•October 6, 2021•
“In October 1987, the first Domestic Violence Awareness Month was observed. That same year marks the initiation of the first national domestic violence toll-free hotline. In 1989 the U.S. Congress passed Public Law 101-112 designating October of that year as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Such legislation has passed every year since with NCADV providing key leadership in this effort.”
During this month of observance, each of the counties in Dove’s service area will have a local Candlelighting Ceremony to mourn victims, celebrate survivors, and commend those who join us to take a stand against this crime. The public is encouraged to attend, masks required.

- Shelby County Candlelighting Ceremony
Thursday, October 7, 7:00 p.m.
First Assembly of God Church
108 South Oak, Shelbyville Read More

•October 6, 2021•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer

This column is about neither butchery nor medieval surgery, which, face it, are one and the same.
It’s about feelings and malapropisms.
We sure do come up with some interesting, visceral descriptions of the anguish we feel, don’t we?
I have an old friend who feels “gutted” when she loses a friend or suffers a minor indignity at work. That’s quite a range of anguish, methinks, and “gutted” probably doesn’t work for the entirety of it.
I’m thinking “irked” or “disappointed” work better for the lower end of that scale.
But then, I’m a thick-skinned journalist who probably doesn’t feel things the way others do. (Don’t bet on it.)
There should be a Scoville rating for the emotional pain one suffers, with the irksomeness of getting a cart dent in your car door at the grocery store rated something comparable to biting into a poblano, while losing a loved one would be rated more like chomping on a scotch bonnet and packing it in your cheek for a day. Read More

Dear Editor:

At the Monday September 13 Sullivan City Council Meeting, Mayor Glazebrook addressed the fine assessed by Illinois Environment Protection Agency (IEPA) for not filing the required permits. Sullivan received the minimum fine of $13,500. However, the council neglected to mention the penalties assessed by Illinois Municipal Electric Agency (IMEA) of $91,897. In total the fine and penalties total $105,397.
HOW DID IT GO DOWN? Read More

Photo furnished
Pictured left to right: Jeanne Goble, Terry Smith, Diana Glosser.

•October 6, 2021•
Volunteers of University of Illinois Extension’s Master Gardener program were recognized at a virtual awards ceremony on September 10. The annual awards ceremony recognizes the work of the 2,700 volunteers who provide horticulture-related assistance to their communities.
Master Gardeners are trained horticulture experts who serve their communities through service projects and delivery of educational programs. They “Help Others Learn to Grow” by providing research based horticultural information and sound management practices for home and urban landscapes. “Our local Master Gardeners play a vital role in our community”, says program coordinator Jenny Lee, “offering educational opportunities and answering many horticultural questions throughout the year.” Read More

•September 29, 2021•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer

It’s been forever since we explored some words that sound the same but have different spellings or meanings.
Let’s start with “bear” and “bare.”
To bear something is to endure it or carry it.
You can bear a burden, you can bear a child, but you probably can’t bear the sight of a bear in your tent.
To bare something is to strip it down. But its primary use is as an adjective to describe something that’s, well, naked.
You can ride bareback — that is, without a saddle, though I wouldn’t recommend it. You can bare your soul to your priest, but you probably shouldn’t bare yourself to a stranger on a bus. Read More