The Older I Get the Earlier it Gets Late - By Dan Dauw

By Dan Dauw
Geneseo Current

Bishop Hill, IL

Besides being an historical town, it has lots of neat little stops and 21 points of interest, 15 shops and services plus 7 museums.

Depending on the time of day it has 5 great places to eat.

So, if you’re looking for a unique place to visit, by all means take a hike over to this beautiful little town in Henry County.

Testing for Contaminants

Just a short reminder, but it is a good idea to check your home for radon, lead paint and water checks. Exposure to any of these contaminants can have serious health implications.
Radon is a dangerous element when it comes to your home. It is an invisible, tasteless, and odorless gas underground. It can find its way through cracks in your home’s floors and walls.
Prior to 1978, lead paint was widely used on the interior and exterior of homes. Homes built before 1980 may very well contain lead paint.
As to well water, it should be tested annually for bacteria and nitrates. In our Colona subdivision we have our well water tested every year. I take a well water sample annually to a place in LeClaire, Iowa, for testing.

Foreign Owned Land

Good for Iowa’s Governor Kim Reynolds for signing into law, legislation that requires more transparency in foreign ownership of Iowa farmland. China is one of the biggest countries that has purchased large acres of land in our country.
There are other states that already have limits on foreign ownership of land.
I’m not sure where our “Land of Lincoln” stands on this topic. Hopefully, it is closely monitored. I don’t trust the Chinese Government. I think world domination is in their DNA.

Solar or Farmland

So, if you’re a farmer, do you want to lease some of your land for solar panels at over $1,000.00 or more per acre? Conversion of farmland to solar or wind power is a big topic that is widely discussed. Making more money planting corn or beans on the acre or are there more bucks leasing the acre for solar or wind?

No Noise Yet

Where we live no vibrating tymbals from cicadas have we seen, or more noticeable, heard, their roaring noise. Cicadas flex their muscles to the tune of between 300 and 400 times a second. I guess only Mother Nature knows exactly when they will appear here in Henry County.
I’m sure I won’t be around for their next appearance so I’m kind of glad ( I think?) to witness them this year.

Geneseo Izaak Walton League and the “90” Guy

Their spring “Members Breakfast” was recently held on Saturday in the Ikes Lodge. I counted 19 members and guests, but I think there might have been more. The breakfast was excellent and the cooks did a nice job.
Glen Anderson, alias “Birdman of Henry County,” turned the big “90” last Tuesday, May 7, 2024. All his friends got together and got him a candy bar for his birthday. I don’t think the wrapper was open, either!

Senior Humor

  1. The older I get the earlier it gets late.

  2. I remember being able to get up without making sound effects.

  3. My luck is like a bald guy who just won a comb.

  4. I run like the winded.

  5. Vic Bianchetta should have remembered what the valet who parked his car looked like. There is a big sign on the entrance door, “We Do Not Have Valet Parking.”

Quote of the Week
“Listen at the keyhole and you’ll hear news of yourself.”
— Proverb

Hammond-Henry Hospital Welcomes Neurologist - By Claudia Loucks

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Hammond-Henry Hospital officials announced today that Dr. Waseem Ahmad will start his neurology practice at Hammond-Henry Hospital in Geneseo on July 10. July appointments are being accepted by calling the Geneseo Medical Group at 309-944-1275.

Dave Smith, Hammond-Henry Hospital CEO, said, “We are excited to have Dr. Ahmad join our team and also to announce a specialty that will allow us to keep care close to home for our patients. In conversations with many community groups, the expressed need is for local access to additional specialty care providers. Dr. Ahmad will provide high quality neurology services and fulfill that need on the local level.”

Information received from Hammond-Henry states that Dr. Ahmad specializes in General Neurology and Sleep Medicine which includes neurological testing, EEGs (electroencephalograms), EMGs (electromyographies), and the evaluation and treatment of disorders of the brain, spine, and nervous system. He specializes in the treatment of epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, stroke, neck and back pain, vertigo, and dementia and memory loss. Dr. Ahmad also performs home sleep studies, clinical Botox injections, and offers injections for excessive sweating in the palms, feet, and underarms, and drooling.

