•May 20, 2026•
The second Lovington Farmer’s Market of the season was held last Thursday. The market is held the second Thursday of each month through August. Vendor spaces are free, if interested in participating call (217) 521-7632.
•May 20, 2026•
On Thursday, May 14th, at the Lovington First Church of God’s Family Life Center, the American Red Cross held a blood drive with a goal of acquiring thirty-three donations of blood and plasma. Their next blood drive will be held at the same location on July 9th, from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. Blood program leader, Shelley Martina, shows how it is done with the assistance of friend and assistant Julie Jurgens. Pictured L-R: Kasey Flynn, Hailee Insley, Shelley Martina, Carmen Whitney, and Julie Jurgens.
•May 20, 2026•
Boater Hunter Russell of Salem, Illinois, caught a total of five bass weighing 15 pounds, 11 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Shelbyville. The tournament was the second of five events of the season for the BFL Illini Division. Russell earned $10,150, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus, for his victory.
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•May 20, 2026•
The American Sports and Performance Dietitians Association (ASPDA) announced the winners of the ASPDA Association Awards at their 18th Annual Conference on May 13th in New Orleans, LA. ASPDA members are nominated by the association’s members and voted on by the Board of Directors. Their work in their professional field throughout their career is carefully considered when selections are made. Each award recognizes those who are making a positive, undeniable impact in their respective categories. Anna Turner, MS, RD, CSSD, won the Trailblazer Award (Diversified Foods), which is in recognition of the visionary goals and groundbreaking innovation brought to the profession and to ASPDA.
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•May 20, 2026•
Make sure to sign up for the Summer Reading Program by June 30th.
June 1st and 15th - Needle night from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. If you would like to learn to crochet, knit, needlepoint, or even how to sew, we have people who can help teach you. If you already know how and just want to hang out, come join us.
June 2nd - Story time from 10:00 to 10:30 a.m. This month, we will have Father’s Day-themed stories and activities.
June 5th - Kids’ Coloring time will be from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. We will have a wide selection of coloring pages, sketch pads, and books on how to learn to draw.
June 8th - Craft Club will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Bring whatever project you are working on and join us for the fun.
June 9th - Tyke time from 10:00 to 10:30 a.m. We will have a ladybug and insect matching activity for the little ones.
12th - Teen craft time will be from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. We will have a beach-themed craft to make.
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•May 20, 2026•
Hamburgers are a staple of summer menus in millions of homes. Whether you’re hosting friends on Memorial Day weekend or simply looking for a hearty midweek meal, burgers and summertime cooking go hand in hand.
Hamburgers are a straightforward dish that are often prepared on a grill. But burgers also can be prepared on a stovetop, which can add a new flavor profile to this beloved summertime staple. Those looking to do just that can try this recipe for “Beef Burgers With Onions, Spinach, Ketchup, and Blue Cheese” from Lines+Angles.
Beef Burgers with Onions, Spinach, Ketchup, and
Blue Cheese
Makes 4 Servings
For the sauce:
1 tablespoon olive oil
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•May 20, 2026•
Lovington’s annual patriotic Junefest community celebration will be held on Saturday, June 13th this year. The fun-filled schedule of events is as follows:
7:00 to 10:00 a.m.- Fireman’s pancake breakfast; cost for the meal is a donation.
11:00 a.m.- The parade will be held beginning at the Park on State Street, West to Route 32, turning left (south) and then traveling south to Church Street, turning left and traveling East on Church Street, with the end point near Al Best Drive. (The traditional parade route).
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•May 20, 2026•
As the weather warms up and more people head outside, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is reminding everyone to leave young birds and other animals alone when they encounter them in the wild. Well-intentioned people may believe they’re helping nature by taking possession of young rabbits, fawn deer, baby birds, and other animals that appear to be orphaned or abandoned. However, in nearly all cases, human intervention does more to hurt animals than to help. Young birds and animals are still being fed and cared for by their parents, who usually stay away from nests and dens if humans are nearby. “The most helpful thing people can do for wildlife is to enjoy the animals through observation, not interference,” said IDNR Director Natalie Phelps Finnie. “If you really care about the animals, just leave them alone when you come across them in nature.”
The Illinois Wildlife Code provides legal protection for wildlife. Keeping wild animals as pets or raising wild animals believed to have been abandoned is prohibited. Additionally, agency responses to incidents involving illegal captive wildlife can be costly and divert time from other important work. Most wild birds are protected by the Wildlife Code. This includes protection of eggs, nests, and feathers. Migratory birds are also protected by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.
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•May 20, 2026•
by Angela Hogan
R.N., MSPH Administrator, MCHD
Parents want their children to stay healthy, in school, and ready to learn. One of the most effective ways to protect them and our communities is through routine childhood vaccinations. A recent update from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) shows encouraging news: Most Illinois children are up to date on their required school vaccinations. In fact, nearly all reported immunization rates met or exceeded the state’s 95% coverage goal. “Across Illinois, families, schools, and public health partners are working together to keep children protected from preventable illnesses,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra.
Read More“The Immortal Thirty-two”
•May 20, 2026•
by Janet Roney
It’s been one hundred and ninety years since March 6, 1836, when Moultrie County’s Jonathan Lindley became the only Illinois man to die at the Alamo.
At age twenty-two, Jonathan had everything to live for. After coming to Texas in 1833 from Moultrie County, Illinois, with his father, Samuel Washington Lindley, he owned 80 acres of land, a small herd of cattle, some pigs, and a cozy little cabin near Gonzales where he and his sweetheart, Sarah, would soon start their married life. What more could a young man ask for? But Jonathan had been born with a strong sense of right and wrong, like his Whitley and Lindley grandfathers.
Texians were outraged when the Mexican “Napoleon of the West,” Santa Anna, jailed Stephen Austin after refusing his request to make Texas an independent Mexican state. He also stopped legal American immigrants and seized their weapons, even though he had been inviting them to settle in the land of “smiling prairies” for the previous decade. Soon, ready or not, the Texians wanted complete independence from Mexico.
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