With the holidays coming up, The Akron Hometowner has a little different print schedule. Reminder that there is no paper printed the week of Dec. 26. The New Year’s issue will be printed Thursday, Jan. 3 and in the mail that day. So rural routes will receive their paper Friday. The deadline for that issue is Jan. 2 by noon.

Akron Golf Course is sponsoring a New Year’s Eve dance.

The Akron-Westfield Christmas program will be presented on WNAX Radio (570) Dec. 24, 6:30-7 p.m. and on Dec. 25, 11:30 a.m.-noon.

Carlsen Funeral Home is sponsoring a Longest Night Service Dec. 21 at 7 p.m.

For December the Akron City Council meeting nights have changed from Tuesday to Thursday. So, the council's meetings will be held Dec. 13 and Dec. 27. Pancake Breakfast

The Akron Knights of Columbus are holding a Pancake Breakfast Jan. 6 at Parish Hall.

Peoples Bank is holding a Christmas Open House Dec. 21, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

The Iowa Caucus is Thursday, Jan. 3.

The 2008 G.O.P caucuses will be held on the night of Monday, Jan. 3 at 7 p.m. SHARP. All registered Republicans are urged to attend their precinct caucuses at the designated sites here listed. Here is some information which may help answer questions you may have concerning the caucuses.

•A preference poll will be taken near the beginning of each Precinct’s Caucus. This poll will allow caucus attendees to vote for their preferred candidate in the presidential race.

•17-year-olds who will turn 18 by the Nov. 4 election are eligible to participate and vote in the caucuses. These people must register as Republicans at the caucus and their registration will be held by the County Chair until six months prior to their 18 birthday. These people are also eligible to serve as delegates to the County, District, and State Conventions.

•Representatives to the County Central Committee and delegates to the County Convention will be nominated and elected at the caucuses for each precinct. There will also be sign-up sheets available for those who wish to volunteer to be delegates to the April 19 District Convention and the June 13 and 14 State Convention. Delegates fees are $50 which covers all involved conventions.

•A new County Platform will be debated and ratified at the County Convention on March 8. The platform is a summation of the core values and beliefs of the Party. Planks for the platform can be proposed and submitted in written form at the precinct caucuses where they will be debated and voted upon. Please write legibly.

•If you are as yet unregistered, or are registered to vote as a member of another Party or as an Independent, you may register as a Republican at your local caucus and be eligible for full participation in the Republican Party organization.

•If anyone has questions or concerns regarding the caucuses, please contact: Don Kass, Plymouth County G.O.P. Chair, at 712-786-2191, or by fax 712-786-2581.

Pct. 1 Akron & Portland Townships; Pct. 6 Westfield, Westfield & Sioux Townships: Location-Akron

Public Library.

Pct. 2 Craig, Preston & Grant Townships; Pct. 4 Brunsville, Johnson & Washington Townships: Location-Brunsville Legion Hall.

Pct. 3 Seney, Struble, Elgin & America Townships; Precincts 11, 12 & 13 - City of Le Mars: Location- Prime Bank-Le Mars (Basement)

Pct. 5 Remsen, Fredonia, Marion, Meadow & Remsen Townships; Location-Remsen- Union High School Auditorium.

Pct. 7 Merrill, Liberty & Plymouth Townships; Location-Merrill Civic Center.

Pct. 8 Hancock & Perry Townships; Location-Ed & Sandy Fravel Residence, 17073 C60, Sioux City.

Pct. 9 Hinton, Hungerford & Lincoln Townships; Location-Hinton Community Center.

Pct. 10 Kingsley, Elkhorn, Garfield, Henry & Union Townships; Location-Kingsley State Bank.

Submitted by Jon Neunaber, Chair, Plymouth County Democratic Party.

Plymouth County Democratic Party Precinct Caucus locations will be at the following:

Precinct #1 Portland plus entire city limits of Akron - Akron-Westfield High School Auditorium, 850 Kerr Dr., Akron. Contact person: Principal Derek Briggs:712-568-2616 or 712-568-2404.

Precinct #2 Preston/Grant - County Line Bar and Grill, 235 Oak St., Craig. 712-562-6232.

Precinct #3 Elgin/America minus city limits of Le Mars - Lally’s Eastside Restaurant, 125 Plymouth St., NE, Le Mars. 712-546-4406.

Precinct #4 Johnson/Washington - Legion Hall Bar Area, 305 Oak St., Brunsville. 712-533-6124.

Precinct #5 Fredonia/Meadow/Marion/Remsen - Remsen-Union High School Commons, 511 Roosevelt St., Remsen. 712-786-1101.

