The Akron-Westfield School has its PaySchools online payment system up and running. For more information, call 568-2020.

Union Creek Church

will hold their annual Fall

Sale on Wednesday, Nov.

15 at 7 p.m. There will be a youth candy booth. A social hour will follow the sale. Everyone is welcome to attend.

The Akron Area Chamber of Commerce is holding its annual turkey drawing. Sign up at participating Chamber members. Drawing will be held Nov. 17.

The third public meeting

of the Big Sioux River

Water Tributary Project

will be at 1:30 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 20 at the

A-W School ICN Room.

All are invited to attend.

The Next Generation

Club is taking orders for

cookie trays.

Floyd Valley Community

Health Service

will again be providing flu

shots throughout Plymouth

County. In Akron, public immunization will be held Friday, Nov. 17, 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the Akron Senior Center. (This is the rescheduled date.)

Marjorie Flados will be signing her book Friday, Nov. 17, 3-5 p.m., at the Akron Library.

The Beresford Lions

Club is holding a Craft

Fair Saturday, Nov. 25 in

Beresford.

The Akron City Council will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 28; Monday, Dec. 4; and Tuesday, Dec. 19. In January 2007: Wednesday,

Jan. 3 and Tuesday, Jan. 16.

Classifieds

Obituaries

The third barn quilt has been hung in Plymouth County. As of Nov. 9, this original design created by Wanda and Richard Philips graces their barn at 16386 Hwy 3, east of Akron. The barn quilt features ears of corn symbolizing “the most important part” of the Philips' lives. “Corn is how we made our living,” said Wanda, adding the four ears represent their four children: Valerie and her husband, Randy Elam of Wichita, Kan.; Vance and his wife, Vickie of both Minneapolis, Minn., and Tampa, Fla.; Greta and her husband, Tom Ford of Key West, Fla.; and Matthew and his wife, Laura of Decatur, Ill. The blues in the background are the “colors of the sky” and the red star in the middle symbolizes the family roots that beckon everyone, including their 10 grandchildren, home, explained Wanda, adding she made cloth quilts containing at least one block with corn for all of her children and grandchildren. Their barn quilt was painted by the Akron-Westfield Talented And Gifted elementary students Trevor Hanson, Dana Hedlund and Mikayla Morey. The Philips' Barn Quilt Hanging Celebration was a celebration of the farm, a celebration of joy and a celebration of one another, said their pastor, Rev. Ted Stowers of Adaville and Merrill United Methodist Churches, as he gave a blessing of the barn quilt. “It's also to know we have the sense that church is not just that building in Adaville or wherever yours is,” said Stowers. “That your church is a part of you wherever you go.” “You take your faith with you,” he added, reminding the 40 people present of the joy of all that God provides. After the blessing, the guests, family and friends watched North West Rural Electric Cooperative employees raise the wooden barn quilt into place on the Philips' family barn. The barn was built in about 1950 by William E. Philips and his boys: Jason, Sam, Richard and Herb. When Richard was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1950, the west half still needed shingling. The barn was built with 20 feet long floor joists. According to Richard, one of the joists had a knot in it. His father did not want to use it because he felt it wouldn't be strong enough. At one time, the barn was used for cattle and hogs, said Richard, adding there were eight cow stanchions in it. There was also an 800-bushel grain bin at the north end, where the barn quilt is hung. The only residents the barn has seen in the last 10 years was raccoons, laughed Richard, adding they eat his sweet corn. In the last five years, the barn has been repaired. The idea of barn quilts started in Adams County in southern Ohio, said Plymouth County Extension Director Carol Schneider. It was started by Donna Sue Groves who wanted to paint a quilt design on her family barn to commemorate and honor her mother. She chose a Snail's Tail quilt pattern. Soon, there were several in Adams County. Groves explained her Barn Quilt Project at a rural women's conference in Nebraska. She said the barn quilts started getting people off the main highways and into the small rural communities which led to economic development and growth. A Grundy Center, Iowa, extension employee, heard Groves speak and brought the idea to Iowa. It has spread to other counties. Sac County has the most barn quilts -- 55 at this time. The Plymouth County Extension Office and the Le Mars Arts Council are seeking residents who are interested in hanging a barn quilt on their barns or corn cribs. The barn quilts are 8 feet by 8 feet in size, constructed of plywood, and painted with a quilting pattern the residents chose or create. If residents, even those who live in town, don't have a barn or corn crib, they can create a 4 feet by 4 feet wooden “welcoming” barn quilt. Ultimately, there will be a brochure and a map at visitors centers and local businesses for travelers to pick up and “tour” the barn quilts in Plymouth County, said Schneider. The first Plymouth County barn quilt is at the Ted Hoffman farm, 28163 200th St. in rural Le Mars. The second is at the Carl and Colleen Westergard residence, 21915 120th St. in rural Ireton. It features the Pale Star pattern. Three more are already in the planning stages and will be ready for hanging next spring. For more information on Plymouth County's Plymouth County Barn Quilt Project, contact the Schneider at 712-546-7835 or Norm and Ruth