A Look Back…5-15-2024

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2014

Cub Scout Pack 39 announced advancements on April 22. The following received their advancements from pack leaders Eric Bettinger, Marc DalPonte, and Jennifer Voegel: Tigers: Ulrich Harshman, Oakley Anderson, Malehki Norton, Kaiden Smith, Paul Brown, Anderson Crouse, Ivan Frederick, Rylan Diener, Kaden DalPonte, James Hauser, Connor Denton, and Blake Moore); Wolves: Aston Johnson, Keegan Adams, Tegan Dickens, Owen Rice, Owen Hussong, Dawson Montague, John Voegel, Nathan Tighe, Connor Tipton, David Rose, James Rose, Trey Grimm, Ashton Ottwell, and Clayton Mudd; Bears: Will Dawkins, Jack Woolen, Robbie McDaniel, Cohen Winings, Wyatt Miller, and Beau Fleming; Webelos One: Jacob Bettinger, Trenton Harlin, Seth Webner, and Zarek Fultz. Read More

Historical Society to present “My Memories of Growing Up in Bruce, Illinois”

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•May 8, 2024•

The Thursday, May 16th meeting of the Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society will present “My Memories of Growing Up in Bruce, Illinois” by former Bruce resident, Jimmy Stevens. He has many good stories he wishes to share, and hopes other Bruce natives will join him and participate in this special program. 

The topic continues the series of entertaining programs about the small, but special country towns in Moultrie County. Previous programs about Lovington, Bethany, Arthur, and Allenville have been very well received.  

The public is invited to attend this meeting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 16 at the History Center at 1303 S. Hamilton in Sullivan.  

The value of temporary food permits

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How does this permit process benefit Moultrie County residents, local events, organizations, and vendors?

•May 8, 2024•

by Angela Hogan

How do temporary food permits benefit Moultrie County residents?

Completing a Temporary Food Permit (TFP) might seem like a tedious procedure, but it serves an essential purpose. The TFP application process allows public health officials to ensure everyone’s best interests and safety are protected. Let’s consider how the TFP application process benefits everyone who organizes, serves, and participates in Moultrie County food events.

The TFP process assists the Moultrie County Health Department (MCHD) in protecting the public’s health by ensuring that all food vendors in Moultrie County can: Read More

Arthur’s Strawberry Jam Festival/Social

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•May 8, 2024•

Mother Nature doesn’t always cooperate with local festivals. For the first time in several years, the Strawberry Jam Festival in Arthur will be held Friday & Saturday, May 17 & 18, two weeks earlier than normal. You have to have strawberries to have a great festival and the strawberries should be ready by then.

While the festival will be early, the committee is ready to roll out the “strawberry” red carpet to welcome festival goers to a weekend of fun and sweet eating. What better way to celebrate late spring and early summer than with America’s favorite fruit. Adding excitement to the occasion with be pony rides (Saturday only), a variety of vendors and great food mixed together to create Arthur Amish Country’s Strawberry Jam Festival. Stores will have a wide variety of merchandise you won’t want to miss, along with crafts and of course food. You won’t go away empty handed or hungry. Read More

Grammar Moses: So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, good night

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•May 8, 2024•

Stick a fork in me, dear readers. I’m done.

Parting is such sweet sorrow, but after a decade of writing this column and four times as long (not four times longer) employed by this newspaper company, I have decided to hand in my press pass, hang up my spurs and, well, retire.

This is my final column.

Retirement is bittersweet for me. I will miss the amazing people I work with, and I’ll also miss all of you who faithfully read these weekly scribblings.

I’ve decided that once I hand the keys to the newsroom to my capable successor, I will focus on a different kind of writing ― namely fiction ― something that doesn’t mix well with newspapers. After a few aborted attempts at writing the Great American Novel over the past 20 years, I’m itchin’ to find out whether I finally can complete one. Read More

Remembering Who We Are… 8

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Considering the Mosquitos

•May 8, 2024•

by Janet Roney

When God created the prairie grass and flowers that covered Moultrie County, “the lilies of the field”, he also created the creatures of the prairie.  It was alive with living creatures…and they were not quiet.  Meadowlarks warbled their happy songs as Redwing blackbirds scolded everything that moved from atop compass plant flower stalks; spring peepers chirped and bull frogs croaked among the cattails in prairie pools; fish splashing in Eagle Pond attracted the notice of bald eagles screaming overhead.   Read More

Personal Assistant Training  

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•May 8, 2024•

Soyland Access to Independent Living, SAIL, will hold a Personal Assistant Training for people interested in working as a Personal Assistant on Tuesday, May 14 2024 beginning at 1 PM at the Shelbyville SAIL office, 1604 West Main Street Suite 100, Shelbyville. Personal Assistants are employed by people with disabilities to perform household chores and personal care tasks in their homes and are paid by the State of Illinois through the Department of Rehabilitation Program. 

A reservation is needed to attend the Personal Assistant Training. For more information about the Personal Assistant Training or to reserve your seat, contact Emily Dobson at 217-876-8888 or 800-358-8080 or email edobson@decatursail.com.

Four high school seniors win $1,000 IMUA Scholarship Awards  

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•May 8, 2024•

Four high-school seniors, one each from the IMUA member municipalities of Bethany, Oglesby, Springfield and Waterloo, have been chosen as finalists in the Illinois Municipal Utilities Association’s (IMUA) 2024 IMUA Scholarship Program essay competition. This year’s winners are Cannon Bernstein of Bethany, a senior at Okaw Valley High School; Aiden Anderson of Oglesby, a senior at LaSalle-Peru Township High School; Isaac Crumrine of Springfield, a senior at Riverton High School; and Katelyn Davis of Waterloo, a senior at Waterloo High School.   Essays written by this year’s four winners were chosen from entries submitted by eligible high-school seniors statewide. Each winner will receive a framed award certificate and $1,000 award check from IMUA, both of which will be presented to each finalist at an upcoming and yet-to-be determined meeting of their respective city council or village board.  This year’s competition featured a choice between five energy-related questions: the advantages and benefits of public power; electric grid security/cybersecurity; electric vehicles (EVs); nuclear fusion and small modular reactors; and, water conservation, water protection and water management. Cannon Bernstein is the son of Letitia Bernstein of Bethany, Bernstein is a member of the National Honor Society, the NHS High Honor Roll and his school’s Golf and Scholastic Bowl teams. He plans to attend Lake Land Community College in Mattoon this fall.

This recipe makes for a great breakfast in bed this Mother’s Day

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•May 8, 2024•

There may be no better way to start Mother’s Day than serving Mom some breakfast in bed. A homemade meal before Mom even gets out of bed can set the right tone for a day that celebrates all mothers have done and continue to do for their children.

There’s no shortage of breakfast in bed options to serve Mom this Mother’s Day. If Mom loves a traditional hearty morning meal, this recipe for “Mixed Berry French Toast” courtesy of Taste of Home (tasteofhome.com) is sure to please. Read More