•May 20, 2020•
On May 13th, the Okaw Valley FFA planted sunflowers for the USACE annual Dove Hunt that is hosted in September.
OVHS planted 26 acres in sunflowers and an additional 10 acres will be in corn for the FFA.
An additional 18 acres behind the Ag Facility is planted in corn as well.
Thanks to the generosity of Louis Coleman for the planter and John Wise for the tractor. Tanner Coleman is pictured helping plant the crops.
Tanner is home from college and will be a junior at Millikin. When Tanner was in high school he was a big part of the CORPS Project and as a Senior he worked at the CORPS during the mornings and was extended a summer job after graduating. Read More
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To Tax Or Not to Tax? Pritzker’s Graduated Tax Fails on All Counts
•May 20, 2020•
By Jim Nowlan
NP Guest Columnist
The only major, contested issue on the ballot this fall in our Blue State will be whether to enact Gov. JB Pritzker’s proposed constitutional amendment to allow graduated income tax rates. I think the Pritzker approach — not the concept — is wrong-headed. I try to explain here.
Background. Throughout this century, Illinois has each year been spending and obligating billions more than we have been generating in revenues. So now, each of Illinois’ 4.6 million households would have to cough up $41,000 to get our state out of its deficit position of $188 billion, according to figures from the Illinois comptroller.
Painful to say, Illinois will have to raise taxes, or someday default on its obligations. Why can’t we simply cut spending, you ask? In practical terms, we aren’t allowed to cut the big-ticket items. Read More
GOP Seeks to Remove Graduated Tax Measure from Ballot
•May 20, 2020•
By Jerry Nowicki
Capitol News Illinois
State Republican leadership is pushing for a vote in the upcoming legislative session to remove a graduated income tax amendment question from the November general election ballot.
“Times have changed dramatically since this initiative was first put forward,” Senate Minority Leader Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, said Monday in a video news conference. “But never more has our state’s economy been challenged than it will be, and is today.”
But Gov. JB Pritzker has said the revenues anticipated from the graduated income tax – estimated at more than $3.5 billion in its first full fiscal year before the COVID-19 pandemic – are now more important than ever amid uncertainty created by the spread of the virus.
The economic fallout from the pandemic and associated shutdowns has led to projected state revenues for next fiscal year plummeting by billions of dollars. Pritzker said at his news conference Monday that the tax, which would be in effect for only half of the next fiscal year, could bring in more than $1 billion in state revenues.
The ballot question Read More
Directory Provides Enhanced Marketing Opportunities
•May 20, 2020•
By Raghela Scavuzzo,
As consumer demand for local food access and summer and fall market seasons approach, local supply access is more important than ever. The Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Specialty Growers Association (ISGA), Illinois MarketMaker and several other farm and specialty groups encourage farmers, ranchers, specialty growers, value-added producers, processors and food businesses to utilize FREE online marketing opportunities to enhance and expand their reach in communities across the state. Read More
Lovington Student Among SIU Physicians
•May 20, 2020•
Aaron Fleming, son of Steve and Jayme Fleming of Lovington, is one of 13 eastern Illinois residents among the 70 new physicians at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine who achieved degrees Saturday, May 16, in the school’s virtual celebration of commencement. The event was doubly historic: The Class of 2020 included the medical school’s 3,000th graduate during its 50th anniversary year. Read More
SHS Graduates’ Parade
Photo by R.R. Best
SHS Graduates’ Parade
Sullivan High School Class of 2020 had a parade to commemorate a most unusual school year. Seniors gathered in their vehicles at the high school at 2:30 p.m. Sunday with the parade circling the square allowing well wishers to maintain social distancing while recognizing the graduates. Valedictory and salutatory addresses were played online, and on radio during the parade, as were the announcement of each graduate. Due to inclement weather each graduate marched across the high school gym in a private diploma presentation which included up to seven guests of the graduating senior.
SIU Graduates
•May 20, 2020•
On May 9 Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville held graduation with local students among degree recipients.
Graduates include: Kathy Garriott and Rebecca Nixon, both Bethany, Nursing graduates.
How Memorial Day and Veterans Day Differ From Each Other
•May 20, 2020•
Memorial Day and Veterans Day each honor the military, though the two holidays are not the same. Memorial Day, which is celebrated annually on the last Monday in May, honors the brave men and women who lost their lives while serving in the American military. Many communities host memorial ceremonies honoring their fallen soldiers on Memorial Day, ensuring such soldiers’ bravery and sacrifices are never forgotten. While many people now view Memorial Day weekend as the unofficial start of summer, the weekend should not be celebrated without also pausing to reflect on and recognize the military personnel who lost their lives in defense of freedom and the American way of life. Read More
Bethany Board Accommodates Affected Businesses
•May 20, 2020•
By Ellen Ferrera
For the News Progress
The May 14 agenda for the Bethany Board of Trustees was full with some 20 items for discussion but most were tabled or postponed due to the uncertainties and unknowns surrounding corona virus regulations.
The Board voted to extend shut-offs and penalties for utility bills to July 1. Many closed businesses are maintaining utilities even though they have no income and many people are still out of work prompting the extension of the original May 1 date. There has been a small uptick in unpaid utility bills. Read More
Outside Interests’ Views Expressed Before Moultrie County Board
•May 20, 2020•
By Mike Brothers
A Moultrie County Board fielded a referendum request from an Illinois Separation group and a push to reopen business from within at the May 14 meeting.
County board chairman Dave McCabe, Arlene Aschermann, Tyler Graven and Kevin McReynolds attended in person. Board members Neil Bryan, Mike Barringer, Bill Voyles, Elizabeth Houser and Todd Maxedon participated through the GoTo meeting site due to Covid 19 personal spacing recommendations.
County clerk Georgia England and treasurer Stephanie Helmuth also attended at the courthouse.
Bethany resident and New Illinois advocate Scott Buxton (attending by GotTo meeting), asked the county board to allow the separation referendum on the Nov. ballot. Read More