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St. Elmo News

Announcements
Saturday, April 21
• National Volunteer Week started April 15 and ends Saturday. All organizations need volunteers.
• Kick off summer with Healthy Kid’s Day. It is free and open to the public. Join Fayette 4-H and the Fayette County Master Gardeners from 9 a.m.-noon at the YMCA in Vandalia.
Sunday, April 22
• Methodist project ends today. See info below.                                                                                                                                                                                   
• Earth Day – The St. Elmo Park District (Avena Park located at Third and Ash streets) will celebrate with a 1-4 p.m. clean-up day in the park. Everyone is welcome to enjoy the day in the park and to put forth some effort into raking leaves, picking up limbs and debris, and possibly planting flowers Volunteers taking tools as well as putting those tools to great use, such as rakes, tree trimmers and shovels would be appreciated. If you need Eagle Pride or community service hours, feel free to work in the park. Refreshments will be provided and your participation will be appreciated.                                         
• Grades 6-8, 6-7:30 p.m., First Church of God.                                                                                                                                            
• High school youth, 6-7:30 p.m., First United Methodist Parsonage.                                                                                                                                                                  
Monday, April 23
• Fayette County Home and Community Education Board, 10 a.m., Vandalia Extension Office.                                                                                                    
• Past and Present HCE Board Officers, 11:30 a.m., Vandalia Los Amigos.                                                                                                                                        
• St. Elmo Lions Club, 6 p.m., Mary Ann’s Restaurant.                                                                
Tuesday, April 24
• St. Elmo Unit of Home and Community Education, 1:30 p.m., St. Elmo Public Library.                                                                                                                  
Wednesday, April 25
• Reverb Youth 56 and Reverb Youth 78, 6-7:30 p.m.; Amp’t (high school youth), 7:30-9 p.m., St. Elmo Christian Church.                                                   
Thursday, April 26
• ExxonMobil Annuitants, noon, Vandalia Ponderosa.
Methodist Project
Katelyn Maxey, member of the St. Elmo First United Methodist Church, is working on a service project to collect items for our overseas military, especially Cole Smithson and his unit. He is currently deployed in the Middle East. She will be collecting items through April 22 and a box for donations is on the back table. If there are other local service members who would appreciate a care package, give their name and address to Katelyn by April 22.     
Suggested items for care packages include protein bars/granola bars/ beef jerky/slim jims, oatmeal, peanut butter, nuts, Ramen noodles, trail mix oe crackers, gum or mints, sugar packets, flavor packets for water, powder drink mixes (instant coffee, tea, creamer) deodorant, bar soap, gel shaving cream (no aerosol cans), lotion, lip balm, Chap Stick, toothpaste, monetary donations to help with shipping costs.
HCE Get Acquainted Day
Fayette County Home and Community Education Annual Get-Acquainted Day was held April 12 in the Brownstown Years Club building. Attending were 27 HCE members, four adult guests and two children guests. Vandalia Day Unit was in charge of registration at 9 a.m.
Sefton Unit decorated the tables that carried out the Illinois HCE theme – “Celebration at the Crossroads.”
This year is Illinois’ 200th anniversary, so the tables had red placemats, patriotic napkins and centerpieces of large red, white and blue hats, each filled with two flags and red, white and blue flowers.
County HCE President Flo Allen had two Fayette County members who are on the state IAHCE Board – CVH/Sales Ashley Davis and District 6 Director Debbie Segrest – stand for applause. .
At 9:30 a.m., Panzi Blackwell gave the blessing for a potluck brunch that included casseroles, sandwiches, sausage balls, various kinds of fruits, biscuits, sweet breads, sweet rolls, etc. Beverages included coffee, tea and orange juice.
After the brunch, county Community Outreach/Family Issues/CVH chairman, Donna Blair, reported that 53 Fayette County HCE members turned in a total of 16,540 hours in 2017.
Those who have accumulated 500 or more hours received a certificate (or a seal). On the certificate is the following … “Certificate of Recognition, CVH, Illinois Association for Home and Community Education, Award for Volunteer Service Presented to  _________ for faithful and devoted service to others and in recognition of the importance of volunteer service in our democracy, the Illinois Association for Home and Community Education hereby awards 500 Certified Volunteer Hours for service as Outstanding Participation in the Service of Others.” Awarded this 13th day of March 2018. Signed by Jane Chapman, IAHCE president and Ashley Davis, IAHCE CVH/sales director.
The day’s final activity was the annual fundraiser for Bake It, Make It, Sew It, Grow It auction for the county HCE budget. It is a “fundraiser” and also is a “fun-raiser.”
Elizabeth Kasten again served as auctioneer and the increased bids asked were 50 cents or a dollar. Some items had many bids and sometimes the bidding went up several dollars each time. Helping at the table were Dee Dee Diveley and Delores Dukeman. County HCE Treasurer Connie Green took down the bids on a large sheet of paper with each bidder’s number on it. The total at the end of the auction came to more than $600.
Door prizes were won by Sarah Beasley, Donna Blair, Carol Bridges, LaVonne Kramer and Kathy Wright.
Those present were Donna Blair, Evelyn Probst and Joelen Scott of the Bingham/Ramsey Unit; Flo Allen, Carol Behrends, Sally Behrends, Panzi Blackwell, Dee Dee Diveley, Delores Dukeman, Connie Green, Lois Jackson, Elizabeth Kasten, LaVonne Kramer, Carol Oldham, Helen Reeter, Janice Stanford, members, and guests Carolyn Grames, Betty Miller, Virgena Rigdon and Shelly Rook of the Sefton Unit; Sarah Beasley and son Kamden, Anna Jean Rhodes and Sharon Shelton of the St. Elmo Unit; and Carol Bridges, Ashley Davis, Joyce Carter, Rebecca Graves and daughter Maegyn, Joyce Mueller, Debbie Segrest, Anita Smith and Kathy Wright of the Vandalia Day Unit.
