Now accepting applications from nonprofits in Knox, Livingston, Marshall, McLean, Peoria, Stark, Tazewell and Woodford counties with outstanding senior citizen volunteers

Health care company Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) is seeking nominations for its Starlight Award. The 2012 award marks the third time the company will honor senior volunteers age 65 or older for outstanding service in Central Illinois. Humana will present a grant of $10,000 for donation to the qualifying nonprofit organization of the award recipient’s choice.

Nonprofit organizations in Knox, Livingston, Marshall, McLean, Peoria, Stark, Tazewell and Woodford counties are invited to nominate their most dedicated volunteers age 65 or older by the application deadline, Friday, March 9. Applications are online at www.humana.com/starlight.

A panel of local, independent judges will review the applications of nominees to select the Humana Starlight Award recipient. Judges will evaluate nominees on the dedication and leadership they have demonstrated as well as the impact their volunteer efforts have had on others in the community. Humana will present the 2012 Starlight Award recipient with his or her award at a special recognition ceremony hosted by Humana for all of the nominees and their guests on April 18 at the Embassy Suites.

To nominate a senior citizen volunteer who served in 2011, nonprofit organizations must be classified as a 501(c)(3). The criteria for judging will focus on the following categories set by the Humana Foundation:

· Childhood Health and Education: Improving the health and wellness of children through education
· Health Literacy and Services: Enhancing people’s ability to access, understand and use reliable health information or services that promote healthy living
· Intergenerational Health: Creating opportunities for multiple generations to engage with each other in healthy and meaningful ways

“The timing for the Starlight program for 2012 is a bit different than before,” said Ross Westreich, Vice President of Humana’s Great Lakes Medicare Region. “The time change allows nonprofits to look back at a full calendar year to consider their nominee or nominees. So, going forward, we’ll return to an annual award program process that begins each January.”

“This is an important award program for Humana,” Westreich added. “The nominations we’ve received in the past are heartening and impressive. They tell the story of how much the dedication of award nominees means in their community. It is an absolute honor for Humana to continue to recognize the valuable contributions of seniors for the incredible difference they make in the lives of others.”

Humana, one of Illinois’ largest providers of Medicare Advantage health plans and Medicare prescription drug plans, created the Starlight Award program in 2006 to honor a community’s exceptional volunteers age 65 or older, as well as to provide financial support for a nonprofit organization whose good work benefits that community. In addition to Central Illinois, Humana sponsors Starlight Award programs in several other communities across the country.

Patricia and Philip Webber of Morton, Ill. were the co-recipients of the Central Illinois Humana Starlight Award presented by Humana in 2010. In recognition of the Webbers’ dedicated volunteer service, Humana awarded a $10,000 grant to Peoria Friendship House, where the married couple has served as volunteers for over a quarter of a century. In nominating the Webbers, Friendship House cited the couple’s dedication to volunteering and serving their community, with Friendship House the benefactor of more than half of the Webbers’ approximately 1,800 hours of combined service.

For more information about the Humana Starlight Award program, visit www.humana.com/starlight or contact the Central and Northern Illinois Humana office via e-mail at StarlightCentralIllinois@humana.com or by phone at 309-677-8210.

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has announced the names of students qualifying for the Dean’s List for Fall Semester 2011.

To qualify, a student must maintain a grade-point average of 3.5 or better and have 12 hours calculated (B is equivalent to 3.0; A to 4.0).

Click here to see the entire list!
http://www.siue.edu/news/pdf/DeansListFALL11WEB.pdf

Jeff Krause is a 17-year-old boy from Mason City who loves farming, fishing, country music, and his truck. And even though he cannot play right now, he loves basketball. In July 2010, Jeff was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. In spite of this diagnosis, surgery and on-going treatments, Jeff always keeps a positive attitude.

A big fan of travelling, Jeff has always had dreams of going to Australia. When Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois volunteer wish granters Joanne and Robert Stambaugh met with Jeff to talk about what his wish might be, it was no surprise when Jeff wished for a South Pacific cruise.

Along with his parents and brother, Jeff was seen off by family and friends in style with a limo ride up to Chicago. After flying from Chicago, Illinois to Sydney, Australia, he boarded a Royal Caribbean ship for an eighteen day cruise through the South Pacific. While on the trip the family was able to go on many different excursions, and Jeff was given special tours of the ship. He even got to lead the ship’s special Make-A-Wish walk with the captain while aboard.

