Photo submitted
Coat Donation
The Bethany American Legion Post 507 and Auxiliary raised money throughout the year to purchase coats to donate to the VA Hospital. Last Tuesday, 32 coats were delivered to the VA Hospital in Danville. Pictured are Barb and Sam Scott with Jennifer Wells, a representative of the VA.
•December 23, 2020•
Billions of people across the globe need eyeglasses to drive a car, read a book, watch television, and perform a host of other tasks of daily life.
Although glasses are highly effective, people who wear them understand they may have to make a few concessions while doing so. Unlike contact lenses, which sit directly on the eye, glasses rest on the bridge of the nose. They may slightly impede peripheral vision or even slip down if not properly fitted. Those accustomed to wearing glasses in the cold weather understand fogging of the lenses is a nuisance they may be forced to confront. That nuisance became even more profound when masks became a must-have accessory to help curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Read More
COVID-19 death toll surpasses 15,000
•December 23, 2020•
By Sarah Mansur
Capitol News Illinois
Gov. JB Pritzker announced Friday that more than 17,000 doses of the first coronavirus vaccine have been administered to Illinois frontline health care workers outside of Chicago, up from 3,500 doses on Thursday.
Pritzker said Illinois hospitals could begin to receive shipments of a second COVID-19 vaccine, developed by the drug company Moderna, as early as next week. That announcement comes one day after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s advisory committee recommended the use of the Moderna vaccine in people ages 18 and older. The FDA on Friday evening granted Emergency Use Authorization for the Moderna vaccine.
The first vaccine, developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, received such authorization from the FDA last week. Read More
•December 23, 2020•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer
I’m sure you’ve been wondering where I fall on the whole Dr. Jill Biden kerfuffle.
I chose “kerfuffle” over “controversy” because it pairs so nicely with “malarkey.”
This issue caught fire a week ago when a regular contributor to The Wall Street Journal wrote an op-ed that suggests the first lady-to-be drop the “Dr.” title.
This elicited grenade-lobbing from various people and publications, even the Bidens.
Jill Biden has a doctorate in education. She went to grad school, she wrote a doctoral thesis, she earned her degree.
Joseph Epstein wrote his snarky op-ed in which he said the honorific is a “not unimportant matter.”
What a bunch of malarkey. Read More
•December 23, 2020•
Moultrie County has been issued a tentative property assessment equalization factor of 1.0000, according to David Harris, Director of Illinois Department of Revenue.
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. Read More
•December 23, 2020•
Lake Land College students graduating from the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program took part in a pinning ceremony Dec. 15. Each student received a nursing pin and a keepsake card.
When the students pass their NCLEX licensure exam, they will become Registered Nurses (RNs).
“We are all very proud of these students’ accomplishments,” Director of Nursing/Nursing Instructor Cheryl Beam said. “They worked so hard to get here, and we know they will continue to do great things in their futures.” Read More
Senior Peace Meal
For additional information or for reservations, please call 1-800-543-1770
Dec. 28 - Sausage in Gravy, Mini Potato Bakers, Fruit Juice, Biscuit, Warm Cinnamon Buttered Apples
Dec. 29 - Cheese Tortellini Alfredo, Peas, Kidney Bean Salad, Peanut Butter Cup, Whole Grain Wheat (1), Warm Fruit Cobbler
Dec. 30 - Saucy Cabbage Rolls, Corn , Broccoli, Whole Grain Wheat (1), Mandarin Oranges
Dec. 31 - Fried Chicken , Mashed Potatoes w/ Gravy, Italian Green Beans, Texas Toast, Cranapple Salad
25 Years Ago This Week
Seven 17-year-old Sullivan High School students either have been through part of their Army basic training or will be going through it shortly. They are: Rob Feeler, John Booker, Paul Eller, Darlene Chapranda, Patrick Ray, Katie Carlock and Brandi Uselman.
The Bethany school board approved a property tax levy that would bring as estimated 7.7 percent increase in revenue. The 1994 tax extension was $1,254,114 and the new tax levy would bring in an estimated $1,351,250 or an additional $97,136. The equalized assessed valuation of property in the school district is currently estimated at $27,202,000. Read More
•December 16, 2020•
Gingerbread cookies and houses are one of the many symbols of the holiday season, alongside Christmas trees and twinkling lights. In fact, few confections symbolize the holidays more so than gingerbread.
