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Brownstown-Sefton News

Singing in the Homestead Hen House
In spite of the cold, one-digit temperature weather, snow, strong winds and zero egg production, the “girls” – Blackie, Fuzzy and Anita – are still singing…as early as 6 o’clock in the morning!
Since Bill put a nightlight in their quarters to help warm the air, they seem to be feeling pretty chipper.
I wonder if a higher-wattage bulb would bring fishing worms to the surface and maybe give a jump-start to egg production again?
However, we won’t try to fool Mother Nature. The girls probably need this seasonal break.
Brownstown Sports Boosters’ Winter Cookout…
…to be held Friday at Brownstown High School.
Serving to begin at 4 p.m. Meal includes sandwich, chips, homemade dessert and drink –  ribeye meal-$6, sandwich only-$4; porkburger meal-$5, sandwich only-$3; hot dog meal-$2. sandwich only-$1.
Support the “Boosters” and help them continue the good works they do for our students, schools, and community.
More From The Brownstown Sports Boosters
•The next sports boosters’ meeting will be held March 1 at 6:30 p.m. in the elementary school cafeteria. Preparations for the upcoming spring season of boys high school baseball will be discussed.
•Anyone who would like to help clean the concession stand for the spring baseball season is welcome. They will be meeting at the concession stand on Saturday, March 19, at 9 a.m. to clean. Bring your own cleaning rags.
Notice-Sefton Unit HCE
HCE February Valentine party/potluck meeting will be Thursday, Feb. 10, at Golden Years Club building. Be there at 11:30 a.m.; eat at noon.
Take a Valentine for the Valentine box, a non-perishable food item for the food pantry and an unwrapped item for the Lighthouse Pregnancy Center baby shower.
Due to the inclement weather cancellation of January’s meeting, double-up lessons will be given by Phyllis Pryor, Elizabeth Kasten, Panzi Blackwell and Flo Allen.
Relay For Life
All churches are asked to help with the cancer society Relay For Life rallies at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 10, Feb. 17, March 14, April 11 and May 9. All are at First Church of God, 3001 Thrill Hill Road, Vandalia. The Relay for Life will be June 4.
Food Pantry Items
for January
One can chicken or chicken and dumplings, one box stuffing mix. Anything would be appreciated.
Card Shower
for Margaret Durbin
A birthday card shower is requested for Margaret Durbin’s 89th birthday. Cards may be sent to: Margaret Durbin, Ramada Maingate West, Room 1133, 7491 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, Kissimmee, Fla. 34747.
Red Cross Blood Drive
Exceeds Goal
Out of 24 presenters, there were 19 productive at the Red Cross blood drive onMonday, Jan. 10, which exceeded the goal. The drive, sponsored by the Sefton Unit HCE, was held at the Golden Years Club building in Brownstown.
Donating were: Brad Smith, Jessica Wehrle, Breanna Van Attia, Esther Koberlien, Ruby McCammack, Chris Meador, Mary Ann Doehring, Phyllis Pryor, Roger Herrman, Harlan Bechel, Warren Williams, Deborah Sidwell, Connie Sidwell, Carol Rine, Roger Fulk, Vicki Bearden, LaVonne Kramer, Deanna Kestner, Chet Moore, Charles Moore, Sandra Stine, Noah Oberlink, Nancy Oberlink and Jack Durbin. Note-Roger Herrman has donated 122 pints.
Flo Allen, who coordinated the drive and registration, expressed appreciation for the community fund, which provided the canteen supplies, the donors and for all those who helped in any way, including Phyllis Pryor, Lavonne Kramer-Walkers; Marge Weiss, Shirley Klitzing, Sally Behrends-kitchen and Charlie Reece and Junior Williams, who helped with the supply truck.
A Note From Miss Stine
Miss Stine’s records indicate that this will be the 23rd year that Brownstown has worked with the American Heart Association.
Following are excerpts from her letter to the parents this year’s program gets under way.
“Students in grades 1-6 have been participating in a jump rope unit, in conjunction with the American Association’s Jump Rope for Heart program.
“All of my students have begun working on our jump roping, but for our event, planned during P.E. time Feb. 14-17. I have planned a little variety in the jumping activities for my students. I think that this can be a fun time as we work on our coordination and our cardiovascular system.
“Your child(ren) are not required to collect money, although I am encouraging each child to raise at least $23.
“If the American Heart is an organization close to your heart, due to heart disease or a stroke that has impacted your family, then you or your child may be more inclined to collect money for the American Heart Association.
“I am planning to provide a heart-healthy snack for the class that has the highest percentage of participants collecting money. Every little bit from each student can help their class earn the treat and the AHA will be a winner too.
“Students and families who choose to collect money for the AHA are encouraged to return the donation envelope by February 28. I will also accept the envelopes anytime prior to that date as well.  
“Your children are also asked to bring in the names of people in their lives that we can jump in ‘Memory of’ or in ‘Honor of’ who have had a battle with stroke or heart disease.
“Please help your child write down the name of these special people, so that I can put them on display in the gym.
“Since 1989, Brownstown Elementary School has raised over $36,378.34 for the American Heart Association.”
And More From Miss Stine
“The staff in our district will also have the opportunity to show support for JR4H, by participating in the “Go red for women,” celebration. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, taking the life of one in three women each year.
“On Feb. 3, any staff member who makes a donation to the AHA and the JR4H program will wear the color red and jeans to school that day. They will also receive a ‘little red dress’ pin to wear. Have your kids to be on the lookout for the little red dress pin.
“The support you have given to the Jump Rope For Heart over the last 22 years has been wonderful.”
Coming & Going
Catching Up With The
Puleos And Debbie
