FREE Food Bundles will be given away in the church basement beginning at 8 a.m. on October 8th and November 5th.
• A FREE Community Meal will be served at the pavillion downtown Grayville on October
and at the church on November 16th.
North State Road, Grayville
See Dr. Freeman at her new location inside Carle Olney
Our foot and ankle specialist, Muriel Freeman, DPM, is ready to care for you at her new location and has the knowledge and experience you need.
Provides both surgical and nonsurgical care for foot and ankle conditions.
Treats fractures, bunions, hammertoes, soft tissue masses, neuromas, wounds and many other deformities.
adults and
You’ll need a referral to see Dr. Freeman, so talk to your primary care provider (PCP) today – the process is simple, and your PCP will know what to do.
Dr. Freeman has moved to our Carle Primary Care location at 363 N. West St., Olney, IL 62450. (618) 392-1740
world-class care close to home, with the commitment to quality and service you deserve.
By Meghan Fearn
Just a couple of short decades ago, Edwards County was known for its pork production. Almost every farm had at least a few hundred head of market hogs, a farrowing house, nursery, or feed lot. The demand for pork remains high today, with an average of 129 million hogs being butchered in the United States alone in 2021. However, government regulations, technology, labor, profitability, market availability, and market volatility have caused many family farms to step out of pork production. This has left very few producers in the area. Today, many have no idea where their food comes from and the science, work, and study that goes into keeping the gro cery store coolers stocked with delicious bacon and ham. There are a few local farmers who have remained in the industry and continue to center their farming operations around swine. While the landscape and daily opera tions look very different than they did in past generations, quality pork production is still happening in Southern Illinois.
Village Creek Farms, owned and operated by the Daniel Shilling family, is a wean-to-finish hog facility located north of Albion. While swine have always been on their farm, they currently are part of the Great South group of producers working for Maschoff Farms out of Carlyle, IL. Maschoff is a family-owned operation that began their pork production journey like most of the farmers in Southern Illinois. Over the years, they have grown and partnered with other farms. They currently have over 140,000 sows in production and span over six states. The Shillings joined with Maschoff in 2003, a few short years after the markets had dropped out on hogs in 1998. The Maschoffs bring piglets to the Shilling family that are freshly weaned at around 20 days old. Shilling then cares for the swine until they are at full market weight, which can range from four to six months. At that time, they are picked up and delivered to the slaughtering facilities. The Shillings have seven days to clean and disinfect the barns, make repairs, and be ready for the next shipment. Over the course of a year, Village Creek will house approximately 12,000 head. In their agreement, Shilling provides the buildings, utilities, and labor for their part of the hog production. This allows them to focus solely on raising the animals. It also provides them a valuable re source since they turn over the nutrition program, veterinarian decisions, and marketing to Maschoff. This part nership is one way that many hog farmers across the United States have learned to adapt to the ever-changing market.
Stumpy Hill Farms has been around since 1850 and currently operates an independent, farrow-tofinish operation just south of Albion. Brian Roosevelt, his brother Russell, and nephew Keith work together to breed, raise, and market anywhere from 12,000-13,000 head each year. As a farrow-to- finish operation, the Roosevelts own the sows and con trol the breeding, birth, and raising of each pig to the day of market. Each day involves a close watch of the markets, mixing feed, moving pigs, giving shots, processing newborns, lots of paperwork, and breeding. The breeding process looks differ ent than it did in the past due to the ability to use artificial insemination. A.I. gives them access to some of the best breeding stock available. The semen can be shipped from all over, allowing them to build a strong herd without ever bringing a foreign boar onto the farm. Not only does this cut down the risk in keeping expensive breeding stock on the farm, but it also gives them more control over the spread of disease.
Disease control is a big part in running any successful hog operation. This process involves many components. It includes everything from the feed, proper veterinary care, cleanliness, vaccinations, and more. One virus that sweeps through a farm could wipe out the entire operation and shut down the business. A hog farmer must become efficient in keeping health records, administering vaccines, watching for any symptoms, staying in communication with their veterinarian, and acting quickly with any sign of illness.
Another important component in the care of these animals is their diet. An animal nutritionist must formulate a diet with a healthy balance of salt, trace minerals, vitamins, proteins, and etc. The Roosevelts work with a broker to obtain the right ingredients at a fair price and a nutritionist who recommends how they mix the feed on the farm. The diet is ever-changing according to the needs, health of the stock, and the stage of development for the pigs. They also grow some of their own grain to be used in the feed mix. Roosevelt shared that in a stan dard mix of feed, there could be over 40 different ingredients to accommodate 15-18 different diets. Thankfully, a pig is a simple-stomached animal and can utilize a large variety of ingredients. Roosevelt has even used ingredients such as ice cream sprinkles and granola.
Caring for so many animals can be a challenge. Both Village Creek and Stumpy Hill cited the labor short age as one of the current challenges they are trying to overcome. Having as many as 6,000 head to care for at one time, Shilling shares that it is difficult to come up with the labor needed to do things such as move the hogs and administer vaccinations. Currently, he and his son, Caleb, take care of many of the day-to-day operations. At Stumpy Hill, they have three employees, but really need two more to keep up. Thankfully, automation and technology have helped ease the burden on many of the daily duties of feeding, watering, and environmental control. Automated feed and watering systems keep fresh, clean water and feed available. The alarm systems and backup generators assure that the animals are safe in a temperature-controlled environment.
There are many rules and regulations that are placed on pork production, and many revolve around the manure management plan. Since both Stumpy Hill and Village Creek are also grain farms, the manure is used in the fertilization of their cropland. Shilling shared that the land must be grid-mapped every three years, and there must be set-backs that take into consideration water sources and run-off. The rules and regulations are difficult to keep up with, and multiple hours are spent reading periodicals and taking Pork Quality Assurance
classes to remain current. Recordkeeping is vital in such operations. Both Stacey Roosevelt and Lesa Shilling spend countless hours assisting in paperwork. These documents include financial records, litter records, health records, marketing figures, and more.
These issues are just a tip of the iceberg in what must be studied and maintained in the pork production industry. The raising of these animals is very labor intensive and requires constant edu cation and the navigation of red tape and bureaucracy. There are very few vacation days, since animals require 24/7, and 365-day attention. For both Village Creek and Stumpy Hill, it is an industry they are proud to be a part of. Roosevelt shared his favorite thing about his job, “It is rewarding when I see a sow having problems and know I can go in, help the sow, and then watch these animals grow into healthy market hogs. When I see the semi-truck loaded and headed down the road, I know that we have done our job and that is also a rewarding feeling.”
When eating your next sausage biscuit, take time to think about all the work that went into the meal you are enjoying. A farmer somewhere has been up at 3:00 a.m. loading the pigs to take to market. Maybe they have missed an impor tant family event because of a broken wa ter line, or they have spent hours preparing feed that will assure our meal comes from healthy animals. They will wake up and do it again tomorrow, and for that we celebrate and recognize the importance of what they do. We take time to recognize October as National Pork Month.
