The Northwest Illinois Center for Independent Living is conducting beginner’s sign language classes. Classes will be held on Thursday evenings beginning on January 6th through February 24th, 2011 from 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.

Classes will be held at KSB Hospital, 403 East 1st Street, Conference Room #3, 2nd Floor, across from Human Resources in Dixon, IL. Class size is limited. Pre-registration/Pre-payment of $30.00 is required. We will be using the book: Sign Language made Simple, by Karen Lewis and Roxanne Henderson. Cost of the book is $10.00 and is available at the class or at NICIL. to register, send payment to NICIL or stop by the Center at 229 1st Avenue, Rock Falls, IL.

The Eastland CUSD #308 Technology plan will be updated in 2011, and your input in developing the plan is welcomed and requested. a link to the District Technology Survey may be found on the District’s homepage at eastland308.com. We encourage all community members to visit the homepage and complete the short survey.

Fats vs. Carbs: Debate Continues on the Sources of America’s Dietary Ills

A growing number of top nutritional scientists are pointing to excessive carbohydrates, rather than fat, as the source of America’s dietary woes. as reported in the Los Angeles Times on December 20, some researchers are saying that cutting carbohydrates is the key to reversing obesity, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and hypertension.

Dietary fat has traditionally played the role of “public enemy No. 1,” and consumption of carbohydrates has increased over the years with the help of a 30-year-old, government-mandated message to cut fat. Today Americans, on average, eat 250 to 300 grams of carbs a day, accounting for about 55% of their caloric intake; the most conservative recommendations say they should eat half that amount.

At the same time, some others are urging the public not to paint all carbohydrates with the same negative brush.

“You just cannot lump all carbs into a single category,” says Tom Griesel, a Principal at the Business School of Happiness and coauthor (with his sister Dian) of the forthcoming book TurboCharged, which outlines a fresh approach to reducing body fat as the key to weight loss.

“Fruits and vegetables are in a class all by themselves,” says mr. Griesel. “This is because they are truly unrefined and contain fiber along with a high moisture content in their raw or lightly cooked state, and contain many readily available and usable nutrients. Because of this, they do not have the same insulin effect of any other refined or “complex” carb. Eliminating them or reducing them from the diet will always be a big mistake, because most people will then resort to eating other inferior types of carbs.”

“Other types of carbs are the problem,” says Dian Griesel, “and they are what should be eliminated or severely restricted in one’s diet. Other than calories, they contain almost no nutritional value. this is why they are almost always fortified. this group includes all sugar, particularly high fructose corn syrup; refined foods and drinks; including anything packaged; as well as all grain products, refined or unrefined. All these are concentrated carbohydrates–the most densely caloric of any “foods”–and even small quantities will cause blood sugar levels to rise to problematic levels and subsequently result in unhealthy insulin spikes. People do not realize that consuming even a small amount will have this effect.”

Both Dian and Tom note that our bodies cannot store much glycogen, and so this excess sugar is almost all stored as body fat. this happens even if we have way too much body fat already. the presence of insulin makes fat burning, using fat for energy, impossible. so even small amounts of these “other carbs” at the very least keep people fat, and most likely fatter. Reducing the amount consumed is not the answer; eliminating them is.

“So we do not have a carbohydrate problem; we have a wrong kind of carbohydrate problem,” Tom says. “This is a critical point to understand.”

A separate problem, observes Dian, concerns the substitution of proteins and fats for the restricted or eliminated carbohydrates. Although not as obvious, she says, too much protein is just as bad as not enough.

“You only need enough to take care of repair and maintenance of existing lean body mass (LBM) and possibly building new LBM,” she says. “Excess protein in the diet will sometimes be used for fuel–a very inefficient process–or end up being stored as body fat. Processing excess protein puts unnecessary stress on the body. There is an optimal amount of protein that is based on an individual’s current LBM and activity levels which is generally about 10% of daily calories.”

The Griesels go on to say that fat is our body’s preferred energy source, drawn either from our diet or available existing body fat. however, choosing the correct dietary fat is of utmost importance. Most refined fats, vegetable oils, are problematic in anything other than small quantities. Trans-fats, they say, are very bad and should be avoided entirely, because they cause major metabolic problems and may remain in the body for more than two years. Trans-fats are in almost all processed foods, including vegetable oils.

