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Features

Just out: results of the
Logan County substance use poll

[MARCH 7, 2003]  The results are out! In October 2002, Lincoln Daily News and Logan-Mason Mental Health conducted an online community needs assessment. The findings below are taken from that survey.

• 89.5 percent of Logan County parents said they would do EVERYTHING possible to keep their child from using alcohol.

• 87.8 percent of Logan County parents say they would be upset if their child drank alcohol.

• 86.8 percent of Logan County parents said they feel their own use of alcohol influences their child.

• 83.3 percent of Logan County parents feel that adults who allow teens to drink in their homes should be arrested.

• 97.4 percent of Logan County parents say they would be upset if their child used marijuana.

• 92.1 percent of Logan County parents say that it is their job to keep their child from using marijuana.

• 91.9 percent of Logan County parents believe that it is NOT OK for adolescents to buy over-the-counter drugs to alter their moods.

If you are interested in getting a copy or copies of the statistics, you may contact Kristi Lessen, substance abuse prevention specialist, Logan-Mason Mental Health, a division of Mental Health Centers of Illinois, 304 Eighth St., Lincoln, IL 62656; phone (217) 735-2272; fax (217) 732-9847; lessen.kristin@mhsil.com.

[News release]

Parents worry most about teen driving -- DaimlerChrysler survey

[MARCH 7, 2003]  A survey just released by DaimlerChrysler shows that of 400 parents asked about concerns for their teenager, 51 percent ranked driving issues as their overall concern -- this over teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, drugs or alcohol.

This is no surprise to Gary Direnfeld, executive director of the I Promise Program, a teen safe-driving initiative.

"In our conversations with hundreds of parents, we have also learned that they are most white-knuckled a week before their teen gets their license to about three weeks thereafter," he said.

He has teamed up with insurance agents across North America, since he recognizes that parents call their insurance agent within this time frame, saying they are looking to make an insurance purchase to cover their teen. "This is precisely the time for agents to tell parents about the I Promise Program," he says.

Direnfeld is a staunch advocate of this initiative. He is quick to point out that if a teen dies in America today, the odds are that it will be from a teen driver car crash.

Statistics from the government's CDC website bear him out. In year 2000, 4,657 teens ages 16 to 19 died in car crashes. The next four leading causes of death in this age group are homicide, suicide, cancer and heart disease. But if you add these up, they still do not equal the number of deaths from car crashes alone. [See also "Teen Drivers" fact sheet.]

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The I Promise Program provides a safe driving contract and has parent and teen discuss and agree to expectations and responsibilities for the use of the car. Research from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development shows that parents who used a similar contract were more apt to place greater restrictions on their teen drivers than parents who did not.

The I Promise Program builds on the concept of parental monitoring, as social science research shows that parents who are more aware of their teenagers' whereabouts, friends and how they spend their time and money have teens with lower pregnancy rates and are less likely to smoke, drink and do drugs.

Information about the I Promise Program is available from www.ipromiseprogram.com. There you can view the list of agents currently recommending the program.

[News release]

Grandparenting class

[FEB. 28, 2003]  Calling all grandparents! Please join the group on Saturday, March 15, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Lincoln Public Library Annex Community Room to celebrate "grandparenthood."

A brief video will highlight the effects that grandparents have on their grandchildren and provide ideas for staying connected even when far away. The workshop will also discuss various grandparenting roles and offer practical suggestions and activities that will benefit the entire family. This will be a time to share your own unique experience as a grandparent and provide support for other grandparents in our community.

A tour of the children's library will be given for anyone interested. Refreshments will also be provided.

The Lincoln Junior Woman's Club is sponsoring the workshop.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Cathy Huerd at the Lincoln Parents' Center, 735-4192.

[News release]

Get out your favorite recipes
and become a part of history

[JAN. 31, 2003]  The Zonta Club of Lincoln is sponsoring a cookbook in honor of Lincoln's Sesquicentennial this year.

You are invited to be a part in the historical cookbook venture. Your family favorites and specialties will help make the cookbook a highlight of Lincoln's celebration. Your name will be featured along with your recipes. If you have special memories of the recipe, please include them as well.

On May 1, a few months before the city's 150th anniversary, Zonta Club of Lincoln is celebrating its 46th anniversary. Zonta is a classified service organization of executive and professional women.

For over 40 years Zonta Club of Lincoln's major fund-raiser has been an annual turkey dinner served the first Sunday in November. Monies raised support various service projects locally as well as internationally.

Zonta Club of Lincoln is very appreciative of the community's continued support of our annual dinner. We all share in the success of the club's service projects. By working together, we have made a difference in our communities and the world in which we live.

