St. Elmo News

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Wednesday, Dec. 28
• No Bible study, no choir practice and no youth group at First United Methodist Church.
Saturday, Dec. 31
• Freedom Reigns in Christ Church, 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 1
• Happy New Year!
• Please start the year of 2012 by attending the church of your choice.
• Master’s Voice in concert, 6 p.m., First Church of God S.H.E.D. A love offering will be taken.
Monday, Jan. 2
• The St. Elmo City Council will not meet until Tuesday night.
Tuesday, Jan. 3
• Friendly Neighbors, noon, Phillips Building. Ham and beans will be furnished for the potluck.
• Council of Catholic Women, 7 p.m., St. Mary’s Catholic Church Parish Hall.
• The St. Elmo City Council, 7 p.m., Phillips Building.
Wednesday, Jan. 4
• Wright’s Corner Unit of Home and Community Education, 1 p.m., Loudon Town House.
Thursday, Jan. 5
• The 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.
Future Announcements
• Royal Neighbors of America #5784 will have a potluck at noon on Saturday, Jan. 7, at the Phillips Building. Ham and beans will be furnished for the potluck.
• The U of I Extension will host a workshop, “Finding Your Get Up and Go,” at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 11, at the Effingham Extension office
There is no fee, but those interested need to pre-register by calling 217-347-7773.
The workshop will introduce strategies for getting motivated and taking action, and will cover optimism, attitude, social involvement and positive outlook.
Secret Elves
The Secret Elves tree at St. Elmo City Hall had children’s names from 22 families (there were more than 50 children).
All names were taken off the tree, and wrapped gifts were taken to the City Hall by Dec. 20 so each of the children names received a Christmas gift. All who participated in getting the Christmas gifts receive thanks.
County HCE Christmas Party
Fayette County Home and Community Education Board doesn’t have a regular meeting in December. On Monday, Dec. 19, they went to the Vandalia Ponderosa and met in the back room for a Christmas party.
Those present were guests county Extension Director Rachelle Hollinshead, Vandalia Extension Office secretary Debbie Boley, Community Worker/SNAP-ED Jo Stine and Nancy Arnold of Brownstown, daughter of Irene Reed, and HCE members Flo Allen, Panzi Blackwell, Shirley Klitzing, Phyllis Pryor and Debbie Swain of the Sefton Unit; Dorothy Harpster of the St. Peter Unit; Karen Denning and Anna Jean Rhodes of the St. Elmo Unit; Debbie Segrist and Anita Smith of the Vandalia Day Unit; Karen Hyde and Joyce Moore of the Wheatland Unit; and Irene Reed and Mary Smith of the Wright’s Corner Unit.
Instead of having a gift exchange, those attending could donate to the Vandalia Lighthouse Pregnancy Center, and $75 was collected for it.
HCE units in the county, for several months, sold tickets for a drawing for a $100 Wal-Mart gift certificate and the drawing was held after the lunch. The winner was Lavonne Kramer of Brownstown.
After paying for the gift certificate, the county made $496 for the annual budget. All who helped with the fundraiser are appreciated by the HCE Board.
Karen Denning had a game where, when she read a children’s story on snow, a Christmas bag was passed around each time snow was mentioned and, when the story ended, Irene Reed got to keep bag that held a snowman towel and potholder.
There also was a word search game, and the winners were Phyllis Pryor, Joyce Moore and Karen Hyde, who received Christmas gifts.
Flo Allen had everyone sign a slip of paper to put in a basket.
Names were drawn for door prizes and receiving Christmas themed items were Karen Denning, Panzi Blackwell, Anita Smith, Anna Jean Rhodes and Mary Smith.
Allan had Christmas themed items for other members who weren’t winners, so everyone received something.
Denning ended the program by reading “Twas the Week After Christmas.”
In addition to the gifts mentioned, several board members had favors and/or Christmas cards for everyone.
Lions Club Christmas Dinner
The annual St. Elmo Lions Club Christmas dinner was held the evening of Dec. 19 at Mary Ann’s Restaurant, with 14 Lions Club members and 18 guests attending.
