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Eagles Fly in February at Lake Shelbyville

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Photo by RR Best

•January 9, 2019•

Eagle Day at Lake Shelbyville is scheduled for Saturday, February 2, 2019 at the Lake Shelbyville Visitor Center.
The center will be open from 9:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. with three different opportunities for event participants to view birds up close.
First, a 30 minute bald eagle program for kids is scheduled for 10:00 a.m.  At 11:00 a.m., there will be a 1 hour “talk and gawk” session where a live bald eagle and presenter will be available for visitors to photograph and ask questions to the Illinois Raptor Center staff. Read More

REAL IDs for Illinois Residents

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•January 9, 2019•

Secretary of State Jesse White has advised that Illinois plans to initiate the issuance of REAL ID’s to Illinois residents who request them beginning in April of 2019.
There is not an urgency to obtain a REAL ID compliant Driver’s License because Illinois’ existing drivers’ licenses and ID’s are acceptable for domestic travel and entry into Military bases and secure Federal facilities until October 1, 2020. However, starting in April of 2019, if your Driver’s License is up for renewal, and you know you will need a REAL ID, you can start the process at the time of renewal.
Effective October 1, 2020
You NEED a REAL ID if:
• You do not have a valid U.S. passport or passport card; AND
• You use airplanes as a mode of domestic transportation; or
• You visit Military bases; or
• You visit secure Federal facilities.
You DO NOT NEED a REAL ID if:
• You have a valid U.S. passport or Passport Card; or
• You do not use airplanes as a mode of domestic transportation; or
• You do not visit Military bases; or
• You do not visit secure Federal facilities
Application Process for REAL ID Driver’s License or ID:
• Visit a Secretary of State Driver Services facility and take your photo and the required exams.
Provide proof of identity:
• U.S. Birth Certificate (If a name change occurred and differs from the Certificate, a certified copy of a Marriage License, or Court Name Change documents will be needed)
• U.S. Passport
• An employment authorization document
• A permanent resident card or a foreign passport with an approved I-94 form.
• All applicants must provide proof of full Social Security number (A SSN card, a W-2, or a pay stub with full SSN on it)
• All applicants must provide two current residency documents with the applicant’s name. (A utility bill, rental agreement, deed/title, bank statement, etc)
• All applicants must provide proof of signature. (a credit/debit card, canceled check or current Illinois DL/ID)
• All applicants will receive a temporary, secure paper DL/ID at the facility. NOTE: TSA and Federal Agents will not accept the paper document.
• After review and verification of documents have been conducted, your new permanent REAL ID card will be mailed to you.
Elected Officials, Department heads, County Board:
A copy of this memo will be attached to all employees check stub next Friday. As a courtesy to County Employees, if the employee was born or married in Moultrie County and needs documentation of such, the employee will receive a complimentary Certified Copy of the Birth/Marriage certificate.[/s2If]

Who to Contact: Social Security or Medicare?

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•January 9, 2019•

By Jack Myers
Social Security Public Affairs Specialist

Sometimes it’s confusing to know who to contact and for what. Social Security and Medicare offer related services, so people aren’t always certain who does what. This “cheat sheet” can help.
Contact Social Security to:
• See if you’re eligible for Medicare; Read More

Obituaries 1-9-2019: Helen Spaugh

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Helen Spaugh

Helen E. Spaugh, 98, of Sullivan passed away at 8:05 a.m. Friday, January 4, 2019 at Mason Point in Sullivan.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. today (Wednesday, January 9) in McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan with Pastor Charliam Renner officiating. Burial was in Greenhill Cemetery in Sullivan. Read More

OV Girls Win Little Okaw Conference Opener

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•January 9, 2019•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

After dropping two nonconference games, the Okaw Valley girls’ basketball team won its Little Okaw Valley Conference Northwest division opener against Argenta-Oreana Monday night.
The Timberwolves jumped out to a 15-8 lead in the first quarter and did not look back.
OV added four more points before the half for a 34-12 lead.
The Timberwolves doubled the Bombers score in the third, 16-8, and held on in the fourth quarter for the 50-36 win.
Bella Benning scored a season-high 18 points, including four 3-pointers, to go with six rebounds, and Madison Vogel hit double-digit scoring with 12 points and collected eight rebounds.
Kate Jeffers nabbed a team-high 10 rebounds to go with three points, and Shyanne Harding added five points and six rebounds.
Ciera Perry and Mia Harris each scored six points.
Saturday, OV lost on the road to Nokomis 44-33. Read More