He received his MC from Allama lqbal Medical College, Lahore, Pakistan, in 1995, and Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad, Pakistan, in 1996. For this post graduate training, Dr. Ahmad worked at Wilson Memorial Hospital in Johnson City, NY, from 2002-2003, and then served as Chief Resident in the Department of Neurology for the Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, from 2003-2006.

He has served as Director for the REM Center, Moline; the Memory Disorder Clinic, Moline; Stroke Director for the Trinity Hospital System; Neuroscience Department Director for Trinity Medical Center, Rock Island; Sleep Lab and Neuroscience Director for genesis Medical Center, Davenport; and currently is Sleep Lab Director at KSB Hospital, Dixon, and Sleep Lab Director, CVM, Moline.

Thank you From the Family of Mark Hutchinson

  The family of Mark Hutchinson would like to thank everyone for remembering him and us at the time of his recent death.  

   The flowers, plants, food, cards, memorials, and other expressions of sympathy were greatly appreciated and will always be remembered by us.  

   Ann Hutchinson, Julie Hutchinson Huygens, and John Hutchinson

Richmond Hill Players Auditions May 18-19

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Richmond Hill Players will hold auditions this weekend for the last three shows of the 2024 season. Auditions are scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, and from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 19, at the Barn Theatre in Geneseo.

Auditions are for “The Money in Uncle George’s Suitcase,” a comedy by Pat Cook, directed by Joe DePauw, with show dates of Aug. 15-25; “Of Mice & Men,” a drama by John Steinbeck, directed by Justin Raver, with show dates of Oct. 3-13; and “My Son is Crazy, But Promising,” a comedy adapted by Tim Kelly, directed by Dana Skiles, with show dates of Nov. 14-24.

Roles are available for 18 males (ages 20’s to 60’s) and 14 females (one teen, the rest ages 20’s to 60’s). “Of Mice & Men” has a role specifically written to be played by a black male.

For more detailed information about the shows and auditions, visit www.rhplayers.com/auditions.

GHS 2024 Graduation Ceremony and Parade May 19

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Geneseo High School Class of 2024 will graduate at 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 19, in a ceremony on the Bob Reade Field.

In the event of inclement weather, the time and date will remain the same, but the ceremony will be held in the GHS main gym rather than outside.

Each graduate will receive eight tickets for guest admission and the tickets are necessary only if the ceremony is held in the main gym. Tickets are not required if the ceremony is outside.

The Graduation Parade which was established for the Geneseo High School Class of 2020 has become a tradition and will be held for the Class of 2024, beginning at 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 19. Graduates will gather at Fareway Grocery and travel by each of the district’s elementary buildings, Millikin, Southwest and Northside; and by St. Malachy’s and Geneseo Middle School before concluding at GHS. The graduates will gather in the main gym, where they will receive instructions to line up for the graduation processional to the football stadium.

The commencement program will be broadcast live on Geneseo’s TV50, can be viewed on Mediacom Cable channel 50/80.1, itv50.tv, wb6network.com, and Amazon Prime Video/Fire TV and Roku by searching WB6network and downloading the TV50 app.

Parade Route

Students Gather in City Park Prior to Geneseo High School Prom

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Geneseo City Park became a rainbow of color Saturday afternoon when students, dressed in formal attire, gathered to socialize prior to the 2024 Geneseo High School Prom. Parents and friends of the students also were in the Park taking photos. The Prom was held at the Quad City Botanical Center in Rock Island. Photos by Claudia Loucks

Dru Curcuru & Addison Espe

Cael Terronez, Taylor Clark, & Lauryn Newkirk

Hayden Moore & Lindsay Herington

Millie Henkhaus & AJ Weller

Cooper Schaad & MIa Kelly

Rachael Roodhouse, Avery Burbridge, & Olivia Marshall

Evan Wash & Molly Neumann

Grace Schilling & Sydney Nelson

Jeslen Rink & Aaron Betcher

Addi Snodgrass & Kendall Ellerbrock

Annie Maxwell & Luke Johnsen

Kruiz Ludwig & Alex Moe

Russell Brown, Colton Herberg, & Will Baum

The Henry & Stark County Health Departments & First Choice Healthcare Celebrate National Women’s Health Week, May 12-18, 2024

Raeann Tucker
Director of Health Promotion
MAY 10, 2024

The Henry and Stark County Health Departments and First Choice Healthcare announce that this Mother's Day-Sunday, May 12th, acts as the official kick-off for National Women's Health Week, May 12-18, 2024. 

