•August 3, 2016•

By Kim Riedel
NP Guest Columnist

July was a beautiful month as we enjoyed the coneflowers, hibiscus, lilies and other seasonal flowers blooming. The roses have continuously bloomed, and the butterfly bushes have been attracting butterflies.

Even through the extreme heat, the beauty of gardening is all around us. Our blackberry harvest was very bountiful…we have enjoyed the berries in smoothies and have collected about seven gallons for the freezer.

Tomatoes and peppers have been maturing, and I have enjoyed taking sliced peppers and cherry tomatoes to work as snacks to help pull me through the long 12 hour shifts.

We have been continuing to work on the garden and thin out some of the varieties. Thorned raspberries are being eliminated to be replaced by the thornless blackberries, and the low strawberry patches are being grassed to make maintenance easier.

Gardening is fun especially when you can test what is working and what isn’t and rearranging and trying out new plants. When I started my garden here in Sullivan, I was providing for a family of five kids and two adults…now that it is 10 years later, it isn’t as important to grow as much produce for just three of us.  Read More

•July 27, 2016•

Beef

Grand Champion Heifer- Case Bozdech, Camargo Champs, Camargo

Reserve Grand Champion Heifer – Luke Zimmerman, Camargo Champs, Camargo

Grand Champion Steer – Quentin Day, Sunny Side Flea Flickers, Lovington

Dairy Goats

Grand Champion Wether- Blair Monroe, Sunny Side Flea Flickers, Bethany

Reserve Grand Champion Wether- Amy Monroe, Sunny Side Flea Flickers, Bethany

Jr. Champion Doe- Amy Monroe, Sunny Side Flea Flickers, Bethany

Reserve Jr. Champion Doe- Amy Monroe, Sunny Side Flea Flickers, Bethany

Grand Champion Buck- Amy Monroe, Sunny Side Flea Flickers, Bethany  Read More

Grants help 120 cities, counties prepare for emergencies

•July 27, 2016•

Moultrie County received $17,250.97 in Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) grant money.

Grants totaling $4 million awarded by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) will help 120 accredited city and county emergency management agencies throughout Illinois support local disaster preparedness and response efforts. Read More

•July 27, 2016•

The Serve Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service (Commission) has announced approximately $9.2 million in Corporation for National and Community Service federal grants to almost 1,600 volunteers in 32 AmeriCorps programs to better serve Illinois communities. An additional $6.4 million will support education awards for the volunteers after their service is completed.

“This year we were able to leverage enough federal funds to expand AmeriCorps’ reach into new counties throughout the state,” said Serve Illinois Executive Director Scott McFarland. “AmeriCorps members work every day to support thousands of Illinoisans in need including 425,000 disadvantaged youth and 10,000 veterans and military family members. These volunteers are going to change the lives of hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans.” Read More

•July 27, 2016•

Mason Point presents Concert on the Lawn 6:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 3.

Entertainment featuring Mackville is free along with soda, water and popcorn. Read More