•February 10, 2016•

While the current budget delay has made this a challenging time for higher education in Illinois, financial aid is available to help make college possible for Illinois students—if they apply for it. As part of Financial Aid Awareness Month, students are reminded to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)—the form that determines a student’s eligibility for most federal, state, and college financial aid programs. The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), the state agency that works with students and families year-round to increase college access, is offering a host of free workshops and other assistance to assist students in completing the form as soon as possible.

“In the 2014-15 school year, students in Illinois received more than $1.5 billion in state and federal aid for college,” said Eric Zarnikow, executive director of ISAC. “We know that the delay in funding the state’s Monetary Award Program (MAP) for the 2015-16 school year has created significant uncertainty for students and schools, but if students want to be considered for almost any form of financial aid, they should not delay in filing their FAFSAs for the upcoming school year.”

The 2016-17 FAFSA became available on January 1, 2016, and ISAC has been recommending to students that they file as soon as possible after that date. Here’s why: Read More

Photos Submitted
Pictured above are OV students Hannah Landreth and Garrett Tippit.

•February 10, 2016•

January students of the month At Okaw Valley are sophomore Hannah Landreth, daughter of Justin and Tai Landreth and freshman Garrett Tippit, son of Fred Tippit. Landreth is involved in Drama Club, Art Club, Science Club, FFA and is press secretary of Student Council, treasurer of FCCLA and treasurer of the sophomore class. She is also a member of the Lady Timberwolves basketball team.

Tippit is involved in FFA and is a member of the baseball and bass fishing teams. He is also one of the Timberwolf mascots.

•February 3, 2016•

Tax return and home-buying seasons are just around the corner, but saving enough money to qualify for a mortgage is one of, if not the, biggest barriers to buying a home.

Through the 502 Direct Single Family Housing Loan program, USDA Rural Development helps low income individuals and families purchase a home with 100% financing. As homeownership grows, rural communities across Illinois are strengthened.

Nancy had no idea where she would get the money for a down payment on a home. She and 256 other families around Illinois in FY2015, qualified for and purchased a home with 100% financing – a reality that would not have been possible for them without the Direct Single Family Loan program.

Rural housing loan funds are also available for qualifying families and individuals to build or rehabilitate a modest home in rural areas. Read More

Photo Submitted
Dr. Martha Placeres

•February 3, 2016•

The Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra (MDSO) will continue its 2015-16 performance season at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6 in Kirkland Fine Arts Center.

The performance on Feb. 6 is the first of two guest-conducted concerts featuring one of the finalists for the position of music director and conductor of the MDSO. The guest conductor on Feb. 6 is Dr. Martha Placeres.

The concert will also feature performances from Millikin student soloists Kyle Johnson (piano), a junior vocal music education major from Hanover Park; John Robinson (trombone), a sophomore music performance major from Bloomington; and Abigail Karnes (soprano), a senior vocal performance major from Kearney, Mo. The students were named winners of Millikin’s annual Concerto/Aria Competition in Oct. 2015.

The concert will open with Sibelius’ “Finlandia.” Kyle Johnson will be the featured soloist on Mendelssohn’s “Piano Concerto No. 1,” while John Robinson will perform on Ferdinand David’s “Concertino for Trombone.” Abigail Karnes will be the featured soloist on Weber’s “Kommt ein schlanker Bursch,” Duparc’s “L’Invitation au voyage,” and Gounod’s “Ah! Je veux vivre.” Following an intermission, the MDSO will conclude the concert with a performance of Dvořák’s “Symphony No. 8.”

Dr. Martha Placeres is currently the orchestra director at Washburn University and performs as a violinist in chamber music in Mexico and the United States. Read More

•February 3, 2016•

The American Red Cross and the Sullivan American Legion will sponsor a blood drive at the Legion noon- 6 p.m. March 8. Blood supplies are critically low at this time, and every eligible donor is needed.

This drive will be dedicated and hosted in honor of two wonderful Red Cross volunteers who have recently passed. Nancy Park had been a greeter for the drives at the Legion for many years.

She spent countless hours getting donors signed in and ready to donate.  Read More