Author Archives:

First West Nile Virus Positive Mosquito in Central Illinois for 2015 Reported

News Progress Posted on by
June 10, 2015

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has confirmed the first West Nile virus positive mosquito batch reported in Central Illinois for 2015. Macon County Mosquito Abatement District employees collected a positive mosquito batch on May 28, 2015, in Decatur. The week prior, IDPH reported the first West Nile virus positive mosquitoes in Illinois this year in St. Clair county.
“As the weather continues to warm up we’re starting to see more mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus,” said IDPH Director Nirav D. Shah, M.D., J.D. “There are some simple steps you can take, like wearing insect repellent and getting rid of standing water around your home, which will help reduce your risk of being bit by an infected mosquito.”
Surveillance for West Nile virus in Illinois includes laboratory tests on mosquito batches, dead crows, blue jays, robins and other perching birds, as well as testing sick horses and humans with West Nile virus-like symptoms. People who observe a sick or dying crow, blue jay, robin or other perching bird should contact their local health department, which will determine if the bird will be picked up for testing. Read More

Not the Best, but Close to It

News Progress Posted on by
Photo by RR Best Okaw Valley’s baseball team took home a fourth place state trophy from this past weekend’s tournament in Peoria. Pictured, left to right, are Peyton Hagerman, Joe Jeffers, and Devon Still.

Photo by RR Best
Okaw Valley’s baseball team took home a fourth place state trophy from this past weekend’s tournament in Peoria. Pictured, left to right, are Peyton Hagerman, Joe Jeffers, and Devon Still.

Timberwolves bring home fourth place hardware after historic run

June 10, 2015

By Matt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter

Out of 169 class 1A baseball teams just four made it to this past weekend’s ISHA state tourney in Peoria. The Timberwolves fell in two competitive contests, first against state runner up Okawville 5-3 Friday, and then against Fulton 11-7 Saturday. After all was said and done the Timberwolves took home a gigantic fourth place trophy along with some memories that will last a lifetime. The 26-9 record to end the season secured the deepest postseason run of any area squad in more than a decade.

Trying to Hold On

Peyton Hagerman took the ball in the Timberwolves first matchup on Friday afternoon. Dozer Park, the Cardinals single A minor league affiliate, had the radar gun working and both teams’ eyes were locked on the scoreboard early on. Hagerman showed no signs of fatigue despite a long season of work, popping the mitt at 86mph to start the game. His opposite from Okawville respectably registered 81 miles per hour, but had an impressive command of the strike zone. Both pitchers dominated through the first three innings, and with the game tied 0-0 heading to the top of the fourth inning it would be Okawville who would draw first blood. Read More

LLC Announces Spring Semester Honors Lists

News Progress Posted on by
June 10, 2015

The Lake Land College 2015 spring semester academic honors list for full-time and part-time students has been released by the college.
For part-time students, the president’s list means a student must have completed at least six to 11 credit hours in courses numbered 040 or higher per semester, excluding summer term, with a GPA of 3.8 – 4.0. For dean’s list, a student must have completed six to 11 credit hours in courses numbered 040 or higher per semester, excluding summer term, with a GPA of 3.65 – 3.79. For the honor’s list, a student must have completed at least six to 11 credit hours in courses numbered 040 or higher per semester, excluding summer term, with a GPA of 3.5 – 3.64.
For full-time students, the president’s list means a student must have completed at least 12 credit hours in courses numbered 040 or higher per semester, excluding summer term, with a GPA of 3.8 – 4.0. For dean’s list, a student must have completed at least 12 credit hours in courses numbered 040 or higher per semester, excluding summer term, with a GPA of 3.65 – 3.79. For the honor’s list, a student must have completed at least 12 hours in courses numbered 040 or higher per semester, excluding summer term, with a GPA of 3.5 – 3.64.
The following students have achieved academic honors. Full-time is denoted by FT, while part-time is denoted by PT: Read More

Bringing the Boats Back to the Lake

News Progress Posted on by
Photo by Keith Stewart Pictured is Jeff Gibbs, the owner of Clinton Marine who recently opened a location in Sullivan just in time for the busy boating season.

Photo by Keith Stewart
Pictured is Jeff Gibbs, the owner of Clinton Marine who recently opened a location in Sullivan just in time for the busy boating season.

New boat dealer/repair facility opens in Sullivan

June 10, 2015

by Joash Tiarks
Reporting in Sullivan

As summer approaches and things heat up at the lake, many boaters will recognize a familiar name in town, especially those with runabouts and the larger cruisers. Clinton Marine, out of Weldon, Ill. is expanding and has opened up shop in the former D & M Sporting Good storefront on S. Hamilton Street in Sullivan.
“We felt it was a good idea to get down there, not only for service but also for sales,” owner Jeff Gibbs explained. “There really has not been anyone down there selling boats for years, and it’s really a great body of water.”
Clinton Marine was originally started by Gibbs’ father in the late 70s and the primary location in Weldon on Clinton Lake was built in 1985. Gibbs took over the business when his father retired in 2010, having returned from establishing and running a boating business at Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri for 16 years. Read More

Other Railroad Stories: A Night to Remember

News Progress Posted on by
GintherJune 10, 2015

by Jerry Ginther
NP Columnist

The aroma of brewing coffee hung in the morning air as many of us viewed the incredible sight before us. It was a cold winter morning in January 1969, although slightly above freezing, as we surveyed the wreckage of a head on collision between two trains. The crash had occurred in the early morning hours that same day at Indian Oaks just a short distance north of Kankakee, Ill. at a junction point where three tracks converged into two. The aroma was the result of a box car carrying coffee being demolished and its contents strewn over the melting snow and standing water puddles.
This train wreck happened about 46 years ago, and I still remember how the visual and olfactory inputs at the scene presented a striking contrast. The smell of morning coffee and the devastation before us just didn’t go together. At that point in time all of the deceased had yet to be recovered. Read More

All LOVC Selections Announced

News Progress Posted on by
June 10, 2015

Both LOVC member schools Okaw Valley and Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond had student athletes selected as all-conferece for softball and baseball.

OVHS

For the Timberwolves, pitcher Devon Still was chosen  while infielders Peyton Hagerman and Dylan Park were also selected. Honorable mentions went to Garrett Fritz, Drew Fruchtl, Joe Jeffers, and Taylor Coleman. Read More

Public Invited to Health Insurance for People 65 and Over Program

News Progress Posted on by
June 10, 2015

Questions surrounding health insurance have multiplied since the Affordable Care Act passed. Now that it is nearing full implementation, questions persist about “how does it affect me?”
Health Insurance for People 65+ will be held at University of Illinois Extension, 122 S. Walnut St. in Arthur at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 30. This lesson addresses how ACA affects people 65 years and older. In addition, options in Medicare coverage and how the Affordable Care Act affects Medicare will be discussed. Read More