Mt. Carroll Rotary Club

New Mt. Carroll Police Chief Fred Cass (L) is welcomed by Mt. Carroll Rotarian Wayne Brooks, as the speaker at the August 31 club meeting. (Courtesy of Lou Schau)

Dancing Across Canada and New England

50 square dancers from 12 area clubs and local caller, Tommy Russell from Eldridge, Iowa, danced across Canada and the New England states for 10 days beginning August 2. Their destination and goal: Plattsburg, New York to visit and dance with fellow dancers, Tim and Paula Schares formerly from DeWitt, Iowa who had moved out east two years ago.

Area clubs were devastated when they lost Tim and Paula to Tim’s new job location, but Paula, looking on the bright side of things, invited them to come visit. Someone suggested a bus trip and Mike Hansen, square dancer from Preston, Iowa and part time tour bus driver, said he could organize it. And organize he did, with gusto and exuberance! He took suggestions from people, and after the question, “Can we go to Niagara Falls?” was asked, he planned one full day on the Canadian side for people to tour the famous attraction. After a quick stop at Lake Placid, New York, Plattsburg was finally reached. Tim and Paula’s square dance club provided a warm welcome, delicious potluck dinner and a dance that ended with each traveler receiving a club dangle. Paula and Tim then joined the tour for the next 5 days as they headed to Vermont where the group toured Morse Farms Maple Sugar Works and learned how maple syrup was made. They continued onward with a tour of a granite quarry called Rock of Ages. After arriving at the White Mountains of New Hampshire, three days were spent enjoying the evenings at a resort while the daytime hours were spent going to lots of attractions like the Castle in the Clouds, a ride on the Conway dinner train and a boat tour of Squam Lake where the movie On Golden Pond was filmed. They even heard the loons call. Tommy called a dance one evening at the foot of the White Mountains.

The next day took the group to Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire where the MS Mt Washington cruise ship held a dinner and square dance with other dancers from the New England states. 225 dancers enjoyed dancing on the ship while it cruised the lake. Tommy Russell and callers, Ted Lizotte from New Hampshire and Paul Cote from Texas joined together to entertain the crowd with different levels and styles of square dancing. Round dancing, which is choreographed ballroom dancing was cued by Phil and Sandie Gatchell from Massachusetts. Local TV station channel 9 of New Hampshire was there to film the fun event.

The next day the dancers were onward to Plymouth, Mass. where the Mayflower II and plantation were toured. The last day was spent at the baseball hall of fame in Coopersville, NY before ending the night with a farewell dinner and dance held at the hotel.

The 12 clubs represented on the trip were Clinton Riverboat Rustlers, Morrison Grand Squares, Preston Town and Country Twirlers, Maquoketa Double DJs, Dubuque Gold Rush Squares, Marion/Cedar Rapids Rapid Eights, Bettendorf: Acey Duecy, JBR and Wheel and Steppers, McCausland Camper River City Traveling Squares, Davenport Solo Steppers and Cedar Rapids Model A’s.

So much fun was had by all that a reunion trip is being planned.

Visitors are always welcome to come watch any of the local dances.

Check out our websites for schedules, lessons and contact information at www.squaredanceclinton.com, www.squaredancemorrison.com www.squaredancepreston.com and www.iowasquaredance.org

- Janet Fisher

Meeting For Environmental Assessment & Proposed Activation of Thomson Correctional Center

The Federal Bureau of Prisons will host a public meeting on September 9, 2010, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Buck’s Barn Resort, 5020 Illinois Highway 84, Thomson, IL 61285-7695. Representatives of the Bureau will provide an overview of the Environmental Assessment (EA) for Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Acquisition and Activation of Thomson Correctional Center as Administrative United States Penitentiary Thomson, Thomson, Illinois, and the findings of the EA.

Meeting participants will have the opportunity to provide written or verbal comments on the EA at the meeting, or at any time during the 30-day comment period. If you require the services of a sign language interpreter at the public meeting, please contact Ms. Marriott, or send a request by email no later than September 4, 2010.

