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Wednesday, January 13, 2021

DOWN THE HILL!

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media

Jovie, 11, and Haken, 7, Patton slide down the sledding hill at Morrison Rockwood State Park on Sunday. The brother and sister team had plenty of fun on the hill as their dad watched.

Vol. 81 • No. 18 One Section • 12 Pages

© Prairie Advocate

Prairie Advocate / prairieadvocate.com • Wednesday, January 13, 2021

PRAIRIE ADVOCATE

2

COVID-19 UPDATE

Whiteside announces 13 new COVID-19 cases

BY ERIC INGLES eingles@shawmedia.com Whiteside County announced 13 new COVID-19 cases and five recoveries on Sunday.

The new cases involve one person under 20, two in their 20s, one in their 40s, five in their 50s, three in their 60s and one in their 70s.

Lee, Ogle and Carroll counties did not report updated statistics on Sunday.

Whiteside County has had 5,217 cases, 4,638 recoveries and 133 deaths. Lee County has had 2,641 cases, 2,182 recoveries and 53 deaths.

Ogle County has had 4,313 cases, 3,642 recoveries and 55 deaths. Carroll County has had 1,357 cases, 1,305 recoveries and 30 deaths.

The North region (Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside and Winnebago counties) has seen 11 consecutive

days under the 12% positivity rate.

The region’s positivity rate decreased to 10.1%.

Currently, 25% of medical/surgical beds are available and 21.2% of ICU beds.

The region has 11 consecutive days above the

20% threshold for ICU bed availability, and 11 consecutive days above the 20% threshold for medical/surgical bed availability.

Within this region, DeKalb County’s positivity rate decreased to 12.8%, Lee County’s rate increased slightly to 3.2%, and Whiteside County’s rate decreased to 9.7%.

Finally, within this region, there are 34 available, staffed ICU beds out of 179 total, and 255 ventilators out of 343 available.

The Illinois Department of Public Health announced 4,711 new cases Sunday as well as 81 deaths. There have been 1,028,750 cases and 17,574 deaths statewide.

Sterling has had 16,073 tests and 1,918 cases.

Rock Falls has had 7,729 tests and 1,125 cases.

Dixon has had 29,236 tests and 1,933 cases.

Rochelle has had 9,388 tests and 1,410 cases.

BUSINESS

Heintzelman named publisher of Sauk Valley publications Jennifer Heintzelman said. “I’m incredibly has been named pubproud to work with a lisher of Shaw Media’s group of talented profesSauk Valley-based prodsionals and look forward ucts, including the Teleto the journey ahead for graph and Daily Gazette, our team.” as well as Ogle County Don Bricker, Shaw Newspapers, The PraiMedia chief operating rie Advocate, Whiteofficer, previously held side News Publications, the publisher title for saukvalley.com and dozthe Sauk Valley operaens of niche magazines. tions now being served She was previousby Heintzelman. ly general manager of “Jennifer is a valued those titles. leader within our comHeintzelman has pany and the communispent 26 years in the ty,” Bricker said. “I look media industry at newsforward to continuing papers across northern our work together to Jennifer Heintzelman Illinois, the last 14 years bring the strongest posat Shaw Media. sible local news and mar“The staff in Sauk Valley is com- keting services to the Sauk Valley mitted to serving our audience and northwestern Illinois communithrough local journalism and con- ties we serve.” necting our business community Heintzelman is passionate about with their clients,” Heintzelman giving back and serving the com-

Reserve your ad space now!

Deadlin Thursd e for all adverti sing Call us ays @ 12 :00 No is today — (815) 6 25-3 on 600

munity. She currently serves on the board of directors of United Way of Lee County, Dixon Chamber of Commerce and Main Street, Dixon Rotary Club and the Sauk Valley CEO. She is also a member of the Illi-

nois Press Association Advertising/ Marketing Committee.

Heintzelman and her husband Jeff reside in Dixon. They have a blended family of seven children and four dogs.

PRAIRIE ADVOCATE For information on classified advertisements, display advertisements or billing please dial: For information on classified advertisements, 815-625-3600 display advertisements or billing please dial: Fax 815-625-9390 For editorial please dial: 815-625-3600 815-493-2560 Fax 815-625-9390 www.prairieadvocate.com For editorial please dial: 815-493-2560 www.prairieadvocate.com

Publisher........................................... Jennifer Heintzelman

Publisher............................................................Don T. Bricker T. Bricker Publisher ................................................................................ Don Circulation.........................................................

