News Progress

25 Years Ago This Week

It was no coincidence that State Rep. Julie Curry announced her re-election plans at a school. The Decatur Democrat made the announcement last week at Decatur’s Ida Coppenbarger Elementary School as a way of emphasizing her theme that public service is about creating a brighter and safer future for our children.
If you thought you saw Sullivan on national tv you were probably right. The traveling broadcasters from the FX national cable channel were due at Scot England’s home in Sullivan for a live satellite uplink to the channel’s Personal FX show, a program on collectibles. England’s extensive collection of memorabilia on boxer Muhammad Ali and daredevil Evel Knievel was the focus of the interview. Read More

•December 9, 2020•
By Capitol News Illinois

Hospitalizations for COVID-19 have fallen from their second-wave highs, but the death toll from the disease continues to mount.
While Gov. JB Pritzker said Monday he was encouraged by the trend in the 18 days since the state levied Tier 3 mitigations, he added, “the numbers still have a long way to go to move away from what could reasonably be called the danger zone.”
“In other words, the surge on top of a surge that national experts have said might define the holiday season is still the focus of our attention,” Pritzker said at his daily COVID-19 briefing in Chicago.
From Saturday through Monday, the state reported another 372 deaths, an average of 124 each day over the three-day span. The death toll surpassed 13,000 since the pandemic began, rising to 13,343 among 796,264 cases and 11.1 million test results reported.
Statewide, the rolling seven-day average case positivity rate was 10.3 percent Monday, the 15th straight day it has hovered between 10 and 11 percent.
At the end of Sunday, there were 5,190 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Illinois, an increase of 30 from the day prior. For the seven-day period ending Dec. 6, there were 5,484 people hospitalized each day on average. That’s a decrease of 461, or about 7.7 percent, from the week prior, the second week in a row the average decreased.
Approximately 28 percent of hospital beds remained open statewide, and Pritzker said COVID-19 hospitalizations are still 14 percent above spring highs. Read More

•December 9, 2020•

The holidays are here and that means many will be decorating their homes. Hanging up decorations is fun, but keep in mind, holiday decorations can increase your risk for a home fire. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) more than two of every five home decoration fires occur due to decorations being placed too close to a heat source. More than one-third of home decoration fires are started by candles. The NFPA also reports that US fire departments responded to an average of 780 home structure fires per year that began with decorations between 2013-2017.
More than half of home decoration fires in December are started by candles. Candle fires peak in December followed closely by January. The top three days for home candle fires are Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and New Year’s Eve. Before you head to bed or out for the evening, extinguish all lit candles.

•December 2, 2020•
For more than 60 years, Millikin University’s Vespers has signaled the start of the holiday season in central Illinois. With nearly 8,000 attendees each year, Vespers is one of Millikin’s most popular events, and the heartfelt mix of carols, choirs and candlelight has become a much-beloved tradition celebrating the community’s creativity and good cheer.
This year, Millikin University is inviting the community to join the holiday tradition, albeit in a slightly different form. On Saturday, Dec. 5, and Sunday, Dec. 6, the supremely talented Millikin students and faculty, who put so much into making Vespers soar, will do so again — virtually.
Vespers performances will be available for livestream viewing on Dec. 5 at 7 p.m., and Dec. 6 at 2 p.m. on Millikin University’s Facebook page (facebook.com/millikinuniversity), homepage (millikin.edu) and YouTube channel (youtube.com/millikinuniversity). Because of this year’s virtual format, no ticket purchase is required to attend. Read More

•December 2, 2020•
Lake Land College is accepting nominations for the Pacesetter Award, Retiree Wall of Fame, Distinguished Alumnus Award, Alumnus Achievement Award & Distinguished Alumni Society.All nominations for these listed awards are being accepted until February 1, 2021.
The Distinguished Service Award is presented to an individual whose exemplary service and contributions have benefited Lake Land College or its affiliated organizations. Current paid members of the faculty and staff and current members of the board of trustees are not eligible for this award.
Past Distinguished Service Award winners are Debbie Benefiel (2020), Kathleen Doehring (2019), Robert Luther (2018), Scott Lensink (2017), James Shaffer (2016), Robert Pancoast (2015), Max Jaeger (2014), Annette Lynch (2013), Gerald Forsythe (2012), John Livesay (2011), Rick Manuell (2010), Preston Smith (2009), Bob Willenborg (2008), Don Portugal (2007), Dwight Schilling (2006), Ann Bacon (2005), Susan Leach (2004), Anne Kabbes (2003), James Allee (2002), Roger Dettro (2001), Peter M. Bonutti (2000), Charles Adams (1999), Michael Yager (1998), James Bennett (1997), Tom Reedy (1996), R. Dale Adams (1995), Jack Schultz (1994), Consuello Luttrell (1993), George Mitchell (1992), Melvin Lockard (1991), Lowell Samuel (1990), Eugene Bauer (1989), William Podestá (1988), Jack Oberhill (1987), Floyd Curl (1985), Robert Johnson (1984), Virgil and Charlene Roberts (1983), Eddie Collings (1982) and William B. Hills (1981). Read More