•August 13, 2025•

Submitted by Cheri Burcham

U of I Illinois Extension Educator

There is increasing evidence that being in and around nature can benefit humans physically and mentally. There is also more research showing how mindfulness techniques can be beneficial to a person’s well-being.

A group of Illinois Extension staff, consisting of horticulture and family life educators and Master Gardeners, and Naturalists EPCs, formed an interdisciplinary workgroup called “Wellness in Nature.” This workgroup has been developing materials and a curriculum that focuses on how green spaces, gardens, and nature benefit your overall well-being.

by DM Williamee 

•July 30, 2025•

On Tuesday, July 22nd, Linda Henry from the Moultrie County Soil and Water Conservation District provided a fun and educational water conservation activity for local youth at the Lovington Library, focused on water conservation. Mrs. Henry used a terrarium-building project to demonstrate water conservation, hands-on. Many of the youth have been learning about space, and Mrs. Henry shared the mnemonic “My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nachos” (which elicited smiles and giggles) to help the children remember the order of the planets in our solar system: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Those present were eager to ask questions, share their thoughts on the subject, and discuss what they had learned. All were especially excited to build their terrariums. 

•July 16, 2025•

by DM Williamee

Last Friday, July 11th at the Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library in Sullivan, participants in the library’s summer reading program arrived to enjoy their reward for completing five weeks of their reading logs: a foam and slime party. Laughing, joyful children could be found lounging in the foam bed, chasing bubbles or slinging slime into the air or at each other. The colorful slime adorned clothing, skin and hair, with one young lady exclaiming, “I’m a frog!” Parents stood nearby grinning and supervising the festivities as slime flew and bubbles abounded - with towels and clean-up supplies on hand. It was a hot day, so the final clean up at the end with the garden hose was a welcome cooling off for all.

Moultrie County Board member; Special Prosecutor assigned

•July 2, 2025•

by DM Williamee

On Thursday, June 26, 2025, Scott L. Buxton, 58, of Bethany, was charged in Moultrie County for Possession of Child Pornography. Illinois State Police (ISP) received a CyberTip related to suspicious internet activity linked to a Gmail account. Upon further investigation, ISP connected the Gmail email account and associated IP address to Buxton. Within online accounts, multiple images depicting child pornography were discovered. ISP learned that Buxton and Tyler Scott, age 26, formerly of Dalton City, engaged in communications that included requests for and transmission of images and videos containing child pornography. Investigation by ISP is ongoing. Tyler Scott was arrested by ISP on June 25, 2025, for offenses including Child Pornography and Grooming. He is being held in custody after a detention hearing conducted on June 26, 2025. He next appeared in court on June 30, 2025, for a preliminary hearing. Due to a conflict of interest arising from Mr. Buxton serving on the Moultrie County Board, the Moultrie County State’s Attorney’s Office recused itself. Jesse Danley, Coles County State’s Attorney, was appointed as a Special Prosecutor to oversee the prosecution of Buxton. 

Arthur’s Freedom Celebration

•June 18, 2025•

The Arthur Rotary Club, along with the whole community of Arthur, will roll out the red, white, and blue carpet as they welcome thousands of visitors on Saturday, June 28th, for the annual Freedom Celebration downtown and in Jurgens Park (the Moultrie-Douglas County fairgrounds).

The celebration has two parts, with a parade downtown and the Arthur Rotary fireworks in the park south of the high school.

Two special 6-horse hitches will once again be featured in this year’s parade. The first team is Tim Berry of Villa Grove, and the second is Duane Herschberger from Missouri. They will trot through the parade route just before the parade, stepping off at 2:00 pm, and then will make another pass towards the end of the parade at a walk. Both hitches are sponsored by Tri-County Welding of Arthur.