Category Archives: News Briefs

Yeet! They’re Adding New Words to my Dictionary

News Progress Posted on by

•September 14, 2022•
By Jim Baumann

Just when I think I might be afflicted with writer’s block, this manna from Merriam-Webster floats over the e-transom.
Yes, folks, it’s time for M-W to add new words to its dictionary.
For those of you who bristle at the acceptance of new words into reference books, this might be hard to swallow.
Their inclusion in a dictionary, however, doesn’t require you to use them.
I, for one, use only 25,000 or so words, I reckon, of the 470,000 in M-W’s unabridged dictionary.
Not because I’m finicky, mind you, but because I just can’t keep many more in my head or would ever find occasion to use them.
Here are my reactions to some of the additions: Read More

Remember When? 9-14-2022

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25 Years Ago This Week

The Lovington Civic Center was to close at the end of September. The center, which was established in 1968, was closing because of a lack of funds.
All seven of the pedal pullers who entered the state competition in Springfield came home with first second and third place awards. Although three-year-old Andy Cole of Windsor won first place in his age group, he is the only one of the seven who will not compete as a finalist or alternate in national competition because the national competition has no 3 year old division. Bringing home second places in their age divisions, which automatically qualified them for nationals were Jake McIwain of Windsor, 6; Jason Boyer of Bethany, 9; and Dusty Cole of Windsor, 11. Named as alternates by finishing third place were Aaron Wood of Sullivan, 4; Nathan Nielson of Sullivan, 11 and G.K. Boyer of Bethany, 11. Read More

Texas Begins Sending Migrants to Illinois

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•September 7, 2022•
Capital News Illinois

At least 60 migrants arrived in Chicago Wednesday, Aug. 31, on buses from Texas as part of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s ongoing policy to send undocumented immigrants to so-called “sanctuary cities.”
But Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, both Democrats, say the new arrivals are welcome in Illinois, and they are vowing to make sure the new arrivals receive essential services.
“Illinois welcomes refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants and we are working with federal and city officials to ensure that these individuals are treated with respect and safety as they look to connect with their family and friends,” Pritzker said in a statement Wednesday night.
Abbott launched the program in April when he issued a memo directing the state’s Department of Emergency Management “to begin coordinating the voluntary transportation” of immigrants who had been released from federal custody. Read More

Lake Land College Foundation to Host Golf Classic

News Progress Posted on by

•September 7, 2022•
The Lake Land College Foundation will host its annual Golf Classic on Friday, September 30, at the Mattoon Golf & Country Club. The golf outing will be played in the popular four-man scramble format with registration and lunch for golfers beginning at 11 a.m. with a shotgun start at noon.
Golfers can register as a team of four or individually. Individual players are encouraged to sign up, as all players will be placed on a team. Entries for Friday’s outing are limited to the first 144 golfers. Read More

Local Workforce Innovation Board 23 Announces New Board Chair

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•September 7, 2022•
After five years of service as Board Chair of the Local Workforce Innovation Board 23, Pat Click handed over the role of Chairman of the Board to Gareld Bilyew.
The Local Workforce Innovation Board 23 is a business-led policy and oversight board for workforce development programs and services across the 13 counties of Local Workforce Innovation Area 23 (LWIA 23). The Board is selected and reviewed by the Consortium of Chief Elected Officials (CEO). On June 20, 2022, the Local Workforce Innovation Board 23 voted in favor of electing Gareld Bilyew as the new Board Chair. Bilyew, who joined the Board in 2013, succeeds Pat Click, of McKellar, Robertson, McCarty, & Click Insurance, Ltd., who served as Chair since 2017. Read More

Three Promoted at Kirby Foods in Sullivan

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Three employees at Kirby Foods have been promoted. Jessica Weaver (left) is the new bakery/deli assistant manager, Darla Bridges (center) is the new bakery/deli manager and Angela Cuttill (right) has been promoted to Director of Bakery/Deli for Kirby Foods.

•September 7, 2022•
Angela Cuttill has been promoted to the Director of Bakery/Deli for Kirby Food effective September 11. Angela started her career with Sullivan IGA/Kirby Foods in 2007, was promoted to Bakery Manager in 2009, and then Bakery/Deli Manager in 2011. She has held that position since, and has done an outstanding job growing the business over time. Angela will now oversee all 13 bakery/delis of Kirby Foods owned IGA’s.
Angela and her husband Jeff have been married 32 years and have three boys: Larry, Alan and Wes.
Taking Angela’s place at Sullivan will be Darla Bridges. Darla has been with Sullivan IGA/Kirby Foods since 2016, when she started as a Deli Clerk, she was then promoted to Head Cook in 2018, and has been Angela’s assistant in the deli since 2020. Darla has made great strides in her time with Kirby Foods and will do a great job taking over for Angela to lead the bakery/deli moving forward.
Jessica Weaver will be taking Darla’s place as Bakery/Deli Assistant Manager. She has been with Sullivan IGA/ Kirby Foods since 2021 and is looking forward to learning under Darla to help lead the department moving forward.

At a Remote Mental Health Facility, a Culture of Cruelty Persists Despite Decades of Warnings

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Federal and state officials have urged reforms at the rural facility for people with mental and developmental disabilities. But the state-run center still has more allegations of abuse and neglect than any other in Illinois.

•September 7, 2022•

By Molly Parker
Lee Enterprises Midwest

Beth Hundsdorfer
Capitol News Illinois

This article was produced for ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network in partnership with Capitol News Illinois and Lee Enterprises.
Over a year ago, the security chief at Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in southern Illinois sent an email to the head of the state agency that operates the facility, warning her of dangerous conditions inside.
“What I am presently seeing occur at Choate and hearing occur at other facilities concerns me more than it has my entire career,” Barry Smoot, a decades-long IDHS employee, wrote to Illinois Department of Human Services Secretary Grace Hou on May 26, 2021. Among the recommendations he wanted to make: that cameras be installed inside the facility.
Hou responded that same day, agreeing to meet. Read More

Former Moultrie County Clerk Receives Awards

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•September 7, 2022•
Presenter Robin Harper-Whitehead stated on August 23, 2022, that the Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders has never had a tie for County Clerk of the Year - until this year, and it was an honor to present the award to former Moultrie County Clerk Georgia England and Warren County Clerk Tina Conard.
England assumed the Moultrie County Clerk and Recorder position in June 2001 when she was appointed following the death of the previous clerk, her husband, Gerald “Griz” England. She ran for re-election, unopposed, for five additional terms. England faithfully, dutifully, and timelessly served Moultrie County until her retirement in mid-July 2022. Read More

Senior Heifer Calf Champion

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Photo by Cindy Cagwin-Johnston
Senior Heifer Calf Champion
Dameron Northern Miss 1201 won senior heifer calf champion at the 2022 Illinois State Fair Roll of Victory (ROV) Angus Show, Aug. 15 in Springfield, Ill. Quentin Day, Lovington, Ill., owns the winning heifer.

A New and Faster Way to Request a Social Security Card

News Progress Posted on by

•September 7, 2022•
By Ileana Saveley
Socoal Security District
Manager in Decatur, IL

Do you need an original or replacement Social Security Number card? We now have a new – and faster – way for you to start online. When you go to our Social Security Number and Card webpage at www.ssa.gov/ssnumber, we now ask you a series of questions to determine whether you can:
· Complete the application process online.
· Start the application process online, then bring any required documents to your local office to complete the application, typically in less time. Read More