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Lincoln
College commencement May 13th
Four honorary degree recipients
announced
The
133rd annual Lincoln College spring commencement will be Saturday,
May 13, at 2 p.m. in Davidson-Sheffer Gymnasium.
Dr.
James M. McPherson, Pulitzer Prize author and Princeton University
history professor, will be the commencement speaker and one of
four honorary degree recipients.
McPherson
(Ph.D., Johns Hopkins, 1963) has taught at Princeton since 1962.
His specialty is the American Civil War. He is the author of a
dozen books, the best known “Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil
War Era (1988),” which won the Pulitzer Prize in history for
1989. He is currently working on a book about the battle of
Antietam. McPherson lives in New Jersey along with his wife,
Patricia.
 Other
commencement guests receiving honorary degrees will be Caterpillar
CEO Glen A. Barton, The GSI Group Chairman Howard G. Buffett and
Lincoln College trustee emeritus H. Safford Peacock.
Barton
has worked for Caterpillar for almost 40 years and has held
numerous marketing and general management positions. He became
Caterpillar’s CEO in February 1999. Barton is originally from
Alton, Mo., and graduated from the University of Missouri-
Columbia in 1961. He holds a bachelor of arts degree in civil
engineering.
Buffett
founded the GSI Group in Assumption. The GSI Group is a leading
manufacturer of agricultural equipment, including production of
silos and livestock feeders. Buffett is also an avid wildlife
photographer and owns a photographic company called Bioimages.
Some of his works can be found on cards that are sold in museums
nationwide.
Peacock
has served over 30 years as a Lincoln College Board of Trustees
member. In 1984, Peacock was invited by Caspar Weinberger to
participate in the joint civilian orientation conference sponsored
by the United States Defense Department. This conference was a
high-level national tour of key installations of all branches of
the service. Peacock started his career at Myers Industries, Inc.
(MII) in Lincoln. He retired in 1977 as director of MII. Peacock
is originally from Monmouth and holds a bachelor of science degree
in business and engineering administration from the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology.
Approximately 207
students will receive associate of arts degrees at the Lincoln
College commencement ceremony.
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Annual
bird count logs beautiful birds
“Is
that a beautiful bird, or what?” The beautiful bird, an
indigo bunting, continued catching insects in the grass, giving
the 18 bird-watchers a chance to focus their binoculars and see
its feathers glimmering iridescent blue in the sun.
 The small, brown bird feeding nearby was not so cooperative.
He flew away before anyone could get a positive
identification.
“I
think it was a Savannah sparrow, but I can’t be sure,” leader
Steve Coogan said. “We’ll
have to log it as a ‘question-mark’ sparrow.”
The
birders who met in Kickapoo Creek Park at 7 a.m. Saturday were
able to positively identify another 31 species, along with brief
sightings of a question-mark thrush and a couple of question-mark
warblers. Coogan, an
ardent naturalist who lives in Latham, added the 32 species to the
five other migrating warblers he had seen earlier at Skunk Hollow.
These birds, and the ones he would see later that day,
would be reported to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources,
Division of Natural Heritage, as part of the annual spring bird
count.
The
bird count helps state naturalists keep track of the species
moving through on migration as well as those birds coming back to
this area to nest.
 This
year both the number of participants and the number of species
identified were lower than usual.
“We usually see about 50 species and have about 35 people
present,” Coogan said.
Coogan
thought the decrease in the number of species was because of the
early warm weather. Many
migrating birds are insectivores, and if flowers and trees bloom
early, insects and the birds who eat them arrive – and move on
– early, too. In
addition, Coogan said, trees have already leafed out, making birds
harder to spot.
With
this in mind, Coogan set next year’s official bird count day as
the last Saturday in April. The day was not a disappointment
to the birders, though, who ranged in age from 9-year-old Benjamin
Conrady to senior citizens.
 A
handsome gray catbird sat on a low limb and serenaded the group
with a series of tweets, whistles and warbles, ending with a
raucous screech that some people think sounds like a cat.
The bird is a mimic, like its cousin the mockingbird, which
is now occasionally seen in the Lincoln area.
A
phoebe was seen building a nest, mostly of mud, on a rafter under
a shelter. Canada
geese protested the birders’ approach to the creek where the
geese were swimming, perhaps looking for a nest site.
Something
small and twittery caught the attention of a sharp-eyed birder,
and half a dozen others thought it was worth wading through poison
ivy to see the black-throated green warbler he’d spotted.
The warbler sat in a small tree preening its feathers,
providing an excellent view of a bird that would not be back until
the fall migration.
“I’ve
never seen a warbler so cooperative,” Coogan said. “This is a gift.”
In
the open area of the park, meadowlarks sang and an eastern
kingbird sat on a small tree, ignoring the birders and
occasionally diving down into the grass or swooping through the
air to catch an insect.
“That
bird is one of the tyrant flycatchers,” Coogan said. “They can be mean birds.
