Nancy Aldridge, of the Eureka Greater Area Kiwanis, and Erin Luckey, Woodford County Health Department office manager, promote an effort to raise money to buy car seats. They are collecting shoes that will be sold to raise funds for car seats.

STATE

Day is dedicated to farm operations

On Illinois Summer Horticultural Field Day June 8, Kurt and Connie Christ, welcome the public to their farm, Christ Orchard in Elmwood, to learn about the farm’s operations. This 35-acre farm grows more than 50 varieties of apples, many varieties of pumpkins and squash, as well as plums, cherries and other small fruits. Their farm market sells fresh cider, honey, jam and fall decorations including mums and Indian corn.

The farm owners will share their knowledge about the business and University of Illinois Extension Specialists and Educators will discuss a range of topics related to specialty crops. Integrated pest management, fruit thinning, high density apples and varietal information are a few of the topics that will be covered.

Christ Orchard has been in production for more than 35 years, and Kurt and Connie have owned it for nearly 30 years. As their children, Beth, Lena, Molly, Karl, and Amy, grew up, the orchard grew as well. Now the second generation has joined the business of providing fruit and farm-fresh products.

This event is sponsored by the Illinois State Horticultural Society, University of Illinois and the Illinois Specialty Growers Association.

Advance registration is $27 and includes lunch. To register and for more information visit picatic.com/ilhortday2017. Questions? Email Aaron Curtis Graham at ilsthortsoc@gmail.com or call (217) 621-7371.

COUNTY

Event to raise money to buy car seats

The Eureka Greater Area Kiwanis and the Morton Kiwanis Clubs have donated car seats to the Woodford County Health Department, the Washington Police Department and the Morton Fire Department. These agencies have nationally trained child passenger safety technicians who can teach parents the proper way to install and use car seats. Studies show that 90 percent of area car seats are improperly installed, putting the child at risk if in a crash. Also, the plastic in car seats have an expiration date. If a car seat is outdated or if a car seat has been in a crash, the plastic will not adequately protect the child.

To continue donating seats, the clubs are holding a shoe collection fundraiser until the end of June. The Kiwanis Club will earn funds based on the number of pairs collected and then sold to Funds2Orgs. A bag of 25 pairs of shoes will average $10. Anyone can help by donating gently worn or new shoes, or cash if there are no shoes to donate. By donating shoes to the Soles for Car Seats fundraiser, the shoes will be given a second chance and given to people who need them.

Shoes can be dropped off at the following Woodford County locations: In Eureka at Advocate Eureka Hospital, Community Bank, Dough See Dough, Heartland Bank, IGA-CEFCU, and Eureka High School. In Metamora at the Commerce Bank and MTCO, and in Germantown Hills at State Farm.

For more information or for a shoe pickup, call (309) 467-4750.

METAMORA and GERMANTOWN HILLS

Students graduate from DARE program

Fifth-graders from Metamora Grade School and Germantown Hills Intermediate School have celebrated their graduation from the DARE program. Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) is a national education program that seeks to prevent use of controlled drugs, membership in gangs and violent behavior through education. Locally, it is run by the Woodford County Sheriff’s office.

At Metamora Grade School, the fifth grade band members performed and a video of the students was shown. The fifth grade essay winners read their essays and rap winners performed their raps. Metamora K9 Officer Tim Ford and his K9 partner Oz and Woodford County Sheriff’s Office Honorary K9 Officer Kael were thanked for their work with the DARE program. Deputy Angela Holocker thanked school administrators and teachers for their continued support for the DARE program. Holocker also thanked the parents, grandparents, and other family members for their continued support.

Germantown Hills Intermediate School celebrated their DARE graduation. The school had eight essays winners and several DARE Rap winners. Deputy Angela Holocker thanked the fifth grade teachers, Principal Dave Raffel and all the parents for their support of DARE. Peoria K9 Officer Chris Heaton, accompanied by his K9 partner Koda, spoke to the Germantown Hills students and parents about the importance of K9 programs.

–Woodford County News Briefs–