The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Dear Editor,
I am your friend and neighbor. I sit behind you in church. I see you at the grocery store, ball games and walking down my street. I am a mother, wife and serve on several boards. I am a nurse, any nurse, in your community.
AND I worry about you! I want you to have a good life, live long and happy. I do not want you to get the flu this year or any year.
Influenza is a highly contagious viral disease that is spread very efficiently from person to person, primarily by coughing and sneezing. It can spread rapidly.
The signs and symptoms are extremely broad ranging from little aches or weakness to severe illness and death.
Usually one has an abrupt onset of symptoms with fever, chills, muscle aches, headache, dizziness and a sense of fatigue. Cough, sore throat and runny nose are typical symptoms.
A person is usually infectious for about one day before and 5 days after the onset of symptoms.
Up to 50% of infected persons can still transmit the virus to others although they are not showing symptoms. It is so very important to prevent the spread of influenza through immunization.
The vaccine is up to 90% effective in preventing influenza. If you take it, you probably will not get the flu!
As your friend and neighbor I really want you to get a flu shot this year.
Never mind that you know someone who got sick when they had their flu shot ten years ago. That probably won't happen to you.
But if you get the flu, you could become very sick and even require hospitalization. You could even die.
As a nurse, I ask my mother, inlaws, aunts and uncles to get a flu shot. I am asking you to do it also. I am doing this because I care about you.
Please help me out this year. Help me not to have to worry so much about you, my neighbor and friend. Get a flu shot!
Anita Reed, RN
Dear Editor:
Some claim President Bush shouldn't have started this war. They complain about his prosecution of it.
One person recently claimed Bush was the worst President in U.S. history.
Let's clear up one point: We didn't start the war on terror. It was started by terrorists on September 11, 2001.
Let's look at the "worst" president and mismanagement claims. Franklin D. Roosevelt led us into World War II. Germany never attacked us. Japan did.
From 1941-1945, 450,000 lives were lost, an average of 112,500 per year. Truman finished that war and started one in Korea. North Korea never attacked us. From 1950-1953, 55,000 were lost an average of 18,000 per year.
John F. Kennedy started the Vietnam Conflict in 1962. Johnson turned Vietnam into a quagmire. From 1965-1975, 58000 lives were lost, an average of 5,800 per year.
Clinton went to war in Bosnia without U.N or French consent. Bosnia never attacked us. Clinton was offered Osama bin Laden's head three times by Sudan and did nothing. Osama has attacked us on multiple occasions.
In the two years terrorists attached us, President Bush has liberated two countries, crushed the Taliban, crippled Al Qaida, put nuclear inspectors in Libya, Iran and North Korea without engagements and captured a terrorist who slaughtered 300,000 of his own people. Bush did this abroad while not allowing another terrorist attack at home.
Worst president in history, I don't think so.
Don Stevens
La Harpe
Dear Editor,
Each year on the fourth Saturday in October, millions of Americans commit time, effort and expertise to make a difference in their communities throughout the nation.
"Make a Difference Day" is the most encompassing national day of helping others - a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors.
Sponsored by USA Weekend magazine in partnership with The Points of Light Foundation, this event is in its fourteenth year.
Last year, over 3 million people volunteered accomplishing thousands of projects in hundreds of towns and helping an estimated 22 million people.
Governor Rod R. Blagojevich has proclaimed October 23, 2004 as "Make A Difference Day" in Illinois. We know all too well the problems that plague our society.
We know the perils that children face today. Drugs, gangs, broken homes, illiteracy and other ills threaten the futures of our youth. On this day, each of us should find something we can do to make life better for someone else.
There are numerous ways to get involved and a wide range of possible projects. Join in a community face lift and clean a park. Take part in a fund-raising concert, garage sale or walk-a-thon.
Teach someone to read or bring toys to a homeless shelter. Communities that work together to help those in need are the backbone of this nation and they create a healthier society for our children.
