News Briefs for March 11, 2022

Apple trees, Golden Apples, atlatls, high school musical, Mahala Jenks Ransom

News Briefs for March 11, 2022

Macktown Living History has planned a full weekend as part of Second Sunday. On Saturday, if you own or want to own an apple or other fruit tree, you can sign up to learn more about how to select, plant, and care for them. On Sunday, you can try out some of the stone tools (such as an atlatl) used by early natives in this area to provide their day-to-day needs. On either day, stop by Whitman's Store to experience life in the 1840s - you can even buy items.


Hononegah's spring musical, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, takes to the stage this weekend. With a live orchestra and a cast of over 50 students, several of whom we've written about before, tickets are available for all three shows at hononegah.org. Based on the animated Disney movie, the show won a Tony Award and played 5,461 performances on Broadway.


At Monday night's regional competition, Hononegah's varsity Scholastic Bowl Team took first place, beating out Crystal Lake, Ridgefield, and Cary Grove high schools. Next, the team is heading to sectionals on Saturday, March 12. The team includes Grant Gouwens, Joseph Kasel, Sebastian Wysocki, Ethan Butler, and Shane Levi.


The Roscoe Township Historical Society is celebrating International Women's Month (March) by posting brief biographies of some of our early women settlers on their Facebook group. The first biography (Mahala Jenks Ransom) has been posted. Others for this month: Hannah Cross, Mary Fyler and Sarah Thompson. This will be an ongoing series with a different theme each month. Next month they will celebrating Easter with a look at the early churches and pastors of Roscoe.


Congratulations to Jean Chambers and Kelli Houghton, winners of this year's Golden Apple Teacher Award. Mrs. Chambers teaches 9th grade honors World Literature and 12th grade British Literature and has spent her entire career (24 years) at Hononegah High School. Mrs. Houghton has spent her entire career at Willowbrook Middle School, where she teaches literature, advanced literature, and remedial reading too. They will be honored at the Golden Apple Banquet on April 22 at Prairie Street Brewing Co.  Jean Seegers will be reporting more details soon.


The North Central District of Student Councils has two new leaders from Hononegah High School: Area 4 Representative Casey Bohn and President Laura Mendes. Several local students attended the NCD Extravaganza on Mar. 4-5 at Great Wolf Lodge in Gurnee, IL. Laura Mendes, Delaney Harris and Max Moroz have worked hard as board members this year.


Angelic Organics Learning Center, off far east Rockton Road says nature is the best classroom, so they've organized a Spring Break Camp, March 21-25. This year's campers will meet the new ducklings, learn how to care for goats and chickens, get the bee hives set up, and much more. You can get details and register your kids online.


Kids Spot in Roscoe will also have a Spring Break Camp, Mar. 21-26 and Mar. 28-Apr. 1, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Call 815-623-5437 or email Claire@kidsspot.com for questions and details.