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Half a Century and Growing

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•September 9, 2015•

Submitted by Josh Bullock
President of ICC Board

Recently, the Illinois Community College Board kicked off the official 50th anniversary celebration of the Illinois Public Community College Act. A celebration such as this provides a wonderful opportunity to step back and notice the impact of the collective efforts taken by community colleges over the past 50 years. The community college system in Illinois evolved from a mere concept 50 years ago into the third largest community college system in the nation with 39 community college districts serving 65 percent of the students enrolled in Illinois public higher education. This is nearly one million individual credit and non-credit students each year! Read More

Brass Transit at Millikin

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•September 9, 2015•

Millikin University’s Kirkland Fine Arts Center kicks off its 2015-2016 Performing Arts Series with Chicago tribute band Brass Transit on Saturday, Sept. 12, starting at 7:30 p.m.

Brass Transit is Toronto’s dynamic, crowd-pleasing, studio-tight Chicago tribute. The band’s show includes all the hits from Chicago’s golden age, 1969-1976. With world-class horns, a rocking rhythm section and vocals stacked sky high; Brass Transit transports the audience back to the freewheeling days of the 70s.

The members’ credits include platinum records, Emmy and Juno awards, and performances with Hall-of-Fame rock and soul acts including The Drifters, Sam & Dave, Aretha Franklin, Ben E. King, The Marvelettes, Frankie Valli, Mary Wilson, Martha Reeves, Little Anthony & The Imperials, Del Shannon and the Mamas & The Papas.  Read More

ALAH Knights Volleyball Wins One, Drops One

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•September 9, 2015•

Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond Knights volleyball beat Villa Grove in an away match to improve their conference record  to 1-0.

The Knights never let up, scoring 25-15 in each game.

Taylor Powell provided two aces and two kills; Janette Comstock had two aces and three kills; Madison Brown provided an ace, three kills and seven assists. Erin Wildman had one ace and four assists; Abby Foreman supplied five kills and Chelsey Chupp one kill. Read More

Obituaries 9-9-2015: Ruth Neal Cooper

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Cooper PhotoRuth Neal Cooper

Ruth Neal Cooper, our beautiful 100-year-old matriarch, of Broken Arrow, Okla., formerly of Windsor, was welcomed into the arms of the Father on September 1, 2015.

Born May 29, 1915, Ruth was the only daughter born to her beloved parents, Gertrude Fleming Neal and Charles Butler Neal, in their home in rural Windsor.  She joined big brothers Bruce Munson, and Rush and Ralph Neal.

Ruth was raised in Windsor where she graduated from high school and attended Eastern Illinois College where she met her lifelong sweetheart, Carl Burton Cooper.   Read More

A Cool Dry August Across the State

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•September 9, 2015•

August was cool across the state and dry in most places in Illinois, capping off a summer that was cool and wet, according to Illinois State Climatologist Jim Angel, Illinois State Water Survey, University of Illinois.

The statewide average precipitation for August in Illinois was 2.95 inches, 0.64 inches below average. However, this was followed by a very wet June with 9.44 inches, and a wet July with 4.84 inches. Read More

Arcola/ALAH Shoot First at Kaskaskia Country Club

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•September 9, 2015•

Arcola/Arthur-Lovinigton/Atwood-Hammond hosted Oblong and Villa Grove in a triangular at Kaskaskia Country Club last Thursday. Arcola placed first shooting a 161 followed by Oblong with a 196 and Villa Grove with a 219. Clayton Miller was the medalist shooting a two under 33. The runner up was Blake Lindenmeyer, shooting an even par 35. Arcola/ALAH improves their record to 8-1.  Read More

LLC Community Choir Begins Fall Rehearsals

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•September 9, 2015•

The Lake Land College Community Choir will begin its fall rehearsals Tuesday, Sept. 29. Rehearsals are held 7-9:30 p.m. Tuesday nights in the Lake Land College Theatre.

The choir is a group of approximately 50 mixed voices including students, college employees, and members of the community. All singers age 18 and older are welcome to participate. No audition is required.

Choir members may earn one hour of college credit for singing in the choir. Interested singers may complete a registration form at the first rehearsal or register online. Registration for college credit is not required, however, and participation in the choir is free for those who do not register. Read More

Nobody is Looking Down the Road in Illinois-Still Hoping for a Vision

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Nowlan•September 9, 2015•

By Jim Nowlan
NP Guest Columnist

The state of Illinois typically lurches from year to year, focusing on its annual budget, never looking to the horizon. At present, operating without a formal budget as Gov. Rauner and Speaker Madigan wage their war of political attrition, the state is operating month to month, even day to day, as the courts step in to tell Comptroller Leslie Munger which bills to pay and when.

Given our grim budgetary situation and sullied state reputation, we almost desperately need to do some long-term thinking about Illinois, or we may crash. We don’t know where we are going.

I still recall from a 1970s book the lament of then North Carolina governor Terry Sanford that there is no one in the governor’s office whose only job is to gaze out the window and brood about the problems of the future.

More recently, former governor Jim Edgar told a group of up-and-coming Illinois leaders that, “Once you come into the governor’s office, there is no time for ‘the vision thing.’”

To put a point on Edgar’s remark, I remember when I was helping with the transition of new governor Jim Thompson into office in 1976, his chief of staff came into my office late one afternoon. He slumped in a chair and sighed that he had 400 telephone message slips(!) on his desk from mostly influential people who wanted something or to tell Thompson how he should run things. Read More

Medicare Part D Workshop at SAIL

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•September 9, 2015•

SAIL, Soyland Access to Independent Living, will host a workshop introducing the 2016 Updates to Medicare Part D 9:30-11 a.m. Monday, September 14 at the Mid-Illinois Senior Center Services, Inc. located at 114 E. Jefferson Street in Sullivan. The presenter is Deb Groendal, Mid-Illinois Senior Services Inc., Senior Health Insurance Program Coordinator.  The workshop is free; reservations are not required.  For more information call Betty Watkins or Lou Anne Banks at 774-4322.

Free Dinner at VFW

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•September 9, 2015•

An appreciation dinner for all military personnel, veterans and their families is 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13 at the Sullivan VFW.

This free meal is provided by Randy Binder and Pastor Paul McGhghy and will include pulled pork, beans, chips and beverage.

Everyone is urged to attend this free event to show support for those in the military now and those who have served in the past.