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Obituaries 3-29-2023: Thomas Stables

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Thomas Stables

Thomas Robert Stables, 90, of Bethany, passed away at 6:30 p.m., Friday, March 24, 2023, at Fair Haven Christian Home in Decatur.
Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m., Friday, March 31, at McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Bethany. Visitation will be held 5-7 p.m., Thursday, March 30, at McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Bethany with Masonic Rites at 7 p.m. by George A. Sentel Masonic Lodge #764 Sullivan. Burial will be in Arthur Cemetery in Arthur. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Scholarship Fund at George A. Sentel Masonic Lodge #764 Sullivan. Read More

Obituaries 3-29-2023: Alfreda “Freddie” Murphy

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Alfreda “Freddie” Murphy

Alfreda A. ``Freddie” Stephens Bone Murphy from Bethany, Illinois, passed from this earth after a prolonged illness on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, at 88 years of age. Freddie was born on June 30, 1934, and was the only child to her beloved parents, Alfred H.F. and Cervus Alces (Nicholls) Stephens of Walsenburg, Colorado. Not only adored by her parents, Freddie was inspired by a close relationship with her two aunts, Aileen Cunningham and Bertha Stephens. She affectionately and lovingly referred to them as Auntie A and Auntie B. Read More

Gov. Pritzker Announces $175 Million Available in B2B Grants for Restaurants, Hotels and Creative Arts Businesses

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•March 29, 2023•
Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today announced $175 million in available grant funding through the Back to Business (B2B) program. Following state recovery for businesses totaling nearly $1.5 billion, the latest American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) -funded opportunity is designed to provide additional support for the hardest-hit sectors, including restaurants (B2B Restaurants), hotels (B2B Hotels), and businesses or organizations in the creative arts sector (B2B Arts). To provide hands-on support and raise awareness about the program, the State has mobilized a network of more than 100 community navigators across Illinois. Read More

Where Would We Be With No Ifs, Ands or Buts?

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•March 29, 2023•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer

I once wrote about my overuse of the word “that” in response to a reader’s question about it. I’ve been more mindful about how I use the word, but I haven’t scrubbed it from my lexicon.
Reader Steve Bense’s recent letter made me wonder whether I’m using another favorite word too much.
“In your March 12 column, I noticed your use of a word which I have striven to stop using,” he wrote. “The word is ‘but.’ Furthermore, I noticed you started a sentence with it.
“I wish I could recall the source of this advice, however it has stuck with me for a long time. It was: ‘Any time you insert the word “but” into a sentence, you’re indicating everything prior to the “but” was a lie (at worst) or not worth remembering (at best).’ Read More

Remember When? 3-29-2023

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25 Years Ago This Week

Guy Little, founder of the Little Theatre, assisted in the preparation of an episode of The E! True Hollywood Story concerning the life and mysterious death of Bob Crane. Little provided the producers with material concerning Crane’s performance on the Little Theatre stage in 1971. Crane is best remembered for his role as Col. Hogan on the long-running 1960s sitcom Hogan’s Heroes. Read More

Essay Winners Announced for Americanism Essay Contest

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•March 29, 2023•
The American Legion Auxiliary units of Arthur, Lovington and Atwood have announced the 2023 Department of Illinois Americanism Essay Contest that is sponsored locally. This year’s essay subject and title were “Who Are Our Modern Day Patriots?” Essays were judged by a team of local judges one each from Arthur, Lovington and Atwood. The three classes were Class I- 7th and 8th grades, Class II-9th and 10th grades and Class III-11th and 12th grades. Read More

Planning and Zoning Director Addresses Permitting and Inspections For Water Plant and Demolition of City Building

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•March 29, 2023•
by Crystal Reed

During the last city council meeting Jan Haegan approached the council about permitting and inspections for the new water plant and whether a demolition permit was obtained for the demolition of the city building. At this week’s meeting, Kristi Hart, Planning and Zoning Director for Moultrie County and the City of Sullivan spoke during public comment. In regards to the city pulling permits for city projects, Hart noted that since the city charges for permit to generate revenue, as well as to regulate what is being built, for the city to pay itself for a permit is not necessary. “However, going forward I would like to see the city pull a no-fee permit to have on file in case there is a question as to whether the city is following its own rules. This should clear up any confusion in the future,” she said.

As far as the water plant project, Hart and Commissioner Woodworth had spoken several times over the past few weeks. She noted that the project was brought before the council and therefore the public several times for different aspects of the project. Hart noted again that pulling a no-fee permit would have been the right thing to do to make sure all the bases were covered. Read More