Category Archives: free news stories

Mayor John Diss Benefit

News Progress Posted on by

•November 24, 2021•

A benefit for Findlay mayor John Diss will be held on Saturday, November 27 from 2 to 8 pm. This is a family friendly event to help John and Sondra Diss with medical and living expenses while John recovers from extensive injuries he suffered in an accident on October 29. The event will be held in downtown Findlay at Tailwinds, Niemerg Family Winery and Findlay American Legion. Food will be available by donation. Food provided by Tailwinds and will be pulled pork, smoked sausages, baked beans, potato salad and chips. There will be a DJ and live music from 2 to 8 pm, silent auction, kids caterpillar train rides, face painting and balloon animals from 2 to 4 pm and bags tournament from 4 to 6 pm. There will also be a live auction and baked goods throughout the event.

Santa in Bethany

News Progress Posted on by

•November 24, 2021•

Santa Claus will be coming to the Bethany Village Hall on Sunday, December 5 from 3 to 4:30 pm in the parking lot. BASO will be collecting non-perishable food items for the Bethany Food Pantry. This event is sponsored by the Village of Bethany, BASO and Bethany businesses.

Community Blood Drive

News Progress Posted on by

•November 24, 2021•

A community blood drive will be held on Tuesday, December 7 from 3 to 7 pm at 1533 CR 1900N inside a donor bus that will be parked by M&E Woodcrafts in Cadwell. To donate please contact ImpactLife Urbana at (800) 747-5401 or visit www.bloodcenter.org and use 70636 to locate the drive. Masks and appointments are required.

Charleston Elks Annual National Hoop Shoot

News Progress Posted on by

•November 17, 2021•

On December 4, the Charleston Elks #623 will host their annual National Hoop Shoot. The national contest, in its 50th year, is a free throw competition for ages 8-13 years old. Three divisions each for girls and boys will shoot 25 free throws for the best score. Winners will advance to District in Champaign and possibly on to state, Iowa Regionals and the Chicago National Finals in April. Competing age groups are 8-9, 10-11,12-13, girls and boys each. Ages will be based on how old they are on April 1,2022. The Hoop Shoot will be held at Mattoon Middle School at 1200 S. 9th Street in Mattoon. The Charleston Elks area includes Oakland, Mattoon, Ashmore, Kansas, Casey, Greenup, Toledo, Sullivan, Windsor, Gays, Arcola, Tuscola, Newman and Hume. The event is free and any expenses past the local shoot will be covered by The Elks National Foundation. Registration will begin at 9 am with competition starting at 9:45 am. In 2019, over 250,000 girls and boys participated in the National Hoop Shoot. For more information contact Rod Franklin at 345-9668.

Mobile Food Pantry

News Progress Posted on by

•November 17, 2021•

University of Illinois Extension, in cooperating partnership with Decatur Catholic Charities and Windsor School District, will have a mobile food pantry on Wednesday, December 8 from 4-5 pm at Windsor Grade School cafeteria. Line up not allowed before 3:30 pm. 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. This distribution is open to all, not only residents of Windsor. Sign up by Monday, November 29 by calling 217-774-9546 during business hours from 8 am to Noon and 1 pm to 4:30 pm Monday-Friday. 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.

C.E.F.S. Services Offered

News Progress Posted on by

•November 17, 2021•

Did you know the C.E.F.S. Head Start 0-5 Program provides services to the entire family? These services include parent involvement in the Head Start program’s planning and monitoring, offering family literacy activities and a lending library for children and adults, and providing social service referrals and support. We also assist with dental and health needs and transportation to appointments. We enroll all year round, if interested, please call/text 217-663-7822.

Toy Drive for Sparrows Unlimited

News Progress Posted on by

•November 17, 2021•

There will be a toy drive for Sparrows Unlimited on Friday, November 19 from 2 pm to 6 pm and Sunday, November 28 from 10 am to 2 pm at the new Dollar General store in Lovington. Sparrows representatives will be on location.

Windsor UMC Holiday Bazaar

News Progress Posted on by

•November 10, 2021•

Windsor UMC will hold a Holiday Bazaar on Saturday, November 13 from 8 am to 2 pm. Lunch will be served from 11 am to 2 pm. Food options will include chili, oyster soup, veggie soup, ham sandwiches and desserts. There will be crafts, baked goods and country store all day. They request that all patrons wear face masks and practice social distancing. The church is located at 1200 Ohio Avenue in Windsor.

MCHGS Annual Dinner

News Progress Posted on by

•November 10, 2021•

The Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society will be holding their Annual Dinner and Program on Thursday, Nov. 18 and the speaker for the evening will be Mr. Kevin Corley, a retired teacher and school administrator from Shelbyville. Mr. Corley will be speaking on the struggles experienced by central Illinois coal miners over the past century. He is also an author of five novels covering the same subject. The dinner will be at 6 p.m. and the program at 7 p.m at the Sullivan American Legion. The Legion is located across from the Sullivan Civic Center and Wyman Park. Don’t miss this interesting part of our local history and also dues can be paid at that time for the 2022 year.