Volunteers sought to remove invasive crayfish in Kane County

The Kane County Forest Preserve District is looking for volunteers to help remove an invasive species known as the rusty crayfish from local waterways.

From 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 12, the “Rusty Rodeo” event aims at collecting, identifying and removing rusty crayfish, officials said.

Two locations have been designated for the event to accommodate participants. The first location is Glenwood Park Forest Preserve at 1644 S. River St. in Batavia. The second location will be on the west side of the Fox River, near the historic Piano Factory Pedestrian Bridge, along the Riverside Trail at Indian Street in St. Charles.

Those participating should wear closed-toe shoes and clothes that can get muddy, organizers said.

Participants should expect to get wet as they wade into the water with dip nets to catch and remove the rusty crayfish, according to a press release about the event. While organizers will have some dip nets available to loan, they are encouraging participants to bring their own if possible.

The event is co-sponsored by the Forest Preserve District of Kane County, St. Charles Park District, Fox Valley Park District, Friends of the Fox, Center for Great Lakes Literacy and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant.

No registration is required for the event. For more information, go to www.kaneforest.com, email programs@kaneforest.com or call 630-444-3190.

The Ride in Kane program and the Kane County Veterans Assistance Commission are offering free rides for veterans who have appointments at the four veterans medical clinics in the area.

Rides are available to and from the Hoffman Estates VA Clinic, the Kane County Judicial Center Veterans Treatment Court in St. Charles, the Aurora VA Clinic in North Aurora and the Aurora Veterans Center, a county news release said.

To register for the service call the Kane County Veterans Assistance Commission at 630-232-3550/3551 or email zimmmermanjacob@kanecountyil.gov.

Little White School Museum will stage “Let’s Talk Oswego History” with host and museum director Roger Matile at noon on July 15 at the museum, 72 Polk St. in Oswego.

Participants can bring their own local historical questions and discover some of the community’s history as it celebrates the 190th anniversary of its settlement.

There is a $5 donation per person. Early registration isn’t necessary, but is appreciated, museum officials said. Walk-ins the day of the program are welcome, according to officials.

To register in advance, call the Oswegoland Park District at 630-554-1010 or go to www.oswegolandparkdistrict.org/.

For more information, call the museum at 630-554-2999, email info@littlewhiteschoolmuseum.org or go to www.littlewhiteschoolmuseum.org.

The Rev. Melissa Meyers was appointed by Northern Illinois Conference Bishop Dan Schwerin to be the new senior pastor for Batavia United Methodist Church, effective July 1.

Meyers was formerly senior pastor at Freeport Faith United Methodist Church. Prior to her appointment at Freeport, her appointments have been at Sheridan-Norway UMC, Faith United Methodist Church of Orland Park and Genoa Faith United Methodist Church.

Meyers earned her associate’s degree from Rock Valley Community College, followed by a bachelor’s degree in religious studies and communication from the University of Dubuque in Dubuque, Iowa, and a master’s degree in divinity from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.