The Scoop Newsletter THIS NEWSLETTER IS A WORK OF LOVE BY A COMMITTEE OF FOLKS IN ASHLAND. THE

NEXT ONE WILL BE PUBLISHED SHORTLY AFTER THE FIRST OF EACH MONTH. IDEAS OR ITEMS FOR THE NEWSLETTER? DROP OFF OR CALL NANCY HEATHER AT PRINTERS INK AT 217-476-3764, OR GIVE THEM TO NANCE BRYANT, LINDA

DEVLIN, CYNTHIA GUTMANN, BOB HEATHER, OR LIZ WALLBAUM. ITEMS CAN ALSO BE E-MAILED TO MATT HOBROCK, ASHLAND.SCOOP@SBCGLOBAL.NET.

DEADLINE WILL BE THE 25TH OF EACH MONTH FOR THE FOLLOWING MONTH’S NEWSLETTER.

YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT IS APPRECIATED. OUR WEBSITE: http://ashlandscoop.tripod.com

January 2014 Volume 8 - Issue 1

BUYER NEEDS…

Buyer A: $≤100,000, Springfield, garage and basement

Buyer B: $≤200,000 ≥2 acres, Pleasant Plains School District.

Buyer C: $≤50,000, Springfield, ≥ 2BR, ≥1000 sq. ft.

Buyer D: $≤115,000 Ashland, 3BR, w/large garage, 2 bath

Buyer E: $≤400,000 w/acreage in Cass, Sangamon or Menard County. ≥4BR, ≥2BA

Buyer F: $≤120,000 Springfield, 3BR (large master preferred),

≥2BA, garage.

Buyer G: $≤150,000 Ashland, 3BR, w/basement

517 W. Mechanic / Ashland / Reduced! / $89,900

Dawn Stremsterfer Realtor®, Broker Associate

Office: 217-787-7215

Direct: 217-741-1865

2475 West Monroe Springfield, IL

62704 (cell)

217-741-1865

Great 4BR 2BA ranch with over 1600 sq.ft. on a corner lot offering many new up-dates. Totally remodeled kitchen with new tile flooring, cabinets, and countertops in `05. Roof, siding and exterior doors were replaced in `09. On demand water heater was installed in `07. Fenced back yard with nice outdoor area for relaxing on the deck or in the hot tub that stays. Original hardwood floors in

the living room with a new fireplace that was installed in `09. Seller is offering a home warranty.

Call if you would consider selling a home that meets the above criteria!

PROFESSIONALS

soldbydawns@gmail.com

Thank you for your business in 2013!

Wishing you a blessed new year!"

A-C CENTRAL SCHOOL CALENDAR

JANUARY

1st- 3rd - NO SCHOOL - Winter Break 10th - Early Dismissal 11:05/11:10 (Elementary),

11:30 (MS/HS)-SIP DAY 20th - NO SCHOOL-Martin Luther King Jr. Day

FEBRUARY 7th - Mid-Term for 3rd Quarter

13th - Early Dismissal 1:45/1:50 (Elementary), 2:11 (MS/HS)-Parent/Teacher Conference

14th - NO SCHOOL - Parent/Teacher Conference 17th - NO SCHOOL - We will observe President's Day

MARCH 14th - End of 3rd Quarter-Early Dismissal

1:45/1:50 (Elementary), 2:11 (MS/HS) 17th - 21st NO SCHOOL-Spring Break

CHURCH DIRECTORY

BEREA CHRISTIAN CHURCH Minister Edward J.Moretto bereacc@casscomm.com www.bereachristianchurch.com

Sunday Christian Education Hour - 9:30 pm Sunday Worship - 10:30 am Wednesday Eve. Prayer Mtg. - 7:00 pm We’re Open On Sunday!! CHURCH OF CHRIST Minister Jimmy Coyle

