News Progress

Tick prevention and awareness are essential

•June 4, 2025•

by Angela Hogan

When the weather warms up, ticks become more active. These tiny pests may be small, but the diseases they carry are significant. Tick awareness is essential for protecting yourself, your family, and your pets from potentially dangerous tick-borne illnesses. 

Why Tick Awareness Matters: Ticks can transmit diseases to humans through their bite. Diseases routinely found in Illinois tick populations include Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Each of these illnesses begins with mild flu-like symptoms but can lead to long-term complications if not treated promptly. To protect yourself from ticks, it’s imperative to understand when and where ticks are most active. The following information will help you reduce your risk and enjoy the outdoors.

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2015

Lefty Devon Still had a game to remember Tuesday night in Champaign, pitching all seven innings to tally 14 punch-outs and earning his 11th victory on the season. Still also drove home the game-winning run in, walk-off fashion, sending Okaw Valley to the team’s first final four state qualifier.

Following the county board’s amendment of the zoning ordinance to allow for special use permits for zoos, one such application was filed. Aikman Wildlife, LLC. filed their application on May 15, requesting a special use permit for a zoo for a tract of property located one mile west of The Great Pumpkin Patch, southwest of Arthur.

At their monthly meeting in May, the Sullivan school board accepted the resignation of middle and high school show choir director Connie Mulligan, who also served as the elementary school teacher. Mulligan had been with the district for five years. 

As Amazon’s great text stats had calculated, the average length of a book is around 64,000 words. But for Lovington seventh grader Joshua Zander, that’s hardly a big deal. And he would know.

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•May 28, 2025•

The sign-up deadline for the “Sign up for Summer Reading” program is June 30th; stop in and get signed up before time runs out to participate in this fun and educational program.

June 2nd, 16th, and 30th - Needle night from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. If you would like to learn to crochet, knit, needlepoint, or sew, participants are there who can help. If you already sew and want to commune, come join the group. 

June 3rd - Story time from 10:00 to 10:30 a.m. This month, we will be reading “My Dad” by Anthony Brown and singing songs.

June 6th - Kids craft time from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. This month, we will be making Father’s Day Cards. 

Who’s Here?

•May 28, 2025•

by Janet Roney

First, it was one dog; then two; then three more. Soon, every dog in town was barking. I guess hikers don’t often walk through Allenville. 

We were a curious sight as our family trudged along the old Charleston Road on our hike to Mat-toon. Our backpacks, topped with sleeping bags and a tent, towered over our heads; canteens clat-tered at the kids’ sides; and a stuffed animal peered out of a pocket in Cynthia’s pack. 

A dozen men and boys were milling about or leaning on a car in a yard ahead of us. More were draped over the fenders, peering under the hood. All held an open beverage can except for the man who was actually working on the engine with a wrench. When we got even with them, they spotted us. Their banter and laughter stopped.

•May 28, 2025•

If you are having trouble finding room in your budget to send your child to camp this summer, CEFS has Youth Summer Scholarships available for families who qualify based on income guidelines. These scholarships cover the costs of camps such as dance, acting, art, sports, cheer, and swimming.

Income-eligible families can apply by visiting their local CEFS office and picking up and completing an application. Required information: proof of 30-day gross income for all household members, state ID for the parent/guardian submitting the application, Social Security cards for all household members, and camp registration form and information that reflects the cost of the camp. Participants will also have to provide verification of completion of the camp once it has concluded. Income guidelines based on family size and gross monthly income are as follows: