•June 7, 2017•

They were young. They went through basic training, then on to more advanced instruction before being assigned to the next state or half way around the world. They operated heavy artillery, or commanded ICBM missiles, or flew rescue helicopters, or handled classified information, or commanded a tank, or sat on the ocean bottom in a submarine.

They were in the infantry, or were a radio operator, or a medic, or an aircraft mechanic, or a cook, or radar repairman, or maybe an electrician. They endured rocket attacks in Vietnam, and cold weather in Korea, and dark, wet seas in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. They were wounded, suffered from malaria or was seasick from crossing high seas during a storm. They had fun, built life-long friendships, made good memories or saw horrible things that no teenager should have to endure. Read More

•June 7, 2017•

The statewide average temperature for May was 61.9 degrees, 0.8 degrees below normal, according to Illinois State Climatologist Jim Angel with the Illinois State Water Survey at the University of Illinois. A few locations in Illinois reached 90 degrees, including Moline and Springfield. In mid-May, several locations reported temperatures below freezing, including Mt. Carroll with 29 degrees.

The statewide average precipitation for May was 5.22 inches, 0.62 inches above normal. The precipitation was heaviest in the central third of the state with a few drier areas around Bloomington and south of the Quad Cities. Danville reported the most rain for the month in Illinois with 10.19 inches. Henning came in second with 9.98 inches of rain. Read More

•June 7, 2017•

Pets are cherished family members in many Illinois homes, so it’s important for pet owners to have plans to keep their pets safe during and after emergencies. Throughout National Pet Preparedness Month in June, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and local emergency management agencies will provide tips and information on pet emergency preparedness.

“More than half of the homes in Illinois have at least one pet,” said IEMA Director James K. Joseph. “Emergency situations can be very stressful, particularly for pets who don’t understand what is happening. If your family includes a dog, cat, hamster or other furry, feathered or scaly friends, don’t forget to include their unique needs in your home emergency plans.” Read More

•June 7, 2017•

Canvas Camp Art Day for Kids is coming to the Masonic Temple in Sullivan 9-11:30 a.m. July 10-13.

Local artist and teacher Molly Reeder Faust will show kids from first through sixth grades how to create paintings, drawings, collages and sculptures. Read More

•June 7, 2017•

By Gerald Tilley
Social Security District Manager

Being safe online is important every day. There may be days devoted to internet security awareness, but you need to be careful every time you go online.

Do you know what it takes to be safe online? You probably connect daily to get information, shop, socialize, or work. Every time you go online, you need to avoid the risk of theft or fraud. Here are some tips to use while visiting the Social Security website and the other websites you use.

• Use Strong Passwords--Strong passwords have at least eight characters and include capital letters, numbers, and non-letter characters. These passwords make it harder for someone to hack your account.  Read More