Millikin University Choir Embarks on Winter Tour

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•January 9, 2019•

The 43-voice nationally recognized Millikin University Choir will embark on a 16-day tour this January with stops in Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida. The 2019 Winter Tour began with a performance on Jan. 5 at Central Baptist Church in Springfield.
The tour concludes with a finale concert on Sunday, Jan. 27 at 3 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Church located at 407 E. Eldorado St. in Decatur.
All concerts are free to the public and free-will offerings are accepted.
The flagship of the Millikin choral fleet, the University Choir features upper-class students from a variety of majors. In recent years, the choir has also toured internationally to Spain, Ireland, Scotland, England, China, Taiwan, Haiti, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. The Millikin University Choir has gained national recognition, due in part to six invitations to perform at national and regional conferences of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). Their performances have fostered new conversations in response to their approach to tone, style and programming. The choir has six recordings on Millikin’s First Step Records label. Read More

Recent Obituaries: Helen E. Spaugh

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Helen E. Spaugh

Helen E. Spaugh, 98, of Sullivan passed away 8:05 a.m. Friday, January 4, 2019, at Mason Point, Sullivan.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 9, 2019, at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan, with Pastor Charliam Renner officiating. Visitation will be held an hour prior to the services at the funeral home. Burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery, Sullivan. Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church Building Fund in Sullivan.
Helen was born January 16, 1920, in Decatur; the daughter of Leo and Emma (Walther) Yancy. She worked at the First National Bank in Sullivan for 45 years. Helen married Woodrow W. Spaugh on October 16, 1939 in Monticello; he preceded her in death on January 21, 2009. Helen was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Sullivan, Sunnyside Extension, Garden Club, the American Legion Auxiliary and the Order of the Eastern Star.
Helen is survived by sister, Lucille Anderson of Stockton, CA. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and one brother.
Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mcmullinyoung.com

Recent Obituaries: Jackie Lynn Moran

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Jackie Lynn Moran

Jackie Lynn Moran, 67, of Allenville passed 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 1st, 2019 at Mason Point, Sullivan.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 5th, 2019, at the McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan. Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will be in French Cemetery, Allenville. Memorials may be made to the Allenville Christian Church.
Jackie was born April 25, 1951 in Mattoon; the daughter of Charles L. and June (Standerfer) Dyer. She married Larry Moran on June 7th, 1968 in Allenville; he survives. She was a member of the Allenville Christian Church and she spent a lot of time helping with the Church’s youth group. She enjoyed sewing, knitting and cooking. Jackie enjoyed spending time with her family and loved her grandchildren and great-grandchild dearly.
Jackie is survived by her husband, Larry Moran of Allenville; sons, Jarrod L. (Kimberly) Moran of Sullivan and Kevin L. (Gina) Moran of Sullivan; daughter, Stacy (Mike) Gee of Windsor; grandchildren, Blayne, Skylar and Emma Moran, Alexis Gee; great-granddaughter, Aliyah Moran; sister, Dorothy (Robert Edwards) Graham of Mattoon.
She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, Gene, Wayne and Brenda Dyer.
Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mcmullinyoung.com

Redskins Score a Win at Dieterich Holiday Tournament

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•January 2, 2019•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

The Sullivan boys’ basketball team finished the Dieterich Holiday Tournament 1-3 with a win over Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City and losses to Dieterich, Newton and Arcola.
Against Arcola Dec. 28, Sullivan fell behind 18-9 for a first-quarter deficit and 12-points by the half, but the Redskins could not overcome the deficit in the second half in the 59-48 loss.
Sullivan senior Caden Ellis scored a career-high 37 points to go with eight rebounds.
Dalton Rogers finished with seven rebounds and five points.
Sullivan picked up its lone win of the tournament against Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City 69-49 Dec. 27.
Sullivan used a 24-11 third-quarter run to pull away for the 69-49 win. Read More

Obituaries 1-2-2019: George Harchous

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George Harchous

George R. ‘Junior’ Harchous, 86, of Sullivan, passed away at 9:20 p.m. Wednesday December 26, 2018 in his residence.
Celebration of Life services were 4 p.m. Sunday in Reed Funeral Home in Sullivan with John Plummer officiating. Burial will be at a later date in Greenhill Cemetery in Sullivan. Read More