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Mo-Co Rush Earns Second in Effingham

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Submitted Mo-Co Rush Earns Second in Effingham The 2015 Mo-Co Rush 10U competed in their first tournament of the spring/summer the weekend of April 25-26 in Effingham. The Rush came away with a second place finish and qualified for the 2015 NSA World Series in Indianapolis. The Rush started the weekend against the Mattoon Cobras and one of the best pitchers in the area in Karlie Bean. It was their first outing of the season against Bean, and the Rush lost the opener 6-0. The Rush then won five straight games over Jasper County, St. Anthony, CI Diamonds, Mattoon Pride, and the Cobras. The last two wins came off of last inning come from behind finishes. They trailed the Pride, a team that defeated them twice in the fall, 5-2 heading into the bottom of the third but rallied to score two in the third, one in the fourth, and one in the bottom of the fifth to win. That win propelled them into the championship where they needed to defeat the Mattoon Cobras twice to win the title. In game one the Rush were down 7-4 in the bottom of the sixth when they rallied to score four runs to win the game and force the extra game. However, the Rush ran out of gas and lost 9-1 to the Cobras and Bean in the finale. Hit leaders for the weekend were Sullivan’s Kinley Hill and Arthur’s Alisha Frederick, both with seven each, while three others had four hits each. The trio of Arcola’s Keira Hohlbauch, Sullivan’s Katie Honchell, and Arthur’s Ryli Kauffman pitched well all weekend. Arthur’s Charley Condill also caught in six of the seven games and threw out eight base runners. The Rush travel to Charleston and Terre Haute in May for their next two tournaments. For more info on the Rush go to www.mocorush.com. Pictured front row, left to right: Bailey Bennett-Bethany, Alisha Frederick-Arthur, Alaina Moore-Sullivan, Ryli Kauffman-Arthur, Mikaela Moore-Sullivan, Mackenzie Condill-Arthur. Back row: Kayla Schnippel-Mt. Zion, Mia Harris-Bethany, Kinley Hill-Sullivan, Keira Hohlbauch-Arcola, Charley Condill-Arthur, Katie Honchell-Sullivan.

Submitted
Mo-Co Rush Earns Second in Effingham
The 2015 Mo-Co Rush 10U competed in their first tournament of the spring/summer the weekend of April 25-26 in Effingham. The Rush came away with a second place finish and qualified for the 2015 NSA World Series in Indianapolis.
The Rush started the weekend against the Mattoon Cobras and one of the best pitchers in the area in Karlie Bean. It was their first outing of the season against Bean, and the Rush lost the opener 6-0. The Rush then won five straight games over Jasper County, St. Anthony, CI Diamonds, Mattoon Pride, and the Cobras. The last two wins came off of last inning come from behind finishes. They trailed the Pride, a team that defeated them twice in the fall, 5-2 heading into the bottom of the third but rallied to score two in the third, one in the fourth, and one in the bottom of the fifth to win. That win propelled them into the championship where they needed to defeat the Mattoon Cobras twice to win the title. In game one the Rush were down 7-4 in the bottom of the sixth when they rallied to score four runs to win the game and force the extra game. However, the Rush ran out of gas and lost 9-1 to the Cobras and Bean in the finale. Hit leaders for the weekend were Sullivan’s Kinley Hill and Arthur’s Alisha Frederick, both with seven each, while three others had four hits each. The trio of Arcola’s Keira Hohlbauch, Sullivan’s Katie Honchell, and Arthur’s Ryli Kauffman pitched well all weekend. Arthur’s Charley Condill also caught in six of the seven games and threw out eight base runners. The Rush travel to Charleston and Terre Haute in May for their next two tournaments. For more info on the Rush go to www.mocorush.com.
Pictured front row, left to right: Bailey Bennett-Bethany, Alisha Frederick-Arthur, Alaina Moore-Sullivan, Ryli Kauffman-Arthur, Mikaela Moore-Sullivan, Mackenzie Condill-Arthur. Back row: Kayla Schnippel-Mt. Zion, Mia Harris-Bethany, Kinley Hill-Sullivan, Keira Hohlbauch-Arcola, Charley Condill-Arthur, Katie Honchell-Sullivan.