All comments on the EA should be submitted to the Bureau, no later than October 1, 2010, by e-mail to , or by mail addressed to Federal Bureau of Prisons, Real Estate and Environmental Law Branch, Office of General Counsel, ATTN: Mr. Jeff Limjoco, 320 First Street, N.W., Washington D.C. 20534.

Subject to review and consideration of comments submitted by individuals, organizations, or agencies during the comment period, the Bureau intends issue a Finding of No Significant Impact (FNSI). The Bureau will issue a Notice of Availability of the FNSI, after which, the Bureau intends to proceed with the proposed action.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (the Bureau) has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) that evaluates the potential environmental impacts of the acquisition and activation of the Thomson Correctional Center (TCC), Thomson, Illinois. The Bureau is considering acquiring TCC to address an acute shortage of high-security, maximum-custody bed space for male federal inmates. Under the proposed action, the Bureau would acquire TCC from Illinois; convert, activate, and operate the facility as Administrative United States Penitentiary Thomson; and relocate between 1,800 and 2,000 inmates to TCC from other federal correctional facilities. Two alternatives for the implementation of the proposed action were considered, as well as a No Action Alternative. Implementing the proposed action is not expected to result in significant environmental impacts; therefore, preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement is not required in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act.

The EA is available for review and comment for 30 calendar days from September 1–October 1, 2010. The EA can be accessed on the Bureau’s Web site at http://www.bop.gov/news/index.jsp. Copies of the EA have also been provided to public libraries within the region of influence (all counties within about a 60-mile radius of Thomson, Illinois). If you require a printed copy of the EA, please send a request to or call Ms. Amber Marriott at (703) 385-6000.

Volunteer at Riverview

Share your time and talent to help Riverview Center create a community free of sexual and domestic violence. From our humble beginnings in 1992 with a roll of stamps and a PO Box, to having four locations serving the tri-state area, to our merger in Illinois to provide domestic violence services, we have depended on a team of volunteers to increase the breadth of services we provide to ensure that all survivors of physical and sexual abuse receive the support they need.

We need hotline volunteers. With only one paid legal/medical advocate per location, our 24-hour hotline utilizes highly-trained volunteers who have undergone a rigorous training program to ensure that every point of contact with survivors is not only informative, but also empathetic and safe, conditions that are so badly needed after such abuse has occurred.

As a volunteer, you will be an essential link between sexually and domestically abused individuals and our services, provide information regarding all medical and legal options, advice, recommendations of safe places to go after an attack, service referrals and counseling.

This is what two of our volunteers had to say about working on the hotline:

“It is rewarding to help someone who is in dire need and give them the resources they need to help them.”

“It seemed daunting at first, but after you get through that first call, and know you’ve helped someone, you want to keep doing more.”

For more information about becoming one of our hotline volunteers, please contact Riverview Center’s Volunteer Coordinator, Emily Valentine, at or . To learn more about our services, log on to our website at www.riverviewcenter.org or call any of our four locations.

Eastland Open Houses Scheduled

The Eastland Schools will be open to parents and the public on September 15, 2010 as follows:

- Eastland Elementary Open House on Wednesday, , September 15, from 5:30-6:30 p.m.

- Eastland Middle School Open House on Wednesday, September 15, from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Teachers will be available in their classrooms, and you will also have an opportunity to sign-up for Parent-Teacher conferences that will be held in October. At 6:00 p.m., we will have a short presentation in the Elementary gym highlighting the new Math-in-Focus curriculum that is being implemented in grades K-5.

Mark your September calendars to visit our schools, and to meet the staff members who work every day to make Eastland the best it can be!

‘Rise At Dawn’ Concert at CLS

The Christ Lutheran School in Sterling is hosting a free Christian rock concert on Saturday, Sept. 11. “Rise At Dawn” will perform, with an additional performance by Andrew Nelson.

The concert starts at 6 p.m., and all ages are welcome. For more information, call .

High Winds, Tree Cause Power Outage

A downed tree caused outages in the Mt. Carroll and Savanna areas early Tuesday morning, Sept. 7.

High winds caused the tree to fall on a main high-voltage feeder line resulting in four substations going offline, according to Jesse Shekleton, Jo-Carroll Energy manager of electric operations.

“Crews patrolled the entire line, found and removed the tree,” Shekleton noted.