“The only healthy fats are the ones that come naturally in animal products like . . . meats; fish and eggs; and even dairy, along with nuts, olives, avocados,” says Tom. “There are no natural oils; they are all refined.”

Clearly, when assessing the relative effects of fats vs. carbohydrates, it pays to carefully study what dieticians know about their effects on the body–and choose our foods accordingly.

For more information, log on to businessschoolofhappiness.com.

Big Meadows Nursing Home held their semi-annual Blood Drive with the American Red Cross on December 6th. the Blood Drive was successful and included three first time donors – all staff members at Big Meadows. They were Tonya Edwards, Aley Oostenryk, and Amanda Wernick. Big Meadows, along with the American Red Cross, would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone donated blood to save a life during this season of giving. the next Blood Drive at Big Meadows will be in June.

The Highland Community College Adult Education Program will be adding two additional Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) sessions in January. the TABE is designed to assess an individual’s readiness to participate in adult education programs such as GED® preparation or Adult Basic Education (ABE) classes.

The newly added sessions will be January 5 and 7, 2011 at 1:30 p.m. and will last approximately two hours. the January 5 session will be held in the Student/Conference Center (Building H) and the January 7 session will be held in the Community Services Center (Building R) on the Highland campus.

Previously, the TABE was given during Adult Education orientation classes. the new open exam schedule will allow for testing to take place before students attend orientation classes. the sessions are free and open to the public.

Students who have taken the TABE test may attend the morning or afternoon Adult Education orientation session on the following dates (must attend both days): AM Orientation Session – January 11 and 12, 2011 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., or PM Orientation Session – January 11 and 12, 2011 from 4:30 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.

For specific locations, or general questions regarding the orientation sessions, call 815.599.3460.

The Wednesday night “Aftershock” youth meetings will begin again on Jan.5 at Ebenezer Reformed Church in Morrison, Il. a light meal is served at 5:30 p.m. with small groups and music starting at 6 and dismissal at 7:30.

All youth, ages kindergarten – high school, are welcome to come and learn about Jesus through music, Bible lessons and discussion within each group. the phone number for the church office is 815-772-2472.

(StatePoint) Today’s kids are bombarded with multimedia messages — both positive and negative — and the wide and expanding variety of entertainment media can have a real impact on the physical and mental health of children.

How can parents help children navigate this new terrain to make wise media choices?

“A decade ago, most children and adolescents spent about three hours a day watching television. Today, kids are spending more than seven hours per day on entertainment media, which includes televisions, computers, phones and other electronic devices,” says Dr. Victor Strasburger, a member of the Council on Communications and Media at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Choose Media Wisely

To help kids make wise media choices, parents should monitor what their children watch. Parents can make use of established rating systems to avoid inappropriate content, such as violence, explicit sexual content or glorified tobacco and alcohol use.

Stick to educational, non-violent content. And by watching TV with your child you can put any questionable content into context and let it serve as a springboard for family discussions.

Parents should also make sure their home’s media room includes non-electronic media formats like books, magazines and the Prairie Advocate newspaper, as well as board games. Regular trips to the library with your children to help them select books can also encourage positive media consumption.

Limit Screen Time and Zones

The AAP recommends parents establish “screen-free” zones at home by making sure there is no TV, video games or computer in children’s bedrooms. And they strongly recommend no TV during dinner.

Parents can also limit screen time by creating a weekly schedule of shows each family member wants to watch, or by providing alternatives, such as reading, after-school sports, hobbies, family activities and outdoor play. this is especially important during vulnerable times, like when kids get home from school.

For children younger than 2 years, the AAP recommends no TV at all. a child’s brain develops rapidly during those first years, and children learn best by interacting with people, not TV screens.

Become Critics

“Studies have associated high levels of media use with problems in school, attention difficulties, sleep and eating disorders, and obesity,” says Dr. Strasburger. “And the Internet and cell phones have become new platforms for illicit and risky behaviors.”

In order to combat negative repercussions of such media exposure, parents should encourage children to be media critics. Ask kids questions about the attitudes and behaviors of characters in TV shows, movies and books, as well as the meaning and connotation of music lyrics, to get them thinking more critically about media and their own behavior.

