Henry & Stark County Health Departments and First Choice Healthcare Note 2023-24 Updated Covid-19 Shots For Adults Now Available in Kewanee & Colona

RaeAnn Tucker
Director of Health Promotion
October 30, 2023

The Henry and Stark County Health Departments and First Choice Healthcare announce that this year’s updated Covid-19 Shots for Adults (18 yrs.+) are now available at both First Choice Healthcare Clinics in Kewanee and Colona. Covid-19 shots will be available by appointment at both locations, simply call the First Choice Healthcare location nearest you: Kewanee 309-852-5272 or Colona 309-792-4011.

     At this time, Adults with “Insurance Coverage” for the Covid-19 vaccination can obtain the Pfizer 2023-24 updated vaccine.  Simply bring your insurance card with you to your appointment.

     Adults with “NO Insurance Coverage” for the Covid-19 vaccination may choose either  the Pfizer or Moderna 2023-24 updated Covid-19 vaccine through the “Bridge Access Program.”

      The Health Department notes that both the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and CDC recommend vaccination with the updated COVID-19 vaccine for all persons aged ≥6 months. Older adults and persons with weakened immune systems are at greatest risk for hospitalization and death. In addition, healthy children and adults can still experience severe disease.

     To schedule your appointment or for more information, call the First Choice Healthcare locations in Kewanee (309) 852-5272 and Colona (309) 792-4011 Colona or visit our website at www.henrystarkhealth.com or find us on Facebook at Henry and Stark County Health Departments, or Follow Us On Twitter or Instagram.

"Cram the Cab" Food Drive to be Held

Katie Laleman, FBCM, Manager
Henry County Farm Bureau®
128 N. Prospect Street | Cambridge, IL 61238

What:  Farm Bureau Young Leaders “Cram the Cab” Food Drive

When:  Saturday, November 4; 9am-2pm

Where:  Fareway Meat & Grocery, 540 Pritchard Drive, Geneseo, IL 61254

 Farm Bureau Young Leaders will collect items for the local food pantries at Geneseo Fareway.  Stop by Saturday, November 4, 9am-2pm and help the Young Leaders to fill the bed of a Ford Truck and the cab of a John Deere tractor!  Make a donation just in time for the upcoming holidays and support your local food pantry.  Food items and cash donations will be accepted.

 

Veterans Day Assembly Nov. 10 at GHS

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Geneseo High School Student Council members, from left, Caroline Girten, Lindsay Herington, Mady Mooney, and Payton Snider are preparing for the upcoming Veterans Day Assembly at 8 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 10, at the high school. 700 North State St. All local veterans are invited to attend as special guests.

Isabel Anderson, Geneseo, will be the keynote speaker. Anderson currently serves as a substitute teacher in the Geneseo School District. She is the “Mom” of a military family, and she will share her own military experience, in addition to the benefits and hardships of being a career military family.

Veterans planning to attend the assembly are asked to arrive at the high school at 7:30 a.m. on Nov. 10, using the main entrance to the school or the entrance to the Library Commons which is at the south end of the building.

The assembly will begin at 8 a.m. and will include the keynote speaker, guest introductions, and special musical selections by the GHS band and choir.

For additional information, contact Tara Laingen at tlaingen@geneseoschools.org. Laingen said the Veterans Day Assembly is being held to honor the local veterans and to bring awareness to the GHS student body. Photo by Claudia Loucks

Operation Christmas Child In Need of Filled Shoeboxes – By Claudia Loucks

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Shoeboxes also can filled online by visiting Samaritan’s Purse.org and finding Operation Christmas Child Build a Box. According to Shelly Emerick, by filling a shoebox online, people are able to choose items they want included in their shoebox…”You can even include a personal note and download a picture that will be printed and placed in your shoebox. Cost is $25 and you are able to follow your shoebox to its destination.”

Teresa Johnson, left, Operation Christmas Child coordinator at Geneseo Evangelical Free Church in Geneseo; and Shelly Emerick, representing Operation Christmas Child in Geneseo, show the empty shoeboxes that still need to be filled, and some that have been filled. Empty shoeboxes are available to be picked up at Geneseo Evangelical Free Church, 914 North Chicago St., Geneseo. Photo by Claudia Loucks

The Packing Party dates are set and the shoebox drop-off dates are in place, but there are still many empty shoeboxes to be filled for the Operation Christmas Child outreach.

