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Food
thermometer essential
Cooking a stuffed turkey is riskier
than cooking one not stuffed. Harmful bacteria can survive in
stuffing that has not reached the safe temperature of 165 F,
possibly resulting in foodborne illness. Therefore, it is essential
that you always use a food thermometer to check the temperature of
the stuffing. For safety and uniform doneness, cook stuffing
separately in a casserole.
Preparing
stuffing safely
The ingredients for the stuffing can be
prepared ahead of time. Keep wet and dry ingredients separated;
chill. Mix wet and dry ingredients just before putting stuffing into
a casserole or filling the turkey cavity. The stuffing should be
moist, not dry, since heat destroys bacteria more rapidly in a moist
environment.
Cooking
stuffing safely
The safest way to cook stuffing is in a
casserole in a 325 degree oven. The internal temperature of the
stuffing must reach 165. If you choose to stuff your turkey, make
sure it is stuffed loosely. Cook the turkey immediately after
stuffing. Use a food thermometer to check the temperature in the
innermost part of the thigh and in the center of the stuffing. Even
if the innermost part of the thigh has reached a safe internal
temperature of 180, the center of the stuffing inside the turkey may
not have reached 165 and can cause foodborne illness. Continue to
cook the stuffed turkey until the stuffing has reached 165.
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second column in this article]
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 Standing
time
For quality, you may choose to let the
turkey stand for 20 minutes to let juices set. If your turkey is
stuffed, the temperature of the stuffing will also continue to rise
during this time. Remove all the stuffing from the turkey
immediately after standing time.
Handling
leftovers safely
Refrigerate stuffing in shallow
containers. Use leftover stuffing within one to two days for best
quality.
A word
about buying stuffed turkeys
Buying stuffed turkeys without the USDA
or state mark of inspection is not recommended. Turkeys purchased
stuffed and frozen that have the USDA or state mark of inspection on
the packaging are safe because they have been processed under
controlled conditions. These turkeys should not be thawed before
cooking. Follow package directions for handling.
For
further information
Meat and poultry hot line:
1 (800) 535-4555, toll-free nationwide
1 (800) 256-7072, TTY
USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service
site:
www.fsis.usda.gov
[USDA "Food Safety Facts"
provided by the Logan County Health Department] |
DOGS
Big to
little, most of these dogs will make wonderful lifelong companions when
you take them home and provide solid, steady training, grooming and
general care. Get educated about what you choose. If you give them
the time and care they need, you will be rewarded with much more
than you gave them. They are entertaining, fun, comforting, and will
lift you up for days on end.
Be prepared to take the necessary time when you bring home a
puppy, kitten, dog, cat or any other pet, and you will be blessed.
[Logan
County Animal Control is thankful for pet supplies donated by
individuals and Wal-Mart.]
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Warden
Sheila Farmer and her assistant, Polly Farmer,
look forward
to assisting you.
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[A friendly-faced 2-year-old male mixed Lab is seeking his
human soul mate.
He's not fixed, and he's good with other dogs.] |
[A purebred Doberman with a sweet disposition, this handsome
1½-year-old male is good with children and other
dogs. His ears are cropped; he is not fixed.] |
[Yes, I have a purple tongue!
That's because I'm a black Labrador and chow chow mix. I'm
male and just 1 year old. I'm not fixed, and I would make a
great farm dog.] |
[Glory is looking for a quiet home where she
can get some TLC. She likes kids. An American bulldog, she is
7 years old and has not been fixed.] |
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Ten reasons to adopt a
shelter dog
1.
I'll bring out your
playful side!
2.
I'll lend an ear to
your troubles.
3.
I'll keep you
fit and trim.
4.
We'll look out for each other.
5.
We'll sniff
out fun together!
6.
I'll keep you
right on schedule.
7.
I'll love you
with all my heart.
8.
We'll have a
tail-waggin' good time!
9.
We'll snuggle
on a quiet evening.
10.
We'll be
best friends always.
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CATS
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[Logan
County Animal Control is thankful for pet supplies donated by
individuals and Wal-Mart.] |
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Warden
Sheila Farmer and her assistant, Polly Farmer, look forward
to assisting you. |
In
the cat section there are a number of wonderful cats to
choose from
in a variety of colors and sizes.
Farm
cats available for free!
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[This lovely lady with green eyes is Bailey. She is 3
years old and has been spayed and declawed. She would love a
new home full of love.] |
[This soft-faced 1-year-old male kitty needs a cat lover's
care. He has not been fixed but has been declawed.] |
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These animals and
more are available to good homes from the Logan County Animal
Control at 1515 N. Kickapoo, phone 735-3232.
Fees for animal
adoption: dogs, $60/male, $65/female; cats, $35/male, $44/female.
