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Congressman Visits Marina

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•August 21, 2019•

Congressman John Shimkus will visit Lake Shelbyville on August 27th hosted by Sullivan Marina & North End Pub & Grill.
Congressman Shimkus has been made aware of the need to dredging on the north end of the lake. The lake is silting in a far more rapid rate than originally predicted.
Lunch will be served at 1:00 pm followed by guest speakers from Army Corps, Sullivan Tourism, mayor of Sullivan and other state officials. The public will also have a chance to share the importance of Lake Shelbyville to the community.

Getting Students to and from Schools Safely is a Challenge

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Photo courtesy Kevin Landrus
It is not okay to pass buses on left while dropping children off at school.

•August 21, 2019•

Schools are in session and safely getting students to and from class is a challenge.
Getting drivers to pay attention to giant yellow buses stopped for children is one of the biggest challenges for transportation.
“The greatest risk to your child is not riding the bus but approaching or leaving one,” Kevin Landrus, Sullivan school district transportation director, explained.
He emphasized that 97% of all school transportation fatalities happen within a 10 foot perimeter outside the bus.
Police Chief Andy Pistorius noted patrols were picking up with the start of school.
“Schools have cameras on the buses to record violations,” Chief Pistorius said. After the school contacts the department with the video evidence, police issue the citation.
“It’s a pretty hefty fine and immediate three month license suspension,” Pistorius said of the serious nature of the crime.
“People get impatient and want to go around buses on the left while unloading at the school, and that is also a no-no,” the chief continued.
Landrus believes there are two main reasons people pass stopped school buses. Read More

Windsor Harvest Picnic 5K

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Photo furnished
Windsor Harvest Picnic
The Windsor Harvest Picnic was held last weekend with music and entertainment filling the air. In spite of a heavy downpour on Saturday these folks braved the weather for the annual Windsor 5K.

Remember When? 8-21-2019

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25 Years Ago This Week

Seven Sullivan sisters have written a book, and it is selling like hotcakes or any one of the nearly 700 recipes found within it. The culinary sisters are Dorothy Craig, Ruth Lash, Emogene Burrows, Audrey Morris, Helen Eccles, Joan Hughes and Margaret Koehnke. Over the past half-century, the sisters from Cornbread Bottom Farm have continued to collect, sample and swap hundreds of recipes. Burrows decided it was time to gather them together and share the family culinary wealth.
Joyce Shellabarger has had the best of both worlds. “I got to play mommy, I got to have a career, and I got to retire early” said Shellabarger who retired spring 1994 after teaching sixth, seventh, and eighth grade social studies in Sullivan for 14 years. During her teaching career, she coached middle school girls’ basketball, JV high school girls’ basketball, and middle school girls’ track while raising six children, Sherry, Sondie, Samantha, Stan, Susan and Seth. Her plans are to now spend time with her family and give “some extra TLC” to her husband.
Joe and Cindy Tabor of rural Sullivan are the parents of a daughter born August 14 in Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center. She has been named Kami Danielle and joins a brother, Hank,4. Read More

ADM/BLDD Grants Support to Okaw Valley High School Ag. Project

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Okaw Valley Ag instructor Wes Wise and student inoculate calf at Friday open house

Okaw Valley Has A Farm E-I-E-I-O

•August 21, 2019•

By Ellen Ferrera
for The News Progress

The Okaw Valley High School erg program held an open house and media opportunity on August 16 to showcase their new one million dollar ag building and state-of-the-art ag educational program Friday, August 16.
The ag building’s color compliments the school colors. It is located behind the high school and looks somewhat like a fire station until an earthy aroma tells you that farm animals are inside.
Housed within is a large classroom, a lab, four large holding pens and another large work area. Future plans call for the addition of four pens to house more animals.
Ag instructor and farm owner, Wes Wise, welcomed the visitors and outlined the morning’s activities which included a tour of the facilities, animal viewing, equipment demonstrations and animal care.
Wise explained the provenance of the program.
‘We are extremely grateful to ADM Cares and BLDD for the grants to initiate this unique educational opportunity. ADM recognizes the importance of farm crops which fuel their industry, and they invest in their own future by creating programs like these to introduce students to a farming career at the high school level.’
“We have 160 students in the high school and 95 are enrolled in the erg program. Only one of the 95 students comes from a farm family so it has been an eye-opener for many of the students,” he continued. “Many of them are now planning careers in the agri-business field as a direct result of this program.” Read More

Obituaries 8-21-2019: Golden Hubbart

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Golden Hubbart

Golden Leon Hubbart, 84, of Fountain, Florida passed away on August 3, 2019 surrounded by his family.
He leaves his wife of 26 years, Ana Mendoza Hubbart, and 13 children: Albert, Sandra, John, Brenda, Linda, Jesse, James, Duane, Golden, Angel, Christopher, Patrick and Lane; 23 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Ethel Myers and brother Buddy Hubbart. Read More

Mobile Mammography Available Locally

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•August 21, 2019•
The Sarah Bush LIncoln Mobile Mammography Services van will be at SBL Sullivan Clinic September 4 and Hydro Gear in Sullivan on September 16.
The Mobile Mammography van helps provide mammograms to women who may not otherwise have access to, or be able to afford these life-saving preventive screens. Women who qualify will receive their mammogram free. Read More

Area Facilities Receive Rural Energy Grants

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•August 21, 2019•
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Illinois State Director, Douglas Wilson today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is awarding grants for projects in all states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to reduce energy costs for farmers, ag producers and rural-based businesses and institutions.
“From renewable energy systems such as geothermal and solar arrays, to energy efficiency improvements including lighting upgrades and grain dryers, businesses and farms are saving energy and money through USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program”, Wilson said. “These investments in rural businesses help improve the rural economy, and when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”
Under today’s announcement, USDA is investing $9.3 million through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects across the nation. Congress appropriated $50 million for REAP grants and loan guarantees in fiscal year 2019. USDA will make additional funding announcements in the REAP program in coming weeks. Read More

Secretary of State Offices

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•August 21, 2019•

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced that all offices and facilities open Monday to Friday will be closed Monday, September 2, while facilities open Tuesday to Saturday will be closed Saturday, August 31, in observance of Labor Day.
All Driver Services facilities will be open for business Tuesday, September 3.
Individuals can visit the Secretary of State’s website, www.cyberdriveillinois.com, to locate the nearest Driver Services facility and the hours of operation. In addition, drivers can change an address, register to become an organ and tissue donor or renew license plate stickers online.