“Everything was perfect,” said Jeff’s mother Jan, “it was so wonderful and relaxing.” “As parents, we’re constantly worried about Jeff,” she stated, “but Make-A-Wish took care of everything so that we didn’t have to worry. It was such a relief to get away as a family and spend time together.” Jeff’s favorite part of the trip was an excursion to the French island of Vila, where the family got to ride hot rod buggies through the bush country. “It was very muddy,” said Jan, “Jeff and his brother had a fun time driving around and splashing everyone with the mud.”

The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich their lives with hope, strength and joy. For more than 25 years, the Foundation has worked with volunteers and generous supporters to share the power of a wish® with special children across the state. For more information or to find out how you can help, call 309.637.1659 or visit www.wishes.org.

Companies And Schools Sought To Register For March 12-16th Statewide Event

Make a dream come true for a child in Illinois by wearing jeans! The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois is seeking organizations such as companies and schools to participate in the fourth annual Jeans For Wishes campaign. These organizations will join together this Spring and Summer, by wearing blue jeans or their favorite sports apparel, to help raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. These funds will help to grant wishes for five children living in Illinois with life-threatening medical conditions. Registration is now open for teams of employees, organization members, or students in Illinois to sign up for Jeans For Wishes to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois.

Companies can choose one day during the week of March 12th and encourage employees to donate $5 to wear jeans for that day, or $20 to wear jeans for the entire week. Even if an organization already allows jeans in the workplace or school, employees and students may still enjoy being part of the state-wide campaign by making a donation for the cause and wearing their favorite sports apparel as the college basketball tournament season begins. There are many flexible options for participation, including choosing a different date, timeframe or donation amount to best suit the organization’s culture and interests.

Schools can select from $1-$5, depending on their needs, to wear jeans. Organizations may register their company or school at www.jeansforwishes.org. Participating organizations will receive a Jeans for Wishes Starter Pack which includes a banner, promotional materials and stickers to be given to individuals wearing jeans. The stories of the wish children who will benefit from this fundraiser are posted online at www.jeansforwishes.org. Employees and students can read the children’s inspirational stories, and feel great knowing that their contributions to Jeans for Wishes truly did make a child’s dream come true. Jeans for Wishes is sponsored by Old Navy, Diapers.com, and Midas.

For children who battle conditions like leukemia, cystic fibrosis, brain tumors, and other childhood diseases, the Make-A-Wish Foundation provides a magical experience to help them cope with their illness and its treatment. There are no financial obligations for the family and no waiting list for children to receive wishes.

OSF HealthCare will be implementing an eICU® program for its adult Intensive Care Unit (ICU) this summer in an effort to reduce complications, decrease length of ICU stays and better manage health care costs. A monitoring center will be under construction soon on the OSF Saint Francis Medical Center campus.

The following have been named to leadership positions for the OSF eICU® program.

Dr. William Tillis has been named OSF eICU® Medical Director. He will be responsible for providing medical professional judgment for and oversight of the OSF eICU®. Dr. Tillis is the President of Illinois Lung and Critical Care Institute. He has served as the Medical Director of Critical Care Services, the MICU and the Med-Surgery Step-Down Unit at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. He is board certified in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine and Critical Care Medicine.

Dr. Saurin Patel has been named OSF eICU® Clinical Director of Quality Performance Improvement. He will be responsible for developing best practice standards, quality improvement initiatives and monitoring metrics and reporting. Dr. Patel has been serving as the Director of the ICU and Pulmonary Critical Care at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington and will continue in that capacity. Dr. Patel is board certified in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine and Critical Care Medicine.

Jennifer Hopwood has been named OSF eICU® Operations Director. She will be responsible for managing the overall and day-to-day business operations and program development recommending and implementing process improvements, ensuring regulatory compliance, budget management and optimal physician, patient and staff satisfaction. Jennifer is the Patient Care Manager for the Surgical ICU and Intermediate Nursing Unit at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center.

Proctor Hospital pleased to announce the association of Paul S. Selzler, Sr., RN, MM, as Director of Surgical Services for Proctor Hospital.

