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First Mid Bank & Trust promotes John West to Regional Community Bank President
•March 5, 2025•
First Mid Bank & Trust announced the promotion of John West to Regional Community Bank President. West will be responsible for business development, community engagement initiatives, and supporting and strengthening lending relationships in First Mid’s Decatur Region.
“We are thrilled to have John take on the role of Regional Community Bank President,” said Joe Dively, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at First Mid. “He has demonstrated exceptional leadership, a deep commitment to our customers, and a passion for fostering strong community relationships. We are confident that under his leadership, our Decatur Region will continue to thrive and grow.”
Read MoreSullivan Dance Studio’s Competition Team attends 2025 competition
•March 5, 2025•
Sullivan Dance Studio’s Competition Team has attended two competitions so far this year. Specialty routines only (solos, duets and trios) attended “Believe Dance Competition” at Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville, IL February 1-2. All thirty-one team members attended The Dance Effect Competition on February 22 at the Scottish Rite Cathedral in St. Louis, Missouri.
Soloists this year range in age from 4 to 13 and include: Aubrey Young, Mara Inman, Alayna Young, Knox Weakly, Kaylee Hostetler, Natalia Beals, Addi Finn, Brinnley Hobbs, Emma Hostetler and Miah Voegel. The genres for their numbers include Jazz, Open, Musical Theatre, Hip Hop, and Tap.
Read MoreSinger’s continue competition season
Enrollment for Rotary Youth Leadership Awards now open
On February 28 Rotary International District 6490 announced open enrollment for local sophomore, junior, and senior year high school and home-schooled students to attend the 2025 Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, a youth development and leadership experience, scheduled April 4-6, 2025 at the University of Illinois 4-H Memorial Camp in Monticello, Illinois.
“The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is an absolutely amazing, not-to-be-missed, action-packed weekend experience for sophomore, junior, and senior high school and home- schooled students sponsored by Rotary clubs located across Central Illinois,” said Tanya Walker, Rotary District 6490 RYLA Co-Chair and member of the Rotary Club of Arthur. “In addition to building lifelong friendships as well as developing social and interpersonal engagement skills, RYLA is a truly unique, fun, experience that encourages and enables youth leadership development, teamwork, self-confidence, self-esteem, business and financial management skills, mindfulness, and so much more,” added Walker.
Read MoreRedskins compete in Powerlifting Meet
Photo provided
A small group Redskin Football athletes competed at the Maroa-Forsyth Trojan Powerlifting Meet on Saturday competing in bench, squat, and power clean. Every athlete earned at least two personal record lifts, with 21 out of 24 lifts being PR’s. The results are a big testament to the work these guys have been putting in this offseason.
The following athletes earned medals in their weight classes, and Aiden Dinger also made the school all-time record board with a squat of 470 pounds as a sophomore. Aiden Dinger: 1st squat, 2nd bench, Liam Donovan: 3rd bench, 3rd clean, Owen Smith: 3rd clean and Braden Lucas: 3rd bench.
Demand, HPAI drive record egg prices
•March 5, 2025•
by Rihiannon Branch
FarmWeek
Consumers are experiencing the highest egg prices in history driven by increased demand and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which could keep the market elevated for a while.
The latest report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the average retail egg price at $4.90 per dozen nationwide.
“That’s an all-time high and a lot more expensive than what consumers are typically dealing with,” Brian Earnest, lead animal protein analyst for CoBank told FarmWeek. “I think back 10 years ago when it was pretty common to see $1 per dozen or less.”
Read MoreChanges to Health Alliance Medical Plans
•March 5, 2025•
On February 25, Health Alliance, based in Champaign, announced that effective January 1, 2026, they will be discontinuing all lines of business except for Medicare Advantage.
Read MoreRed Cross tips on home fire safety
•March 5, 2025•
Daylight saving time begins this Sunday, March 9 and the American Red Cross asks everyone to turn their clocks forward one hour and test their smoke alarms.
Did you know working smoke alarms can cut the risk of dying in a home fire by half? That’s why it’s critical to “Turn and Test” and take these lifesaving steps to stay safe from home fires — the nation’s most frequent disaster:
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