    The goal of Women's Health Week is to empower women to make their health a priority.  National Women's Health Week also serves as a time to help women understand what it means to be well.  This year’s theme, “Empowering Women, Cultivating Health: Celebrating Voices, Wellness & Resilience,” is dedicated to empowering women to take charge of their health journeys.   

    As we celebrate National Women's Health Week, we will also focus on what it means to be a well woman.  The fact is it's really a state of mind.  It's being healthy as you can be.  And, most importantly, it's about takings steps to improve your physical and mental health.  Important steps include: 

* Continue to take steps to protect yourself by staying up-to-date on recommended vaccinations. 

* Getting at least 2 1/2 hours of moderate physical activity, 1 hour and 15 minutes of vigorous physical activity, or a combination of both each week. 

* Eating a nutritious diet.  Eat mainly fruits and vegetables; grains (at least half should be whole grains); fat-free or lowfat milk and dairy products; fish, skinless poultry and lean red meats; and polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. 

* Visiting a health care professional for regular checkups and preventative screenings. 

* Paying attention to mental health, including getting enough sleep and managing stress. 

* Avoiding unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking/vaping, texting while driving, and not wearing a seatbelt or bicycle helmet. 

    During Women's Health Week, the Department hopes to raise awareness of the women's health services available at their First Choice Healthcare locations.  The First Choice Healthcare Clinics in Kewanee, Colona and Toulon offer area women such services as annual exams, pap smears, pregnancy testing, contraceptive counseling and supplies, clinical breast exams, fasting blood profiles, immunizations, and our mental health services.  Payment for Department services include private pay, medicaid, and most insurances. 

    Every woman should have access to affordable health care services. We encourage local women to take advantage of the savings offered through our First Choice Healthcare Clinics.  To find out more about the First Choice Healthcare Clinic’s health services for women call at Kewanee 309-852-5272; Colona 309-792-4011; or Toulon 309-852-3115.  Also find us on Facebook at Henry and Stark County Health Departments or Follow Us On Twitter and Instagram.

GHS FFA Attendance at the Women Changing the Face of Agriculture Regional Conference

By Jacqueline Walters - Wetzell
GHS FFA Advisor

On April 26, six members from the Geneseo FFA chapter seized the opportunity to participate in the Women Changing the Face of Agriculture Regional Conference held at Joliet Junior College. Among those present were Dawsyn McDonald, Jaiden Minnaert, Bella Bailey, Ashtyn Veryzer, Kenzie Krug, and Delaney Lagaisse. During the conference, attendees interacted with sixteen professionals from the agriculture industry, gaining insights into the varied paths these women took to achieve their current positions.
They received invaluable advice on a wide range of topics, including college coursework, working in the industry, and navigating everyday life. After a satisfying lunch, the girls were treated to an inspiring speech by keynote speaker Sue Schaffer, who shared her life journey and accomplishments attained through perseverance and determination.
Wrapping up the conference, attendees had the opportunity to learn about the college experience from a panel of four current college students and recent graduates. During the day, the six members gained extensive knowledge about careers in the agriculture industry and college paths. Overall, the conference proved to be a rewarding learning experience for all the young women in attendance!

2024 Mother’s Day Messages from GHS Seniors

Presented By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

On Sunday, May 12, we will celebrate “Mother’s Day,” an opportunity for “children” of all ages to express love, respect and gratitude to mothers for all the things they do and have done for us.

For those whose mothers are no longer alive, it is a time to think back and remember that special person and friend.

In the United States, Anna M. Jarvis is credited with bringing in the celebration of Mother’s Day. Anna Jarvis intended to start a Mother’s Day as an honoring of mothers. The idea itself was so great that it did not take long to be spread all over. Leaving aside the first observance, the official recognition that followed for the observance came in galore. The governor of West Virginia issued the first Mothers’ Day proclamation in 1910.

Oklahoma celebrated it in that same year. It started the same way as far west as the state of Washington. By 1911, there was not a state in the Union that did not have its own observance for Mothers’ Day. Soon it crossed the national boundary, as people in Mexico, Canada, South America, China, Japan and Africa all joined the spree to celebrate a day for mother love.