Also, explain to children how commercials persuade people to buy items they may not necessarily need or which may not always be good for them. consider using a DVR to minimize exposure to advertising by pre-recording shows and fast forwarding through some commercials.

For more tips on helping kids make positive media choices, visit the AAP’s website, healthychildren.org.

(SPM Wire) With high rates of unemployment nationwide, almost everybody knows someone who is out of work and actively looking for a job. Adding insult to injury, many scammers are now taking advantage of this opportunity to prey on these job seekers, according to the better Business Bureau (BBB).

“The dismal employment rate means that a lot of people are desperate for work and may be grasping for any job which creates a great opportunity for scammers,” said Stephen a. Cox, President and CEO of the Council of better Business Bureaus. “Not thoroughly researching a job opportunity can make a bad situation even worse and a victim can lose hundreds or even thousands of dollars to any number of job-related scams.”

The experts at the BBB recommend looking out for these red flags when searching for a job:

- the employer offers the opportunity to become rich without leaving home. while many legitimate businesses allow employees to work from home, there are also many scammers trying to take advantage of senior citizens, stay-at-home moms, students and disabled workers looking to make money conveniently at home. Job hunters should use extreme caution when considering a work-at-home offer and always research the company first.

- the salary and benefits offered seem too-good-to-be-true. Phony employers might brag about exceptionally high salary potential and excellent benefits for little work and no experience necessary, in order to lure unsuspecting job hunters into their scams.

- Employer e-mails are rife with grammatical and spelling errors. Online fraud is often perpetrated by scammers located outside the U.S. Their first language usually isn’t English and this is often evident in their poor grasp of the language.

- the employer is quick to ask for personal information. a typical scam involves awarding someone a job without an interview and then asking for personal information, such as social security or bank account numbers. a job applicant should never give out his or her Social Security or bank account numbers over the phone or email. It should be done in person, even for a telecommuting job, and only after he or she has confirmed the job is legitimate.

- the job requires you to wire money. Many phony jobs require the employee to cash a check sent by the company through the mail and then wire a portion of the money on to another entity. Reasons given for this requirement vary from scam to scam. the check might clear the employee’s bank account but will eventually turn out to be a fake and the employee is out the money he or she wired back to the scammers.

To make sure you are working for a legitimate company, you can ask to speak with the previous person in your position, do a quick Internet search for the company, and check with your local better Business Bureau. you also can visit bbb.org for more tips and information.

(StatePoint) who does most of the chores around the house? a recent survey by Cozi.com, an online calendar for busy families, found that both men and women claim to do most of the work!

- Women say they do 73 percent of the cooking, while men claim they do 48 percent. There must be lots of leftovers!

- Apparently the laundry is getting done twice, since mom does 76 percent of it and Dad does 47 percent.

- Mom says she does 77 percent of the grocery shopping while Dad claims 52 percent. Clearly those cupboards aren’t bare.

To keep your family from overstocking and over-washing, be sure to schedule chores on a family calendar.

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), health care professionals, and state and local law enforcement agencies have teamed up statewide to unveil data showing the tremendous cost of unbuckled motorists driving impaired. the announcement emphasizes the continued partnership between IDOT and law enforcement and highlights an increase in late-night enforcement and safety belt patrols scheduled for the upcoming holiday weekend.

“People who make the individual decision to drink and drive will face many costs they often can never repay,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig. “A DUI arrest in Illinois can cost you around $19,000 and a possible visit to jail. a hospital visit after an alcohol-involved crash can cost over $70,000 and the costs of the harm done following a senseless death is immeasurable.”

The data was released as the Illinois State Police and local law enforcement step-up impaired driving and safety belt enforcement ahead of the holiday season for the “You Drink & Drive. you Lose./Click It or Ticket” Holiday Crackdown. Now through the end of the year, more than 200 local law enforcement agencies will partner with the Illinois State Police to put an additional $1.3 million in traffic enforcement on Illinois roadways to include more than 100 roadside safety checks and more than 200 late-night safety belt enforcement zones. these patrols are combined with a strong radio and TV media campaign reminding motorists of the high costs associated with drinking and driving and failing to buckle up. Motorists are being warned to make the right decisions when traveling this holiday or risk a ticket, arrest and even jail time.