Abbie Clark Circulation Manager...............................................Abbie Clark Circulation Manager.....................................................................Abbie Clark Advertising Director................................Jennifer Heintzelman Advertising ...............................................

Donna McDonald Publisher ................................................................................

Advertising Director ....................................................

Jennifer Heintzelman Don T. Bric Editor................................................................Earleen Hinton Circulation Manager.....................................................................Abbie C Editor............................................................

Earleen Hinton Advertising Director .................................................... Jennifer Heintzel

The Prairie Advocate is published weekly by Sauk Valley Media, a division of B.F. Shaw Printing Co. Member of Shaw Newspapers and the Audit Bureau of Circulations.

The Prairie Advocate is published weekly by Sauk Valley Media, a divisio The publisher B.F. shall Shaw not bePrinting liable for of errors inand adver Co.damages Member arising of Shawout Newspapers the Audit Burea tisements beyondCirculations. the amount paid for space actually occupied by that portion of the advertisementThe in which the shall errornot occurred - whether sucharising error isout due publisher be liable for damages of errors in ad to the negligencetisements of the publisher’s staff or otherwise and there shall be no by that por beyond the amount paid for-space actually occupied liability for non-insertion any advertisement beyond the amount for suchsuch error is of the of advertisement in which the error occurredpaid - whether advertisement. to the negligence of the publisher’s staff or otherwise - and there shall be liability for non-insertion of any advertisement beyond the amount paid for s advertisement.

COVID-19 & BUSINESS

MORRISON – The Morrison Chamber of Commerce has begun a chamber bucks program.

The program helps residents see how they can support Morrison businesses while practicing social distancing by using Morrison Chamber Gift Checks.

Daily and weekly cash flow for small businesses is a big part of keeping the doors open and helps the small business community get through this pandemic. The program launched Jan. 4 and will continue to be updated as businesses submit information.

The dollars come in $5 increment denominations and work like cash at any Chamber member business that has signed up for the program.

A business participation list will be included.

Checks are void after 90 days.

Chamber bucks are available at Community State Bank in Morrison or contact the Chamber by email at morrisonchamber@morrisonil.org or call LeAnn Schaefer, Chamber of Commerce Director, at 815-772-3757.

Steve Siefken/Shaw Media

Morrison Chamber of Commerce Director LeAnn Schaefer displays Chamber Bucks which are designed to support local businesses. For more information, call the Chamber at 815-772-3757.

Ice Anglers

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media

Jay Johnson of Morrison pulls his ice fishing sled across the lake at Morrison Rockwood State Park on Sunday. Johnson said he caught a perch and a small bluegill during his time on the lake. He said the ice depth was between 6-8 inches.

PRAIRIE ADVOCATE Prairie Advocate / prairieadvocate.com • Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Morrison launches Chamber bucks program

3

BUSINESS

Jo-Carroll solar project is fully operational ELIZABETH – Jo-Carroll Energy, in partnership with Bluestem Energy Solutions, has completed a 2.3 MWDC solar project in Jo Daviess County and Carroll County.

Bluestem Energy Solutions is the project developer and owner, headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. The now-operational solar farm consists of two solar array sites located near Apple Canyon Lake and Mount Carroll that will provide a tax boost to both counties along with additional benefits to Jo-Carroll and its member-consumers.

The Apple Canyon Lake facility is a community-solar project. Jo-Carroll Energy members who subscribe to this project receive a portion of their energy from the facility, which offers potential electric bill savings while contributing to local renewable energy.

The new solar arrays establish Jo-Carroll Energy as a renewable energy leader in the area. This project diversifies the utility’s energy supply with locally generated electricity through multiple solar array sites.

Bluestem has entered into long-

OBITUARIES WILLIAM ‘BILL’ E. MILLER SHANNON – William “Bill” E. Miller, 89, of Shannon, passed away Tuesday, January 5, 2021, at FHN Hospital, in Freeport.

A funeral service will be planned for the spring.

A memorial fund has been established in Bill’s name, and family and friends are invited to share in his life at lawjonesfuneralhome. com.

Bill was born Oct. 23, 1931, in Macomb, the son of John and Helen (Mowery) Miller.

Growing up in Bushnell, Bill attended Bushnell schools, ultimately graduating from Bushnell High School.

Shortly thereafter, he enlisted in the National Guard, ready to do his part in serving his country.

On April 11, 1954, Bill married Pauline Hultgren at Bethany Lutheran Church, in Burlington, Iowa. The couple went on to raise three children, and celebrated

term land lease agreements with local landowners who will benefit from annual lease payments. Bluestem will plant a “pollinator mix” of local flowers and native seeds beneath the solar panels to benefit

area crops, habitat, and soil quality.

Jo-Carroll and Bluestem began their partnership in 2017 when the impact of the new Future Energy Jobs Act was still unclear.

An estimated $290,000 in property

tax revenue paid by Bluestem will support local schools and other services in both counties throughout the life of the solar project.

Call Jo-Carroll Energy at 800-8585522 for more information.

many decades of marriage before Pauline’s passing in 2012.

In his younger years, while still in Bushnell, Bill worked as a mechanic for the local Ford garage, before opening an upholstery shop, and later Miller’s Laundry and Dry Cleaning.

In 1973, he and Pauline moved to the Lake Carroll area.

Here, they worked together for 20 years in the construction and real estate businesses.

It was here that Bill also started Miller Sales and Service, which later become Miller Sport Center.

In his free time, Bill enjoyed fishing, and even flew as a pilot in his late teens.

He especially loved to snowmobile.

He, Pauline, and their kids logged many hours on those snowmobiles.

They were active in the local snowmobile club, and often planned and organized trips up north, and out to Yellowstone National Park.

Bill will be dearly missed by his son, BJ (Debbie) Miller of Lake Carroll; daughters, Deb (Dick) Lavender of Cadillac, Michigan, and Linda (fiancée, John Becker) Lawfer of Shannon; five grandchildren, Matt (Tracey) Miller of Shannon,

Ronni Miller of Davenport, Iowa, Patrick (Erin) Lavender of McBain, Michigan, Nicole (Cory ) Haas of Elizabeth, and Jenna (Mike) Piche of New Glarus, Wisconsin; eight great-grandchildren, Ava and Sienna, Bella and Kenzie, Eli and Weston, and Owen and Callen; and a brother, Jim (Roberta) Miller.

Bill is preceded in death by his wife, Pauline; parents, John and Helen; and brother, Jack Miller.

VICKIE TRYBUS MOUNT CARROLL – Vickie Trybus, 66, died Wednesday, January 6, 2021, in Mount Carroll. Law-Jones Funeral Home in Savanna, handled arrangements.

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KRISTIE L. BYRNES SAVANNA – Kristie Lea (Ritchie) Byrnes, 59, of Savanna, died unexpectedly Monday, January 4, 2021 at home.

Law-Jones Funeral Homes handled arrangements.

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Prairie Advocate / prairieadvocate.com • Wednesday, January 13, 2021

PRAIRIE ADVOCATE

4

BRIEFS CHICAGO-ROCKFORD – The American Red Cross and the National Football League are teaming up during National Blood Donor Month to urge individuals, especially those who have recovered from COVID-19, to give blood and to help tackle the national convalescent plasma shortage.

As COVID-19 cases have risen across the U.S., so has the need for convalescent plasma, leading to a shortage of this potentially lifesaving blood product.

Like “special teams” units on the field, COVID-19 survivors have a unique ability to make a game-changing difference in the lives of COVID-19 patients. Individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 may have antibodies in their plasma that could provide a patient’s immune system the boost it needs to beat the virus.

During this critical time, the Red Cross and NFL will offer all those who come to donate blood or platelets this month will be automatically entered to win two tickets to next year’s Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles. Those who come to give between Jan. 1-20 will be automatically entered to win the Big Game at Home

package for an awesome viewing experience safely at home, with a 65-inch television and a $500 gift card to put toward food and fun.

Local upcoming blood drive opportunities will be: Jan. 18, 1-6 p.m., Elk’s Lodge, 1279 Franklin Grove Road, Dixon.

Jan. 21, noon-6 p.m., St. Mary Catholic Church, 13320 Garden Plain Road, Morrison.

Jan. 22, 1-6 p.m., YMCA, 110 N. Galena Road, Dixon.

Individuals can schedule an appointment to give blood today with the American Red Cross by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, calling 1-800-RED-CROSS or activating the Blood Scheduling Skill for Amazon Alexa.

Morrison church to offer free meal on Jan. 14 MORRISON – The First Presbyterian Church will serve a free drive-up meal on Thursday, Jan. 14 from 5 to 6 p.m., or until food runs out.

Drive up at 300 N. Genesee St. and stay in your vehicle. Vegetable beef soup, bread and a dessert will be pro-

It’s that time of the year!

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Community Grace meal Jan. 17 PEARL CITY – St. John’s Lutheran Church, 229 S First St., will have this month’s Community Grace Meal on Sunday, Jan. 17, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The menu will be a meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans, Jello with fruit cocktail, and cookie. The meal will be curbside pick-up only with all meals ordered no later than 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15. Call St. John’s at 815-443-2215 to reserve a meal or email at prshadmin@ gmail.com.

The Women’s Gathering will meet at 9:45 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 19 at the church, abiding by social distancing and wearing face masks. The Congregational annual meeting will be held immediately following worship on Sunday, Jan. 31. Worship services are available online at 9 a.m. on Sunday mornings.

You may access it via our website at StJohnsPearlCity.org and clicking on the box on the top right of the home

page or view it on our Facebook page at St. John’s Lutheran Church (make sure to see the picture of our church).

Bulletins are available on Fridays and Saturdays at the church or online at our website under the Bulletins-Sermons tab.

Call the church at 815-443-2215 for more information.

Girl Scout cookies for sale online NORTHERN ILLINOIS – Girl Scouts have set-up their cookie websites and are marketing their products and selling Girl Scout Cookies online for the Early Bird Online Only part of the annual Girl Scout Cookie Program.

Girls also may choose to take cookie orders safely in-person from Jan. 6–30.

The $5 per box flavors are Thin Mints (vegan!), Samoas, Tagalongs, Do-si-dos, Trefoils, S’mores, and Toffee-tastics (gluten free, too).

Girls can accept orders safely in-person or through Digital Cookie 7.0. This digital platform allows girls to take electronic orders for cookies.

Customers can order and pay for cookies online and have the option to See BRIEFS, Page 9

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Gibbs Kness Heating & Cooling offers a wide range of heating and air conditioning installation and repair services as well as emergency after hours repairs.

We specialize in residential furnaces, air conditioners, hot water boilers, ductless systems, installation of new RUUD equipment, and service all brands.

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5 PRAIRIE ADVOCATE Prairie Advocate / prairieadvocate.com • Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Red Cross teams with NFL to urge blood and plasma donation

Prairie Advocate / prairieadvocate.com • Wednesday, January 13, 2021

PRAIRIE ADVOCATE

6

YOUR HEALTH

Beyond Trim: Puppy love is good for what ails you O

ne of the trends I’ve noticed with the COVID-19 situation is the number of people who have welcomed a new canine into their family.

I totally get it. Our dog will be 16 this month, and since we don’t have any children, he’s pretty much the center of our world.

He makes our life better in so many ways, despite being a bit more high-maintenance than he once was.

There are many ways that owning a pet can enhance your life, not the least of them having to do with your health. According to the CDC, some of the health benefits of owning a pet include: • Increased opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities • Decreased blood pressure • Decreased cholesterol levels • Decreased triglyceride levels • Decreased feelings of loneliness • Increased opportunities for socialization As you can see, the health benefits are both physical and mental. Dogs need regular exercise, and walking a dog gives you the opportunity to be more active and spend quality

BEYOND TRIM Sherry DeWalt

time with them. The exercise alone can lead to the better blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels.

Many people don’t realize that the same health markers also are affected by stress.

Pet ownership can alleviate feelings of loneliness and isolation that contribute to our stress levels.

When it comes to your pet’s health, they need sufficient activity, and to be fed properly and not overfed.

Obese animals can develop health complications such as arthritis, heart disease, and cancers, just like obese humans.

If your budget or living situation doesn’t allow you to have a dog of your own, there are still ways to enjoy dogs – and the attendant health benefits.

Volunteer at your local animal shelter; the dogs there need walks and companionship as much or more so than family pets. If you

have a friend or family member who can’t get out of the house, you can volunteer to walk their dog for them. Pet sitting for friends, neighbors, or family members in your home or theirs is another way to enjoy pets without committing to one of your own.

Whether you’re a new dog owner or one with lots of experience, please recognize the health implications of

poor diet and lack of physical activity for yourself and your pet.

As for the cat owners out there, I recently read that some cats might be trained to walk on a leash and enjoy it. I’m skeptical, but hey, it’s worth a try.

Sherry DeWalt is the healthy lifestyles coordinator for the CGH Health Foundation in Sterling.

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FARM BUREAU COLUMN

atch for information coming as we kick off 2021 and work to stay relevant during these times.

We are working to team up with Stephenson County Farm Bureau and COUNTRY Financial to offer different programs via Zoom that would normally be held in person.

You saw last week the winter crop insurance updates will be held online.

If you need more information on those, please let us know.

We plan to also offer Estate Tax Planning and Retirement Planning as well here before spring field work begins.

•••

The Young Leaders will be once again doing the Harvest for All. Proceeds from the Harvest for All go to support the food pantries that serve Carroll County.

The Young Leaders began the Harvest for All in 2005. The end of the month they will begin making calls.

The harvest for all relies on the generous donations of corn or cash by the farmers.

Over the years, over $365,000 has been donated. How incredible is that.

COMMENTARY AT A GLANCE Chastity Welch

•••

Did you know that Case IH offers discounts to Farm Bureau members?

As a member you can save $200 on select tractors and hay equipment and $500 on Vestrum and Maxxum series tractors and large square balers and self-propelled windrowers.

Ford changed its membership discount beginning in 2021. Members received $500 bonus cash on a new Ranger, F-150 or Super Duty. The bonus cash is exclusively for active Farm Bureau members and does not include the Ford Raptor.

Visit for fordfarmbureauadvantage.com for offer details. You do need to be a member for 30 days prior to purchase.

•••

We are now two weeks in two the New Year. Did you make a resolution? I honestly prefer goals over resolutions. Oxford languages defines goal as: the object of a person’s ambition or effort; an aim or desired result.

Carroll County Farm Bureau members can place up to two free classified ads per week, with a limit of 250 characters per ad (not including spaces).

Ads are limited to personal or farm items for sale/wanted to buy, or farm labor or services available or wanted. No ads for the sale or rental of real estate, garage sales, or commercial businesses will be accepted.

For Sale: Antique claw foot bathtub 90+ years old. Great shape $400. You haul. Call 563-219-4359 For Sale: Arctic Cat Jag 440 snowmobile, runs good. 815-493-6241.

For Sale: Murry GT lawn tractor. 18.5 hp. 46 in deck, 40in snowblower on tractor works great, With wheel weights, chains, and cab. $950 815-493-6241.

For Sale: Round bale unroller. $500 or best offer 815-273-2273.

For Sale: Nascar pinball machine, needs a little work, best offer. 815-273-2273.

For Sale: Big round bales of hay. No rain, nice hay, stored inside. 815-244-9223.

For Sale: Mixed firewood. 815-225-7824.

For Sale: Big round bales of net wrapped grass hay. 815-225-7824.

It defines resolution as a firm decision to do or not to do something.

To me it is easier to set an attainable goal versus saying you are or are not going to do something.

Look how many vow to exercise every day or to lose 15 pounds. Why not start smaller with vowing to get healthier which encompasses so much more.

Now that is just one example as

there are many things people say they are going to do or stop doing.

One other comes to wasting money or saving money.

Do you set a goal or a resolution?

We set goals as an organization and it is that time of year again where we need to get them. Last year we set them and while we failed

See FARM BUREAU, Page 9

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PRAIRIE ADVOCATE Prairie Advocate / prairieadvocate.com • Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Well, did you set a New Year’s goal or a resolution?

W

7

Prairie Advocate / prairieadvocate.com • Wednesday, January 13, 2021

PRAIRIE ADVOCATE

8

REGIONAL NEWS

First round of vaccines for Pinecrest Community Facility’s CEO: Vaccinations mean ‘safety for our residents’

BY JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com After receiving the first part of their vaccines on Monday, Pinecrest Community residents and staff in Mt. Morris took pictures and shared on cards why the vaccine was important to them.

Nurse Kathy Lee’s “why” was her grandchildren and the residents and Pinecrest.

Brenda Camling works in dining services at Pinecrest. Her “why” was to be able to be around her family again for holidays.

Risk Manager Howell Herman’s reason was to be “part of the solution.”

One resident wrote she wanted to get the vaccine “for the future.” Another simply wrote “grandkids.”

“So I won’t get COVID-19,” One resident wrote.

“I don’t want to die.”

Pinecrest CEO Ferol Labash said Monday was a happy day at Pinecrest. In November, the federal government contacted all nursing homes and asked about signing up for a vaccine program with CVS or Walgreens. Pinecrest chose Walgreens.

Walgreens contacted Pinecrest just before Christmas to get the vaccine clinic structured.

Nursing homes started vaccinations on Dec. 28.

The second leg of the Pfizer vaccine will come to Pinecrest on Jan. 25.

“Since March, our primary focus has been keeping residents and staff safe,” Labash said.

“We’ve been very fortunate and haven’t had an outbreak. It’s devastating when it gets in nursing homes. It means safety for our residents.”

Labash hopes the Illinois Department of Public Health will open nursing homes back up for visitors sometime this year. Some residents haven’t seen their families since March.

“We’re hoping to reunite them,” Labash said.

Pinecrest Community photos

ABOVE: Pinecrest Community employee Kathy Lee and a resident hold their signs explaining why they wanted the COVID-19 vaccine. BELOW: Employees and residents hold signs explaining why they want the COVID-19 vaccine.

• BRIEFS Continued from Page 5

Build It Grow It Entrepreneurial Scholarships are announced HANOVER – Northwest Illinois Economic Development has announced the fourth annual Build It Grow It Entrepreneurial Scholarship.

All high school seniors in Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties who are interested in becoming an entrepreneur or starting a business are encouraged to apply for a $1,000 scholarship.

The package also includes an opportunity to meet with a NWILED

• FARM BUREAU Continued from Page 7 to reach all of them, circumstances came in the way that we were not able to control, we still felt good about what we were able to accomplish during the pandemic.

The inability to have in person

meetings was a large factor in that.

Even right now unknowing when normal will return again is making it a challenge to move forward on a number of things.

We will be focused on meeting the needs of our members remotely and through other various avenues.

YOUR ENVIRONMENT

Jo Daviess Christmas bird count results are released

APPLE RIVER – Terrence Ingram of Eagle Nature Foundation has released the results of the 2020 National Audubon Society Jo Daviess County Christmas Bird Count, which was on Dec. 15, 2020.

Twenty counters in 12 teams counted a total of 4,921 birds of 48 species. The counters were all members of the Eagle Nature Foundation and the Jo Daviess County Conservation Foundation.

Rare and unusual birds seen for this time of the year included: Bluewinged Teal, Carolina Wren, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and Chipping Sparrow.

Species seen in many previous years, but not seen during this year’s count included: Red-Headed Woodpecker, Mallard, Greatblue Heron, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Screech Owl, Great-horned Owl, Barred Owl, Belted Kingfisher, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Northern Shrike, and Robin.

Birds seen in high numbers for their species include Pileated Woodpecker 9, Dark-eyed Junco 1,908, and Eurasian Tree Sparrow 41.

“This year we only saw 15 Canada Geese, when we have seen as many

A Cardinal and a Tufted Titmouse visit a feeder following a snowstorm. as 435 in 2013; only three Ringnecked Pheasants, with 28 seen in 2004; 23 Wild Turkeys with 334 in 2002; 197 Starlings and 1,472 in 1996; one Northern Flicker with 13 in 2004; 23 Cedar Waxwings with 750 in 1991; two Snow Buntings with 142 in 2010; two Song Sparrows, with 20 in 2000; and two Purple Finches, with 83 in 2019,” Ingram said.

Other species seen included Northern Harrier two, Cooper’s Hawk one, Bald Eagles 40, Red-tailed Hawk 27, Rough-legged Hawk seven,

See BIRD COUNT, Page 12

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9 PRAIRIE ADVOCATE Prairie Advocate / prairieadvocate.com • Wednesday, January 13, 2021

have the cookies shipped directly to them, have a Girl Scout offer contactless delivery of cookies to their door, or donate cookies.

Go to girlscoutsni.org/buycookies to order cookies or for more information.

representative to learn about self-employment and entrepreneurship. The award winner will also be invited to the NWILED Annual Banquet in the fall.

Students should be full-time and in good academic standing in the qualifying school year (2020 - 2021). This is not a need-based scholarship. The scholarship can be used for a community college, technical college, a college or university, or start-up costs for business planning.

To receive the scholarship application, contact David Schmit, program coordinator, at 815-281-0206 or dschmit@nwiled.org. Completed scholarship applications are due by Friday, March 5.

Past winners have included Three Sisters Sweet Shoppe in Elizabeth, Savanna sign language in Savanna, and Davis Lumber Co. in Scales Mound.

Go to nwiled.org for more information.

Prairie Advocate / prairieadvocate.com • Wednesday, January 13, 2021

PRAIRIE ADVOCATE

10

SPORTS

Fan completes his quest for 2016 Cubs tickets

BY BRIAN WEIDMAN bweidman@shawmedia.com AMBOY – Matt Fuller has quite a collection of Chicago Cubs memorabilia in his man cave.

There is a copy of a scorecard from Game 7 of the 2016 World Series against the Cleveland Indians, signed by Cubs radio announcer Pat Hughes.

There are signed baseballs from all 25 members of the World Series roster, as well as baseballs signed by team executives.

The are signed baseballs from Cub legends Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Ron Santo, Ryne Sandberg, Ferguson Jenkins and Greg Maddux.

There are signed pictures of Banks and Santo, as well as a clubhouse chair signed by Banks. There is even a chunk of ivy, from the outfield wall, encased in glass.