Above (l-r): Blue Ribbon 4-H Club - Front Row: Titus Owings, Callen Owings, Xander Rigney, Bristol Winter, Eliot Futrill, Kash Kelsey, Kentley Kelsey, Alivia Houser, Rosen Bell, Isabella Jones. Second Row: Waylon Pritchett, Gabriel Andrews (hidden), Caseyn Owings, aiden Houser, Liam Futrill, Kaysen Kelsey, Cash Trowbridge. Third Row: Kayleigh Sanford, Madison Miller, Anthony Houser, Brayden Sanford, Trenton Jefferson, Kamryn Trowbridge, Adalynn Potter, Skylar Greathouse.
My name is Skylar Greathouse, and I am an Edwards County 4-H Ambassador. I have been in 4-H for five years. My projects have included rabbits, a bucket calf, swine, and several general show projects. One of my best experiences in 4-H has been participating in public speaking classes and contests. I enjoy all the opportu nities that come with 4-H.
4-H teaches youth responsibility, teamwork, and leadership. It helps kids learn more about things they hold interest in. It is fun, educational, and it is a good way to get involved in your community. 4-H is available for youth ages eight to eighteen. Youth around the world are celebrating National 4-H Week October 2-8. This year’s theme is Opportunity4All. I would encourage anyone who is interested in 4-H to join. There are over 200 projects offered, so you are sure to find one that interests you! In Edwards County, there are five clubs: Bone Gap Cardinals, Blue Ribbon, Ellery Panthers, Little Wabash Ramblers and Yankees. If you would like help in finding a club near you, call the Edwards County Extension Office at (618) 445-2934.
What’s it like in 4-H? In 4-H, you get to decide what topics and projects interest you most. You make 4-H what you want it to be. Work on many projects or focus on one or two. Choose what events sound fun to you and do them. In 4-H, you have an important role in making your community a better place to live, but you don’t have to do it alone. As a club, you’ll figure out what’s needed most in your neighborhood and find ways to help. In 4-H, your part of a family working together. At club meetings, you’ll learn how to get along with others as you build your skills and help your community. In 4-H, you’ll meet adults who care about you and want to help you succeed. 4-H matches you with mentors who will coach you in areas like problem solving, communicating, and teamwork. 4-H introduces you to potential careers and then gives you the training to get the career you want.
Find a local 4-H Club in Edwards County: • Bone Gap Cardinals: Meet at 6:30 PM the second Tuesday of each month in Bone Gap. Leader: Norma Hamilton; • Blue Ribbons: Meet at 6 PM the third Tuesday of each month in Albion. Leader: Neil & Debbie Fearn; • Ellery Panthers: Meet at 6 PM the fourth Wednesday of each month in Albion. Leader: Don & Kathy St Ledger; Greg & Abby Shelton; • Little Wabash Ramblers: Meet times and locations TBD Leader: Jordan Duncan; • Yankees: Meet at 7 PM the third Wednesday of each month in West Salem. Leaders: Derra Williams; Jordan McWhirter; • 4-H Sr. Federation (all high school youth welcome) Meeting dates to be determined.
Leader: Debbie Fearn • Edwards Co. Shooting Sports 4th Saturday morning of each month at 8 a.m. Coordinator Lise Summerfield-Call the office for information. Please contact a leader or the Edwards County Extension office for meeting locations. 618-445-2934
Above (l-r): Ellery Panthers 4-H Club - (l-r) Lucas Troyer, Landon Loyd, Kolby Terry, Halie Shelton, AddisonAnderson, BlakeGroff, Cameron Harrison, Ryleigh Moose, Emily Spray, Hayley Perry, Lauren Luker, J.W. Simms-Reisner, Hanna Perry, Chase Shelton, Cheyenne Duncan, Ellie Troyer, Kwade Sawyer, Kenley Garrett, Emerie Moore, Sarah Spray, Eveyln Bond, Lucy Harrison. Leaders: Greg and Abby Shelton and Don and Kathy St. Ledger.
At left (l-r): Wabash Ramblers 4-H Club - Brayden Childers, Wyatt Johnson, Hanna Waggoner and Bristol Duncan. Not pictured Gabriella Spencer and Kamryn Duncan. Little Wabash Ramblers are led by Jordan Duncan.
Enrollment for the new 4-H year is now open! As we celebrate National 4-H week, we want to show you what the 4-H program has to offer. The 4-H program has over 200 projects you can choose from, we are more than showing livestock. We have a project area that will fit every child’s interest, and maybe even help them discover a new one. 4-H allows the youth to build leadership and communication skills while having fun. Our program is more than just attending monthly club meetings, we have county-wide events each month, educational programming, and there are many state events the youth can get involved in. If you would like to learn more about the 4-H program and how your child(ren) can enroll please reach out to Megan at the Wabash County Extension Office at 618-262-5725, mpierson@illinois.edu, or our office is located at 738 N Market St., Mount Carmel, IL 62863 stop by and say hello! Our office is open Tuesday- Thursday 8 AM- 4:30 PM, closing daily from 12 pm-1 pm for lunch.
Urbana, Ill. -- Illinois 4-H is proud of the rich history of 4-H and the network of 4-H alums near and far. Alums of the Illinois 4-H program share a unique bond with over 25 million Americans across the country.
Illinois 4-H has launched a new initiative for the Illinois 4-H History project and is seeking to reconnect with Illinois 4-H alumni to hear their 4-H stories and share their 4-H memories.
Illinois 4-H has a strong history dating back to 1899 with the start of W.B. Otwell forming the first boy’s corn club in Macoupin County, Illinois, followed by A.B. Graham, founding the first 4-H club of boys and girls with officers and projects, and record requirements in Clark County, Ohio in 1902. Illinois then established the first 4-H club, Union Pig Club, organized by C.C. Coots, in Macoupin County in 1915.
4-H has impacted each member differently, during a different time of life, and often has provided skills or memories that have lasted a lifetime. Illinois 4-H is interested in gathering memories, photos, or photos of memorabilia of those special moments in which 4-H made an impact. The Illinois 4-H Alumni Association will seek opportunities for storytelling, video history, and developing a new history website.
“Illinois 4-H has a well-founded history and each generation may have a different perspective of 4-H but the values and goals remain the same to build our next generation of capable young adults,” says Tina Veal, University of Illinois Extension 4-H alumni & engagement manager. “We look forward to hearing 4-H alumni stories and the impact 4-H has made on their lives.”
The Illinois 4-H Alumni Association also provides opportunities for members to keep up to date on Illinois 4-H, learn about 4-H alum opportunities to engage as volunteers, or through networking opportunities and quarterly newsletters by registering as an alumni.
