Understanding Illinois: Illinois is Facing Different Challenges Due to Climate Change

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•January 17, 2018• By Jim Nowlan NP Guest Columnist “Nothing is normal anymore. Something is going on.” So says Ron Oldeen of Kewanee. Ron has been putting on high quality roofs and repairing old ones for half a century in the region between the Quad-Cities and Peoria. Ron is a man of few words, and these came unsolicited recently. Ron had stopped by to check a minor roof issue on the 1890 building where live. I was intrigued. “We are noticing a lot of storms,” Ron added. “Last February we had six hail storms in the area—Peoria, Canton, Kewanee and … Read More

Warm Year Ends Cold and Dry

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•January 17, 2018• It was a very cold end to a warm year making 2017 the sixth warmest year on record in Illinois with a statewide average temperature of 54.3 degrees, or two degrees above normal. In spite of the extreme cold ending to December eight out of the 12 months in 2017 brought above-normal temperatures, according to Illinois State Climatologist Jim Angel of the Illinois State Water Survey at the University of Illinois. Illinois experienced the warmest February on record with a statewide average of 41 degrees, 10.1 degrees above normal. On the other hand, Illinois’ 10th coolest August … Read More

Sears Created Modern Retail in Illinois

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•January 17, 2018• By Eric Peterson Of the Daily Herald As the home of Sears since the late 19th century, Illinois is the birthplace of modern retail. Even today’s colossus, Amazon, can trace the roots of its business model to Sears’ original mail-order business that popularized the notion of buying products at home without first seeing and touching them in person. “There were some small mail-order companies before, but Sears became the largest, the most successful, the giant,” said Libby Mahoney, senior curator of the Chicago History Museum. And if it seems strange that such a retailer could grow strong … Read More

Obituaries 1-17-2018: Tom McReynolds 

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Tom McReynolds  Thomas M. McReynolds, 72, of Bethany went to be with the Lord at 11:58 p.m. Monday, January 15, 2018 in Decatur Memorial Hospital. Celebration of Life services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Bethany with Pastors Steve Guarneros and Gail Allen officiating. Burial will be in Marrowbone Twp. Cemetery in Bethany. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Thursday at Reed Funeral Home in Sullivan.  … Read More

Sister Visits Moultrie County for Gov. Candidate Kennedy

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•January 17, 2018• Democrat primary gubernatorial candidate Chris Kennedy’s sister Kathleen visited Moultrie County Sunday, January 14 for a meeting with local Democrats. Kennedy, the eighth child of Robert F. Kennedy, is running in the primary for governor of Illinois, and his older sister Kathleen spoke to Moultrie County Democrats during the 2 p.m. meet and greet. Appearing along with two of Kennedy’s daughters, the former Lt. Governor of Maryland, explained that her younger brother has always been the rock of the family. … Read More

Letter to the Editor 1-17-2018

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Helping Hand Dear Editor, Connie Reedy passed away a little over a month ago. And her passing brought back a vivid memory of the last time I saw her. When I was coming home from work one afternoon late last summer, I saw two cars stopped on the New Life Tabernacle curve on the Jonathan Creek Road. A pickup had missed the curve and rolled down the slope coming to rest on its top in front of William Herschberger’s cabinet shop.  … Read More

Remember When? 1-17-2018

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25 Years Ago This Week During a short meeting of the Bethany Village Board discussion of consortium of municipalities seeking franchise agreements with GTE was held On the matter of snowmobiles the board agreed they may enter and exit Bethany but may not be driven around town. Race for assessor develops in East Nelson and Whitley townships for the April 20 election. Democrat Ruby Christy is being opposed by Republican Bill Mundy. Judy Fraser, WCIA-TV weather caster, speaks on “Volunteerism” at the Sullivan Area Chamber of Commerce annual dinner meeting held at the Sullivan County Club. Three new directors were nominated: … Read More

Sullivan Girls Drop CIC Game to St. Teresa

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•January 17, 2018• By Jason Brown NP Sports The Sullivan girls’ basketball team dropped a Central Illinois Conference game against St. Teresa High School Thursday in Decatur. “With only playing one game in 12 days we were a little stagnant offensively,” said Sullivan coach Sheri McCain Down three 43-40 heading into the fourth quarter, Sullivan came close but could not close the gap and eventually lost 56-63. … Read More

Pathways Chapel in Gays Holds Family Living Room Services

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•January 17, 2018• By Ellen Ferrera for the News Progress From the time he was four years old Nick Brown knew he wanted to be a pastor and share his love of God with others. On October 1, 2017 he and his wife Elizabeth opened Pathways Chapel in Gays on First Street across from the Christian Church. “My parents were married in the Christ Tabernacle Church in Herrick, and I grew up in the church. No one in my family was in the ministry, but I felt the calling early,” Pastor Brown recalled. His wife is originally from Gays, and … Read More