Understanding Illinois: Why Can’t We Make it Fun to Be From Illinois?

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•December 13, 2017• By Jim Nowlan NP Guest Columnist I attended a spiffy wedding (cruel and unusual punishment) in Dallas this past Saturday, at a park on the Texas State Fairgrounds. After the reception, at a dinner table for eight with Dallas executives, both male and female, we played the “Where are you from; what do you do?” game. I said, “From Illinois, was in politics and government much of my life.” I could swear I saw at least a couple of grimaces, and one noted the corruption in Illinois’ government. I could sense around the table all had their … Read More

Boundary Maneuver Kept Northern Illinois from Becoming Part of Wisconsin

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•December 13, 2017• By Mick Zawislak Of the Daily Herald Were it not for the action of an enterprising lawyer 200 years ago, the northern portion of Illinois would have the badger as the state animal and Green Bay Packers as the home football team. Indeed, the shrewd move in 1818 by Nathaniel Pope, the Illinois territory’s delegate in Congress, to relocate the original proposed boundary from the southern tip of Lake Michigan is regarded as a decisive event in Illinois history. The shift meant Chicago, then an unincorporated backwater, became part of the nascent state with a port on … Read More

Recent Obituaries: Mary Ann Shadow

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Mary Ann Shadow Mary Ann Shadow, 59, of Mattoon died at 8:48 a.m. Monday, December 12, 2017 in Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana. Memorial services will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17 in Swengel-O’Dell Funeral Home in Neoga. She was born October 4, 1958 in Mattoon, a daughter of Paul C. and Marlene L. Baugh Vincent. She was an in-home health aide and a former manager of Sullivan Marathon. Surviving are daughters Kristen Harvey of Taneytown, Md. and Angie Liberto of Glen Burnie, Md.; sons Scott Frye of Mattoon and Wayne Frye of Toledo, Ill.; brothers Frank Vincent … Read More

Recent Obituaries: Constance Reedy

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Constance Reedy Constance A. “Connie” Reedy, 64, of Sullivan passed away 12:45 a.m. Thursday, December 7, 2017 at St. Mary’s Hospital, Decatur. Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday, December 11, 2017 at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan. Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Sunday, December 10, 2017 at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan. Burial will be in Keller Cemetery, Lovington. Memorials may be made to the donor’s choice. Connie was born October 9, 1953 in Tuscola, the daughter of Dennis D. and Vivian Elaine (Curby) McElvain. She married Maynard E. Reedy May 8, 1976 in Tuscola. Connie … Read More

ALAH FFA Canned Food Drive

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•December 6, 2017• To gain entry to the ALAH basketball games on December 14th and 15th canned food is the ticket. The ALAH FFA is sponsoring the annual canned food drive during the week of December 11th-15th to benefit all the communities of the Arthur #305 school district. Students are encouraged to bring in canned food items before school by 8:00 am and after school until 3:45 pm. The food drive is also being extended to the local communities as well. This year’s goal is for students to bring in at least 1500 cans during the week with an overall … Read More

OV Girls’ Basketball Hits On All Cylinders

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•December 6, 2017• By Jason Brown NP Sports The Okaw Valley girls’ basketball team hammered Arthur Okaw Christian 50-24 Monday night for another nonconference win. “It was a nice game by our girls. We executed what we wanted to do defensively, and we did a great job of playing selfless, team basketball, coach Brad Ackers said of the effort. The Timberwolves took a 13-5 lead after the first quarter and did not look back. The game was a coming out party for junior Bella Benning.  … Read More

Conference Restructuring Includes LOVC Schools

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•December 6, 2017• By Jason Brown NP Sports Last Tuesday Villa Grove and Heritage entered withdrawal letters to exit the Little Okaw Valley Conference. Like pulling a thread, by the end of week 15 out of the 19 LOVC schools submitted withdrawal letters, unraveling the conference. Okaw Valley and Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond were among the schools that withdrew from the league following the 2018-19 season. “At this time, there is a restructuring of the conference, and schools are doing what they feel is in the best interest of their students and communities,” said OV principal Matthew Shoaff. For now many administrations from … Read More