•November 26, 2025•
by DM Williamee
On Monday, November 17th, Sullivan resident Virginia Weakly celebrated her 105th birthday at Heritage Woods, surrounded by family, friends, caregivers, former students, and well-wishers from the community. The atmosphere was one of joy, with the traditional birthday accouterments, including live music, balloons, and Mrs. Weakly looking lovely and demure as always, while holding court under a banner of balloons.
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•November 26, 2025•
The Hour House recently announced its commitment as a participant of the 2025 Gift Responsibly Campaign, joining lotteries and community organizations across North America and around the world to raise awareness about the risks of underage lottery use. The campaign is organized by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) and the International Center for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviors at McGill University.
Research shows that the earlier a person’s participation or exposure to gambling is in childhood, the more likely they are to develop a gambling problem later in life. Gambling exposure during childhood is often through some form of lottery product, such as lottery tickets or scratch-offs. Often, these items are given to a child by an adult who is unaware of the associated risks.
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•November 26, 2025•
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias recently announced a major technological milestone: Illinois residents can securely add their Illinois-issued driver’s license or state ID to Apple Wallet and present their ID using their iPhone and Apple Watch. This marks a new era of convenience and digital innovation for the state, enabling residents to present their driver’s license and state ID in Apple Wallet in-person, online, and in-apps at select businesses and organizations, including at TSA checkpoints at over 250+ airports in the U.S, including O’Hare, Midway, and Lambert. The Illinois Mobile ID program will soon expand to Google and Samsung Wallets, ensuring that every Illinois resident with a mobile phone has access to secure, digital identification.
Read More•November 26, 2025•
Silas Hortenstine, a Biological Sciences major from Gays, received the East Central Illinois Section of the American Chemical Society Outstanding Poster Award at the 10th Annual East Central Illinois ACS Undergraduate Research Conference on November 8th at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Hortenstine presented research conducted in the Beck Research Group. His project, supported by an NIH R15 AREA grant (R15GM152890), examines factors that affect carboxylesterase-mediated drug metabolism.
EIU prepares students to accomplish their life goals through a combination of quality academics, personal relationships, and both on-campus and online learning opportunities. For more information about Eastern Illinois University, including its broad array of academic and career readiness programs, or any of EIU’s other community-based services and opportunities, visit eiu.edu or call EIU’s public information office at (217) 581-7400.
•November 26, 2025•
1st, 8th, and 29th - Needle Night from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. If you would like to learn to crochet, knit, needlepoint, or even how to sew, there are people who can help teach you. If you already know how and just want to hang out, come join everyone.
2nd - Story time from 10:00 to 10:30 a.m. The Lovington Public Library will read Christmas-themed books and have a craft for the little ones.
5th - Kids Craft time from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. This month, we will be making a poinsettia.
8th - Craft Club from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Bring whatever project you are working on and join everyone for the fun.
9th - Tyke Time from 10:00 to 10:30 a.m. There will be Christmas-themed activities for the little ones.
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•November 26, 2025•
Moultrie County has been issued a tentative property assessment equalization factor of 1.0000, according to David Harris, director of the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR). The property assessment equalization factor, often called the “multiplier,” is the method used to achieve uniform property assessments among counties, as required by law. This equalization is particularly important because some of the state’s 6,600 local taxing districts overlap into two or more counties (e.g., school districts, junior college districts, fire protection districts). If there were no equalization among counties, substantial inequities among taxpayers with comparable properties would result.
Read MoreThe Howling Wilderness
•November 26, 2025•
by Janet Roney
The yelping black and white fur ball sliding down our bedroom window screen woke us from a sound sleep. Our farm dog was trying to jump into the room with us, something he had never done before.
“Ernie Bob! Stop that!” I yelled as he bounced off the screen a second time and landed in a whimpering ball under the bush beneath the window.
Then, I saw movement on the other side of the bush. A large coyote, with two more behind him, had locked his eyes on Ernie Bob, ready for the kill. A half dozen more skulked at the field edge, yipping and yapping in hungry anticipation of midnight morsels of Ernie bob. I screamed.
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•November 26, 2025•
by E. Scott England
The Maroa-Forsyth Trojans are known around Illinois football for their domination. Head coach Josh Jostes has been with the Trojans since 2000. By his seventh year, he had led his team to an undefeated championship season. Since then, the Trojans have found their way to eight additional title games, collecting one more championship while falling short in the big game the other seven times. Jostes’ record over the 26 years stands at 247-67.
Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond on the other hand has never reached the championship. The furthest they have made it prior to this year was the second round. But under the direction of head coach Ryan Jefferson, ALAH has become a regular post-season participant. Jefferson is in his eighth year as head coach with a record of 55-25. And this year, he led his team to a 9-0 conference record and then tacked on an additional three more wins in the playoffs. Just like that, the Knights entered their first semifinal playoff appearance.
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•November 26, 2025•
by Ariana R Cherry
The ALAH School Board received updates on the district’s ongoing high school building project during its regular meeting this past week, including a review of three potential design options that will soon require board direction. Representatives from BLDD Architects and CORE Construction—architect Damien Schlitt and construction manager Britt Steffen—attended the meeting to share progress on planning the new high school facility. After a two-day feedback process involving teachers and students, three building options were presented, with square footage ranging from approximately 48,000 to 58,000 square feet. While the layouts differ, all three prioritize creating spaces that support instruction, collaboration, and small-group learning.
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