Jill Boomer, Editor

A JCHS Panther football players tries to beat the heat Thursday duirng practice.

JCHS Head Coach Gary Carter instructs his players during practice this week.

The first day of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) sanction football practice for the upcoming school year was Wednesday with prospective players braving the heat. The first Jersey Community High School football game will be Friday, August 27 at home against Jacksonville.

NAME CHANGE BEGINS OCTOBER 1, 2010

The Board of Directors of Olin Community Credit Union is announcing a new name for the credit union.

The new name, 1st MidAmerica Credit Union, will be replacing Olin Community Credit Union on October 1, 2010. The new name reflects the credit union’s goal to be first in developing lifetime financial partnerships by providing personalized service and solutions to its members. The new name is also a better reflection of the members and communities served by the credit union.

“The board of directors and executive team have performed extensive research and evaluation in arriving at this decision,” said Don Reedy, President and CEO of the credit union.

Although the credit union’s doors have been open to the residents of the communities they serve for many years, a persistent and common misperception remains. In general, credit union research has found that local residents believe membership is still exclusive to Olin employees. The name 1st MidAmerica Credit Union better identifies with the members and communities within the credit union’s nine county field of membership.

Jerseyville farmer Henry Kallal, right, receives the ISA Stewardship Award from ISA Chairman Ron Moore at their receent convention in East Peoria.

Henry Kallal, a soybean farmer from Jerseyville, was honored today as the Illinois Soybean Association's (ISA) 2010 Excellence in Environmental Stewardship award winner. Kallal has been farming in Jersey County since 1976.

Being honored for his environmental efforts is nothing new.  He was Jersey County Soil and Water District Conservation Farmer of the Year in 1985 and Conservation Farm Family in 1987.  Kallal has been using ridge till, no-till and strip till on his farm for more than 30 years.  He is part owner of Kallal Construction, a company that puts in dry dams, filter strips and waterways.

"Henry has been an excellent steward of the land in Jersey County, with the tillage systems he has been using for years," says Ron Moore, farmer from Roseville and ISA chairman.  "He also has shown outstanding leadership in the agriculture industry having served on several boards."

Kallal has indeed been active on a number of agriculture fronts.  He is on the Jersey County Farmland Assessment Committee, and has served as a 4-H leader and with his county and Illinois Farm Bureau in various leadership positions and committees.  Kallal was selected as a Master Farmer in 2007.  He is a graduate of the University of Illinois and the Agriculture Leaders Of Tomorrow (ALOT) program.  He was a pilot in the U.S. Air Force from 1972-1976.  

"I appreciate that ISA keeps the universities, seed companies and chemical companies doing research where it will do the most good for me as a soybean grower," says Kallal.  "I believe that ISA is a another voice, a more powerful voice, for us in Washington D.C. and in Springfield.  That is very important to me, as we see farmer numbers continue to decline."

The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) is the statewide organization for Illinois soybean growers.  The farmers on its board administer soybean checkoff funds to support research, promotions, and educational programs designed to increase demand for Illinois soybeans and administer legislation and membership programs. For more information, visit: www.ilsoy.org

Hunters are encouraged to sign up this summer for a free Illinois Hunter Safety Education Course coordinated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), or take one of the web-based hunter safety study course/field day options that are available to earn a hunter safety certificate.

“Summertime is the ideal season to sign up for a hunter safety course to get ready for the busy fall hunting seasons,” said IDNR Director Marc Miller.  “Whether you are an experienced hunter, an adult who is planning to hunt for the first time, or a youth hunter excited about heading to the field this fall, hunter safety education can help you enjoy a safe hunt.”

Illinois law requires that anyone born on or after January 1, 1980 must successfully complete a hunter safety education course before an Illinois hunting license can be issued.  Illinois offers traditional hunter safety education courses, which are coordinated by the IDNR and taught by volunteer safety instructors. The courses include instruction on hunting regulations, hunter ethics and responsibility, archery, firearms, ammunition, first aid, wildlife identification and conservation.  A minimum of 10 hours of instruction is involved.

While Illinois requires that many young and novice hunters take a safety education course, many states now require hunters of all ages to furnish evidence of having completed a hunter education course before issuing a non-resident hunting license.