The first outage reports were received at about 1:20 a.m. Power was restored to all but one account by about 4 a.m. Power to the remaining account was restored by 5:18 a.m. Approximately 2,350 accounts were affected by the outage.

Lanark First Brethren News

“Spend an ordinary day with Jesus” is both the name of the newest Sunday School class being offered and you invitation to attend in this is short, eight week series at the Lanark First Brethren Church. It starts at 9:00 a.m. on September 12. We provide a longer term series working their way through the entire bible. A third adult class addresses the hows and whys that we do as Christians and challenges members to live as biblically as possible.

Floyd Roberts, Moderator, describes the series as steps in his personal mission to better understand how our religion can be incorporated into our daily lives to provide the guidance, care and direction that all seem to seek. The topic incorporates audio-visual elements that look at an ordinary day in our lives and how we can develop friendships, work relationships, quiet time, etc. to develop our own unique spiritual pathway to enjoying more time with Jesus. That will also be the primary focus of the series discussions.

This program takes a unique approach to helping believers understand how we can instill religion in our lives today, as early Christians did in their periods. This series is broken into eight segments and can be presented in a week-end seminar or short term format as well. It promises to be a practical approach that should appeal to all who are interested.

NARFE News

Chapter 604 of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) Association will hold their monthly meeting at noon Thursday, September 16th at the House of Events, Savanna. A luncheon buffet will be available at noon for those who wish to eat. The business meeting and program will follow at 1:00. There will be a report on the just concluded National Convention. Come and learn what is new in NARFE. All active and retired federal employees, spouses and survivors, are cordially invited.

RAB Meeting

A Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) meeting will be held on the evening of September 16th at 6:00 p.m. in Building 247 Conference Room at the Savanna Army Depot. All meetings are open to the public. If you have any questions regarding this Savanna Army Depot meeting, please contact John E. Clarke, BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) Environmental Coordinator at or Cindy Irwin, Savanna Site Manager at .

USDA Designates 55 Counties in Illinois as Primary Natural Disaster Areas

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated 55 counties in Illinois as natural disaster areas because of losses caused by excessive rain, flooding and flash flooding that occurred from April 1, 2010 and continuing. The local counties are Carroll, Jo Daviess, and Stephenson.

“President Obama and I understand these conditions caused severe damage to farmland throughout Illinois and affected crops that included corn, soybeans, wheat, pasture and forage crops, and we want to help,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “This action will provide help to hundreds of farmers who suffered significant production losses.”

Farmers and ranchers in the following local counties in Illinois also qualify for natural disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous Ogle and Whiteside.

Farmers and ranchers in the Jackson county in Iowa also qualifies for natural disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous:

All counties listed above were designated natural disaster areas Aug. 30, 2010, making all qualified farm operators in the designated areas eligible for low interest emergency (EM) loans from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for loans to help cover part of their actual losses. FSA will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability. FSA has a variety of programs, in addition to the EM loan program, to help eligible farmers recover from adversity.

USDA also has made other programs available to assist farmers and ranchers, including the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program (SURE), which was approved as part of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008; the Emergency Conservation Program; Federal Crop Insurance; and the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program. Interested farmers may contact their local USDA Service Centers for further information on eligibility requirements and application procedures for these and other programs. Additional information is also available online at http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov.

FSA news releases are available on FSA’s website at http://www.fsa.usda.gov via the “News and Events” link.

O’Galena Orienteering Festival Set for September 18th at Wooded Wonderland

The public is invited to participate in a day of outdoor fun at the annual O’Galena Orienteering Festival hosted by the Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation Wooded Wonderland just a few miles south of Highway 20 on Devil’s Ladder Road. This is a unique opportunity to learn the art of navigating diverse terrain in search of marked points using only a compass and a map. Three courses ranging in length from 1 to 2 miles will test beginners and experienced orienteers alike, making the event ideal for the entire family. Experts will be on hand to offer instruction and compasses will be available for a small fee to anyone who needs one. The Festival runs from 9 am – 2 pm. Wooded Wonderland is located at 610 S. Devil’s Ladder Road which can be reached from Highway 20 about 1 mile west of the Galena Territories. This event is held on private land. Please be respectful of the residences and other buildings.

