•December 19, 2018•
In the front page story of the News Progress December 12, 2018 the headline incorrectly referred to CEFS Interagency. The story by Ellen Ferrera was in fact about the CEFS Moultrie County Outreach office.
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Disagree With Your Disability Decision? We Will Take Another Look
•December 19, 2018•
By Jack Myers
Social Security Public Affairs Specialist
Social Security is here to help secure today and tomorrow by providing benefits and financial protection for millions of people. This assistance allows people with severe disabilities and health conditions to take care of the necessities of living, such as food, shelter, and medications. It is imperative that we continue to protect the integrity of the disability program for everyone by ensuring we make the correct decision on each claim. However, if you do not agree with our decision, you can ask us to take another look by filing an appeal.
Generally, there are four appeal levels: 1) Reconsideration, 2) Hearing, 3) Appeals Council Review, and 4) Federal Court Review. At the Reconsideration level, someone who did not make the first decision on your claim will conduct a review and accept any additional evidence. Please note, in some states, appeals may proceed directly to the next step – the hearing.
If you disagree with the reconsideration decision, you can file another appeal and your case will go to the hearing level.
Understanding Illinois: If Court Won’t Change, Change The Court
•December 19, 2018•
By Jim Nowlan
NP Guest Columnist
The Illinois Supreme Court has repeatedly thwarted citizen efforts to vote on term limits and redistricting reform, and has dismissed, without even a hearing on the merits, a proposal to address the public employee pension mess that is strangling the state budget.
This past week, the state high court approved an outrageous violation of taxpayer-funded pension programs by awarding huge pensions to non-government union officials who put in a single day on a government payroll. How shameful this practice.
I say if the court won’t change its ways, change the court. Read on, though the next several paragraphs might be a slog.
The framers of the Illinois Constitution of 1970 provided that voters could initiate and amend the legislative article of the charter. “Structural and procedural” amendments would be allowed. In 1976, the court held that this term requires amendments be both structural and procedural. This makes it almost impossible to craft a proposal to make a single change in the legislative article that is both.
The late, eminent state Supreme Court justice Walter Schaefer pooh-poohed this court reading. “When I see that a restaurant serves both chicken and beef, that doesn’t mean every dish has to have both chicken and beef in it!” Read More
Raiders Capture Win Over Timberwolves
•December 19, 2018•
The Okaw Valley boys’ basketball team lost a non-conference game 69-41 to Central A&M at Moweaqua Friday.
The Raiders jumped out early with a 23-9 first-quarter lead and did not look back.
CAM extended the lead by eight in the second quarter and by 10 more points in the third.
For OV, junior forward Cole Nichols scored a team-high 11 points. Read More
Windsor American Legion Post and Community Volunteers Lay Wreaths Across America
Photo furnished
Vietnam Veteran and Post 725 member David Smith and his six year old grandson, Johnny Richter, lay a wreath on a grave, and a reader reads aloud the memorial.
•December 19, 2018•
By Leslie Richter
For the News Progress
More than 50 veterans, family and community members gathered at the cemetery in Windsor (along Route 32) on Sunday, December 16 to lay wreaths on the graves of veterans as part of the Wreaths Across America campaign.
This is the first year for such a program in the community and is a result of cooperation with American Legion member Joe Hampton, wife Anne and his daughter Heather, a 4-H leader in the Nokomis area who had this as a community service project for her 4-H club.
When the truck driver arrived at their stop near Nokomis, he had approximately 200 extra wreaths on the truck with no place to deliver them to. So, it was only natural for Heather to ask her dad and the Legion, along with her nieces’ and nephews’ 4-H club, to help bring this program to them.
Enter the Windsor community. Legion members discussed this unique opportunity to participate in Wreaths Across America, and then quickly put a plan into action. Using social media and making phone calls to the local 4-H club and FFA chapter, the American Legion and Auxiliary members recruited over 50 volunteers in less than 24 hours.