Team members are aware that the Christmas season is drawing closer and there is a concern of making sure the OCC shoeboxes get to disadvantaged children worldwide.

A display of empty shoeboxes has been set up in the gathering area at Geneseo Evangelical Free Church where people can pick them up and return them when they are filled. The church will be open from 8 to 4 on weekdays, with the exception of being closed from 12 to 1 p.m. Shoeboxes also may be picked up during Sunday church services at GEFC.

Packing a shoebox can be done by anyone and the first step is to decide to pack for a boy or a girl in age groups 2-4, 5-9 or 10-14. It’s best to begin with a “wow” item such as a doll, stuffed animal, deflated soccer ball with a pump, toy cars or trucks. It is important to include school supplies and hygiene items such as a washcloth and soap, toothbrush, but toothpaste is not allowed.

Clothing or shoes also can be included in the shoebox as well as fun toys, but no food, candy, liquids or jells.

Each shoebox contains a copy of “The Greatest Gift” booklet, a storybook that shares the message of salvation, written in the language of the child receiving the shoebox.

Items that cannot be included in the shoeboxes are anything glass, liquid, camouflage or war-related, or any type of food.


Richmond Hill Players to Close Season with Comedy – By Claudia Loucks

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Geneseo’s Richmond Hill Players close their 2023 season with “Unnecessary Farce,” a comedy by Paul Slade Smith. The show will be presented Thursdays through Sundays, Nov. 9-19, at the Barn Theatre in Geneseo. Jonathan Grafft, Geneseo, directs the show.

Chris White and Dana Skiles, both of Geneseo, are among the cast of “Unnecessary Farce,” to be presented Nov. 9-19 at the Barn Theatre in Geneseo.

ABOUT THE PLAY:

“Two cops. Three crooks. Eight doors. Go! In a cheap motel room, two incompetent undercover cops wait anxiously to videotape a meeting in the adjoining room between an embezzling mayor and his female accountant, who is working with the cops. But there is so much confusion; who’s in which room now? Who’s being videotaped? Who took the money? Who hired a Scottish hit man (whose accent becomes more incomprehensible the angrier he gets), and why does the accountant keep taking off her clothes?”

The cast features Nathan Johnson, Dana Skiles, Jessica White, Chris White, all of Geneseo; Katie Orwig, Atkinson; Mike Kelly, Rock Island; and Scott Harl, Peru.

The staff includes co-state manager Patrick Kelley, Kewanee; co-stage manager/costumer Jackie Skiles; Lights and sound designer/set painter Dana Skiles’; set builder Mike Skiles, all of Geneseo; booth operator David Shaffer, Moline; and set builder Jim Skiles, Colona.

On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, the doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the show beginning at 7:30 p.m. Sunday shows are 3 p.m. matinees with the doors opening at 2 p.m.

Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling the Richmond Hill box office at 309-944-2244 or by visiting the website at rhplayers.com.

Late seating is not permitted; no one will be admitted to the theater after the show has started.

Admission to all performances is $12.

An audio description performance will be held Friday, Nov. 10. Richmond Hill also offers Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs), which can be requested at the time reservations are made.

Jessica White and Nathan Johnson, both of Geneseo, rehearse a scene from the upcoming Richmond Hill Players production of “Unnecessary Farce.”

ABOUT RICHMOND HILL PLAYERS:

A non-profit community theater group presenting plays in the converted top floor of an old dairy barn in Geneseo since 1968. Approximately 100 active members are involved on and off-stage each year, with actors, directors, backstage personnel, support staffs, and audience drawn form a 75-100-mile radius that includes cities in both Illinois and Iowa.

Katie Orwig, Atkinson, and Scott Harl, Peru, are shown in a scene from the Richmond Hill Players comedy which will close the 2023 season.


Blood Drive Nov. 9 at Geneseo First Methodist Church

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

First Methodist Church of Geneseo is hosting a blood drive on Thursday, Nov. 9, at the South Annex (back entrance of the church’s south campus) of the church. The drive will begin at 12 noon and continue until 6 p.m.

Donors are asked to make reservations by calling 1-800-733-2767 (1-800-RED Cross). Walk-ins will be accepted in as timely a manner as possible with appointments taking priority. Those planning to give blood will be asked to present their Red Cross ID card (or a valid driver’s license) and will be asked to read the list of medications that might exclude their donation from being used or do a “Rapid Pass” before their donation.

