2014

Nathan Riley is 12 years old. He’s been fishing for only a couple years. He is mostly self-trained too, having watched dozens of YouTube videos on the sport. And it was he who was by himself at little ol’ Wyman Lake when he caught a 20-inch, 5-pound., 7-ounce large mouth bass on a cold March morning.

Earlier this month Shelby County residents passed a new one percent sales tax aimed at helping area schools maintain their often-aging buildings. The referendum, which passed on March 18 and goes into effect April the following year, could bring Okaw Valley schools as much as $50,000 in increased revenue according to district superintendent Kent Stauder. Read More

•April 3, 2024•

The annual Angler’s Tribute to Veterans Crappie Tournament will be held this Saturday on Lake Shelbyville. Early registration will take place Friday at the Sullivan VFW beginning at 5 p.m.. Take-off and weigh in will take place at the Bo Woods Ramp. Saturday registration will be at 5:30 a.m. with lines in at 7. Weigh-in will begin at 2:30 p.m.

•March 27, 2024•

Lake Land College will celebrate with graduates during a Commencement ceremony on Friday, May 10, 2024 at 6 p.m. in the Field House.

“All of our graduates have accomplished so much, and we are excited to celebrate this milestone with them at this year’s Commencement Ceremony,” Lake Land College President Josh Bullock said.

The ceremony will be livestreamed via the Internet from the college’s homepage at LakeLandCollege.edu. In addition to seating in the Field House, overflow seating showing the livestream on a large screen will be available throughout campus. A recording will also air on local cable channels in the days following.

The deadline to file an Intent to Graduate is Friday, March 15. The deadline to measure for a cap and gown is Friday, March 29.

•March 27, 2024•

What Did a Trillion Tons of Glacial Ice Do to Moultrie County?

by Janet Roney

Well, duh…it flattened it, of course. But, that’s not all it did.  

When the Wisconsin Glacier came down from Canada 30,000 years ago or so, it brought tons and tons of dirt, gravel, rocks, and sand with it that it picked up along the way. When global warming began 14,000 – 18,000 years ago and melted the ice, it left up to 200 feet of this debris, called glacial till, on top of everywhere the glacier reached.  

The weight of the ice and glacial drift depressed the earth’s crust, and shifted the viscous mantle below it. Like a teeter-totter, its weight pushed up the surface of the ice-free areas south of it. When the ice melted, post-glacial rebound began and continues to this day. Every century, the elevation of northeastern and central Illinois is rising from 3 to 4 feet, while land to the south is lowering. Bridge builders have to pay attention to that fact.        Read More

•March 20, 2024•

The Master Gardeners in Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Moultrie, and Shelby recently announced Nathan Shirley as the recipient of the esteemed Friends of Master Gardener Award. This recognition honors Nathan’s exceptional dedication and contribution to our local Master Gardener program. Nathan’s significant volunteer efforts, particularly in helping construct the new greenhouse, have made a profound impact on our community. His commitment exemplifies the spirit of community support and collaboration that is fundamental to our gardening initiatives. “His hard work and passion have been instrumental in the success of our program. We extend our sincere appreciation to Nathan for his outstanding contributions,” said Jenny Lee, Master, Gardener Program Coordinator. The Friends of Master Gardener Award celebrates individuals like Nathan Shirley, whose dedication enhances the vibrancy and sustainability of our local green spaces. We commend Nathan for his commitment to making our community a greener and more connected place.