Ira Jacoby
Ira J. Jacoby, 93, went to be with the Lord on February 1, 2022. Jesus gently took his hand and led him away at 11:40 a.m. Read More
webmaster
Obituaries 2-9-2022: James Bales
James Bales
James “Jim” Bales, 81, of Sullivan passed away at 10:50a.m., Thursday, February 3, 2022, at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center in Mattoon.
Funeral services will be held at 7 p.m., Friday, February 11, at McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan. Visitation will be held 5-7 p.m. before the services. Burial will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to AmBuCs of Sullivan. Read More
Obituaries 2-9-2022: Charles Austin
Charles Austin
Charles W. Austin, 87, of Bethany passed away at 3:10 a.m., Thursday, February 3, 2022, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Decatur.
Private family services will be held at McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Bethany. Burial will be in Marrowbone Township Cemetery in Bethany. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Bethany. Read More
With Strongest State Budget in Memory, Gov. Pritzker Delivers Fourth Balanced Budget Proposal that Pays Down Debt and Delivers Tax Relief for Families
•February 9, 2022•
After years of working with the General Assembly to make fiscally responsible choices, protect working families and pay down Illinois’ debt, Governor JB Pritzker today proposed his fourth balanced budget, delivering $1 billion in relief from grocery, gas and property taxes as well as making unprecedented payments to state pensions and the rainy day fund.
With revenues from corporate taxes, cannabis, online sales taxes and income far exceeding initial projections, the proposed budget provides significant one-time relief to families, while continuing the responsible fiscal decisions that led to two credit upgrades for the state.
Building on the administration’s previous efficiencies, the budget invests in critical areas of growth and services, including education, public safety and small businesses.
Select highlights include:
Family Relief Plan Read More
Sullivan Singers and Sullivan Singers Jr. Compete
•February 9, 2022•
The Sullivan Singers and Sullivan Singers Jr. competed at the Danville High School Midwest Classic on Saturday, February 5. Singers Jr. received first runner-up. Sullivan Singers received 4th runner up, best tech crew and solo award winners were Clayton Schmohe and Triniti Preyer. Singers Jr. solo competition winners were Grand Champion-Lily Moxley, first runner-up Tristan Tripp and second runner-up Daisy Richardson.
Lake Land College to host Laker Visit Day
•February 9, 2022•
Lake Land College will host Laker Visit Day from 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 21 in the Luther Student Center, giving potential students the opportunity to learn about The Laker Advantage and how it can guide them on the path to success.
Attendees will tour campus with a student ambassador, who will share information from a student perspective. Participants will also meet with faculty to learn more about specific programs. Read More
Engage Your Brain with Wits Fitness Classes
•February 9, 2022•
Cheri Burcham
Extension Educator
University of Illinois Extension
Since 2015, I have been facilitating monthly Wits Fitness brain exercise classes at several locations in Moultrie, Coles, Cumberland, and Shelby counties with an additional class being offered in Douglas county. The purpose of these classes has been to educate participants on healthy brain contributors, and to present cognitive or mental challenges to participants in a highly social setting. Participants are not tested for Alzheimer’s Disease, and we make no claims that memory will be regained or that the classes prevent the onset of dementia. Wits Fitness classes simply engage participants in interactive activities that challenge thinking and therefore help them stay mentally active – which can contribute to maintaining and improving brain function. Read More
Moultrie Moment of the Week
Pictured above is the #458 Rogers steam locomotive 2-6-0 mogul (built between 1892-95 in New Jersey for the Illinois Central railroad) at Dunn station in 1900. 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.
In Headline Writing, Leave Room for Logic
•February 9, 2022•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer
A pair of letter writers this week reminded me that not everyone on this planet was trained to write headlines.
Hollywood, which rarely offers an accurate portrayal of a newsroom, doesn’t know how headlines work, either.
In movies, you’ll see complete sentences in heavy bold type that half fill a front page of a prop newspaper. I understand that in prop papers there is only one headline on the page that helps propel the plot, but to make “FINGERPRINTS FROM THE ESTRANGED WIDOW OF WEALTHY INDUSTRIALIST SILAS MCGREEDY ARE FOUND ON A SERRATED BREAD KNIFE” a 120-point headline is rather silly.
Space is precious. That’s just isn’t how it works in the real world.
I’ve mentioned before that in headlines we almost never use complete sentences, unless they are downsized secondary headlines. We abbreviate our thoughts and drop articles, punctuation and verbs with élan. Read More
Remember When? 2-9-2022
25 Years Ago This Week
The Lovington Board of Education accepted the resignation of Rosemary Brown, the elementary school principal at a board meeting. Mrs. Brown was with the district 27 years and served as principal of the elementary school since 1989. Prior to serving as principal, Mrs. Brown taught at both the high school and grade school level.
The county’s tentative plan to purchase the former Sullivan Sale Barn for use as an animal control facility was scrapped after a contract for sale had already been signed for the property. Previously the county’s plan to purchase a former local veterinary facility for the same purpose was vetoed by strong opposition from neighbors.
New officers for the Sullivan Area Chamber of Commerce were Mimi Atchison of Atchison True Value (treasurer); Randy Butler of Jerry’s IGA (vice-president); and Diane Weaver of Sullivan Printers (president) and Linda Carlton of CF&H Insurance (secretary). Read More