St. Elmo Area News

By Anna Jean Rhodes

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Wednesday, Oct. 13
• Avena Township Park Board, 7 p.m., St. Elmo Community Park Centennial Building.
Thursday, Oct. 14
• The Lunch Bunch will meet at noon at Mary Ann’s Restaurant.
• Post-Polio Survivors and Friends of East Central Illinois, 5-6:30 p.m., at the Sarah Bush Lincoln Educational Center, Mattoon. This month, they will watch a portion of the video entitled “Post-Polio Syndrome:  Shades of Grey,” created by Mary-Ann Liethof of Victoria, Australia, after interviewing eminent North American Post-Polio Specialists.
There are nine sections to this video, but at this meeting they will watch only the largest portion of the video, the segment entitled “Managing Symptoms.” This segment includes comments from physiatrists and other doctors and therapists who work in actual post-polio clinics in California and New Jersey and Florida. They will discuss their best advice and strategies for self-care that they use daily in their practices assisting polio survivors.
• St. Elmo Library District Board, 7 p.m., St. Elmo Public Library.
• Effingham Chapter #110 Order of the Eastern Star, 7:30 p.m., Effingham Masonic Temple.
Friday, Oct. 15
• St. Elmo Cub Scout Pack #444 will host a spaghetti dinner at St. Elmo Elementary School from 6-8 p.m. The cost is $6 for adults and $4 for children ages 3-11; children age 2 and under are free. A dessert auction will start at 7 p.m. Proceeds from the dinner will go to C.A.P.S. and the St. Elmo Food Pantry. The dessert proceeds will go to Pack #444.
• Haunted Trails in the St. Elmo Deken Park, located just west of the high school, will be open from 7-10 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children. Children under the age 12 must be accompanied by an adult. All proceeds will go to benefit the park. For more information, you can check out their Facebook page at Deken Hauntedtrails or contact Christy Noll at 217-689-3717.
Saturday, Oct. 16
• Haunted Trails at Deken Park, 7-10 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 18
• Historical Vandalia Inc. Board, 6:30 p.m., Fayette County Museum, Vandalia.
• The St. Elmo Board of Education, 7:30 p.m., Unit Office.
Tuesday, Oct. 19
• St. Elmo Educational Foundation, 7 p.m., Unit Office.
Wednesday, Oct. 20
• CHILL Youth, 6:30 p.m., First United Methodist Church fellowship hall.
• Kids Klub, 7 p.m., First Church of God S.H.E.D.
Thursday, Oct. 21
• Vit-Em-In Sunday School Class fish fry and potluck, 6 p.m., First United Methodist Church fellowship hall.
CCW
At the meeting of the Council of Catholic Women held the evening of Oct. 5 in St. Mary’s Catholic Church parish hall, plans were finalized for the fall church dinner that will be held on Sunday, Nov. 14, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Tickets for the turkey or roast beef dinner with all the trimmings are $8 for adults and $4 for children ages 6-12; preschoolers will eat free of charge. There also will be a 50/50 drawing.
Roll call was answered with “What is your least favorite fall activity?”  Loretta Heischmidt reported on attending the Ministry of Healing the evening of Oct. 2 at St. Michaels Arch Angels Catholic Church in Sigel.
Hostesses Jan Niemeyer and Chick Kuebler decorated the tables in a fall theme and served apple pie and pumpkin pie with whipped topping, nuts, corn candy, coffee and tea to the following:  Karen Denning, Loretta Heischmidt, Lucille Koeberlein, Lavonne Kramer, Mary Myers, Pat Porter, Carol Rine, Ann Rowland, Natalie Stout and a guest, Joan Seibert of Altamont. Rine won the door prize of a pot of mums.
