•November 30, 2022•
By Cheri Burcham
Family Life Educator

The holidays are fast approaching, but not everyone looks forward to them, as explained in this article by Extension Educator Chelsey Byers. Chelsey says: Do you dread the holidays because… You are you an adult who is single and your family and friends wish you were happily coupled? Are you a parent of an adult child wishing you had grandbabies? Every time you are gathered with family do you still feel judged for the life choices you made? Time spent with families can be a big stressor during the holidays sometimes even more than the hurried schedules, gifts to buy and wrap, food to cook, and the money crunch that can come with this time of year. Read More

•November 30, 2022•
Did you know? The C.E.F.S. Head Start 0-5 program provides both developmental and educational screenings, as well as hearing and vision screenings to identify any concerns. If concerns are noted, referrals will be made to ensure your child is receiving all needed services to further their growth and education. We enroll all year round, if interested, please call/text 217-663-7822.

•November 30, 2022•
The Decatur Audubon Society invites members and interested guests to a special meeting and holiday party with cookies and beverages at Rock Springs Nature Center, 3939 Nearing Lane, Decatur, on Saturday, December 3. Following brief announcements at 2:00 p.m., attendees will see a premiere showing of “The Magic Stump,” a documentary film about an isolated stump in a farm field in Eastern Illinois that attracts a variety of wintering raptors, including two rare Prairie Falcons. The film was directed by Bob Dolgan, a filmmaker and consultant who lives in Chicago, who will personally introduce the film.

•November 30, 2022•
Moultrie County has been issued a tentative property assessment equalization factor of 1.0000, according to David Harris, Director of the Illinois Department of Revenue.
The property assessment equalization factor, often called the “multiplier”, is the method used to achieve uniform property assessments among counties, as required by law. This equalization is particularly important because some of the state’s 6,600 local taxing districts overlap into two or more counties (e.g. school districts, junior college districts, fire protection districts). If there were no equalization among counties, substantial inequities among taxpayers with comparable properties would result.
State law requires property in Illinois to be assessed at one-third (1/3) of its market value. Farm property is assessed differently, with farm homesites and dwellings subject to regular assessing and equalization procedures, but with farmland and farm buildings assessed according to standards based on productivity. Read More

•November 30, 2022•
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is hosting a public meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 1, 2022 at the Lake Shelbyville Visitor Center. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the current water control plan for Lake Shelbyville, water control operations, and dam safety. Engineering staff from the USACE St. Louis District office will present information about water control operations and procedures, and dam safety.
The Lake Shelbyville Visitor Center is located east of the Lake Shelbyville Main Dam at 1989 State Hwy. 16 Shelbyville, IL 62565. For additional information, call our project office at (217)774-3951 X 2 or email lakeshelbyville@usace.army.mil.