I’ve seen them mob hawks.”
Donna
Hellman, wife of park ranger Don Hellman, said she knew all about
those mean birds. “Last
year we had a pair nesting at the edge of our property.
When I mowed I had to wear a hard hat because they would
dive-bomb me.”
 The
birder everyone agreed had the sharpest eyes, Mark Tebrugge,
spotted a medium-sized, bright yellow bird in the top of a
sycamore. Everyone
agreed it was an oriole, but the question was what kind?
Field guides came out of pockets and backpacks. The bird
was yellow, not orange, so it ought to be a female.
But it was singing, which made it more likely to be a male.
Then the bird turned, displayed its black bib, and the
puzzle was solved. It
was an immature male orchard oriole, which will turn russet red
next year.
It was
a beautiful bird.
[Joan
Crabb]
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Dee
Brestin was the keynote speaker at the annual Ladies Day seminar
held on the campus of Lincoln Christian College on Wednesday,
April 26. Over 1,300 Christian woman attended from all over the
state of Illinois and Indiana, Missouri and Ohio.
These women come to Lincoln hoping to be encouraged by the
speakers and also to enjoy the fellowship of so many ladies.
Dee
Brestin is a nationally known Christian author and speaker who can
be heard at seminars and conferences all over the United States.
Her most recent book, “My Daughter, My Daughter,”
encourages women to "pan for gold" in God's Word and
pass along the rich heritage of faith to the next generation.
Following
is an interview she graciously gave during her busy schedule
filled with speaking and book-signing opportunities.
Q: How did you
know you were called to this ministry of speaking and writing?
A: "I began
writing Bible study guides 26 years ago before many were
available." Dee's first
interest was in the friendships of women and how they differed
from men and their relationships. Being the mother of five children helped her analyze
firsthand how women related to women and how they need each other
differently than men need friendships. "These observations
led me to explore the different dimensions of friendships of
women."
Q: What has
prepared you most for this ministry of speaking and writing?
A: "I have
learned to be faithful in doing the things for which God opens the
door and then watched as He opened more doors for opportunities of
service and ministry. My
present project is a collaborative effort with the Christian
singer-song writer, Kathy Tricolli.
She has paralleled her life as a single adult with her
falling in love with Jesus. Jesus
is her companion and soul mate."
Mrs. Brestin shared how powerful this visual picture has
been in her own life, and she will be encouraging others in her
next book to "fall in love with Jesus."
Q:
Give two specific pieces of advice for young women today.
A: Dee stressed
the need to have a right relationship with God in order for other
relationships in your life to be healthy and happy.
She firmly believes that "a problem with your vertical
relationship will present problems in your horizontal
relationships. Her
number two adage, especially when raising children in the teen
years, is this: "Rules
are important but relationships are primary."
When talking about her own family, which includes two
adopted daughters, she lovingly reminded us to say less and give
an affectionate hug, back rub or tousle the hair, especially when
words would not be kind or encouraging.
She suggests that when our children are making what seem to
be poor choices, always remember a silent hug or touch rather than
speak harsh words.
Q: How do you
manage a busy household, a writing career and a speaking schedule?
A: Without
hesitating Dee replied, "Give every day to the Lord and ask
Him what He wants you to do." She learned early in her ministry not to plan ahead of God.
"Thankfully, I have a wonderful, supportive and understanding
husband," to whom Dee gave much credit.
"He is home with our two high school-aged daughters
while I travel, " grinned Mrs. Brestin.
A full-time assistant plans her travel schedule and now
also helps edit and proof her books and Bible Study guides.
Together with a large circle of supportive friends and
family, Dee Brestin has made a valuable contribution to the
Christian community through her seminars and books.
[Jeaneen
Ray]
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DARE
fund-raiser scheduled Sunday, May 14
A
DARE fundraiser will be Sunday, May 14, at 2 p.m. at Lincoln
Community High School.
The
Super Bowl champion St. Louis Rams and Lincoln Railer alumni will
compete in an exhibition basketball game.
Autograph
items will be given away at halftime.
Kids
are invited to come and meet Darren the lion.
Tickets
are $8, and all proceeds will benefit the Lincoln Police DARE
program.
St.
John United Church of Christ hosts ice cream social
An
ice cream social at St. John United Church of Christ, 204 Seventh
St. in Lincoln, will be from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 12.
Tickets are $5 each and will be available at the door. Children
under 5 eat free. Tickets cover sandwich, chips, cake, ice cream
and drink.
The
Lincoln Community High School choirs and symphonic band will present a spring concert
Tuesday, May 9, at 8 p.m. in the high school auditorium. The
symphonic band, beginning choir and advanced choir will perform
music from classical to popular styles. This concert is free and
open to the public.
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American
Red Cross classes offered in May
Upcoming
American Red Cross classes will be offered at the Logan County
office at 125 S. Kickapoo St. in Lincoln.