Precinct #6 Westfield minus city limits of Akron/Sioux -Westfield Congregational United Church of Christ, 224 Linden St., Westfield. 712-568-2045. Contact person: Barbette Grimm, 712-568-2625. Precinct #7 Liberty/Plymouth/Stanton - Merrill Civic Center, 321 Fourth St., Merrill. Contact City Hall: 712-938-2514.

Precinct #8 Hancock/Perry - Perry Township Hall, 22500 C60, Hinton. Contact persons: Mr. and Mrs. Tom Flannery Sr. 712-239-3407. Note: The above street number is an approximation. The blue street number sign at the site is missing.

Precinct #9 Hungerford/Lincoln - Hinton High School Library, 315 West Grand St., Hinton. 712-947-4329.

Precinct #10 Union/Henry/Elkhorn/Garfield - Kingsley Community Center, 207 East First St., Kingsley. 712-378-9901. Contact City Clerk Office: 712-378-3601.

Precinct #11 Le Mars #1 - Le Mars Community High School Commons, 921 Third Avenue SW, Le Mars. 712-546-4155.

Precinct #12 Le Mars #2 - Le Mars Community High School Little Theater, 921 Third Avenue SW, Le Mars. 712-546-4155.

Precinct #13 Le Mars #3 - Le Mars Community High School Commons, 921 Third Avenue SW, Le Mars. 712-546-4155. Note: The three Le Mars precincts will have a common entrance. Entrance A. Note: Some of the locations would be subject to change if the date of the caucus were moved for any reason. Note: This slate subject to ratification by the Plymouth County Democratic Central Committee.

 

 

 

Scrumptious Santas

by Julie Ann Madden

She’s not sure if it’s a secret ingredient such as the pure vanilla extract from Mexico or just her decorating talents that have people begging for her Christmas cookies. But for the past 16 years, LorriSchuller of Hawarden, has been making dozen after dozen that seem to disappear as fast as snowflakes. One year Schuller made over 250 dozen decorated sugar cookies: Santa faces, snowmen, stars, bells, Christmas trees and snowflakes to name a few. Her brother, Joe Hook of Akron, probably is her No. 1 customer. He’s always requesting some and is very willing to eat the “broken ones.” Schuller isn’t sure but she suspects boxes of the broken ones may have helped sweeten the deal when Joe was courting Akron Hometowner Publisher Dodie! She’s perfected the art so that there are not many broken ones now. A few years ago, she made a special batch for Joe and one of her other brothers, Terry Hook of Colorado. They were snowflakes frosted with yellow sugar “snow.” Her note said, “Don’t eat any yellow snow.” Schuller, who first made a few batches to sell at a craft fair 16 years ago, doesn’t remember where she obtained her special recipe. “You know how you try different ones -- I think I got it from a cookbook,” said Schuller, explaining this recipe calls for mixing the ingredients similar to recipes for making pie crusts. “You don’t use an electric mixer.” Usually she begins baking the cookies right after Halloween when people start ordering them by the dozens. Schuller has between 300 - 400 cookie cutters -- some for every occasion or holiday. This year she only used one - Santa. “It’s hard trying to make enough to satisfy everybody,” said Schuller, who claims this is the last year she’s taking orders. She plans to spend more time on family Christmas projects next year. “I need time to do my own Christmas shopping. Presents have been really lean because I have no time (except to bake Christmas cookies).” Schuller, and her husband Frank, have three children who live in the area and seven grandchildren with another on the way. “If people want the recipe, I will share it,” said Schuller. See the recipe below. If it just doesn’t taste like hers, she can’t help it. “People can tell the difference between the ones I make and Missy (my daughter) makes,” said Schuller. “I think my favorite part is when I can give them to people to brighten their lives,” said Schuller. “I’ve given quite a few away to friends and people who have cancer or are sick.”

Rolled Cut-Out Cookies

3 cups flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

Salt (I never use)

1 cup shortening

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon lemon juice

4 Tablespoon milk

2 eggs

Put flour, baking powder, baking

soda, salt, shortening and sugar in

a large bowl. Sprinkle lemon juice

 

 

Members of the Akron-Westfield Danz Squad include (front l-r:) Jennifer Roggatz, Rachel Black, Jordan Dirks, Shelby Johnson, Carissa Westergard, Alison Kusler, Tasha DeRocher, (Middle Row l-r:) Christina Clarey, Shannon Small, Caine Westergard, Hillary Morse, Karly Groon, Casey Armstrong, Kaylee Sanders, Melissa Garrett, Marissa Harvey, (Back Row l-r:) Kaylee Hoffman, Sheriden Eastman, Lauren Heeren, Hailey DeRocher, Ashley Johnson, Allison Kjar, Tasha Johnson, Shelby Morey and Jordan Heeren. The Danz Squad is coached by Val Philips.