Sunday School - 9:00 am Sunday Worship - 10:00 am FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH Pastor Rev. David L. McHenry 476.3678 Sunday School - 9:30 am Sunday Worship - 10:30 am ASHLAND COMMUNITY ECUMENICAL BIBLE STUDY Tuesday Eve. Baptist Church Hall - 7 - 8:30 pm

ST. AUGUSTINE CHURCH Father Chris Brey 476.8856

Ashland Sunday Mass - 9:00 am Beardstown Sunday Mass - 11:00 am Sunday (Spanish) - 12:30 pm Virginia Saturday - 5:00 pm UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Rev. Pam Hoffman 476.8858 www.ashlandunitedmethodist.com

Sunday Worship - 8:45 am Sunday School - 10:00 am NEW BEGINNINGS CHURCH, s.b.c. Pastor Darin Peterson Ph. 217-675-2124 www.newbeginningschristianfellowship.net Sunday School for all ages @ 9:15-10:15 am Worship Service @ 10:30 am YOUTH4TRUTH - Monday evening @ 6:30 pm Saturday’s Men’s Prayer Breakfast @ 8:00 am

LADIES PRAYER BREAKFAST

January 4 - United Methodist

*All ladies of Ashland and Pleasant

Plains communities are invited to attend.

“For where two or three are gathered in

my name, there am I in the midst of

them.”

Matthew 18:20

New Construction

Remodeling

Gutters

Norm Bryant Enterprises

Distributor of Fine Quality Vacuums

Carpet Cleaning Furniture Car Interior

Cell (217) 741-3758 Phone: (217) 476-3508

608 W. Franklin Ashland, IL 62612

400 E. Buchanan St. P.O. Box 467 Ashland, IL 62612-0467

PH. 217.476.3325 FX. 217.476.3342

A Full Service Bank 220 N. Yates - Ashland Office: 1-866-225-8126

Garrett Savage - Bob Savage

Ron Ahlers - Salesman cell: (217)691-9631

**GIVE US A CALL**

Illini

LLC Propane

108 W. Editor Street Ashland, IL 62612

217.476.3354

Jeffrey A. Donnan - Kay Handy Ora Lee Campbell - Kristen Arthalony

A SUBSIDIARY OF THE WEST CENTRAL BANK E-mail: wcins@casscomm.com

Other Locations:

116 State Street Beardstown, IL 62618

217.323.3018 Debbie Jones

815 W. Clinton Rushville, IL 62681

217.322.6230 Kala Peacock

979 Clocktower Drive Springfield, IL 62704

217-726-9885 Stacey M. Hester

1-800-252-1799

Adventure Club Newsletter Coming

Soon for 2014.

Call for an appointment today and get Shellacked!!

Gift Certificates are available.

Amity Nail Spa

116 N. Yates

Ashland, IL

415-0558

Lana J. Pfaffe,

Nail Technician

A-C CENTRAL BAND STUDENTS SELECTED FOR ALL-STATE The Illinois Music Educators Association sponsors the All-State Confer-ence annually in Peoria in late January. Students from all over the state of Illinois audition in October for the honor of becoming a member of the elite group. Directors and students are notified of their acceptance in December…and A-C Central is proud to announce that they have had 3 students selected. Ty Kesselring, a senior Bari Sax player was selected for his second trip to the ILMEA conference. Ty is the son of Jackie and Brett Kesselring of Ashland. Allyson Quick, a senior French horn player, was also selected for her first trip to the ILMEA convention. Allyson is the daughter of Gary and Dee Quick of Ashland. Rounding out the trio of musicians from Ashland to be selected is Hoaby Hoagland who is a junior tuba player. Hoaby is the son of Ron and Dawn Hoagland of Ashland. The students will now prepare for another audition for placement in Janu-ary. These bright young musicians will present a concert for the public in the Peoria Civic Center on Janu-ary 25, 2014. Congratulations A-C students for this outstanding honor! Picture L to R: Hoaby Hoagland, Kim Webster, Ty Kesselring & Allyson Quick

