Extension Strengthens Ties to Central Illinois Communities with New County Director

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•February 2, 2022•
By Emily Steele
Media Communications  Coordinator Illinois Extension

Across the state, University of Illinois Extension staff stationed in county offices strive to meet families, businesses, and communities where they are and provide solutions to local issues.
In January, Illinois Extension welcomed new County Extension Director Jessie McClusky to Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Moultrie, and Shelby counties.
“Jessie brings with her tremendous experience in building networks and partnerships and utilizing those partnerships to fund programs,” says Doug Harlan, Illinois Extension interim regional director for southern Illinois. Read More

1099-G Tax Forms Available

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•February 2, 2022•
1099-G tax forms are now available for claimants who received unemployment insurance (UI) benefits in 2021, the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today. Claimants who collected UI benefits last year need the 1099-G tax form from IDES to complete their state and federal tax returns. Also called Form 1099-G, Certain Government Payments, this form is necessary for individuals who received state or federal UI benefits. Read More

Archeology Talk Focuses on Early Native American Cultures in Illinois

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•February 2, 2022•
An upcoming Prairie’s Edge Master Naturalists event will give attendees the opportunity to learn about early Native American cultures in Illinois through archeological information.
The Master Naturalists have arranged for Fred Christensen, president of the East Central Illinois Archeological Society, to present “Illinois Archeology, An Overview” at 6 p.m. Feb. 8 at the Douglas-Hart Nature Center in Mattoon. The Master Naturalists program is part of University of Illinois Extension.
People have lived in Illinois for 12,000 years, and archaeology provides most of the information about them for all but the last four centuries. Christensen’s talk will provide a survey of those millennia before written history. Read More

A Lass, I Knew Her Well

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•February 2, 2022•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer

Mark Ludwig is a Daily Herald (this newspaper’s mother ship) alumnus who now is a journalism professor at Cal State-Sacramento.
He posts on Facebook more than I could ever find time to, but those posts often remind me why I stuck with putting out a newspaper instead of teaching others to do it.
Mark’s posts are often very funny — as are the responses he gets.
“Here’s one I haven’t seen before,” he wrote, “‘a lass’ instead of ‘alas.’”
Ah, he speaketh my language.
Here is a look at some of the responses he received:
“Don’t be too hard on them,” Dave Zuckerman replied. “After all, it’s a doggy dog world.”
Michael Althouse responded: “For all intensive purposes.” Read More

Remember When? 2-2-2022

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25 Years Ago This Week

Amanda Norris, an eighth grade student in the Lovington Grade School, won the school-level competition in the National Geography Bee when she answered oral questions on geography. The win gave her the opportunity to compete for a $25,000 scholarship. Ashley Hoh, a seventh grader, finished second, Michael Clark, a sixth grader, was third and B.K. Buxton, a seventh grader, came in fourth.
Sullivan officials welcomed Dr. Craig Bretz, a chiropractor, to his new practice at 3 W. Jefferson in downtown Sullivan. Read More

Lovington Grade School Honor Roll

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•January 26, 2022•

6th grade Straight A’s: Jonah Burket, Jansen Burnett, Norma Mendoza, Isabella Menna, Teagan Murphy, Lincoln Scroggins.
6th grade Honor Roll: Elizabeth Fitzgerald, Makenna Liming, Zeb Peck.
7th grade Straight A’s: Maxton Boddy, Morgan Casteel, Samantha Fowler, Brynlee Moore, Caleb Menna, Joshua Taylor, John Williams
7th grade Honor Roll: Jacob Ayer, Kole Binder, Tucker Casteel, Jaidyn Edwards, Landen Franklin, Emilee Waldrop.
8th grade Straight A’s: Daylon Doggett, Skyler Grham, Cash Hale, Cruz Hale, Steven Harris, Will Hilligoss, McKenzie Tendick, Halle Wardrip.
8th grade Honor Roll: Kayden Allen, Cale Kreher, Dalilah Mendoza, Kori Rich, Alyssa Richards, Cambrie Smith.

Sullivan Dance Studio’s Competition Team Hosts Preview Showcase

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Photo submitted
Sullivan Dance Studio’s Competition Team Hosts Preview Showcase
Sullivan Dance Studio hosted their annual Preview Showcase at Sullivan High School on Sunday,January 16. Friends, family and the public were invited to attend. Competition season for the team begins in just a few weeks. This year’s team members include: Pearl Akins, Natalia Beals,Everlie Bragg, Gabrielle Carpenter, Addisyn Carter, Synthea Doss, Avery Florey, Adalee Foster, Sophie Foster, Claire Hampton, Lillian Hood, Aleena Ingram, Mara Inman, Gianna Krieger, Emma Lawrence, Mia Lovett, Elizabeth Owens, Addie Patterson, Avery Patterson, Aubrie Payne, Elizabeth Plank, Sadia Richardson, Macie Rodgers, Avery Smith, Alyssa Taylor, Hannah Taylor, Korry Thilker, Miah Voegel,Sarina Voegel, Wren Wall, Kylin Wehrle and Lyla Wright.

ALAH High Honors and Honor Roll Semester 1

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•January 26, 2022•
Freshmen High Honors: Mitiku Appleby, Ryan Appleby, Maggie Benedict, Calahan Binion, Kendall Carnahan, Mackenzie Condill, Layla Deel, Lilian Edwards, Sara Herschberger, Caitlyn Hoots, Jewelyonna Hutchcraft, Kori Klay, Matthew Miller, Emmalee Nall, Alayna Plank, Dylan Price, Alex Rexroad, Riley Robinson, Lindsay Rohacs, Ava Sherwood, Rialynn Slaughter, Michael Stirrett, Alek Stutzman, Andrew Stutzman, Danaysha Stutzman, Jacob Tighe, Addison Yeakel.
Freshmen Honor Roll: Brook Bolsen, Mackenley Bowles, Kayla Johnson, Brett Menna, Jessica Miller, Micaela Perez, Arik Stutzman, Skyler Vorck. Read More

Heating Equipment and Carbon Monoxide Safety

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•January 26, 2022•
Cold winter winds continue to bring a chill to the state meaning many Illinoisans will be turning up their thermostats to stay warm for the rest of the winter season. This also brings an increased risk for home fires and carbon monoxide incidents. Unlike smoke, carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas only detectable by special devices and CO alarms. The Office of the State Fire Marshal encourages residents to have their furnaces checked, change furnace filters and to make sure carbon monoxide (CO) and smoke detectors are functioning properly. Read More

2022 Illinois Tax Filing Season Began Jan. 24

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•January 26, 2022•
The Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) began accepting 2021 state individual income tax returns on Monday, January 24, 2022, the same date that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) began accepting federal individual income tax returns.
“We encourage taxpayers to file their taxes electronically and choose direct deposit, as early as possible in the tax season, to ensure the fastest processing and issuance of any refunds,” said IDOR Director David Harris. “Taxpayers may file their electronic returns for free with MyTax Illinois, our free online account management program. Electronic filing is also available through third party software or with most tax preparers.” Read More