Rhonda Anderson directs the Germantown Hills Middle School Concert Chorus. The group recently performed at the Illinois Music Education Association’s 2018 conference in Peoria.

GERMANTOWN HILLS

School chorus performs at state conference

The Germantown Hills Middle School Concert Chorus, under the direction of Rhonda Anderson, was selected by the Illinois Music Education Association to perform at its 2018 conference, which was held Jan. 25 at the Scottish Rite Cathedral in Peoria. School officials said it was an honor for the chorus to be chosen, and was a wonderful experience for the chorus members who got to hear several other area school choruses perform as well.

GERMANTOWN HILLS/METAMORA

Junior Woman’s Club holding membership drive

An organization that has been serving Metamora and Germantown Hills for nearly 50 years is looking for new members who care about the communities and want to be more involved in serving the needs of local residents.

The GFWC Illinois Metamora-Germantown Hills Junior Woman’s Club was organized on Feb. 25, 1971, to provide programs and services. The group is part of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, one of the world’s largest and oldest women’s volunteer community service organizations, which was founded in 1890 and is headquartered in Washington, D.C. GFWC has more than 100,000 members in affiliated clubs in every state and more than a dozen countries.

As part of the local group’s 47^th anniversary celebration, community women may join the club for free. Dues are being waived for the remaining club year to anyone who joins the club in February.

For more information about the club, contact Rebecca Johnson, membership chairman, at (618) 401-8380, or Cathy Gregait, president, at (309) 367-9394 or check out the group’s Facebook page.

EUREKA

March 10 fundraiser to support 4-H programs

The Woodford County 4-H and Extension Foundation will host a fundraiser from 4-7 p.m.  March 10 at Eureka Middle School, 2005 S. Main St. This is the foundation’s second event to generate funds that will go directly toward local Woodford County Extension programs and activities. The fundraiser will include a silent auction and a soup dinner followed up with delicious desserts. 

Cost for admission is $5 per person and tickets can be purchased from a 4-H member in Woodford County or at the Woodford County Extension Office, 109 E. Eureka Ave., Eureka. 

Woodford County 4-H and Extension Foundation is a local 501(c) (3) nonprofit organized community to raise funds for the county 4-H and Extension programs and activities. For more information about the event or how to donate an item to the fundraiser, call the Woodford County Extension office at (309) 467-3789.

Nurse recognized for patient care, leadership

Susan Allensworth of Bloomington, a bedside registered nurse at Advocate Eureka Hospital in Eureka, was recently recognized as the 2018 Advocate Nurse for embodying Advocate Health Care’s core nursing values. She is among 15 award-winning nurses to be recognized by Advocate’s executive leaders in a system-wide celebration at the health system’s Downers Grove headquarters.

Allensworth joined Advocate in 2015, after a career change from teaching led to her to nursing. At Eureka Hospital, she works primarily on the nursing unit, but is also cross-trained to work in the emergency department when needed. She has a bachelor of science degree in nursing. 

She was singled out for how she empowers others through her leadership of the hospital’s Shared Governance program, and for how she serves her patients by advocating for their needs, praying with them if needed, and watching out for their safety. Her colleagues acknowledge that her attitude and manner complements the unit.

STATE

Bill would require rear-facing car seats

A bill that would require children to ride in rear-facing car seats until age 2 could become law in Illinois. It has the support of the Illinois Senate. The Senate Public Health Committee voted 7-0 Feb. 20, on Sen. Michael Hastings’ plan.

Hastings, a Tinley Park Democrat, says rear-facing restraints offer more protection for toddlers.

The American Academy of Pediatrics agrees, saying the seats better support a child’s head, neck and spine because the shell of the seat absorbs the force of collision and distributes it over the entire body.

The original draft of the bill levied a $75 fine for first-time violators. However, Democratic and Republican senators questioned the fine and got assurances from Hastings that he would change first violations to a warning.

–Woodford County News Briefs–