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Deer Creek bridge closure, HSLC appreciation day, mobile pantry in Mount Pulaski, Ales for Tails, Herb Guild, blood drive at Faith, Happs celebrate 60th, Timothy Sedlacek, Logan County Democrats, Together for Lincoln, blood drive at ALMH, Princess Tea, 5K at Mount Pulaski Street Festival

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[June 20, 2013]  Primm Road to be closed for Deer Creek bridge repairs

County Highway 9, also known as Primm Road or 1250th Avenue, will be closed for several weeks. The closure will be at the bridge over Deer Creek, south of the Lincoln Park District headquarters.

Repairs will be made to the Deer Creek bridge so that it can carry vehicles safely. Traffic will not be allowed across the bridge until the repairs have been made.

The public's cooperation and patience is always appreciated as the highway department maintains local roads.


HSLC volunteer appreciation and membership drive day

The Humane Society of Logan County invites the public to attend a volunteer appreciation day and membership drive on Saturday, June 22, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the HSLC Shelter, 1801 E. Lincoln Parkway.

WLCN will be on hand hosting a live remote feed, and there will be refreshments.

HSLC will also have a membership special: only $5 during the event.


Mount Pulaski to host mobile food pantry June 29

MOUNT PULASKI -- The Mount Pulaski Courthouse Foundation will host a mobile food pantry on Saturday, June 29, beginning at 10 a.m., in conjunction with the Central Illinois Foodbank. The mobile pantry will be parked at the Mount Pulaski American Legion Post 447 parking lot.

The food pantry is available to anyone in the Mount Pulaski community and surrounding area who is in need of food.

Those who do need groceries are encouraged come out and to bring with them bags and boxes for their supplies.


Humane Society of Logan County to host 5th annual Ales for Tails

The Humane Society of Logan County's fifth annual Ales for Tails will be on Friday, July 12. This year's event will be at Elks Lodge 914, 1020 1525th St. in Lincoln, from 6 to 10 p.m.

The evening will include food catered by Mr. Lincoln's on the Green, seasonal wine and beer, and music by Door 3. There will also be a 50-50 drawing, door prizes and more.

Tickets are $25 and are available from any HSLC board member, at the HSLC shelter at 1801 E. Lincoln Parkway or by calling 732-4805.

Proceeds of all Humane Society of Logan County projects benefit the homeless animals of Logan County and support the daily operation of the shelter.

For further information on Ales for Tails and to see what the Humane Society of Logan County is accomplishing, visit www.hslclincoln.org.


Logan County Herb Guild to meet June 25

The June meeting of the Logan County Herb Guild will be at Karen Lowery's house, 1250 2175th, Beason, on June 25 at 6:30 p.m. The program will be a tour of her garden, with lots of tips and suggestions.

Lowery and Mary Ellen Martin will be the hostesses.

For the cookbook that the group will be putting together, members are to bring a paper copy of recipes containing an herb or spice.


Faith Lutheran Church to sponsor blood drive

To help ensure an adequate blood supply for the region, Faith Lutheran Church, 2320 N. Kickapoo, is hosting a blood drive on Tuesday, June 25, from noon to 6 p.m.

For your convenience, call Alexis to sign up toll-free at 1-866-GIVE-BLD, ext. 5158, or schedule an appointment online using sponsor code 60175 at www.bloodcenterimpact.org. Walk-ins are also welcome and appreciated.

Central Illinois Community Blood Center, a not-for-profit organization, is the provider of lifesaving blood for 14 central Illinois hospitals, 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.


Happs celebrate 60 years of marriage with vow renewal in ALMH chapel

When Lester Happ was admitted to Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital, it was clear to him and his wife, Carol, that he would likely be spending their 60th wedding anniversary at the hospital. Carol and Lester asked ALMH staff for help with a vow renewal to honor their special day.

"We've always been good at improvising," said Carol.

Several ALMH employees worked together with ALMH Chaplain Robert Henderson to make the arrangements for the ceremony, providing everything from a wedding cake to flowers for the couple. The brief ceremony took place in the hospital chapel at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, on their anniversary. Henderson presided over the ceremony, reminding the couple of the importance of communication and celebrating their love for one another each day.

Their daughter Lisa Wrage, of Emden, was present for the occasion. They also have a daughter Mary, who lives in Portugal, and a son, Dirk, who lives in DeKalb. The Happs have six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, with another on the way.

Lester and Carol Happ were married in Milwaukee, Wis., on June 13, 1953. Lester is retired from a toxicology lab, and Carol retired after 25 years of teaching seventh-grade biology in Northbrook. They moved to Hartsburg in 2003.

Their interests are varied. After 60 years of marriage, they easily reflect upon all their great experiences of traveling across the United States and internationally. They have participated in many Road Scholar education travel adventures and are also members of the Central Illinois Banjo Club. Lester plays the banjo and Carol plays the ukulele. As a family, the Happs also did a lot of camping.

"You know, they say that those who camp together, stay together," said Carol.

The Happ family is planning a party for this weekend in Hartsburg to celebrate the special anniversary.

"I am hopeful that I'll be home in time for the party," said Lester. "I look forward to seeing our family and friends."


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.


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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.


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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