Cerys Boston named Student of the

Month at A-C Central Congratulations to Cerys Boston for being selected Student – of – the – Month for November at A-C Central High School. Miss Boston is the daughter of Scott and Samantha Boston of Ashland. Cerys is a leader both in and out of the classroom as evidenced by her involve-ment in various school activities. He is a member of the Honor Roll, President of STAR, member of the Foreign Language Club, Student Council, Project 2000, Marching/Pep/Concert Band, and Natural Helpers. She participates in both the Fall Play and Spring Musical. She was named

to the IMEA All-District Band and tutors fellow students. Away from school Cerys has volunteered at canned goods collections and organized a community Thanksgiving Din-ner. She also is a student leader at the FCC Youth group. Miss Boston is undecided about her university of choice but plans on studying Special Education and minoring in Music Education. Congratulations to Cerys Boston on this significant honor!

A-C Central Announces Daughters of the American Revolution Citizenship Award Winner

A-C Central is proud to announce Miss Cerys Boston as this year’s DAR Citizen-ship Award Winner. Miss Boston is very active both in and out of school. She is a leader in various clubs and organiza-tions, participates in extra-curricular ac-tivities like band and theatrical produc-tions and still finds time to volunteer in her youth group, tutor fellow students and participate in her 4-H club. She is an IMEA All-District Band member as well as being named Student of the Month for November at A-C Central, and most recently was named an Illinois State Scholar. Within her community she has displayed her citizenship by volunteering with canned food drives at Halloween and helping with the organization and conducting of a community Thanksgiving Dinner that was held on No-vember 23rd. Following the completion of her high school career Cerys plans on studying Special Education and Music Educa-tion at a yet to be determined university.

A-C Central FFA Members Earn National Honor A-C Central FFA members Jordan Keyes, Morgan Wessel, Kelsey Handy and Nathan Mahoney , shown with their former Ag Instructor, Jennifer Waters, were presented their American FFA Degree certifi-cate and golden key at the 86th National FFA Convention and Expo in Louisville, Kentucky on November 1st. American FFA Degree celebrates academic and professional excel-lence and is bestowed upon members who show the ut-most dedication to the organization through their desire to develop their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. To be eligible, FFA members must have earned and productively invested $7,500 through a super-vised agricultural experience program in which they start, own or hold a professional position in an existing agriculture enterprise. Recipients must also complete 50 community service hours, as well as demon-strate outstanding leadership abilities and community involvement. Other former A-C Central FFA members to earn this level of member-ship include Haley Pfaffe, Brandon Smith,Teagan Smith, Matt Ma-

honey, Christo-pher Devlin, Jordan Bartels, Casey Blake-ley, Jeff Evers, Lindi Strem-sterfer, Kevin Donnan, Chris Clemons, Jeff Donnan, Todd Jokisch, Randy Buckman, and Tom Johnson.

We would like to extend a big thank you to West Central Bank for purchasing new flags, poles and brackets for the downtown. Congratulations to this year’s holiday light competition winners. Nathan and Carrie Grieme were the first prize winners. Honorable mentions went to: J.R. Blair, Cory Todd, Ron Ratliff, Stephanie Rocke and Kathy Moffitt. In the event of snow, please remove your vehicles from the streets to allow for plowing. As the snow plows have rubber blades, there does need to be at least 2 inches of snow before the snow plows run. We use rubber blades on the plows to avoid tearing up the manhole covers in the streets. If you are in possession of a stray dog, please call the county sheriff’s office (217/452-7718) and ask them to contact Jim Birdsell. If you see a street light out, call the Village office (217/476-3317) and we will contact Ameren CIPS for repair.

