Photo by Crystal Reed.
Backyard Bird Count
The Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library held a program last Thursday and Friday afternoon to educate visitors on birds and draw attention to the Backyard Bird Count which is taking place February 12-15. The library had various bird themed activities including painting a birdhouse from a repurposed 2 liter bottle. There were also stations that had bird beak simulations of a variety of birds including sparrows, woodpeckers, hawks, shorebirds and hummingbirds. According to www.birdcount.org, participating in the Backyard Bird Count involves simply watching birds for 15 minutes or more once over the four day period and submitting your observation list online at the website. Pictured above is Sammie Davison painting a bird house during the program.

Photo by R.R. Best
Fuel Plant Fire
Windsor Fire Department was paged at 8:50 pm Monday night to respond to the FS Bulk Fuel Plant, west of Gays. When the department arrived, the fire was fully involved and they called for mutual aid for extra water. They used water for extinguishing part of the fire and the rest of the fire was put out using foam. Departments that responded to the fire were Sullivan, Lincoln, Wabash, Neoga, Mattoon, Findlay and Strasburg. The cause of the fire is currently unknown. Crews were on scene until 2 am.

Photo submitted
Dumping Tires
Recently John Durbin discovered that about 75 tires had been dumped in a drainage ditch in Sullivan Township. Last week through the cooperation of the Sullivan Township and Neal Tire in Sullivan, Township Highway Commissioner Richard Rutledge, operator Matt Elder and volunteers Joe and Mark Kuhns cleared out the drainage ditch using a backhoe with a thumb and loaded the tires into a truck. Neal Tire volunteered to dispose of the tires that were removed from the ditch.

Photo by R.R. Best
Snow Sledding
The Pratt family spent their snow day sledding at Greenhill Cemetery.

Photo by Bobbi Wiseman / Memorial Health System
2021 Decatur Memorial Hospital First Baby
Carson and Rosario Hiser of Bethany hold their first-born child, Luke Martin, the first baby of 2021 born at Decatur Memorial Hospital. Luke arrived at 7:25 p.m. Jan. 1, weighing 7 pounds and 12 ounces and was 21 inches in length.