Senior students in a class of Ali Litton and some additional senior students wrote tributes to their mothers.

ELLA PETTIT – “Dear Mom, You shine so brightly through your hard work, generosity, and positivity. Your tireless dedication to your work and our family is truly inspiring. Everyone always asks me how I manage my busy schedule, and it’s all because I have you to encourage me and remind me of everything I need to do. Your positive outlook on life uplifts everyone in your presence and I couldn’t be more proud to have you as my Mom. - Ella”

KELSEY DILLIE – “Dear Mom, Happy Mother’s Day, I love you so much! You are such an amazing woman I can look up to in this life. Your kindness towards everyone you encounter, and light you shine everywhere you go does not go unnoticed by anyone. You are such a role model to me, and I just want to radiate light and love in the ways you do. I always say to you ‘no matter how old you get, sometimes you just need your mom’, and that could not be more true. You always make me feel like everything will be okay. I am so lucky to have you as my Mom, you deserve it all! I love you! I am blessed by the life you have given me. Love, Kelsey Dillie.”

ADDIE (BUG) MILLS – “Dear Mom, Hey mom, it’s me Addie. I just wanted to take a second out of my day to say how much I appreciate all you do for me and the rest of the family. I probably don’t tell you this enough, but I love you so much, and going into college I am proud to say I have the best support system out there. You are the best Mom ever and Grandma too. You always know how to make me laugh, even if I am laughing at you. I love you so much! I love you, Addie Bug.”

KADEN SALISBURY – “Dear Mom, Happy Mother’s Day! Thank you for everything you have done for me in my life. You have played a very big role in my life and without I would not be the man I am today. We have had a lot of good memories and I can’t wait to make many more. Thank you for supporting me everyday and believing in me with everything I do! Your Favorite Son, Kaden Salisbury.”

AUTUMN STEPHENS - “To the woman who has sacrificed her whole life to give me all my hopes and wishes. Today, I get to show how grateful I am for you giving me this dream life full of love and kindness. You are my best friend in this life and the next. Thank you for loving me with all you have. Happy Mother’s Day. I love you always. Autumn Stephens.”

JOSHUA STEINES – “Happy Mother’s Day! Thank you for always being that rock in my life. Keep being that joyful person you are with me and others. Without you being there for me every step of the way, I truly don’t know where I would be. I appreciate everything you have done for me and continue to do for me. Even if I may not say it every day, I want you to know in the back of your mind that I am always thinking of you. I love you so much. Your Son, Joshua Steines.”

OLIVIA MARSHALL – “Dear Mom, You are truly the best Mom I could ask for! I appreciate all of the sacrifices you have made for me, and I am thankful that I have you in my life! You are my number one supporter and fan of everything that I do. No matter what I’m doing, you are front and center and cheering the loudest. Thank you for always being there for me no matter what! I love you so much and I am so lucky to call you my best friend! Love, Olivia.”

MADISON SIMMS – “Dear Mom, Thank you for everything that you have done for me, and the sacrifices that you have made for me. You’ve had an impeccable impact on the young woman I am today. You taught me how to be an independent woman, and stick up for myself, and my beliefs. I may not show how appreciative I am of you, but without you in my life, I wouldn’t be the young woman I am today. Your favorite child, Madison Simms.”

MALLORY DWYER – “Mom, You are the bravest, the smartest, the prettiest, and the strongest person I know. Life has made you unbelievably tough, and you have no idea how much I admire you for it. There is nothing that can tear you down. You made me the person I am today, a mini copy of you. I have always been so proud of you, and I will always look up to the best person in my life. I love you more than anything in the world. Love, Mallory Dwyer.”

RUSSELL BROWN – “Dear Mom, Happy Mother’s Day! Thanks for being a great Mom and always taking me to my events. You are the best mother a son could ever ask for even though sometimes you don’t pick up your phone. You have always supported me in whatever hair-brained things I do. Also, thanks for always pushing me to be the best person I can be. So in summary, thank you and you are the best! Your Son, Russell Brown.”

MACY LITHERLAND – “Dear Mom, Thank you for everything you have done for me and will do for me! I am forever grateful for all that you have sacrificed for me. Happy Mother’s Day! I hope your day is filled with a lot of love and happiness. I am so glad that you were chosen to be my Mommy. Thank you for the endless memories and vacations. I can’t wait to experience more life with you in my next chapter. I love you! Love, Macy Litherland.”