“We have thousands of 4-H alumni from past decades we hope will register and reconnect with us. National 4-H week is a great time for a call to action,” says Veal. The mission of the Illinois 4-H Alumni Association is to create a lifelong, statewide community of 4-H alumni and provide increased opportunities for meaningful engagement to increase awareness, pride, participation, volunteerism, and philanthropic commitment to Illinois 4-H.
Those interested may share their 4-H story online and participate in reunions to be held by the 4-H Decades. About Illinois 4-H Alumni Association: The Illinois 4-H Alumni Association seeks to create a lifelong connection with our 4-H alums through free membership in the Illinois 4-H Alumni Association. The Illinois 4-H Alumni Association was established in 2016 and sought members to build a network of 4-H alums throughout Illinois and beyond. About Extension: Illinois Extension leads public outreach for University of Illinois by translating research into action plans that allow Illinois families, businesses, and community leaders to solve problems, make informed decisions, and adapt to changes and opportunities.
At left: The Grayvlle Go-Getters 4-H club collected food for the October Food Challenge and then donated the items to the Northside Baptist Church Food Pantry. (l-r): Raegan Rhodes, Grace McCarty and Ethan Thompson Above: Club members made a Blessing box for a 24/7 food pantry for families to have access to food when needed. (l-r): Brooklyn Thompson, Hallie and Chris Ellerman, Grace McCarty and Ethan Thompson.
450 pounds of plastic lids and monetary and lid donations helped the Grayville Go-Getters 4-H Club with purchas ing two benches in memory of Larry Butler, Curry Baker, and Kent Wheeler. Four raised beds will be put together and placed at the Grayville park in the spring in memory of Branda Ramirez!!
6 apples
6 wooden craft sticks
cooking spray
1 (14 ounce) package individually wrapped caramels, unwrapped
2 tablespoons milk
Instructions
Remove the stem from each apple and press a craft stick into the top. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spr
Place caramels and milk in a microwave-safe bowl; microwave for 2 minutes, stirring once. Set aside to cool briefly.
Roll each apple quickly in caramel sauce until well coated. Place on prepared sheet to set.
1 (8 ou.) package cream cheese, softened ½ cup butter, softened
¾ cup confectioners’ sugar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
¾ cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
¾ cup finely chopped pecans
Instructions
In a medium bowl, beat together cream cheese and butter until smooth. Mix in confectioners’ sugar, brown sugar and vanilla. Stir in chocolate chips. Cover, and chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
Shape chilled cream cheese mixture into a ball. Wrap with plastic, and chill in the refrig
erator for 1 hour. Roll the cheese ball in finely chopped pecans before serving.
⅔ cup evaporated milk
2 ½ cups white sugar
¾ cup canned pumpkin
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup white chocolate chips
7 ounces marshmallow creme
2 tablespoons butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Line a 9x9 inch pan with aluminum foil. Butter the foil or spray with cooking spray and set aside.
In a 3-quart saucepan, heat milk and sugar over medium heat. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon.
Mix in pumpkin puree and cinnamon; bring back to a boil. Cook, stirring constantly, for 18 minutes (see Editor’s Note). Remove saucepan from the heat. Allow to cool slightly, 2 to 3 minutes.
Pour white chocolate chips in a large bowl. Pour fudge mixture over white chocolate chips. Let stand 5 minutes to allow white chocolate to soften; stir until smooth. Mix in marshmallow creme, butter, and vanilla until butter is melted and mixture is smooth. Pour into prepared pan. Cool, remove from pan, and cut into squares. Store in a cool, dry place.
1 medium pumpkin
½ gallon lime sherbet
1 (2 liter) bottle lemon-lime soda (such as Sprite®)
Cut the top off of the pumpkin and thor oughly scrape out the seeds and pulp. Scoop the lime sherbet into the pumpkin shell, and pour the lemon-lime soda over top.
5 cups popped popcorn
1 cup candy corn chopped salted peanuts
½ cup butter or margarine
3 cups miniature marshmallows
4 drops red and 3 drops yellow food coloring
4 sticks red or black licorice, cut into thirds
Grease a muffin pan and set aside. Place popcorn, candy corn and peanuts into a large bowl and set aside.
Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in marshmallows, red food coloring and yellow food coloring, adjusting color if needed to get a nice shade of orange. When the marshmallows are completely melted, pour over the popcorn and stir to evenly distribute the candy, nuts and marshmallow.
Use a greased spoon to fill the muffin cups. Insert a piece of licorice to act as the stem, and mold the popcorn around it. Let stand until firm, 10 to 15 minutes, and then pull the pumpkins out by their stems.
At left (l-r): Albion Grade School Softball 8th Grade recognition - Leah Rigg, Kiera Willet, Jenna Shaw and Madi Murphy
Above (l-r): Grayville Junior High Softball 8th Grade recognition - John Risley, Kimber Risley, Cody Jenkins, Emily Renshaw, Ashley Jenkins, Nevaeh Kissee, Phillip and Desiree Grimm, Tiffanie Hout, Pixi Hout, Scott Hout, Latasha Worthy, Zaley Cheadle, Lori Bampbell, Briley Campbell, Brian Campbell.
At left (l-r): Grayville Junior High Baseball 8th Grade recognition - Pam Champion, Drake Hoover, Michael Gibbs, Brennon Gibbs, Jeff Colyer, Zeke Colyer, Jennifer Colyer.
At left (l-r): Allendale Grade School Baseball 8th Grade recognition - Two 8th grade boys were recognized for 8th grade night at Yellow Jackets Baseball. Landon Wilford and Levi Potts. Congratulations to these two and best of luck with their 8th grade year.
by Monday - Friday 8 am to 5 pm and Saturday 8 am to 12 pm and check out the new fresh cut meat case and frozen food we have available. You’ll never know what you will find!
Monday - Friday
am
pm
am to
pm
The Edwards County Health Office in conjunction with the Edwards County Farm Bureau will be offering a drive-thru flu shot clinic on October 19, 2022 from 11:00am until 4:00pm at the Edwards County Fairgrounds in Albion, Illinois.
“Offering a drive-thru clinic allows us the ability to serve our community in an efficient manner,” states Aman da McCoy of the Edwards County Health Office.
The drive-thru flu shot clinic is for private pay, private insurance, and Medicare customers only. All Medicaid customers MUST call the health office and make an appointment to get a flu shot.
Anyone ages six months and over can get a flu shot, however, the drive-thru clinic is recommended for only those ages 5 and up. Cost for private pay flu shots is $30 for low dose and $65 for high dose (for those over age 65).
Anyone who wishes to get a flu shot at the drive-thru clinic will remain in their car and is urged to wear short sleeves. Those paying with private insurance or Medicare need to bring their insurance card. Those attending are asked to watch for traffic flow signs.
This year there will be no flu shot clinics at the Senior Centers in the county. Seniors can come to the drivethru clinic, make an appointment at the Edwards County Health Office, or visit their primary physician to get a flu shot.
The drive-thru flu shot clinic is sponsored by the Edwards County Health Office in conjunction with the Ed wards County Farm Bureau.
