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Casimir Pulaski Day, Olympia FFA Alumni, Lincoln Jaycees, First United Methodist, Illinois Quail Unlimited and MS Slugfest softball make Close Up

By Mike Fak

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[February 22, 2011]  A Gen. Casimir Pulaski Day celebration featuring the Kung-Fu Dynamite band and American and Polish foods and desserts will be on Saturday, March 5, from 6 to 11 p.m. at the Mount Pulaski American Legion Ryman-Fuiten Post 447 Hall.

Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased at the Salt Creek Attic, on the west side of the Mount Pulaski square. Tickets are also available at the door. For more information, call 217-792–5117.


The (Stanford) Olympia High School FFA Alumni chapter, which draws members from parts of Tazewell, DeWitt, McLean, Woodford and Logan counties, had their recent chapter meeting on Feb. 10 in the high school ag room.

Practice proficiency interviews were conducted, with various FFA Alumni members giving high school FFA chapter members a "trial run" of what to expect in the upcoming FFA Proficiency Contest at Pontiac High School. FFA members who will participate in the contest are Kali Hartzold, Klair Hartzold, Evan Jodlowski, Cameron Jodlowski, Brian Weihmier and Wade Springer.

The regular business meeting was conducted by Jeff Schneider, with Carrie Glaser and Sharon Hartzold giving the secretary's and treasurer's reports.

The FFA Alumni congratulated Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Schneider of Armington on the engagement of their son Seth to Michelle McFadden of Lincoln, Mr. and Mrs. Curt Glaser of Danvers on the engagement of their daughter Mollie to Matthew Thomas of Lexington, and Mr. and Mrs. Mikel Ott of Danvers on the engagement of their daughter Megan to Justin Brown of Athens. The chapter hopes that these three couples will enjoy many happy years of marriage.

The group discussed what went well, what needs improvement and what should be done differently for next year's annual fundraising event and heard a report that about $7,000 was made at this year's fundraising auction and dinner. The chapter in return made a donation to Mike Lootens and the Olympia Booster Club for providing various desserts for the event.

Joan Harrison gave a classroom report on various FFA and classroom activities of her ag classes. She said the FFA Alumni dues are due ASAP.

The next meeting will be on Thursday, March 3, at 7 p.m. in the high school ag room.

2010-2011 Olympia FFA Alumni officers:

  • President: Jeff Schneider, Armington

  • Vice president: Jeff Springer, Minier

  • Secretary: Carrie Glaser, Danvers

  • Treasurer: Sharon Hartzold, Stanford

  • Reporter: Kyle Haning, Delavan

  • Member at large: Don Begolka, Lincoln

The chapter is under the direction of Mrs. Harrison, the Olympia High School ag teacher.

[Text from file received from Kyle Haning, chapter reporter]


Lincoln Jaycees want to put extra cash into your pocket and theirs too. When you bring in your items, Caporale's Custom Jewelry will pay you CASH, and all remaining proceeds will be donated directly to the Lincoln Jaycees to fund upcoming community projects such as Relay for Life.

Items they will buy include 10k-24k gold items, platinum, sterling silver and silver flatware, dental gold, old coins, diamonds and gemstones, costume jewelry, and gold watches.

Come CASH-in at the new Lincoln Jaycees Center, 325 S. Chicago St. Dates and times are Saturday, Feb. 26, 9 a.m.-7 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 27, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Caporale's Custom Jewelry is a full-service jewelry store, repair shop and refinery that has been family-owned and operated in Watseka for over 60 years.

The Lincoln Jaycees are a not-for-profit organization that serves Lincoln and the surrounding communities. The organization gives young people between the ages of 18 and 40 the tools they need to build the bridges of success for themselves in the areas of business development, management skills, individual training, community service and international connections. Membership meetings are the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Lincoln Jaycees Center, 325 S. Chicago St., and are open to everyone.


The community is invited to attend the dedication service for the new elevator at Lincoln First United Methodist Church on Sunday, Feb. 27, at 9 a.m. The featured speaker will be Dr. Terry Harter, Sangamon River District superintendent. A coffee hour reception will follow the service.


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Illinois Quail Unlimited has many projects that they complete on a yearly basis, but habitat projects are their priority. The chapters in each region of the state offer assistance to landowners for projects on private lands. Some of the chapters also have a habitat coordinator and equipment to do the entire project for landowners.

QU also offers assistance with habitat projects in Logan, Tazewell, McLean, Mason, DeWitt, Menard, Sangamon, Macon and other central Illinois counties. Please contact Jerry Johnson at 217-648-2964 or 217-737-7240 (cell). Johnson can help you with habitat questions or will complete native grass and forb plantings, food plots, mowing, disking, spraying, inter-seeding, prescribed burns, and tree plantings. QU will also assist individuals in other counties in the state. Please contact Johnson at the numbers above or the QU Midwest office at 812-536-2272.

The state council of Illinois Quail Unlimited and QU chapters also commit matching funds in cooperation with the Habitat Stamp Fund of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and have created a Wildlife Bonus Program to provide reimbursements to landowners for completing specific projects on their property. Quail Unlimited has continually offered similar bonus programs in cooperation with the Habitat Stamp Fund since 1998, completing more than 3,000 acres of habitat projects in more than 40 Illinois counties.

The current program offers assistance for native grass and forb plantings on CRP acres; light strip disking on CRP and non-CRP acres; fescue conversion on non-CRP acres; strip spraying on CRP and non-CRP acres; and prescribed burns on CRP and non-CRP acres. For more information on any of these projects, please contact the Quail Unlimited Midwest office at 812-536-2272 or e-mail bobwhite@psci.net.

In cooperation with the Illinois Habitat Stamp Fund, the QU state council and chapters can also offer a legume and herbicide program. This program enables landowners to acquire Korean lespedeza, ladino and red clover as well as glyphosate at a fraction of the cost. This program is offered through chapters only. If you would like information, contact your local Quail Unlimited chapter or the QU Midwest office as listed above.

Illinois Quail Unlimited also offers food plot seed to chapters, landowners and others interested in obtaining grain seed for food plot areas. Inventory usually consists of corn, soybeans, sunflower, wheat and milo/grain sorghum. For more information on seed availability, please contact the QU Midwest office at 812-536-2272 or e-mail bobwhite@psci.net.

If you would like to join Quail Unlimited, please contact the Midwest office, 812-536-2272 or bobwhite@psci.net, for information on a chapter near you.


The MS Slugfest softball event is getting some help from Mason City Limits. The comedy club is helping with a March 4-5 fundraiser called "Laughin' Toward a Cure for MS." There is one show Friday night at 8 and two shows Saturday night, at 7:15 and 9:30. If you mention "Laughin' Toward a Cure for MS," then 50 percent of the ticket price goes to the local softball team.

The comedian is Steve Iott, heard on the "Bob and Tom Show."

Please call 217-482-5233 for reservations. Ticket prices are $12.50 cash, $13.50 by credit card.


Got a good piece of news, information or something that we can all brag about? If you do, e-mail Mike and let us tell everyone about it. Plus you can win cash. Every submission, whether we use it or not, will get your name in the Close Up grab bag. At the end of the month we will draw a name and someone will get $25 just for dropping us an e-mail. If you wish, we will be happy to donate your winnings to the organization of your choice.

You can contact Mike at mikefak@lincolndailynews.com.

[MIKE FAK]

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