Many a child (or a child at heart) has spent hours carefully trying to create decorative gingerbread houses. Although gingerbread recipes span various cultures, gingerbread houses originated in 16th century Germany. The fairy tale ÒHansel and GretelÓ helped solidify the popularity of gingerbread, which became part of Christmas traditions. Read More
25 Years Ago This Week
Veteran Moultrie County State’s Attorney Paul Lee Stone is seeking to return to the office he held for 13 years. Stone announced that he will seek the Democratic nomination for State’s Attorney. Public defender Tim J. Willis has filed for the GOP nomination as Moultrie County state’s attorney. Gale Coil, a first term Democrat has not yet announced whether he will seek re-election.
The Lovington school board approved a $1,033,925 tax levy, representing a 6.4 percent revenue increase. The levy for taxes payable in 1996 includes revenue generated by increased assessed valuation and new construction.
The Little Theatre was preparing to present “A Starry Little Christmas”, the first holiday show in years at the theatre. The Little Theatre veterans that comprise the cast are Chuck Bell, Michael Ancheta, Shelley Jackson, Whit Reichert, Maria Jagger-Taylor, Aimee Eckhardt, Michael Haws and Tari Fitch.
The Lovington and Bethany boys basketball teams played going toe to toe. The Panthers beat the Mustangs 74-54.
The Redskins boys basketball team was beaten by Casey Westfield 59-57.
The Bethany Mustangs were defeated by Deland-Weldon 78-73.
Sullivan girls basketball hosted Normal U-High. Sullivan lost 49-38.
The home of Bert and Shirley Caspary was named first place holiday lighting winner. Other winners were second place-Dave and Cathy England and third place-Barb Wickline.
A local Amish family was featured in the Chicago Tribune in a page one feature story. The story focuses on Oba and Lorene Herschberger and their 13 children, a family which has opened its home near Sullivan to “wordly people”--the non-Amish—in order to help pay for their son Samuel’s large medical bills.
The Bethany Fillies girls basketball team was defeated by Cumberland 41-36.
The Lady Reds were defeated by St. Teresa 67-35.
Sullivan’s Genny Sutton was recently honored at Hezzy’s Bowl for 50 years of bowling.
50 Years Ago This Week
The Moultrie County farm, a 212 acre county property which is no longer used to house destitute persons, again became the battleground on which the Moultrie County Board of Supervisors, the Sullivan City Council and the Sullivan Chamber of Commerce conferred in seeking an airstrip in Moultrie County. Meeting with the Board of Supervisors at that latter’s regular session, a representation from the Sullivan City Council and the Chamber of Commerce sought to negotiate a lease on some 30 acres of the farm for the construction of an airstrip which would be operated by the city.
In a contest held at Windsor, the Sullivan High Redskins took their third defeat in a row at the hands of the Windsor Blue Devils by a 66 to 59 score.
Whether Moultrie County should continue a civil defense program was discussed by the Board of Supervisors in their regular meeting. After hearing Mrs. Darrell A. Maguire, Lovington civil defense director, tell of the program established in Lovington, the board referred the question to the legislative committtee. Mrs. Maguire told the board that through the program at Lovington, the village was able to purchase emergency equipment and supplies from government surplus at considerable savings. She cited a portable generator, which could be used when ice storms or other disasters cut off normal electrical resources as an example of equipment the village had procured.
Fredricka Webber, daughter of Mrs. Iris Webber and a niece of Jack Anderson, will be guest champagne lady on the Lawrence Welk tv show Dec. 17. She is a novelty vocalist and at present is appearing at the Black Pub at the Sheraton Towers in Chicago.
Final population counts of the Bureau of the Census show that there are 13,635 residents in Moultrie County, a 1.4 percent increase of 194 persons from the 13.441 recorded in the 1950 census. Population of the City of Sullivan for 1960 is listed as 3,946 a 10.3 percent increase of 506 persons from the 3,440 recorded in the 1950 count. The 1950 figure showed a 9.9 percent increase of 340 over the 1940 count of 3,100.
Paul Rauch’s herd of 14 registered Holstein cows led Moultrie County Dairy Herd Improvement Association for the month of November, according to the report of Tester Emerson Miller. The average monthly production per cow was 1,125 pounds of milk and 42.3 of butterfat. All of the Rauch cows were in milk during the month.[/s2If]