Before donating:

-1. Drink an extra 16 ounces of water, juice or non-alcoholic drink before donating, especially in warm weather.

-2. Eat a healthy meal; avoid fatty foods like fries, hamburgers, ice cream.

-3. Try to get a good night’s sleep.

-4. Check to see if any of the medications you are taking would prevent you from donating.

It’s also recommended that those planning to donate increase their vitamin C to their diet by eating fruits and leafy green vegetables, such as strawberries, tomatoes, spinach and brussels sprouts.

Anyone with questions about donating, getting a Red Cross ID card or who would like more information, is asked to call 1-800-733-2767 (1-800-RED CROSS)

Open Studio on Tuesdays at RutabagA

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Debra Beyerlein, left; Les Hoste and Elaine Hofman are preparing the window at RutabagA Art Gallery to promote “Open Studio” at the Gallery from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesdays. RutabagA member Beyerlein said she and other members meet on a casual basis on Tuesdays to work on art projects and discuss art…”We welcome people to join us and explore art, as well as ask questions and maybe even do some art work. More information about “Open Studio” is displayed in the window of RutabagA at 108 North State St. in downtown Geneseo.

Hospital Auxiliary Jewelry Sale is Nov. 14

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Kathleen VanDeRostyne, left, Hammond-Henry Hospital Volunteer/Auxiliary Supervisor; and Mary Jane Causemaker, representing the Auxiliary Development Committee, show some of the items to be included in the “Masquerade” $5 Jewelry and Accessories Sale planned by the Auxiliary. The sale is from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 14, in the hallway at the east entrance to the hospital. All jewelry items and accessories are sold for $5 each and all profits benefit the Auxiliary. Cash, debit/credit cards and payroll deduction are accepted as payment at the sale. Photo by Claudia Loucks


October 24th, Committee of the Whole -City Council Meeting

Geneseo City Council
Committee of the Whole Meeting
Tuesday, October 24, 2023 – 6:00 pm

By Dalcon DeMaranville
Geneseo Current

Removing the Bloat

• The City Council approved Zoning and Land Vacation Ordinances, taking the final steps to approve a 29 unit condominium district on the north side of Olivia Drive, being developed by WCKJJ, LLC.
• The City Council heard a proposed tax levy increase of 4.99% for fiscal year 2024. Finance Director Jamie Matthews pointed out the City of Geneseo is only 12.1% of resident property tax bills.
• Kelly Wolf a consultant from the Henry County Tourism Bureau (HCTB) gave a presentation. Geneseo’s portion of funding the proposed HCTB structure would be $5,000 per year with a three-year commitment. The City Council would reevaluate funding after the initial three-year term.
• The Windy Point Observation Area sign will be replaced. The original sign was blown over during the wind storm in April. The city has received an insurance payment for funding the new sign.

Henry & Stark County Health Department & First Choice Healthcare Note October-National Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

RaeAnn Tucker
Director of Health Promotion
October 26, 2023

The Henry and Stark County Health Department and its First Choice Healthcare Clinics in Kewanee and Colona announce that October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 

     Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women, except for skin cancers.  About 1 in 8 women in the US will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime. 

     The American Cancer Society’s estimates for breast cancer in the United States for 2023 are:

  • About 297,790 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in the U.S. as well as 55,720 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer.

  • About 43,700 women will die from breast cancer in the U.S.

     RaeAnn Tucker, Health Department Director of Health Promotion, notes, “When considering facts such as these it's obvious that we, in the public health field, must emphasize the importance of early detection and screening.  Indeed, breast cancer is the second most common kind of cancer in women. The good news is that many women can survive breast cancer if it’s found and treated early. Therefore, we would like to encourage women to partner with a friend or family member to remind each other to practice monthly breast self-exam and make annual clinical exam and mammogram appointments."

    The First Choice Healthcare Clinics of Kewanee and Colona remind area residents that they provide annual physical exams to area women, including a clinical breast exam and pap smear.

    The clinic accepts most insurances and private pay.  For more information on the First Choice Healthcare Clinics Women's Health services call (309) 852-5272 Kewanee or (309) 792-4011 Colona or find us on Facebook at Henry and Stark County Health Departments or Follow Us on Twitter.

New Dog Runs To Be A Reality At Geneseo Shelter – By Claudia Loucks

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

“Dreams do come true,” according to Linda VanDerLeest, president of the Henry County Humane Society Geneseo Shelter.