It’s literally wall-to-wall Cubs stuff around a big-screen TV, which itself is powered by a Cubs-logoed remote control.

The most prized possession in his vast collection, however, was completed only recently: Nearly a year of phone calls, surfing the internet and general sleuthing allowed Fuller, 30, to collect tickets from each of the Cubs’ 2016 regular-season and playoff games. They are in a binder, protected by plastic and propped up near an overstuffed love seat.

“Nobody has this,” said Fuller, a nuclear security officer at the Byron Nuclear Plant. “This is my pride and joy.”

Fuller’s quest began toward the end of 2018, when he acquired the last of the signed baseballs from the 2016 Cubs. That was from pitcher Travis Wood, who, according to Fuller, did not sign a lot of memorabilia, making his signed ball a tough one to get. All 30 balls are in a glass case, in alphabetical order, from Albert Almora through Ben Zobrist.

“You stay so occupied,” Fuller said. “I’m a big Cub fan, and am bigtime into collecting memorabilia and autographs, especially related to the ’16 Cubs. Once I finished that up, it was such an accomplishment, but at the same time it was a weird feeling. I was like, ‘I’m bored. I need something to fill this void.’”

Always on the lookout for more Cubs items, Fuller was searching on eBay in March 2019 and bought a ticket from Game 7 of the 2016 World Series between the Cubs and Indians. It cost him $200.

He soon bought tickets from the Cubs’ other wins in the Series – games 2, 5 and 6. After that, he purchased a book of tickets from a Cubs’

Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@shawmedia.com

Matt Fuller looks through his collection of Cubs ticket stubs from 2016. Fuller recently completed his collection of over 200 ticket stubs from the Cubs’ ride to the World Series in 2016. season ticket holder, so that gave him 81 of the team’s 162 regular-season games.

Initially, the goal was to acquire tickets from each of the team’s 103 victories that season. It eventually grew into getting tickets from all regular-season and postseason games.

“I was like, ‘I think I can do this whole, entire thing,’ “ Fuller said.

“I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I had no idea that there was such a want for tickets, but I dove into it. If I’m doing something, I just want to go all the way in.”

A huge step in achieving his ultimate goal was joining a Facebook organization called Booger’s Ticket Groups. It helped guide Fuller and others like him toward people who either had tickets or connections to those with tickets.

“That was a massive help, because the absolute best and biggest whales of that hobby are in that Facebook group,” Fuller said.

One of those people was a guy from Florida who Fuller knew only as “Rod.” Rod was a Cubs season ticket holder who also collected items from the 2016 season, including tickets. Rod ended up selling his ticket collection to Fuller, which

helped fill many gaps and provided some duplicate tickets as well.

Rod, however, was skeptical that Fuller would be able to complete his quest, and told him so.

“He said, ‘Listen, I’ve been in this hobby for a long time and I wish you the best of luck, but you’re simply not going to find some of these tickets,’” Fuller said. “I was like, ‘OK, can you go into a little detail about that?’ I don’t like to be told you can’t do it.”

By 2016, five teams in Major League Baseball (the Dodgers, Nationals, Braves, White Sox and Marlins) had transitioned away from issuing actual tickets to season ticket holders. Instead, those tickets were digital, and fans simply scanned their phone at the ballpark on game day.

Season ticket holders could get physical tickets for an extra fee, which is something most of those fans declined to do. For collectors like Fuller, tickets were to be acquired from season ticket holders who did pay that extra fee, or from fans who happened to mosey up to a ballpark box office and buy a game day ticket – the equivalent of finding a needle in a haystack.

“If a game is sold out and some

stadium fills up with 40,000 people, of those, how many have a ticket?” Fuller said. “Not only that, how many still have a ticket 4 years later? And of that, who wants to sell it? And who has them in good shape?”

Through purchasing Rod’s partial collection and his own hard-earned acquisitions, Fuller found himself seven tickets short of his goal just after Thanksgiving. The missing tickets were a three-game regular-season series at the Dodgers; three games in the National League Championship Series against the Dodgers; and one regular-season game against the Nationals.

First, Fuller addressed the Dodgers.

“For the Dodgers specifically, I joined every single Facebook Dodgers fan group I could find,” Fuller said. “I bet I was in 50 of them.”

He wrote a lengthy post, explaining that he was a diehard Cubs fan seeking these missing tickets from six games in Los Angeles. Things began to go Fuller’s way about 6 weeks ago.

