Brownstown-Sefton News

Farewell to Little Josie
As we have shared with our readers, the health of our little dog, Josie, has been deteriorating for some time. She was 16years old on Mother’s Day.
Josie was special in that she was so tiny when she was born. She was half the size of her three siblings and she was not breathing, nor was her heart beating when she was born.   
Bill gently thumped her heart, then massaged it with one finger until she started breathing.
She had been healthy, affectionate, happy and playful until the signs of age began showing.
She has always had such an endearing, cute, vulnerable, little face, and one just couldn’t help being protective of her.
She was never struck, spanked or even yelled at, yet she has always seemed timid.  We attributed that to the fact that she was “squeezed” by her siblings when still in her mother’s womb.
When we began to notice that her age was beginning to show, all bodily systems still seemed to be functioning, and although she always ate all of her special dog food, she kept getting thinner and thinner, as did her coat.
She loved for me to rock her and that seemed to be her only enjoyment anymore, along with Bill’s hand-patting her.
She used to love riding in the car, but the last few months, that seemed to make her nervous.
She spent most of daytime in her little bed with her “Tinker Bell” blanket.
We had placed her bed in the living room, where she could also see us in the kitchen.
She was restless at night and would often get lost wandering around the house. Then she would bark for help.
Friday night, she came to my chair to be rocked and, as we were rocking, she put her face up to mine twice and touched her nose to my face.
She raised her head from my chest and looked into my face several times, something she didn’t ordinarily do.
She also had started to lie close to Bill’s feet, next to his chair. It seemed that she had wanted to be near one or the other of us the last few days.
She had not seemed to be in pain and we, selfishly, did not want to give her up.
However, Friday night she didn’t sleep, but made noises, as if she could not get comfortable. Saturday morning, she could barely stand up and we knew it was time to put her feelings above our selfish ones.
We took her Dr. B’s Veterinary Clinic, where she gently closed her eyes and went into a forever sleep, with compassionate and caring assistance, as we remained near her.   
We brought her back home with us, and as we were doing the last thing we could do for her, Bill said, “We are burying our treasure.”
And that was a perfect description of the joy and doggie-love she brought to our home – she was a treasure, and we are missing her presence terribly, but we loved her too much to see her suffer.
We believe now that Friday night, she was trying to tell us, “Thank you, I love you, but it is ‘time.’”
We thank our Creator for the gift of little Josie’s time with us.
Tarzan, the Little
Tree Frog …
… has moved to up to our back porch and is doing well. We didn’t see him for a few days, then Bill spotted him hanging around the little critter barn.
Now we think it is him taking up residence on our porch, near the door.
We enjoy hearing him making his little frog sounds. He sits on the wall next to the door, behind my lawn chair most of the daytime, then comes out in the evening.
We think he catches bugs that are drawn to the porch light at night.
As the porch light is just above his daytime area, it is really convenient for him.  
Bill saw another type of frog along the driveway, which we believe to be a bullfrog from neighbor Scott’s pond.
This one is fatter and has stripes on his legs. We call him “Kermit,” but he must have hopped back to the pond.  However, he did pose so we could take a picture of him before leaving.
Announcements
Free Summer Lunches for Kids Program…
…now in progress! The lunches can be picked up Wednesday mornings at the Brownstown United Methodist Church, from 11 to 11:30 a.m.  Twenty lunches were given last Wednesday to local children.
Brownstown Alumni Reunion 2016…
… is drawing closer; it will be held on July 16 at the Vandalia Moose Lodge.
The last day to return your reservation is July 8.
When returning your reservation, make sure to use the envelope that has the alumni address stamped on it.
Make checks payable to: Brownstown Alumni Association, P.O. Box 344, Brownstown, Ill. 62418.
If you have any questions, contact Betty Scott at 267-3637.
Card Shower for Irene Reed’s Birthday …
… on June 20. Her address is: Irene Reed, 105 N. Olive St., St. Elmo, Ill. 62458.
Baby Talk
Phoenix Alexander Hall was born on May 9, 2016, at 8:20 a.m., weighing 9 pounds, 5 ounces, and measuring 22 inches long. He has an older brother, Winston Xavier.
His parents are Brandon and Cindy (Arnold) Hall, from O’Fallon, Mo.
Grandparents are Dave and Nancy Arnold, and Gloria Hill of Brownstown.  
Mark Your Calendars Now
Nadine is coming to town …
… on Oct. 8, to Brownstown High School. Thunder Road music will accompany her.
