The Eureka High School Hornets stepped off for their first competition of the season at Washington Community High School on Saturday, Sept 10.  The Hornets placed 1st in Class 3A (winning Best Color Guard, Best Percussion, and Best Drum Major) as well as earning the highest overall score for classes 1A-5A. Pictured is Drum Major Emily Wierenga. (Photo courtesy of Eureka H.S. Band)

CENTRAL ILLINOIS

Bus trip is planned to Cahokia Mounds

The remains of the most sophisticated prehistoric native civilization north of Mexico are preserved at Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site. Within the 2,200-acre tract, located a few miles west of Collinsville, lie the archaeological remnants of the central section of the ancient settlement that is today known as Cahokia.

On Oct. 12, join University of Illinois Extension Fulton-Mason-Peoria-Tazewell Unit Master Naturalist/Master Gardener volunteers to explore this fascinating site with Mike Wiant, interim director of the Illinois State Museum, and Bill Iseminger, site manager for the Cahokia Mounds Historic Site.

A bus will pick up participants at two locations: 6:15 a.m. at Peoria Extension office, 4810 N Sheridan and 7:30 a.m. at Hardees, 401 W Dearborn St, Havana. Arrival at the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site and World Heritage Site is scheduled for 10:15 a.m. Buses will be boarded at 3 p.m. to head home.

Space is limited. Registration is $80 and closes on Oct. 5. Direct all questions to Christine Belless, Extension program coordinator, cbelless@illinois.edu or call (309) 547-3711.

GERMANTOWN HILLS

Elementary, middle school book sales slated

The Scholastic Book Fair is an opportunity to promote literacy and all proceeds will go toward new books for Germantown Hills classrooms. A selection of engaging and affordable books for every reading level will be available for sale at the elementary and middle school fairs slated for Sept. 26-Sept. 30. Each classroom has a specific sale date and time. Go to www.signupgenius.com for a full schedule.

The elementary school fair will be held in the Elementary School Library, 110 Fandel Road, Germantown Hills. The middle school sale will be held at 103 Warrior Way.

Germantown Hills.

By making purchases at the annual fall book fair you make it possible for elementary and middle school libraries to acquire hundreds of new books every year.

EUREKA

African American art exhibit opens

A reception 4-8 p.m. Sept. 23 will celebrate the opening of Jason Patterson’s art exhibit, Sections from Black History & the African American Condition, at Eureka College.

This exhibit highlights culturally and socially significant conditions and experiences found throughout the recorded 400-year African American narrative.

Paterson, an Illinois-based artist, predominantly employs portraiture to chronicle the people, periods and cultural significance of the African American presence in the United States, as seen historically, and in current social, political and cultural settings. These works not only represent the specific people that they depict, but also the visual media which produced the original image, re-constructed as soft pastel drawings.

Patterson’s art makes reference to the cultural and historical importance of photography and videography as the technological tools used to represent American culture and to visually organize and archive the country’s existence.

The exhibit runs through Oct. 21.

ROANOKE

Village OKs water study

The Roanoke Village Board has directed its engineer, Farnsworth Group, to conduct a feasibility study into eventually raising water rates. The purpose of the study is to determine how much water rates have to be raised to ensure there is enough revenue to pay off bonds the village expects to sell soon to pay for a new water plant.

The village had hoped to save money by borrowing the money in increments from a local bank, but that would not be allowed under state statutes because the village is currently at its debt ceiling allowed by law. To secure funds to build a new water plant, the board must sell alternate revenue bonds.

The new water plant is in the planning stages and is expected to cost about $4.9 million. The village is beginning to receive large bills for engineering services and will soon not have enough capital in the water fund to pay the expenses.

–Woodford County News Briefs–