•September 21, 2022•
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Lake Shelbyville is offering additional deer hunting opportunities at Whitley Creek Recreation Area in Moultrie County for disabled deer hunters holding a state issued P2A card. Disabled hunters will be able to reserve two of 4 blinds in the closed Recreation Area during archery deer season. All four blinds were built by Boy Scouts to earn their Eagle Scout status. These 4 blinds allow disabled hunters that would like to archery hunt to have an easily accessible area in which to deer hunt. Hunting will be allowed by permit only throughout the archery season (to exclude dates the week prior to the youth shotgun season and 1st shotgun season). Reservations will be taken immediately and must be made 3 days in advance of the hunt. Each hunter will be allowed to reserve up to 2 days at a time, however, the hunter must have used their reservation before signing up for additional hunt dates.
For additional information or to make a reservation contact Park Ranger Grant Woods at (217) 774-3951 ext. 7034.
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Vice President Harris Visits Chicago; Tax Rebates Coming
•September 21, 2022•
By Capital News Illinois
Vice President Kamala Harris came to Chicago Friday, Sept. 16, to rally voters who support abortion rights and urge them to turn out in the upcoming midterm elections.
Speaking at a roundtable discussion on reproductive rights at the University of Illinois Chicago, Harris said the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade has put abortion rights at the forefront in races up and down the ballot.
Harris was joined at the event by Gov. JB Pritzker, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Attorney General Kwame Raoul, U.S. Rep. Danny Davis and a number of other abortion rights supporters. They were scheduled to hold a political rally on the UIC campus later in the day.
Her appearance came just 53 days before the Nov. 8 election when control of the U.S. House and Senate will be up for grabs and when all state-level elected offices in Illinois will be on the ballot as well. Read More
Obituaries 9-21-2022: Ronald Robinson
Ronald Robinson
Ronald G. ‘Ronnie’ Robinson, 76, of Sullivan, passed away at 2: 44 p.m., Tuesday, September 13, 2022, in Aspen Creek in Sullivan. Read More
Obituaries 9-21-2022: Timothy Roberts Sr.
Timothy Roberts Sr.
Timothy Squire Roberts, Sr., 69, of Lovington, passed away at 11:05 p.m., Sunday, September 11, 2022, in Decatur Memorial Hospital. Read More
Obituaries 9-21-2022: Larry Loy
Larry Loy
Larry D. Loy, 80, of Hammond, passed away at 3:02 p.m., Thursday, September 15, 2022, in Decatur Memorial Hospital.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, September 20, at McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan. Burial was in Greenhill Cemetery in Sullivan. Memorials may be made to Hammond Community Booster Club. Read More
Obituaries 9-21-2022: Robert “Mike” Foley
Robert “Mike” Foley
Robert Michael “Mike” Foley, 68
, of Decatur, formerly of Sullivan, passed away at 9:22 a.m., Thursday, September 15, 2022, in Decatur Memorial Hospital.
Funeral services were held Monday, September 19, in McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan. Burial was in St. Isidore Cemetery in Bethany. Memorials may be made to American Kidney Foundation or American Heart Association. Read More
Youth Organization Connects Students to Ag Careers
•September 21, 2022•
By Kay Shipman
Farm Week
Agriculture education supporters learned a youth organization helps students learn about agricultural careers even if their school doesn’t offer ag classes.
Ebony Webber, CEO of National Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS), discussed the organization and its youth chapters with the Illinois Leadership Council for Agricultural Education (ILCAE) in Chicago. The group toured Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences (CHSAS) and heard from faculty and administrators.
Increasing the number of urban students interested in agriculture-related careers is an ongoing goal for ILCAE and others involved with agriculture education. One of the challenges has been expanding the number of schools with agriculture programs, especially given the high demand for agriculture teachers.
Two of Junior MANRRS’ goals are to expose high school students to careers in food, agriculture and natural resources and to dispel myths about ag careers, Webber said. Read More
LLC Fall Semester Enrollment Trends Positive
•September 21, 2022•
Fall 2022 enrollment is up at Lake Land College. With more than 3,700 students enrolled for fall, Lake Land is experiencing 4.6% increase in full time equivalency or FTE and a 2.7% increase in headcount.
According to the 10th day enrollment report, the college saw significant increases in students starting their education at Lake Land College, returning to finish a degree and those transferring from another institution.
New students, who enrolled in college for the first time following high school, are up 17%; readmit students are up 14%; and transfer new students are up 43%.
“Our summer and fall enrollments indicate students are choosing Lake Land College to start a bachelor’s degree or train for a life-sustaining career. As a community college, we offer students a personalized path to reach their goals, giving them a sense of accomplishment and greater control over their future,” Lake Land College President Josh Bullock said. Read More
Moultrie Moment of the Week

Pictured above is the Dalton City Orchestra. The year that this photo was taken is unknown. Please submit photos to the News Progress for future consideration. Originals will be saved for return or forwarded to Moultrie County Historical Society. If you have any other information, please contact the Moultrie County Historical Society at 217-728- 4085.
Governor Pritzker Adjusts COVID-19 Requirements to Address Current Needs
•September 21, 2022•
As part of his continuing plan to carefully unwind the state’s COVID-19 executive orders, Governor Pritzker last Thursday updated testing requirements for school and childcare personnel, rescinding the requirement that unvaccinated employees in these sectors test twice weekly. This change went into effect Friday and was made on the advice of medical experts, based on their careful consideration of the current conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic and is in line with Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance.
“Vaccination continues to be the most effective tool we have against COVID-19, and I’m proud that millions of Illinoisans have taken advantage of these life-saving vaccines – they have given us the ability to adjust these requirements,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I continue to urge everyone in the state to stay up to date on vaccines and boosters, including getting the recently released bivalent booster shot. Although the current state of the pandemic is very different than it was two years ago, we still need to protect the most vulnerable members of our community as we continue to be responsive to the changing challenges and evolutions of this virus.” Read More