Steve Ladd is returning to …
… Liberty Christian Church at 6 p.m. on October 22.
Fayette County HCE
Board Meeting
Eleven members of the Fayette County Home and Community Education Board met Monday, May 23, for their monthly board meeting at the Extension building in Vandalia.
The club president, Flo Allen, called the meeting to order and led the pledge to the American flag.
Club Secretary Joyce Mueller read the minutes of the previous meeting.
Treasurer Carol Bridges,gave the financial report and gave each member a copy.  She had also prepared a binder containing the year’s previous monthly reports, and presented one to each unit present.
The first vice president, Debbie Segrest, reported that September is National
Ovarian Cancer Awareness month and Fayette County HCE will present an ovarian cancer awareness program to the public on Sept. 17. It will be held in the old conference room in the Fayette County Hospital, from 1-2 p.m. Dr.  Dawn McDaid, an ob-gyn, will be the speaker.
Ashley Davis is making teal-colored ribbons for the occasion, Light refreshments will be served.
The second vice president Anna Jean Rhodes, told of her preparations for the club’s annual meeting/dinner at Northside Christian Church in Vandalia on Thursday, June 9.
Donna Blair, outreach officer, gave information of interest  on the upcoming dates and events to be observed, including Memorial Day services in Fayette County, and other community events.
Ashley Davis, culture enrichment officer, gave the dates of the Fayette County Fair (July 9-16) and urged members to enter the competitions.
The entries must be in by July 9.
Flo Allen said that Brownstown Elementary School children had collected 3 pounds, 2 ounces of tab tops, which they donated to Fayette County HCE’s project.
Vacation Bible Schools
Liberty Christian Church VBS will be June 20-23, 6:30-8:30 p.m. “At Cave Quest VBS, we will work to ground kids in the rock-solid foundation of God’s Love, a love that takes us through the darkest times.”
For ages pre-K (3 and potty-trained 5) all the way through sixth grade.
Pick up an orange registration form from the church’s welcome center and turn it in to the church office or Erin.
The church van will pick up and drop off at the Brownstown High School parking lot every evening at 6:15 and 8:45 p.m.
Coming & Going
Visitor to Homestead
Christine Yenny dropped by to visit the Bill and Panzi Blackwell at the Homestead last week and delivered cassette recorder tapes.
Christine’s visit was enjoyed as they sat at the picnic table and talked about the days of the trains pulling many cars of coal.
Christine said that when she was a little girl, she and her mother used to walk along the track picking up coal, which was done by many people in those days of burning coal for heat, and also cooking, in many homes.
Christine said that although coal in those leaner-economy days cost only $3 a ton, that didn’t help much when you had only 50 cents in your pocket.    
Brownstown First Christian Church
The congregation of the First Christian Church was greeted by Judy Palacek and led in songs of praise by Susan Smith and Matthew Smith, accompanied by pianist Robin Lovett; drums, Mitchell Smith; and guitarists, Walt Kinney and Chuck Enlow.
Don Lovett led the Communion meditation. Matthew Smith contributed special music, followed by the message, delivered by Kendall Bopp.
Also serving: Sunday school nursery-Judy Palacek; Sunday school nursery-Faye Schwarm; a.m. nursery-Marcia Pemberton; toddler worship-Billie Enlow and Shannon Claycomb; Quest-4-Christ, Q-4-C team; and shut-ins-Matthew Smith and Mitch Koehler.
Announcements
• Bond Christian Service Camp Schedules/Registration forms are at the welcome table. Camp weeks have already started, but it is not too late to attend.
Liberty Christian Church
The congregation of Liberty Christian Church was greeted by Lisa Smith, and Gary and Diane Smith served at the welcome table. Ken Lamb led in prayer. Dave Morrison and Bill Robison served at the table. Taylor Ring, Matt Stonecipher, Roger Smith, Bob Buzzard, Vernon Brazle and Craig Daughtery served the congregation, assisted by Roger Smith and Barry Jennings.
Brian Smith and Gary Smith served as ushers. Leading the congregation in songs of praise were Teresa Mays, Barb Morrison, Kathy Willms, accompanied by Kim Miller and Tammy Carson.
Nursery-Lisa Smith; pre-K teacher- Holly Robison, assisted by Bayli Mason; Kids W teacher-Erin Klug, assisted by Cole Harner; PowerPoint and power system were Dana Dann and Don Largent, respectively.