OVHS Dual Credit Program Expands

•August 9, 2017•

By Brody Sparks
for the News Progress

Dual credit programs allow students to earn college and high school credits simultaneously by participating in college level courses.

These courses are taught by high school teachers who are certified to instruct college classes. Okaw Valley High School is on the forefront of making these opportunities available to students.

“Okaw Valley High School is one of the leading schools in the area when it comes to dual credit offerings,” said OVHS principal Matt Shoaff. “Last year OVHS offered 50 hours of dual credit, and that increases to 65 for the 2017-2018 school year.”

Dual credit classes are available for Okaw Valley students in a variety of subjects including nine credit hours in agriculture, nine hours in business, 12 credit hours in English, 26 hours in math, six hours in social studies, and three hours in science. Generally, an associate’s degree requires 60 credit hours (around 20 college courses).  Read More

•August 2, 2017•

Moultrie County recorded the lowest non-seasonal unemployment rate in the area with 3.9 percent for June.

Moultrie’s unemployment rate in June 2016 was 4.2 percent, which was the lowest of 11 reporting counties in central Illinois.

Iriquois County was next lowest with 4.1 percent improving from 4.7 percent in 2016.

Douglas County improved one tenth of a percent over the 4.5 percent rate from 2016 to 4.4 percent in 2017.

Piatt County is 4.2 percent in June 2017 compared to 4.8 percent unemployment in 2016. Shelby County improved to 4.5 percent in June 2017 from 5.3 percent in June 2016.  Read More

•August 2, 2017•

The Okaw Valley High School band is working hard at band camp and is looking forward to a successful marching season. This year’s band is comprised of 34 students.

Teresa Colclasure is the band instructor. Drum majors are Connor Powers and Caleb Hildebrandt; David Hagerman, visual coordinator; Monica Maybell, color guard and Courtney Boyd, percussion.  Read More

•July 26, 2017•

City Administrator Dan Flannell reported that someone has been dumping major amounts of grease and cooking oil into the sewer system recently.

He said that an attempt was made to locate the source, but the city has been unable to do so; although, they do believe that it came from the north half of the city because the grease came from the west side of the sewer plant.  Read More