“Illinois has experienced a decrease in alcohol-related traffic fatalities this year, and we would like to see that trend continue,” said Illinois State Police Acting Director Jonathon Monken. “During the holiday season state Troopers and local law enforcement officers will be working together to aggressively enforce DUI, seat belt and child passenger safety laws. Our goal is to help make holiday travel a safe experience for everyone.”

The Illinois Department of Transportation’s Division of Traffic Safety estimates current DUI costs can reach as high as $19,000 factoring in expenses such as fines, court costs, insurance fees and attorney fees. this estimate is for an individual arrested for DUI only and does not involve the tremendous costs incurred when a crash happens.

Hospital costs associated with a serious crash are high in every case. but data from the Illinois Department of Transportation shows a significantly higher hospital cost for drivers who were unbelted and had been drinking ($73,000) versus drivers who were belted and alcohol-free ($49,000).

The data shows the importance of safety belts in reducing injury severity, particularly in alcohol-involved crashes, and further brings to light the fact that drinking and driving and failure to buckle up is a costly and all-too-often deadly combination. Related crash data also shows that the highest percentage of alcohol-involved fatalities occur during late night hours in Illinois, as well as the lowest safety belt use.

The Holiday law enforcement crackdown is funded by federal traffic safety funds through IDOT’s Division of Traffic Safety and runs concurrently with a media campaign that reminds motorists, “You Drink & Drive. you Lose.” and “Click It or Ticket.”

In an effort to clean up the foreclosure process in Illinois, Brent E. Adams, Secretary of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), today released a 9-point “affidavit preparation expectations” plan.

The release of these expectations, prepared in conjunction with the IDFPR’s ongoing investigation of 20 loan servicers in Illinois, comes in the wake of revelations last September of potentially widespread deficiencies in the court documents presented by mortgage companies in the foreclosure process. Illinois is a leader among states and regulatory agencies in the country in formally establishing enhanced foreclosure processes.

“These new, common-sense expectations are designed to better protect all parties affected by the foreclosure process,” said Secretary Adams, who also chairs the State’s Mortgage Fraud Task Force. “Sloppy paperwork creates an unacceptable legal and financial risk for homeowners, successful bidders at foreclosure auctions, subsequent owners of foreclosed properties, and the industry.”

The 9-point plan:

1. Affiants who sign affidavits in connection with foreclosure proceedings shall not use signature stamps to sign affidavits.

2. Affiants signing affidavits stating the amount owed by a borrower (hereinafter “prove-up affidavits”) shall confirm that the numbers accurately reflect the numbers in the licensee’s business records and are totaled correctly.

3. Affiants shall be individuals, not entities.

4. Affiants shall have the level of knowledge necessary to submit an affidavit in a judicial proceeding.

5. Lenders and servicers shall have processes in place to seek to ensure that affidavits used in connection with foreclosure proceedings are true, accurate, and complete, including that prove-up affidavits accurately reflect the amount due to the licensee.

6. to the extent that an affidavit is notarized, it shall be done in compliance with the law of the state in which the affidavit is being notarized, which generally requires that the affidavit be executed in the presence of the notary after the notary has administered the oath and that the notary appropriately dates the prove-up affidavit.

7. when using a form affidavit, Affiants shall not leave blanks or incomplete statements in the affidavit. Affiants shall date their signatures by hand on affidavits.

8. when the Affiant’s signature is not plainly legible, the name of the Affiant shall be printed on the affidavit in order to permit the identity of the Affiant to be known.

9. Lenders and servicers shall not file unsigned affidavits with the court.

Lenders and loan servicers will be asked to commit to these expectations and will further be asked to direct their agents, law firms, and attorneys to comply with the expectations. the Department’s effort to secure voluntary compliance with these expectations is designed to afford companies the opportunity to be industry leaders in this area. as the Department’s investigation continues, it may yet issue mandatory orders against companies whose practices are deemed “unsafe or unsound.”

Homeowners facing foreclosure and/or who have concerns or questions about the process may contact IDFPR’s mortgage hotline (800) 532-8785.

(StatePoint) Although your child may be spending hours quietly studying for that big test, it doesn’t mean he’s getting the most out of his study time.

Help your children study smarter with these tips from Dr. John Stuppy, spokesman for TutorVista, an online tutoring service:

- Schedules: plan well and prioritize. Study when you’re rested and alert.

- Outlines: Summarize lessons learned in class. Review notes rather than the entire lesson.

