treasurer’s Office programs for efficiencies and serves as a trusted advisor to Rutherford on business issues.

“I am especially enthused about this trip because of the relationships we were able to build with small and medium sized Korean businesses. The potential mutual benefits are enormous,” said Kim.

“There is a good message to be brought back from South Korea; this market has a need for more products from Illinois. Agricultural goods, machinery, electronics, and transportation equipment will all see increased demands. Illinois is in a prime position to fulfill these international orders,” said Rutherford. “I also want to emphasize that no taxpayer dollars were used to fund my trip.”

Join Forestry Tour of Siemen Woodworks

On Saturday, July 14th, at 1:00pm, the Northwest Illinois Forestry Association will sponsor a tour of Siemen Woodworks in East Dubuque, at 18091 Rt. 20. Siemen Woodworks is known for its beautiful cabinetry, mantles, and bedroom furniture. They work with oak, hickory, cherry, alder, and maple. The tour will be led by Bill Siemen, owner of the company.

Directions: Heading West on Rt. 20, as you near East Dubuque, turn left after the vacant Vroom Auto Sales lot near Hirschbach Trucking Co. and another immediate left onto the frontage road. That road ends at Siemen Woodworks.

For details or more information, please contact Tom Arnold at .

Carroll County Democrats Meeting

The Carroll County Democrats will hold their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, July 17th at 7 p.m. at the York Township Library, 1005 W. Street in Thomson. If you plan on going to the State Fair’s Governor’s Day with us, please plan on being there. For more information, contact Gerald Bork at .

FHN Nuclear Medicine Department Accredited by ACR

FHN’s Nuclear Medicine department has achieved a three-year accreditation by the American College of Radiology (ACR).

The ACR has now accredited FHN’s Diagnostic Imaging Department in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI); Mammography; Nuclear Medicine; and Positron Emission Tomography (PET).

“The ACR awards accreditation to facilities for the achievement of high practice standards after a peer-review evaluation of its practice. Image quality and procedure evaluations are conducted by board-certified radiologists and medical physicists who are experts in the field,” said FHN Director of Diagnostic Imaging Robin Scalise.

“The program also evaluates personnel qualifications, adequacy of facility equipment, quality control procedures and quality assurance programs,” Scalise said. “We are very proud of FHN’s imaging team, and grateful in particular for the hard work of the Nuclear Medicine staff.”

According to the ACR, when a patient chooses an ACR-accredited facility, he or she knows that:

· The hospital, clinic or health center has voluntarily gone through a rigorous review process to be sure it meets nationally accepted standards

· The personnel are well-qualified, through education and certification, to perform and interpret medical images and administer radiation therapy treatments

· The equipment is appropriate for the required tests or treatments, and the facility meets or exceeds quality assurance and safety guidelines

For more information on imaging services at FHN, visit www.fhn.org. To schedule a mammogram at FHN’s ACR-accredited Women’s Diagnostic Center inside FHN Memorial Hospital in Freeport, call .

Elkhorn Creek Butterfly Festival To Be Held On July 21

Northwest Illinois Audubon Society will be hosting a Butterfly Festival on Saturday, July 21 from 1-5 p.m. Join us for a fun, informative family-friendly afternoon as we explore the Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve for the many butterflies that are found there. Participants may join butterfly tours or look on their own for those winged beauties. Tours will begin at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. Free “Butterflies and Moths” pocket guides will be distributed at no charge while supplies last. We’ll have a shady rest area with chairs, as well as a restroom, cold beverages and snacks. If the weather is questionable, call Blackmores at before 10 a.m. on July 21.

Explorers at previous Butterfly Festivals have found 28 species of butterflies and skippers, among them Tiger Swallowtail, Meadow Fritillary, Buckeye, Comma, Pearl Crescent, Peck’s Skipper and Silver Spotted Skipper.

The Preserve is located about 3 miles southwest of Forreston in the southeast corner of West Grove and Freeport Roads. The parking lot is off of West Grove Road. We hope to see you there!

MingoBob at Mount Carroll Farmers Market

Let’s Ride! Stop by the Chamber of Commerce tent at the Farmers Market from 9 am-noon, Saturday, July 14th and visit with MingoBob.

There will be handouts on bicycle safety, nutrition, shopping, upkeep and more. Bring your helmet and receive a free gift! There is no charge for this demonstration. The Farmers Market is held from 8 am to noon.

For more information on the Market and other downtown activities, call or visit the website at www.mt.carrollil.org.

FHN Among Top 3 Hospitals in Illinois for Safety

Consumer Reports, a national magazine known for its unbiased testing, found FHN Memorial Hospital in Freeport among the top 3 hospitals in Illinois for safety.