Local Government Units Trying to Become Less Accountable, Less Transparent to Taxpayers

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DeRossett2smMay 13, 2015

by Dennis DeRossett
Guest Columnist

As state government scurries to fill a projected $8 billion deficit in the 2016 fiscal year budget, it would seem to make sense to move beyond successful compromises and proven solutions already in place and instead focus on issues that truly have a significant impact on the state’s finances.
At least you would think so given the seriousness of the fiscal crisis.
But that’s not the case with some elected officials and local government lobbyists that represent the more than 7,000 taxpayer funded units of government in Illinois. Behind-the-scenes efforts are currently taking place that would reduce their obligation of accountability and transparency to taxpayers, all under the guise of the state’s financial crisis. It’s a “smoke-and-mirrors” attempt by local governments at a time of fiscal crisis where Illinois taxpayers would end up on the losing end. Read More

Timberwolves Repeat as LOVC Division Champs

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Defeat Arcola 11-0 Tuesday

May 13, 2015

By Matt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter

Okaw Valley defended their Northwest Little Okaw Valley crown on Tuesday night with a dominant 11-0 victory over Arcola. Devon Still went the distance tossing a six inning complete game shutout while punching out 10 Purple Riders.
Head coach Andrew Hagermen said his team accomplished two of their three goals with the win. “This is back-to-back, but the thing I told the team was to stay focused on the goals we had this year. We wanted to win 20 games, win our conference, and win our regional. Today was our 20th win and a conference championship so that was a double whammy. Right now we are tied with Argenta, and they have Arthur one more time so we will either tie or take the whole thing.”
Devon Still punched out four of the first five batters in a workhorse performance his coach has come to expect. Read More

Secretary of State Mobile Unit in Sullivan May 21

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May 13, 2015

Secretary of State Jesse White, in cooperation with the Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library, is offering drivers a chance to renew their driver’s license or vehicle registration renewal sticker, obtain a duplicate or corrected license, or obtain an Illinois identification card. White’s mobile unit will be available at the Sullivan library, located at 2 West Water in Sullivan, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. May 21. Read More

Okaw Valley District Looking into Possibility of Closing Elementary School

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With state funding cuts, board discusses proactive vision for future

May 13, 2015

by Joash Tiarks
Bethany Reporter

At a special meeting May 4, after the culmination of more than an hour of discussion, the Okaw Valley School Board assigned superintendent Kent Stauder what amounts to a mini research project, some of which will deal with the possibility of closing the elementary school in Bethany.
Guest speaker Larry Dirks, Director of Field Services with the Illinois Association of School Boards, kicked off the meeting with a small presentation related to the district’s goals and objectives. Every few years the board reviews and updates their ‘Goals and Objectives” document, available on the okawvalley.org website, which is essentially a strategic plan for the coming years. Dirks’ presentation was aimed at giving the board tools to clarify and give focus to the objectives laid out in the document, outlining measurable steps toward their completion. This would help to give more clear direction as well as evaluate what progress has been made.
This is not the first time the veteran board has faced this process. The consensus among the board members was to remain proactive, with a long term plan, rather than try to react to whatever the state may or may not do.
“I don’t want to see us forced into anything,” board member Brooke Bartimus said. “I want to see us having a vision”. Read More

Seniors Step Up in Knights’ Win Over Sullivan

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Photo by Keith Stewart Pictured are the seven Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond seniors that were celebrated Tuesday evening before the team’s game against Sullivan. From left to right: Ross Ryan, Hunter Kamm, Avery Schrock, Tyler Schuring, Chris Crabtree, Jeremy Plank, and Christopher Davis.

