News Progress

•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

•November 11, 2015•

With cold temperatures on their way, the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal encourages residents to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning by ensuring their homes have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas byproduct of burning fossil fuels. At elevated levels, carbon monoxide causes sickness and, if not detected, death. Simply having working carbon monoxide detectors in your home and regularly testing them may prevent awful consequences.

Fossil fuels such as natural gas are used to heat the vast majority of American homes, and faulty heating equipment accounts for nearly one third of accidental carbon monoxide deaths. These can include your home heating system, improperly vented gas appliances, kerosene or propane space heaters, charcoal grills and Sterno-type fuels.

“Most carbon monoxide fatalities happen in the winter months when residents understandably dial up their thermostats,” said State Fire Marshal Matt Perez. “Make sure your home has working carbon monoxide alarms so if something goes wrong with your heating system, you know when to get outside.”

Perez also reminds residents to never use a gas generator, grill, oven or range to heat the inside of their home or garage. Read More

•November 11, 2015•

Millikin University presents the 13th annual Literary Festival and High School Writing Contest Nov. 13-14. The 2015 Literary Festival is open to high school and college students and the general public.

The festival includes workshops, readings and sessions with featured writers. The event gives students the opportunity to work directly with professional writers and receive feedback.

The 2015 Literary Festival will begin at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13 in Pilling Chapel with a prose reading from featured writer Tony Bedard and a special collage reading.

The festival will continue Saturday, Nov. 14, from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., with workshops and readings in Shilling Hall, Rooms 315 and 316, and Pilling Chapel. Poetry workshops along with lectures on poetry craft and graphic novels will also be held Nov. 14. Read More

•November 11, 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