•September 22, 2021•

Lake Land College will host its annual Career Day on Tuesday, October 5. At Career Day, nearly 1,200 high school juniors and seniors come to Lake Land to learn about a variety of careers and how to follow a path to attain those careers.
High school students throughout the district will have the opportunity to register for more than 175 different sessions in an array of fields including agriculture, health care, business, information technology, cosmetology, humanities and arts, communications, math, science, engineering, education, criminal justice, human services, psychology, sociology, political science, history, automotive, construction, technology, leadership, success in college and more.
Sessions will be either 20 or 50 minutes in length, allowing students to explore topics at a basic or in-depth level of the particular field.
“This event is a great way for high school students to explore the options available to them,” Michelle Zumbahlen, coordinator for strategic student communication & initiatives, said. “The attendees have the chance to learn and ask questions about areas of study, career paths and colleges that can help guide their decision-making process in the future.”
An Illinois Regional College Fair will also be held as a part of Career Day. Representatives from approximately 50 different colleges around the country will be on hand to speak with students about what their colleges have to offer.
The college fair will allow students to interact with many different colleges at one time, a unique opportunity that they may not experience elsewhere.
Students may attend the College Fair before or after their scheduled sessions or register to attend the College Fair as one of their sessions if they wish to have more time to explore this component of the day.
Masks covering the nose and mouth will be required for all individuals at all times while inside campus buildings, regardless of vaccination status. While outdoors, vaccinated individuals may remove their masks, while unvaccinated individuals should wear a mask when social distancing cannot be maintained.
To support compliance with indoor mask requirements, food or drink will not be allowed at college events or gatherings held on campus or in college facilities.
For more information about Career Day, visit lakelandcollege.edu/career-day or contact Zumbahlen at mzumbahlen4077@lakelandcollege.edu or 217-234-5230.

•September 15, 2021•

Southern Gospel musician Gregory Ridenhour will be having a cd release concert on Saturday, September 18 at 6 pm at Allenville Christian Church, 201 Allen St. in Allenville. For more information contact Greg Ridenhour at 217-317-1419 or greg@afcministries.com.

•September 8, 2021•

Lake Land College recently announced the 2021 summer graduates. The following students completed their degrees and certificates this summer: Jessica Drake, Certificate, Practical Nursing; Shelby Harding, Certificate, Practical Nursing; Destiny Underwood, Certificate, Practical Nursing; all of Bethany. Sayne Schultz, Findlay, Associate in Arts-Business. Rachel Miller, Gays, Certificate- Cosmetology. Sabrina Bettinger, Associate in Arts- Special Education and Daniel Reedy, Associate in Arts-Agriculture Transfer, both of Lovington. Madison Atchison, Associate in Arts-Elementary Education; Alison Beard, Certificate, Practical Nursing; Hutson Dickens, Associate in Arts-Business; Kayla Dowds, Associate in Arts-Pre-Veterinary Medicine and Associate in Science-Pre-Medicine; Sharon Hayse, Certificate-Medical Assistant Bridge; Kaitlynn McClure, Associate in Applied Science- Dental Hygiene; Mindy McPheeters, Certificate, Auto Mechanic I and Associate in Applied Science-Automotive Technology; Addison Orris, Associate in Applied Science-Early Childhood Care and Education; Josie Orris, Associate in Arts-Communication Studies; Nik Patel, Associate in Arts-Business; Tenton Polley, Associate in Arts-Business; Haley Rose, Certificate-Practical Nursing; Maelona Sims, Certificate, Medical Assistant and Associate in Applies Science-Medical Assistant; Michelle Williams, Certificate, Medical Assistant; all of Sullivan.

•September 8, 2021•

The University of Illinois Extension, in cooperation with Decatur Catholic Charities and Windsor School District, will have a mobile food pantry Wednesday, October 6 from 4:30 to 5:30 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. This distribution is open to all, not only residents of Windsor. You must sign up prior to September 28. Call 217-774-9546 during business hours 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. The food will be distributed according to your household size on October 6 from 4:30-5:30 pm at the Windsor Grade School cafeteria.

