News Progress

•November 26, 2025•

The Hour House recently announced its commitment as a participant of the 2025 Gift Responsibly Campaign, joining lotteries and community organizations across North America and around the world to raise awareness about the risks of underage lottery use. The campaign is organized by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) and the International Center for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviors at McGill University.

Research shows that the earlier a person’s participation or exposure to gambling is in childhood, the more likely they are to develop a gambling problem later in life. Gambling exposure during childhood is often through some form of lottery product, such as lottery tickets or scratch-offs. Often, these items are given to a child by an adult who is unaware of the associated risks.

•November 26, 2025•

Silas Hortenstine, a Biological Sciences major from Gays, received the East Central Illinois Section of the American Chemical Society Outstanding Poster Award at the 10th Annual East Central Illinois ACS Undergraduate Research Conference on November 8th at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Hortenstine presented research conducted in the Beck Research Group. His project, supported by an NIH R15 AREA grant (R15GM152890), examines factors that affect carboxylesterase-mediated drug metabolism.

EIU prepares students to accomplish their life goals through a combination of quality academics, personal relationships, and both on-campus and online learning opportunities. For more information about Eastern Illinois University, including its broad array of academic and career readiness programs, or any of EIU’s other community-based services and opportunities, visit eiu.edu or call EIU’s public information office at (217) 581-7400.

•November 26, 2025•

Moultrie County has been issued a tentative property assessment equalization factor of 1.0000, according to David Harris, director of the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR). The property assessment equalization factor, often called the “multiplier,” is the method used to achieve uniform property assessments among counties, as required by law. This equalization is particularly important because some of the state’s 6,600 local taxing districts overlap into two or more counties (e.g., school districts, junior college districts, fire protection districts). If there were no equalization among counties, substantial inequities among taxpayers with comparable properties would result.

2015

“The checkbook currently has $7,169, 575.50 and all the funds are in the black,” stated Superintendent Ken Schwengel at the Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond School Board meeting. “The state aid payments are scheduled through December 20, but after the first of the year, I am not sure what will happen,” he stated. “We’ve not received 90% of the property taxes and have not received any incentive funding yet,” he added.

Varsity Scholastic Bowl had a tough night against the leaders of the CIC in St. Theresa and Warrensburg-Latham. The first match against W-L ended in a loss, 180-230. Grace Mauck led the team with five tossups, and Ryan Baker had two.

Nine Arthur-L/Atwood-Hammond FFA members traveled to Louisville, Kentucky, joining a record 65,173 FFA members, advisors, and guests from all fifty states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands attending the annual National FFA Convention.

•November 19, 2025•

Ready, aim, learn-the Moultrie-Douglas 4-H Shooting Sports Club is officially open and inviting youth to discover a world of skill, safety, and fun. Designed for ages 8-18, this hands-on program goes beyond marksmanship-it builds confidence, leadership, and lifelong outdoor appreciation. Whether curious about archery, rifle, pistol, or shotgun, participants train with nationally certified instructors in a supportive environment that emphasizes teamwork, responsibility, and ethical sportsmanship.