A
Community First Aid and Safety class will be Wednesday, May 17,
from 6 to 10 p.m. and Thursday, May 18, from 5 to 10 p.m. The
class will cover adult CPR, child and infant CPR and first aid.
A
Challenge class will be Saturday, May 20, from 9 a.m. to noon.
People who have previously been certified in the above classes may
demonstrate their skills and be recertified.
Preregistration
is required. For further information, call 732-2134 between noon
and 4 p.m. any weekday.
Choirs
hit the road; Bible Bowl teams hit the Book
The junior high and senior high choirs of Lincoln Christian Church
are hitting the road this summer to spread the Word of God through
music.
 The
senior high choir, known as the Good News choir, is directed by
Tim Searby and will leave Friday, June 9, and return Sunday, June
18. They will perform at seven churches throughout Illinois,
Florida and Georgia. Upon their return to Lincoln, the choir will
perform at 7 p.m. at Lincoln Christian Church. HeartSong, the
junior high choir directed by Karen Gerdts, will tour June 1
through 4, performing at several churches in Illinois and
Southeast Missouri.
This
marks the 27th year that the youth choirs have gone on
tours around the United States. Tracy Thomas, youth minister at
Lincoln Christian Church, says the purpose of the choir tours is
“to bring the message of the gospel to people in a unique
format, and show that young people are committed to the gospel.”
Bible Bowl
participants will also be on the road this summer. The teams will be traveling
to the national Bible Bowl Tournament, which will take place
during the North American Christian Convention July 10 though 14
in Louisville, Ky.
The
teams have been studying texts from Acts chapters 13 through 28, 1
and 2 Corinthians and 1 and 2 Thessalonians. At the tournament,
the local youth will compete against
approximately 250 teams from across the nation. Last year, the top
team from the church placed 14th.
[Katherine
Heller]
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ALMH
accepts applications for summer teen volunteers
Applications
are currently being accepted for this summer’s teen volunteer
program at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital.
Teen
volunteers work throughout the hospital, performing a variety of
duties in many different departments. To be eligible for the
program, teens must be an eighth grade graduate and must complete
an application form that includes personal references. All teen
volunteers must also complete the training session scheduled on
Friday, June 9, from 9 a.m. to noon at the hospital.
Applications
are available at ALMH from Barbara Dahm, director of volunteer and
special services. Applications should be filled out and returned
in person to the volunteer office as soon as possible. A brief
interview will be conducted at that time. For more information,
call 217-732-2161, ext. 184.
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Lincoln
celebrates Historic Preservation Week
Citizens
in Lincoln join thousands of individuals around the country
as part of the National Trust’s Historic Preservation Week
celebration. "Taking the Past Into the Future" is the
theme of the week, May 8-14.
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"The
millennium is a time to reflect on where we’ve been and where we’re
going," said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust.
"This year’s theme celebrates that link between past and
future, challenging us to plan for the issues that will confront
us in the years to come. It is essential that we be vigilant,
flexible and well-informed in order to deal with the rapid changes
that are sure to have an impact on our irreplaceable historic
treasures."
A
May 3-14 drive-by tour of architecturally significant homes is sponsored by the Logan County Board of Realtors and The
Courier.
Historic
displays will be in the windows of many downtown businesses May
6-14 for Historic Preservation Week. Some windows will feature
Western Illinois Regional History Fair entries by junior high
students from Zion Lutheran School and New Holland/Middletown.
"More
Love Than Money Restoration" will be the theme of a workshop
Wednesday, May 10, at 7 p.m. in the Union Planter's
Bank Conference Room on the second floor at 303 S. Kickapoo. Mike
Fak will share low-cost tips on how to renovate your home and give
examples. There is no fee and pre-registration is not necessary.
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[Lincoln City Hall --
The LaFrance fire truck shown was purchased
by the city in 1924 and retired in 1970.]
Also
that evening, Ruth Sloot from Lincoln Community High School will
showcase the project on historic homes compiled by civics classes
this year. This will be the first opportunity for residents whose
homes were included in the project to see the results.
Another
historically based event, the Elkhart Chatauqua, will be May 21 on
Elkhart Hill from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information on the
Chatauqua, call 217/947-2323.
Historic
Preservation Week is based on the 29-year-old tradition of the
National Trust for Historic Preservation and is sponsored locally
by the city of Lincoln and Main Street Lincoln with financial
support from Beans ’N Such and the Blue Dog Inn. For more
information on the activities, people can call the Main Street
Lincoln office at 732-2929.
[LDN
ed.]
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Atlanta
4-H club invites youth from town to join
The
members of the Atlanta Town and Country 4-H club invite eligible
youth from town to join. Jeff Jones, the club reporter, says,
"4-H isn’t just for people who live in the country. There
are lots of things for a guy or a girl from town to do."
Activities include cooking, growing flowers, woodworking, small
engines, arts, crafts and herb gardening. For more information,
people can call 217-648-2973.
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