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Timothy Sedlacek, Logan County Democrats, Together for Lincoln, 'Bugler in the Mountains,' Nathan Turner Fishing Derby, blood drive, Princess Tea, 5K at Mount Pulaski Street Festival

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[June 14, 2013]  Sedlacek named June Employee of the Month at ALMH

Timothy Sedlacek, of Springfield, has been named the June Employee of the Month at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital in Lincoln. Sedlacek has worked as a trauma nurse specialist in the emergency department for the past nine years.

Sedlacek was nominated for the honor by co-worker Kathy Vogt for his willingness to go above and beyond.

Sedlacek was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wis. A Gulf War veteran, Sedlacek served in the Navy from 1987-1991. After graduating from Lincoln Land Community College with a nursing degree, he began his work in the emergency department at ALMH in 2004. He is an instructor of advanced cardiovascular life support and is currently working toward completing his Board Certified Emergency Nurse credential.

"To be a trauma nurse you have to have a sense of adventure and the ability to think under pressure, think outside the box and know when to ask for help or offer it," said Sedlacek. "The greatest joy in my job is that you never know what you are going to get. We deal with everything from concerned parents with sick newborns to resuscitating a patient and getting them back."

Sedlacek recommends nursing and has advice for those interested in the field.

"I would tell someone getting into nursing that it takes skill and an art of learning and caring. It is a demanding and fulfilling career. But the most important thing is to remember to stay humble. You might be working in the emergency room today, but tomorrow you might be the one who needs help from your fellow nurses."

Sedlacek is engaged to Nicole Hamilton. They live in Springfield with their two dogs, Serenity and Chewie. He enjoys working out, movies and training his Dutch shepherd search and rescue dog, Serenity.

ALMH, at 200 Stahlhut Drive, is a 25-bed critical-access hospital affiliated with Memorial Health System. The hospital employs more than 315 in a variety of roles. For more information, visit www.almh.org.


Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White to join Logan County Democrats at special summer event

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White will be the headline speaker for the Logan County Democrats at their annual chicken dinner on Friday, July 26. The event will be at the K of C, 217 N. Limit St. in Lincoln.

Chicken with all the fixings will be served from 5 until 7:30 p.m. Homemade desserts will also be included. The speakers will begin at 6:30 p.m.

For entertainment, Matt and Jenn Hobler of Champaign will provide acoustic music.

There will be a 50-50 drawing and drawings for gift baskets. Tickets will also be available for the Democrats' raffle for a 16 GB iPad. The drawing for the iPad will be during the Logan County Fair.

Tickets for the chicken dinner are $20, or $2.50 for children under 12, and are available from area Democrats and at the door on July 26.


Organizers gearing up for 6th annual Together for Lincoln

Together for Lincoln Community Service Project Day will be on Sunday, Sept. 22, with a community worship service that evening. Applications are currently being accepted for community projects. Organizers are also asking volunteers to sign up early so they can be placed in an area where they are best fit to serve.

"The core of Together for Lincoln has always been its volunteers," said Dustin Fulton, preaching minister at Jefferson Street Christian Church and public relations coordinator for Together for Lincoln. "This year we are committed to creating a better environment for them," he said.

Fulton says that after trying Saturday last year, they are moving the project day back to a Sunday because it seems to fit the community better. Organizers are also investing more efforts in communication and team building.

"A day with so much happening will always have a certain amount of chaos, but we think we will cut it down dramatically this year. Especially if we can get volunteers to sign up early in order to place them in projects that will fit their abilities and desires," Fulton said.

During last year's Together for Lincoln, about 500 volunteers invested a total of approximately 2,500 working hours in the community. In addition, more than $22,000 in locally purchased products was put into the nearly 100 service projects.

This year's TFL will include two main types of projects -- general projects and weatherization projects. The general projects involve helping around the community with interior painting, gutter cleaning, window washing, etc. Fulton says one of the best aspects of these projects is that families are able to serve together.

"It is a great picture of intergenerational blessings really flowing in our community," Fulton said.

The second area of work will be weatherization projects. This year, volunteers will focus on replacing all windows in a few houses, rather than three to four windows in several houses, like they did last year. The weatherization projects are funded through donations that were matched by a grant from the Woods Foundation of Lincoln and a grant from the Energy Assistance Foundation of Decatur. Homeowners applying for a weatherization project will go through an interview process.

Applications for both types of projects and volunteer applications are available at State Bank of Lincoln's Wal-Mart branch, Oasis Senior Center and all partner churches. The deadline to apply for weatherization projects is July 15. General project applications are due on Aug. 1. The volunteer application deadline is Aug. 19.


Doris Morris book signing at Oasis on Saturday

"Bugler in the Mountains," a novel written by Doris Myrle Morris of Lincoln, has been published through WestBow Press. A book signing is scheduled for Saturday, June 15, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Oasis Senior Center, on the corner of Pulaski and Kickapoo streets.

The book will be available there at author's cost.

Light refreshments will be served.

The book will appeal to those who are interested in history at the turn of the century to the 1900s, with the development of the telephone, telegraph and transcontinental railroad. The reader might find of interest the tools and insights people used to make what we might consider primitive life as comfortable as possible in those days. Coupled with that is the story of a conflicted young woman struggling to make sense of her life, and how she learns, perseveres and overcomes. Her new mentors and friends add much to the storyline as she finds her way to joy.

Berean Christian Stores and Thomas Nelson publishing are parent companies of WestBow Press. The book is currently available in Berean Christian bookstores, online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and in Kindle eBooks.


