Around The County

Ava Ferris and Wyatt Gilbert Stop by a Dairy King location in Breese or Trenton this Thursday, March 21 and dine out for Down syndrome on World Down Syndrome Day. A portion of the proceeds from your dining experience will go toward Community Link's 2019 Buddy Walk.
  What is Down syndrome?
  Down syndrome is a chromosomal condition that is associated with intellectual disability, a characteristic facial appearance, and weak muscle tone (hypotonia) in infants.
  Each person with Down syndrome is a unique individual and may possess these characteristics to different degrees, or none at all.
  Approximately 1 in every 700 babies in the United States is born with Down syndrome, making Down syndrome the most common chromosomal condition. About 6,000 babies with Down syndrome are born in the U.S. each year.
  World Down Syndrome Day is observed on March 21 because of the tripling (3) of the 21st chromosome (21). Events are being held all over the country to raise awareness about Down syndrome, including Dairy King in Trenton and Breese, where a percentage of sales will go toward Community Link's 2019 Buddy Walk.
  Last year, the Buddy Walk in Breese had over 1,760 registered walkers/runners and over $170,000 in donations — well over the $15,000 that was raised in 2013.
  This year, organizers are trying to top last year's amount for the 2019 Buddy Walk, which will be held on Saturday, May 4 at Northside Park in Breese.

Details: Written by Melissa Wilkinson - Breese Journal Editor

matthew25 The Matthew 25 Ecumenical Food Pantry has been providing disadvantaged people of Clinton County with food and hygiene items since 1966. Once based in Carlyle’s old Methodist church, the pantry moved to its new home in 2015. Now located in the St. Mary Center at 1171 Livingston Street in Carlyle, Matthew 25 serves about 250 families — and donates 14 tons of food — every month.
  To Matthew 25 treasurer David Rodden, who has been involved with the food pantry since 2012, the mission of serving the needy is a dear one. Rodden also serves as one of two Clinton County representatives on the board of South Central Transit (SCT), a public transit organization providing shuttles to Clinton, Jefferson, Marion, Perry, Washington and Franklin counties.
  According to Rodden, South Central Transit offers services to and from Matthew 25, but the service is underutilized.
  “There’s people that need food that have no way to get to the food pantry,” he said. “There’s a whole group of people who aren’t coming because they can’t make it.”
  Matthew 25 distributes food and hygiene items to those in need every Wednesday morning from 9:30 to 11 a.m. in the St. Mary Center. SCT riders can be dropped off within walking distance of the center via either the Blue Jay or Purple Martin routes.
  “For pricing, it depends on the age (of the rider)”, said Sherri Bassen, public relations director of SCT. “Ages 18-59 we consider adults and their fare is $2. Senior citizens 60 or over are 50 cents. Children 4 or younger, if they’re riding with an adult, there’s no charge. Children 5-17 are the same as an adult.”

Details: Written by Kelly Jo Ross - Breese Journal Reporter

Top: Neal Kahre, Travis Jondro and Nick Jondro showcase their ax throwing area at Riverside Outdoors. Bottom: The bar area of Riverside Outdoors, located at 170 Washington Street in Carlyle. The location is now open and features an archery range, ax throwing, bags, darts, and a bar area to relax and socialize. (Photos by Kelly Jo Ross) Archery — check. Ax throwing — check. Slot machines — check. What more could Clinton County want?
  And it's all available in Carlyle, at Riverside Outdoors and River Slots.
  Nick Jondro, his brother Travis Jondro, and friend Neal Kahre are proud to announce the opening of their outdoor sportsmanship business.
  Riverside Outdoors and River Slots has only been open for about three weeks, on Feb. 20, but the three are happy with how business is going, especially about a hunting-themed hangout for those wanting to get together.
  It was exactly one year prior when the three started working on the project; where they bought the building and turned it into a hunting "shed" party, of a sort.
  The building, located at 170 Washington Street in Carlyle, used to be the old Huels Oil Co. building.
  Last year, they wanted a place to go and hang out; a place where people can go and have fun.
  "We saw this place for sale and thought to have a place to hang out and shoot our (hunting) bows," said Nick Jondro. "If that didn't work, we were going to use the building to store our tractors."