Understanding Illinois: The Titan Versus The Third-Rate Businessman

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•July 25, 2018• By Jim Nowlan NP Guest Columnist This column is one of several about colorful but little-known characters from Illinois history, written in tribute to our 2018 bicentennial this year. Charles Tyson Yerkes and George E. Cole were larger-than-life figures who squared off in the Gilded Age of the 1890s, when Chicago politics made today’s game look like tiddlywinks. In 1886, fresh out of jail in Philadelphia for financial improprieties, Yerkes exchanged a loyal wife and six children for a stunning beauty. The twosome headed for Chicago, the fastest growing city in the world, to make his fortune, … Read More

County Board Corrections

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•July 25, 2018• In the July 18, 2018 Moultrie County board story appearing in the Moultrie County News Progress three corrections need to be made. Upon handing in his resignation State’s Attorney Jeremy Richey did not point out it will assure the Republican party control of the state’s attorney’s office for the remainder of Richey’s term 2020. Building and grounds committee chair announced that the county farm is up for rent and proposals are due in the county clerk’s office by noon Wednesday, August 1, 2018 (Not August 8 as was incorrectly reported). Also Mac Condill appeared on behalf of … Read More

Recent Obituaries: Lena Ann (Botts) Gillenwater

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Lena Ann (Botts) Gillenwater Lena Ann (Botts) Gillenwater, 96, formerly of Lovington, Illinois, passed away in Imboden Creek Nursing Home in Decatur, Illinois, on Tuesday, July 18, 2018 at 6:27 pm with family at bedside. She was born on May 22, 1922 in Monroe County, KY to the late William Earlie and Pearliza (Smith) Botts. She married Don Mitchell Gillenwater on September 3, 1946, and they had five children. She attended the Lovington United Methodist Church. She loved spending time with her family, and never met a stranger! Her favorite past times were playing the guitar, singing, listening to music, … Read More

Understanding Illinois: Voting System Could Help De-Polarize Politics

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•July 18, 2018• By Jim Nowlan NP Guest Columnist I have a friend who is among 10 candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in the August primary election in Wisconsin. Political observers in cheese-head country say the winner might receive as few as 25 percent of the votes cast. In effect, the preferences of three-quarters of the voters will be disregarded. Because of situations like this, a flurry of interest has developed around a voting system called “ranked voting.” Some background. In Illinois, Wisconsin and most places in the U.S., you and I vote for one candidate for each … Read More

Rock Island Area Site of Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Battles

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•July 18, 2018• By Roger Ruthhart for Illinois Press Assn. The Quad-Cities region has provided a footnote to history for virtually every war fought on American soil, including the Battle of Campbell’s Island – the western-most battle of the War of 1812. According to the records of Indian historian John Hauberg, as the French and Indian War ended, the last of the French soldiers of the northwest spent the winter of 1760-61 near present-day Rock Island, ice bound, on their retreat from Michilimackinac to Fort Chartres, Ill., following the British conquest of Canada. All Indian villages in the upper Mississippi … Read More

County Republicans Host Candidate Party

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•July 18, 2018• The Moultrie County Republican Central Committee is hosting a meet your candidate event 6-9 p.m. Monday, August 13 at NorthEnd Pub & Grill at Sullivan Marina on Lake Shelbyville. All candidates have been invited to the event including state candidates. … Read More

Thinking About Health: Resurrecting Old Insurance Model May Limit Who Gets Covered and How Well

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•July 18, 2018• By Trudy Lieberman, Rural Health News Service A new health insurance option awaits consumers this fall. Proponents say it will offer lower premiums and relief from increasingly expensive Obamacare policies sold in the so-called individual market. That’s the place where people who don’t have employer or government-sponsored insurance turn when they need coverage. It’s no secret that rising premiums have hurt people in that market if they are among those whom the law considers too wealthy for subsidies to help them out – for example, families of four with incomes above $100,400 and single people whose incomes … Read More

Hiden Named Chief Information Officer With First Mid

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•July 18, 2018• First Mid Bank & Trust recently announced that David Hiden has been named Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer. He will lead the development and execution of First Mid’s business and technology strategies. “We are very fortunate to have David join the First Mid team”, said Mike Taylor, Chief Operating Officer. “With a strong banking background that includes 25 years of Information Technology (IT) experiences, David brings a wealth of experience in building teams, developing strategic IT plans and executing on delivering quality service to both internal and external customers.” … Read More