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Dunn Construction to Complete Repair of the Lovington Grade School Parking Lot

News Progress Posted on by

•March 20, 2024•

Fees increasing for the 2024-2025 school year

by Ariana R Cherry

Superintendent Shannon Cheek presented the winning bid to repair the Lovington Grade School parking lot at the most recent school board meeting. The winning bid was from Dunn Construction with an amount of $437,801, which also includes a $35,000 allowance. Cheek informed the board that the bid came in about $5,000 less than what had originally been estimated. The work also includes the entire replacement of the sidewalks and curbs that lead up to the building. “It is really needed and long overdue. We hope that the work is done before school starts for the next school year. It has been a long time coming,” commented Cheek.

It was also announced that fees will be increasing for the 2024-2025 school year. According to Cheek’s research, prices have stayed pretty consistent since the 2014-2015 school year aside from lunch fees. While the prices will increase, they still will be lower than several of the surrounding school districts. Cheek stated that most fees will see about a $5-$10 increase. Read More

Recent Obituaries: Stanley Martin “Stan” Rothenbuecher

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Stanley Martin "Stan" Rothenbuecher

Stanley Martin "Stan" Rothenbuecher, 94, of Decatur, passed away Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at Decatur Memorial Hospital.

He was born on April 20, 1929, in Edwardsville, IL, a son of Oliver and Lucille (Martin) Rothenbuecher. Stan was a smart, talented, fun loving man. He was an outdoorsman who loved camping, cooking, his family and Betty. He enjoyed his 27 year career in the Air Force, serving in both the Korean War and the Vietnam War and eventually retiring as a Senior Master Sargent.
Surviving are his sister: Bobbie Collins, Jeanette Baine of OR, Denise Miller of Lovington, and Stanley Rothenbuecher II of Lovington; 12 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren and 7 great-great grandchildren; best friend and long time companion Betty and her children: Tim of O'Fallon, Jim of Decatur, and Teresa of WI, Betty's 6 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild; nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Stan was preceded in death by his parents; daughter Renee' Downs, brothers: Oliver "Rocky" and Don, and sister Dorothy.
Visitation will be Wednesday, March 20, 2024, from 10 am until the service time of 11 am at Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home. Burial with military rites will follow in Graceland Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to Cancer research.
Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.gracelandfairlawn.com.

Grammar Moses: What’s in a Name?

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•March 13, 2024•

Gib Van Dine often comes up with inspiration for these columns, but it’s ordinarily a germ of an idea. Today, I should share my byline with him.

What I like about this one is the likelihood I’ll get some audience participation to prompt another column. Hey, I’m a busy guy, and I’ll take the help where I can get it. I encourage you to write to me with other examples, especially for your name.

His idea: given names that can be used in other ways. For the most part, those other uses are nouns and verbs, but I’ll save my save my favorite adjective for the end. Read More

Winter Utility Bill Help is Available 

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•March 13, 2024•

The C.E.F.S Economic Opportunity Corporation’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) still has funding available for winter utility assistance. LIHEAP provides one-time grants to help income eligible households pay for their winter heating expenses. C.E.F.S. began taking LIHEAP applications on October 1st for the current program year 2024. To date in Moultrie County energy benefits totaling $226,547.00 have been approved for 349 households. Read More

Feast on Irish Pub Fare this St. Patrick’s Day

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•March 13, 2024•

St. Patrick’s Day celebrations were different in 2020. Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, many communities were forced to cancel their annual St. Patrick’s Day festivities. Typically lively, jovial gatherings of good-spirited revelers, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations are beloved by Irish and non-Irish people alike. 

Though the COVID-19 vaccines figure to help people across the globe return to a semblance of normalcy at some point in 2021, that long-awaited return to life as the world once knew it is unlikely to occur before mid-March. That means St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in 2021 will likely have to take place at home, much like they did a year ago. Read More

Missouri S&T Announces Honor List

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•March 13, 2024•

Missouri University of Science and Technology announced Joshua England, computer science sophomore, of Dalton City made the honor list for the Fall 2023 semester.

To be included on the honor list, students must have carried a minimum of 12 hours and had grade point averages of 3.2 or above out of a possible 4.0.

B & G Fundraiser

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•March 13, 2024•

Sparrows Unlimited will hold a biscuit and gravy fundraiser this Saturday at the Lovington Church of God Community Building. The by-donation breakfast will be served from 7-10:30 a.m. All proceeds benefit local families.

2023 Moultrie County Final Multiplier Announced

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•March 13, 2024•

Moultrie County has been issued a final property assessment equalization factor of 1.0000, according to David Harris, director of the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR).

The property assessment equalization factor, often called the “multiplier,” is the method used to achieve uniform property assessments among counties, as required by law. This equalization is particularly important because some of the state’s 6,600 local taxing districts overlap into two or more counties (e.g., school districts, junior college districts, fire protection districts). If there was no equalization among counties, substantial inequities among taxpayers with comparable properties would result. Read More