Lunch Bunch
Nine were present for the monthly meeting of the Lunch Bunch (St. Elmo High School graduates or teachers). They were Wayne and Sandra Lovett of Brownstown, Pat Porter of Farina, and Karen Denning, Arlin and Lillian Grobengeiser, Anna Jean Rhodes and Melvin and Ethelyn Williams of St. Elmo.
St. Elmo Community Park Board March Meeting
Five of six board members were present at the March 13 meeting of the St. Elmo Community Park Disrict held in the Centennial building. President Kim Baron, Ricke Gillespie, Leeann Gottman, Danny Tish and Karen Wegscheid answered with secretary/treasurer being absent. Wegacheid read the February minutes. Everyone received a copy of the treasurer’s report that was accepted to file for audit.
Discussion of recent bids accepted per newspaper advertisement, including Gillespie rendering his conversation with Jason Anselment, legal and counsel at Illinois Association of Park Districts, which mostly pertained to the prevailing wage issue. He suggested speaking with the Department of Labor, which Ricke has yet to do, but will. The bids received are good for 90 days so there is time to make a decision,
Leaks in the roof are still a concern. Tish has given a visual of the roof and has found some discrepancies in the metal securities. Professional assessment of the roof and suggested repairs are necessary.
Baron made a motion to table the discussion of the roof repairs until local contractors could be contacted for opinions of options and it passed.
Gillespie reported that the Department of Natural Resources is currently satisfied with the updated information, and that they must be kept updated with any big changes in the park.
Gillespie gave a report on his conversations with Effingham Wind and Solar Ameren.
Labor Day in the Community Park is a major project that many people would like to see come to fruition, but one major stumbling block is the electric needs.
Bills were presented and paid. The meeting ended at approximately 10:30 p.m.
Library Board
The St. Elmo Public Library District Board met the evening of April 12 in the St. Elmo Public Library. The board approved the bills.
The board approved the use of the St. Elmo Public Library for the Threads of Friendship to hold their meetings on the third Tuesday of each month.
Weber’s Jewelry at Teutopolis is cleaning and repairing the grandfather’s clock.
The Summer Reading Program will begin in June.
At the Beecher City Branch Library, JoAn Evans said a book signing will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, April 28.  Authors present will be Georgia Florey-Evans and Kevin Corley. Evans is the author of five books, including “Hidden in the Shadow” and “Living in the Shadow.” Corley is the author of “Throw out the Water” and “Sixteen Tons.”
The board approved to get the property at the Beecher City Branch Library surveyed.
Lions Club
St. Elmo Lions Club appreciates the club members and spouses that helped make the March Senior Defensive Drivers Course a big success – 21 people signed up for the course.
The club’s annual Easter Egg Hunt was a large success, with appreciation to Pagel Funeral Home and to all club members that contributed to the effort.
Diabetes awareness weekend is approaching once again and will be on Saturday, May 12.
President Dave Maxey opened the April 10 meeting at Mary Ann’s Restaurant by leading in the Pledge of Allegiance. Dan Laack led in prayer. Others present were Dave Cox, Don Crawford, Pee Wee Denton, Roger Fulk, Skip Heaton, Holly Huffer, Mark Lash, Bob Lowe, Richard Lowe, Dee Newberry, Rex Reeder, Lloyd Stanley, Bob Wells and Will Williams.
U of I Extension Volunteer Appreciation
April 15-21 is National Volunteer Week, and University of Illinois 4-H Youth Development program appreciates the more than 12,000 4-H adult and youth volunteers who guide and support the nearly 200,000 4-H participants in Illinois.
In Unit 21 – Clay, Effingham, Fayette and Jasper counties – there are approximately 250 volunteers who are inspiring youth involved in county and local 4-H clubs, events and activities.
A taco bar dinner was served from 5-7:30 p.m. April 10 in the Vandalia Extension Office to honor those who serve Fayette County Extension.
When leaving, each volunteer received a plastic cup for “You fill us full of joy;” and in were these items and a list of why they were given: A Nestle 100 Grand Bar for “You are worth a 100 grand to our organization;” a balloon for “Thanks for helping us soar to new heights;” a band-aid for “Thanks for coming to our aid;” a candle for “You help our organization shine light;” a fortune cookie for “We are so fortunate to have you as a volunteer;” play dough for “Thank you for shaping the future of our youth;” seeds for “Thank you for helping us grow;” and a tape measure for “You measure up as a fantastic volunteer.” The thank-you list ended with “The best gift is you.”
 National Volunteer Week is about inspiring, recognizing and encouraging people to seek out imaginative ways to engage in their communities. By working together, communities can meet challenges and accomplish goals.
Illinois 4-H volunteers are empowering and preparing youth for success as 4-H members provide service to others and their community.
Today’s 4-H youth are engaged in learning activities as they are practicing skills employers want; growing and distributing food to communities in need, stewarding the natural resources; making a difference in local, state, national and global issues; and influencing positive choices for healthy living. None of that would be possible without volunteers.
Clay County had the taco bar dinner April 5; Jasper County’s is April 19; Effingham County’s is April 24.   
 

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