Registration is just $10.00/person; kids 6 & under free!

The Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation is a local nonprofit dedicated to protecting the natural wonders of the Jo Daviess County area. In addition, JDCF owns Schurmeier Teaching Forest in Elizabeth and the Buehler Preserve and Casper Bluff Land & Water Reserve in Galena, all of which are open to the public for hiking, wildlife viewing, and picnicking. JDCF also owns the Keough Effigy Mounds Land &Water Reserve and a portion of Horseshoe Mound. These sites will be open for public use in the future. For more information, visit their office at 126 N Main Street in Elizabeth, IL, call (815) 858-9100, or find them online at www.jdcf.org.

Disaster Food Stamps Applications for Flood Victims

The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) announced that due to an overwhelming response, the application schedule for food assistance for Northern Illinois flood victims will be revised.

“We know that thousands of families are in need of food assistance as a result of the July flooding and we are working hard to sign up as many as people as we can as quickly as possible,” said IDHS Acting Secretary Grace Hong Duffin. “We are also asking people to be sure they are eligible for this assistance before coming to the IDHS offices.”

To qualify, a person must have had damage to their home or business, disaster-related expenses that were not reimbursed, or a loss or reduction of income during the period of July 22, 2010 through Aug. 20, 2010. Applicants must bring proof of their identity and their residence or job in a disaster area prior to the disaster.

IDHS also reminds people they are not allowed to camp overnight at an IDHS office or they will be asked to leave by law enforcement. Also, pay attention to parking signs. Illegally parked cars will be towed.

Active cases do not qualify for Disaster Food Stamps if they already received the maximum benefit level in August:

Household Maximum Size Benefit

1 200

2 367

3 526

4 668

5 793

6 952

Individuals may be eligible for Disaster Food Stamps if they live or work in specific areas of the following counties: Cook, DuPage, Carroll, Jo Daviess, Ogle, Stevenson and Winnebago. Illinois residents who lived or worked in a disaster area within one of these counties at the time of the disaster may qualify for this special program.

Disaster SNAP benefits are provided to families based on total income and assets available to a household during the disaster. Non-reimbursed disaster-related expenses are allowed as a deduction from income and assets. A qualifying two-person family with a net income of less than $1,815 would receive $367 and a one-person household with a net income of less than $1,503 would receive $200. Most benefits will be available within three days of the date of application.

For more information about SNAP benefits or to find the nearest DHS location, please call DHS at 1-. A list of DHS offices accepting applications is included in the attached fact sheet.

Disaster Facts

- Total registrations: 31,912

- IA approved: $61 million

- Housing inspections completed: 22,363

- SBA: 24,256 applications distributed

- Disaster Recovery Center operating in Freeport at 295 W Lamm Rd Freeport, Il 61032

- Seven counties designated for IA: Carroll, Cook, DuPage, Jo Daviess, Ogle, Stephenson and Winnebago

- Deadline for registration and SBA applications: Oct. 18

For FEMA Assistance call 1- or online at disasterassistance.gov.

Toll free lines are open 7 days a week from 7a.m. to 10 p.m. and multi-lingual operators are available.

Individual Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repair, low cost loans, and other programs to help individuals and businesses recover.

Winning Wheels Brain Injury Support Group- Guest Speaker

Winning Wheels, located in Prophetstown, is offering a brain injury support group for individuals who have brain injuries and their families, friends, and caregivers .The support group will be held on the third Tuesday of each month starting at 6:30 p.m. at Winning Wheels. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 21st.

Gayla Bohms, Winning Wheels Transdisciplinary Therapist and Certified Brain Injury Specialist, will be conducting the group and says, “On September 21st, Winning Wheels Speech Pathologist, Courtney Huber; will be visiting to discuss speech-language services in brain injury, cognitive rehabilitation, and the Neurofeedback Program.”

In the United States, a brain injury occurs every 23 seconds. Individuals with brain injuries and their families, friends, and caregivers often need an outlet to share their experiences and learn from others. Winning Wheels is proud to offer this service to the community to provide an atmosphere where individuals can learn, listen, and get strength and courage from each other.

