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Master Gardeners Annual Plant Sale May 14

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•May 4, 2022•
by Jenny Lee
Master Gardener/
Master Naturalist Coordinator, University of Illinois Extension Coles County

Master Gardeners are excited to announce their annual spring plant sale at Garden Fest. They will be selling a variety of plants at Lytle Park, Mattoon on Saturday, May 14, 2022, from 9 am-12 pm. Featured will be hanging baskets, vegetable plants for your garden, herbs, and houseplants. Gardening gloves, garden décor, and gently used gardening items will also be offered this year. Visit our Facebook page starting May 9 to see our featured plants. Read More

Okaw Valley High School Prom Court

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Okaw Valley High School Prom Court
Okaw Valley High School will have prom on Saturday, May 7 at the Shelbyville Chautauqua Auditorium. Coronation is at 7:15 pm. The theme is Hollywood Nights. First row: Kylie Stauder, Amelia Landreth, Saskia Breeuwsma and Karlie Stauder. Back row: Cale Roley, Tyson Montgomery, Lathen McLain and Braeden Nichols.

Moultrie County Republicans Lincoln Day Dinner

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Moultrie County Republicans Lincoln Day Dinner
The Moultrie County Republicans held their Lincoln Day dinner at the Sullivan VFW on Saturday, April 23. During that evening there were thirteen guest speakers who are running in the upcoming election in June. Pictured is U.S. representative for the 15th congressional district Mary Miller speaking at the event.

Warm Weather Travel Could Put You in the Path of a Hurricane or Other Severe Weather

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•May 4, 2022•
With many families poised for spring and summer travel, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) is helping get travelers ready for hurricane season by highlighting National Hurricane Preparedness Week, May 1-7, 2022.
“Our State Climatologist and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) have forecasted an increase frequency and intensity of natural disasters like hurricanes,” IEMA Director Alicia Tate-Nadeau said. “So before your big vacation, find time to prepare for any kind of severe weather. It could save your life.”
With hurricane season spanning from June 1 – November 30, there are several practical ways that Illinoisans can better prepare and plan for hurricanes while traveling. Depending on your travel destination(s), the following steps are helpful to consider: Read More

May is Foster Parent Appreciation Month

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•May 4, 2022•
May is Foster Parent Appreciation Month, a time to honor and celebrate the thousands of foster families across the state who have opened their hearts and homes to provide a temporary safe haven to vulnerable children and encourage more Illinoisans to join them by becoming licensed foster families.
Children are placed in the temporary care of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) by local courts when it is determined that their families cannot safely care for them. DCFS works with the family to make the positive changes necessary to reunite with their children while foster families step up and provide homes where the children are protected, nurtured and loved. Today, there are just under 21,000 children living in foster care in the state: 8,600 are living with foster families, 11,300 with relatives and 600 in group homes and institutions. Read More

Prairie Association for Home and Community Education Meeting

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•May 4, 2022•
Submitted by Anamary Bicknell

PAHCE Public Relations

The PAHCE (Moultrie-Douglas) Units have continued to meet with some precautions due to COVID. Sixty-eight members had paid dues by January 31, 2022.
The Prairie Association for Home & Community Education (Moultrie & Douglas Counties) held their Annual Meeting on April 21, 2022. The meeting started at 12 noon with a potluck meal that was enjoyed by all. Following the meal Nancy Burcham gave a very entertaining program about her decision to become an author. She reviewed the books she has written including her latest book, “Laughter with the Older People 101”. Read More

Sullivan Dance Studio’s Competition Team attends Rainbow 2022 Competition

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Recently the Sullivan Dance Studio Competition Team attended their final competition of the year. Pictured is the Brand New Day Musical Theater large group. Front row (left to right): Miah Voegel, Gabrielle Carpenter, Lillian Hood, Elizabeth Owens, Claire Hampton, Avery Florey, Aleena Ingram. Back row (left to right): Kylin Wehrle, Alyssa Taylor, Synthea Doss, Sarina Voegel, Coach Melissa Krieger, Adalee Foster, Korry Thilker. Not pictured: Emma Lawrence

•May 4, 2022•
Sullivan Dance Studio’s Competition Team attended their final competition of the year April 2-3, 2022 at the Rialto Square Theater in Joliet, Illinois. The team had dancers in numerous sessions and categories at the event.
Fabulous 50’s, the Production Number received 1st Overall Line Winner, Judge’s Choice “Bop Til You Drop It,” NYC All Stars Award and a Double Platinum Rating. This dance includes all 33 dance team members. Brand New Day is the team’s only large group entry, is in the Musical Theater Category and dances at the Junior Age Level. At this Rainbow Competition it received 1st Overall Large Group, Most Entertaining Award, NYC All Stars Award and a Double Platinum Rating.
Awards from the small group competition portion of the weekend’s events are as follows: for our teenie age group “Proud Mary” Jazz Group received second place overall and a platinum rating, while “Hot, Hot, Hot” Jazz Group routine finished third place overall and a platinum rating. For the mini team age category, Jazz Routine “Spice Girls” and Poms Routine “Did I Mention” both received platinum ratings. In the 10-12 age division, the team’s Intermediate Lyrical routine “Flashlight” received a platinum rating, “Creative Visuals” Judge’s Award and Best Costumes Award. “Fire vs. Ice,” the team’s Intermediate Level Acro Routine received a platinum rating and a NYC All Stars Invite. The Novice Level Hip Hop routine “What’s Up Danger?” finished tenth place overall. All other junior age level routines, “Just What I Needed,” Jazz Routine, “Falling” Contemporary Routine, “Tribe” Jazz Routine and “Fancy Like” Jazz Routine all each received a Platinum rating. Read More