Wright’s Corner HCE
Pledge of allegiance opened the meeting of the Wright’s Corner Unit of Home and Community Education the afternoon of Oct. 6 at the Loudon Town House. During the business meeting, they discussed what to do for the Friendship Manor for Christmas and new program books were filled out. Those present were Ina Abendroth, Carol Austin, Kate Jennings, Irene Reed, Mary Smith, Shirley Smith, Una Tish, Leona Wright and Helen Wright.
Wheatland HCE
Sandra Lovett hosted the Wheatland Unit of Home and Community Education the afternoon of Oct. 7 in her rural home. Joyce Moore gave the international lesson on Israel, and Joan gave a report on the republic and constitution. Members were given fundraiser tickets to sell for the Wall-Mart $100 drawing; tickets are $1 each or six for $5. They filled out the new program books.
The hostess served lemon pie, coffee and peach tea. Others present were Erna Koontz, MaryEllen Lovett, Vontella McEndollar, Fern Moore, Marilyn Sproat and Ethelyn Williams.
Sproats Visited in the Chicago Area
Jack and Marilyn Sproat visited Oct. 1-3 at Naperville with their son, Dave and his family, wife Mardeanna and children Reagan, age 12, and Payton, age 11.
Saturday evening, Jack and Marilyn and Dave and Mardeanna went to a surprise birthday party for Jack and Marilyn’s other son, Mark. Mark’s 50th birthday is Oct. 14. The party was given by Mark’s wife, Lisa, in a tent on the lawn of their home in Glen Ellen. It was catered by a German restaurant and about 40 adults attended.
Jack and Marilyn’s daughter and husband, Sally and Ryan Scullion of San Francisco, Calif., attended.
Mark and Lisa have two children: Bennett, age 12, and Tim, age 10.
Fayette County 4-H Info
The new 4-H club year started Sept. 1 and there are 10 clubs in the county – Caprine Kids, Golden Harvestors, Loudon Bunch, Ramsey Senors & Senoritas, Ramsey Wranglers, St. James Hornets, Sefton Clovers, Shafter Friends, South Side Kids and Vandalia Shamrocks.
Newsletters are sent out various times. In the fall newsletter, Fayette County Director Ginger Boas wrote, “A special thank you to all of you who were so helpful at the fair. We appreciate the positive outlook you all continue to show throughout this transition period. Thanks also to the livestock committee for its dedication and time spent at the fair, and to Connie Elliott from Jasper County and Judy Bingman from Cumberland for taking time out of their busy schedules to help.
“The hog raffle was a huge success again this year. Thanks so much to all of you who bought and sold tickets to help support Extension. We still have a few 4-H’ers running around at the auction selling those last-minute tickets to make extra bucks. A big thank you to Addy, Marcus, Lane and Kenley of the Caprine Kids group for that extra effort.
“We received some surprising and very welcome news last week. Funds have been appropriated by the General Assembly budget for payment of 2010 premiums….this was unexpected news since we were told earlier in the year that these funds would not be available this year.”
The Fayette County 4-H Achievement Night was held at the Fayette County Fairgrounds from 4-6 p.m. on Saturday, and families took covered dishes for a meal. At the meeting, 4-H’ers received premium checks.
Illinois 4-H license plates have just been approved for sale, but 1,500 commitments must be turned in before production of the new plate will begin. A fee of $25 and a Specialty License Plate Request Form must be submitted. To find out more, log on to  www.4hfoundation.illinois.edu. This website should answer any questions you may have regarding the 4-H plate. If you have any other questions, call the Fayette County Extension Office at 283-2759.
Friendly Neighbors
Friendly Neighbors met at noon on Oct. 4 at the Phillips Building, with the following present:  Shirley Smith and Mary Thomas of Altamont; Paula Brunk and Marybelle Ledbetter of Brownstown; and Rosemary Owen, Irene Reed, Marjorie Sarver, R. W. and Mary Smith, and Lavern and Leona Wright of St. Elmo.
After the potluck meal, readings were given by Mary Smith and Reed, and Owen gave a quiz.
