•August 21, 2019•
By Rebecca Anzel
Capitol News Illinois

Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a law giving voters in one Illinois county an option to more easily dissolve township governments. It is an initiative of two state lawmakers to ease residents’ property taxes by reducing levels of government.
Barrington Hills Representative David McSweeney said it is the first step to providing that choice to voters throughout the state. Consolidation must first work well in McHenry County, the sixth most populous county in Illinois, before the experiment can expand.
“We need to show that it works, but in the future I plan to use this as a way to promote other types of consolidation — we need to look at school districts, park districts, municipalities,” McSweeney, the law’s House sponsor, said. “I am going to continue to focus on this.”
There are more than 8,500 local government units in Illinois, according to the comptroller’s website — 1,428 of those are townships. These are essentially the closest level of government to residents, required to provide general assistance to the poor, administer property assessments and maintain roads. Read More

•August 14, 2019•

Setting the Record Straight on Titus Home for Ladies Closing
This is in response to the letter from “The New Instigater”. Although he strategically left out the subject matter, I have heard other comments like his in the community so feel pretty comfortable he is referring to the Titus Home.
“The New Instigater” has either made up his own facts or has been misinformed, so please allow me to put this observation to rest.
I served on the Titus Board of Managers for six years and worked as the office manager for ten years total. The disbursements we received from the farm ground income were made by the Sentel Trust/Farm Manager after all farming and management expenses had been paid. Read More

•August 14, 2019•
By Jim Nowlan
Capital News Service

I left the prison on a recent Wednesday with a better understanding of what foments urban violence, after talking with the real experts — inmates who grew up in major Illinois cities.
The Life Skills Re-entry Center at Kewanee, in central Illinois, is like a small college campus, albeit with razor-wire rather than ivied walls. The place is for longtime inmates of the 30-plus Illinois correctional facilities, who write essays as to why finishing their final years at this intensive career education and counseling facility would benefit them. The goal is to reduce recidivism by giving inmates a career such as restaurant management — they run the café and cafeteria — welding, and more, plus counseling on how to live productively on the outside. Read More

•August 14, 2019•
The 58th Annual Arthur Mennonite Relief Sale is August 23 and 24 at the Otto Center, half mile south of Arthur.
The activities begin Friday at 4:30 p.m. with a pulled BBQ pork dinner and the auction starting at 6 p.m.
On Saturday a pancake and sausage breakfast runs from 6-10 a.m., with the auction beginning at 9 a.m. The silent auction is from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Read More

Photo furnished
Pictured is Lexie Gee.

•August 14, 2019•
Moultrie-Douglas Fair 4-H show champions include local talent.
Halter - Horse Mare
Grand Champion – Ben Bushue, Moultrie County Shining Stars, Sullivan
Reserve Grand Champion – Brett Bushue, Moultrie County Shining Stars, Sullivan
Halter Horse- Gelding
Grand Champion – Kaydence Kennedy, Sunny Side Flea Flickers, Bethany
Reserve Grand Champion – Kate Bushue, Moultrie County Shining Stars, Sullivan
Jr. Horse Showmanship
Grand Champion – Brett Bushue, Moultrie County Shining Stars, Sullivan
Reserve Grand Champion – Kate Bushue, Moultrie County Shining Stars, Sullivan
Sr. Horse Showmanship
Grand Champion – Ben Bushue, Moultrie County Shining Stars, Sullivan
Reserve Grand Champion – Kaydence Kennedy, Sunny Side Flea Flickers, Bethany
Pleasure – Jr. Horse
Grand Champion – Kate Bushue, Moultrie County Shining Stars, Sullivan
Reserve Grand Champion - Hannah Creek, Moultrie County Shining Stars, Sullivan
Pleasure – Sr. Horse Read More