IEMA Weather Alert Radio Contest

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Recent tornadoes highlight the need for warning devices

•March 23, 2016•

Nearly 50 weather warnings were issued the evening of March 15 across the northern half of Illinois, including 19 tornado warnings. Several tornado touchdowns were reported, resulting in damage to dozens of structures. Fortunately, it appears no serious injuries or deaths resulted from the storms.

James K. Joseph, director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA), said the severe weather outbreak serves as a vivid reminder that people need to have a way to receive severe weather warnings any time of the day or night, such as with a weather alert radio. Joseph added that Illinois residents currently have an opportunity to win one of 100 weather alert radios to be awarded through an online contest. Read More

Remember When? 3-23-2016

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Compiled by Bekki Ferguson-Stevens

25 Years Ago This Week

Two Millikin sophomores from Bethany are officers at the MU chapter of Alpha Tau Omega social fraternity. Corey Burrows was recently elected membership chair and Jeremie Smith was chosen to be social chair. Burrows, the son of Chris Burrows of Bethany, is a sophomore education major, while Smith, the son of Bill and Kathy Smith of Bethany, is a pre-physical therapy major. Both are 1989 graduates of Bethany High School.

Connie Cook of Sullivan was named Female Driver of the Year at the Third Annual Coles County Dragway Awards Banquet held in February in Tuscola. Also receiving awards during the banquet were Jim Minor of Lovington and former Sullivan resident Randy Protz of Springfield. The top 10 finishers in each class received awards for points accumulated during the 1990 season. Protz earned fourth place in the super pro while Minor finished ninth. Cook tallied a third place finish in the street class.

Millikin junior Reid Molzen of Lovington was recently awarded a letter for his performance on the Big Blue basketball team. Molten was recognized by coach Joe Ramsey for excellent defense.

The undefeated Lady Redskins, this year’s Class A state basketball champs, were recently ranked 18th in USA Today’s national girls’ basketball poll.  Read More

Corn Grower Gets Second in State

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•March 23, 2016•

Aaron D. Gingerich of Lovington placed second in the state National Corn Yield Contest.

One of 407 state winners nationwide, Gingerich’s entry in the AA No-Till/Strip-Till Non-Irrigated Class yielded 288.401 bushels per acre.

The 2015 contest participation included 7,729 entries from 45 states. Of the state winners, 18 growers-three from each of six classes were named national winners. Read More

Online Auction for Unclaimed Property

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•March 23, 2016•

Live Auction March 28-April 1, Sale Preview Underway

Silver bars, gold coins, football cards and jewelry are among the 12,600 items worth $57,000 to be auctioned online March 28-April 1, Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs said today.

“We have more than one million items that we would like to return to their owners,” Frerichs said. “We consider auctions only after the items have been unclaimed for 10 years to make room for incoming items.”

Auction items include two 1927 St. Gaudens Double Eagle coins, a 10 troy oz. silver bar, vintage Trifari Crown Brooch, and football cards of Johnny Unitas, Bart Starr and YA Tittle.  Read More

OV Donkey Basket Ball 2016

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Stacie Hill

Stacie Hill

Bukunmi Adeloye

Bukunmi Adeloye

Misti Jones and Kent Stauder

Misti Jones and Kent Stauder

Craig Macklin

Craig Macklin

Maci Younger, Hudson Younger and Craig Macklin

Maci Younger, Hudson Younger and Craig Macklin

Kathy Yarnell

Kathy Yarnell

Kent Stauder and Andrew Fultz

Kent Stauder and Andrew Fultz

JT Bland

JT Bland

JT Bland

JT Bland

JT Bland and Ross Forlines

JT Bland and Ross Forlines

SBA Loan Deadline For Excessive Rain and Flooding Disaster Declaration Approaches

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•March 16, 2016•

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small aquaculture businesses and private nonprofit organizations in Illinois that April 12, 2016 is the deadline to apply for a working capital disaster loan due to excessive rain and flooding beginning on June 1, 2015.

The loans are available in all counties in Illinois except for Lake; the counties of Clinton, Des Moines, Jackson, Lee, Louisa, Muscatine and Scott in Iowa; and Cape Girardeau, Clark, Jefferson, Lewis, Lincoln, Marion, Mississippi, Perry, Pike, Ralls, Saint Charles, Saint Louis, Saint Louis City, Sainte Genevieve and Scott in Missouri.

“When the Secretary of Agriculture issues a disaster declaration to help farmers recover from damages and losses to crops, the Small Business Administration issues a declaration to eligible entities affected by the same disaster,” said Frank Skaggs, director of SBA’s Field Operations Center East in Atlanta. Read More

Okaw Valley February Students

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Photos furnished

Photos furnished

•March 16, 2016•

Okaw Valley February students of the month are junior Brianna Casias, daughter of Paula Clardy and Jamie Casias and senior Nic Brown, son of Mari Brown.

Casias plans to graduate in December of 2016 and then attend Lake Land College for two years before transferring to St. John’s in Springfield for a nursing degree.

Brown’s plans include going to Lake Land College to get a degree in broadcasting.