RANDY CHASEK – “Dear Mom, This Mother’s Day I want you to know how much I appreciate you for everything you do for me. You’re always there for me when I need you and you’ve always been someone I know I can count on for anything. You are the best Mother I could ever ask for and I just want you to know how much you mean to me. Just remember, I’m the only one of your kids that’s writing you a letter for Mother’s Day. Love, Randy Chasaek.”

BROOKE BOONE – “Dear Mom, Thank you for instilling the belief in me that I can do anything I put my mind to. I appreciate you for always supporting me in everything I do, and for going the extra mile to help me accomplish my dreams. I love you to the moon and back! Brooke Boone.”

JOSH HOCK – “Dear Mother, You have been the most supportive along the way, always there to help when needed even when I didn’t want help, you still were there in case I did. And you were always the loudest supporter at sports events. Happy Mother’s Day! Your son, Josh Hock.”

LEAH ROEMER – “Dear Mom, Happy Mother’s Day! I’m just writing this letter to thank you for everything you do for me and all of your crazy children (including Dad of course). I feel like I have gotten so much closer to you over the past few years, and I think we have a really good relationship. I am so grateful for that! I love all of our goofy memories and how we get each other laughing so hard that we snort. It’s going to be so hard for both of us when I leave for college, and I still think you should come with me. Anyway, I hope you have an amazing day and thank you again for everything! I love you! Love your silly daughter, Leah Roemer.”

ANNA CALABRIA – “Dear Mom, Thank you for everything you have done for me. You have taught me many valuable lessons in life. One of my favorite things about you is that I’m able to talk to you openly about anything and many kids don’t have that opportunity. I’m eternally grateful for everything you provide for me financially, and you always go out of your way to buy me nice items. You are always there for me when I need you. I love you! Your favorite child, Anna Grace Calabria.”

NOAH DISTERHOFT – “Dear Mom, From the temper tantrums in church, to the nervous first day of high school, and to the college selection process, I want to thank you for the many years you’ve managed to put up with me. I want to thank you for pushing me to become my best constantly, and, among others, I have you to thank for who I have grown to become and who I will go on to become. Thank you for the many opportunities you have met and provided support throughout. Thank you for the many drives to and from practices; thank you for attending so many of my concerts and games; and overall, thank you for preparing me so well for my future. My confidence in myself and my preparedness for what comes after high school stems from your parenting and love. I love you so much! From Your Son, Noah.”

JILLIAN BENEKE – “To Momma, Happy Mother’s Day! You are the most amazing mother I could ever ask for. I truly don’t know what I would do without you in my life. I love you so much and you are my biggest role model. I strive to be like you everyday. You are so beautiful and strong. No matter what you are going through, you always tend to my needs first. I appreciate that so much. Being a mother is the biggest sacrifice anyone can make, and I will forever be grateful to you for being my mother. I love you so much, From Jillybean.”

SKYLAR WAINSCOTT – “Happy Mother’s Day! I am so appreciative of everything you have sacrificed to give me the best life possible. Your selflessness and dedication inspire me every day. From the late-night cuddles to the wise advice you always seem to have, every moment with you is cherished. Your love knows no bounds, and I feel incredibly blessed to have you as my Mom. I love you! Skylar Wainscott.”

COLE YORK - “Dear Mom, I appreciate you very much for all the things you have done for me throughout my life. Although we had it very tough growing up, you persevered through all the hardships that we endured. You’ve always treated me with kindness and love, and even though sometimes I think you are over-protective I know you are just protecting me. I love you and I’m very glad that you are my Mom! Sincerely, Cole.”

JACKSOIN READE – “Dear Mom, Thank you for everything that you have done. From taking care of me when I was sick, driving me to school, packing my lunches, making me laugh, and going to and watching all of my sports events. You always were at my side, supporting me in whatever challenges I may face. You always gave me words of encouragement whenever I was sad or mad, and you always picked me up when I was knocked down. I couldn’t have asked for a better person to be my Mom. Love, Jackson.”

