News Progress

•November 30, 2022•
Though retailers may begin playing holiday tunes shortly after Halloween, for many people, no date on the calendar marks the beginning of the holiday season better than the day they pick up their Christmas tree.
There are many different ways to acquire a Christmas tree. Some people prefer artificial Christmas trees that can be stored and taken out each year. Others make a yearly expedition to a tree lot or a Christmas tree farm to find the perfect fir or spruce. Historians believe a man named W.V. McGallard planted 25,000 Norway spruce seedlings at his Mercer County, New Jersey farm in 1901, essentially establishing the first commercial Christmas tree farm. By 1908, customers could visit the farm and choose trees for $1 each. McGallard helped create an entirely new industry that now accounts for 350 million trees being grown and sold in the United States every year. Read More

25 Years Ago This Week

Rebekah Boddy and Wes Barlow were named the DAR and SAR award winners at Lovington High School. Students selected by DAR demonstrate outstanding qualities of leadership dependability, service and patriotism in their school, at home and in their community. SAR winners demonstrate dependability, as evidenced by the record of punctuality, truthfulness, honesty, loyalty, trustworthiness and self control; cooperation as evidenced by the record in respect for authority, property, the rights of others and courtesy; leadership as evidenced by what the pupil has done to make the school a better school; and patriotism, as evidenced by loyalty to and a knowledge of the purpose expressed in the preamble of the Constitution of the United States. Read More

•November 23, 2022•
For the 30th year, the Coles County Barbershop Chorus (CCC) will present two concerts on Sunday, December 4th. The first performance will start at 3 pm at Wesley United Methodist Church, 2206 4th Street in Charleston and the second concert starts at 7 pm at the United Christian Church, 200 E Lafayette in Mattoon. The 30 man chorus with three quartets and two ensembles will present the free one hour program with secular songs like Jingle Bells and spiritual songs such as Go Tell It On the Mountain, Carol of the Bells, Drummer Boy and O Holy Night. Several area men will join the chorus in singing a medley of Christmas favorites. Read More

•November 23, 2022•
By Cheri Burcham
Family Life Educator

With the anticipation of the holidays, there can also be that feeling of dread – how are you going to get everything done on an already busy schedule? For many people, the extensive preparations they engage in to pull off those picture-perfect holidays create so much stress, that they can’t even enjoy themselves. The “picture-perfect” part is where much of the stress originates from. Many of us want everything to be “just right” and try to pattern our holiday plans with visions of TV specials, Norman Rockwell prints, and Martha Stewart magazine pictorials in our heads. To easily prevent part of the stress is to forget about perfection and unrealistic expectations. Acknowledge that this time of year can get very hectic, and that in real life, things won’t be and don’t have to be perfect. Set realistic goals for what you can accomplish. This will include the practice of saying “no” to working on certain projects or activities, delegating tasks or allowing family members to volunteer their help, and reconsidering your holiday schedule to determine which activities or traditions should be continued. If an activity is more hassle than it is enjoyable, it may not be worth doing. Read More

•November 23, 2022•
Lung cancer continues to be one of the most common cancers worldwide, claiming more lives yearly than breast, colon and prostate cancers combined.
Many people consider lung cancer a “smoker’s disease” as well as assume it is mostly a cancer found in men. However, while it is true that smoking is the top cause of lung cancer by a large margin, approximately 15 to 20% of cases in the U.S. happen in people who have never smoked or have smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes in their life. Being exposed to secondhand smoke can play a part, as nonsmokers have a 20 to 30% greater chance of developing lung cancer if they are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work. Other factors may include radon, occupational exposures to carcinogens and outdoor air pollution. Read More