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Illinois Illinois' Touchstone Energy co-ops sponsor Farm Home Expo
The Capital City Farm Show will be held January 14-16 at the Prairie Capital Convention Center in Springfield. More than 8,000 people are expected to see the state's agriculture leaders, sample Illinois products, and check out the latest agriculture business products and equipment. This year an expanded Farm Home Expo area will be hosted by several of Illinois' Touchstone Energy Cooperatives. The electric co-ops will be featuring new technology like a fuel cell power source, surge protection equipment, geothermal heat pumps, security systems for the farm or home, Internet service and communication technology for the farm. Representatives from Illinois Country Living magazine will also be on hand. The Farm Home Expo will also feature the Farm Wellness Center for blood pressure checks, skin cancer screening and more. Representatives from Rural Route 2, a farm crisis program of the University of Illinois, will be there to assist those dealing with financial and other difficulties. There will also be games and entertainment for the kids. Other presentations will include: Farm Credit Services' risk management workshop, genetically modified organisms, market outlooks, value-added and specialty crops, tree trimming and gardening. Legislation allows local broadcast on satellite TV In order to pass a satellite TV bill containing other pro-consumer provisions before recessing, the United States Congress dropped a provision that would have enabled Rural Utilities Service to guarantee $1.25 billion in loans to facilitate getting more local programming into rural areas. The "Rural Viewers Amendment" was removed from the bill, with the understanding that when Congress returns from recess in January, it will begin work on a bill ensuring that all viewers have access to network services. To demonstrate its commitment to rural America, the Senate agreed that if a bill guaranteeing local-into-local services for rural America is not presented for a vote by April 1, 2000, the Rural Viewers Amendment will be passed as it stands. The Rural Viewers Amendment will help make it possible for all Americans to access, via satellite, to their nearest ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC broadcast network stations. This means that many rural Americans would, for the first time, have access to the local news, emergency information and weather that viewers in urban areas have always enjoyed. "We have worked for a long time to help Congress to understand that rural markets are under-served and to appreciate the economic realities that would likely keep them under-served well into the future," said Bob Phillips, president and CEO of the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC). "NRTC is pleased Congress has recognized that a plan containing incentives to serve rural America is the only way to ensure that no one is denied access to this important service." NRTC officials say Congress has a better understanding of the issue thanks to rural satellite TV viewers and the hundreds of thousands of calls, letters and e-mails to Congress that ensured a solution for rural consumers. Illinois Products Expo ... A Food and Cooking Extravaganza The second annual Illinois Products Expo... A Food and Cooking Extravaganza is a food and agricultural product showcase designed to allow Illinois food companies and agricultural groups to promote, sample and/or sell their products to the public. The Illinois Products Expo will be held March 10-12, 2000 in Springfield. Friday, March 10, will be an invitation only show for distributors, media and local guests. Saturday and Sunday shows will be open to the public and targeted to consumers within a 50-mile radius of Springfield. There will also be product demonstrations, cooking demonstrations and a BBQ cookoff for the media. The Illinois Products Expo is designed for Illinois companies to promote their products and generate sales, educate consumers and increase consumer awareness of new uses associated with familiar Illinois food and agribusiness industries. The cost for a 9' X 9' exhibit space on the main floor is $150. Contact Pam Flesher at (217) 782-9114 or e-mail: pflesher@agr.il.state.us. 6 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING • JANUARY 2000 Weather web sites to check out One of the best commercial sites is the Weather Channel at www.weather. com. The National Weather Service home page at www.nws.noaa.gov gives a national forecast with links to regions of the country. Click on the Central Region to find Illinois' current conditions, severe weather warnings, forecasts and extensive weather information. And before making that trip, visit the state of Illinois' Department of Transportation page at www.dot.state.il.us for the latest road reports. Life saving tips for winter As winter's chill descends upon us and we pull out those space heaters, stack the logs for the fireplace and turn up our thermostats, please remember these life-saving tips. The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal recommends that all heating units be checked and cleaned professionally each season. Space heaters should be placed at least 36 inches away from anything combustible and should never be left unattended. Fire safety standards prohibit the use of portable LP (propane) gas heaters with self-contained fuel supplies in homes. Green wood, trash or paper should not be burned in wood stoves or fireplaces. Only clear Grade A K-l kerosene should be used in kerosene heaters. The risk of electrical fires is also greater during the winter. Check wires and fuses frequently. Use extension cords sparingly to reduce the risk of an electrical fire. Illinois law requires smoke detectors in all homes. Detectors should be tested and cleaned regularly and smoke detector batteries should be replaced once a year. Plan and practice fire escape plans. Source: Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal, (217) 785-1021. Winter preparedness safety tips While the hype about Y2k disasters and power outages may be overblown, it's simply prudent to prepare for winter storms. We know what they can do. • Store drinking water, first aid kit, canned/no-cook food, non-electric can opener, radio, flashlight and extra batteries where you can get them easily, even in the dark. • Keep cars and other vehicles fueled and in good repair, with a winter emergency kit in each. • If using kerosene