“We are proud to receive this recognition,” said FHN President and CEO Michael Perry, MD. “As an organization, it is our goal to provide our communities with the best possible healthcare services and these ‘grades’ say we’re on the right track. Of course we are even more pleased for our patients and hope this adds to their level of confidence in our processes and capabilities.”

The data Consumer Reports used in its rankings, Dr. Perry noted, is available (and updated quarterly) on FHN’s website, www.fhn.org. It is gathered regularly by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and reported online by the Hospital Quality Alliance (HQA) at its websitewww.HospitalCompare.hhs.gov and the Illinois Hospital Association (IHA) at websites including www.illinoishospitals.org andwww.healthcarereportcard.illinois.gov.

In information available in the newsstand version of the August 2012 Consumer Reports, FHN is rated “better” in two of the four highlighted categories (six categories were rated) and has a computed safety score of 64. The top-ranked hospital in Illinois is Alton Memorial Hospital in Alton, with a safety score of 71. The top-ranked hospital nationally is Billings Clinic in Billings, Montana, with a safety score of 72.

For more information about FHN, please visit www.fhn.org.

Corrigeux on Chancellor’s List

University of Wisconsin-Platteville announced that Amanda Corrigeux from Thomson, IL is on the 2012 spring semester Chancellor’s List. Students receive this academic status by earning a 4.0 grade point average during the semester. Attainment of the Chancellor’s List represents the high academic achievement at UW-Platteville.

Hardacre Named to Northwestern College Dean’s List

Caleb Hardacre, son of Bryan & Kristine Hardacre of Lanark, was named with High Honors to the spring semester dean’s list at Northwestern College in St. Paul, Minn. The dean’s list with high honors includes full-time students with a GPA of 3.75-3.89. Caleb is pursuing a degree in Mathematics Education at Northwestern.

Area Residents Named to Dean’s List at Olivet

Olivet Nazarene University recently released the dean’s list for the spring 2012 semester. To qualify for inclusion on the dean’s list, a student must have been enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student and must have attained a semester grade point average of 3.50 or higher on a 4.00 grading scale. Area residents named to the dean’s list are:

Lydia Bilyeu of Fulton, Michele Keckler of Lanark, Kathryn Peugh of Milledgeville, Ainsley Stebbins of Polo, and Jakob Trancoso of Rock Falls.

Vandermyde Graduates

Nathan Vandermyde graduated with a bachelor degree on June 9, 2012 from North Central College on its 147th Commencement in Naperville, IL.

Tri-County Opportunities Council Elects Officers

Officers of the Tri-County Opportunities Council, Community Action Agency, were elected at the Council’s recent annual meeting. Kenneth Krogulski, LaSalle, will serve another one-year term as Chairperson; Albert Harmon, Toulon, was reelected Vice-Chairperson. The returning Secretary is Julie Jacobs, Sterling, and Frederick Phillips Sr., Savanna, will serve as Treasurer.

At the same meeting, awards were given to Mr. Krogulski and Mary Klopcic, Spring Valley, for 25 years of Board service. Honored for 20 years of service was Susan Bursztynsky, Ottawa. And, five year certificates were presented to James Barnes, Oregon, and Marlin Jones, Savanna, for 5 years of Board service.

Serving Bureau, Carroll, LaSalle, Lee, Marshall, Ogle, Putnam, Stark and Whiteside counties, the Council has provided a wide variety of programs, activities and services for thousands of low-income people over the past 47 years. Its Board is comprised equally of representatives of public bodies, private interests and those it serves. Anyone interested in learning more about Tri-County or joining its Board of Directors may call the agency at 1-. Tri-County Opportunities Council is a United Way Agency.

FSA Deadlines Near

Alan Flikkema, Chairman of the Carroll County Farm Service Agency County Committee is reminding area producers of some important, pending, FSA deadlines.

According to Flikkema, Monday, July 16, 2012 is the final date for producers to report their 2012 planted crop acres. Flikkema said, “Acreage reports are required for most FSA programs,” and the basis for future programs.

Filing an accurate acreage report including failed acreage, and prevented planted, can prevent the loss of benefits for a variety of programs. Producers will be charged a fee to late file 2012 acreage reports.

Flikkema also said that producers who missed the June 1, 2012 deadline to enroll in the 2012 DCP and ACRE programs have until August 1, 2012 to late file a contract and participate in those programs.

Producers with questions on these and other FSA programs are encouraged to contact their local FSA office.

Calling Itchy Dogs: Clinical Trial in Veterinary Dermatology

The dermatology service at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital is conducting a six-month study of a new treatment for dogs with atopic dermatitis (environmental allergies). 

Qualifying dogs will receive a free examination, allergy treatment, and a $500 in-hospital credit upon completion of the entire study.