- Study Groups: Help kids stay motivated while exchanging ideas and knowledge.

- Flash Cards: Reinforce lessons and help with last minute preparation.

-SQ3R: Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review. this technique maximizes learning.

(StatePoint) go play outside! That’s the message more parents and doctors need to tell kids, according to a new report indicating children are spending too much time indoors to the detriment of their physical and mental health.

From videogames and text messaging to Web surfing and TV-watching, American kids are spending too much time indoors, leading to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, depression and even Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Children today spend only four to seven minutes in daily unstructured outdoor play, according to a new report issued by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), entitled “Whole Child: Developing Mind, Body and Spirit through Outdoor Play.” Today’s kids are indoors far more than their parents were, with only a quarter playing outside daily as compared to nearly three quarters a generation ago.

“American kids are out of shape, tuned out and stressed out because they’re missing something essential to their health and development — unstructured time outdoors,” says NWF Senior Vice President of Education Kevin Coyle. “The modern child’s day includes far more screen time than green time.”

According to Deputy U.S. Surgeon General Dr. David Rutstein, this is a key factor in the childhood obesity epidemic and, if trends aren’t reversed, may contribute to a generation with shorter lives plagued with disease. “If this problem is not addressed, we will leave our children a legacy of shorter life spans for the first time in history,” he says.

For American parents who want their children to be fit, focused and feeling good, the first step is to walk out the front door. here are some ideas from the NWF’s report to get kids outdoors:

- Be a role model. Unplug from media and plug-in to nature. Join your kids for fun in the backyard, garden, park or on a nature trail.

- Enlist friends and neighbors to create outdoor playgroups.

- Get creative. Whether building a fort from twigs, creating a fairy forest or pretending to be superheroes, playing outside inspires active imaginations.

- Where safe, encourage kids to walk or bike to school.

- Take the pledge to “Be Out There” and get your kids outdoors. Visit beoutthere.org/pledge, which offers free downloadable outdoor activity suggestions.

- Get happy! Playing protects children’s emotional development, letting kids be kids. Lying in the grass watching clouds go by or playing tag to let off steam keeps joy at the forefront. Watch stress levels fall within minutes of being outside.

- Doctors can help, too, by writing prescriptions for their young patients for regular outdoor play time.

For the full Whole Child report, and to learn more about raising a “Be Out There” kid, go to beoutthere.org

Now get out there and play!

(StatePoint) call Americans old softies, but romance is booming nationwide.

Date night is back. Film attendance climbed 16 percent last year, the biggest rise in 20 years according to Media by Numbers.

Sales of romance novels are up. Nielsen BookScan reports increased adult fiction sales, with many romance publishers enjoying boosts.

“Romantic novels and movies inspire us to infuse our relationships with romance,” says relationship expert and romance novelist, Gayle Rogers, who has seen increased sales of her 1972 million-copy classic, “Nakoa’s Woman,” which follows two star-crossed lovers in the Old West, and its sequels, “Gladyce with a C,” and “For Love’s Sake only,” in which the lovers meet in other eras.

So break out those chocolates and roses, and join the trend!

Dr. Sandra Yi, a veterinary toxicologist at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in Urbana, has some hints to help pet owners avoid common hazards during the holiday season.

Pancreatitis is one of the biggest health dangers at a time when rich, holiday treats and feasts abound. Many pets get fed more table scraps and “people” food than they are accustomed to, and these high-fat foods can result in an inflammation of the pancreas, called pancreatitis. the signs include a painful abdomen, depression, weakness, vomiting, and diarrhea. this condition can be life-threatening and requires immediate veterinary attention.

Other foods that pose problems for pets during the holidays include chocolate, macadamia nuts, raisins or grapes, bread dough, alcohol, and xylitol (an artificial sweetener commonly found in dental products, chewing gum, and human medications). Pets can display a range of symptoms from vomiting and diarrhea to ataxia (which means wobbliness and incoordination) and seizures. In the case of xylitol, consumption by dogs can be life-threatening.

Remind your guests and family members that pets need to stick to their usual diet during the holiday season. Sharing a small amount of a lean meat will be the best way to safely include your dog in the holiday feast.

