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Findlay Hosts Walleye Festival and Farmer Market

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Photo by RR Best Pictured are Lisa Jackson (left) and Bonnie Scott (right), who are both vendor’s at the farmer’s market. Jackson sells Young Living essential oils while Scott offers kitchen products by the company Wildtree.

Photo by RR Best
Pictured are Lisa Jackson (left) and Bonnie Scott (right), who are both vendor’s at the farmer’s market. Jackson sells Young Living essential oils while Scott offers kitchen products by the company Wildtree.

•August 5, 2015•

By Nick Fiala
Reporting in Findlay

Walking into the 2015 Findlay Walleye Festival and Farmer’s Market last weekend was like walking into an old corner of Americana, mostly-forgotten and yet somehow still brimming with joy and life.

That’s an especially fitting description considering the circumstances surrounding this particular year, the 27th in the festival’s history and the fifth for the farmer’s market.

Located at the park across the street from the festival sight, the farmer’s market boasts corn, collard greens, lettuce, and herbs in its produce this year.

Activities include a very popular basketball tournament, with countless teams standing in packs to wait for their chance to play. Festival-goers and locals passed the time with an all-American cheeseburger or hot dog lunch at park benches. Younger families went to enjoy their Saturday morning with modern music blaring from speakers, while the walleye festival, which peaks at night, boasted a gospel band that played out a healthy old-time ambience.  Read More

What is Domestic Violence?

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MaryA Message From Dove, Inc.

•August 5, 2015•

by Mary Hughes
Moultrie County Dove Inc., Outreach Coordinator

Domestic violence is when one person in a relationship purposely hurts another person physically and/or emotionally. Domestic violence is also called intimate partner violence because it often is caused by a husband, ex-husband, boyfriend or ex-boyfriend. Women can also be abusers. Domestic abuse strikes couples of all races, religions, social economic status and sexual orientation. Warning signs for individuals to consider if they suspect they are the victim of intimate partner violence include feeling demeaned, assaulted or excessively controlled by their partner. Domestic violence is a cycle with three phases. In phase one there is increased tension, anger, blaming and arguing (walking on egg shells). In phase two there is an explosion with hitting, slapping, and kicking, strangling, use of weapons, sexual abuse and verbal threats. In phase three the abuser may deny the abuse and or say he is sorry and that it will never happen again. Most victims do not recognize the cycle of abuse because they minimize and deny the abuse on a daily basis so they can cope. Statistics show that a victim may leave her abuser five to seven times before she is successful at staying away. There are many reasons for this including being sabotaged by the abuser, pressure from her family and or church, lack of finances, lack of support from the community, lack of accountability by the criminal justice system and hope. Hope that the abuser will change, hope that she can keep their family together and hope that the violence will stop. Domestic violence affects our whole community including our children. As a community we must take a stand and send the message that domestic violence will not be tolerated. That message then needs to be upheld by our criminal justice system including our police department, sheriff’s department, state’s attorney and our judges. Domestic violence is a learned behavior and without holding the abusers accountable and providing support and education to victims the cycle will continue. Read More

Sullivan Mulls More Flooding Issues

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Question remains, who is to pay for ditch repairs?

•August 5, 2015•

by Ariana Cherry
Arthur/Sullivan Reporter

After receiving large amounts of rainfall over the summer, several parts of Sullivan experienced flooding, which in turn had members of the city council discussing at their July 27 meeting which areas were in need of repairing ditches and adding culverts.

“There are some places in town that need to be done such as the west end of town. There were lakes in everyone’s yards and there isn’t a culvert out there,” commented commissioner Ken Johnson.

“Scott Street doesn’t drain like it is supposed to. Roane Street and Wagoner Street are both bad and dangerous,” added commissioner Mike Kirk. Read More

C.E.F.S. Head Start Program Taking Applications

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C.E.F.S. Head Start 0-5 Program is a federally-funded program that provides comprehensive classroom and home-based educational services to pregnant women and children ages 0-5 including those with significant or multiple special needs. Recruitment is now going on for fall.

The C.E.F.S. Head Start 0-5 Program is located at 203 S Graham Street in Sullivan. Preschool center-based classes are provided in either the morning or afternoon Monday through Thursday. Each session lasts three and one-half hours and includes healthy meals and snacks. Teachers plan daily lessons with developmentally appropriate activities that advance the children’s self-confidence, problem solving skills, and social development. Indoor and outdoor activities are provided along with computer experiences and field trips.

There are no entry fees for enrollment and no fees are charged for services.

