•February 23, 2022•
The Illinois Department of Revenue has highlighted the Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral Program which allows qualified seniors to defer all or part of their property taxes and special assessment payments on their principal residences. Seniors needing assistance paying their property taxes have until March 1st to apply for the program.
The program, which works like a loan, allows qualified seniors to defer a maximum of $5,000 per tax year (including both first and second installment payments). Deferred amounts are borrowed from the State of Illinois, who pays the tax bill to the County Collector’s Office. Read More
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Obituaries 2-23-2022: George Johnson
George Johnson
George Garry Johnson, 62, of Sullivan, passed away Friday, February 18, 2022, in his home. Read More
Obituaries 2-23-2022: Roy Book
Roy Book
Roy W. Book, 82, of Sullivan, passed away at 8:09 p.m., Sunday February 20, 2022, in St. Mary’s Hospital in Decatur. Read More
Learn the Warning Signs of a Heart Attack
•February 23, 2022•
Since February is American Heart Month, it’s the perfect time to refresh your memory on the warning signs of a heart attack. Prairie Cardiovascular and HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital encourage everyone to take a moment to learn what you should do if you or a loved one experiences heart attack symptoms.
Heart attacks aren’t always the swift and intense events that are portrayed on TV. As a result, some people may delay calling 911 because they don’t realize that what they’re feeling is a heart attack.
“Most heart attacks involve discomfort (felt in the center of the chest) that lasts more than a few minutes or comes and goes,” says Arti Singh, MD, a cardiologist with Prairie Cardiovascular. Many people describe it as pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain. Other discomfort not generally perceived as ‘pain’ may: Read More
Free Income Tax Preparation Assistance Available
•February 23, 2022•
Low-to-moderate income families and senior citizens needing assistance filing their 2021 income taxes can receive free help through several trusted programs across the State of Illinois. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program, and Ladder Up Tax Assistance Program are providing free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals in select locations statewide.
“With the tax filing deadline date of April 18 just around the corner, it is important for Illinois taxpayers to know that filing assistance is available,” said Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) Director David Harris. “Volunteers at these locations are certified by the IRS and ready to assist qualified individuals in filing their state and federal tax returns accurately and on time.”
How taxpayer assistance is provided and when services are available varies by region, based upon several variables including COVID-19 conditions and volunteer capacity. Read More
Moultrie Moment of the Week
Pictured above is Harrison St. in Sullivan looking east. This can be dated to no earlier than 1900 and no later that 1903. 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.
Winter Weather to Continue this Week
•February 23, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
Last week Central Illinois was once again hit with winter weather in the form of snow, sleet and rain. Prior to receiving precipitation, the area saw temperatures as high as 56 on Wednesday, February 16 and Thursday, February 17 before the cold front came through. Windsor reported .3 inches of snow and 1.6 inches of rain. Read More
Remember When? 2-23-2022
25 Years Ago This Week
Thirteen year old T.J. Wingard of Bethany spelled “pheasant” and “opportune” to clinch the Moultrie County Spelling Bee championship. Wingard was a seventh grader at Bethany. Second place in the competition went to Rachel Creviston, a 12 year old seventh grader from Lovington. The third winner was Lindsey Tull, a Sullivan eighth grader. Seventeen contestants from Sullivan, Lovington and Bethany public schools and New Life Academy in Sullivan participated in the bee. Read More
Windsor FFA creates Black History Month wall
Photo furnished
Windsor FFA creates Black History Month wall
In honor of Black History Month, Windsor FFA Vice President, Cameron Hughes, along with some other officers, put together a Black History Month wall outside of the High School Ag room. On the wall, you can find information about some of the most important African Americans in agriculture. This covers a broad timeline from the 1800’s to this past year’s Southern Region National FFA Vice President. Make sure to stop by and read up on some interesting facts about these important people who have changed the face of agriculture. Thank you to Cameron for all of your hard work and research that was done in order to make this possible.
Former Bethany Resident Receives Children’s Literature Award
Photo by Crystal Reed
Anitra Rowe Schulte and her illustrator Ziyue Chen were recently awarded the 2022 Dolly Gray Children’s Literature Award for their picture book ‘Dancing with Daddy’. The award was presented by Zoom. Schulte is pictured above reading her book during the meet and greet and reading that was held at Cathrine’s in December 2021.
•February 23, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
Former Bethany resident and children’s author Anitra Rowe Schulte and her illustrator Ziyue Chen were recently awarded the 2022 Dolly Gray Children’s Literature Award for their picture book ‘Dancing with Daddy’. The award was presented to Schulte via Zoom on January 26. The Dolly Gray Award recognizes high quality fiction/biographical books for children, adolescents and young adults that authentically portray individuals with developmental disabilities, such as autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disabilities and Down Syndrome. Every even year, the award is presented to an author and illustrator (if appropriate) of a children’s picture book, an intermediate, and/or young adult book that includes appropriate portrayals of individuals with developmental disabilities. Read More