Alhambra, Grantfork & New Douglas news for the week of Oct. 12

Spaghetti dinner to support mission trip to Ecuador

Salem United Church of Christ, 1117 W North St. in Alhambra, is will be holding a spaghetti dinner with all the trimmings, salad, green beans, applesauce, crusty bread and dessert for $10 on Sunday, Oct. 16, following 10 a.m. worship. This is a carry-out or dine-in meal. For a small fee, the meal may be home delivered. Proceeds will go toward funding another Ecuador mission trip for Salem Church members.

Fire department to hold open house

The Alhambra Fire Department will be holding its annual open house on Saturday, Oct. 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be firetruck rides and a chance to see the inside of the big firetrucks, as well as the ambulance, for children. Complimentary drinks, hot dogs and chili will be served at the firehouse. Drawings for prizes for adults and gift cards for children will take place in the afternoon. (You must live in the Alhambra Fire District to sign up for prizes.)

Township Offers FREE Flu Shots

Alhambra Township is once again offering free flu shots for residents of the village of Alhambra and the township. Call Freddie Riepshoff at (618) 488-7603 to register for the free shot. Shots will be given on Friday, Nov. 4 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Firemen & Legion Hall, located in the Township Park and from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Township Center.

Health Fair

The Alhambra/Leef Home Extension Unit will be in charge of this year’s Health Fair on Friday, Nov. 4. They will be looking for vendors in the health field that would like to attend. There is no charge for vendors, although they are invited to bring a donation of food or cash for the Bread of Life Food Pantry. The site is handicap accessible. Tables and chairs are provided. The fair has large area and usually attended by at least 100 people. A light, healthy lunch is provided free of charge by Salem United Church of Christ. Contact Gail Ohren at (618) 488-2612 or (618) 830-1384 to sign up or for further information.

Salem’s Trunk or Treat

Salem United Church of Christ, 1117 W North St. in Alhambra, will hold its ninth annual Trunk or Treat on Sunday, Oct. 23 at the north parking lot of the church. This event will run from 4 to 5 p.m. Children in costume will go from trunk to trunk to play games and receive treats. This is a safe event for the children, and members of the church are needed to participate by opening their trunks and helping to make this a fun time for all.

After the trunk-or-treating, everyone can enjoy the free hot dogs, chili, chips, cookies and drinks provided by the church. Prizes will be awarded to trunk providers. Everyone of all faiths are invited.

Alhambra Primary

Alhambra Primary is proud to announce 78 students received “Gotcha Awards” for the months of August and September. Gotcha Awards are given to students that do a good deed by helping someone else without thinking about it. This shows a Very Important Principle of Responsibility.

The cafeteria has received its 100 percent rating from the Health Department again this year. This is thanks to the hard work of Terri Mettler and Kris Landmann.

The PTO is very happy to report that the caramel apple fund drive brought in over $2,500. A total of 364 packs of caramel apples were sold. Jessie Ketchum was chairman of this fundraiser.

Box Tops are being collected by Oct. 25. These are dated, so they need to be turned in.

The Color Run had 227 participants. It is not known yet what was made on this event, but co-chairs, Jamie Dressler and Megan Henschen did a tremendous job, as did all the volunteers that came out to help.

As part of Fire Prevention Week, the fire truck will be at the school on Thursday, Oct. 13. The kindergarten will go on their field trip on Oct. 14, and since it is screening day, Pre-K will not be in attendance.

First Baptist begins AWANA

The First Baptist Church, 209 W. Main St. in Alhambra, will begin its annual AWANA meetings for area boys and girls. Meetings will be held on Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 8 p.m., from Oct. 5-April 26. This is for ages 4 years old through fifth grade.

Special Occasions

Anniversaries

Happy anniversary everyone: Oct. 12, Tom and Sharon Capstick, Timothy and Cami Rakers, Rhet and Krista Mansholt; Oct. 13, Kevin and Heather Luitjohan and Roger and Marianne Long; Oct. 16, Gerald and Gatha Suhre; Oct. 20, Jerry and Kim Reckman, Andy and Jennifer Mize, Ryan and Gena Hodapp.