SIDNEY SPINDEL – “Dear Mom, It’s your favorite middle child ever here. I just wanted to say how much I appreciate you. I don’t tell you enough how much I love and appreciate everything you do for me. Without you, nothing in the house or in my life would run smoothly. You make my life so much brighter and are always there to talk whenever I need it. I know I might get annoyed by the things you say or do sometimes, but I know in a year, when I’ve moved out I’m going to miss everything you do. Being a senior has taught me how much I need you. I don’t understand how I will live on my own and stay positive next year. I’m so glad to have you as MY Mom, you make everything so much better. I love you! Love, Your favorite (Sidney Spindel).”

CONNOR MITCHELL – “Dear Ma, Little did we know but you have given us the greatest treasure that will never fade in our hearts and that’s your love. Growing up, I don’t think I realized how much you did to keep our day-to-day lives running so smoothly. Now that I’m grown up, I am in awe of everything you do for us, and I admire you all the more. Thank you for making my childhood such a special one! I love you so much! Sincerely, Best Kid Connor Mitchell.”

BRAYDEN COMBS – “Dear Momma, Happy Mother’s Day! This marks the 18th time I get to say this to you, and I pray to say it many more times. You and I have been through so much together from such a young age, and I couldn’t be more thankful for the mother you have been to me. We grew up together very young and always learned each and every day, and I’d say we’re doing a really good job 18 years down the road. You have been there to celebrate my highs and mourn the lows – all right by my side. You are an exact epitome of what a mother should be to her children. You are the hardest worker I know, you take pride in everything you do, and you make it your main priority everyday to assure that our family is safe and sound. I couldn’t imagine a life without you to guide me and open doors for me that I never knew imaginable. You have been my biggest supporter through academics, athletics, social experiences, and everything in-between. Thank you – a million times over – for being the mother that I needed. You have saved my life over and over again, and I can only hope that I have saved you in some way as well.

From your Day One – I love you more than you know, and I am forever thankful to you for sticking with me each and every day. Brayden Combs.”

KARSON BANISTER – “Dear Mom, You are my voice of reason, storyteller, advice giver, hand holder, shoulder, supporter, and teacher. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me over the last 18 years and thank you for loving me unconditionally. Your Son, Karson Banister.”

LYNN COTTY – “Happy Mother’s Day! You are such an amazing Mother, I don’t know what I’d do without you. Thank you for everything you do for me! I love you so much! Lynn Cotty.”

WILLIAM HAMERLINCK – “Dear Mom, I know that we don’t always see eye to eye, but I want to thank you for always supporting my endeavors. Now that I’m getting older, I can see that all the times you pushed me to become better when I wanted to stay stagnant have paid off tremendously. You taught me to continue on when the work grows difficult because whet gets dark, it doesn’t always mean you’ve been buried, sometimes you’ve been planted. Thank you for all the little things you do to keep the family healthy and sane. Don’t go anywhere too soon; otherwise, Dad will be making us tacos and cereal for dinner each night. I love you Mom. Love, William Hamerlinck.”

JACOB STOUT – “Hey Mom it’s me, your only son, Mother’s Day is coming up so I would like to say thank you for putting up with me for the last 18 years. I know you’ve probably wanted to kill me a number of times, but you know you love me too much to do that. Anyway I’m graduating soon, crazy thought, I’m gonna be moving a couple hours away. For the first time in my life I won’t be living with you, eating dinner together will become a special event. No more waking up when I come home late, there’s a lot of things that are going to change and I know it will be hard for you so I’ll remind you I love you Mom. Jacob Stout.”

DYLAN SHIPMAN – “Dear Mother, Hi, your favorite second child Dylan here. I just want to tell you that you are the best Mother ever. I hope your Mother’s Day is the best day ever for you and you feel appreciated by all of us who you cook for. I know I’m a pain but you are just like a wonder woman to me. You are always there for me and show me that I can do anything and you help me excel in life and give me ways to overcome difficulties. You are the best Mom I could ever ask for, and I hope you have a wonderful day! Love, Dylan Shipman.”

PHILLIP MERRILL – “Dear Mom, It’s me, your first child, you know the best one, Phillip. Happy Mother’s Day and thank you for being there in mine and Oliver’s life, and I know sometimes it’s been hard. With everything that’s been going on it’s good to know that when we have a hard day that you will always be there when we need someone to talk to. Also, even when you aren’t having a good day you try your best to make sure that we are doing fine. I really appreciate that you’re always trying your best to make our lives easier when things aren’t great in life. Phillip Merrill.”