Selzler comes to Proctor from Avera Sacred heart Hospital, Yankton, South Dakota where he was Director of Perioperative Services.

He is a graduate of the University of Mary, Fargo, North Dakota with a Masters in Management with emphasis on health care. His BSN is from Mary College, Bismarck, North Dakota.

Selzler and wife Nancy have six children and two grandchildren.

NEW HOME FOR PREMIER CATERERING COMPANY
Catering Peoria is proud to announce the completion of their relocation to Coyote Creek Golf Club in Bartonville. The move gives the Peoria catering company a location complete with a full-service kitchen, as well as banquet facilities perfect for everything from a wedding to a corporate banquet.

Banquet & Catering Director Karen Wahl says, “We’re excited to be a part of the Coyote Creek family and facility. It’s a beautiful setting and wonderful complex which allows us an opportunity to serve anyone.” Three unique meeting rooms allow for anything from a small meeting to a large banquet, dance or reception. Wahl smiled, “We’ve always been drawn to ‘Creeks’ having begun our catering services at Kickapoo Creek Winery.”

Joining Wahl at Coyote Creek Golf Club is Chef Mike Van Raalte, Business & Finance Manager Joe Slyman, and Banquet & Catering Manager Stephanie Leafgreen.

Coyote Creek Golf Club is located at 8201 West Lancaster Road in Bartonville. You can get more information, prices and menus by visiting Catering Peoria at Coyote Creek Golf Club or calling 309-323-1667

Coyote Creek Golf Club in Bartonville is a stunning 18-hole championship golf course designed by the late Bruce Borland. Coyote Creek offers full banquet facilities as well as limitless activities and social events throughout the year.

One of 247 high-performing hospitals outside major metropolitan areas

Methodist Medical Center is among the nation’s Best Regional Hospitals 2011-12, according to U.S. News & World Report, publisher of Best Hospitals. U.S. News annually publishes the Best Hospitals rankings in July. At the midpoint of the 2011-12 year, its editors have now recognized 247 hospitals outside major metropolitan areas, including Methodist, as Best Regional Hospitals. The list of those hospitals is available online at www.usnews.com/bestregionalhospitals.

Hospitals like Methodist Medical Center offer a high level of medical care to communities that otherwise might have limited options, says Avery Comarow, U.S. News Health Rankings Editor. “All Best Regional Hospitals are what we call ‘high performers’ in at least one medical specialty,” says Comarow. “They are fully capable of providing first-rate care, even to most patients who have serious conditions or need demanding procedures.”

U.S. News annually evaluates nearly 5,000 hospitals in 16 different medical specialties. Hard numbers stand behind its analysis in most specialties—death rates, patient safety, procedure volume, and other objective data. Physicians’ responses to a national survey, in which specialists are asked to name hospitals they consider best in their specialty for the toughest cases, also are factored in.

NORMAL, IL– The Great Plains LIFE Foundation will be raffling a newly renovated 1958 John Deere Model 520 tractor. Renovations were made possible by Piercy Auto Body, Beck’s Hybrids, Don Owen Tire & Firestone and Finnigan Farms.

Raffle tickets are available for $20 each or six tickets for $100. To purchase tickets contact Great Plains LIFE foundation (309) 828-3406, Jim Finnigan (309) 828-9365, Don Owen Tire or Piercy Auto Body. Only 1,000 raffle tickets will be sold.

Proceeds raised from the raffle will go to support the “Stay 4” Project; a program that identifies low income, at-risk high school youth, encourages them to complete high school, links them with secondary educational opportunities and scholarships, and presents them with a minimum $1,000 grant once they have enrolled in trade school, community college, or four year university.

For more information visit www.stay4.org.

Congressman Aaron Schock (R-IL) will be in Peoria TOMORROW, Friday, January 27th, 2012 at 10:00am CT to visit the ELITE group at Trewyn school.

WHO: Congressman Aaron Schock
WHAT: Congressman Schock will be in Peoria on Friday to visit the ELITE group at Trewyn school. While there he will take a tour of the school and visit with the students.
WHERE: Trewyn School, 1419 S. Folkers Avenue, Peoria, IL.
WHEN: TOMORROW, Friday, January 27th, 2012 @ 10:00am CT