25 Years Ago This Week

Organizers of the 1994 Bethany Fall Festival say it was a success with the weather cooperating. Molly Rhodes, daughter of Rick and Kathy Rhodes was crowned Little Miss Bethany for 1994. Other contestants were Whitney Brewer, Alishia Utsler and Tiffany Herbord. Twelve former Little Miss Bethany title-holders were present at the celebration for the coronation and to ride a float on the parade Saturday. They were Gena Tohill (1973), Dawn Ferguson (1977), Andrea Marshall (1982), Melissa Ashley (1985), Morgan Winskill (1986), Jordan Cuttill (1987), Sheena Ashley (1989), Sabrina Bone (1990), Melinda Seelow (1991), Danielle Willoughby (1992), and Holly Shafer (1993). Read More

•September 4, 2019•
Cancer affects us all in some way, so Sarah Bush Lincoln is encouraging community members to come together to create awareness, honor loved ones and support cancer warriors during its Paint the Town 5K Color Run/Walk on Saturday, Oct. 12, in Mattoon. Net proceeds will be used to support people fighting cancer at the SBL Regional Cancer Center.
This is the fourth year the Health Center has hosted a non-timed cancer awareness color run/walk, drawing more than 600 friends and family members together each year. This year’s Paint the Town pre-run party begins at 8 a.m. Festivities include music, a dynamic stretching warm-up with personal trainers from the SBL Center for Healthy Living at 8:30 a.m., and a special bubble blowing celebration in honor of cancer warriors at 8:55 a.m. Read More

•September 4, 2019•
The Windsor FFA Chapter had their Tractor Raffle drawing on August 29th at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur. Many members of the FFA went to the Half Century of Farm Progress Show in Rantoul, IL and the Farm Progress Show to sell tickets. Read More

•September 4, 2019•
Bobcat Permits: Hunters and trappers may apply for a 2019-2020 Illinois Bobcat Hunting and Trapping Permit online through Sept. 30. Applicants must submit a $5.00 non-refundable fee. A total of 1,000 permits will be allocated during a lottery and mailed to successful applicants. Successful applicants who receive a permit for the 2019-2020 season will NOT be able to receive a permit the next year to allow unsuccessful applicants a better chance to get a permit. The area open to bobcat hunting and trapping for the 2019-2020 season will be the boundary from the 2016-2017 season (see the map on Page 44 of the Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/Documents/HuntTrapDigest.pdf). Season dates are Nov. 10, 2019 through Feb. 15, 2020. Bobcat hunting is closed during firearm deer season in counties open to firearm deer hunting. Bobcat research projects in central and southern Illinois are ongoing. IDNR asks that successful permit holders submit the lower jaw from harvested bobcats for this research. Details will be included with the permits. IDNR appreciates the cooperation from hunters and trappers in efforts to learn more about bobcat populations in Illinois. To apply for a 2019-2020 bobcat permit, go to the DNR Direct license and permit system at https://www.il.wildlifelicense.com/start.php. Read More

•September 4, 2019•
Jerry L. Ginther
NP Guest Columnist

If you still live in the city or town where you were raised, pause for a few moments on a peaceful day and listen for the sounds of current activities.
Are they different from past years?
You may begin to contemplate the sounds you hear today and reflect on sounds from yesteryear. Are they familiar sounds from years past or are they new?
At first you may not be aware of sounds that are no longer there. As a matter of fact, if you are 50 or 60 years of age, someone your age or even an older person might remind you in a conversation of a sound that at one time was common to daily life in the community.
Such a conversation could start an avalanche of memories that lead to comments such as, “Yes, I remember that and do you remember…?”
In a small town you can often hear noises from nearby locations, sounds of industry or construction. Read More