For cats a big holiday hazard is accidental ingestion of decorations that they may play with. Garland, strings, and tinsel can be a particular problem for cats. They are attracted to shiny things that are similar to common cat toys. Tinsel and string can become wrapped around a cat’s tongue, causing severe lacerations of their gastrointestinal tract. this can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, infection, shock and even death if not treated aggressively.

To keep your pet safe during the holiday season, “pet proof” your house and ask your guests not to share foods with pets. if you are the one traveling this season and you take any medications, please be mindful of where you store your medicine when visiting friends and relatives.

The holidays are a wonderful time for families, friends, and pets to come together when you take a few safety precautions.

If you have questions about holiday hazards, please contact your local veterinarian and have a healthy and safe New Year!

Dairy producers are invited to attend a new educational dairy program, “Strategic Solutions,” developed by the Illinois Milk Producers Association (IMPA).

The program will be offered on three dates at three different locations throughout the state. Producers can attend on Tuesday, Jan. 25, at Kaskaskia College in Centralia; Wednesday, Jan. 26, at the IAA Building in Bloomington; or Thursday, Jan. 27, at Highland Community College in Freeport.

Registration for all meetings will begin at 9:30 a.m. the meetings will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Speakers will include Mike Hutjens, Dave Fischer, Mark Tegeler, Jim Fraley, and a panel of dairy experts. Commercial exhibits will be on display, and a drawing for $100 will take place at the end of the meeting.

Registration is $12 before Jan. 14 or $15 after this date. to register, contact Nicole at IMPA at 309-557-3343. For more information, go to illinoismilk.org. Producers are encouraged to bring questions.

The featured speakers for University of Illinois’s Herb Day are both informative and entertaining, according to a U of I Extension herb specialist.

The event will be held on Saturday, Jan. 22, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Center near Lincoln Avenue and I-74 in Urbana.

“This is the 12th annual Herb Day,” said Chuck Voigt, University of Illinois Extension vegetable and herb specialist and coordinator of the event. “Even those who have been to previous Herb Days will find this one to be loaded with especially knowledgeable and entertaining presenters.”

Terry Hollembaek from Nancy’s Meadow Herbs in Monroe, Wis., is described as a “one-of-a-kind fellow.” his many interests include a membership in the unofficial Plant Nerd Society. “He loves weird, wonderful, and rare plants, as much as I do,” Voigt said. Hollembaek will share his approach to sustainable herbal landscape design. Voigt said Hollembaek is passionate about creating fun personal spaces that never need to see a lawn mower.

Dianne Noland, host of the Illinois Gardener on WILL TV and an instructor of floral design and herbaceous plant materials at the U of I, will present some new herb and floral designs set to music, which have been a big hit wherever they have been presented.

Chef Michael McGreal, head of the culinary arts and hospitality department at Joliet Junior College, has a timely message about how everything we eat affects our health. he will discuss some amazing case studies in which changing diet has had life-saving results. he will also demonstrate the preparation of several recipes.

Lucia Bettler, founder, owner, and self-proclaimed “chief cook and bottle washer for Lucia’s Garden in Houston, Texas,” recently visited Israel, where she was inspired by the places and plants of the region. Her presentation will be about plants, herbs, and oils of biblical times.

Nancy Momsen, also of Nancy’s Meadow Herbs in Monroe, Wis., has a successful greenhouse herb business with her husband Terry Hollembaek. They have recently discovered an eager market for micro-greens made up of several salad crops and herbs. Nancy will share a sure-fire method for producing home-grown herbal microgreens.

In addition to the speakers, there will be a retail area selling a wide variety of herb, spice and gardening products as well as books and products from the presenters.

Advance registration of $60, which includes an herb-themed lunch buffet, must be received by Jan. 14 to guarantee lunch. For more information, call Linda Harvey at 217-244-1693, or send an email to lharvey@illinois.edu.

On-site registration on Jan. 22 begins at 8 a.m. only as space allows and does not include lunch. the first educational session begins promptly at 9 a.m.

Between the 1990 and 2010 cash-rent levels per acre have increased by about 70 percent and crop revenues for grain operations have more than doubled, largely due to agricultural commodity and energy prices, according to a University of Illinois agricultural economist.

“Significant increases in commodity futures prices throughout this fall suggest that expectations are for cash rents to continue to increase at least over the short-term,” said economist Nick Paulson.

