Snow Angel

GLIMPSES OF THE PAST - FULTON 1971: Kenneth Beswick earns title of Outstanding Farmer

60 Years February 8, 1961

City Council approved contracts for the first phase of extensive improvements to Fulton’s waterworks and sewerage system, and adopted an ordinance authorizing the issuance of revenue bonds to help finance the improvements.

Footings were poured for a new medical arts building to provide new and enlarged quarters for Dr. M.J. Vruno, physician and surgeon, and Dr. M.E. Brookstra, dentist, and also to house a complete pharmacy operated by Wood’s Drug Store.

50 Years February 10, 1971

For the first time in the history of the Presbyterian Church in Fulton (and the writer believes, possibly the first time in any Protestant church in Fulton), a woman has been elected as elder. Mrs. J.E. Mitchell and Floyd Douglas were elected elders at the annual congregational meeting.

Garden Plain Mutual Fire Insurance Company announced that Kenneth Beswick won the title of Outstanding Farmer of Whiteside County and the runner-up title in The Illinois Contest.

40 Years February 11, 1981

Congressman Tom Railsback, R-Moline, announced that the Rock Island District Office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded a small business contract to a Rock Island firm for construction at the Thomson Causeway public use area at Lock and Dam 13. The contract was awarded for $598,070 for a picnic shelter and shower buildings and improved parking and maneuvering facilities at Lock and Dam 13.

Tom Kelley, proprietor of Kelley’s Jack and Jill Stores has been elected treasurer of the Fulton Chamber of Commerce. He succeeds Mrs. David Mitchell, who resigned because of poor health.

30 Years February 6, 1991

Fulton Elementary School students who participated in the Contig contest include Amanda Talbot, Jessie Faber, Jeff Edwards, Bill Siefken, Matt Smazik, Robert Abbott, Joe Ottens, Andy Hook, Mark Thunstedt and James Abbott.

Plans for a new recreational facility for Fulton moved a step nearer to completion when the City Council heard a detailed report about plans for developing the former Sportsmen’s Club with numerous improvements. Plans were presented by Alderman Rich Kummerer, and Mayor Kenneth Ven Huizen said funds for the work were in the budget.

20 Years February 7, 2001

Henry Kramer, editor of Fulton Press Inc., was presented with the Studs Terkel Humanities Service Award at the Fulton City Council meeting. The award is given by the Illinois Humanities Council to individuals of communities whose efforts on behalf of the humanities are often unsung. Mr. Kramer was nominated for the award by Mayor Paul Sikkema in a letter to the IHC in July 2000.

F ive S te a m e r w r es t le r s e ar n ed berths to the Illinois State Sectional. They are Evan McCallister, Seth Spooner, Eric Burns, Joe Pence and Nich Hinrichs. Coaches are Crosthwaite and McCallister.

10 Years February 9, 2011

Fulton High School speech team coach Susan Daniels received an award from the speech coaches of Northwestern Illinois. The award was given for her 15 years of service and to recognize that Daniels was the coach who started “novice finals” at the invitational tournaments in northern Illinois.

The third annual euchre tournament was held at Cousins Subs in Fulton. The champions were the team of Gerry Kopf and Craig Bielema.

YOUR HEALTH Air pollution and your immune system

BY DR. STEVEN HARRISON, M.D.

This article tries to tie the scourge of an old virus, polio, with our latest pandemic, COVID-19, through the medium of air pollution.

With polio, people can recall the fear of swimming pools, and the closing of movie theaters and many other public arenas. At its height in 1952, more than 50,000 cases were contracted in this country. The most famous case was President Franklin Roosevelt, who contracted polio well before his presidency.

It turns out, though, that the virus had been around for thousands of years, including during the times of the pharaohs in ancient Egypt. However, its impact then was not nearly what it was to become until toxic chemicals invaded our environment and allowed this virus to wreak havoc by attacking weakened immune systems. The systems are weakened by environmental chemicals, which contribute to diabetes, hypertension and obesity.

When we recognize that obesity is the biggest risk factor for COVID-19, we begin to see a common link. Dr. Al Sears promotes the argument that lead and other chemicals such as arsenic were used extensively on the environment with disastrous consequences that weakened the immune system and allowed polio to proliferate. Likewise today, areas with the biggest pollution index have some of the highest COVID-19 death rates.

I will not go into the extent of impact that chemicals have on the immune system, but it is well-documented that they affect the lungs and blood system extensively. It does help explain why having obese people with chronic conditions, such as diabetes, in crowded cities such as New York with poor nutrition is a recipe for disaster. However, if we think we are out of the woods with rural life, Sears points out most of our homes are often more polluted.

Besides being aware of the many toxic products in the environment and household, Sears and others offer some practical advice. Flushing the chemicals from the body is the goal. A process called IV chelation is the best, and helps to bind many heavy metal toxins without hurting our essential minerals. While most oral flushes are not what they purport to be, these have shown some favorable impact: activated charcoal, modified citrus pectin, spirulina and NAC.

The Environmental Protection Agency states most households are more toxic inside than outside the home, with insulation often aggravating the situation.

Long ago, NASA’s space program recognized the toxic impact of chemicals that are in households and developed a list of plants that can help detoxify the house. These include English ivy, Boston fern, mums, daisies, peace lily, palm trees, golden pathos, rubber plant and Dracaena Janet Craig.