Those dreams became a reality in part from grant money received from the Miller Foundation, $39,000, and from the Geneseo Foundation, just over $14,000, in addition to charitable donations from the community.

VanDerLeest said the money will provide for six new dog runs, one more than the original five runs which are about five years old…”We want to stay within our means financially and we will do some of the work ourselves on the runs.”

Original plans were to build the new runs using pea gravel but VanDerLeest said, “Ideally, dog runs have turf surfaces,” and with the grant money received, the Geneseo Shelter will have the turf surfaces.

Kim Park, who with Kristen VerStraete, make up the facilities committee at the shelter, said the current dog runs are not “dog-friendly,” as the dogs can dig under the fencing and at times their nuzzles get stuck in the chain link fence due to the large openings.

Park said each of the new runs will be enclosed with vinyl privacy fencing… With the vinyl fencing, the dogs will not be able to see each other in the other runs, and that will create less anxiety which will be safer for the dogs and the staff and volunteers.”

She said with the turf surface, the dogs will be less able to dig under the turf and also will improve disease control because the turf can be sanitized.

Park estimated the Geneseo Shelter, a no-kill shelter, cares for about 10 dogs at a time, not including the two or three that are in foster care and in addition, there is a waiting list.

“We have seen an increase in animals coming to the shelter, which could possibly be because of the financial hardships people are experiencing,” she said, and added, “We have six dogs on our waiting list and we get calls daily.”

It is expensive for the shelter to care for the animals, and Park explained that each animal typically requires spay or neuter, updated vaccinations, and about half of them require some additional care. “In addition, we also have the expense of keeping up the kennels, maintenance and cleaning supplies.”

She said the turf will reduce cleaning expenses because with the turf surfaces the dogs will not be dragging dirt and mud into the kennels.

Demolition to the current runs will be completed by JB Excavating, Geneseo; and the new runs will be built by American Greens, Bettendorf.

Donations, monetary or supplies can be sent to Henry County Humane Society Geneseo at 14606 Roos Hill Rd., Geneseo, IL 61254.

Groundbreaking was held this week for the new dog runs at the Henry County Humane Society Geneseo Shelter. Those at the event included, from left, Jim Kelly, Henry County Economic Development; Erin Knackstedt, HCHS board member; Linda VanDerLeest, president; Kim Park, co-chair of shelter facilities committee and board member; Tyler Mackey, trust officer at Central Bank Geneseo; Kristen VerStraete, co-chair of shelter facilities committee and board member; Allison Roberts, Shelter Manager; Cindy Hoste, board member; Ashley Moore, board member, with “Petey,” who soon will be ready for adoption.

Kim Park, left, and Kristen Vertsraete, who make up the facilities committee at the Henry County Humane Society Geneseo, are shown at the current dog runs at the shelter, which are in need of replacement. In addition to the need for new dog runs, there also is a need for volunteers at the shelter. Photo by Claudia Loucks

Wild Game Feast Is Nov. 4

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Grant Bjorkman, left, and Elijah Coppejans, of Boy Scout Troop 131, invite area residents to the troop’s Wild Game Feast form 4:30 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4, at the Geneseo Masonic Lodge. Donations are $12 for anyone age 13 and older; $6 for ages 4-12, and children younger than three are free.  The menu includes buffalo, pheasant, duck, venison, salmon, turkey, chicken and “all the fixins.”  The event includes a silent auction.

Market Outlook Seminar featuring Ted Seifried

Ted Seifried, Vice President and Chief Market Strategist with Zaner Ag Hedge, will be the featured speaker on Wednesday, November 8 at 6:15 p.m. at Lavender Crest Winery, 5401 US Highway 6, Colona. Dinner will be served followed by an update from Tom Parchert, Big River Resources. Reservations are required and must be made by November 1 to guarantee your attendance.

Ted is a Vice President at Zaner in charge of Zaner Ag Hedge. He specializes in agricultural hedging employing various strategies using futures, futures spreads, outright options, and options combinations. He believes it is paramount to be able to use different strategies to adapt to market conditions. Ted works one on one with large to mid-size grain and livestock producers and end users throughout the world.

In the media, Ted is often quoted by Dow Jones, Reuters, WSJ, and Bloomberg. Ted is a reoccurring guest analyst on Bloomberg TV, Ag Day, RFDtv, Market to Market and Agritalk with Chip Flory.