During the business meeting, the organization voted to change the meeting dates from the first Monday to the first Tuesday of each month. The November meeting will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 2, with a noon potluck at the Phillips Building.
Blood Drive
A Red Cross blood drive sponsored by the fifth- and sixth-grade student council was held at the St. Elmo Elementary School on Oct. 4. Of the 29 presenters, there were 24 productive, and two were first-time donors.
New Church Started
New Life in Christ’s Community Church was organized in September, and meetings are temporarily being held in the Phillips Building. On Sundays, it meets at 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. The pastor, Les Atkins, said there is good attendance and fellowship.

School Reunion
The Wright-Victory School Reunion was held on Oct. 2 at the Vandalia Ponderosa, with 34 in attendance.
After the lunch Shirley Smith gave two readings. Prizes of pain patches were given for the two oldest present, Gilbert Wright of St. Elmo and Raymond Lilly of Beecher City. Mary Swarms of Decatur received a scarecrow. Guessing the most candy corn in a jar were Jerry Weaber of Moweaqua, Leroy Logue of Altamont and Doris Miller of Pana. Betty Wright of St. Elmo received a refrigerator magnet.
In a business meeting, it was decided that Oliver Wright would coat the Wright’s School sign at Wright’s Corner again.
The next reunion will be held for lunch on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011, at the Vandalia Ponderosa. Everyone is welcome to attend. The date should be marked on a calendar, because invitations will not be mailed out.
Those who enjoyed the day visiting with each other were the following:  Clement Lilly, Irene Reed, Betty Wright, Gilbert Wright, Lavern and Leona Wright and Oliver and Edna Wright, all of St. Elmo; Leroy Logue and Shirley Smith of Altamont; Robert Bieber, Raymond and Ruth Lilly and Marsha Lilly-Wright of Beecher City; Arnold and Doris Miller, Arthur and Janet Hoehn, Lemuel and Faye Miller, Loren Miller and Pren and Martha Miller of Pana; Jerry and Bonnie Weaber of Moweaqua; Hazel Devon of Danville; Elen Landers of Urbana; Darrel and Dorothy Rhodes of Vandalia; Mary Swarms and Denis of Decatur; Ruby Scammahorn of Florida; and Larry and Marie  Miller of Wisconsin.
Women’s Civic Club
St. Elmo Women’s Civic Club members Susan Belden, Norma Engeljohn, Shannon Engeljohn, Libby Kessel, Lucille Koeberlein, Mary Myers, Pat Porter, Ann Rowland and Elizabeth Stoner met in St. Mary’s Catholic Church parking lot and carpooled to the Fayette County Museum in Vandalia the evening of Oct. 7.
Marilyn Beyes of Smithboro, who volunteers at the museum, gave a tour to the group. Many of the members had never visited the museum before and were amazed with the number of artifacts presented.
After the museum, members had refreshments at Chuckwagon Restaurant in Vandalia. The club president, Pat Porter, dispensed with the usual preliminary business and handed out the fundraiser information for this year.
The St. Elmo Women’s Civic Club will take orders for Uncle Al’s nuts and candies, and Collin Street Bakery’s several varieties of fruitcakes – pecan classic, deluxe, apricot pecan, pineapple pecan, Texas blond pecan. Members are to turn in their orders to the fundraiser chairman, Anna Jean Rhodes. Rhodes’ phone number is 829-5488; she is one of 22 active members those interested can call with an order.
The club needs to raise $1,275 for the 2010-11 budget for seven local projects – community improvement ($550); SEBA Labor Day celebration ($50);  scholarship/education ($300); canteen blood drive expense ($125);  Fayette County Museum ($50); St. Elmo Food Pantry ($100); and Caring and Sharing ($100). Members’ dues cover most of the club expenses.
The Nov. 4 meeting of the club will be held at the St. Elmo Public Library at 7 p.m.  The program will be given by Debbie Evans on her missionary work.

Anna Jean Rhodes