"Toledo Elks Lodge replaces 8-year-old boy's stolen wheelchair Written by Jennifer S. White | | jwhite@toledofreepress.com Eight-year-old Dustin Craig has cerebral palsy and requires a wheelchair for mobility. In August, his wheelchair was stolen, but Toledo Elks Lodge No. 53 presented Craig with a new, custom-designed wheelchair in a ceremony Sept. 25. "That is my wheelchair," Craig said. "It has my name on the back.""

"TITUSVILLE, Fla. -- A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer shot six times said Thursday that he's still thankful after a coin in his pocket stopped a deadly bullet. Officer Vann Streety is getting more good fortune: a generous donation from the Elks Lodge. Streety would love to be back along the water enforcing boating, fishing and other laws, but he still very much needs the community support he's getting."

PETERSBURG-AK (2009-09-16) Over five thousand US service men and women have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to the Defense Department. Nearly 35 thousand more have been wounded in the two wars. Earlier this month, six wounded soldiers from Alaska's Fort Richardson spent a weekend in Petersburg for some rest and relaxation. Their trip was part of the Alaska State Elks Association's Wounded Veterans Project, which is aimed at helping injured vets and raising awareness about their needs. The program compliments the Army's own wounded warrior battalions that were set up to aid injured soldiers upon their return home.

The Watertown Elks are distributing free dictionary reference books to all of the public school third-grade classes in Watertown, Jefferson, Johnson Creek and Lake Mills. The local Dictionary Project is being funded through a donation from the Watertown Elks Lodge. The idea for The Dictionary Project began in 1992 when Annie Plummer of Savannah, Ga., gave 50 dictionaries to children who attended a school close to her home. Each year she continued to give this gift, raising money to help give more and more books so that in her lifetime she raised enough money to buy 17,000 dictionaries for children in Savannah.

Streator Elks Lodge 591 recently donated $500 to the James Street Recreation Center in Streator. The recreational center is still in its building stage and is in need of additional ball equipment, concession equipment and the forming of grounds. Future building plans will include lighting, bleachers and fencing.

Carlisle Elks Lodge #578 held the Initiation Ceremony for 13 new members on Tuesday, September 15, 2009. A warm welcome to the new class! September 15th also marked the annual visit of our District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler, Warren Specht, and Grand Esquire Carl Hilton. DDGER Specht encouraged the Lodge and its leadership to continue "the good work" that has been evident within. Thanks to all of the members who attended and made the event a success!

Third-graders Anthonie Cooper, Isavel Cantero, Evanny Toxqui, Eileen Solis and Kaylea Borquist, along with Sun City Elks Americanism Chairman Dave Buchanan, display the students' new dictionaries after a presentation Friday at Arizona Charter Academy in Surprise.

The local Elks lodges have always tried to educate young people about the repercussions of using drugs and alcohol. However, the simple message of "Don't do drugs" didn't seem to be getting through, said Sharon Welch, north district chairman of the Colorado Elks Drug Awareness Program. "Before, we weren't reaching the audience," she said. "We needed to take a different path and be more modern." That's when coordinators contacted Milton Creagh.

On Sep. 24, 1908, the Elks Grand Lodge was petitioned to establish a Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge in Elkins by a group of local individuals hoping to have a club in Elkins. The Grand Lodge granted the charter committee's request on July 15, 1909, as Elkins Lodge No. 1135.

A Cleburne organization is helping those in crisis after winning a $10,000 national grant. The Cleburne Elks Lodge received the grant last year after Sharen Rotenberry, chairman of the Elks National Foundation for the Cleburne Lodge, applied for the Elks National Foundation impact grant, meant to help local charitable organizations.

We gather to remember, but I underscore that we remember together, today! We grieve together, today! We mourn together, today! But we also draw strength, faith and courage from each other, today!" said Middlesex County Freeholder Mildred Scott as she spoke at the Piscataway Elks '9/11 Remembrance Ceremony' on Friday, Sept. 11th.

The Glenwood Spring Elk's have begun their annual Big game hide collection to benefit Our Nations Veterans. Local hunters have the opportunity to stretch out a helping hand to veterans in need. T

The Elks are a fraternal organization founded in 1868, although the organization had previously existed under the name of Jolly Corks. The first lodge was formed in New York City. The local lodge is focused on Maplewood and Irvington as well as South Orange and hosts a pancake breakfast every second Sunday of the month. Other fundraising events include a golf outing in July and a pig roast in September.

BLUEFIELD - Members of the Bluefield Elks Lodge No. 269 continued a seven-year tradition by hosting a "Local First Responders Tribute & Dinner" in memory of the 343 firemen, 23 policemen, 37 Port Authority workers and 3,000 civilians who died in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York City, Washington, D.C., and southwestern Pennsylvania.

Mayor John F. Bencivengo, center, accepts a check for $2,500 from Hamilton Elks Special Children's Committee member Rich Mount, left, and committee co-chariman Mike Spottiswood, right. The Mayor dedicated the recently built accessible playground at Veteran's Park during a ceremony at SeptemberFest. The donation from the Elks will be utilized toward landscaping the playground area.

The Piscataway Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks located at 450 River Road will hold their annual candle-lighting ceremony at 7:00pm on Friday, September 11, 2009 to commemorate the events that took place eight years ago.

The Portland-based McMenamins will turn its redevelopment magic toward Tacoma to renew the dilapidated Elks Temple in downtown.

The Portland-based McMenamins will turn its redevelopment magic toward Tacoma to renew the dilapidated Elks Temple in downtown looks like a group that will reinvent what the Elks used to be all about!.

The future of the Albert Lea Elks Lodge remains uncertain, but Elks officials have told service clubs and other groups to find a new meeting place. Elks officials told these groups the building will be closed to them starting Sept. 1. Negotiations for a possible sale of the building are happening, leaving everyone from employees to the regional leaders waiting to see what happens.

Hemet becomes home to RV'ers next month for the 41st annual California Elks Camper Rally, which will raise money for to pay for therapy for children in California and Hawaii whose disabilities require therapy but who don't qualify for state and other government-agency funding.

The Fort Morgan Elks Lodge resembled an oceanside environment Saturday during the Dog Days of Summer Sand Volleyball Tournament. Six truckloads of sand were brought in to create two courts for the competition, which also featured a barbecue, music and the Fort Morgan Rotary Club s dunk tank. (John Brennan/Fort Morgan Times) There was plenty of sand at the Dog Days of Summer Sand Volleyball Tournament at the Fort Morgan Elks Lodge on Saturday.