Law allows motorists to print receipt of purchase for soon-to-expire stickers
•February 23, 2022•
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White is reminding customers with license plate stickers expiring at the end of the month that they can renew online at ilsos.gov, print their receipt and keep that receipt in their vehicle to comply with Illinois law. Read More
•February 23, 2022•
Lake Land College will celebrate with graduates during an in-person Commencement ceremony on Friday, May 13, 2022 at 6 p.m. in the Field House.
“We are excited to gather together and recognize the accomplishments of our graduates in a traditional in-person Commencement,” Lake Land College President Josh Bullock said.
This will be the first in-person ceremony the college has held since 2019. Read More
•February 23, 2022•
The Illinois Department of Revenue has highlighted the Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral Program which allows qualified seniors to defer all or part of their property taxes and special assessment payments on their principal residences. Seniors needing assistance paying their property taxes have until March 1st to apply for the program.
The program, which works like a loan, allows qualified seniors to defer a maximum of $5,000 per tax year (including both first and second installment payments). Deferred amounts are borrowed from the State of Illinois, who pays the tax bill to the County Collector’s Office. Read More
•February 23, 2022•
Since February is American Heart Month, it’s the perfect time to refresh your memory on the warning signs of a heart attack. Prairie Cardiovascular and HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital encourage everyone to take a moment to learn what you should do if you or a loved one experiences heart attack symptoms.
Heart attacks aren’t always the swift and intense events that are portrayed on TV. As a result, some people may delay calling 911 because they don’t realize that what they’re feeling is a heart attack.
“Most heart attacks involve discomfort (felt in the center of the chest) that lasts more than a few minutes or comes and goes,” says Arti Singh, MD, a cardiologist with Prairie Cardiovascular. Many people describe it as pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain. Other discomfort not generally perceived as ‘pain’ may: Read More
•February 23, 2022•
Low-to-moderate income families and senior citizens needing assistance filing their 2021 income taxes can receive free help through several trusted programs across the State of Illinois. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program, and Ladder Up Tax Assistance Program are providing free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals in select locations statewide.
“With the tax filing deadline date of April 18 just around the corner, it is important for Illinois taxpayers to know that filing assistance is available,” said Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) Director David Harris. “Volunteers at these locations are certified by the IRS and ready to assist qualified individuals in filing their state and federal tax returns accurately and on time.”
How taxpayer assistance is provided and when services are available varies by region, based upon several variables including COVID-19 conditions and volunteer capacity. Read More
25 Years Ago This Week
Thirteen year old T.J. Wingard of Bethany spelled “pheasant” and “opportune” to clinch the Moultrie County Spelling Bee championship. Wingard was a seventh grader at Bethany. Second place in the competition went to Rachel Creviston, a 12 year old seventh grader from Lovington. The third winner was Lindsey Tull, a Sullivan eighth grader. Seventeen contestants from Sullivan, Lovington and Bethany public schools and New Life Academy in Sullivan participated in the bee. Read More
•February 16, 2022•
The Decatur Audubon Society (DAS) invites members and other interested persons to watch online its regular monthly meeting on Sunday, February 20, 2022. Due to COVID –19 resurgence, the DAS board has established a computer link (below) to watch the meeting. At 2:00 p.m. DAS President Melody Arnold will conduct a brief session of announcements then introduce the speaker, Jerry Culp, the new Executive Director of the Macon County Conservation District, MCCD, whose topic will be “Pothole Prairies and Seasonal Wetland Regions in Illinois.” Jerry will also briefly describe MCCD’s Vision for future years. Attendees may join our Zoom Meeting:
https://illinois.zoom.us/j/84225405885?pwd=R0UvdWlBUERXTDhyNFZsb0pBdkhTdz09; Meeting ID: 842 2540 5885, Password:943876
•February 16, 2022•
With statewide COVID-19 hospitalization rates declining faster than any other point in the pandemic, Illinois is on track to lift the statewide indoor mask requirement on Monday, February 28, 2022. Mask requirements will continue where federally mandated, such as on public transit and in high-risk settings including healthcare facilities and congregate care. Masking requirements will also continue to apply in all daycare settings. The state intends to continue masking requirements in P-12 schools subject to pending litigation which impacts a number of schools. As the CDC reaffirmed just today, masks remain a critical tool to keep schools safe and open. Read More
•February 16, 2022•
The Business Navigator Alliance of Clark, Coles, Crawford, Edgar, Effingham and Moultrie Counties is providing a series of webinars to assist businesses in the region in accessing resources that can help stimulate recovery and provide support as the economy rebounds from the pandemic.
The second webinar in the series will provide business owners with a roadmap to navigating programs and resources the State of Illinois has made available to help businesses reach the next level.
The webinar will be held Thursday, February 24 at 2 PM with the following presenters. Read More
•February 16, 2022•
9th grade Straight A’s: Grey Brault, Annabelle Cheatham, Regan Coleman, Keegan Collins, Chase Creviston, Aly Douglass, Seth Forlines, Reese Nichols, Lindsey Ozier, Maddox Petrucha, Jorja Plummer, Ella Roley, Amelia Shonkwiler, Grady Sparks, Ivy Williams.
9th grade High Honorsa: Benjamin Brown, Zachary Duran, Hayden Foster, Cameron George, Ulrich Harshman, Robert Himes, Luke Jones, Jaylynne O’Dell, McKenna Phelps, Landyn Porter, Alex Ravellette, Carson Rucker, Reagan Russell, Parker Spellman.
9th grade Honors: Kalie Alsup, Rase Bennett, Chase Cole, Daisy Cribbet, Riely Duran, Jazmynn Hubbell, Destini Jacobs, Raeleigh Mills, Camden Mitchell, Sydney Reynolds, Alayna Roe, Julia Schrock, Autumn Shinn, Lydia Webner. Read More