•March 22, 2023•
Western Governors University (WGU) today announced the return of its “Fund My Classroom” initiative, issuing a call for K-12 teachers across the state to nominate their proposed classroom projects for the opportunity to receive full or partial funding. The fully online, nonprofit university is pledging up to $100,000 in grant money across four states for K-12 teachers who have innovative ideas that will further engage their students but need funding to help bring these ideas to life. Teachers can submit their proposed projects online at wgu.edu/fundmyclassroom through April 14. Selected classroom projects will be announced during Teacher Appreciation Week, which runs May 8-12. Read More
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Agri-Fab Food Drive
•March 22, 2023•
Agri-Fab is hosting a community food drive through April 1. There are several different ways to participate. Non-perishable food or monetary donations can be dropped off to your local food bank or Agri-Fab’s HR office, donations can be mailed marked food drive to Agri-Fab, 809 S. Hamilton, Sullivan, IL 61951. Agri-Fab will do a porch bag drop-off on Saturday, March 25. Fill up your bag with non-perishable food and leave it for pick up on Saturday, April 1.
Tales and Tunes with Trudy Incorporates Music, Reading and Movement
Photo by Crystal Reed
Trudy (Beauchamp) Feyerisen, a Lovington native, leads an activity at Arthur Public Library recently during Tales and Tunes With Trudy. The program is held on Thursdays at 3:45 pm at the library and incorporates reading, music and movement.
•March 22, 2023•
by Crystal Reed
Trudy (Beauchamp) Feyereisen, a native of Lovington, has been leading a children’s program at the Arthur Public Library for around 2 months now that incorporates reading, music and movement. Tales With Trudy has a theme every week and the theme incorporates holidays, seasons and other concepts. One recent program focused on friendship.
Feyereisen spent four years as a kindergarten-fifth grade music teacher in northern Illinois. Then she left to go to seminary. After she met her husband she moved to California. Read More
Obituaries 3-22-2023: Frank Hutchcraft
Frank Hutchcraft
Frank M. Hutchcraft, 87, of Sullivan, passed away at 5:30 p.m., Sunday, March 19, 2023, in St. Mary’s Hospital in Decatur. Read More
Lake Land College to host Commencement Ceremony
•March 22, 2023•
Lake Land College will celebrate with graduates during a Commencement ceremony on Friday, May 12, 2023 at 6 p.m. in the Field House.
“We are thrilled to celebrate with our graduates and recognize their many accomplishments at this year’s Commencement Ceremony,” Lake Land College President Josh Bullock said. Read More
Tax Cuts on the Table if State Revenues Continue to Exceed Expectations
•March 22, 2023•
By Jerry Nowicki
Capitol News Illinois
jnowicki @ capitolnewsillinois.com
With two months to go before the legislature adjourns and current-year revenues continuing to smash expectations, Gov. JB Pritzker said he and legislative leaders are considering tax cuts.
His comments came one week after the legislature’s nonpartisan Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, or COGFA, increased its revenue estimates by about $1 billion for the current and upcoming budget years combined.
“I would like to see – as we feel comfortable with these new revenues coming in and their stability; and I think we’re seeing a few years in a row now of the stability of that revenue – that we should be talking about whether there are tax cuts that we can implement,” he said at an unrelated news conference at a Springfield community college. Read More
Green Creek Drone Company Offers Leading Technology in Agriculture
•March 22, 2023•
The Equity and WebAir LLC are partnering in a new business. Green Creek Drone Company is focused on making cutting edge drone sprayer technology available to corn, soybean, and wheat producers across the Midwest. This technology allows producers to “Take Control” of aerial applications made to their crops. Green Creek Drone Company will also be working closely with The Equity’s Agronomy Department providing custom application of fungicides in select areas through the first growing season. Tony Weber who has years of experience with drone applications will be leading the team as General Manager. Read More
IL State Fire Marshal Awards $1.5 Million in Grants
•March 22, 2023•
The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) has announced the recipients of the 2023 Small Equipment Grant Program. A total of $1.5 million was awarded to 64 fire departments/districts and EMS providers across the state. The program was established to provide grants of up to $26,000 each for the purchase of small firefighting and ambulance equipment.
Lovington Community Ambulance is a recipient of a grant in the amount of $26,000.
This program is an innovative approach to a problem that has long caused difficulties for fire departments and not-for profit ambulance services in Illinois, particularly those that have hardships in generating the necessary revenue for small equipment. The purpose is to allow eligible applicants the opportunity to purchase small equipment that they may otherwise not be able to purchase. The OSFM received 296 applications, requesting around $4.5 million in funding for this grant period. Read More
How to Make Edible Spheres
Photo by Crystal Reed
How to Make Edible Spheres
Abagail Dean uses a dropper to make boba at Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library on Friday, March 17. The edible spheres are often used in bubble tea or other drinks and contain juice inside. For the purposes of the program participants used lemonade and fruit punch.
“Safeguarding Tomorrow” Low-Interest Loans Available to Illinois Communities
•March 22, 2023•
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced the formation of the new Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Program to help with hazardous mitigation projects at the local level. While funding for this program has not yet been authorized for Illinois, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) needs to document program interest among our communities in order to be considered for the grant. Read More