This space offers 2400 square feet of open freedom. Freshly painted and new carpet throughout. The office building has a great foyer that lets in natural light to this great space. There are four spacious offices with plenty of open areas to create more. This building also has a great break room equipped with a sink, cabinet space and a utility room. This great space comes with two bathrooms with one being handicap accessable. With-in this space you can find many areas for storage. This would be great for any smaller start up business or even many existing ones looking for a fresh new location. It is conveniently located near WIU’s campus and Highway 67.

Prairie Hills RC&D READY (Reaching, Educating and Developing Youth) Bus had a great year! This literacy program, which provides children pre-school through sixth grade, educational presentations on conservation, wildlife habitat or the environment, and gives them a free book of their choice. The children have made the program so worthwhile and exciting. They light up when they see the bus and get to pick out their free book!

The READY Bus held 42 events and gave away 3,695 books to pre-school to sixth grade children in all of our counties in 2011.

Some other goals the READY Bus would like to obtain for 2012 is to install an awning for the side, install solar lighting for the inside, continue to collect new and good quality used books, and obtain more funding to purchase additional books and educational materials and help offset operational expenses of the bus.

Prairie Hills RC&D and the READY Bus program would like to thank all the groups, organizations and individuals for their tremendous support and donations!

If you or your organization would like to sponsor a program or schedule the READY bus, please call the office at (309)833-4747.

The Prairie Land Conservancy received three conservation easements in 2011. In July, the PLC received its first CE from Dennis and Ginny Samuelson. The second conservation easement was donated by Paul and Sheila Nollen and the third was donated by Don and Ruth Dexter. All of these easements are locted in McDonough County. The PLC also received a "testimonial gift" donation of land by a Will (Bequest)in Hancock County in November 2011. We now have around 256 acres of donated easements.

Members of the PLC have continued their stewardship of property at Stoney Hills Nature Preserve in Hancock County. The stewardship consisted of holding various workdays to remove brush, do prescribed burns, and plant a show case prairie. If you would like to join their efforts and assist in a work day, please contact Alice Henry at (309)833-4747.

If you or someone you know is interested in joining the PLC, providing assistance, volunteering, or interested in learning more about conservation easements, please visit the PLC website at www.prairielandconservancy.com or call the office at (309)833-4747.

Please find below a list of tentatively scheduled Prairie Hills RC&D Council Meetings and Executive Board Meetings for 2012. As the meeting dates get closer, information will be mailed to you.

2012 TENTATIVE COUNCIL MEETING DATES
Thursday January 19, 2012-ANNUAL COUNCIL MEETING
Thursday April 19, 2012
Thursday July 19, 2012
Thursday October 18, 2012

2012 TENTATIVE EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING DATES
Thursday February 16, 2012
Thursday April 19, 2012
Thursday June 21, 2012
Thursday August 16, 2012
Thursday October 18, 2012
Thursday December 20, 2012

These dates are subject to change depending on weather and other unforeseen circumstances.