While there were not enough wreaths for all the veterans’ headstones this year, the group didn’t want to miss out on participating in this program. “This is something we’d like to do next year and have already had some donations for next year’s supply of wreaths,” said Legion member David Smith. Read More
Second Chance Gym Opens
•December 19, 2018•
Second Chance Gym’s grand opening is 8 a.m.-noon Saturday, Dec. 22 at 1225 S. Hamilton St. in Sullivan.
Owner Ben Booker got his second chance after getting injured as a Sullivan High School football player. He went on to become a professional body builder and trainer.
Located in the former Shopko Building now owned by The Vineyard Church, Second Chance Gym will offer special introductory pricing on Saturday only.
Gym membership includes 24-7 access to the gym which includes on demand training with Ben Booker’s LTF (live to fail) program. Membership also includes cycling on demand classes, full weight room, cardio, showers and more.
Visit www.secondchancelifestyle.com or call 217-543-2125.
Remember When? 12-19-2018
25 Years Ago This Week
Nineteen area high school seniors make up one of the largest groups of Illinois State Scholars in Moultrie County. From Lovington is Jeremy Tarr; from Bethany Jamie Scott, Angie Duncan, Amanda Kaiser, Bob Disney and Matt Roney. Scholars from Sullivan are Curt Gibbons, Donna Williamson, Benjamin Stone, Angela Gore, Emily Patrick, Jennifer Rogers, Matt Corzine, Kevin Gaither, Jake Haegen, Charley LeCrone, David Elder, Wes Baumgartner and Mike Ingram.
Bethany High School will crown a new Homecoming King and Queen during the upcoming dance. The royal candidates are Jason Brewer, Zach Bryan, Steve Chilton, Dane Clark, Shannon Phillips, Nicci Fite, Jamie Scott and Rachel Wright. Freshman attendants are Kelsie Buker and Deacon Patient, sophomore attendants are Amanda Haile and Matt Sowers and representing the junior class will be Amy Bagley and Scott Seeley. Read More
Secret Santa Delivers
Secret Santa Delivers
It was Operation Secret Santa gift distribution on Dec 15 at the Moultrie County Beacon. Secret Santa helped more than 80 families and 265 kids to celebrate Christmas this year. Pictured are some of the volunteers: Justine Brewer, Angie Coy, Lisa Sheehan, Cheryl Thomas, Areiana Donaldson, Kassie Waggoner, Brock Waggoner and Elizabeth Houser.
Recent Obituaries: Linda Lou Thompson
Linda Lou Thompson
Linda Lou Thompson, 71, of Sullivan passed away 10:56 a.m. Tuesday, December 11, 2018, at her home in Sullivan.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Monday, December 17, 2018, at the Southern Baptist Church in Sullivan. Visitation will be held an hour prior to the services at the church. Burial will be in Mt. Zion General Baptist Cemetery, Cooks Mills. In lieu of flowers; memorials may be made to the Southern Baptist Church. McMullin-Young Funeral Home is in care of the arrangements.
Linda was born December 5, 1947, in Mattoon, the daughter of Howard and Evelyn (Geissinger) Pyle. She married Warren D. Thompson on June 26, 1971 in Mattoon; he preceded her in death on October 19, 2010. She was a member of the Southern Baptist Church.
Linda is survived by her daughter, Tina Thompson of Sullivan; sister, Sandy Ford of Ocala, FL.
She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.
Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mcmullinyoung.com
Pirates Reap Bounty from ALAH Knights
•December 12, 2018•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor
The Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond boys’ basketball team dropped two games this past week.
The Knights lost to Cumberland Friday and Tuscola last Tuesday.
Friday Cumberland took advantage of a 21-6 second-quarter run to pull away for a 39-17 halftime lead.
The Pirates held in the second half for the 72-46 win.
Sophomore Austin Plank hit double digits with 10 points, including two 3-pointers, to lead the Knights. Read More