For more information regarding the Brain Injury Support Group, please call Gayla Bohms at ext. 20.

Winning Wheels, a long term care and rehabilitation facility for adults with brain injuries, is a registered 501 (c)3 not-for-profit organization. In addition to nursing care, Wheels offers it’s patients physical, occupational, speech, and recreational therapy. Wheels also supports therapeutic outdoor programs for patients including outrigger canoeing and the White Oaks Therapeutic Equestrian Center. For more information on Winning Wheels, please visit our website at: www.winningwheels.com

News from Illinois National Guard

Unique Illinois National Guard Unit Shows Ability to Defend Nation and Provide Worldwide Support

The term War on Terror evokes various emotions and mental images. Some may picture battles with the Taliban in the mountains of Afghanistan or Soldiers patrolling the streets of Baghdad.

But for members of the Illinois National Guard’s 5th Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team (WMD-CST) it means protecting regular citizens, every day, in their hometowns.

The Bartonville unit, which is open to Illinois Soldiers and Airmen, consists of 22 full-time guardsmen. The team’s members have skills ranging from communications and chemical decontamination to computer modeling and nuclear science.

While the team’s mission lies within Illinois, this summer the group assisted with security for the Central American and Caribbean Games in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.

In order to ensure the safety of athletes from 31 delegations, as well as thousands of spectators, the 5th CST coordinated with other civil support teams and numerous federal agencies to sweep and monitor sporting venues and athlete housing areas for any signs of hazardous materials.

In addition to checking venues and housing, the team’s specially trained members also assisted the Puerto Rican CST in installing a communication network that would allow the military teams to communicate between themselves, as well as with other federal agencies and teams of first responders.

The team’s nuclear medical scientist assisted in inspecting and monitoring the food eaten by athletes.

Although the team of Soldiers and Airmen travel throughout the world, their mission is to keep the citizens of Illinois safe in the event of a natural or manmade disaster.

According to Lt. Col. Loren LeGrand of Galena, the team’s commanding officer, the group is uniquely outfitted to fill a specific role.

“We are self-contained and we can self-deploy,” LeGrand said. “We have all the vehicles, tools and labs to truly be the governor’s 9-1-1 force. We are very active with all the law enforcement agencies in Illinois. We work closely with the state police, the FBI and even the Secret Service.”

Senior Master Sgt. Matthew Miller of Peoria, the 5th CST’s senior enlisted advisor, said almost anywhere large crowds of Illinoisans gather, the CST will likely be close by.

“We have done everything from the governor’s inauguration, the Lincoln Library opening, the Northern Illinois University shooting and any type of presidential visit,” said Miller. “Every year our standard fare is to do the Taste of Chicago with (more than) a million people attending. We do the NASCAR race in Joliet and the weekend after that we do the Chicago Air and Water Show and the Indy Racing League races in Joliet.”

While it may sound as though this team gets the best of assignments, it takes a lot of work and training to be asked to work at these events, said Miller. The team trains several times each month with local first responders, and larger federal agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Coast Guard.

In addition, individual members are routinely sent to schools to stay current on their highly technical specialties.

Sgt. Sam Gerdt of Peoria said the specialized training is an advantage of being on the CST. Gerdt, who entered the military while taking chemistry courses in college, chose the Chemical Corps because he thought it would suit his interest.

While Gerdt said the training for his job in the Chemical Corps did not contain enough chemistry to satisfy him, he said that job opened the door for him to join the CST.

The particular school that made the difference for Gerdt was the Civil Support Basic Skills Course, a requirement for all CST members.

“There are about two weeks of the course that are basically nothing but chemistry,” Gerdt said.

Despite the intense training schedule and constant travel, both Miller and Gerdt agree that getting out and dealing with other agencies, as well as civilians, keeps the job fresh.

“I think this is the best job I have ever had in the military,” said Miller. “You get to go out and interact with the people you are protecting and that is who you are working for.”

For more information contact: National Guard PAO Illinois, (217) 761-3569

Unemployed Man Publishes First Book

‘The Boys in the Window’

New author, John Bourgeois Sr. of Lake Carroll didn’t let his unemployed, and looking for work status, keep him idle during his downtime. He has astounded his friends and others including the literary world by using his plentiful spare time to write his first novel and publishing it on Lulu.com, the online marketplace for digital content.