“Dear Mom, on this special day, I want to thank you for your unconditional love, your endless patience, and your generosity. You are not just my Mother, bur also my mentor, my role model, and my best friend. I am blessed to have you in my life. Happy Mother’s Day! Luke.”

Our Jelly is Better Than Theirs! - By Dan Dauw

By Dan Dauw
Geneseo Current

Koi For Your Pond

Tim Lee Shreve and his wife will be moving to Missouri in July. They have Koi fish in their decorative pond that they can’t take with them. He wants to sell them before they leave. He will deliver them to a Geneseo address.
Depending on the size of the fish, they range from $45-$225.00. They are 12” – 14” in length. If you are interested, his e-mail address is: tim_lee_bonsai@yahoo.com

Note: There is a line under the first space and also the second space in the e-mail.

Geneseo Ikes Meeting

The Geneseo Izaak Walton League will have their May meeting on Monday, May13, 2024, at the Ikes Lodge beginning at 7 p.m. The guest speaker will be Jamie Posateri, Conservation Police Officer. Refreshments will be held after the meeting.

Gardening

With health issues it was really tough on Lorna and myself doing all the outside work we usually enjoy doing. I don’t see how we can do all the work next spring. We’re flower nuts and so we do more chores then we need to. Last year we put in 70 tomato plants, but we cut back to 26 this time.
We also put in beans (Ha! Rabbit food), peppers and onions. I no longer can use the lawn mower so we bought another lawn tractor from B&B. One for the front, one for the back.

We have a resident snake that has to come out from hiding to monitor what we are doing on his turf. I hooked up a sprinkler to our split rail fence. Our next door neighbor, Jim Putnam, has their garden next to ours so this way I can water both our gardens. Jim has been a great help to us.

Orioles

Neighbors, Jim & Jeannine Putnam, feed birds like we do. There is one species, Orioles, that do not want to share feeders and only frequent the Putnam’s feeder. Yes, we do the Welch’s grape jelly and oranges thing. Well awe be darn, a few days ago we had two of the orangey colored birds pay us a visit.

I told Jim that I’m going to make a sign by our feeder that will read, “HEY, ORIOLES! OVER HERE!! OUR JELLY IS BETTER THAN THEIRS!”

That Midwestern Mom

We really like to watch the lady from Minnesota on Facebook. She is soooo funny! I’m surprised some TV network hasn’t signed her up for her own comedy show.

Youth Fishing Derby

Second reminder! The Geneseo Ikes Youth Fishing Contest will be held on Saturday, June 8, 2024, from 8 a.m. to Noon. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and it is all free for kids ages 2 – 16.
This big event is held every year and the kids have a lot of fun. It will be held at the Ikes Park, 1 mile north of Geneseo. There will be lots of nice prizes. Lunch will be provided free.

Humor

When in high school I worked part time at Grosmans in downtown Moline. I made 60 cents an hour. I was a stock boy and ran an elevator. Elevators are unique. They work on many levels. Glenn Sigwalt found he is nervous going on elevators. He is now taking steps to avoid them.
We seniors don’t spend half as much time checking our blood pressure as the younger generation spends on social media.
Jim Weisser is afraid of speed bumps, but he’ll slowly get over them.

Quote of the Week

“You will be better advised to watch what you do instead of what you say.”

  • John N. Mitchell

Red Cross Volunteers Needed

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

The American Red Cross is asking for area residents to “Spring Into Action” and become volunteers.

A statement from the Red Cross organization states: “Every day, the Red Cross sees the heartbreak of people coping with more intense storms, heavier rainfall, higher temperatures, stronger hurricanes and more devastating wildfires. As more people rely on the Red Cross for help, the need for compassionate volunteers has never been greater. Help comfort and support people who are forced from their homes due to fires, storms and other emergencies, so they don’t have to face tough times alone.”

Volunteers are needed in these positions:

-SHELTER SUPPORT TEAM – In-person shelter support to assist with reception, registration feeding, dormitory, information collection, and other vital tasks to help those we serve.