There are several criteria in order to be eligible for the study. Owners must be able to make nine visits to the teaching hospital, located at 1008 West Hazelwood Drive in Urbana, over a six-month period. They must also agree to discontinue current medications as directed for the study and must not treat their dog with any medications prohibited during the study.

To be considered for the study, dogs must be mostly indoor dogs weighing more than 6.6 pounds. Dogs that are pregnant or lactating or that will be bred are not eligible.

The dog must have a documented history of non-seasonal allergies, and must be in good health other than having skin allergies. The itching must have started when the dog was less than three years old and must involve licking of the front feet.

The dog must have completed a food trial to rule out food allergies and must not have had an intradermal skin test within four weeks of the study. The dog must remain on the same diet throughout the study.

Other criteria involving tests for parasites, use of heartworm and flea preventative during the study, and acceptable timing of annual vaccinations will be explained. Dogs with a skin infection should be treated before entering the trial, but may continue on treatment up until day 42 of the study.

This study is blinded; dogs enrolled have a 1 in 3 chance of receiving a placebo.

To find out more, please contact Sandy Grable at , or email .

New Staff Additions at Crossroads

Crossroads Community Church is excited to share the addition of new Campus Pastor Eric Pio. Originally from Indiana, Eric and his wife Julie, along with their 2 children Abby & Caleb moved to Freeport two years ago to oversee the Crave Student Ministries for all 9 campuses of Crossroads Community Church. After 15 years of being in Youth Ministry, Eric felt the call to help those who are far from God. He joined the Morrison campus on April 23, 2012. Eric enjoys spending time with his family as well as outdoor activities.

Crossroads also welcomes Jonathon Molchin, who will join the Morrison Campus on July 17 as Youth & Worship Pastor of the Morrison Campus. Jonathon has recently graduated from Hillsong International Leadership College in Australia where he has studied in Worship & leadership. Jonathon and his wife, Mallory are committed to making Crave Student Ministries an exciting, energetic atmosphere that will challenge and impact our area teens so they can be a positive influence at home and with their friends.

Crave is for Jr. High and High School Students and meets on Wednesday nights. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and service begins with LIVE praise and worship at 7 p.m. with doors closing at 8:30. Jonathon also joins Crossroads as Worship Pastor leading worship through upbeat music with a LIVE praise and worship team, welcoming people into the presence of God on a weekly basis.

Schilling Invites Bustos to Discuss Debates

U.S. Representative Bobby Schilling (R-Colona) is inviting former Alderwoman and public relations specialist Cheri Bustos (D-East Moline) to meet with staff to discuss a schedule for televised debates. Schilling and Bustos are both candidates for Congress in the Illinois 17th District.

The Schilling campaign sent the Bustos campaign a letter July 9 requesting a meeting to hammer out the details of this proposal. Schilling said that the people are expecting an honest discussion of the issues.

During the Primary Election campaign, Bustos attended a few venues with her Democratic rivals, but never agreed to any formal debates.

“Let’s do a service to the democratic process and talk about the issues,” Schilling said. “I want to talk about my record. I want to talk about protecting the Rock Island Arsenal, strengthening our manufacturing sector, and encouraging small business. I want to talk about the efforts we’ve made in the House to cut spending and balance the budget. I want to talk about what we’re doing for veterans and for seniors, and I want to talk about how we’ve led by example. It’s time to have a real discussion about how we can best serve the next generation.”

Schilling pointed out that debates would be an efficient and effective way to present both candidates to the new parts of the district.

“I think Alderwoman Bustos would agree with me—we need to make sure voters have the opportunity to watch us debate so they can make an informed decision on November 6th,” Schilling said. “Let’s work out a schedule to debate and make this happen.”

Durbin Celebrates Rock Island Arsenal’s Sesquecentennial

In celebration of the 150th anniversary of Rock Island Arsenal, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) entered a statement into the Congressional Record in honor of the Arsenal’s impressive history and its impact on the Rock Island community and the nation. A portion of the statement follows.

“I thank those who serve at the Arsenal today and those who have served in the past. And also to those who have join me in honoring Rock Island Arsenal in its 150 year anniversary celebration,” said Durbin. “Rock Island is about more than just production – it is also the bedrock of the Quad-City region as the area’s largest employer. One example of family commitment to the Arsenal is Jeff Roberts, a machinist at Rock Island. His great-great-great-great grandfather was a master carpenter at Rock Island in the 1860s and helped build the island’s iconic Clock Tower. Working at the Arsenal for our men and women in uniform gave Jeff a clear understanding of, as he described it, ‘what you’re doing and why you’re doing it.’ He added, ‘I’ve never had the job satisfaction I have now until I came here.’ Jeff’s experience is replicated all across the Arsenal.”