By Jake Wiseman
The first FFA contests of the year have finally been completed. Two teams for the Forestry CDE and the Horse Judging CDE were formed and they prepared for the competitions. Forestry is all about trees. Members had to identify types of trees, complete a compass practicum, and do more activities within the field. The team included Trenton Jefferson, Cage Metcalf, Gabe Beadles, Easton Keener, and Jake Wiseman. The team placed 4th and Cage Metcalf was in 6th overall, Trenton Jefferson was in 12th, and Jake Wiseman was in 14th place as individuals.
Horse Judging is all about judging horses on how they ride, look, and more. This team included Bri Swartz baugh, Grace Glover, Jaxon Kelsey, and Cy Nelson. The team placed 13th. Great job to everyone who competed in these two events!
Above(l-r): Edwards County High School FFA Forestry Team: Gabe Beadles, Cage Metcalf, Jake Wiseman, Easton Keener, and Trenton Jefferson at Sam Dale Lake
The Elite Conference is for high school students interested in pursuing a career in agricultural education. The need for agriculture teachers in the state of Illinois and nationwide are very high. This one-day workshop gives students with an interest in teaching a chance to explore the possibilities agriculture education has to offer. It is a great opportunity to meet other students with similar interests, talk with college and university representatives and get any questions answered. Chloe Iles and Bitzy Spillman attended this event on September 16th, 2022, at Richland Community College in Decatur. They learned about agricultural education and worked on other edu cational and communicative skills and abilities at the event.
Above(l-r): Edwards County High School FFA Horse Team: Bri Swartzbaugh, Grace Glover, Jaxon Kelsey, and Cy Nelson at the White Squirrel Saddle Club.
Above(l-r): Bitzy Spillman, Chloe Iles, and Mr. Steve Clodfelter learned more about agricultural education as a career at the 2022 Elite Conference.
My boys would not pay attention in our homeschool today. I knew from the moment I cracked open the Bible and started our morning devotions, something else was on their minds. Both had spent the previous evening drawing plans on paper and gathering supplies for a secret project. As I read from Proverbs this morning, “My son, give attention to my words…” I knew their attention was on something else and I was going to have a hard time directing it to school.
At first, I pushed through a few subjects. I put together a demonstration on water vapor in our study of the hydrosphere. I had mini-Hershey’s bars ready for them to snack on as we studied about Pennsylvania, the home of The Hershey Bar. I mimicked all the voices in our read-aloud history book, including a rather booming rendi tion of Benjamin Franklin’s “We must all hang together, or most assuredly we will all hang separately!” Instead of an encore to my performance, I was met with “Are we done yet Mom?”
It was at this point I realized that no matter how hard I tried, I would not be able to top whatever it was that had their attention. I made an executive decision and said, “We have a new subject for today. It is called Create. Your assignment is to go outside and create something spectacular.” You would have thought it was Christmas Day. With a shout of joy, they jumped up from their seats and off they went.
Other than quick food breaks and an occasional tool hunt, they spent the entire day in the woods. Around 6:00 p.m., they came in filthy, hungry, worn out, and yet proud as peacocks. They took me by the hand and led me to the big unveiling. There, in the corner of the woods, stood a small cabin. It had been nailed together with random pieces of plywood, discarded 2x4’s, hinges, and odds and ends they had salvaged from the junk pile. It had a floor, roof, a door that opened and closed, windows, and even a set of bunk beds for them to camp on. They began talking over each other, telling me every detail of each nail and board. They had a stool for me to sit on, they had swept the floors, and they had even cleared out all of the trees and shrubbery around it so no one could get poison ivy.
As I listened to the boys, my heart swelled, and tears came to my eyes. To anyone driving past, I’m sure it looks like a pile of junk and it may even come down with the first good wind. To me, it is beautiful. It is a place where my two boys worked together for an entire day, taking scraps, and making something they are proud of. They turned trash into a treasure! As we walked back to the house, they told me of their plans to use plexiglass for the windows, tin for the roof, and what color they were going to paint it. As I put them to bed tonight, they were still excited, and I couldn’t help but think about how this cabin is very similar to us.
In our sin, we are just like those junk boards and discarded 2x4’s. Because of grace, we can be saved by faith in Jesus Christ and have forgiveness when we call upon His name. He can take our sinful heart and trans form it into a thing of beauty. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17).
This cabin, made from junk, is a thing of beauty. I am going to pick up some plexiglass this weekend and my husband will find some leftover paint. The boys will sleep in that cabin and probably come in covered with mosquito bites and poison ivy; but boasting of the best night of their life. I will never underestimate what little boys can do when given to their imagination. We should never under estimate what God can do with a heart turned to Him. No matter how broken and discarded, He can make a beautiful, new creation.
EC - Salisbury Steak
Mashed Potatoes
Butter Beans,
EC - Chicken Parmesan Vegetable Blend Pickled Beets
Jello
WC - SPAGHETTI, CALI BLEND VEG SALAD, GARLIC
BREAD, PUDDING
EC - Cheeseburger on Bun W/ Pickles, Onion Lettuce Leafm Sliced Tomato Waffle Fries, Fruit Salad
WC -CHICKEN STRIPS TATOR TOTS, 3 BEAN SALAD
FRUIT
EC - Chicken Casserole w/ Mixed Veggies Pickles Beets, Pudding
WC -ITALIAN BAKE BROCCOLI, GARLIC BREAD FRUIT
EC - Beef Manhattan w/ Roast Beef, Mashed Potatoes, Brown Gravy, on Slice of Bread Green Beans , Ice Cream
WC - COUNTRY FR. STEAK POTATOES & GR., PEAS PUDDING
EC -Meat Loaf, Cheesy Potatoes, Cauliflower Cake
WC - BOURBON MEATBALLS RICE, CARROTS, PUDDING
Ham
Brown Casserole
Tomatoes
WC-BR. CHICKEN SAND
SALAD, WAFFLE
EC - Spaghetti w/ Meat Balls, Peas Garlic Bread, Cookies
WC - FISH ON BUN FRENCH FRIES MAC. & CHEESE COOKIE
EC - Beef Stew w/ Beef Tidbits, Potatoes, Carrots, Onions, Celery & Bread Sticks, Fruit
WC - PORK BURGER PICKLE & ONION, POTATO WEDGES, COOKIE
EC - Beef Stroganoff w/ Noodles, Mixed Veggies, Fruit
WC -CORN DOG, CURLY FRIES, FRUIT, COOKIE
EC - BBQ Bat Wings Bloody Brains, Werewolf Claws, Halloween Cookie
WC -CHICK. & NOODLES MIXED VEG., BISCUIT FRUIT
EC - Pork Chop, Baked Potato, Sour Cream Butter, Broccoli, Fruit
WC -HASHBROWN CASS. W/MEAT, PEAS & CARROTS PUDDING
EC - Chicken Strips Macaroni & Cheese Baked Beans, Ice Cream
WC -SALISBURY STEAK POTATOES & GR. CORN COOKIE
EC - Sloppy Joes on Bun Tater Tots
Pea Salad
Fruit
WC - MEATLOAF, POTATOES & GR. CORN, ROLL, DESSERT
EC - Fried Chicken
Mashed Potatoes
Green Beans, Fruit_
WC - PORK LOIN
BABY BAKERS, GREEN BEANS, ROLL, DESSERT
EC - Chicken Livers
Mashed Potatoes , Lima Beans, Pudding
WC - FRIED CHICKEN CORN, COLE SLAW BISCUIT, DESSERT
EC - Goulash, Mashed Potatoes, Corn, Pudding
WC - CATFISH POTATO SALAD, BAKED BEANS, HUSHPUPPIES DESSERT
- Fish, Baked
- CHILI, PIMENTO CH. SAND., CRACKERS
EC - Chef Salad: w/ Lettuce, Tomato, Ham, Turkey, Onions, Shredded Cheese, , Cobbler
WC - MANAGER’S SPECIAL
EC - Chili, Peanut Butter Sandwich, Crackers Cinnamon Rolls
WC - CHEF SALAD COTTAGE CHEESE CRACKERS, PEACHES
EC - Broccoli Soup Crackers, Ham Salad Sandwich, Cobbler
WC - MANAGER’S SPECIAL
Mount Carmel, Ill.— Frontier Community, Lincoln Trail, Olney Central and Wabash Valley colleges are encouraging high school seniors to apply before the October 28 Priority Deadline to ensure they are first in line for scholarship dollars.
