This time of year, folks in northwest Illinois begin thinking about beautiful and colorful mums, about fall decorating, looking for a unique gift for someone special or for that last new piece of yard art. Some might even be dreaming about the holiday shopping list.

Patsy Cline died in a tragic plane crash in 1963. She left behind a catalog of music, sung by many artists since that day. The story of Patsy Cline has also been spoken of in film, but a tribute to her life and the love of friendship plays locally with the musical, “Always ... Patsy Cline.”

Freeport RC Modelers fun fly is at 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday at  Blumenthal Road, Freeport

The program for the 1938 Henney Motor Co. family picnic tells a lot about life back then ... and about a company that packed a wallop on the local scene.

What: ‘The Company Picnic’ with activities and exhibits featuring Henney Motor Co.
When: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 4.
Where: Stephenson County Historical Society, Freeport.
Admission: Free for all events and museum tours.

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Author of “Deadly Heirs,”the first novel of the Chase Michael DeBarlo mystery series, Mike Ricksecker is a versatile and talented writer who sees mystery in all aspects of the world around him. “Give me a bare room with a box, and I’ll have a field day. What’s in the box? Why is the room bare? What I love about writing mystery fiction is that it’s one big puzzle, and I enjoy challenging other people to figure out the solution.”

This week Immanuel Lutheran is welcoming a new “vicar,” student pastor Brian Weaver from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Weaver, a native of Texas, will certainly bring new ideas to the congregation. 

Prayer and faith can have a powerful affect on healing both emotionally and physically for some people. The Rev. Kent Svendsen said he has had the experience of physical healing in his life, and is offering the chance to experience healing in a spiritual way through a special worship service Sunday.

Backpacks are the rage these days and with schools everywhere beginning a new session, young children and teens are using these packs to express their own personal sense of style. When these packs are used properly, they can be incredibly handy. When used improperly, it can set the tone for spinal issues as the child grows into adulthood.

Jacqulyn Janecek, a Freeport native joined Teach For America to make a difference in students’ lives. She did not know that it would land her in a book called “Teaching As Leadership: The Highly Effective Teacher’s Guide to Closing the Achievement Gap.”
The book is based on 20 years of studying successful teachers in the corps.

As the small bevy of worshippers at Van Brocklin United Methodist Church ponder their predicament after the flood, members are inspired by their heritage to keep on keeping on. Current members represent generations whose footprints were left, whose knees were bent for blessings and prayers, and those who’ve been baptized, confirmed, married and buried there.