Thank You to Local Helping Hands

Through involvement in local churches and organizations, many of you took a tag to purchase a Christmas gift(s) for Morrison, IL, children who might not have received much for Christmas.  Several private individuals took a family to buy for. Advantage One Credit Union took 50+ children’s names and made a

The Clauses are “Caring for Our Community”

Morrison, IL, firefighters prepare for Christmas in the month of November during the Morrison Fire Department “Caring for Our Community” toy drive.  Generous Community members help by donating toys or money to purchase them.  Annually, MFD distributes toys to local school children in need.  Families are eligible if they have

WHOA Volunteers at Sullivan’s December 23

White Oaks Therapeutic Equestrian Center (Whoa) will participate in Sullivan’s Foods Holiday Fun Money for Non-profit Organizations event on Saturday, December 23, 2017, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.  Whoa will have volunteers at the store to assist customers, bag groceries, do price checks, get carts, etc. Tawny Wiersema stated, “In

New Fire Fighters Dykstra and Van Zuiden

In preparation for their toy distribution on Thursday, December 21, 2017, Morrison Firemen, spouses, parents, and other volunteers gathered to wrap a multitude of donated gifts.  The two newest volunteers were part of the wrapping brigade.  Travis Van Zuiden, left, age 30, and David Dykstra, 34, are shown holding their

Off the Beaten Path in Illinois: Her Steaming Days are Done

Editor’s note:  This feature by blogger John Purvis was posted Sunday, December 12, 2017.  Click here to read Purvis’s posts:    https://offthebeatenpathinillinois.blogspot.com/.  The photos were taken by Purvis.  Outside a small town in North Central Illinois sits a lonely survivor of an earlier age of Illinois railroading history.  She was

Lincoln Program at Odell Public Library

Editor’s note:  The article was submitted by Ronald H. Koehn. Ronald H. Koehn of Fulton, IL, will present a PowerPoint program entitled “What’s So Special about Lincoln?”, sponsored by the Odell Public Library.  The program is at 6:30 p.m., on Monday, January 8, 2018, at the library, 307 S. Madison

Legion “Gifts to Yanks Who Gave”

American Legionnaires Jerry Brearton, Terry Jones, Kenneth Petersen, and Post #328 Commander Dale Usterbowski delivered holiday gifts to 31 local veterans, on Monday morning, December 18, 2017.  Those recipients reside at Pleasant View Rehabilitation & Health Care Center, 500 N. Jackson Street (8 men); Resthave Home, 408 Maple Avenue (one woman,

Santa and His Deputies Delivered Joy

Santa made an early visit to 13 homes in Albany, Fulton, and Morrison, IL.  On Sunday, morning, December 17, 2017, he was escorted by Whiteside County Sheriff’s Deputies Allie Deyo and Michael Leighton, as the trio departed the Law Enforcement Center shortly after 8:30 a.m.  There was no snow to

Meet Loft 112 Artists

There was ado and excitement at the new Loft 112 art center, 112 E. Main Street, Morrison, IL, during the soft opening on Friday, December 15, 2017.  The building was open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Hours through December will be the same on these dates:  17, 21, 22,

Sullivan’s Foods Cookie Sale and Food Pantry Donation

Sullivan’s Foods Manager Danny Baker noted the Leaf donation program has been in place “at least eight years.  It keeps growing every year.  Our customers are getting thanked” for their support.  He has worked for the store 40 years and been Manager for the past ten.   On Friday, December

Clark Mortensen Outlines His Goals

Editor’s note:  Republican Clark Mortensen announced his candidacy for Whiteside County Sheriff on Monday, August 14, 2017.  That statement is reprinted below.  He submitted this press release on Thursday, December 14. “Christ tells us to serve others and show His love.  I feel the outside ideas and programs I will

Deyo’s and Cady’s Giving Tree Grows

 “It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked, through understanding.”  Kahlil Gibran In December 2016, Whiteside County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Allie Deyo took action on her desire to “provide a sense of relief for parents” struggling financially to create a joyful Christmas for their

Successful Festival of Trees

Dear Editor: The 28th Festival of Trees was a success because of the contributions given by the generosity of the communities served by Rock River Hospice & Home.  RRHH says thank you to all businesses, organizations, volunteers, decorators, chairpersons, sponsors, donors, and the general public for the generous amount of

See Banks and Stuhlman, Rotary Students of November

On Monday, December 11, 2017, Rotarian Louise Clark submitted these photos of Kaleb Banks and Morgan Stuhlman, taken at the recent organization meeting.  The Morrison High Schoolers were selected as Students of the Month for November 2017.  The earlier article had no photos and is reprinted below. Banks is a

Off the Beaten Path in Illinois: It Was There as the Civil War Began

Editor’s note:  This feature by blogger John Purvis was posted Sunday, December 3, 2017.  Click here to read Purvis’s posts:    https://offthebeatenpathinillinois.blogspot.com/.  The photos were taken by Purvis.  On a recent outing Tom Anderson, Lil’ Nick, and I were up in Galena[, IL,] and we visited Grant Park.  The park