Last year, Illinois Eastern Community Colleges awarded more than $272,000 in Success Scholarships to 408 local students.
IECC Director of Financial Aid Krystle Riggle says, “Applying for the priority deadline gives local students the opportunity to receive a scholarship for any of the four IECC colleges. We are excited to help students find different avenues to afford a top-rated education close to home.”
Initiated in 2020, the tuition awards are made available to Community College District 529 students who have committed to attend the IECC colleges by completing the admissions application and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid by the Priority Deadline date. The Success Scholarships are renewable for up to four semesters — Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2024 and Spring 2025, not including summer courses.
“The awards demonstrate IECC’s ongoing commitment to seeing area students successfully achieve their higher education goals,” said IECC Director of Enrollment Management Andrea Loll. “We encourage all our area students to complete the necessary documents and see how much they can save by attending one of the IECC schools.”
Students can go to www.iecc.edu/priority to begin the application process now and file their FAFSA starting October 1. The FAFSA must have school code 001742 – Illinois Eastern Community Colleges listed.
Loll says this year students will receive additional assistance in applying as each college now has a dedicated admissions representative. During September and October, these recruiters will visit IECC District high schools on a weekly basis.
“We are looking forward to partnering with our area high schools,” Loll said. “Our recruiters will be available to answer questions and guide students in the application process. They also will be working with Financial Aid to help students create their FAFSA IDs, expediting the process and making it easier to walk parents and students through the FAFSA application. We really encourage students to complete their FAFSA — the earlier the better. Even if students know they are going to a four-year school, we still want to help them with the process. As community col leges, we are part of the community, and we want students to know we are here to serve them.”
Success Scholarship awards will be announced prior to the Thanksgiving holiday.
“IECC is very affordable. We want to show students how affordable the IECC colleges can be and to let them know money is available to assist them financially,” Loll said. “We want to help our students and their families by providing the best option for them. With the priority deadline, families can see just how much money they can save by attending FCC, LTC, OCC or WVC.”
Students or parents with questions regarding the Success Scholarships or the FAFSA, should contact FCC, LTC, OCC and WVC Financial Aid, or visit www.iecc.edu/financial.
Edwards County Housing Authority is seeking applicants interested in a fulltime Maintenance position. Monday–Friday work week, requiring 24-hour on-call for emergencies. Applicants must have experience in a variety of skills such as general carpentry, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, janitorial and lawn care. Applicants must be trustworthy, work well with others, and be able to priori tize. The position requires a valid Illinois Driver’s license, high school diploma or equivalent and Edwards County residency. Benefits include paid retirement, health and life insurance, holiday and sick time.
Applications may be obtained in person or by mail from Edwards County Housing Authority, 125 W. Cherry Street, Albion, IL 62806, Monday--Friday dur ing the hours of 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Hand-delivered signed applications accom panied by a letter of reference will be accepted in the office until the position is filled. Resumes may accompany a signed application. Edwards County Housing Authority is an equal opportunity employer operating a Drug Free Workplace.
County
Seals
With a long career in music spanning decades, Dennis Stroughmatt, from Albion IL, returns to the French Creole mu sic that has been a passion of his preservation efforts since college. French Creole music, language and culture arrived in Illinois, Indiana and Missouri over 300 years ago with connection to many known cities such as Vincennes, St Louis, Ste Genevieve, Cahokia and Prairie du Rocher. Dennis became enamored with this culture and music in his teen years and it eventually led him to learning the music, playing fiddle, and adopting the regional French Creole dialect when he was in college in southeast Missouri. This has resulted in countless performances with his group “L’Esprit Creole” across the United States and Canada with highlights including The Smithsonian Folklife Festival, The Kennedy Center, The Library of Congress and The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
After learning to sing the songs, play in the regional fiddle style, and gaining fluency in the language from the last generation of fluent Creoles in southeast Missouri and southwest ern Illinois, Dennis was asked to represent the communities at various festivals and events in the1990s. Years later he began a series of recordings called “French Creole Fiddle Tunes and Ballads from Old Upper Louisiana” to document the many songs he learned in the communities. The first Volume, “The Gamblers Fiddle,” was released in 2006. This new project, the final in the series, is volume four and titled “Bon Cabinet.” Bon Cabinet was one of many songs that Dennis learned from the French speaking and singing Ida Portell of Potosi MO. Ida was well into her 80’s when Dennis met her 32 years ago, and like many in her community, she contained a wealth of cultural knowledge that spanned hundreds of years.
Released on August 31, many of the songs on the new CD cross the entirety of the old “Illinois Country,” the area spanning from southern Indiana to southeast Missouri. While there are a mix of fast past fiddle instrumentals representing the styles of Dennis’s mentors Charlie Pashia and Roy Boyer, there are several heart wrenching bal lads such as “Marianson Dame Jolie” and the often requested “Grandmere se Plainte” which means “grandmother complains.” The album was mainly recorded at Vincennes University and engineered by music department chair, Virgil Franklin. Other musicians on the CD are Doug Hawf on guitar, Greg Bigler on Upright Bass, and Raegan Stroughmatt on percussion.
