Daily Digest for Sept. 20, 2008:

Programs teach teens about policing

MINIER - A new program offered in Minier picks up on the popularity of the crime scene investigation television shows, and gives young people fodder for career decisions.

Minier Police Chief Daryl Weselo said the department is sponsoring an on-going program for teens ages 14-21, interested in law enforcement careers.

Minier's Law Enforcement Exploring Program allows teens to experience a variety of jobs, including city patrol officer, under-cover drug agent, F.B.I. agent and crime scene investigator.

An orientation meeting will be held 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Minier Police Station. 110 W. Central Ave.

The program includes bi-monthly meetings with guest speakers and hands-on role playing. The teens may also participate in state and national conferences.

LeRoy homecoming court announced

LEROY - Members of the LeRoy High School homecoming court are Tyler Bruning, Brett Howell, TJ Marcum, Craig Noe, Matt Schopp, Kirsti Clawson, Rachael Graham, Jessica Harbison, Mariah Morris and Kelley Morgan. The coronation will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the football field.

The flag football games and bonfire will also be held Wednesday following the coronation.

The homecoming parade will be 10:45 a.m. Friday. The parade route has been changed to avoid construction at the recreation center site. The parade will step off on Barnett Street and move west on Wayne Street to Mill Street. From Mill, marchers will go south to Elm Street and west on Elm to Main Street. The parade will then travel down Main south to Center Street at the circle, and then east on Center to the high school.

The homecoming dance will be held at the high school from 8 to 11 p.m. Sept. 27. Tickets will be sold at the door.

Groups seek donations for Operation Santa

FAIRBURY - GFCW-Illinois Fairbury Junior Woman's Club is working with Operation Santa to help sew and fill Christmas stockings to be sent overseas to service men and women.

The group needs lightweight material to make stockings and items to put into them. The club also requests letters of support for the troops to include in the stockings.

Letters or donations of travel-size toiletries, individually packaged snacks, AA batteries, hand and foot warmers, CDs or DVDs can be dropped off at Dave's in Fairbury. Ready-made bags of items for the stockings can be purchased for $5 or $10 at Dave's.

For more information, contact Carol at (815) 692-2910 or Chris at (815) 692-4515.

Fairbury campaign runs through December

FAIRBURY - The Fairbury Community Fund campaign for 2008 began this week with a goal of raising $37,500 before the drive ends Dec. 30.

Nineteen organizations will benefit from this year's drive. One new organization, Life Center for Independent Living, has been added to the list of groups receiving assistance.

All 19 agencies support Fairbury residents, but some also provide assistance to the entire Livingston County area. Residents are asked to mail their contribution to P.O. Box 62, Fairbury, or drop it off at Bluestem National Bank.

School district nabs academic honor

TREMONT - Tremont Community Unit School District 702 was among the school districts honored with a 2008 Bright Star Award for excellence from School Search. The award honors districts with academic performance in the upper one-third of Illinois school districts and per-pupil spending in the lower one-fourth of Illinois districts.

School Search is an educational research and consulting firm.