Elijah Smith Chapter honors Revolutionary War patriot:
The Elijah Smith Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution would like to invite you to a celebration of a Revolutionary War patriot who was interred in the Walnut Ridge Cemetery at Virginia.
We will honor Phineas Underwood (1764-1843) by dedicating a plaque at the main entrance of the cemetery to identify his service to this country during the Revolutionary War, and his location within the cemetery.
The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 10, at the Virginia Cemetery, located just north of Virginia (about a mile) on state Route 78. Immediately following the dedication of the commemorative plaque, the Elijah Smith Chapter of SAR invites you to a reception with refreshments at the New Life Church, on Garner Road across from the cemetery.
RSVP for the reception is needed by Wednesday, June 7, so enough food can be ordered.
In case of rain, the ceremony will be held in the New Life Church. Some chairs are provided but please bring a lawn chair.
Several descendants of Phineas Underwood plan to attend this ceremony.
Please RSVP to R. Sid Welles via sevenoaks@csj.net, 217-243-5100 or 217-371-4763 (cell). Leave a message.
Greene County Board recognizes efforts:
On May 11, the Greene County Board recognized members of the community and first responders for their life-saving efforts on Dec. 24, 2022.
In one year alone, 436,000 Americans dies from cardiac arrest. Globally, cardiac arrest claims more lives than colorectal cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, influenza, pneumonia, auto accident, HIV, firearms and house fires combined, according to the American Heart Association.
On Christmas Eve, in the rural community of Rockbridge, sudden cardiac arrest struck a community member. It was a busy morning in the Rockbridge Post Office. Staff witnessed the man grasp his chest and collapse. He had suffered a cardiac arrest. The quick actions of staff to call 911, followed by the pre-arrival instructions to start chest compressions, the response of an off-duty paramedic, Greenfield police, Greenfield Fire Protection District first responders, and Greene County EMS changed the direction of that day. The man was flown to Springfield Memorial Hospital Medical Center for further care. He has since fully recovered, forever grateful for the efforts of the first responders, and bystanders. He is back to work and looking forward to putting this behind him.
The location of Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) most often occurs in home/residences (74.4%), followed by public setting (16.3%), and nursing homes (10.3%). If performed immediately, CPR can double or triple the chances of survival from an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, according to the American Heart Association.
Please follow our Facebook page for upcoming community CPR events: West Central Joint Dispatch ETSB 911.
RCHS announces 2022-23 students of the year:
Each year, Routt Catholic High School honors senior students in individual departments for excellence; the teachers in each department choose the award recipients. Criteria for selection are academic performance, initiative and incentive shown in class, willingness to help others and a positive attitude. The winners will have their pictures on a plaque that will be displayed for the 2023-24 school year in the student lounge. When next year’s winners are selected, the plaque will be permanently displayed in the hallways near the appropriate department.
This year’s recipients received their award and recognition at Routt Catholic High School’s Honors Night ceremony on May 11 at the Church of Our Saviour. Presenting each of the awards was School Board President and 1992 Routt graduate Sean Evans.
Routt Catholic High School is pleased to announce the 2022-23 students of the year: Mathematics Department, Julia Beeley and Ethan Walker; Social Studies Department, Julia Beeley; Science Department, Ethan Walker; Life Science Department, Jayden Hudson; English Department, Julia Beeley; Spanish Department, Jaymee Vollmer; Business Department, Isaac Anderson; Theology Department, Anna Rawe; Music Department, Amber Alvarado; Art Department, Kirstin Ralston; Theatre, Cameron Hurt; Physical Education, Daxton Baptist.
Rotary Club awards scholarships to Weger, Beeley, Bordean:
At its May 12 meeting, the Rotary Club of Jacksonville recognized the accomplishments of three high school seniors by providing them with college scholarships.
The awards were made as part of the Rotary Club’s scholarship program, which provided one $1,000 college scholarship in memory of Staff Sgt. Matthew Weikert, and two $2,000 Rotary Club of Jacksonville scholarships. In order to receive the scholarships, the recipients must be outstanding students who engage in community service and leadership positions. The Rotary scholarships are open to all students who live within the boundaries of Jacksonville School District 117, regardless of the school they attend. The Weikert scholarship recognizes service and leadership, and targets — but is not limited to — Jacksonville High School graduates/seniors who are returning to school or are seeking two-year programs.
Rotary Club President Lisa Kluge said, “Our goal for these scholarships is to assist future leaders as they take the next step toward achieving their academic goals. Our scholarship recipients are very accomplished young people, and we look forward to seeing what they achieve in the future.”
JHS student William Weger, son of Dennis and Cindy Weger, was selected for the $1,000 Weikert Scholarship. Weger’s service resumé includes Saturday Science volunteer, bell ringer for The Salvation Army, cleaning Jacksonville Community Park, bird-banding record keeper and identifier, JHS Crimson Mentor, and Camp Invention volunteer and counselor. He also was the vice president of the JHS National Honor Society. Weger will attend University of Central Missouri where he will study wildlife and natural resource conservation.
Routt Catholic High School student Julia Beeley, daughter of Chad and Stacy Beeley, was selected for the $2,000 Rotary Club of Jacksonville Scholarship and also has an extensive record of service and leadership. She has volunteered for Toys for Tots and Routt Service Club, tutored for Our Saviour School (OSS) and Routt Catholic High School, served as assistant volleyball coach at OSS, and extraordinary eucharistic minister at Our Saviour Catholic Church. She held positions of Student Council class treasurer, Student Body treasurer, 4-H Club vice president and secretary, National English Honor Society president, and was volleyball captain. Beeley will attend University of South Carolina, studying international business.
Westfair Christian Academy student Amelia Bordean, daughter of Jonathan and Amy Bordean, was also selected for the $2,000 Rotary Club of Jacksonville Scholarship due to her extensive resumé of community service and leadership, which includes teaching Bible study at several grade levels at the Illinois School for the Deaf, volunteering for the Italian buffet fundraiser at Westfair, and interpreting for deaf students at Fitness World volleyball leagues. She is the president of the Westfair National Honor Society, valedictorian at her school, a four-time honor student, yearbook editor, and a Rotary Scholar-Athlete. Bordean will attend a Christian college where she will study social work and psychology.
Lawn mowing season is in full swing:
The City of Jacksonville asks that you please do not blow grass clippings onto the street. It doesn’t matter if those clippings are wet or dry — they can be a danger to anyone traveling on the road, especially motorcyclists. According to Illinois law, it is illegal to deposit any grass clippings onto any public roadway as it may cause injury to motorists or become a traffic hazard.
Grass clippings collect in the storm sewers, eventually causing water overflow and flooding.
Per Municipal City Code Section 16-21: “It shall be unlawful for any person to place or deposit any leaves, grass clippings or other vegetation in or upon any street, ditch or gutter.”
Be a good neighbor and make certain that you clean up any clippings that might be in the street, sidewalk or driveway.