Dennis continues to appreciate the support he has felt from the many French communities in southern Illinois, Indiana and southeast Missouri. Together, many achievements have been made in the preservation efforts of the regional French Creole culture including a new exhibit at the Arch National Park and the founding of the new Ste Genevieve National Park in Ste Genevieve, MO. Dennis also appreciated the support he has continued to receive from the Illinois Arts Council. The production of the new CD was in fact supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency. The recording includes 13 songs in total and can only be purchased directly from Dennis Stroughmatt or on his website, www.creolefiddle.com.
I have a pen of chickens that I take care of. Now, I should mind this. I should resent it, given that it is the lowliest job on the farm. Feeding and watering chickens is a chore for the beginning farmers, it is there to teach young Roser children responsibility.
I haven’t had this job since I was six, and all of the other chicken pens are Ben’s job—Ben who is seven, and has had the chore since he was five. So, I guess at first I did resent this new appointment, and the fact that it was such a lowly one. Mom decided that I was doing too little with my life and sent me out one morning to achieve maximum constructive employment by feeding and watering some chickens.
At first my feelings were an odd mixture of shame, resentment, and nostalgia at the familiar job. I have many memories of this chore as a child, and so it was almost a joy, looking back on those times in the dead of winter when I would scrub my icey watering bowls free of algae with my bare hands, and how times have changed since those long ago days, how much softer the younger generation is. But I was mostly resentful, I most certainly thought I was now too good for the chore. Yet, it only took me a few days before that resentment entirely melted away. Because my chickens are spe cial, they are extraordinary. They are… sophisticated.
Now, this was mom’s idea for an article, she said I should write about my unusual chickens. I told her that was a silly idea because no one would believe me, they would think I was making up, or embellishing my chickens’ attributes, and that no one would be silly enough to verbally communicate with mere birds as I do. Mom said believability doesn’t matter, that it’s a funny tale, and that I was writing about my chickens, no matter how silly everyone thinks it. So I will pause here and say, this is true. Every word I say about my chickens from here on out is hand-on-my-heart, hope-not-to-die truth.
Every morning these chickens greet me; they scrape and bow and squawk and peck at my boots in a friendly sort of way as I collect their water and feed containers to fill.
Whenever I open the door in the morning, the rooster gives a loud crow and all of the hens come flying to the front of the pen—sometimes literally, if only for a few feet at a time. They gather around my feet as I try to walk, sometimes I step on their feet and have to humbly apologize.
I leave the door open when I fill their water and feed, letting the fresh air into their confining apartments—the chickens and I have lately both been lobbying for better accommodations. Sometimes they’ll hop outside of their confining pen for a few seconds, while I labor over the little watering contraptions. The birds look around at the wide, wide world and hop right back in.
I talk to my chickens, and they talk back. I call them my chicky-wickies, and my fluffy-bottomed golden birdies. And they always loudly explain how much they’ve missed me since our last visit. Of course, since they can’t talk they have to use primitive sounds such as chirps and squawks and even the shuffling of their feet to communicate, but I can tell they’re speaking. It’s be cause they’re brilliant.
They even have their own little chamber pot, a third watering bowl that they do not drink out of. While the other two waterers are specifically designed for watering, this third is just a rubber bowl, and my birds, brilliant as they are, can tell the difference between high quality equipment and the multi-purpose, heavy-duty tubaware. So they stand in the water bowl and empty their bowels. And I dump it and fill it every morning because I’m sort of ridiculous, and my chickens are my weakness.
They can differentiate and comment on my patterns of behavior. For example, when I put the water in before the feed, they simply sit there and stare at it, they don’t even go to drink it, ignoring my efforts and glaring at me as if I’ve committed some atrocious crime and they want revenge. When I put the feed back in, however, they run at it like they’ve been starving. The silence interposed by a random, polite word is broken and turned to a manasery of frantic cacophony. They crowd around, a few run between my legs or stand on my boots while others fight their way into the bowl itself, standing in the
Edwards County Housing Authority
for income based
Albion and West Salem.
feed like grand conquerors, trampling it and dirtying it for everyone else. I think it’s some sort of advanced social ritual, a display of power, the rhode island reds always win, though the buff orpingtons are my favorite. Some chickens simply peck at the feed, then look up at me, bobbing and chirping in my direction as a subtle show of thanks to their willing servant. As I said, they’re fascinating.
Anyone reading might roll their eyes and start to think of me like some insane puppy-mom, with a dog that she dresses like a princess and feeds at the table. And honestly, it’d be fine with me if you compared me to such a person. Firstly, there is something so adorably imaginative about someone like that, who can take an animal and turn it into a friend, that I’d take the com parison as a compliment. And secondly, because after spending a lot of time with my chickens I think I can somewhat understand the mentality of such a person.
You see, when I’m lonely or sad, my chickens are always happy to see me. When I feel unloved and wounded by the world, and I feel as if all of my friends despise me, those friendly, befeathered beasts still come running to greet me. I know it is just because I feed them and care for them in a nearly obsessive way, but it doesn’t feel like a simple instinct when they all squawk and gather around me like a little congregation of adoring children. It feels much bigger than that, much
more wonderful.
But it is that simple, I feed and care for them, and they thank me. They love me because I love them. And it’s not strange to draw a comparison between this situa tion and a bigger one, because I think it is a logical one. You see God cares for me like I do my chickens, albeit in ways much more special and ridiculous, and I don’t thank him enough for it.
God loves me in an entirely different way than I love my chickens, but my reaction to that love should be just the same as theirs is for me, pure adoration, unadulter ated affection, respect.
There are, of course, a few flaws with the above analogy, because there always are. The issue lies main ly with the comparison between myself and God, be cause although I may seem all powerful to my chickens, I’m not. I put the water in before the feed, I wake up late and forget to take care of my chickens, or don’t manage it until the heat of the day when they are parched and grouchy. I make mistakes; God doesn’t. His care for us is perfect, so our respect for him should be so many times greater than the affection birds have for the hands that feed them. Our response to the love and care, and more importantly the grace, that a perfect God has giv en us, is a response that should be more humble than the lowliest of farm chores, and more grateful than the hungriest of chickens.
left: Allendale CCSD 17 would like to thank Country Financial and Representative Tia Morgan for their donation to our mathematics and reading incentives program. The donation will be used to provide field trips in the winter and spring for those students who meet the goals for each semester. Again, thank you Tia Morgan and Country Financial.
results are in from the 2022 Edwards Coun ty Paint-out hosted by the Albion Area
of Commerce
Paint-out
of
on
September 26,
made possible
the 2022 winners are....Professional Plein Air Awards: Best of Show $250 sponsored by Wabash General Hospital’s Albion Clinic: 5th Street by Vicki Gifford; People’s Choice $250 sponsored by Citizens National Bank of Albion: 5th Street by Vicki Gifford; Best of Edward County $250 sponsored by the Albion Area Chamber of Commerce: Corn and Beans by Marty Coulter; Best of West Salem $100 sponsored by the West Salem Development Asso
ciation: Quiet Afternoon by Farley Lewis; Local Artist’s Awards: Best of Show $250 sponsored by CRHPC Albion Community Health Center: Cornerstone by Tara Thompson; Best of Edwards County $250 sponsored by Doug Raber State Farm: Country Evening by Caleb Shelby; People’s Choice $100 sponsored by Mitchell Insurance: EC Lion by Kaci McGuire; Best of Albion $100 sponsored by The Hope Center: EC Lion by Kaci McGuire; Best of Bone Gap $100 sponsored by Magical Memories by Aubrey: Bone Gap Depot by Krista Garrod.
