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Lincoln the First President to Make Use of Electronic Mass Media

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•August 8, 2018•

By Steve Tarter
Of the Journal Star of Peoria

FDR used the radio, JFK scored on TV and Donald Trump expouses on Twitter. But the first president to make effective use of electronic communications was Abraham Lincoln.
His use of the telegraph, a tool used extensively during the Civil War, was one of the things that made Lincoln a unique communicator in tumultuous times.
“Two things set Lincoln apart in terms of his relationship with, and mastery of, the press,” said Harold Holzer, author of “Lincoln and the Power of the Press: The War for Public Opinion,” published in 2015. “His language was simple and direct enough to make press reprints of his speeches especially compelling. Second, he courted journalists from the beginning of his career.”
Holzer, director of the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College in New York City, added two more things: “(Lincoln) drafted editorials for his Whig and Republican newspapers and owned a newspaper, himself (as did his arch-rival, Stephen A. Douglas),” he said. Read More

Local Projects Sought for Safe Routes to School Program

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•August 8, 2018•

The Illinois Department of Transportation is seeking proposals through the Safe Routes to School program for projects that help children walk and bike to school.
“Encouraging children from an early age to walk or bike to school promotes a healthy and active lifestyle that also benefits the environment,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn. “We are pleased to offer this exciting program to help communities throughout Illinois create safe and appealing routes to school to support these efforts.” Read More

Benefit for Paysley Dowds

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•August 8, 2018•

A benefit for Paysley Dowds begins at 4 p.m. Saturday, August 11 at the Sullivan V.F.W.
Paysley is the three-year-old daughter of Justin and Kayla Dowds and granddaughter of Jimmy and Yvonne Harlin and Tony and Tiffiney Prytherch.
Paysley was born with Chiari Malformation and Syringomyelia and will have Chiari Decompression with Duraplasty surgery on August 15. All funds will go to medical/living expenses during this time.
Live entertainment starts at 7 p.m. featuring Doug Meeks, Jack Danials and The Nothing.
A Little Tikes Bounce and Slide House and Kidkraft Garden View Playhouse will be raffled. Kids games, pony and train rides, face painting, silent auction and 50/50 raffle will be available. Meals will be available with children three and under eating free. For more information and advanced tickets call 217-254-5203.
The event will start off with a 2 day benefit rummage  sale  August 9th and 10th 7:00a.m.-6:00p.m. at 33 Roley Estates Sullivan all proceeds go to Paysley’s  Benefit.

The Northenders at DC

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Photo by Mike Brothers
The Northenders at DC
The Northenders endured a torrential downpour during the All Wheel Extravaganza in Dalton City on July 22. The Northenders Band members Jan Courtright, Chris Eckel and Mike Harmison survived all kinds of weather but kept on playing.

ABC’s of Medicare

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•August 8, 2018•

SAIL, Soyland Access to Independent Living, will host a workshop introducing the ABCs of Medicare 1-2:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 18 at the Lovington Public Library, 110 W. State Street, in Lovington.
The presenter is Mervet Adams. The workshop is free; reservations are not required. For more information call Betty Watkins, SAIL Rural Outreach Coordinator, at 774-4322.

Eastview Terrace Holds End ALZ Benefit

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•August 8, 2018•

Eastview Terrace is a proud member of PHC and the Sullivan Community, focusing solely on dementia and Alzheimer’s care.
Each year Eastview Terrace staff and volunteers hold a benefit to raise money for the Decatur Walk to End Alzheimer’s in honor of our residents.
This is the 6th annual Walk to End ALZ benefit and will be held at the Sullivan VFW on September 15. Read More

Shucking Corn

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Shucking Corn
During the Steam Threshing and Baling show held at the Illinois Amish Heritage Center August 3 and 4 people from all over the area gathered at the Center east of Arthur to watch field demonstrations from early farming. Above the horse powered corn shucking machine cut a single row of stalks which were stacked on wagons for further preparation. Demonstrations of past farming operations included silage chopping, oat combining, disking, plowing, sickle mowing and hay loading by horses and tractors.

Obituaries: Donald Finch

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Donald Finch

Mr. Finch was born in Decatur, IL on March 31, 1932. He passed away peacefully at his home in Converse, TX on Tuesday, July 31, 2018.
Donald served his country in the United States Navy during the Korean Conflict and was stationed in Sasebo, Japan. He also served aboard the flagship, USS Mt. McKinley as a Teletype Seaman (TESN). In May 1956 near the Martial Islands in the South Pacific, Don and his shipmates participated in the first Hydrogen bomb test to be witnessed by dignitaries and journalists from the deck of the Mt. McKinley.
His greatest loves in life were God, country, family and carpentry. He was faithful to each.
Don was the youngest son of Neal Owen and Ruby Fern Finch. Those preceding him in death were both parents, his sister Virginia Harrison and five brothers; Eugene, his twin Dale, Robert, Neal Jr., and Paul Harry, all of whom were past Decatur residents. His beloved daughter, Amanda McClung, also completed her heavenly journey several years ago.
Mr. Finch is survived by his wife, Carolyn (Dowdell) Finch, his son Tad Finch of Anderson IN and daughter, Tara Martinez of Converse TX, as well as six grandchildren; Michael Finch, Madison Finch, Caleb McClung, Jonathan McClung, Benjamin McClung and Noah Martinez. Don and Carolyn were also named honorary grandparents to Miriam McClung and Eva McClung. Also surviving are many neices, nephews and extended family members.
Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 4th at Reed Funeral Home, 1112 South Hamilton Street, Sullivan IL 61951. Funeral services will begin at 10:00 a.m. followed by procession to Penn Township Cemetery near Prairie Home, IL in rural Shelby County for interment. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.

Recent Obituaries: Tammy J. Wilson

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Tammy J. Wilson

Tammy J. Wilson, 59, of Sullivan passed away at 10:10 a.m. Wednesday August 1, 2018 in Mason Point, Sullivan.
Private graveside services will be Saturday August 4, 2018 in the Camfield Cemetery, Sullivan. Memorials are suggested to the American Heart Association. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.
Tammy was born May 18, 1959 in Kirksville the daughter of John Adkins and Patsy Bruce She had cleaned homes for many people and also had operated a child care center in her home.
Surviving are daughters Rachel (Jamie) Cavazos of Sullivan, Stephanie (Tyler) Poland of Mattoon; grandchildren Alex Cavazos and Warren Poland.
She was preceded in death by her parents.

Understanding Illinois: We Must Not Steal From Young Peter to Pay Old Paul

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•August 1, 2018•

By Jim Nowlan
NP Guest Columnist

As I near 77, I find myself on a treadmill, you might say, of visits to doctors, specialists, clinics, hospitals. Ditto for many contemporaries I hang with. I worry that our society can’t afford all the health care that we oldsters enjoy.
In just the past few years, I have had procedures or operations for Lasik, cataracts, hernia repair, depression, prostate cancer, arrythmia, and more, plus many medications and endless check-ups.
I have no idea what all that costs, because we are shielded from the numbers. I did read that the new-fangled proton beam radiation treatments for my prostate cancer cost $100,000, several times the cost of traditional radiation for prostate cancer. But Medicare covered the treatments, and I was told there wouldn’t likely be any important side effects (there were), so who cares?
As a result, I am in relatively good health, and thankful. Yet still I worry that we are robbing Peter to pay Paul for all this.
Some background. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that 5 percent of the population consumes half the costs of health care. This nickel slice isn’t all for oldsters, but much of it is. Read More