Compiled by Bekki Ferguson-Stevens

25 Years Ago This Week

Bethany Junior High students Andy Brewer, Allison Patrick and Haley Rowe participated in the Honors Band and ChorusFestival in May at Lake Land College. Students from Lovington Junior High also participated. They are Kara Bolsen, Kelly Smith, Chas Seelow and Jenny Elliott.

Leslie Phelps of Bethany has been awarded a Millikin University academic scholarship based on outstanding academic achievement. She is the daughter of Gilbert and Deborah Phelps.

Lovington Middle School students Wyatt Murphy and Meg Reedy have won the first round in the national D.A.R.E.  Day Poster and Letter To President Bush Contest. Murphy was the poster winner while Reedy won the letter contest. They are now contestants in the state competition.

University of Illinois graduate Angie Quick of Lovington is one of nine area health care students awarded a $1,000 scholarship by the Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center Guild. She plans to enter Washington University in St. Louis this fall to seek a master’s degree in physical therapy.

Tracy Lynne Kirk of Sullivan, Kristen Kay Scott of Bethany and Jennifer Jeanne Cole of Windsor are recipients of 991 special education teacher scholarships. Read More

•June 29, 2016•

Johnathan Bond of Young Harmony will be in concert at Bethany Free Methodist Church Sunday July 3.

The church is located on 312 W. Main in Bethany.

Young Harmony, a Rick Hendrix Management Artist, is based out of Chattanooga, Tenn.  Read More

•June 22, 2016•

There is increasing evidence that brain health is directly related to body health.  However, most people think more about keeping their bodies fit or their hearts healthy than working at maintaining a healthy brain.

Cheri Burcham, Family Life Educator for the University of Illinois Extension, will offer “Wits Fitness: Brain Exercise Classes” at Mid-Illinois Senior Services (Senior Center) in Sullivan 1-2:30 p.m. Monday, June 27. There is no cost to attend.  Read More

Photo furnished
New nurse graduates entering Sarah Bush Lincoln’s Nurse Residency Program are pictured left to right: first row – Casey Neville, Tara Biggs, Lisa Lawson, Emily Johnson, Hannah Jernigan, Tiffany McSparren, and Jessica Spence; second row – Cassie Riley, Megan Huddleston, Shelby Jackson, Kiersten Dent, Andrea Hutchinson, Lexi Walk, Kierston Oborne, Chris Roedl, Amber Waterman, Renea Phelps, Glenda Hunt, and Lexi Fiscus; third row – Cassie Will, Katy Augustyn, Todd Layton, Dwight Hardin, Haley Whitman, Marissa Klee, Jason Duhamell, and Andrew McDevitt. Not pictured are: Ali Barless, Jennifer Martinez, Amy Pippin, Hilary Bodle, Shelby Evinger, Nathan Raisner and Valentina Theole.

•June 22, 2016•

Thirty-four registered nurse graduates joined the first Nurse Residency Program at Sarah Bush Lincoln.

The Nurse Residency Program helps new nurses transition from nursing graduates to competent, confident and compassionate nurses. Sarah Bush Lincoln Nursing Leader Mindi O’Rourke, BSN, explained that for new nurses, there is so much to learn in the first year that sometimes it can be overwhelming. This program helps them adjust through additional classroom education, hands-on simulation, online learning modules and guest presenters. They also will be working with a mentor.”

A big plus is that the nurses will develop lasting relationships with other nurses in the program, which will help them acclimate to a new environment and begin their careers with a strong start. Read More

•June 22, 2016•

By Gerald Tilley
Social Security District Manager in Decatur

Your first job is a landmark occasion. You’re meeting new people, making professional connections and probably cashing that first paycheck. You might be a little surprised when you see a portion of your earnings go to a tax called “FICA” for the Federal Insurance Contributions Act. This deduction goes to Social Security and is your way of helping us secure you today and tomorrow. It’s our job to keep the safety net of Social Security strong through your incremental contributions.

Understanding how important your contribution is takes some of the sting away because your taxes are helping millions of Americans. By law, employers must withhold Social Security taxes from workers’ paychecks. While referred to as “Social Security taxes” on an employee’s pay statement, sometimes the deduction is labeled as “FICA.” This stands for Federal Insurance Contributions Act, a reference to the original Social Security Act. Sometimes, you will see “OASDI,” which stands for Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance, the official name for the Social Security Insurance program.  Read More