While sitting in a coffee shop, using their Internet WIFI, and while drafting resumes and cover letters during his job search, Mr. Bourgeois seized the opportunity to use the idle time in between to write his observations of the people around him as they gathered together each day. The results of this effort was the writing of his 170-page fictional account of what he observed, and how he noticed the similarities between these people and others, as they gathered and socialized in public places. It’s a humorous novel about what happens when elderly gentlemen get together on a daily basis.

With unemployment very high in the double digits Mr. Bourgeois needed to find an outlet for his job search frustrations. One reader’s comments were “It’s amazing how Mr. Bourgeois has captured the personalities of the elderly. I can pick any character in this book and can surely identify that person with some of the traits of people I know. He brings out small idiosyncrasies in people whereas I might not have noticed them before. He was very successful in pointing them out. We live in an age when individuals are out of work and struggling to make ends meet. Here’s a guy who found an alternative outlet for his new found creativity.”

Another reader wrote “Sometimes being unemployed and the psychological pressures that come with it, can often stifle creativity. Mr. Bourgeois is a great example of what people can do when they put their mind to it!”

By dividing his manuscript into short paragraphs, simple language, and using a larger then normal type size Mr. Bourgeois is allowing the elderly to be able to read and enjoy his novel more easily. However, the novel is not just strictly written for the elderly, but quite the opposite. The young will also get a lesson on the aging process and what makes the elderly tick. Mr. Bourgeois, who has a degree in Applied Behavioral Science, said “The hardest thing was the proof reading and editing process.” The book took him over five years to research, although the actual research, were subconscious observations and years of interaction with the same group of people. It took over five months to actually put it to paper. Mr. Bourgeois says: “Only a few years ago I would have struggled to find both the time and the publisher to enable me to create this book. Thanks to my critics, and Lulu I am now proud to be a published author.”

The book is titled “The Boys in the Window,” and it is actually set in a small fictional town on the New England Sea Shore, and is not about the fellow coffee shoppers that Mr. Bourgeois shares his mornings with each day.

The book can be ordered online at Amazon, Google Books, and www.lulu.com item # 8628947 or available to order at local book stores as ISBN 978-0-557-45135-7. It is also available at local libraries.

Free Motorcycle Rider Courses

Interested Parties Advised to Sign Up Early As Classes Quickly Fill Up

Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig today announced that the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) will hold free Motorcycle Rider Training Courses for novice riders as part of the Cycle Rider Safety Training Program (CRSTP). Upcoming training courses in the following locations that are not currently full include: Pontiac, Canton, Decatur, Galesburg, LaSalle, Montgomery and East Peoria.

“IDOT is extremely committed to motorcycle safety in Illinois,” said IDOT Secretary Gary Hannig. “We encourage all novice motorcyclists to take advantage of these courses in order to provide them with the necessary tools they need to ride safely.”

Many riders sign up early and as a result, classes are often listed as full or closed. Due to cancellations, some courses will accept students on a space available basis. During the 2010 Training Season, more than two-thirds of walk-in students had received training.

The training courses are for any Illinois resident 16 years of age or older who holds a valid automobile or motorcycle driver’s license or permit. Upcoming beginner rider courses (BRC) will be held on weekends according to the following dates and respective locations: Pontiac (9/3-10/22), Canton (10/1/-10/15), Decatur (10/22 weekend only), Galesburg (10/1-10/22), LaSalle (10/1-10/22) and Montgomery (9/3-10/22). An intermediate rider course (IRC) will be held on weekends in East Peoria from September 3rd-October 22nd.

The BRC is designed for the Beginning Rider, but is not limited to only new riders.  The course will include approximately 20 hours of instruction.  Participants will receive a course text book, 7 hours of classroom instruction, 13 hours of “hands-on” cycle instruction.  The Basic Riding Course will give participants the physical skills and the knowledge to apply those skills appropriately. 

