•March 30, 2016•
Movie night is at Mason Point at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 7.
Inside Out is the feature presentation. Disney Pixar presents an inventive animated film that takes moviegoers on a journey from the Inside Out to discover the emotional roller coaster in side their heads.
Everyone is invited to enjoy drinks and popcorn provided by Mason Point. Read More
•March 23, 2016•
SBL Lincolnland Home Care and Lincolnland Hospice will conduct a free blood pressure clinic from 8:30-9 a.m. Thursday, April 21 in the Senior Center in Sullivan. For more information, call Lincolnland Home Care at 1-800-879-3212. Read More
•March 23, 2016•
The 27th Annual Deer Hunt for People with Disabilities hosted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Wolf Creek State Park will be held November 18-20.
Applications are available for pickup at the Lake Shelbyville Project Office, online at http://tinyurl.com/LakeShelbyville-Hunting, or mail by contacting the Environmental Stewardship Department at 217-774-3951 Ext. 7049. Read More
Photo Furnished
Pictured are ALAH FFA Members who competed in Section 17 Proficiency Awards held at Parkland College February 20. (L to R) Zane Crist, Janette Comstock and Josiah Kinert
•March 23, 2016•
Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond FFA members competed in the Section 17 FFA Proficiency Awards held at Parkland College Feb. 20.
Local members competed against other FFA members from Section 17 in a wide variety of proficiency areas. The following students competed in proficiencies: Josiah Kinert in Diversified Crop Production Placement, Oil Crop Production Placement, Grain Production Placement, and Turf Grass Management; Zane Crist in Poultry Production; Janette Comstock in Grain Production Entrepreneurship and Jordan Jent in Veterinary Science. Jent was unable to attend due to personal training for the Marine Corps, but her book was sent to the competition.
Hard work, program knowledge, and excellent record keeping skills led to three Members winning their record book areas were Comstock in entrepreneurship; Jent in veterinary science, and Kinert in diversified crop production placement.
Maj. Gen. Richard Hayes Jr., The Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard, speaks to a delegation of rape crisis center workers during the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault (ICASA) workshop March 17 in Springfield, Illinois. Hayes signed a memorandum of understanding between the Illinois National Guard and ICASA to help coordinate efforts to provide service members who are victims of sexual assault the necessary resources and care.
(U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Aaron Ritter, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs)
•March 23, 2016•
The Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard, Maj. Gen. Richard Hayes Jr., spoke to members of the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault (ICASA), and signed a memorandum of understanding with the local crisis center during a workshop March 17 in the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Springfield.
Nearly 50 ICASA members from crisis centers across Illinois attended the event where Hayes discussed sexual assaults in the Illinois National Guard and the combined efforts to combat it. Hayes and crisis center directors signed memorandums of understanding to establish a mutual relationship that benefits service members who are victims of sexual assault.
“Preventing sexual assault and sexual harassment and responding to the needs of the victims is a significant challenge to our organization,” Hayes said to the ICASA attendees. “The Illinois National Guard’s relationship with your organization is critical to our effort to create a culture that is free of sexual harassment and ends sexual assaults within our ranks.” Read More
•March 23, 2016•
Moultrie County continues to beat the state unemployment rates for east central Illinois.
Labor bureau statistics show Moultrie County with a 5.8% unemployment rate increased from 4.6% a year ago.
Douglas County next door runs second at 6.4% in a tie with McLean County.
Sangamon County is up to 6.6% for third.
Coles County jumped to 7.5% in 2016 from 6.4% a year ago. DeWitt County was 7.6%, Clark County 7.8% along with Iroquois.
Edgar County jumped to 8.1% from 6.9% a year ago with Macon County having the highest area unemployment rate at 8.7% up from 7.8% last year.
Area employers advertised for 4,800 positions in January and approximately 83 percent sought full-time employment, according to Help Wanted OnLine data compiled by the Conference Board, which is a global, independent business membership and research association. Numerous job opportunities were available in Transportation, Health Care, Sales, and Office Support Occupations at the beginning of 2016. Read More
Recent tornadoes highlight the need for warning devices
•March 23, 2016•
Nearly 50 weather warnings were issued the evening of March 15 across the northern half of Illinois, including 19 tornado warnings. Several tornado touchdowns were reported, resulting in damage to dozens of structures. Fortunately, it appears no serious injuries or deaths resulted from the storms.
James K. Joseph, director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA), said the severe weather outbreak serves as a vivid reminder that people need to have a way to receive severe weather warnings any time of the day or night, such as with a weather alert radio. Joseph added that Illinois residents currently have an opportunity to win one of 100 weather alert radios to be awarded through an online contest. Read More
Compiled by Bekki Ferguson-Stevens
25 Years Ago This Week
Two Millikin sophomores from Bethany are officers at the MU chapter of Alpha Tau Omega social fraternity. Corey Burrows was recently elected membership chair and Jeremie Smith was chosen to be social chair. Burrows, the son of Chris Burrows of Bethany, is a sophomore education major, while Smith, the son of Bill and Kathy Smith of Bethany, is a pre-physical therapy major. Both are 1989 graduates of Bethany High School.
Connie Cook of Sullivan was named Female Driver of the Year at the Third Annual Coles County Dragway Awards Banquet held in February in Tuscola. Also receiving awards during the banquet were Jim Minor of Lovington and former Sullivan resident Randy Protz of Springfield. The top 10 finishers in each class received awards for points accumulated during the 1990 season. Protz earned fourth place in the super pro while Minor finished ninth. Cook tallied a third place finish in the street class.
Millikin junior Reid Molzen of Lovington was recently awarded a letter for his performance on the Big Blue basketball team. Molten was recognized by coach Joe Ramsey for excellent defense.
The undefeated Lady Redskins, this year’s Class A state basketball champs, were recently ranked 18th in USA Today’s national girls’ basketball poll. Read More
•March 23, 2016•
Aaron D. Gingerich of Lovington placed second in the state National Corn Yield Contest.
One of 407 state winners nationwide, Gingerich’s entry in the AA No-Till/Strip-Till Non-Irrigated Class yielded 288.401 bushels per acre.
The 2015 contest participation included 7,729 entries from 45 states. Of the state winners, 18 growers-three from each of six classes were named national winners. Read More
•March 23, 2016•
Live Auction March 28-April 1, Sale Preview Underway
Silver bars, gold coins, football cards and jewelry are among the 12,600 items worth $57,000 to be auctioned online March 28-April 1, Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs said today.
“We have more than one million items that we would like to return to their owners,” Frerichs said. “We consider auctions only after the items have been unclaimed for 10 years to make room for incoming items.”
Auction items include two 1927 St. Gaudens Double Eagle coins, a 10 troy oz. silver bar, vintage Trifari Crown Brooch, and football cards of Johnny Unitas, Bart Starr and YA Tittle. Read More