•February 14, 2024•

Peanuts work well in sweet desserts and are commonly found in the form of peanut butter swirled with jelly atop bread for lunchtime sandwiches. However, peanuts can be an ingredient in savory dishes as well. In fact, peanuts often are included in the popular Thai dish “Pad Thai,” which is Thailand’s variation on a traditional Chinese stir-fry. It’s salty, sweet and often spicy. Try this version, courtesy of “300 Best Stir-Fry Recipes” (Robert Rose) by Nancie McDermott.

Pad Thai

Serves 2 to 4

4 ounces dry rice noodles

1⁄4 cup chicken stock or water

3 tablespoons fish sauce

2 tablespoons soy sauce Read More

•February 14, 2024•

Cheri Burcham

Extension Educator

University of Illinois Extension

Illinois Extension media communications coordinator, Herbert Chavez, shares this article about a great financial education opportunity. Herbert says: Navigating financial management can often seem overwhelming and intimidating, particularly for those uncertain about how to begin. Studies have shown that financial stress can have detrimental effects on both physical and emotional well-being. Read More

•February 7, 2024•

Freshmen High Honors: McKenna Blaudow, Maxton Boddy, Kody Burdick, Morgan Casteel, Lance Chupp, London Dugan, Jaidyn Edwards, Hadden Fabert, Samantha Fowler, Kaley Herschberger, Dustin Hodge, Adyson Hopkins, Brennon Hutson, Kaitlyn Jacobs, Langsten Klay, Jorja Lebeter, Billy Lieb, Cameron McGill, Isabel Melton, Sophia Monts, Brynlee Moore, Ben Newhouse, Reece Oye, Leighton Poulos, Nathan Rafferty, Nicholas Rafferty, Embrey Reardon, Cassidy Rohacs, Cooper Shoemaker, Joshua Taylor, John Williams. 

Freshmen Honor Roll: Kylie Burke, Esmerelda Diaz, Hayden Ely, Owen Herring, Emilee Waldrop.  Read More

•February 7, 2024•

The Community Foundation of Macon County (CFMC) and Decatur Earthmover Credit Union (DECU) announce a first-of-its-kind, comprehensive $1 million grant funding collaboration, Moving Forward. This new initiative will provide increased 2024 grant funding opportunities for nonprofit organizations to help them advance the communities they serve through their projects and programs.

Moving Forward includes four discretionary open-call grant programs – Places & Neighborhoods (awarding $100,000), Impact200 ($200,000), Emergency Services Support ($100,000) and CommunityWorks ($400,000). An additional $200,000 in grant funding will benefit Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), emergency services, financial literacy, arts, and summer education programs. As part of this collaboration, CFMC folded two of their annual grant programs, CommunityWorks and Impact100, into Moving Forward, doubling each program’s available grant funding. Read More