25 Years Ago This Week

As many as a dozen tornadoes, accompanied by thunderstorms and giant hail stones, ripped through Central Illinois, bringing wide-spread damage and at least four injuries to Moultrie County. Funnel clouds were spotted in Shelby, Douglas, Effingham, as well as Moultrie County. Numerous downed power lines caused power outages throughout the region. The disaster came less than two weeks following a tornado that cut a path through Mattoon, smashing buildings but causing no deaths. Read More

•March 29, 2023•
The Decatur Quilters Guild will hold their 41st Quilt Fest titled “We Quilt our Town” Friday and Saturday, April 14 and 15, 2023 at the Decatur Civic Center, downtown Decatur. As a special feature, author Jennifer Chiaverini will be a guest speaker. Chiaverini is author of The Elm Creek Quilt series and many historical fiction books such as Switchboard Soldiers, The Women’s March, and Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker. Thank you to our Library Sponsors including the following public libraries: Warrensburg, Mt. Zion, Macon, Genealogy Society and Maroa. Admission to the Quilt Show is required to attend her presentation. Read More

•March 29, 2023•
The Illinois Commerce Commission released its annual report on accidents and incidents involving hazardous materials (hazmat) on Illinois railroads. Of the 8,549 rail cars inspected in 2022, the ICC found violations in just 1.3 percent of all inspections. When these inspections first started in 1981, violations topped 12 percent.
“The disaster in East Palestine has rightfully turned attention to our nation’s rail safety efforts. Our hazardous materials report is an important resource for understanding the kinds of incidents that occur on Illinois railways and helps the Commission to inform its ongoing safety measures,” said ICC Chairman Carrie Zalewski. “Investigating these incidents when they occur is critical, but the goal of routine inspections is ultimately to minimize and prevent these disasters from occurring in the first place.” Read More

•March 29, 2023•
Brett Bushue was selected as the State FFA Proficiency Winner in Equine Science - Entrepreneurship. Brett is a member of the Sullivan FFA Chapter of the Illinois Association FFA. Illinois FFA recognizes students in forty-eight different areas based on their work-based learning, also known as Supervised Agricultural Experiences or SAE. FFA members who demonstrate outstanding agricultural skills and competencies through record keeping, leadership, and scholastic achievement may be considered for this award. SAEs allow students to learn by doing by either owning and operating an agricultural business, working or serving an internship at an agriculture-based business or conducting an agriculture-based scientific experiment and reporting results. Read More

•March 29, 2023•
Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today announced $175 million in available grant funding through the Back to Business (B2B) program. Following state recovery for businesses totaling nearly $1.5 billion, the latest American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) -funded opportunity is designed to provide additional support for the hardest-hit sectors, including restaurants (B2B Restaurants), hotels (B2B Hotels), and businesses or organizations in the creative arts sector (B2B Arts). To provide hands-on support and raise awareness about the program, the State has mobilized a network of more than 100 community navigators across Illinois. Read More