Water Sewer

First 1,000 gallons $27.50 $10.45 Per 1,000 gallons after first 1,000 $14.75 $ 4.40 EPA Testing Fee $ 1.05 Minimum monthly charge $39.00

E-mail: Ashland@casscomm.com Facebook: Village of Ashland

Village of Ashland Board Members & Staff:

Terry Blakeman, Mayor Jim Birdsell, Chief of Police Ron Cave, Public Works Director Phyllis Sutphin, Village Treasurer Vanessa Doellman, Village Clerk Kitty Mau, Deputy Clerk

Kelly Sutphin-Gutmann, Trustee Fadra Birdsell, Trustee Stan Fulton, Trustee Greg Pettit, Trustee Frank Wallace, Trustee

Dave Troxell, Trustee

Email us: RPAFARMERS@CASSCOMM.COM

Richland 3090 Richland Elev. Rd.

Pleasant Plains, IL 62677

217.626.1551

Ashland 220 North Niagara Ashland, IL 62612

217.476.3318

Pleasant Plains 300 N. Washington Pleasant Plains, IL

62677

217.626.1331

RPA Farmers Co-op

ASHLAND VFW POST 3546… Meets monthly at 7:00 p.m. on the 3rd Monday at the Firehouse. AMERICAN LEGION POST 498... Meets monthly at 7:30 p.m. on the 3rd Monday at the Firehouse. SENIOR SAINTS… Senior Saints will have a Ham & Bean supper Janu-ary 8th, at the Baptist Church Hall at 5:30 pm. Bring either a salad or desert and-games that you would like to play. WELCOME NEW BABY… Jason Barrow formally of Ashland and Jennifer Putman Barrow formally of Kentucky, had twins on Sunday December 15, 2013. A son, was born weigh-ing 6 lbs and named Jaxson Paul Barrow, and a daughter born weighing 5.7 lbs and named Rylann Ann Barrow. Grandparents are Lonzo and Teresa Putman and Rick and Linda Barrow. Great-Grandparents are Ms. Faye Woods, Ms. Linna Putman and Edgar and Joyce Roninson of rural Ash-land, Illinois. Schedule Star Game Change Alert The TIME for the Girls Junior High Volleyball - Trio-pia Jr/Sr High School @ A-C Central High School on January 09, 2014, has changed to 5:00 pm Schedule Star Game Change Alert The TIME for the Girls Junior High Volleyball -Greenfield Elementary School @ A-C Central High School on January 18, 2014, has changed to 10:00 am.

3rd - Bill & Glenda Schleyhahn

24th - Bill & Elaine Roth

January Anniversaries

4 - Neal Kesselring

7 - Logan Jokisch

11 - Terri Devlin

15 - Wanda Williams 15 - Marty Lathom

23 - Helen Danenberger

24 - Wayne Stevens

27 - Timothy Parsons Heather

January Birthdays

111 North Hardin Ashland, IL 62612 (217)476-3547

Office Hours by Appointment Monday and Thursday 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Smith Chiropractic Clinic

Dr. Kathie G. Smith

217.741.3874

NEAL’S BARBER SHOP

Ashland, IL 62612

Tuesday - Friday: 7:30 am - 1:00pm

Closed: Saturday, Sunday & Monday

Gardner Construction Co.

2878 Panther Grove Road Ashland, IL 62612

Cell: 217-341-3415 Leave Message 217-476-8135

Remodel Kitchen & Baths Replace Roof & Room Additions

Phone: (217)476-3595

115 W. Freemont St. PO Box 136

Ashland, IL 62612

We Do It All In Just 1 Call!

Jim - Todd - Travis

Plumbing - Heating Air Conditioning

Backhoe - Trenching

WALLBAUM DEVELOPMENT

INC. ASHLAND, IL

ASHLAND WOMAN'S CLUB

WOMEN OF THE ASHLAND COMMUNITY & SURROUNDING AREA

Are you bored? Are you looking for a little fun?

Are you in need of some intellectual

stimulation in your life?

Join the Ashland Woman's Club The club meets the first Tuesday of every month (September to May), 1:30 p.m., First Baptist Church Hall. A cultural program is followed by light refreshments. Membership is only $10 for the year. The club was organized in 1898, provides scholar-ships to area students and supports many local organizations and charities. The ladies play bridge and pinochle throughout the year.

