Category Archives: News Briefs

A Look Back…

News Progress Posted on by

•December 27, 2023•

2013 

The Christmas spirit was in full steam at the Green Mill Village Holiday Walk in Arcola. Businesses from Moultrie and Douglas counties participated by decorating and donating a Christmas tree or wreath to a silent auction with the proceeds going towards a non-profit charity of their choice in central Illinois. 

More than 3500 lbs of food were distributed to food pantry after employees at Hydro-Gear were incentivized to donate non-perishable food and toiletries during the Dare to Care campaign.  Read More

Magical Reindeer Food

News Progress Posted on by

•December 20, 2023•

Ingredients:

Raw uncooked oats

Sugar cookie sprinkles

Plastic sandwich or snack baggies

Ribbon in festive holiday colors

Paper for the printable tags

Pour 3-4 tablespoons of oats into each plastic bag.

Add a tablespoon or two of sprinkles.

Iridescent sprinkles or red and green sprinkles are good choices; but use what you have on hand. (You can even use the fine sanding sugar used for sand tarts. Just beware: If you mix red and green sugar, the resulting color will be a less festive shade of brown.)

Close the baggie with a piece of ribbon, and shake to mix.

If using a zipper top bag, punch a small hole in the corner and thread a piece of ribbon through the hole.

After you put out the milk and cookies for Santa, head outside to sprinkle this magic reindeer food on the snow or your lawn.

How to Make Christmas Eve Special for Kids

News Progress Posted on by

•December 20, 2023•

Christmas Eve is viewed differently by different people, even those who live under the same Santa-ready roof. Adults may see Christmas Eve as crunch time when they must prepare food for the next day or set up presents for their children to open in the morning. Children, on the other hand, are focused on Santa’s visit and little else.

Parents naturally want to make Christmastime as special as possible for their children, and that may involve ensuring that Christmas Eve is just as memorable as Christmas Day. The following are some ways to impart more magic into Christmas Eve celebrations.

Attend Mass at midnight Read More

Bake Up a Sweet Holiday Treat

News Progress Posted on by

•December 20, 2023•

Entertaining is a big part of the holiday season. Calendars are packed this time of year with gatherings with friends, family and professional colleagues. 

Entertaining requires keeping plenty of refreshments on hand to ensure guests maintain their holiday spirit. Dessert is no stranger to the season, with office break rooms, dining tables and buffet stations brimming with sweet treats to tempt celebrants’ palates. Everyone should have a go-to dessert to bring along to a holiday party or to offer guests when hosting their own fêtes. Cookies are a standard due to their versatility and portability. Read More

Menu 12-20-2023

News Progress Posted on by

Senior Peace Meal

For additional information or for reservations, please call 1-800-543-1770

Dec. 25 - Closed for Christmas

Dec. 26 - Closed for Christmas

Dec. 27 - Chicken and Noodles, Mashed Potatoes, Northwestern Vegetable blend, Five Cup Salad, Extra treat

Dec. 28 - Country Fried Steak, Baby Bakers, Stewed Tomatoes, Fruit, Bread or Roll

Dec. 29 - Beef Stew w/Stew Vegetables, Harvest Blend Veggies, Dreamsicle Salad, Biscuit 

Wits Fitness Brain Health Classes Schedule

News Progress Posted on by

•December 20, 2023•

By Cheri Burcham

Family Life Educator

There is increasing evidence that brain health is directly related to body health. However, most people think more about keeping their bodies fit or their hearts healthy than working at maintaining a healthy brain. Cheri Burcham, Family Life Educator for the University of Illinois Extension, will be offering free “Wits Fitness: Brain Exercise Classes” in five different locations each month except for July and December. Locations and dates for 2024 include:

· Every first Monday of the month at the LifeSpan Center of Coles County at 10:00 am (except for January 8 and Sept. 9 due to holidays.) Read More

Giannoulias Announces $1.4 Million in Grants to Support 2,713 Illinois Public School Libraries

News Progress Posted on by

•December 20, 2023•

Secretary of State and State Librarian Alexi Giannoulias is awarding more than $1.4 million to qualifying public school districts to the benefit of 2,713 school libraries throughout Illinois.

Local school libraries that are being awarded grants are: Arthur Community Unit School District 305 in the amount of $850.00; Okaw Valley CUSD 302 in the amount of $850.00 and Windsor CUSD 1 in the amount of $850.00.  Read More

SBL Holiday Festival Raises More Than $178,000

News Progress Posted on by

•December 20, 2023•

The Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Foundation recently announced that its annual Holiday Festival raised more than $178,000 to support SBL Behavioral Health Services.

All proceeds from the event will help Behavioral Health Services (BHS) provide emergent needs for uninsured patients, resources for providers to use in therapy, assistance with the substance abuse crisis in the communities SBL serves and fund school assemblies to address mental health needs of area youth. Read More

National Impaired Driving Prevention Month

News Progress Posted on by

•December 20, 2023•

December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. With two major holidays and many people on the road traveling, December is a deadly month for drunk driving. The intention of National Impaired Driving Prevention Month is to raise awareness about the dangers of impaired driving. Impaired driving refers to operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other substances that can restrict a person’s ability to drive safely. Read More

Lowercase ‘iPhone’? A Capital Idea

News Progress Posted on by

•December 20, 2023•

Riddle me this, grammarians: What do Amazon, Hulu, Citibank, Facebook, Macy’s, Lenovo, EBay and Android have in common?

Each of their corporate identities actually begins with a lowercase letter.

Yes, capital-challenged poet e.e. cummings must have had a hand in the creation of each corporation, despite his having died in 1962. I get it, having designed a couple of logos in my day: Not leading off with a capital letter can provide some visual balance.

But we in the news business capitalize all of them, whether they are at the beginning of a sentence or not. Why? I wasn’t sure an hour ago. But at least we’re consistent. Read More