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St. Elmo News

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Saturday, February 2
• St. Elmo Clothes Closet, 9 a.m.-noon, First United Methodist Church Parsonage.
Monday, February 4
• The St. Elmo City Council, 7 p.m., Phillips Building.
Tuesday, February 5
• Friendly Neighbors potluck, noon, Phillips Building.
• Council of Catholic Women, 7 p.m., St. Mary’s Catholic Church Parish Hall.
Wednesday, February 6
• Wright’s Corner Unit of Home and Community Education, 1 p.m., Loudon Town House.
Thursday, February 7
• St. Elmo Business Association, noon, Mary Ann’s Restaurant.
• The Wheatland Unit of Home and Community Education, 1:30 p.m.
• The St. Elmo Women’s Civic Club, 7 p.m., St. Elmo Public Library. Valentine gifts for Friendship Manor will be prepared.
Historical Vandalia Inc.
Present for the Board meeting of Historical Vandalia Inc. held the evening of Jan. 21 at the Fayette County Museum were: President Steve Durbin, Allison Magnus, Phil Shroyer and Mary Truitt of Vandalia; Marilyn Beyes of Smithboro; Barbara Buckland of Brownstown; Jim Brewer of Ramsey; and Anna Jean Rhodes of St. Elmo.
Truitt reported that the museum had 101 visitors in December. Beyes reported that since the last meeting, the museum has received some newspaper articles, books, nickels and pennies and a wood shaker box.
In 2012, there were 264 donations to the museum; 2,593 museum visitors from 45 states and nine other countries; 2,329¾  volunteer hours recorded; 15 groups were given 28 tours; and two programs were given away from the museum – one at the First Baptist Church and one at Church of God, both in Vandalia.
It was decided to have a fundraiser spaghetti supper on Friday, April 19, at the Vandalia Presbyterian Church, if the church is available.
The final 2012 Season of Events was held the afternoon of Jan. 13 at the Vandalia First United Methodist Church, a program given by Dennis A. Stroughmatt of Albion, who played traditional music on a fiddle and related the French history in Illinois and Missouri.
The winner of the door prize – two season tickets for the 2013 Season of Events – was Seth Marler of Mulberry Grove. Refreshments, a wide variety, were served after the door prize drawing.
The annual meeting is Feb. 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Fayette County Museum. Up to 15 can be elected to the board. Following the annual meeting, the board will convene to elect officers.
Royal Neighbors
Royal Neighbors of America #5784 had a regular meeting the afternoon of Jan. 23 at the Phillips Building and charted credit for January.
Plans for a soup supper sponsored by Royal Neighbors and St. Elmo Fire Department to help with medical expenses for Jody McWhorter were finalized. The first $1,000 raised will be matched by Royal Neighbors of America. The supper was held on Sunday at the St. Elmo Fire Station. Soup, sandwiches and dessert will be served.
The RNA will deliver candy on Valentine’s Day to Senior Services in Vandalia.
The organization will give a donation to the FFA chapter for refreshments for a sectional members dance to be held on March 8.
The RNA plans to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a Saturday, March 9, potluck dinner.
Guests are welcome to attend the next meeting that will be at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at the Phillips Building. Jill Wright will give a talk on “Bullying and Abuse.”
Those present at the January meeting were Anna Ruth Lilly, Irene Reed, Marjorie Sarver, Shirley Smith, Della Stewart, Betty Wright and Leona Wright.
Rhodes-Side Gleanings
My son, Steve Rhodes, and his friend, Scott Edmonds, both of Chicago, visited in Carlinville with Scott’s parents on Jan. 21-22 and came to my home the afternoon of Jan. 22.
Steve’s birthday was the next day, so I took them to Thelma Keller Restaurant for lunch. Joining us were Scott’s parents, Richard and Carol Edmonds. After lunch, Steve and Scott returned to Chicago, and Richard and Carol came to my home for a short visit and to see my nativities that I leave on display through January.
Usually the weather is very bad on Jan. 23, but this year there was no ice or snow – just very cold. I think this is the first time in more than 35 years I have been with my son on his birthday.
Because Steve isn’t too fond of cake, I didn’t bake one for his birthday, but did bake a New York style cheesecake that he likes, and it was served after our meal on Jan. 22, and because it was so large, some was sent home with him.
Because he wasn’t to be here for Christmas, I had mailed a Christmas package to him, but saved a gift for when I could see him. Just before Christmas I had finished writing my life story, which I had started several years ago (Phyllis and family received theirs when they were here). The almost-500 pages were in two large-ring binder books.
Birthday Potluck
A birthday potluck was held in the Fellowship Hall of First United Methodist Church following the morning worship on Sunday. Those attending sat at the tables of their birthday months, and the tables were seasonally decorated.
Those who decorated the tables were Andra and Aubrey Carson, Shannon and Darby Moss, Joni Koonce, Savannah Feezel, Anna Jean Rhodes, Judy and Haley Fasnacht, Rene Edwards, Mindy Healey and Perry Manley, Summer Maxey and Kathy Spitler.
The meal blessing was given by Dan Laack. Following the meal, Andra Carson gave a devotional. She and Judy Fasnacht had the children line up in front of the serving table, and each one was given a cupcake with a candle on it.
After the devotional, each candle was lighted, and the children were told when to blow on it to put it out, and they got to keep the cupcake.
Next was the auction of the desserts that were donated Andra and Aubrey Carson, Shannon and Darby Moss, Pat Laack, Savannah Feezel, Helen Koonce, Haley Fasnacht, Rene Edwards, Judy Fasnacht, Mindy Haley and Perry Manley, Summer Maxey and Leatha Newberry.
The desserts included a lemon dessert, red velvet cupcakes, turtle brownies, white coconut cake, dirt cake, Snicker bar dessert, apple pie, sugar cookies, peanut butter pie, coconut cream pie, angel food Jello dessert, Oreo cheesecake and strawberry pie.
Jeffrey Maxey was the auctioneer, and the money raised goes to Relay for Life. The desserts went for $40-$85, and the total amount raised was $860.
The chancel choir number at the morning worship was “Cast Your Care on Him,” with Kathy Spitler on the clavinova.
The altar flowers were donated by the Randy Wolf family in memory of his sister, Marsha Wolf Green, who died 15 years ago on Jan. 28, and his father, Clarence Wolf, who died 15 years ago on March 5.
 

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