The News•Progress along with the Sullivan Chamber & Economic Development office will be sponsoring a candidates’ forum next Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the Sullivan High School commons.
The majority of Sullivan school board candidates are expected to attend and answer a series of questions.
The public is invited to attend, but if you aren’t able to make it in person, the forum will be streamed live by visiting www.newsprogress.com.
Moultrie County 2015 Mobile Home Privilege Tax bills will be mailed March 13 and are due May 15. Taxes may be mailed to Moultrie County Collector, P.O. BOX 650, Sullivan, IL. 61951. They may also be paid at all Moultrie County Banks such as Hardware State Bank, Scott State Bank in Bethany, Dalton City and Sullivan, State Bank of Arthur, Arthur Community Bank, First National Bank of Arthur, First National Bank of Sullivan and First Mid-Illinois Bank & Trust in Sullivan. Applications for the exemption based on the age of 65 and older and the disabled must be filed in our office. Office hours are 8:30-4:30 Monday – Friday. If you no longer own a mobile home and received a tax bill or the information on the bill is incorrect, contact our office by calling 217-728-4032. The delinquent penalty for mobile homes is $25 per month or any part thereof not to exceed $100.
Okaw Valley’s post prom committee is hosting a St. Paddy’s Day fundraiser event this Saturday, March 14 at the Hired Hand Winery & Saloon in Bethany. Doors open at 6 p.m. with live music by Fat Finger from 8-10 p.m. There will be a cover fee. Also featured will be a mega raffle drawing as well as 50-50. Mega raffle tickets are still available. There will be one grand prize winner of $1000 and a second prize of $200. For more information call Karen Jeffers at 217-972-7167.
The Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond post-prom fundraiser will be held at the high school cafeteria March 26 from 5-7:30 p.m.
A homemade baked spaghetti dinner will be served along with LaGondola garlic bread, salad, homemade desserts, and drinks.
See any ALAH junior or senior student for tickets.
As part of the Arthur Home and Garden Show this weekend, the Central Illinois Rabbit Breeders Association will present their bi-annual show at the Merchant’s building from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The News•Progress is requesting that all churches in Moultrie County who have special services to mark the Easter holiday(including Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday), submit the times and days of their services by emailing them to keith@newsprogress.com.
In addition, the NP is asking for any information regarding area Easter Egg Hunts by sending info to the same above listed email.
The News•Progress will in turn print those in its March 25 issue.
An American Red Cross Blood Drive with a Valentine theme was sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary in Findlay on Wednesday, February 4. The goal for the drive was 17 pints, which was reached and surpassed. A total of 19 pints were collected that day. Connie Dotson was recognized for donating two gallons. The next blood drive will be Monday, April 13 from 2 - 6 at the American Legion Hall in downtown Findlay.
The following local students have been named to Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s fall 2014 deans list: Megan Miller, Arthur; Will Craig and Megan Durbin, both of Bethany; Sarah Auvil and Sloane Lynch, both of Dalton City with 4.0 GPAs; Joel Herron, Findlay and Matthew Keown, Findlay, 4.0 GPA; Ciara Marquis, Lovington; Adam Hostetter, Windsor and Shelby Barker, Cody Carman, Cassidy Daily, Nicole Floyd and Meghan Frost, all of Sullivan. Barker, Daily and Frost earned 4.0 GPAs.
The Lovington Public Library will host the following events in the early part of March:
Wee Readers Story time
Wee Readers Story time is every Thursday from 10-10:30 a.m. for preschool children who are two years and older. The library is recognizing March as Dr. Seuss month, and the following dates and themes for March are: March 5 is “Cat in the Hat”; March 12 is “Green Eggs and Ham” and “St. Patrick’s Day”; March 19 is “Make a Bird Feeder” and March 26 is “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish”.
Youth Book Club
Youth Book Blub will be held on Tuesday March 17 from 4:30-5:30 p.m. and is for 4-8th grades. Participants are asked to bring a book to discuss.
Adult Book Club
Adult Book Club will be held on Thursday March 12 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Participants are asked to bring a book to discuss.
Scott State Bank in Bethany will be hosting a food drive to benefit the Bethany food pantry throughout the month of March.
Non-perishable food items or paper products may be dropped off during the month; the most needed items include instant potatoes, green beans, apple sauce, spaghetti and sauce, cereals, pancake mix and syrup, flour and sugar, toilet paper, tissues, dish soap, and laundry soap.