Above: Peoples Choice Kaci McGuire. At right top: Best of Edwards County Marty Coulter
Above: Best of Show Local Artist - Tara Thompson. At left bottom: Best of Edwards County Caleb Shelby
Red, green, or yellow, which is your favorite? The kindergarteners in Wabash County answered just that during Ag in the Classroom presentations in September. They were given the opportunity to taste the different colors of apples, talk about the differences and similarities, discuss how each slice looked, felt, smelled, and even how loud each crunch was when they took a bite. Then, they choose which color of apple was their favorite. While the kindergarteners were tasting ap ples, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grad ers learned about the life cycle of an
apple. From an apple seed, to a sapling, to a tree, then blossoms, pollina tors, and finally apples, each step is very important. Wabash County 1st and 2nd graders worked on sequencing, and put the apple tree life cycle in order, and the 3rd and 4th graders made an apple tree life cycle bracelet with each color of bead representing a different step in the life cycle.
Above: Wabash County AITC students learned about apples during September. Knox Schonert, MCGS second grader in Mrs. Litherland’s class, glues the final step in the apple tree life cycle.
The 21st annual 4 person scramble supporting the Edwards County baseball program will be held Saturday, October 29th 2022 starting at 10:00 a.m. at the West Berwick Country Club in Mt. Carmel.
Several sponsorships are available: Team $200, Hole Sponsor $30, Scorecard & Hole Sponsor $50, Tournament Sponsor (All Three) $240
Trophies will be awarded to 2 flights; red flight and black flight. Prizes will be awarded to: Closest to the pin, Longest Putt, and Longest Drive. Tees being played: Age 65 and up - Silver Tee; Age 45 to 64 - Gold Tee; Age 44 and under - Black Tees.
A Costume Contest will also be held with Group and Individual Winner. Lunch is provided outside the club house. Mail or Contact: Kris Duncan or Michael Snidle, Edwards Co. High School, 361 West Main St. Albion, IL 62806, Phone: (618) 445-2325 ext. 150. Kris Duncan (618) 839-2220 or Michael Snidle (618) 445-7144
The Wabash Valley College Col legiate Farm Bureau recently elected new officers for the 2022-2023 school year. The group is advised by Alex Hamblin and Doug Robb, Agricultural Instructors at the col lege.
The Collegiate Farm Bureau is a club at the college with direct ties to the Illinois Farm Bureau. Through out the year, members participate in service, social, and informational opportunities with the college and their county Farm Bureaus.
Poultry can be defined as “birds that are domesticated and raised for their products including meat, eggs, and feathers.” The two most popular types of poultry in Illinois are chickens and turkeys. From large farms to small back yards, these birds have stories to tell.
The 3rd Grade classes at AGS are the ones who are telling those stories! After learning about egg development and poultry’s life cycle, taught by Edwards County Ag in The Classroom, students were challenged to use their creative freedom to tell the story of a chick. From stories titles “The Funny Chicken” to “The Strange Egg”, these students drafted a wide variety of amazing tales.
At left: AGS Third Grade students, Emilynn Alexander and Kelly Hinderlinder display there poultry tales after their AITC lesson.
The Illinois Hunter Safety Class will be offered in Edwards County on Friday, October 21 from 6pm to 9pm and Saturday, October 22 from 8am to 3pm at the Edwards County Farm Bureau. Attendees must be present for the entire class!
The class will end with a 50 question, multiple choice test, which must be passed to receive the certificate. Adults are welcomed to attend with their children. The class and test are intended for people ages 10 and up.
This class satisfies the requirement to hunt in Illinois. Pre-registration is required and can be made by calling the Edwards County Farm Bureau at 618-4452113.
All attendees must bring a sack lunch on Saturday.
Class of 1972 50th Reunion: Front row (l-r) Janet (Spray) Hayes, Dixie (Marks) Timbrook, Donna (Lynch) Hunt, Janice (Marks) White, Billie (Bailey) Young, Sheila (Padgett) Lyons, Susan (Schock) Weber, Dawn (Harris) Skillman. 2nd row (l-r) Cindy (Harper) Reid, Roberta (Turpin) Smith, Mary Katherine (McCurdy) Schnitz, Rita (Cash) Lake, Crystal (Lenear) Clodfelter, Angie (Shaw) Garrett, Regina (Mason) Dorval, Sherry (Johnson) Rutger. Standing (l-r) Bill Shelby, David Woods, Rick Bowers, Randy Hallam, Bill Denham, Marvin Root, Conrad Scranton. Back row (l-r) Mike Murray, Mike Keener, David Coles, Karl Case, Paul Hedrick, Jerry Neal, Doug Krajec, Jim Smith.
The Class of 1972 held their 50th Class Reunion during Homecoming weekend, September 23rd and 24th. A tent was set up at the Homecoming football game where
classmates enjoyed visiting and cookies.
Saturday night they met at Homestead Vineyard in West Salem for a delicious meal catered by Big Johns Lunch Box in Mt. Carmel and scrumptious pies and cakes catered by the Village Cafe in West Salem. After a short meeting led by the class president Bill Denham it was suggested to meet Homecoming weekend every year for a casual get together and every five years for a regular reunion.
The class was honored to have Mr. & Mrs. Norman Howell attended the reunion. Mr. Howell a former teacher made the 50th reunion banner.
Two memorial tables were set up for the class members that had passed away. There were 21; Tom Ewing, Ed Ellis, David Glover, Dianne (Rigg) Sutton, Jerry Elliott, Vicki (Bristow) Schwarzlose, Bob Murphy, Charles Thomas, John Weber, Vanita (Bunting) Judge, Lee Luthe, Richard Potter, Marianne (Ewing) Weber, Steve Tedman, Donnie Compton, Stanley Shaw, Chuck Messerole, Mike Mc Corkle, and Rosie Gumbrell. Two not pictured are Jim Culiver Wilson and Noland Cullison.
Prize winners were: Dixie Marks married 52 years, Conrad Scranton traveled to 25 plus countries, Janice Marks moved 9 times. Jerry Neal traveled the furthest from Idaho to attend the reunion, and Jim Smith working the same job the longest.