Some of the upcoming programs will be:

February 4 Your Health - Cass County Public

Health Educator & Nurse

May 6 Spring Luncheon - Noon (reservations required)

Contact Judy Mills 476-3469

if you have questions.

BLACK & WHITE COPIES - 10 CENTS EACH COLOR COPIES - 30 CENTS EACH

Would you like to advertise in our newsletter? Call 476.3764 or

stop by Printers Ink at 112 N. Yates.

Cost of ads per issue.

1/8 page - $15 1/4 page - $30 1/2 page - $40

YEARLY SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE - MAILED TO YOU

FOR ONLY $25 PER YEAR.

Prentice Farmers Elevator

2303 Elevator Avenue Ashland, IL 62612

217.476.3516 or 1.800.255.8659 prenticeev@casscomm.com

prenticeelevator.com

James R. Blakeman, Manager

4 locations to serve you: Prentice, Philadelphia, Strawns Crossing, and Tallula.

Dealers in Grain, Seed and Kent Feeds.

Support you’re A-C Central Senior class. 1/8 page ads for the yearbook can be purchased for $20. For information email: swingo@a0ccentral.us. We are also hosting a meats, cheese, and chocolate fund-raiser for the yearbook. These make great Christmas gifts! If you would like to support the yearbook in this way go to www.helpyourgroup.com and enter our group number 31714. Thanks for your continued support! Sheri Wingo A-C Central Yearbook Adviser

"The King Is Coming" by

Edward J. Moretto, Minister, Berea Christian Church

At the time of this writing (December 21, 2013), though you couldn't tell by looking out-side, we are experiencing the winter solstice (and freezing rain). For us in the northern hemisphere, this is the shortest day (longest night) of the year. Beginning tomorrow De-cember 22, 2013, therefore, the days will start getting longer. We probably won't notice that either; but, somewhere along about a month or two from now we will. Then, on March 20, 2014, the sun, which appears to be traveling north, will be directly over the equator. This is called the vernal equinox, a term which comes for the word for "spring" and equinox which comes from Latin for "equal night," the day in which the day and the night are of equal lengths. Later in the year, the sun will reach a point where it will begin its trip back "south." This is the summer solstice, which will fall on June 21, 2014. At this point, as we really just seem to begin enjoying the long days of summer, the days will be-gin to get shorter. We will progress to the autumnal equinox, which falls on September 23, 2014, and because we have the word "equinox" in there again, the day and night will be of equal length. From there we will progress (if one can call that progress) to the shortest day of the year in 2014, which will fall on December 21st and we will start the cy-clical thing all over again. I don't know if we will have freezing rain again on that day. Now, let me change horses in midstream. On Friday, December 20, 2013, as I left the Crockpot Cafe, I was accompanied by a fel-low coffee drinker whom I consider to be a very intelligent man. He broached the subject of Christian persecution which we see in various parts of the world, most of which is ig-nored by the progressive/liberal media. I suggested to him that this mainstream media (sometimes called the lame-stream media) will not cover the atrocities as recently seen in Syria (one Christian church was attacked during a worship service by Islamic radicals who blew themselves up and in the process, destroyed many Christian lives) because some of these radicals are actually supported (overtly of covertly) by elements of our cur-rent administration. In the meantime, I reminded him that Scripture tells us that this kind of persecution would happen in the eschatological era (end times). We should, therefore, not be surprised when we or our brothers and sisters in Christ are persecuted throughout the world. What does this have to do with the times and seasons we looked at in the first para-graph? We Christians are aware that Jesus Christ is going to return to this earth. At that time,

everyone will know that He is back. The irony of it all is that we can predict the day (even

to the hour and the minute) when the sun will be at any point in the celestial "pendulum."

On the other hand, we do not know the day nor the hour of the return of the Son of Man.