He said the increasing cash-rent levels are an issue of primary concern for farmers in Illinois and throughout the Corn Belt region. according to University of Illinois crop budgets, land costs have represented 30 to 35 percent of total production costs for Illinois grain operations over the past six years. despite consistent upward trends in cash-rent levels, this actually represents a decline in similar measures from the early 90s.

What’s interesting to Paulson is looking at who is assuming the most risk. “Under a typical share-rental agreement, the farmer and landowner share crop revenues, production costs, and the risk associated with production and input and commodity prices,” he said. “Under a cash-rent agreement, the farmer bears all production and price risk. while economic theory would suggest that farmers should earn a premium for taking on additional risk, lower farm returns have been linked to Illinois farms which cash rent a significant portion of their total acreage.”

Over the past decade there has been a shift away from share-rental agreements to cash-rent arrangements in Illinois. the average proportion of total acres that are operated under a share rent agreement has fallen from about 48 percent in 1997 to 37 percent in 2009. Over the same time period, the proportion of total acres operated under cash rent agreements has increased from just over 25 percent to approximately 40 percent, while ownership rates among grain farm operators have declined slightly from 25 percent to about 23 percent.

Paulson said these trends have significant implications for farm profitability and the risk exposures facing both the producer and the landowner. he links the risk takers to the introduction of increased availability and breadth of crop insurance programs.

“The increased use and effectiveness of crop insurance as a risk management tool could be one justification for producers’ taking on additional risk through cash rent agreements,” he said. “Cash-rent agreements relieve the landowner of many difficult decisions, including crop marketing and the timing of input purchases. And, under a cash-rent agreement, the landowner can rely on the farmer to understand and manage the tasks associated with Federal commodity programs.”

He explained that under a typical share-rental agreement, the farmer and landowner share crop revenues, production costs, and the risk associated with production and input and commodity prices. under a cash-rent agreement, the farmer bears all production and price risk. “While economic theory would suggest that farmers should earn a premium for taking on additional risk, lower farm returns have been linked to Illinois farms which cash rent a significant portion of their total acreage,” Paulson said.

Cash rent levels exhibit a benchmarking effect based on the previous crop year. this tends to slow rental rate adjustments. Operators with bigger farms tend to pay higher cash rents. “While this implies economies of scale, the difference in average cash-rent levels reported by small and large grain operations is relatively small. Significant increases in commodity futures prices throughout this fall suggest that expectations are for cash rents to continue to increase at least over the short-term,” he said.

Since 1990, the average cash rent in Illinois has increased by about 70 percent from $100 per acre to $169 per acre in 2010 according to USDA’s Agricultural Land Values and Cash Rents Annual Summary. Over the same twenty year period, both crop revenues and non-land production costs for grain operations have more than doubled. these trends have been most pronounced over the past five years due to the significant rise in both agricultural commodity and energy prices.

Learning and socializing opportunities for area residents are scheduled for Wednesdays from 9-11 a.m. in January, February, and March at the Windmill Cultural Center in Fulton. Volunteer educators at the Windmill Cultural Center have planned activities that will focus on travel, immigrants, technology, and a potpourri of themes.

On January 5, Ron and Connie Koehn will explain how they plan and implement travel on their own. the Koehns recently spent one month in Europe using public transportation and booking hotels via the Internet. on January 12, Abe Chacko will speak about his immigrant experiences from India. Deb Schaver from Wilson Floral & Gifts will focus on spring flowers in the winter at the January 19 meeting. Alice Senior, tour group leader for Community State Bank will share her travel adventures on January 26.

At 9:00, the speakers will focus on their subjects before a mid-morning break for coffee, tea, and snacks. a question and answer session will complete the morning. the Wild Winter Wednesdays are free and open to the public. the Windmill Cultural Center is located across from the windmill and is handicap accessible. For more information, contact Heather Bennett at (815) 589-4545.

Fulton’s volunteer millers will celebrate Ronald Reagan’s 100th birthday by taking part in Fulton’s tourism celebration “Celebrating Reagan’s Roots: 1911 – 2011.” the millers will host several programs throughout 2011, all with a theme related to Ronald Reagan’s roots.

