Dampness doesn't dampen dream hunt

<span style="font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-family: Calibri; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The 13th annual Dream Hunt for serious ill and disabled youth granted many wishes for children and for those who hoped wet weather would not wash it out.</span>

<span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The deer hunting expedition this past moderately cloudy weekend was held in conjunction with the United Special Sportsman's Alliance and local churches. The USSA is a wish granting charity that takes seriously ill or disabled youths and disabled veterans and their families out of the sterile health care setting to enjoy the beauty and splendor of nature.</span>

<span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The hunters and their families teamed with a USSA volunteer mentor, who helps the young people and their families in any way needed and hunts with the youth in the field. USSA offers a variety of outdoor oriented trips, which are open to youths 10 to 19 years of age and disabled veterans.</span>

<span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">For 13 years, Saline County has stepped forward to help these young sportsman enjoy the magnificence of the Southern Illinois woods in an early fall deer hunt. The youths stay at the General Baptist Camp Oxford in Rudement, and for the past few years, have hunted at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Sahara Woods State Fish and Wildlife Area north of Carrier Mills. They take their breakfast and lunches at the Carrier Mills Municipal Building and are served dinner at Camp Oxford.</span>

<span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This year's expedition saw 12 hunters, ranging in age from 8 to 18, participating. Hunters and their families hailed from Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee and Wisconsin, as well as Illinois. All of the hunters and their families said that they thoroughly enjoyed the excursion. Caleb Oliver, son of Chris and Julie Oliver of Elkhorn, Wisc., took the first deer of the weekend, bringing down a sturdy 4-point buck on Saturday morning.</span>

<span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"We have really enjoyed the trip, Chris Oliver said. "This is not what we thought Southern Illinois would be like, this is a very nice area, the woods are so fine looking."</span>

<span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Area churches, local businesses and people donate their time, products and funds to provide the young people with the hearty meals they enjoy during their stay. The Carrier Mills Fire Department prepared breakfast and lunch on Friday and breakfast on Saturday morning. Lunch on Saturday is traditionally a fish fry that Dr. Quentin Phelps of Southern Illinois University prepares.</span>

<span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The village of Carrier Mills donates the use of its municipal building for the hunters, mentors and families to enjoy their breakfasts and lunches. Many area churches, organizations and businesses assisted this year's hunt, with donations of time, food, funds and products. The USSA and local organizers especially want to thank Haleigh Clair's Cupcakery Services of Harrisburg, the Carrier Mills Casey's, and the Stonefort Baptist, Bethany Baptist and Dorrisville Baptist churches for their generous assistance.</span>

<span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">USSA has a web site at </span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0000ff; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">www.childswish.org</span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> where more information about the organization can be found. Any local organization, group or individuals who would like to assist with next year's dream hunt are encouraged to contact Dee Rader at 618-253-8839 for more information.</span>