Initial training session to become a volunteer advocate and protect residents’ rights in long-term care facilities is scheduled for Saturday, July 15, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Lincoln Hill Free Methodist Church, 201 S. College in Lincoln. The advocate training is provided by I Care, a long-term care ombudsman program.

Are you ready to change lives? As a volunteer advocate, you can enrich the lives of nursing home residents and protect their rights to quality care and a life of dignity. Volunteer advocates visit residents at least one day a month to:

• Inform residents of their rights;
• Resolve any concerns or complaints residents may have; and

• Empower residents to take action on their own behalf.

Lunch will be provided for prospective advocates in attendance. Attend the training and then decide if you would like to volunteer. To confirm your attendance, please contact Erin Strotheide at (800) 842-8538 by July 14.

Computer volunteers needed at Bartmann Health Care Center

If you know how to turn on a computer and use a mouse, you have skills that you can share with residents at Bartmann Health Care Center. We are looking for volunteers of any age to come to the facility and teach residents some basis computer skills. A computer, software and printer, all in very good condition, were anonymously donated to the facility earlier this year. Since then, a computer table has been purchased along with a new mouse. They are ready for use and can be found in the activity room near the activity director’s office. The computer has several games, a word processor and drawing program, just to name a few of its many features. Call Lija, Bartmann’s activity director, at 217-642-5231 to volunteer a half hour or just one hour of your time. You’ll be glad you did!

Congratulations to Bartmann’s Employee of the Month

Virginia Cox is a certified nurses assistant (CNA) and has been employed at Bartmann Health Care Center in rural Atlanta for over 20 years. The team marketing committee selected her for Employee of the Month of June based on her work ethic and attitude.

“Virginia is an asset to the facility and a valued employee. We’re glad she’s a part of the Bartmann Health Care Team,” says administrator, June George. “Congratulations, Virginia, on your well-deserved award and on a job well done!” 

Bartmann Health Care Center, managed by the Tutera Group, has been proudly serving the community for over 50 years. They provide hospice, intermediate, shelter, Medicaid and Medicare (part B) care 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call 217-642-5231 for a tour and a complimentary lunch.

The Logan County Red Cross will offer the following classes in July:

• Saturday, July 15, 9 a.m. until noon – CPR Challenge. This class is for people with previous Red Cross training who wish to be recertified in adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation, infant and child CPR, or first aid.

• Wednesday and Thursday evenings, July 19 and 20 – Community First Aid and Safety. Class hours Wednesday will be from 6 until 10 p.m., and Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m. This class covers the CPR courses and first aid.

Preregistration is required. People interested may call 732-2134 for further information, or come to the office at 125 S. Kickapoo St. Regular office hours are from noon until 4 p.m.

Local FFA members attended state convention

Five Lincoln FFA members attended the 72nd annual Illinois State FFA Convention in Springfield June 13 to15. Local participants in the event were Jackie and Emily Bakken, Amanda and John Davison, and Monica Short. Highlights included addresses from retiring state officers and the election of new state officers.

The FFA Section 14 President Betsy Bakken was bidden a fond farewell and hailed for her hard work and dedication to the FFA.

The FFA also wishes to thank the community for all their support of future agricultural leaders.

[You can visit the Lincoln FFA Web site at www.expage.com/lincolnffa.]

The Lincoln Railer Basketball Booster Club will host a 3-on-3 basketball tournament at the Logan County Fair on Aug. 5. Boys and girls from third through 12th grade are eligible and must register by July 26. Teams are limited; sign up early. For more information about the one-day event, contact Dave Renfro at 735-4444 or 445-2778.

"Safe Stop" program planned

A community link for young people in emergencies

Lincoln’s Promise of the Healthy Families Task Force, under the Healthy Communities Partnership, and the Lincoln Police Department have announced "Safe Stop," a new safety program for the young people in our community. The program will include homes and businesses where young people could receive emergency assistance.

Homeowners and businesses may obtain applications from the front desk at Heartland Community College and mail them to the police department for screening. A volunteer from Lincoln’s Promise will deliver the necessary materials and guidelines to the applicant after approval. Periodic checks will be made to determine active status in the project.