Transportation assistance may include coordinating service with other schools, parents, programs, etc. in addition to bus service, as applicable.

Home-based sessions are available for pregnant moms, infants, and toddlers. They are held one and one-half hours once per week with up to two group activities held each month. Parent educators make visits to the family’s home for educational activities that involve both the parent and child.

Applications are taken for the program throughout the year.

Call or text for more information: C.E.F.S. Head Start 0-5 Program Office (toll free) at 1-866-442-1900 Ext. 139 or text 1-217-663-7822.

Lovington Library Aug. Activities

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•August 5, 2015•

Thursday, August 13: Deadline to register for the Bob Ross painting class on Saturday August 15. There is a fee which includes paints and canvas. Bring a roll of paper towels and a light lunch.

There will also be  Adult Book Club Meeting from 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Saturday, August 15 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.- Bob Ross Painting Class.

Tuesday, August 18, 4-5 p.m.: Youth Book Club Meeting for 4-8th grades. Read More

Department on Aging to Host Activities for Seniors and Families During State Fair

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August 17 is “Senior Day” – Admission is free for guests age 60 years & older

•August 5, 2015•

The Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) will host activities for seniors and their families during the Illinois State Fair, August 13-23, in Springfield. IDoA will have a lineup of special events in the air conditioned setting of the Illinois Building located near the fairground main gate. Monday, August 17 is Senior Day when attendees 60 years of age and older are admitted free to the fair.

“We look forward to another year of hosting fun activities during the state fair. Our staff and partner agencies do a great job of keeping everyone engaged while offering information about programs and services for older adults and their families,” said IDoA Acting Director, Jennifer Reif.

Some state fair Senior Day favorites include the “NOT SO Newlywed Game” where couples, age 50 years and older, test how much they really know about their spouse. Later, IDoA will host the Illinois Seniora Spelling Bee State Finals. Seniors who won regional competitions held across the state will correctly spell words until judges crown a spelling bee champion. And families are encouraged to pre-register for the “Grandparent Grandchild Contest”, when (on August 20) participants are judged on resemblance, costumes, talent, and interviews. To pre-register, call (217) 785-3390 Read More

From the Editor

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keith•August 5, 2015•

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

You might notice that our page two is a little different this week. Well, it will be different the entire month of August, as we will be publishing our domestic violence awareness campaign.

It occurred to me earlier this year after a series of events that there is a real need for domestic violence awareness here in Moultrie County. For many, that may immediately allude to Sheri Randall, who was murdered in March and was a repeat victim of domestic violence. But, it wasn’t just Sheri Randall’s tragic death that brought to mind the effects of domestic violence. Week in and week out I have seen reports of domestic related battery and assault, all here in Moultrie County.

According to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, between 1996 and 2013, Moultrie had 610 reported cases of domestic crimes. And while that is not restricted to domestic abuse only, historically, nationwide most domestic violence situations go unreported. Read More

Dedicated for Life

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Photo Courtesy the News•Progress Archives Pictured is Pauline Briney working inside the former Moultrie County News offices. Briney was not only an avid writer and reporter for area newspapers but also a serious public servant that always strove to represent Findlay.

Photo Courtesy the News•Progress Archives
Pictured is Pauline Briney working inside the former Moultrie County News offices. Briney was not only an avid writer and reporter for area newspapers but also a serious public servant that always strove to represent Findlay.

Pauline Briney remembered as loyal public servant

•August 5, 2015•

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

 

This past Saturday morning, family members of the late Pauline Briney gathered at her residence on 304 E. Division St. in Findlay to go over the abundance of articles, poetry, and photos that the former Findlay mayor and unofficial historian had written and collected over her 90 years.

Just outside her home about a block west on the main drag, the Findlay Walleye Festival parade was beginning–emergency sirens sounding as residents sat in lawn chairs on the boulevard–a sight and sound Briney no doubt had taken in countless times before and would have again had it not been for her passing just a week earlier. More ironic yet, the very festival that was once again underway had at one point been established by a committee on which Briney had served.

Served.

A word, or verb rather, of which Briney was not only familiar, but one that these days is attributed to her more than ever.

Briney–Reporter and Writer

“She loved being around people,” described Brett Robinson, one of her five grandchildren. “She loved social interaction.”

For Briney, who was born in Sullivan in 1924, that also translated to a love for church-going, and in particular, her membership to Faith Covenenant Church, for which she was also responsible for writing the church bulletin up until being admitted to the hospital in late May. Read More