•September 1, 2021•

The Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra (MDSO) has announced plans to resume in-person concerts for the 2021-22 performance season. Under the direction of Dr. William McClain, the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra is an ensemble comprised of faculty, hired professionals and is open to students who successfully audition for the Millikin University School of Music. Membership in the MDSO places a high demand on students who gain hands-on experience by playing side-by-side with faculty and other professionals in a nurturing environment.
“Music can bring us all together and continues to serve as an important and relevant factor in our lives,” McClain said. “It is a true pleasure to contemplate a new season and the prospect of a return to live music performances. I am looking forward to getting to know everyone even more as we continue our journey together. We have an exciting season planned for 2021-22. We are committed to our community and to fostering the next generation of concert-goers.”
The MDSO will open its 2021-22 performance season with a return to the Devon Lakeshore Amphitheater for its annual Labor Day Pops Concert on Monday, Sept. 6. The event will feature an exciting afternoon with stops at the movies, the theatre stage and a tribute to our Nation’s Armed Forces.
On Saturday, Sept. 25, the MDSO will celebrate the new season with a night of classic favorites including Mozart’s “Piano Concerto No. 9” in E-flat major featuring Chung-Ha Kim, pianist and faculty member at Millikin. The concert will also feature an exhilarating performance of Beethoven’s “Eroica” Symphony No. 3.
As part of the MDSO’s Masterworks II concert on Saturday, Oct. 23, the symphony orchestra will go “Bach to Bartók” featuring the famous “Air on the G string,” Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 2 – a majestic “tour de force” showcasing the MDSO’s virtuoso performers on trumpets and oboes. The MDSO will conclude the evening with “Music for Strings, Percussion, and Celesta” by 20th century Hungarian composer Béla Bartók.
From Nov. 12-14, the MDSO will partner with the Millikin School of Theatre & Dance for a performance of the Tony Award-winning romantic comedy “She Loves Me.”
For the start of 2022, the MDSO will showcase the winners of the Millikin School of Music’s annual Concerto/Aria competition on Saturday, Feb. 5, in a concert paired with the enduring “Pathétique” Symphony No. 6 by Tchaikovsky, an epic hero saga with many ups and downs, including the celebrated fanfare and festive third movement.
The MDSO’s Masterworks IV concert on Saturday, March 5, will feature the colors of the American “Soundscape” with a performance of William Grant Still’s Symphony No. 1 “Afro-American.” Known as the “Dean of African American Composers,” Still brought a fresh source of inspiration to the symphonic genre, introducing the sounds of Blues, Ragtime and Spirituals as a true American vernacular. The MDSO will also welcome Clayton Stephenson, who was named the 2017 U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts and a prize winner of the 2015 Van Cliburn Junior International Competition, for a performance of the “Concerto in One Movement” by Florence Price.
For its season finale on Saturday, April 9, the MDSO will team up with the Millikin Union of Choirs and enter a world of nymphs, mythical gods and heroines in a performance of Ravel’s impressionistic masterpiece, “Daphnis and Chloe.”
“Whether you enjoy the full power of the modern orchestra sound or the light sweetness of impressionist resonance, there is an MDSO for everyone,” McClain said. “Join us for the 2021-22 season as we stand poised for the future and the continuation of a long tradition of excellence, artistry, and contributions to the cultural life and vibrancy of Decatur [Ill.].”
Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra 2021-22 Performance Season

Labor Day Pops
Monday, Sept. 6, 2021 | 6 p.m.
Devon Lakeshore Amphitheater
$5 lawn, $10 seated area
Masterworks I: Opening Night — Eroica!
Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021 | 7:30 p.m.
Kirkland Fine Arts Center
$15–$25
Masterworks II: Bach to Bartok
Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021 | 7:30 p.m.

Kirkland Fine Arts Center
$15–$25
She Loves Me
Music by Jerry Bock
Book by Joe Masteroff
Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick
Friday, Nov. 12, 2021 | 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021 | 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021 | 2 p.m.
Kirkland Fine Arts Center
$20–$25
Masterworks III: Pathétique and Young Artists
Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022 | 7:30 p.m.
Kirkland Fine Arts Center
$20–$25
Masterworks IV: American Soundscapes: Afro-American
Saturday, March 5, 2022 | 7:30 p.m.
Kirkland Fine Arts Center
$20–$25
Masterworks V: Choral Portraits with Millikin Union of Choirs
Saturday, April 9, 2022 | 7:30 pm.
Kirkland Fine Arts Center
$20–$25

The mission of the Millikin University School of Music is to develop the whole musician – artistically, intellectually, technically – through the integration of theory and practice in an environment where students become active learners through their relationships with faculty, who themselves continue to grow as artists, scholars and teachers.
Millikin’s nationally recognized School of Music brings relevant, performance-based opportunities to all facets of undergraduate music education. With five distinctive music degree programs and additional certificate options, students find their path to professional success through a blending of creative, performative, scholarly and entrepreneurial experiences designed to train the next generation of music professionals. For more information about the Millikin School of Music, please visit millikin.edu/music.