The IRC is designed for the intermediate rider, for those who have already had some experience as a motorcycle operator.  This course is approximately 10 hours that includes classroom and hands on instruction.  Registrants are required to have a valid motorcycle endorsement (class “L” or “M”) or a motorcycle learner’s permit from the Illinois Secretary of State. Training motorcycles and DOT approved helmets are provided at both the BRC and IRC.

To locate and register for a training course nearest you, please visit www.startseeingmotorcycles.org.

School is In Session - Caution

School’s back in session, the Marching Band and the Drill Team are practicing, the Volley Ball team is sweating in the gym, the football team is working on memorizing plays and the golf team is enjoying the coming fall weather while they swing those clubs! Sounds like a Disney movie, right?

But do we, as parents, really know what is going on in our teens (and pre-teens) lives? Do we know who our children’s friends are? Do we know who the parents of our children’s friends are?

Do we know if our children’s friends consume alcohol? I wanted to add regularly consume alcohol, but any venture into the world of alcohol for a developing brain of a teen is dangerous territory. If any of your children’s friends consume alcohol, it can make it more appealing to your teen and easier to obtain. When you drop your pre-teen or teen off at their friend’s house, do you know what the attitude of those adults is towards alcohol (and drugs). Do they look at alcohol use as a rite of passage? Do they believe it is better for kids to drink at home instead of somewhere else instead of NOT AT ALL?

In the 2010 IL Youth Survey (IYS), Carroll County students, 13% of 6th graders, 43% of 8th graders, 53% of 10th graders and 74% of 12th graders, reported Alcohol is easy to very easy to get.

Where do teens get their alcohol? According to their answers in the 2010 IYS survey, the highest percentage is at parties and from friends; the second highest are from older siblings, parents (with the parents’ permission) and other adults.

How can you, as a parent help to lessen the chance of this happening to your teen? ASK: Who are you going with? Where are you going? What time will you be home?

If your child is going to a friends’ house, ask who the parents are, will they be home while your child is there? Then call the parents and ask them. The conversation goes something like this: “Hi, my name is ___, I am Johnny’s/Susie’s mom. He/she tells me your son/daughter has invited my child to your house. I am checking to make sure this is alright with you and if you will be there during that time?”

If this is the first time for your child to spend time at someone’s house, don’t hesitate to go farther in your quest for information to keep your child safe. You might say something like: “Please don’t be offended, but since I haven’t met you before, I just wanted you to know that we have a zero tolerance for alcohol and drugs at our house. I am hoping you have the same rules.” Most parents I know are relieved to receive this call.

If possible, when you deliver your child to someone’s house for the first time, go to the door and meet the other parent. Face to face contact is the best means of encouraging parents to support each other.

Peer pressure is not only something teens face from other teens. Adults/parents face the “but everyone is doing it” pressure from their teens. Parents that agree on rules for the houses where kids “hang out” will be able to make better decisions with support from other parents.

If you have questions about underage alcohol consumption, the health/brain development issues surrounding underage drinking, to have a presentation for your organization or group of parents (host a Parent to Parent meeting in your home), contact Carol Geary or Freddie Preston (Carroll County Substance Education-CCSEC) at the University of IL Extension Office, .

The Carroll County Substance Education Coalition’s (CCSEC) efforts to reduce underage drinking are funded by the Partners for Success Grant through the IL Department of Human Services (IDHS).

Fall Series Set For Four Seasons Gardening Program

The Four Seasons Gardening program, sponsored by University of Illinois Extension, wraps up with a three-part fall series. The first topic in the series is titled Save Money: Diversify with Trees. The program is offered at the Mt. Carroll or Elizabeth Extension Offices Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at 1:00 pm. or in the Mt. Carroll Extension Office on Thursday September 23, 2010 at 7:00 pm.

You’ll learn how trees and shrubs can save you money and time—by reducing mowing areas, reducing outdoor irrigation, and lowering summer cooling and winter heating costs. The program includes a color slide presentation accompanied by the voice of the instructor as people from all over the state participate.

Other topics in the fall series include Small Fruit in the Home Garden on October 5 and October 7, and Spring and Summer Bulb Forcing on October 19 and 21.

Cost per session is $5. Advance registration is needed. Phone to attend in Mt. Carroll or to attend in Elizabeth. If you have disability needs, please indicate when registering.