The fees include neutering and spaying.
Logan County Animal
Control's hours of operation:
Sunday
– closed
Monday –
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Tuesday –
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Wednesday –
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Thursday –
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Friday –
8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Saturday –
closed
Warden: Sheila Farmer
Assistant: Polly Farmer
In-house veterinarian: Dr. Lester Thomson
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The young female deer was shot by a
landowner in late October because he believed it was ill.
Conservation police officers from the Department of Natural
Resources were contacted and collected the doe for testing at the
Illinois Department of Agriculture laboratory in Centralia. A
follow-up test conducted Nov. 1 at the National Veterinary Services
Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, confirmed the diagnosis.
Chronic wasting disease is a fatal
neurological disease found in deer and elk. The disease affects the
brains of infected animals, causing them to become emaciated,
display abnormal behavior, lose coordination and eventually die.
CWD has been diagnosed in wild,
free-ranging deer and elk as well as in captive animals in a number
of western states and was found earlier this year in Wisconsin and
Minnesota.
"This is the first positive for CWD from any deer or elk in
Illinois, though we’ve been monitoring and testing for the disease
for the past five years," said IDNR Director Brent Manning.
"Illinois expanded its surveillance efforts earlier this year and
created a joint task force with the Departments of Natural Resources
and Agriculture following the CWD outbreak in southern Wisconsin."
"The detection of CWD in Winnebago
County is disappointing," Manning said. "We are committed to a
long-term plan of stepped up surveillance and monitoring and to
taking all steps biologically appropriate to control the spread of
chronic wasting disease in Illinois. Deer hunters and those who
value the health of wildlife and outdoor recreation in Illinois will
continue to play an important role in that process."
Extensive testing for the disease is
planned during Illinois’ firearm deer season, which begins Friday,
Nov. 22. About 3,500 samples in 36 counties from hunter-harvested
deer around Illinois will be collected and tested. Larger numbers of
samples from hunter-harvested deer are being collected in northern
Illinois. Additional samples also are being taken from deer control
programs in northeastern Illinois where firearm deer hunting is not
allowed.
Counties tentatively to be sampled for
CWD during the 2002 firearm deer hunting season include Jo Daviess,
Stephenson, Winnebago, Boone, McHenry, Carroll, Ogle, DeKalb,
Whiteside, Rock Island, Bureau, LaSalle, Hancock, Adams, Pike,
Fulton, McLean, Vermilion, Sangamon, Macoupin, Shelby, Fayette,
Effingham, Clark, Lawrence, Madison, St. Clair, Clinton, Washington,
Randolph, Jefferson, Marion,Williamson, Union, Johnson and Pope.
Counties were selected based on a variety of factors including
geographic location, size of deer population and the number of
facilities with captive deer or elk.
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second column in this article]
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"Once we get test results back from our
expanded surveillance efforts, the task force will be able to
evaluate the extent of the disease in Illinois and the necessary
steps to control the disease," Manning said.
A task force comprised of key staff
from both agencies has been working for months to develop plans to
address surveillance of wild deer and captive herds, import and
export of deer and elk, and a planned response to a potential
chronic wasting disease outbreak in Illinois.
The importation of hunter-harvested
deer and elk is being limited, the importation of live animals has
been restricted, and the feeding of wild deer has been banned.
A DNR rule bans the importation of
hunter-harvested deer and elk carcasses into Illinois, except for
deboned meat, antlers, antlers attached to skull caps, hides, upper
canine teeth and finished taxidermist mounts. Skull caps must be
cleaned of all brain and muscle tissue. This action prevents hunters
from bringing potentially diseased animals into Illinois and
discarding their parts in a manner that could result in
contamination of Illinois’ deer herd.
The department has banned the feeding
of wild deer and other wildlife in areas where wild deer are
present. The ban includes food, salt, mineral blocks and other food
products, with some exceptions. For example, bird and squirrel
feeders close to homes and incidental feeding of wildlife within
active livestock operations are exempt from the ban. For a complete
list of the exemptions, see Section 635.40 at
http://dnr.state.il.us/legal/635-emergency.htm on the
department’s website.
The department has also implemented
regulations to minimize the threat of chronic wasting disease
entering Illinois through the interstate transportation of captive
deer and elk and to monitor captive herds already in Illinois. DNR
shares responsibility with the Department of Agriculture in
regulating captive deer and elk on game farms. DNR’s new rule
complements new regulations being adopted by the Agriculture
Department for diseased animals.
For updated
information about chronic wasting disease, including answers to
frequently asked questions and the department’s rules, see
http://dnr.state.il.us/pubaffairs/2002/CWD.htm.
[Illinois Department of
Natural Resources
press release]
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