heaters, maintain ventilation to avoid build-up of toxic fumes. Keep heaters at least three feet from flammable objects. Refuel kerosene heaters outside. • Avoid travel if possible. If you must travel, do so during daylight. Don't travel alone. Stay on main roads, and keep others informed of your schedule. • If not connected properly, a portable generator can pose a severe hazard to line workers and your neighbors. You will need a transfer switch. It will disconnect the home's wiring system from the electric co-op's system. It should be installed by a licensed electrician. After the storm: • Report downed power lines and broken gas lines immediately. • Check to see that no physical damage has occurred and that water pipes are functioning. • Check on neighbors, especially any who might need help. • Beware of overexertion and exhaustion. Shoveling snow in extreme cold causes many heart attacks. Conservation Reserve Program signup The next Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general signup is scheduled for Jan. 18 through Feb. 11. CRP is the federal government's single largest environmental improvement program and one of its most productive and cost-efficient. The CRP encourages landowners and operators to plant permanent areas of grass and trees on land that needs protection from erosion, to act as windbreaks, or in places where vegetation can improve water quality or provide food and habitat for wildlife. Landowners and operators enter into contracts with the USDA lasting between 10 and 15 years. In return, they receive annual rental payments, incentive payments for certain activities, and cost-share assistance to establish the protective vegetation. The Illinois State Enhancement Program is the result of an agreement between the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the state of Illinois. Both entities will cooperate in implementing the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) to protect water quality in the Illinois River and some of its tributaries. CREP is a new program that addresses important local conservation concerns by combining CRP with state technical and funding assistance. CRP is administered by the USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA). USDA and Illinois will carry out the program in cooperation with other federal, state and local authorities. To locate your local Farm Service Agency office on the Internet go to http://www.fsa.usda.gov/EDSO/il/index.html. Or call or write the state office at: Illinois State FSA Office, 3500 West Wabash, Springfield, IL 62794 or phone (217) 241. 6600. JANUARY 2000 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING 7 Adams Telephone Co-Operative among national leaders in Internet deployment Adams Telephone Co-Operative is among the top independent telephone companies and cooperatives serving rural America with Internet services. A survey conducted by the National Telephone Cooperative Association (NTCA) shows that rural telephone cooperatives and companies are actively deploying broadband services. Adams Telephone Co-Operative is among the top cooperatives offering broadband solutions to business and residential customers. Through its subsidiary, Adams NetWorks, Inc., Adams Telephone Co-Operative has worked diligently with area schools and libraries to provide Internet technology and services for their education programs. Adams Telephone Co-Operative is also assisting area schools in deploying Video Distance Learning technology. Video Distance Learning utilizes a video link over high-speed telephone lines between the classroom and the teacher. Three area school districts, Camp Point Central, Carthage and Liberty, currently offer Video Distance Learning classes. Walter Rowland, Manager of Adams Telephone Co-Operative, says, "The cooperative's board of directors has a commitment to area school districts in helping them bring new technology to their schools so they can enhance their educational opportunities. This is a high priority for the cooperative."
Co-op arborists help clean up site of Lincoln's Tomb in Springfield Most people do not realize that Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield is the second most visited cemetery in the nation after the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. Abraham Lincoln's Tomb, the Illinois Vietnam and Korean War Memorials are all located at Oak Ridge Cemetery. Cal Williams and Frank Kinnison from Corn Belt Energy Corporation in Bloomington, along with other members of the Illinois Arborists Association and Local 51 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in Springfield, spearheaded the volunteer service day. Williams said, "The cleanup day is a nice thing. We've all done a lot of work that the cemetery people really needed to have done." The work was completed during Illinois Arborist Association Service Day on October 16. The project was in conjunction with the 75th anniversary of the International Society of Arboriculture and involved volunteers from around the state. The work was completed in one day by approximately 150 climbers and ground personnel using 14 bucket trucks and 22 chipper trucks. The work included trimming, pruning, fertilizing and even removing trees in the cemetery that were hazardous to visitors. Mike Dirksen, arborist for the city of Springfield, said, "The truth is, we just don't have nearly the resources we need to take care of a cemetery this large." Child healthcare protection available Child healthcare protection for eligible income-strapped farm families is available through a federally-funded state program called KidCare. It offers health coverage to uninsured children and pregnant women and assists in paying premiums of employer-sponsored or private insurance plans. Applicants are asked to provide the previous year's tax return, but unlike some assistance programs, farm assets will not hamper eligibility. Income requirements vary by KidCare plan and are based on family size. There are three programs: KidCare Assist for already insured children, KidCare Share or KidCare Premium, which help pay costs for currently uninsured children. KidCare's share of health costs or premium assistance is based on a sliding, income-based scale. For information call (800) 226-0768. A KidCare application and an income eligibility table are available at http://www.state.il.us/dpa/kidcare.htm. 8 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING JANUARY 2000 |
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