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Illinois Amish Heritage Center Holds Barn Raising Event

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Dan Huebener, of Brighton, uses a large mallet to drive a peg into the wood during the Miller-Herschberger barn raising at the Illinois Amish Heritage Center on Saturday, October 29.

•November 2, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The Illinois Amish Heritage Center located between Arthur and Arcola had a big event over the weekend-- a barn raising for the Herschberger-Miller barn which was constructed three miles from Arthur in 1879. The barn was dismantled this past spring by Firmitas, formerly Trillium Dell Timber Works.
Besides removing the barn from its original site, the 143-year-old structure was tagged, labeled and dismantled piece by piece. Last weekend that barn was raised on the IAHC grounds along with other activities including blacksmithing, rope making, petting zoo and buggy rides. Due to OSHA regulations, the barn was raised using some modern equipment. Read More

MCHGS Annual Dinner

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•November 2, 2022•

The Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society will have their annual dinner on Thursday, November 17 at 6 pm. The meal will be prepared by Griffins Catering and Lynn Lowder will be the speaker for the evening starting at 7 pm. Cost for the meal is $20 per person. Even if you do not wish to attend the dinner, all are welcome for the presentation at 7 pm. Call 217-728-4085 for more information. All reservations must be in by November 10.

Free Veteran’s Day Haircuts

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•November 2, 2022•

Students in the cosmetology program at Lake Land College will offer free haircuts to all veterans and active duty military personnel on Veteran’s Day.
Appointments for the free haircuts will be available on Friday, November 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and can be made by contacting the cosmetology department at 217-234-5300.
Free refreshments including coffee and donuts will be provided for those who attend.
The haircuts will take place in the Cosmetology Clinic in the West Building on campus in Mattoon.

Veterans Day Dinner

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•November 2, 2022•

The Lovington American Legion will have a Veterans Day Dinner on Friday, November 11 from 4 to 8 pm at the Legion. Menu is spaghetti with garlic bread, salad and dessert. Veterans eat free, others can enjoy the meal for $10.

Waterfowl Hunting Procedures

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•November 2, 2022•

All hunting in Okaw Wetlands will be in accordance with statewide regulations. There will not be pit blinds or skid blinds available this year. The accessible blind at Okaw Wetland will still be reservable this season and is in the same location as years past. Hunters not hunting in the accessible blind will have to follow the state minimum distance regulation of 200 yards between groups.
For questions or to reserve the accessible blind contact Park Ranger Grant Woods at (217) 774-3951 Ext. 7034 or at grant.d.woods@usace.army.mil.

City Council Approves Issuance of Bonds for Water Treatment Plant

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•October 26, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The Sullivan City Council approved three items on the agenda Monday night relating to the issuance of $1 million in bonds for the water treatment plant facility. The first of those items was an ordinance authorizing the issuance of waterworks and a sewerage system revenue bond. City Treasurer Sarah Golden said previous ordinances for water treatment plant original was $8.5 million, and they went back for $2 million.
The total project price requires the city to put up $1.7 million of its own money. By issuing this additional million the council can reduce the city’s putting forth on non-financed funding and repay the IEPA loan, and it will help make this loan payment. “This interest rate is better than the IEPA loan that we currently owe,” she said. Read More

2022 Showchoir Fall Revue Held

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Photos by Crystal Reed
Showchoir Fall Revue Held
The Sullivan Singers and Singers Junior held their Fall Revue the weekend of Saturday, October 15 and Sunday, October 16. The theme of the show was Press Play On A Good Day. The program featured performances by Singers, Singers Jr. and the groups combined. There was also a section of the program that had solos and duets that included vocal performances or dance performances by a student or two. The groups 2023 Competition Schedule includes Mt. Zion Midwest Invitational, Danville Midwest Classic, Troy Buchanan Show Choir Invitational Naperville North Clash of the Sequins, Sullivan Invitational, John Hersey Chicagoland Showcase and Decatur Premier Choice Invitational or Herscher Swing and Sing. A Show Choir Preview Show is scheduled for January 11 in the SHS gym.

Natalie McDowell Honored

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•October 26, 2022•
The late Natalie Mauck McDowell was honored Friday, October 7th, as the Millikin University School of Nursing Distinguished Alumna of the Year.
In presenting the award, Dr. Jamie Nickell, Dean of the Millikin University School of Nursing, stated “Criteria for this award includes that the nominee should have made a significant contribution to her community and have demonstrated integrity in her personal life and gained the respect of those surrounding her. Natalie did all of those things during her career.”
Natalie was graduated in 1989 from Millikin with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing. After graduation, Natalie started her career at Decatur Memorial Hospital, working in Pediatrics and in Labor and Delivery Pediatric Intensive Care. She later worked for Lincolnland Visiting Nurses and was the school nurse at Sullivan, Bement, and in Monticello. Read More

U of I Extension To Hold Evergreen Workshop

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•October 26, 2022•
By Jenny Lee
Master Gardener/Master Naturalist Coordinator
University of Illinois Extension Coles County

Want to learn more about Illinois evergreens? University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator Sarah Vogel invites you to an Evergreen Workshop. Come discover the recommended varieties and not so recommended varieties of evergreens for Illinois and learn proper pruning techniques. Then try your hand at creating a holiday arrangement with Master Gardener Christina Edmonds-Behrend.
Join us on Thursday, November 3 from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm, at the Lake Shelbyville Visitor Center 1989 IL RT 16, Shelbyville. The $8.00 registration fee includes all the materials you will need to create your arrangement. Read More

SBL Holiday Festival Set to Kick Off November 10

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•October 26, 2022•
Celebrate the holiday season by joining Sarah Bush Lincoln at its annual Holiday Festival in November.
With the theme “Home for the Holidays,” the festival will offer an online silent auction with home décor and wreaths, and a live auction at the gala. Proceeds from the festival will support the SBL Health Foundation’s Hospice House capital campaign, “The Most Important House You Will Ever Build.”
The Sarah Bush Lincoln Hospice House will offer dignity and comfort to people in the end stages of terminal illnesses, while supporting families and individuals as they celebrate their loved ones’ lives and lovingly support them through their final passage. Read More