Morgan at
North 5th Street
445-2056
Susan Morgan
for an appointment
At left: SIJHSAA Class M Regional Champions - Albion Grade School Baseball. (l-r)
Front Row: Rylyn Nix, Evan Rhodes, Dylan Prather, Drew Roosevelt, Brodie Dardeen, Drew Lankford, Elijah Brinkmann. Middle row (l-r): Jeter Duncan Curtis Hortin, Carsyn Jones Walker Sledge, Kaden Duncan, Aiden Fisher, Jonathan Swardstrom, Yeagar Bearden, Xaiden Ewing, Eli Garrett. Back row (l-r): Kevin Smerdon, assistant coach, Kris Duncan, head coach, Jake Gillard, assistant coach Christian Cullison, assistant coach.
At left: SIJHSAA Class M Regional Champions - Albion Grade School Softball. Back row left to right: Sidney Watson, Kiera Willet, Madi Murphy, Lydia Fisher, Jenna Shaw, Hanna Evans, Kayla Conover, Madison Miller, Leah Rigg, Hallie Shelton, Hayley Kennard, Chris Shelton. Front row left to right: Emmalynn Merriel, Katie Robb, Tenley West, Holly Hensley, Falon Richards, Chloe Doan, Kayleigh Sanford.
Above: SIJHSAA Class S Regional Champions - West Salem Grade School Softball. Front row: (l-r) Kenzley Matchem, Sydney Williams, Autumn Shelby, Aubrey Arnold, Emma Dyckma, Josie Shelby, Bristol Duncan and Brook Greathouse. Back row: (l-r) Aleah Carlson, Emma Koop, Elli Conrad, Willow Westbrook, Jackie Fritchley, Danika Phillips, Braelyn Troyer, Laney Knasinski. Coaches: Brad Lake, Cody Williams and Tonya Weber.
Financial Representative
103 W North St
Financial Representative
103 W North St
West Salem, IL 62476-1344
West Salem, IL 62476-1344
steven.thomson@countryfinancial.com
steven.thomson@countryfinancial.com
456-2309
Edwards County students in grades kindergarten through fifth are invited to participate in the annual Autumn AgVenture! This year’s AgVenture is scheduled for Friday, October 21st, 2022 from 8:30am to 3:00pm at the Albion City Park. This year’s theme is “Fall in love with Ag” and will fea ture hands-on stations involving animals, crafts, pumpkin painting, apples, and much more. Lunch and snack will be provided. Permission slips will be sent home with students in the following weeks. For those who do not attend public school, please reach out to the Edwards County Farm Bureau 618-4452113.
(MT. CARMEL) With multiple individual and team state championships and scores of collegiate and even professional athletes through the years there’s no questioning the rich tradition of Mt. Carmel Golden Aces Athletics. But, despite all that success, there’s always been something missing, until now. With the support of District #348 school officials the Mt. Carmel Booster Club is excited to announce the launch of the Mt. Carmel High School Ath letic Hall of Fame.
Back in 2020 the Booster Club assembled a five-member committee to develop the Hall of Fame and specifi cally the process by which members would be nominated and ultimately selected for enshrinement. The committee developed a set of criteria by which nominees shall be considered for enshrinement. Inductees will be selected from one of four categories… Athlete, Coach, Team, or Friend of Aces Athletics.
Finally, after the COVID-19 pandemic delayed its launch… the inaugural class of 10, as selected by the Hall of Fame Committee, will be unveiled LIVE on the WSJD Radio Morning Show on August 30th (teams), September 6th (coaches), and September 13th (athletes). The inductees will also be recognized at halftime of the September 30th Golden Aces Football game vs. Newton. Plans for a social event following the game, hosted by the Mt. Carmel Booster Club, will be announced soon.
As for future nominees, nominations can be made by members of the community, the public and Hall of Fame Committee members. Nomination forms, which will be available soon, must be returned by May 1st of each year. The selection committee will review the nominations in June of each year and finalize the Hall of Fame selections by July 1 of the induction year. There will be only five inductions each year going forward. Nominees will be consid ered for up to 7 years after being nominated.
For consideration, athletes must have been a graduate of Mt. Carmel High School for ten years prior to being nominated. They must have been an All-State Athlete, State Champion, member of an All-Conference Team, a collegiate or professional athlete or member of a team representing the USA, achieved outstanding recognition of success outside MCHS or IHSA such as college, conference, or national records and championships, or made a significant contribution in their field or contributed to the Mt. Carmel community.
Coaches that will be considered are those nominees who have been out of coaching at MCHS for 10 years, coached in the Mt. Carmel school system for at least 7 years, or been a head coach at MCHS for at least 5 years. Any assistant coach who has been named to their state organization Hall of Fame will automatically be eligible for nomination if they meet the time-limit criteria above. Coaches must also meet three of the following four criteria for consideration… had a career winning percentage as varsity head coach… been honored by peers or media at the district, state, or national level… coached a conference and/or state series level championship team or athlete… and made significant contributions in the chosen field or endeavor or made major contributions to the Mt. Carmel community or MCHS.
Teams must wait 10 years following graduation for consideration. Automatic consideration will be given to state championship teams during their first year of eligibility. The team otherwise must have an overall winning record for that season. Teams must meet at least two of the following three criteria for consideration… won a conference championship, won a regional championship, or been a state tournament final qualifier.
Friends of Athletics may be anyone who meets two of the following criteria… they have made extraordinary contributions to the Mt. Carmel School District… had a major influence on the athletic efforts of Mt. Carmel students… demonstrated these qualities in a manner that has inspired the students and Mt. Carmel community… and had a major influence/service to state, country, or the international community.
The Mt. Carmel High School Booster Club and Hall of Fame Committee are excited to recognize the excep tional athletes, teams, coaches, and friends of Aces Athletics who have helped to shape the rich tradition of the Golden Aces.
The inaugural class consiste of: TEAMS: 1927 Boys Basketball (state champions);1981 Football (state cham pions); 2010 Boys Golf (state champions)
COACHES: Cliff Garrett – Head Coach of the 1927 Boys Basketball State Champions – Head Basketball Coach (1924-1929 – 5 years (123-23)), Head Football Coach (1924-1925 – 2 years (11-5))
Larry Davis – Head Coach of the 1981 Football State Champions – Head Football Coach (1968-1982 – 15 years (113-33))
John Gates – Assistant Football Coach/ Defensive Coordinator of the 1981 Football State Champions, Started MCHS Wrestling Program, Served as Assistant Boys Basketball Coach, Former Athletic Director (was AD when girls sports were launched)
Cisne Horizon Lab - Monday thru Friday and Saturday, October 22nd
Park Street - Cisne, IL
Grayville Horizon Lab - Tuesday thru Thursday and Saturday, October 29th 309 W Commerce Street - Grayville, IL
Fairfield Hospital Lab - Monday thru Friday and Saturday, October 29th
NW 11th Street - Fairfield, IL
Carmi Horizon Lab- Monday thru Friday and Saturday, November 5th
W Main Street - Carmi, IL
Fairfield Horizon Lab - Monday thru Friday
NW 10th Street - Fairfield, IL
Albion Draw Station - Edwards County Health Department - Monday - Wednesday - Friday