Zaner is a family owned and operated full-service brokerage firm founded in 1980. They work with clients closely to create client specific customized hedging strategies. They employ different strategies based on client needs and market conditions. Zaner is CFTC registered, NFA member, NIBA member, Illinois Farm Bureau Member, Illinois Chamber of Commerce member, Better Business Bureau A+ accredited business.

Cost for the single session is $35.00 (if not pre-registered cost will be $40.00). To make reservations, please call the Henry County Farm Bureau (309) 937-2411, Rock Island County Farm Bureau (309) 736-7432 or Mercer County Farm Bureau (309) 582-5116.

The Market Outlook Series is sponsored by the Henry, Rock Island and Mercer County Farm Bureau Marketing Committees in conjunction with: Gold Star FS; BankORION; COUNTRY Financial - Alan Davis, Crop Insurance; Central Bank; COUNTRY Financial - Brent Bigham, Tracy Bigham, Chad Nelson, John Waugh; Big River Resources; River Valley Cooperative; Diamond Ag; Wyffels Hybrids; Compeer Financial (Aledo & Geneseo offices); COUNTRY Financial - Dan Kniss, Mike Geuns, Eric Henderson, Julie Hessler, Tom McKie, Jerry Samuelson, Erin Spivey, Katie Spivey, Cassie Stahler; Blackhawk Bank & Trust; Hertz Farm Management.

Linoleum Blownapart - By Dan Dauw

Gun Ownership in Israel

From what I can get from the internet, Israelis are allowed to carry a weapon and can have a firearm in their home. The police in Israel believe it is a good idea. Residents may have to have a permit, but it appears it is not strictly enforced. Of course, our country will never have our enemies set foot on our turf. No, we are isolated. Borders are secured. Can’t happen here!! Yeah, right! I know if I lived in Israel I would have a pistol and it wouldn’t be for shooting rabbits!!!

I was in Israel, Lebanon and Jordan in 1963. It was a dangerous time, but nothing like what’s going on today. Some years ago we hosted two foreign students from Lebanon and Jordan into our home during the Thanksgiving holidays. The two ladies were very bright, but they sure did not like Israel. Sad to say that months later we received a letter from the Londonize student. One of the bombs that fell close to her home in Beirut had failed to detonate. She said it was an American bomb, but from Israel. We never heard from her since. Very sad. So much hate for the Jewish people. Sick, sick, sick!!!

Barb Wire

As we travel through the country side we don’t even give a blink at the fences we see to keep livestock from wondering and to mark whose land is whose! I recently read a 1975 published book entitled, “The “Bobbed Wire” by Jack Glover. Growing up in the ‘40s and beyond, I always heard it pronounced “Bobbed” wire. Barb wire is more appropriate. The first patent of “thorny fence” was applied for in 1867. Some early wires had signal plates and wooden blocks so livestock could see the wire. From 1867 to 1890, hundreds of wires were patented. The first generation settlers were not happy about ranchers putting up fences. They felt their livestock should be able to graze when and where they wish. Many fences were torn down and more than a few ranchers were killed because of fences.

One type of barbed wire, Obstacle wire, was used in WW1. Today, Razor wire is used to try and keep illegal people from entering our country.

Humor

I’ll try to enlighten your brain with some humor, such as it is!

  1. A rubber-band toy pistol was confiscated from an algebra class, because it was a weapon of math disruption.

  2. No matter how much you push the envelope, it’ll still be stationery.

  3. A grenade thrown into a kitchen in France would result in Linoleum Blownapart.

  4. Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway. One hat said to the other, “You stay here; I’ll go on a head.”

  5. If you jumped off the bridge in Paris, you’d be in Seine.

Vaccines

In the latest Consumer Reports “On Health,” November issue, it had a full page of information on this year’s flu epidemic. The article advised people 65 and older to get one of three vaccines, Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent, Fluad Quadrivalent, or Flublok Quadrivalent. We got vaccinated last week, but there is another vaccine that we still need to get in a few weeks. Lorna had Covid two weeks ago so she needs to wait for the next shot. I know there are those who don’t believe in vaccinations, but we think they are a good thing. One thing is for sure, the drug companies must be pulling in some mega bucks!

Fishing Report

Three of us dropped anchor on some Mississippi River locations last week. We caught 18 channel cat “keepers.” The water temperature was 53. As it gets below 50 degrees using “stink bait” does not work as well. Lorna and I fished for trout on the second day of the fall trout season. We caught 5 which included one golden rainbow.