Birthdays

Happy birthday everyone: Oct. 12, Bob Reckman; Oct. 13,Kayla Green; Oct. 14, Electa Leach, Mary Reinhardt and Sara Ulrich; Oct. 15, Toni Rozanski; Oct. 16, Eddie Robbs, Tracy Watson, Judy Blom, Christopher Hosto and Alex Capstick; Oct. 17, Abby Sidwell, Les Gentry, Doug Bizer, Steve Reckmann, Steve Price, Logan Mollet, and, Landen Reckman; Oct. 18, Joe Stevenson, Bud Hefner and Jake Riepshoff; Oct. 19,Gary Mueth, and Janelle Reilson.

Fire department to hold breakfast fundraiser

The New Douglas Fire Department will hold an all-you-can-eat breakfast fundraiser at the firehouse, 105 E. Allen St. in New Douglas, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 6.

The menu will include sausage (Ron Hemann’s recipe), pancakes, scrambled eggs, biscuits, gravy, homemade donuts, and drinks.

Cost is $7 for adults, $5 for children ages 5-10, and children 4 and under eat free.

Advance orders for uncooked sausage are also being taken. Sausage is available in link or bulk 5-pound packages for $15 ($3 per pound). You may call in you order to (217) 456-6221; leave a message (remember to include your name and phone number) and someone will call you back. You can also email an order to newdouglasfire@gmail.com, and you will get a reply. All orders are due by Oct. 28 at 5 p.m. Orders can be picked up at the firehouse on Nov. 5 from 9 a.m. to noon or Nov. 6 at the breakfast, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Participants sought for Halloween parade

New Douglas will host its fourth annual Halloween parade on Saturday, Oct. 29.

Float line-up and judging will begin at 4 p.m., and the parade will begin at 5 p.m. The New Douglas Volunteer Fire Department will be awarding cash prizes to first, second and third place floats for the parade, plus cash prizes for the costume contest.

The parade route will run from the American Legion, 405 N. 4^th St., down W. Douglas Street to Main Street and end at New Douglas Township Park.

Following the parade, there will be costume judging at the Community Center. There will also be a pumpkin carving contest and a party at New Douglas Township Park when the parade is over. Activities will include hay rides, story telling, music and an bonfire. There will be free hot dogs and goodies for kids.

To sign up for the parade, or or more information, visit the event’s page on Facebook.

Fire department will install smoke detectors for free

The New Douglas Fire Department will participate in the American Red Cross Home Fire Campaign. The department will be installing smoke alarms, provided by the American Red Cross, in the fire district for free.

If you haven’t already signed up at any of the local events, call the fire department at (217)456-6221, leave a message and a firefighter will get in contact with you.

The program allows three alarms per home. The alarms are powered with a sealed, 10-year-life lithium-ion battery that cannot, and does not need to be, changed as traditional alarms have been in the past.

St. Gertrude Catholic Church

There will be a Pastoral Finance Committee meeting will be on Tuesday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m.

The Alter Society will meet on Monday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m.

A public square “Rosary Crusade” will be held at the Grantfork Firemen’s Park on Saturday, Oct. 15 at noon. Participants are invited to bring a lawn chairs. For further information, call Clarence or Ruth Korte (618) 654-5014.

Grantfork Elementary

Fundraiser items for the Cherrydale Catalog sales and the Bobby’s caramel apple sales need to be picked up at Grantfork School on Thursday, Oct. 13 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Parent/Teachers Conferences will be held on Oct. 26 from 4 to 7 p.m., Oct. 27 from noon to 8 p.m., and Oct. 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. There will be no school on Oct. 27 and 28. Sign-up times will be open until Oct. 19. Each school, Alhambra and Grantfork, will have conferences for their students at the school they attend. Parents having students in both school will have to make sure they have enough time to get to the next school.

Girl Scouts to hold registration

Girl Scout registration and parental meeting will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 18 at 6 p.m. at Grantfork United Church of Christ. Meetings will be held on the second and fourth Thursday each month from 6 to 7 p.m.

Contact Heather Luitjohan by email at hboda2000@yahoo.com or Jamie Schwartz at jamjar2005@agtelco.com.

This story was originally published October 12, 2016 at 11:02 AM with the headline "Alhambra, Grantfork & New Douglas news for the week of Oct. 12."