Photo by Keith Stewart
Pictured are the seven Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond seniors that were celebrated Tuesday evening before the team’s game against Sullivan. From left to right: Ross Ryan, Hunter Kamm, Avery Schrock, Tyler Schuring, Chris Crabtree, Jeremy Plank, and Christopher Davis.

Schuring and company stop red-hot Redskins

May 13, 2015

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

Whether it was the three-up, three-down pitching of Tyler Schuring, the 2-run homer by Hunter Kamm, or the final out by Chris Davis, Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond’s seniors showed up to play Tuesday night and knocked Sullivan off 8-5.
“We put the ball in play, got some guys on, and that got contagious,” said head coach Craig Moffett. “The guys are very energetic in the dugout and ran the bases hard, and backed up throws. We played pretty clean defense, too.”
Things certainly appeared at first to go in Sullivan’s way, however. Dylan Hart got the scoring started with a solo-bomb over the left-field wall in the first. After Nick Frerichs’ single down the third-base line, Levi Nadler doubled to deep center field to put Sullivan up 2-0.
On the mound for Sullivan was Zach Hrvol who helped retire the side in the bottom frame after just 10 pitches.
Sullivan then scored again in the bottom of the second thanks to one of just two Tyler Schuring walks on the day. Read More

Plans Underway for Sixth Annual Amish Country Tractor Cruise

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May 13, 2015

The sixth annual Amish Country Tractor Cruise will be held Saturday, June 13 in Arthur. A 40 mile cruise will take riders on a picturesque cruise through the heart of Illinois Amish country that will feature the communities of Arthur and Lovington.
Registration for the cruise will begin at 7 a.m. at Yoder’s Kitchen, located on IL Route 133 in Arthur, and departure will be 8 a.m. A rest stop will be in Lovington at the firehouse, and lunch will be served by Yoder Farms and Drainage near Sullivan before returning to Arthur at approximately 2:30 p.m. This year the cruise is raising funds for “Christ’s Pantry” in Lovington which provides food assistance to needy families in Lovington and surrounding communities. Read More

Obituaries 5-13-2015: Eileen Marlow

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MarlowEileenEileen Marlow

L. Eileen Marlow, 101, of Sullivan passed away at 2:43 p.m. Sunday May 10, 2015 in Mason Point in Sullivan.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday in McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Thursday in the funeral home. Graveside services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Friday in Elder Cemetery in Farina.

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Understanding Illinois: Water, Water (not) Everywhere

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NowlanMay 13, 2015

By Jim Nowlan
NP Guest Columnist

Illinois has been hemorrhaging residents to sunny California and the Southwest for decades. But today California lacks the natural infrastructure to support its nearly 40 million residents, most of whom live on the desert.
A study by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration reports that California is probably in for a mega-drought that will last 30 or more years.
Will a reverse migration back to the water-rich Midwest unfold? Probably not right away, but it could in the decades to come, if we plan for it.
Just last year, 400,000 acres of California farmland were taken out of production, which represents in area more than twice my small Stark County, north of Peoria.
Always a big deal, water is becoming a really big deal now that it cannot be taken for granted.
And Illinois has a lot of water, an abundant supply until at least 2050, if it is well managed, according to Vern Knapp, the senior hydrologist at the Illinois State Water Survey at the University of Illinois.
The sources of our water in the state vary. Lake Michigan provides the lion’s share of the water used by the public in populous northeastern Illinois. Most of the rest of the water for central and northern Illinois comes from shallow underground aquifers. Read More

Lovington Library May Events

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May 13, 2015

Youth Book Club Meetings

Youth Book Club for fourth-eighth graders will meet Tuesday 4:30-5:30 May 19. They will make posters for a used book drive to collect books to be donated to the “Think Outside the Barn” at the September Farm Progress to promote reading.

Bob Ross Painting Class

Lovington Public Library District will offer the Bob Ross Painting 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday May 16. There is a fee which includes paints and canvas. Participants are asked to provide a roll of paper towels and their lunch. Preregistration is required by 1 p.m. Thursday May 14 by calling the Lovington Library at 873-4468. Read More