“HAPPY HALLOWEEN”

CNA Students at Hammond-Henry Receive Scholarships

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Each of the twelve students in the Certified Nursing Program (CNA) at Hammond-Henry Hospital has received scholarships to help pay tuition and other fees. The students are, in front from left, Jill Corso, Autumn Stephens, Anna Calabria, April Kelley, Skylar Wainscott; in back from left, Patrick Miller, Abigail Frank, Olivia Dickey, Jillian Beneke, Brooke Boone, Macy Litherland and Madeline Roberts. Instructors, not pictured, are Jessica Jansen and Heidi Brumbaugh, both school nurses with the Geneseo School District. The 12 students are in the CNA dual enrollment class held during the 2023-2024 school year at Hammond-Henry Hospital, in conjunction with Black Hawk College and Geneseo High School. The Hospital Foundation provided scholarships to the students in the amount of $500 per student and Black Hawk College contributed an additional $100 per student, totaling $7,200 in scholarships.

Number please? - By Dan Dauw

Illinois Fall Trout Season

It starts this coming Saturday, October 21, at 5 a.m. The closest 3 locations are Moline’s Prospect Park Lagoon, Hennepin Canal Parkway, Sheffield (Opens at 6 a.m.), and Centennial Park Pond, Rock Falls. All three are excellent locations, but the key to getting a good spot is to get there early. Make sure you have, on your person, both your Illinois fishing license and trout stamp. Trout can just about eat any bait thrown at them. My favorite are minnows, but red worms, small lures, corn, and waxies are good choices, too. Trout are real battlers, easy to clean and taste, oh so good!

Compliments to Eye Surgeons & H-H Hospital

I don’t know all the names I came into contact with concerning my recent cataract surgery. However, I’ll throw out some names I can remember from Hammond-Henry Hospital. They were Dr. “Adam,” Theresa Peterson, Ms. Carton, Ashley, Kelly, Sonya, Sheryle, and Nicole. I think the ladies were all RNs, but maybe not. The three doctors at Eye Surgeons were Dr. Fenzl (surgeon), Dr. Heden and Dr. Benevento, Bettendorf.

I’m sorry I missed other names, but suffice to say, all the individuals I came in contact with were very nice and professional. If need be, I sure would recommend having the cataract procedure done. It is really amazing on the clarity and sharpness I can now see. So, a sincere “Thank You” goes to the caring and kindness of those at the H-H Hospital and Eye Surgeons.

A Dan D Spooky Poem

It was on Halloween night, under a full moon light;

I had been to a party not far from home, I took an odd way back so no place to roam;

I walked a short cut through the din, I became lost as a thick fog rolled in;

I heard strange noises, thinking, is this the right path to take?

I walked through an old cemetery near Dead Man’s Lake;

I heard owls hooting in a large oak tree, I should not worry, they won’t scare me;

I made it home and a little frightened to be, I opened the front door and was shocked to see,

Dracula sitting in a casket and watching TV.

Rain

It has been said that the best time to plant grass seed is in the fall. I hope that’s true as a few weeks ago we had Curb Appeal, Carbon Cliff, do some landscaping which required lots of grass seed planted. Yes, we used both our sprinklers, but Mother Nature does it best. I suspect most farmers, if not in a drought area, do not need the moisture during harvest time. So, I guess some days are gold and some days are stone.

Identity Theft

At last week’s Geneseo Kiwanis meeting, the guest speaker was Shanda Wood, Card Services, Administration Officer, Central Bank, Geneseo. She gave an excellent presentation on identity theft. It was surprising to me that a lot of problems come from check fraud. Most of us use plastic, but there is enough check writing to make crooks pay attention. They can clean checks with a solvent that washes the information and signature off. She talked about phone fraud and how to beware of scam artists. Speaking for ourselves, we get a lot of fake phone calls. With Caller ID if we don’t recognize the name or phone number we let the answering machine do its thing. Most always they never leave a message. Real important, huh?!

Senior Humor

“ I used to dread getting older because I thought I would not be able to do the things I wanted to do, but now that I am older, I find I don’t want to do them anyway!” “I’m getting on in years and I probably should have moved south by now.” “Ha! High time, parts of my body already have!” Sounds I don’t hear much anymore: Coffee percolating. A telephone operator saying, “Number please?” Ice being chipped with an icepick. What did the ghost teacher say to her class? “Watch the blackboard and I’ll go through it again.”