In 1981, Zonta also implemented a health career scholarship program. Approximately 50 area residents have benefited from the scholarship program. There are now nurses, pharmacists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, a dentist, chiropractor, obstetrician/gynecologist, cardiologists, optometrist and others who have completed their studies and are in private or clinic practices today. Don Sielaff, M.D., and Todd Nobbe, O.D., are two doctors who were scholarship winners and have returned to Lincoln for their practices.

A study is being prepared of the whereabouts and accomplishments of the scholarship winners. They are truly part of Zonta Club of Lincoln's history. Zonta is extremely proud of the scholarship program and pleased to have been able to share a small part in the lives and career goals of the recipients.

The new project, the cookbook, will feature recipes from current, former and future Zontians. The club also encourages this year's students to submit a recipe. Recipes will be included from scholarship recipients, area restaurants over the past years, and many families and friends of our community. Please join Zonta in compiling Lincoln's favorite recipes of the past 150 years.

Recipe forms are available locally at:

• Central Illinois Bank
• Illini Bank
• State Bank of Lincoln, Sangamon Street location

• Union Planters, main bank

You may also send recipes to the cookbook chairwoman, Judy Awe, 123 Crestwood Drive, Lincoln, IL 62656-1360. Be sure to include your name and address.

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Please submit recipes before March 15.

Also please indicate if you are interested in reserving a copy of the cookbook. They will be available this summer.

Profit from the cookbook sales will be used for Zonta service projects.

Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital -- camp for diabetic children; hospice; Lifeline; intensive care; oncology; obstetrics/gynecology

American Diabetes Association -- camp scholarships for diabetic children

All local and area nursing homes

Local schools

Crime Stoppers

Community Action -- Head Start

Heritage in Flight Museum -- Amelia Earhart recognized by Zonta International

Jaycee Playground

Lincoln Community High School

Lincoln Park District

Lincoln Public Library

Lincoln Swim Club

Lincoln-Logan Underwater Search and Recovery

Logan County Food Pantry

Logan County Health Department

Reading is Fundamental

Ronald McDonald House

T.O.U.C.H.

Eye Clinic for children

Sojourn Shelter for women

Living Alternatives, Crisis Pregnancy

Habitat for Humanity

Domestic violence prevention

Salvation Army

To provide service at the global and local level;

To improve the legal, political, economic, educational, health and professional status of women;

To work for the advancement of understanding, goodwill and peace through a work fellowship of executives in business and the professions;

To promote justice and universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms;

To be united internationally to foster high ethical standards, to implement service programs, and to provide mutual support and fellowship for members who serve their communities, their nations and the universe.

[Zonta Club of Lincoln news release]

Animals for Adoption

Researchers seek help from anglers

[FEB. 15, 2003]  Researchers at the Illinois Natural History Survey's Lake Michigan Biological Station in Zion are seeking assistance from anglers who fish this region of Illinois in reporting non-native species of carp.

Several non-native species of carp have been introduced into the aquatic ecosystems of Illinois and are thriving in a wide variety of ecological niches. The species include the common carp, big-head carp, silver carp, grass carp, round goby and Eurasian ruffe.

"All these exotic fishes have the potential to cause severe environmental damage to aquatic systems," said John Dettmers, director of the INHS Lake Michigan Biological Station.

To prevent movement of these species between Lake Michigan and the Illinois River, an electric barrier has been installed in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal near Romeoville.

"There are three ways individuals or angling groups can help. They can spread the word about the danger of these fish, report to researchers any tagged carp that are caught and report non-native fishes caught," Dettmers said.

Many non-native carp could have been moved by anglers. At least, that's how scientists think some nuisance species have spread.

"Scientists will surgically implant transmitters in common carp and place some above and some below the barrier. If the barrier is working properly, none of these fish should be able to get from one side to the other. If they do, managers will have to increase the strength of the electric field before the big-head and silver carp reach this part of the canal," Dittmer said.

So scientists will rely, in part, on anglers to report tagged fish.

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Dittmer says that silver carp and big-head carp are moving up the Illinois River at about 40 miles per year. Big-heads are expected to be at the barrier site as early as April.

"These two species would probably out-compete highly valued species, such as yellow perch, if they get into the Great Lakes," Dittmer said.

The fish have one tag that says "Do not consume" and another that gives the phone number for the Lake Michigan Biological Station. It is important for INHS researchers to be notified of the time, day and location where any tagged common carp were caught.

"By learning where these tagged fish were caught, researchers can determine whether the fish passed through the barrier and learn more about carp movement patterns," Dittmer said.

The contact person is John Dettmers, Lake Michigan Biological Station, Illinois Natural History Survey, 400 17th St., Zion, IL 60099; voice phone (847) 872-8677; fax (847) 872-8679.

In a few years, black carp may also be coming up the river toward Lake Michigan. Researchers already know that round gobies have made it through the canal from Lake Michigan into the upper Illinois River. Another species eventually expected to move from Lake Michigan downstream is the Eurasian ruffe.

[University of Illinois news release]

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