Category Archives: free news stories

Chili Cookoff

News Progress Posted on by

•January 25, 2023•

The Bethany Celebration Chili Cookoff will be held on February 25 at the Bethany American Legion. Sign ins are 4:30 to 5 pm with the cookoff open to the public from 5 to 7 pm. Categories are spicy, traditional, bean, no bean and vegetarian. Entry fee is $10 per chili. Prize categories are hottest, most unique, best overall. There will be cash prizes, gift cards and more. To register e-mail bethanycelebration@gmail.com or find them on Facebook. All entry fees are due by February 20. They also invite the public to come out and sample the chili entries and vote for their favorite. 3 free samples, $5 a bowl and $1 for every additional 3 samples.

Farm Bureau Accepting Scholarship Applications

News Progress Posted on by

•January 25, 2023•

The Moultrie County Farm Bureau has announced that applications are available for the Charles B. Shuman Memorial Scholarship. The $500 scholarship will be awarded to a resident of Moultrie County who is a graduating high school senior or currently enrolled in a University or Community College. The successful applicant should be of good moral character and exhibit potential for successful completion of a course of study in agriculture or related fields. In addition to academic performance, extra curricular and community involvement will also be considered in the selection process.
Applications for the scholarship may be obtained from the Moultrie County Farm Bureau office at 1102 W. Jackson St. in Sullivan or by calling the office at 217-728-4214. The application deadline is March 17, 2023.
The Charles B. Shuman Memorial Scholarship was established in 2000 by the Moultrie County Farm Bureau to honor the achievements and life of a Moultrie County farmer and Farm Bureau leader. Mr. Shuman served as President of the Moultrie County Farm Bureau from 1936-1945, and President of the Illinois Farm Bureau from 1945-1954. In 1954, he was elected as President of the two million members American Farm Bureau Federation and served in that capacity until his retirement in 1970. He passed away in October 1999 at the age of 92.

Preschool Round Up in Arthur

News Progress Posted on by

•January 18, 2023•

Project H.E.L.P. will be holding a preschool roundup on Thursday, February 2 at the United Methodist Church, 128 East Illinois in Arthur. Project H.E.L.P. and the Arthur School District offer developmental screenings to provide parents the opportunity to discover how their child is developing in the areas of speech, language, concepts and motor skills. Vision and hearing screenings will also be provided free of charge. For an appointment call Arthur Grade School at 217-543-2109. Signed parent/guardian permission is required. Screenings are required for possible enrollment in the Project H.E.L.P. preschool classroom.

Mobile Food Pantry

News Progress Posted on by

•January 18, 2023•

The University of Illinois Extension in cooperating partnership with Decatur Catholic Charities and Sullivan United Methodist Church, will hold a mobile food pantry on Wednesday, February 8 from 4 pm to 5 pm at Windsor Grade School. A mobile food pantry delivers a 2 week supply of food per family in rural communities. Any individual or family that does not have a steady food supply qualifies to receive food. No financial information is required to qualify. This distribution is open to all, not only residents of Windsor. Sign up by Wednesday, February 1 by 4:30 pm by calling 217-774-9546 between the hours of 8 to 12 pm and 1 to 4:30 pm. Call during business hours only. Once your form is completed by phone, you will be given a number to bring with you on the day of distribution. If you lose your number, you need to bring identification. The food will be distributed according to household size on Wednesday, February 8 from 4 to 5 pm at the Windsor Grade School cafeteria.

Blood Drive

News Progress Posted on by

•January 18, 2023•

The Bethany Theta Psi and the American Red Cross will be holding a blood drive at the Bethany Firehouse on February 14th from 2-6 p.m. Appointments are necessary and can be made by calling 1-800-733-2767 or through RedCrossBlood.org. There’s an urgent need for blood of all types. One donation can save at least 3 lives. Be a hero. Donate.

Correction

News Progress Posted on by

•January 18, 2023•

In the Year in Review that ran in our Wednesday, January 4 edition the entry on Moultrie County Clerk Georgia C. England’s resignation was misworded. We apologize for the error. The entry should have read that England resigned towards the end of the monthly county board meeting. Her resignation letter noted that the courthouse had become a toxic environment and that partisan politics had no place in local elected offices.

Foundation accepting applications

News Progress Posted on by

•January 11, 2023•

Applications are being accepted by the Illinois Conservation Foundation for the 2023 Conservatoin Achievement Scholarship program.
The foundation annually awards scholarships to outstanding high school seniors in Illinois who demonstrate effective, voluntary, long-term dedication to the preservation, protection or enhancement of the state’s natural resources.
Four scholarships of $2,000 each are available for the current school year. One of the scholarships is reserved for a qualified applicant who is a dependent of a current employee of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
“The ICF Conservation Achievement Scholarship program rewards high school students interested in conservation stewardship with an eye toward encouraging them to focus their studies on enhancing and protecting our natural resources,” said Colleen Callahan, chair of the Illinois Conservation Foundation Board of Directors and director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
The ICF Conservation Achievement Scholarships have been awarded since 2005. Applicants must be an Illinois resident and a senior in an Illinois high school. Applications must be received by March 3, 2023.
Detailed instructions and the 2023 application form can be accessed through the ICF website at www.ilconservation.org.
Contact the Illinois Conservation Foundation at 217-785-2003 or info@ilconservation.org for more information or to make a donation to support the Conservation Achievement Scholarship program.