A Dodgers season ticket holder had two seats and paid an extra $300 – $150 per seat – for the team to send him actual cardboard tickets for the 2016 regular season. That fan sent pictures of the tickets to Fuller and they were indeed what he was looking for.

“He was like, ‘As long as you give me what these tickets cost for a seat, I’ll sell them to you. The Dodgers didn’t win anything in ’16, so they don’t have any use for me,’” Fuller said. “In my head, I’m thinking ‘I’ll pay this guy whatever he wants, because these tickets basically don’t exist.’ He cut me a pretty good deal.”

About an hour after this transaction was consummated, Fuller received another message from a different Dodgers fan. That person knew of somebody who had a huge collection of Dodgers memorabilia, including, he believed, tickets from three playoff games between the Cubs and Dodgers in 2016. They connected, and a deal was soon made.

“I shot him a number and the guy liked it, and he gave them to me,” Fuller said. “In the same day, after a 9-month hunt, I found all six of these [Dodgers] tickets.”

That left only a regular-season game, a 5-4 win by the Nationals against the Cubs from June 15, 2016, to be tracked down. Fuller already had tickets from the first two games of that three-game series, on June 13

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Prairie Advocate / prairieadvocate.com • Wednesday, January 13, 2021

• TICKET QUEST GIRLS BASKETBALL

• BIRD COUNT

Continued from Page 10

Continued from Page 9

Coatney, Henze named to SVM all-area team

and 14, as they were part of the collection he had purchased from the man Rock Pigeons 99, Eurin Florida. asian Collared Doves eight, Fuller shifted into top gear. Like Mourning Doves 201, Red-belhe had with the Dodgers, he joined lied Woodpecker 31, Downy Nationals fan groups on Facebook, Woodpecker 49, Hairy Woodhoping to find a person who had pecker 10, American Kestrel the missing golden ticket. He even seven, Blue Jay 96, Ameriexplained it was the game in which can Crow 364, Horned Lark Nats outfielder Jayson Werth told 252, Black-capped Chickdoubters to “kiss my [butt]” in an adee 97, Tufted Titmouse on-field interview after driving in the 21, Red-breasted Nuthatch winning run with a 12th-inning sinthree, White-breasted Nutgle. hatch 31, Brown Creeper A Washington Post reporter got one, Golden-crowned Kingwind of Fuller’s quest and contacted let one, Eastern Bluebird him before Christmas, noting that 18, American Tree Sparrow a story in his newspaper may help 325, White-crowned Sparrow unearth the missing ticket. three, White-throated SparOn Saturday, Dec. 19, Fuller posted row eight, Northern Cardinal a message in that Facebook Nationals 168, Eastern Meadowlark six, Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@shawmedia.com fan site offering $200 to anyone who House Finch 145, Pine Siskin could produce the missing ticket. Two Matt Fuller’s Chicago Cubs collection fills the walls and floor of his man cave at his home.

18, American Goldfinch 191, days later, Fuller received a private and House Sparrow 461.

Meyers and Fuller soon talked on charge you. I’ve got no use for it. I’ll Facebook message from Jimmy Mey“The 12 parties spent a ers, a 52-year-old from Alexandria, the phone, and besides a shared love just send it to you in the mail,’” Fuller total of 33 hours counting the of baseball, both served in the mili- said. “I was like, ‘Jimmy, you’re the Va. birds and during the count Meyers explained that he had pur- tary. Meyers was an Army man, while man. Thank you so much.’” drove a total of 321 miles. We As of last week, the ticket had yet chased a $5 ticket from that June 15, Fuller did 4 years in the Air Force. He want to thank all of those 2016 game between the Nationals and was mainly stationed in Las Vegas, to arrive at Fuller’s house, no doubt people who helped document the Cubs, and produced a picture of it but also did a 6 1/2 month tour in Iraq. slowed by late Christmas mailings the birds during this annual Meyers told Fuller to keep the $200, and COVID-19Eastland’s delays. It was to verify its authenticity. count,” Ingram said.

Eastland’s Lydia Coatney Erin certified, Henze insured and has priority status, and is “HOLY [COW]!!” was Fuller’s and mailed the ticket out on Dec. 22.

Eastland’s Lydia Coatney Eastland’s Erin Henze Call Ingram at 815-594-2306 response.

“Jimmy was like, “I’m not going to expected to arrive any day. for more information.

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SPORTS | Prairie Advocate / prairieadvocate.com •Wednesday, March 18, 2020

PRAIRIE ADVOCATE

12

SPORTS | Prairie Advocate / prairieadvocate.com •Wednesday, March 18, 2020

tney, Henze named to SVM all-area team

15