News Progress

•November 18, 2015•

Two of the major performing ensembles at Millikin University will combine forces in a unique performance, free and open to the public, on Thursday, Nov. 19, in Kirkland Fine Arts Center beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Millikin’s Symphonic Wind Ensemble and the University Men’s Choir, along with faculty soloist Dr. William Gorton, Millikin assistant professor of voice and opera, will perform a variety of musical selections including: Bernstein’s “Suite from Candide,” and Copland’s “Old American Songs,” “Variations on a Shaker Melody and Hoe-Down,” and “Zions Walls.”

Together, the University Men’s Choir and William Gorton will perform Stanhope’s “The Bold Benjamin” and Gorton will also perform Steve Rhodes’ “O Danny Boy.” The concert will conclude with the Wind Ensemble performing Holst’s “Suite No. 2.”

Dr. William Gorton has had a diverse career as a singer, voice teacher, conductor, and composer. Dr. Gorton teaches studio voice, serves as coach and conductor for the opera program, and directs Tudor Voices, a select chamber choir specializing in early music. As a professional tenor, he has performed numerous opera roles and oratorios with organizations such as the Sacramento Opera, Opera Pacific, Pacific Repertory Opera, the National Messiah Festival at Bethany College, Orchestra X of Houston, and the San Francisco Opera Guild. Read More

•November 18, 2015•

As a part of the 2015 IHSA Student Leadership Conference, the IHSA announced that the IHSA Student Section Showdown will return for its second installment during the 2015-16 school year.

The inaugural contest took place in 2014-15, with Central A&M High School in Moweaqua and Prospect High School in Mt. Prospect being named the champions in Class 1A/2A and Class 3A/4A, respectively. The winning video entries from Central A&M and Prospect are linked here. Read More

•November 11, 2015•

A pilot program aimed at eradicating bush honeysuckle on Lake Shelbyville is scheduled to proceed  between November 11 and 13.  Bush honeysuckle, an aggressive exotic plant that is taking over much of the woodlands at Lake Shelbyville, will be treated with Rodeo Herbicide, an aquatic safe form of glyphosate, with the use of a crop-duster helicopter. Timing of the treatment will be dependent upon leaf fall as the leaves need to be off the trees in order for the herbicide to make its way to the forest floor where the bush honeysuckle is located. Bush honeysuckle goes dormant up to a month later than native plants and is often the only green plant seen during the month of November.  Because the natives are dormant, they will not be affected by the herbicide, and only the target plants will be impacted. The aerial application method has been utilized successfully in surrounding states and in tests conducted by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). Lake Shelbyville staff set up tests plots within the treatment area with the help of IDNR in order to be able to measure the success of the application. Up until the last couple of years hand treating or forestry mowers have been utilized to control bush honeysuckle. These methods are expensive and time consuming whereas the aerial treatment is showing promise for quick application and reduced costs.  Read More

•November 11, 2015•

Additional property tax relief is now available for veterans with disabilities and their families.

The Moultrie County Chief County Assessment Officer is announcing the following exemption changes and additions to the Illinois Property Tax Code.

Beginning Tax Year 2015 (tax bills paid in 2016), changes to the Standard Homestead Exemption for Veterans With Disabilities will significantly increase the exemption benefit for a veteran with a service-connected disability of at least 30% or greater as certified by the United States Department of Veterans’ Affairs. (Previously the service-connected disability had to be at least 50% or greater to qualify for this exemption at all.)

This annual exemption provides a reduction in the taxable value on the veteran’s primary residence or the surviving spouse’s primary residence prior to the tax rate being applied.

To be eligible, the veteran must a) be an Illinois resident who served as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces on active duty or state active duty, Illinois National Guard or U.S. Reserve Forces, and who has an honorable discharge; and b) have at least a 30 percent service-connected disability certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs; and c) own and occupy the primary residence on January 1 of the assessment year or lease and occupy a single family residence on January 1 of the assessment year and be liable for the payment of the property taxes to the County.  Read More

Photo Submitted
Award Winner: Tom Wright of Dieterich is the 2015 recipient of the Lake Land College Foundation Crystal Swan Award, which recognizes his outstanding contributions to the Lake Land College Foundation. He is pictured with Lake Land College President Josh Bullock, at right, and Executive Director of College Advancement Jackie Joines, at left.

•November 11, 2015•

The Lake Land College Foundation Board of Directors recently held its annual meeting and celebrated raising $371,544 in annual funds and awarding nearly $287,678 in total scholarships to Lake Land College students for the 2014-2015 academic year. The addition of last year’s funding effort puts the Lake Land College Foundation’s total assets at $10.8 million. The board has set a fundraising goal of $430,000 in annual funds for the current fiscal year.

In addition to the regular business items, the Lake Land College Foundation Board approved unanimously to fund some of the college’s adult education programs, including GED and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. Earlier this month, the Lake Land College Board of Trustees voted to suspend adult education programming, effective Dec. 31, due to compounding cash flow constraints, given the state of Illinois budget impasse.

“It is the generosity of our donors who support the mission of organizations like the college and the foundation that will allow us to continue to offer educational opportunities for the most vulnerable students, even in the face of a very serious state financial crisis,” said Lake Land College president Josh Bullock. “Simply put, we could not offer our Adult Basic Education classes next semester without the support of the Lake Land College Foundation.” Read More