-CASEWORK RECOVERY TEAM – Support people who have been impacted by disasters in their long-term recovery. Caseworkers provide resources, referrals, and empathetic listening and problem solving.

-DISASTER HEALTH SERVICES TEAM – Health professionals are needed in shelters to provide hands-on care, health education, health assessments, and additional health-related support.

-LOGISTICS PROCUREMENT SERVICE ASSOCIATE – Provide a vital link to mission delivery by ensuring needed materials and supplies are procured in a timely and cost-efficient manner.

For more information, visit redcross.org/volunteertoday or email volunteerillinois@redcross.org

Kathi Fluck of Geneseo, who is the Lead Recruitment Volunteer and a Blood Donor Ambassador, shared that she wished “more people would give blood. It’s the one way you can help up to three people with about one hour of your time. A single car accident can use as many as 100 units of blood.”

She added, “The Red Cross is seeking volunteers due to the more frequent intense weather events we are experiencing in this area, and what many people don’t know is that being a Red Cross volunteer doesn’t mean you have to be active four days a week, you can choose how much time you volunteer, and every little bit helps!”

Abigail Frank Awarded Richard C. Keith Scholarship

Kelly Field
IMT Insurance
kelly.field@imtins.com
515-453-0362

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA, Month Date, year — IMT Insurance, a leading Midwest provider of personal and commercial insurance products, is pleased to announce that Abigail Frank has been selected to receive a $1,000 Richard C. Keith Scholarship.

Abigail, student of Heidi Frank, an IMT agent with Hanford Insurance Agency in Geneseo, IL, is a recent graduate of Geneseo High School and will attend University of Nebraska in the fall.

The Richard C. Keith Scholarship program reflects IMT’s unwavering commitment to education and youth development. Scholarships are awarded to high school seniors, undergraduate, trade school and higher education students, who are active in their schools and communities. The recipients also demonstrate a high level of academic success.

IMT Insurance is proud to support outstanding students and their pursuit of further education.

The Richard C. Keith Scholarship program is a tradition IMT is eager to continue for years to come.

From the Village of Atkinson

ADVISORY: On Wednesday, May 8th, water will be shut off from 7:30am-5pm for all residents heading North down Washington St. to 2nd St., and from Washington to Church St. A boil order will follow until further notice.

On Thursday, May 9th, water will be shut off from 7:30am-5pm for all residents North of Route 6 and West of State St. This is for a valve replacement. A boil order will follow until further notice.

The Henry & Stark County Health Department & First Choice Healthcare Note Children’s Mental Health Week, May 5th-11th

Raeann Tucker
Director of Health Promotion
MAY 3, 2024

The Henry and Stark County Health Department and First Choice Healthcare announces that May 5-11, 2024 has been designated as Children’s Mental Health Week. This nationally recognized observance aims to increase public acceptance, educate communities, and expand the general public’s understanding of children’s mental health needs and its resulting impact on their parents, caregivers, and families across the lifespan. 

     Children’s Mental Health Week allows all of us to celebrate children of any age while promoting the importance of their mental health as well as their need for services and acceptance that support recovery, resilience, and success for children and their families. 

     Consider the following Children & Youth Mental & Behavioral Health Facts: 

·         1 in 6 US youth experience mental illness each year, and only half of them receive treatment.

·         50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24.

·   Among US Adolescents (aged 12-17) – 1 in 6 experienced a major depressive episode in the last year.

·   3 million US Adolescents had serious thoughts of suicide.

·   The average delay between onset of mental illness symptoms and treatment is 11 years.

·   60% of Americans are concerned about the stigma and around mental illness. 

     With limited resources for mental health in our community it is now more important than ever to provide individuals with the behavioral and mental health support they need.  Our own Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners, Mental Health Therapists, Nurses and supportive staff are pleased to be able to offer this support to our community.  

     There are many reasons an individual may seek treatment.  Our providers are prepared to support patients aged 5 and above who may be struggling with depression, anxiety, stress, substance abuse and addictions, behavior problems, bipolar disorder, family/parenting issues, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia and other related disorders, sexual assault, suicide prevention, trauma and loss. 

      For more information on Behavioral and Mental Health services or to schedule an appointment simply call First Choice Healthcare in Kewanee at 309-852-5272! Help and understanding are just a phone call away.