Rich Montcalm of the Lincoln Police Department believes such a program should be in place before the need actually arises. The department will hold sessions with area students in schools this fall to educate them about Safe Stop.

"This is an emergency assistance program, not a babysitter situation," says Louella Moreland, a member of Lincoln’s Promise who worked on the original project of Safe Homes in the 1970s for Young Mother’s Council. "There are times when young people are on their own in our community and an adult family member is not readily available in an emergency. Safe Stop would be that community link to help. It is a designated place of safety and help. We are not asking homeowners or businesses to supply anything more than a phone call to the proper authorities and a little moral assurance until help arrives. We have included businesses in the program this time due to the increased number of working households where no one is home during the daytime hours."

Anyone interested in obtaining an application may pick one up at Heartland Community College or write to Louella Moreland at Heartland Community College, 620 Broadway. For more information on Lincoln’s Promise, which is a part of Healthy Families Task Force / Healthy Communities Partnership, contact Becky Sank at the Department of Human Services (735-2306).

Olympia FFA alumni to meet

Hartem Booster Club
schedules golf outing

The Hartem Booster Club announces a golf outing, planned to become an annual event. The best ball scramble will be Saturday, July 22, morning and afternoon, at North Greens Golf Course, Atlanta.

The cost, including meal, is $160 per team for 30 teams. Prizes are $600 for first place, $300 for second and $160 for third.

For information, contact the North Greens Golf Course, 217-648-5500.

The Naomi-Ruth Circle of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Hartsburg has put together a collection of over 400 favorite recipes. This cookbook, "Homemade With Love," is ready for distribution at a cost of $10 per book plus $2 shipping and handling. The cookbook, which is hardback and spiral bound, was created in celebration of St. John’s 115^th anniversary. Proceeds from cookbook sales will be used to support the church as a whole, programs sponsored by the Naomi-Ruth Circle and youth of the church. Call Joyce Leesman at 217-642-5883 or Kay Proefrock at 642-5884 to reserve your copy.

Main Street Lincoln's annual Concerts in the Park series is set to begin the first Sunday in June and continue through the end of July. The free concerts begin at 7 p.m. in Latham Park, north of the courthouse square in downtown Lincoln. The city of Lincoln, Lincoln Area Music Society and Main Street Lincoln are underwriting the event.

The series has expanded to include nine concerts with a variety of music as well as old favorites. The schedule and sponsors are as follows:

June 4 – IB5 Brass Quintet, sponsored by Logan County Board members – This group with a big brass sound from Normal will delight the audience with a variety of new pop sounds and songs you'll want to sing along to. (Rescheduled to Aug. 6)

June 11 – Heartland Jazz Orchestra, sponsored by Parker-Grieme Insurance – Back by popular demand, this group is led by Doug Tidabeck, who is well-known in the Lincoln community.

June 18, June 25, July 2 and July 9 – Lincoln Area Music Society, sponsored by State Bank of Lincoln and LAMS – The backbone of the concert series is made up of Lincoln area musicians with a new repertoire each week.

July 16 – Paul and Win Grace, sponsored by Lincoln Public Library and Prairie Years – Based near Columbia, Mo., these versatile vocalists and multi-instrumentalists have performed all over the United States and Canada. Toes will tap to the folk and old-time music that has been a part of your life since you were a child. Fiddle, mandolin, guitar, harmonica, autoharp and accordian are all perfect sounds for a summer evening.

July 23 – Steely Pan, sponsored by Mayor Joan Ritter – You'll picture yourself on a tropical island as you enjoy the Caribbean rhythms of this popular and unique group. Bring your own hurrache sandals and shades.

July 30 – Second Baptist Church "Voices of Praise," sponsored by Bob Neal of Edward Jones Investments – This great hometown gospel group will keep you excited all night long. This is their second year to wrap up the concert series.

Aug. 6 – IB5 Brass Quintet, sponsored by Logan County Board members – This group with a big brass sound from Normal will delight the audience with a variety of new pop sounds and songs you'll want to sing along to. (This concert was rescheduled from June 4.)

For more information, contact Wendy Bell, program manager, Main Street Lincoln, at 217-732-2929.