For this reason, most preachers suggest that people prepare themselves to be ready at

any moment. Why? Because the King is coming. Are you prepared? If you're not, con-

tact me or my fellow ministers. We will be happy to help you. Don't wait until He returns.

It'll be too late to help you and, quite frankly, I won't be here.

SATURDAYS "LOVE FEAST"

FOOD KITCHEN

The Ashland Church of Christ will be opening a Food Kitchen for ANYONE IN NEED on

each and every Saturday beginning on January 11, 2014 @ 12:00 Noon

in the church basement.

Reservations MUST be made by Wednesday before the Saturday meal. Call 217-248-5665 or 217-691-8163.

Donations from area businesses and individuals

would be greatly appreciated as well as volunteers.

"LOVE FEAST" - a service dedicated to Chris-tian Love and to strengthen the bonds and spirit of harmony, goodwill and congeniality.

Virgil Francis Fowler (October 31, 1939 - November 25, 2013) Virgil Francis Fowler, 74, of Ashland, passed away Monday, Nov. 25, 2013 at his residence. Virgil was born Oct. 31, 1939, in Dudley, Mo., the son of Ethelbert and Mable Marie Frields Fowler. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy serving during Vietnam where he was part of the Blue Angels Parachute Group. He was a past mem-

ber of V.F.W. Post 3546 in Ashland. He loved hunting and fishing. He is survived by three sisters: Ruby Roberts and Sue Grant both of Pleasant Plains and Bon-nie Tinsley of Ashland. Graveside services were held at 11 a.m., Saturday Dec. 7, 2013, at Pleasant Plains Cemetery, Rev. Duane Turley officiating. Pleasant Plains American Legion provided military honors. Memorials may be made to Ashland EMT.

Lucille Lewis

(June 11, 1928 - December 25, 2013)

Lucille Lewis, 85, of Ashland, IL died Wednesday, December 25, 2013 at the Walker Nursing Home in Virginia, IL. She was born June 11, 1928 in Falls of Rough, KY, the daughter of John and Ella Baker McClellan. She married Thomas J. Lewis Sr. On December 26, 1946 in Axtel, KY and he preceded her in death on Janu-ary 27, 2000. She is survived by six children, Tom Lewis Jr. (wife, Marge) of Ashland, Larry Lewis of Ladson, SC, Wanda Heather of Chicago, Brenda Myers (husband, Gary) of Avon, Anna Ratliff (husband, Larry) of Ashland, and

Mary Parks (husband, Jim) of Ashland; numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren; nine siblings, Marvie McClellan, Virginia Henning, Jack McClellan, Lennie Henning, Roy McClellan, Anna Johnson, Sue Duncan, and Irene Butler, all of Kentucky, and Johnny McClellan of Indiana; several nieces and

nephews; and a special friend, Kenton Bottens of rural Chandlerville. She was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Patricia Moffitt; and two brothers, Thomas Leo and Freddie McClellan. Mrs. Lewis was a homemaker and a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church in Ashland. Burial at St. Augustine Cemetery. Memorial gifts are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or St. Augustine Cemetery Fund.

A-C First Website

http://acfirstinfo.wordpress.com

Mission Statement

We believe that a thoughtful analysis of the facts will indicate that the proposed consolidation of A-C Central and PORTA should be rejected by

the voters of A-C Central.

While there may be some short-term benefits to be achieved through the merger, we believe that the long-term interests of our children (and, thus,

our communities) will be better served by retaining our current school district.

Accordingly, we are committed to gathering and communicating relevant

facts regarding the proposed consolidation and responding to issues raised by A-C Central parents, teachers, community leaders, taxpayers, and

voters.

A Few Citizens Who Agree with our Mission Butch Hoagland, Steve Aggert, J.R. Blair, Don Parsons, Harold Showalter,

Louis Jokisch, Terry Blakeman, Bob Savage, Edward J. Moretto,Ron Aggert, John R. Jones