Photo furnished
Sullivan teachers Lauren Fultz and Cami Badman are pictured.

•August 14, 2019•
Submitted by Marlene Wirth

The Moultrie County Retired Teachers Association met August 7 at Bethany First Christian Church.
President Sue Yarnell introduced Paul Strid, District Manager for Association Member Benefits Advisors. He spoke to members of the association about valuable IRTA benefits available to members.
Guests included Lauren Fultz, a first grade teacher at Sullivan Elementary School, and Cami Badman, an English instructor at Sullivan High School, who each received a $100 grant from the MCRTA for classroom use.
Erin Van Deursen, a kindergarten teacher at Sullivan Elementary School, also received a $100 grant but could not attend the meeting.
President Yarnell, presided over the business meeting. Minutes and the treasurer’s report were approved.
Committee reports were given. Jane McKown, Ben Guyot, and Yarnell reported on the Area 5 Leadership Training meeting they attended on June 25 at Effingham High School.

Photo furnished
MCRTA President Sue Yarnell is pictured with Paul Strid.

Vickie Bowers and Judy Uphoff reported on details for the upcoming October meeting to be held at Allerton Park beginning at 11:30 a.m. with a luncheon. A tour of the mansion and gardens will follow.[/s2If]

•August 14, 2019•
By Jim Nowlan
Capital News Service

I left the prison on a recent Wednesday with a better understanding of what foments urban violence, after talking with the real experts — inmates who grew up in major Illinois cities.
The Life Skills Re-entry Center at Kewanee, in central Illinois, is like a small college campus, albeit with razor-wire rather than ivied walls. The place is for longtime inmates of the 30-plus Illinois correctional facilities, who write essays as to why finishing their final years at this intensive career education and counseling facility would benefit them. The goal is to reduce recidivism by giving inmates a career such as restaurant management — they run the café and cafeteria — welding, and more, plus counseling on how to live productively on the outside. Read More

•August 14, 2019•
The 58th Annual Arthur Mennonite Relief Sale is August 23 and 24 at the Otto Center, half mile south of Arthur.
The activities begin Friday at 4:30 p.m. with a pulled BBQ pork dinner and the auction starting at 6 p.m.
On Saturday a pancake and sausage breakfast runs from 6-10 a.m., with the auction beginning at 9 a.m. The silent auction is from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Read More