An idea generator and planning guides for projects an be found at the Web site www.makeadifferenceday.com.
On behalf of the Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service, I encourage residents in all communities to participate in "Make a Difference Day".
On Saturday, October 23rd, we can rebuild, reinvent and revitalize homes, communities, schools, places of worship, businesses, organizations and attitudes and help make a difference in our communities.
Sincerely,
Robert E. Dwyer, Jr.,
Chair Illinois Commission on Volunteerism & Community Serv.
Dear Editor,
Each school year the State's Attorney's office receives at least a few tickets for unlawful passing of a school bus when the stop arm is up and the red lights are flashing.
The people who commit this traffic violation usually try to explain to me or to my assistant or to their attorney that they didn't meant to - that it was a careless lapse of attentiveness.
While the excuse may be true, the law is clear: if the State's witnesses can establish that the incident did indeed happen as charged and that the defendant/driver is guilty as charged, the Secretary of State shall suspend the driving privileges of the defendant for a period of three months and fine him a mandatory $150.
For a second or subsequent offense within a period of five years of the first offense, a defendant's driving privileges are suspended for a year, and he will be fined a mandatory $500.
Therefore, be very careful around school buses, first of all, to protect our children but also to protect your driving privileges, which possibly provide your source of income.
Sincerely,
Karen Andrews
Hancock County
State's Attorney
Dear Editor,
Football Talk
Of course everyone knows that fall and football make this the best time of the year. I have had the pleasure this year of spending time watching the Union Junior High team practice and play games.
The Little Yanks are coached by John Vandenburg and Jeremy Burrell.
John was a teacher for me when I was principal at Notre Dame, and he coached our Junior High football team. John played his high school football for Bill Nelson at West Burlington, IA.
Jeremy (Dr. J.) was one of my many teacher's pets when I had him in class in the sixth grade. Since I am friends with the tow individuals, it really adds to my pleasure to commend these two coaches on their work with the young football players at Union. Just by watching them coach and working with the kids, you can tell that there is a genuine love for the teaching of the game of football. Great work guys!
I would also like to congratulate my good friend, Head Coach Wayne Crum, and his Rushville Rockets for qualifying for the state playoffs last Friday evening. This makes the fifteenth year in a row that the Rockets have made the football playoffs. I still have strong feelings for the Rushville program that we were able to turn into a continual winning program.
It is nice to see the same principles of winning football that I brought to Rushville in 1990 continue under the men I coached with and the players that played in my program. Great work guys! And for Bear fans, keep up the faith. Lovie is a good coach.
Will Bavery
Stronghurst
Dear Editor,
The 4th Annual Henderson County Relay for Life was held on July 23 and 24 at the Union High School track. Fourteen teams and thirty-eight survivors participated in this year's event. Together they raised $23,841.78!
Our theme was "Angels Among Us" and there were. It was a beautiful evening for the relay. This year's honorary survivor was Angela Rankin, daughter of Mike and Nancy Rankin and big sister Kristen from Raritan. Our honorary chairperson was Nanci King Sterrett from Biggsville. The committee appreciates both Angie and Nanci for participating and speaking at this year's event.
This year, 529 luminaries were sold in memory of or in honor of our loved ones. This was a beautiful ceremony that began at 9:00 p.m. and the names of all 529 were read.
The 2004 Relay for Life Committee would like to let everyone know who participated in anyway, no matter how small or big, how much we appreciate them . We are especially grateful to our 2004 sponsors. Without your help and support we would not be able to put together this relay. Everyone plays a very important role in our relay.
Henderson County is small, but together we can find a cure if we work together. If you know someone with cancer or if you are currently in treatment or a survivor (this includes caretakers) please come and join us next year. This is a great place for support. For more information or to have someone speak about Relay to your group or church, please call any committee member. See you next July 22 and 23, when we "Walk Around the Clock."
CHARLOTTE SHAFER
Relay For Life Chair