Remember When? 2-24-2016

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Compiled by Bekki Ferguson-Stevens

25 Years Ago This Week

Moultrie County was second in corn yield sweepstakes in Illinois in 1990 with a yield of of 146 bushels per acre according to the Illinois Cooperative Cooperative Crop Reporting Service.

More than 100 people participated in Moultrie County Homemakers Extension Assn. Day Feb. 21 at the Masonic Temple. Morning activities included self improvement presentations from Emilee Best of Merle Norman on makeup and Shirley Beck of Dr. Tom Best’s office on different types of eyewear. Participants learned about the history of the Little Theatre on the Square from Nancy Burcham during the afternoon program, and Debbie Seelhoefer sang numbers from the theatre’s upcoming season.

Sisters Sheila Smith of Sullivan and Brenda Vilmure of Bethany were among the 104 residents who donated blood at the Feb. 19 Red Cross blood drive in the Sullivan American Legion building. Eight people, most of them high school students gave blood for the first time.

It became official Monday, and they offered plenty of proof as to why Tuesday. Big plays around the basket have been part of Findlay’s style of basketball all season, and holding a number one in the air afterwards had become somewhat of a trademark for the Falcons. The Falcons jumped out to a 12 point lead early in the first quarter as Rob Mowry, Eric Smith and Shanon Cloyd took control of the game. Now 28-0 Findlay plays the winner in tonight’s Tuscola-Chrisman match-up on Friday in Tuscola. Read More

Bestselling Author Presents Samuels Lecture

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•February 17, 2016•

Robert D. Putnam, the Peter and Isabel Malkin Professor of Public Policy at Harvard University and bestselling author, will present the 2016 T.W. Samuels Lecture Wednesday, March 16.

The lecture will take place in Kirkland Fine Arts Center on Millikin University’s campus beginning at 7:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public; no tickets or reservations are required.

The topic of Professor Putnam’s presentation is “Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis.”

Beginning at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 16, Millikin University will host a “Conversation on Childhood Poverty” in Albert Taylor Theatre, on the second floor of Shilling Hall. The conversation will include a panel of community leaders from human service agencies, health care, Decatur Public Schools, businesses, and Grow Decatur as well as Professor Putnam. The conversation will explore why childhood poverty matters to all of us including its impact on schools, employers, neighborhoods, and the long-term future of Decatur. The conversation is free and open to the public. Read More

ALAH FFA Members Compete in Section 17 Public Speaking CDE

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Photo Submitted Pictured above are ALAH FFA members Makenna Green and Zane Crist.

Photo Submitted
Pictured above are ALAH FFA members Makenna Green and Zane Crist.

•February 17, 2016•

By: Keegan Morfey
ALAH FFA Reporter

Zane Crist and Makenna Green, competed in the Section 17 Public Speaking CDE, held at Monticello High School Jan. 13. Crist competed in junior varsity prepared public speaking and Green competed in creed speaking.

Crist’s speech was titled, “What’s Fowl about Proposition 2?” and dealt with the proposition that changes the amount of space that laying hens are required to have in commercial poultry production and why it is better for chickens to be in open cages.

He had to give the speech in front of a panel of three judges as well as answer any questions posed by the judges. He placed second in the section and will be competing in March at the District IV public speaking CDE.  Read More

Percussion Ensemble ‘Synergy’ Explores Music and Sports

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•February 17, 2016•

Millikin University’s Chamber Percussion Ensembles will present its annual Synergy Concert at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21 in Kirkland Fine Arts Center; admission is free.

Synergy showcases the distinctiveness of Millikin’s ubiquitous, interdisciplinary alliances through a collaborative concert featuring performances by students and faculty across the College of Fine Arts.

This year’s program will explore the unique relationship between music and sports. The program will feature a variety of music ranging from Rocael Hurtado’s “Tennis Club” for marimba ensemble to Richard Lerman’s “Travelon Gamelon” featuring six players performing on three amplified bicycles. Read More

Remember When? 2-17-2016

News Progress Posted on by

Compiled by Bekki Ferguson-Stevens

25 Years Ago This Week

Sullivan’s Seth Dunscomb has qualified for two events in the state swim meet after placing first in the 100-yard freestyle and second in the 200-yard freestyle during sectionals Saturday in Champaign Centennial High School.

Together in their hearts and in their minds seems how the 13 members of the 1990-91 Lady Redskins will always be. Impressive crowds in red and black attended each session of the state championship games, including at least half of the 4,571 people in attendance at the final contest against Seneca in which the Lady Reds set ISHA records for most points scored in a quarter (25), in a half (43) and in a championship game with their 65-48 victory. The 13 members of the State Championship winning team are Amanda Glazebrook, Sheri Adams, Becky Clayton, Carrina Elder, Stephanie Monroe, Misha Coy, Tiffinie French, Kristen Grooms, Susan Shellabarger, Sarah Shasteen, Heather Emel, Tina McPheeters and Kristy Jesse.

The Crockett dynasty at the Sullivan firehouse is coming to an end with the retirement of Francis Crockett this week. Crockett, 57, is the last member of the Blonson Crockett family to retire from the Sullivan Fire Protection Dist. after a distinguished career. Bronson, Crockett’s father, and Crockett’s brother, Dwight, both deceased, were longtime fire chiefs, and Crockett, a 24 year employee of the fire department, has been assistant fire chief for the last 18 years.

Lovington eighth grader Greg Davis ranked fourth out of 32 competitors and was awarded a plaque in MATHCOUNTS competition Feb. 16 at Millikin University. Each of the eight schools participating fielded a team of four eighth grade students. Participating were Kara Bolsen, Alyssa Gilmore and Jim Parrott. The MATHCOUNTS team was coached by Fred Kilcullen. Read More

EI Foodbank Distribution is at VFW

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•February 17, 2016•

Monsanto and Eastern Illinois Foodbank are teaming up to distribute a truckload of food from the Eastern Illinois Foodbank to hungry area families. The distribution will be held at Sullivan VFW (1146 State Highway 32, Sullivan) 10 a.m.-noon March 12. All Moultrie County residents who meet income eligibility criteria are welcome (see below). Those attending are asked to bring bags or boxes to transport food. A representative from Eastern Illinois Foodbank will be present to assist families and individuals interested in applying for SNAP benefits.

The distribution is part of the Foodbank’s Foodmobile Program, a system of mobile food pantries designed to help bring nutritious food to areas of chronic or extreme need. Through the program, local companies and organizations are invited to contribute toward a one-day distribution of food and optionally participate in the distribution process. The cost to partner with the Foodbank on a Foodmobile distribution is $3,000. Read More

Illinois Sheriff’s Association Announces Scholarships

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•February 17, 2016•

Moultrie County Sheriff Chris Sims will be awarding $500 scholarships as part of the Illinois Sheriff’s Association annual college scholarship program.

ISA will award $54,000 in scholarships throughout the state during the 2016-2017 academic year to students wishing to pursue higher education.

Scholarships are applied to tuition, books and fees only, and the student must be enrolled full-time at a certified institution of higher learning within the state of Illinois. Read More