Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Challenge Grant - Kathi Shackles, (center) executive director of Mid-Illinois Senior Services, receives a $500 challenge grant from Nadene Fugate (l) and Shirley Cardascio (r), administrators of the Mason Point Chapel Fund. Darin Wall, administrator of Mason Point, is standing in back.

•November 29, 2017•

The Chapel Fund at Mason Point has made a $500 challenge grant to the Mid-Illinois Senior Services (Senior Center) to aid in the purchase of new chairs. Nadene Fugate and Shirley Cardascio, administrators of the fund, agreed, “We are happy to assist the Senior Center because many of our residents attend programs there”.

Mason Point and the Senior Center have long enjoyed a cooperative relationship. Mason Point provides a monthly free lunch at the center and has donated all the supplies for adult coloring classes. Mason Point also provides bingo and Wheel of Fortune games to the center.Kathi Shackles, executive director of Mid-Illinois Senior Services, expressed her appreciation, saying, “The chairs have been here since we opened 15 years ago. They are worn, uncomfortable for the seniors and are beginning to fall apart. We are so grateful for this grant”.

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•November 29, 2017•

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is hosting a public meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, December 4 in the Lake Shelbyville Visitor Center.

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the current water control plan, water control operations, and dam safety.  Read More

•November 29, 2017•

Okaw Valley  Superintendent Kent Stauder, principals Matt Shoaff and Ross Forlines, and Ag teacher Wes Wise presented at the 85th Joint Annual Conference in Chicago Nov. 18.  Read More

•November 29, 2017•

By Travis Lott
Of the County Journal

No exploration of the 200 years of Illinois history would be complete without a look at what preceded those two centuries.

While Illinois became a state in 1818, its story began nearly 150 years before that, in 1673, when Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette explored the Mississippi River in search of a route to the Pacific Ocean.

When the two explorers’ travels led them near hostile Spanish territories, they turned back and traveled along the Illinois River, finding safety among the Kaskaskia Indian tribe. Marquette founded the Mission of the Immaculate Conception, but left the mission in the hands of Father Pierre-Gabriel Marest due to Marquette’s poor health. Read More

•November 22, 2017•

BASO is sponsoring Bethany Country Christmas 3-4:30 p.m. Sunday, December 3 at the Bethany Depot.

Santa will arrive at 3 p.m. with stockings and photo opportunities. Various activities are planned in addition to hot cocoa and cookies. Read More