The kick-off program for 2011 is “Irish Dance and Culture.” Ragene Gwin, Professor at St. Ambrose University, will speak at Fulton’s Windmill Cultural Center on Thursday, January 13, 2011, at 6:00 p.m. Dr. Gwin will speak about Irish country dancing and there will be a mix of lecture and audience participation.

Dr. Gwin received her Doctorate of Education at the University of Northern Iowa. as part of the Irish Studies minor offered at St. Ambrose, Gwin teaches Irish Social Dance. she is also a professor of health, physical education, and sport science. she has taught at St. Ambrose since 1990.

The presentation is free, open to the public, and handicap accessible. Refreshments will be served following the presentation. the volunteer millers encourage the public to attend this first Irish program of the year at Fulton’s Windmill Cultural Center

The Mathews Company recently recognized dealerships for outstanding sales and customer service for 2010 leading to the highest total volume grain dryer sales for the company in its 56-year history. the awards were announced last week at the 2010 Mathews Company Winter Sales Meeting held in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Fifty-two dealers worldwide were recognized with sales achievement awards for high volume grain dryer sales across Mathews Company, resulting in the highest number of awards given in a single sales year.

According to Phil Farr, General Sales Manager, award recipients are model dealers for Mathews Company. “They work closely with their customers, listen carefully to their needs, and provide superior service and support all year long,” said Farr. “To these dealers, it is more than just selling a customer a grain dryer. Many of their customers have been with them for years. M-C supports that relationship through our commitment to innovation, superior quality, unparalleled service and dealer support. We view our dealers and customers as an extension of the M-C family.”

“Being a part of Mathews Company, we have a good American-owned family business behind us,” says Whitewater, Wisconsin dealer, Marcus Scharine, a platinum award winner. “Mathews takes the time to give us the training and expertise we need to install and service their products, and I like the direction the company is going. I think we can help spread the word about the quality that is built into every M-C grain dryer…with our focus on local service, it’s a win-win situation for our customers.”

M-C dryers are available through authorized dealers worldwide. the company’s web address is mathewscompany.com

The tax relief bill that President Barack Obama signed into law last week also extends the IRA Charitable Rollover, which enables donors age 70 ½ and over to use their IRA funds, tax-free, for charitable giving.

“Some of our donors have IRA accounts that require minimum yearly distributions, but they don’t need the money for their own personal use,” said Terrence Egan, executive director of the FHN Foundation. “This extension means that, for tax year 2010 and again for tax year 2011, they can give up to $100,000 each year directly to a charitable organization like the FHN Foundation from their IRA and pay no tax even though they have accessed the IRA to make the contribution.”

Prior to passage of the rollover law, donors wishing to make charitable gifts from IRA funds would be required to report any amount taken from their IRA account as taxable income. the donor could take a charitable deduction for the gift up to 50 percent of adjusted gross income. this could have resulted in paying more in income taxes than if no charitable donation was given at all. while there will be no tax on the dollars rolled over as gifts during the extension period, gifts given through the IRA Charitable Rollover are not tax deductible.

“We encourage interested donors to talk this over with a tax professional,” Egan said. “Because the measure was passed so late in the year, gifts made before Feb. 1, 2011 will count as having been made in tax year 2010, so there’s still time to reap the tax benefit while helping FHN continue to bring quality healthcare to communities in northwest Illinois.”

For more information on the FHN Foundation, visit fhn.org. Online giving is available now – click on the FHN Foundation logo in the upper right-hand corner of any page for more information or to give.

The Highland Community College Adult Education Program will be adding two additional Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) sessions in January. the TABE is designed to assess an individual’s readiness to participate in adult education programs such as GED® preparation or Adult Basic Education (ABE) classes.

The newly added sessions will be January 5 and 7, 2011 at 1:30 p.m. and will last approximately two hours. the January 5 session will be held in the Student/Conference Center (Building H) and the January 7 session will be held in the Community Services Center (Building R) on the Highland campus.

Previously, the TABE was given during Adult Education orientation classes. the new open exam schedule will allow for testing to take place before students attend orientation classes. the sessions are free and open to the public.

Students who have taken the TABE test may attend the morning or afternoon Adult Education orientation session on the following dates (must attend both days):

AM Orientation Session – January 11 and 12, 2011 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., or

PM Orientation Session – January 11 and 12, 2011 from 4:30 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.

For specific locations, or general questions regarding the orientation sessions, call 815.599.3460.