Cause for celebration

UIS' new Emiquon Field Station is now complete and ready for a grand opening on Friday, April 25. That's the day when the station, located at The Nature Conservancy's Emiquon Preserve near Lewistown, will be dedicated and open for tours. Under the direction of UIS Biology Professor Mike Lemke, the station will study, research and document the restoration of the Illinois River floodplain, one of the world's largest reclamation projects of its kind. I invite all of you to an open house and picnic at the station on Saturday, April 26, when tours of the Emiquon Preserve will be given. There will also be a slide presentation about the Illinois River and a talk about native peoples by Mike Wiant, director of Dickson Mounds, which is located near the station. Plan to bring the whole family for what promises to be a very fun and informative day. The Emiquon Preserve is located about 45 miles northwest of Springfield near Lewistown and Havana.