Dave Maxey served as emcee, introduced the guests and had all stand for the pledge of allegiance. The meal blessing was given by Pee Wee Denton.
At the May St. Elmo High School graduation, the St. Elmo Lions Club awarded two scholarships that were received by Kevin Ray and Kase Stolte, who were not able to attend the dinner to receive their scholarship money.
Kevin is attending college in Idaho, and Kase is attending college in Texas. Kase’s parents, Bill and Keli Stolte were present.
Lions Club members and guests present were Don Crawford, Pee Wee Denton and wife Helen, Roger Fulk and guest Mary Gerke, Mark Lash and wife Tammy, Bob Lowe, Chuck Lowe (who lives in Waco, Texas, but remains a member), Richard Lowe and guest Rosemary Owen, LeMar Marchman and wife Billye Jo, Dave Maxey and wife Joanne, Dee Newberry and wife Leatha, Rex Reeder and wife Kim, Lloyd Stanley and wife Mona, Randy Wolf and wife Linda, and Bob Wells and wife Ellie. Other guests were Clayton and Anita Pagel, Bill and Keli Stolte and widows of deceased club members, Libby Kessel, Helen Koonce and Anna Jean Rhodes.
Some of the members’ wives decorated the tables with poinsettia centerpieces and lighted angels.
At the end of the party, each woman received a bag with an angel and an envelope holding hot cider scented sachets.
Friendship Quilt Club
A Christmas dinner at Old Capitol View Restaurant in Vandalia the evening of Dec.15 was the December meeting of the Friendship Quilt Club. They did not have a business meeting, but enjoyed visiting.
Those attending were Joy Edwards and Roxie Holman of Altamont, Peggy Stolte and Roselyn Stine of Farina, Terri Zerkle of Dundas, and Tonia Austin, Marie Durbin, Mary Myers and Megan Porter of St. Elmo.
If the weather permits, the quilt club will meet at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 19, at the St. Elmo Public Library.
Internship for Clayton Black
Clayton Black is the son of Dean and Elloise Black of Vandalia and is a former St. Elmo resident. The following article was in the current Review & Preview, the newsletter of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University Carbondale:
When Clayton Black had the opportunity to serve as a Vince Demuzio intern through the Simon Institute, he didn’t foresee how valuable the experience would be. But he sees it now.
“Were it not for the Demuzio Internship my junior year, I would not have been given the opportunity I now have with the Partnership for a Connected Illinois,” said Black, who graduated this past May with a bachelor’s degree in political science.
“Without it, I’m not sure what I’d be doing now. It’s made all the difference as I start my career.”
As a Demuzio intern, Black was placed with Connect SL, a regional initiative in southern Illinois working to enhance broadband technology capabilities in rural areas.
From that, he was given the chance to move to Springfield to work on a similar statewide-focused project. As an e-Team coordinator for PCI, Black is overseeing the implementation of broadband plans in 10 regions of the state.
“It’s all been an amazing opportunity,” Black said. “I am very fortunate.”
Named for the late state Sen. Vince Demuzio (D-Carlinville), the program has provided funding for more than five dozen SIUC juniors and seniors to serve internships with government agencies and offices across southern Illinois. Students interested in the Demuzio Internship Program should contact Institute Visiting Professor John Jackson at [email protected] or 618-453-4009.
Fayette County Extension Foundation
A meeting of the Fayette County Extension Foundation was held the evening of Dec. 21 at the Fayette Extension Office in Vandalia, and the main item of business was discussion of an Extension Foundation fundraiser letter that will be sent out after the first of the year.
Board members present were Brian and Kyra Willenborg of Shobonier, Caryl Hickerson of Augsburg and Larry Koberlein, Anna Jean Rhodes and Lynn Tappendorf all of St. Elmo. Also present were Rachelle Hollinshead of Vandalia, the county extension director, and Judy Bingman of Carmi, the youth educator for Fayette (and also for Clay, Effingham and Jasper counties), whose office is at the Effingham Extension Office.