WARM WEATHER MAY CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR CROPS

The weather this winter has been pretty mild in Illinois.  Although it is nice to ditch the winter coats, there are some negative consequences of the warmer temperatures.  To better understand these, we spoke with Ron Marshall of the Bond County Farm Bureau. Marshall said although he enjoys the current weather, it is posing many concerns.  One of these is we really have not had the below-zero temperatures in the area needed to kill off pesky insects and crop disease.  Marshall said some area farmers reported some of their winter wheat is coming out of dormancy and trying to grow a little bit.  If the plants do not have a snow cover and we have some severe cold temperatures the wheat plants may get damaged.  Meteorologists are not calling for any truly cold temperatures or snow in the next 15 days.  Temperatures in the area are projected to be in the mid 40’s to low 50’s.

FFA STUDENTS DO WELL AT SECTION SPEAKING CONTEST

Several Greenville High School FFA students competed last Wednesday night at the Section Speaking Contest in Cowden.  Greenville High School FFA Advisor Steve Zimmerman said Daniel Suess was 1st place in Varsity Extemporaneous Speaking.  He had 20 minutes to write a speech from a topic which was chosen and then present it.  Jodi Frey received 2nd place in Junior Varsity Extemporaneous Speaking.  Haley Pierce was named 3rd overall in Prepared Public Speaking, for which she previously wrote a 6-8 minute speech and presented it.  Cara Thiems placed 5th in Creed Speaking, a memorized recitation of the FFA Creed.  The top two individuals from each area proceed to the next level of competition.  Daniel Suess and Jodi Frey will compete at the District contest in April.

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CSX LOCOMOTIVE FIRE NEAR HIGHLAND

Highland-Pierron Firefighters were called Friday, February 3, at 1:56 a.m., to a report of a fire in a locomotive on the CSX Railroad line near Timberline Road.  According to Fire Chief Steve Plocher, due to mechanical failure, a diesel engine in a CSX locomotive blew and caught fire.  When the crew shut down the engine the fire went out.  Highland-Pierron Firefighters remained on the scene until a CSX supervisor arrived to inspect the engine.  He determined the fire was out and there was no danger.  Damage was limited to the blown engine.  No injuries were reported and firefighters were on the scene about one and a half hours.

ANNUAL NEW FACES AND PLACES BREAKFAST

The Greenville Chamber of Commerce annual New Faces and Places Breakfast will be Tuesday, February 7, at 7:30 a.m. at the Bradford Community Room. Chamber of Commerce Director John Goldsmith said the breakfast has been gong on for several years and is open to new businesses in the community, existing businesses that have relocated or expanded, or businesses with new key personnel.  Goldsmith said it is an opportunity to meet all of the new businesses in the community and he hopes folks will get involved. The Chamber of Commerce decided to do a breakfast program once a quarter and this breakfast event is the first in the series. The second quarter event is planned for May.  If you would like to be a part of the program, call the chamber office at 664-9272.