Ken and Wanda Puleo and Debbie McDonald went to visit Wanda’s mother, Ethel Pittman in Dix, on Saturday.
Wanda said they have been busy preparing for “Mom’s” 100th birthday, which is Jan. 28. She wants it to be a quiet day, as her arthritis has been a lot more severe lately.
Her family hopes she will get a lot of birthday cards and shared her address: Ethel Pittman, 1421 North Main Street, Dix, Ill. 62830.
Wanda said, “Everyone wants to know the secret for a long life,” and she said that her secret was a quiet life.
“Her life hasn’t always been so quiet as it is the last few years. My parents had an 85-acre farm. When they were first married, she would walk back midday to whatever field daddy was farming with the horses to take lunch to him.
“She raised five children on that farm and helped my dad milk (sometimes 17) cows every morning and evening to have milk to sell. They always had a big garden and she canned lots of food to enjoy through the winter, not only the foods they grew, but also peaches and other fruits.
“They raised chickens and enjoyed the eggs from them as well as the Sunday dinners they provided. She sewed beautiful school dresses from feed sacks, and trimmed the pockets and collars with lace and eyelet. She would carefully inspect the Montgomery Ward and Sears Roebuck catalogues for the latest styles.
“Often, when I came walking home from the one-room school and smell cinnamon in the air and know she had been busy baking “light bread” and cinnamon rolls that day.
“In the afternoons, when my dad was at work, and we children were at school, she would pull a small notebook out of her apron pocket, look over the ideas and thoughts that had come to her at odd times during the day and night and arrange them into poetry or short stories that found their way to numerous magazines, papers, and radio stations to be shared with the world.
“As the younger children reached school age, she was active in being a sports booster, Sunday school teacher, church treasurer and librarian, election judge, and continued her hobby of writing.
“She enjoyed going on many trips with my dad until he passed away, just before their 50th wedding anniversary. Seeing her inner strength at that time was a future source of strength for me, when I was widowed after 40 years of marriage.
“She remarried a few years later and then was widowed again. Her youngest daughter passed away in a car accident at age 20, and again, I found help from her in dealing with the anguish of losing my own son at too young an age.
“She then began her quieter years, her children all being grown and they and her grandchildren all living their own lives, but learning as they grow older how truly wise and loving she is and what a source of encouragement to try and follow her example as a loving, Christian person.
“In her recent years, she accepts with grace the pain of arthritis, and explains that is what you should expect when you reach her age. She is an inspiration to me and my family and I am so thankful to still be able to be with her.”
Village Board
December Meeting
Included in the report of the Dec. 21 regular session of the village board are the following: authorization was given to Crawford & Associates to do the necessary paperwork and file for an IDCEO sewer grant in February; the board approved a pay estimate to Klein Excavating for the Fourth Street railroad crossing project for the 10 -percent retainage in the amount of $8,824.56 after all final paperwork is signed and finalized; approval was given for payment for the invoice received from CSX for the flagger on the Fourth Street railroad crossing project, $3,026.37; approval was given for the petition for supplemental costs, $9,770.10 to a request from ICC for the Fourth Street railroad crossing project.
Chief of Police Ted Miller presented his police report from Nov. 16-Dec. 21 and also informed the board that he needed two new dog and cat traps. Authorization was given Miller to purchase two cat traps from Rural King.
Village Clerk Sherry Meador presented to the board an application from Pam Orr to place a trailer at 368 W. Cumberland Road, Brownstown. After discussion and review of the application, it was approved, 5-1.
Meador presented to the board a request for variance received from Orr for a variance on the age of the trailer, due to the trailer being in good condition and appearance. Following discussion, the request for variance was approved.
Meador informed the board that the police fund was getting low on finances. It was agreed to approve a transfer of $5,000.
Approval was given for the 2009 MTF audit.
Brownstown First Christian Church
The congregation of First Christian Church was greeted by Don and Robin Lovett. A little girls trio (Chloe Enlow, Emalee Smith and Alivia Claycomb) opened the song service.  Joann Strobel, Judy Pilcher and Michael Watson led the congregation in songs of praise.
Susan Smith-pianist; Kaitlyn Enlow-flute; Mitchell Smith-drums; and Rick Cox and James Schaible-guitarists provided accompaniment.
A mixed quartet – Jack Shelton, Susan Smith, Don Lovett and Cathy Smith – contributed special music. Pianist Robin Lovett accompanied.
John Robinson delivered the message. Brent Keyes led the Communion meditation.
Also serving: Sunday school nursery-Ellen Willms; a.m. nursery-Tena Gould; toddler nursery: Karen Willms and Bonnie Shelton; Quest-4-Christ–Michael Watson and Quest-4-Christ team; and Communion to shut-ins-Charlie Watson and Brent Keyes.
Announcement
•BFCC to host 5th Quarter on Friday at Brownstown Elementary cafeteria and gym following the basketball game.
Brownstown United
Methodist Church
As the congregation gathered for Sunday morning worship, Bradley Schwarms lighted the altar candles. The Rev. Dr. David Bigley shared the greetings, announcements and prayer list, and led in prayer.
Hubert Williams and Bradley Schwarms presented the tithes and offerings. Jenna Townsend and Renna Kelly taught the youth Sunday school class. Flo Allen and Louella Christensen taught the adult classes.
Announcements
•Jan. 27-9 a.m. – 3 p.m. UMW Embarras District Officers meeting at Brownstown Church.

Panzi Blackwell

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