Youth and families enjoy Turner/D.A.R.E. morning of fishing

ATLANTA -- On Saturday, the local D.A.R.E program and the Lincoln Park District sponsored a special event: the third annual Nathan Turner Fishing Derby. Children from ages 4 to 15 and their families were invited to participate in the event at the Hickory Lane Campground, Atlanta.

Nathan Turner, a former city council member in Lincoln, was known for his love of fishing. His family established the fishing derby in his memory. He is survived by his wife, Sarah; his son, Benjamin; and other members of his family.

A fishing clinic earlier in the week helped to ensure the children understood proper safety measures.

The pond had been stocked just days before the event.

Prizes were awarded for participating and for three categories: smallest fish, biggest fish and most fish caught.

Police Chief Ken Greenslate was on-site, cooking hot dogs and providing sodas to those in attendance.

The Turner family gives their thanks to D.A.R.E and the park district for their continued sponsorship of the fishing derby.

[By DEREK HURLEY]


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ALMH to host blood drive

To help ensure an adequate blood supply for the region, Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital, 200 Stahlhut Drive, is hosting a blood drive on Thursday, June 20, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For your convenience, call Alexis toll-free to sign up at 1-866-GIVE-BLD (1-866-448-3253), ext. 5158, or schedule an appointment online using sponsor code 60177 at www.bloodcenterimpact.org. Walk-ins are also welcome and truly appreciated.

Central Illinois Community Blood Center, a not-for-profit organization, is the provider of lifesaving blood for 14 hospitals throughout central Illinois, including Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital in Lincoln and Memorial Medical Center and St. John's Hospital in Springfield. CICBC is a division of the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center, which collects over 180,000 units of blood annually and serves 87 hospitals in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin.


Princess Tea planned for June 29

This year's theme: 'Over the Rainbow'

"Over the Rainbow" has been chosen for the theme of this year's Princess Tea, sponsored by the Harvest of Talents for World Hunger. The tea is planned for Saturday, June 29, in the Fellowship Center of Lincoln Christian Church. Doors to the tea will open at 10:45 a.m., with tea served at 11:30 a.m.

The Princess Tea is a very special event for the sweet young ladies of our community and their guests. If you have a special young lady in your life -- perhaps a daughter, granddaughter, niece or a young friend -- this is the perfect event for you to attend. You will be provided an opportunity to spend some quality time together in a lovely setting, and your young ladies will be the center of attention.

Young ladies -- princesses for the day -- are invited to dress in their Sunday best or perhaps a princess costume. They will be served refreshments from glass plates and tea cups at a brightly decorated tea table. Each tea table will be decorated by and presided over by a table hostess. Tasty food and beverages will be served with the tastes of young ladies in mind. The event will feature fun, food and favors.

Young ladies ages 3 to 12 are invited to attend and must be accompanied by at least one adult guest.

Tickets are $10 each and are available in the church office. The tickets must be purchased in advance, with ticket sales to close on June 26. Seating is limited, so you are urged to pick up your tickets as soon as possible.

Questions may be directed to July King at 314-9413. If you would like to be a hostess for a tea table, she can provide you with the particulars.

She points out that those attending will have a most enjoyable time, with the event serving the dual purpose of providing food for "special" children around the world who are experiencing hunger needs.

"Pretty little ladies, we will look forward to seeing you and your guests at this event which is planned especially for each of you," Ms. King says.

All funds raised at "Over the Rainbow" will become a part of the 30th annual Harvest of Talents for World Hunger on Saturday, Oct. 26. Every penny raised at the Princess Tea will be used to meet hunger needs worldwide.


Runners will be 'Glowin' for Michael' at Mount Pulaski Street Festival

MOUNT PULASKI -- The Mount Pulaski Street Festival this year is scheduled for Friday, June 28, on the courthouse square.

Among the many attractions of the evening, a new event is being added: a 5K run and walk with proceeds to benefit 7-year-old Michael Stauffer.

Michael is the son of David and Cynthia Stauffer of Mount Pulaski. He has a brother, Thomas, and a sister, Alyssa. He is a student at Zion Lutheran School in Mount Pulaski.

Late last year he was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma and has been undergoing treatment ever since. The proceeds of the race will go to assist the family with their financial concerns.

The race will begin at 8 p.m. in front of the Mount Pulaski Courthouse, on the town square. Along the route there will be luminaries and live street guides to assist with the twists and turns of the route. The race will be self-timed.

Registrants have a choice of price levels for the race. The $25 registration will include a "glow shirt" and glow gear so runners will stand out during the race. If runners aren't interested in the glow gear, they can pay the basic registration fee of $15.

Registration packets can be picked up at the Farmers Bank between noon and 5 p.m. on the day of the race.

In addition to the 5K, the street fair will offer a wide variety of entertainment options, and the Mount Pulaski Courthouse will be open for tours. The Hair Cut Actual Band will perform live on stage, and Audra's Studio of Dance will have cloggers performing. There will also be an Abe Lincoln impersonator.

The "Balloon Lady" will be on hand, face painting by Chauntea Mason and plenty of children's games with prizes.

Hilltop Caterers will serve brats, hot dogs and soda for a donation, and the American Legion will have a beer station.

For those who need a cool spot to rest a spell, the air-conditioned VFW, the historical museum and the courthouse will all be open and cool.

Anyone who would like to preregister for the race can do so by visiting the Mount Pulaski website at http://www.mtpulaskiil.com/. Questions about the event can be directed to Angie Cyrulik at 217-962-1055.

All proceeds from the race will go to assist the Stauffer family. Proceeds from other street fair activities will go to the Mount Pulaski Courthouse Foundation for the upkeep of the historical courthouse.


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