APPLE BUTTER MADE FOR 2007
Last week, a long standing tradition was once again enacted, as bushels of apples were transformed into apple butter, ready for sale at the annual Greenville Regional Hospital Auxiliary Holiday Bazaar.
More than 100 volunteers gathered at the Greenville VFW to wash, peel, core, and slice the apples. Preparations for cooking began at 4:30 the next morning at the Bond County Fairgrounds. Seven copper kettles were used to cook the apple butter, which had to be stirred constantly to prevent burning. 60 volunteers, with 8-10 persons working each of six shifts, were recruited for the stirring, which began at 6:00 am.
When ready, two canning assembly lines, consisting of 8-12 volunteers each, canned the apple butter. 108 quarts and 580 pints of apple butter have been prepared for sale. 125 pints of sugar-free apple butter will also be available.
Approximately 225 individual volunteers, and several community businesses, were involved in the project, from start to finish. Many have served for several years and some have been involved with the apple butter project since it began in the early 1960's. The apple butter will be available for purchase at the 50th Annual Greenville Regional Hospital Auxiliary Holiday Bazaar, on Saturday, December 1st, at the First Christian Church in Greenville.
SEVERE WEATHER ON THURSDAY
The weather was the big story last night, with the National weather service putting Bond County under three tornado warnings. The First Tornado siren was triggered around 5:30, by a trained spotter who reported a funnel cloud near Mulberry Grove, headed Northeast. That warning was issued until 6:00 PM for Bond and Fayette Counties.
The second Tornado warning was a radar report of strong rotation in southeastern Bond, eastern Clinton, southern Fayette, Marion and Washington Counties. That warning expired at 6:15.
Two hours later, Bond, Clinton, Fayette, Marion and Washington Counties were under a third Tornado warning, with the Greenville siren sounding. Radar had once again detected strong rotation in a storm near Boulder, headed in the direction of Patoka and Farina.
The good news is, this morning the Bond County Sheriff's department is reporting only several trees down. The same is true in Clinton and Marion Counties, and as of this morning, Fayette County has no damage reports from last night's storms.
storm pictures are courtesy Michelle Marshall
VANDALIA GREENHOUSE DESTROYED BY FIRE
It's the second suspicious fire in the past two months in Vandalia, and the fifth in less than a year. The Vandalia Fire Protection District was paged to a fire at the Vandalia Greenhouse early Sunday morning around 2:50am. According to Fire Chief Merle Aderman, the greenhouse was fully engulfed upon arriving on scene. The Brownstown Fire Department was requested for mutual aid.
Aderman said that the owner, of the almost 100 year-old business and building, lived in the second story apartment. A neighbor was able to get into the building, go through the basement and back up to the apartment and help the woman to safety. Aderman says the building itself was around 100 feet long, with a separate warehouse in front of the business, and could have been burning for nearly 20 minutes, before the fire department arrived on scene. The State Fire Marshal is currently handling the investigation and according to their office, the initial report shows it could have been a possible arson.
The building, business, warehouse and apartment were a total loss. Less than two months ago, the Depot was destroyed by fire and is still under investigation. Another three fires in the surrounding area have been investigated in the past year.
