Domestic Violence Volunteer Training

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•July 26, 2017• Training is available for individuals interested in educating themselves on the issues surrounding domestic violence. The training will be held 1-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday, September 11-27 in Decatur at Dove, 302 S. Union, Dean Simcox Conference Room. This 40-hour training is approved by ICADV (Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence) and facilitated by Dove and other community agencies’ staff members. There is a $150 fee for the training and some scholarships available. … Read More

Favorite Son Award for Local Man

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•July 26, 2017• Harold Keown of Decatur received the Virgil Fergason Favorite Son Award at Christ United Methodist Church July 16. Keown was a 30 year resident of Bethany before moving to Decatur. Fergason was an integral part of the church and its mission until his death in 2011. The award was created to honor the memory of Fergason as well as to recognize the service of a current member. Harold Keown has been a member of Christ United Methodist for more than 50 years. He has been a financial officer in the church since 1969, and during that time … Read More

A Place Where Sunflowers Bloom Year Round

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•July 26, 2017• By Ellen Ferrera for the News Progress Traveling north through Lovington you can’t help noticing the giant, plastic sunflowers outside a vacant store.  Except, it isn’t empty.  Inside is the workshop of Gary Smith who has made quite a business of making whimsical garden decorations. He won a large, plastic sunflower in a charity raffle, and the more he looked at it the more of a challenge it became. “I figured I could make one myself so I made a pattern and cut them out of white, 55 gal. plastic drums”, explained Smith. He then custom spray … Read More

Lovington VBS Kids Donate to Sparrows

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•July 26, 2017• Children attending Vacation Bible School at the First Baptist Church of Lovington demonstrated the true gift of giving. Some 65-70 kids attended the week long VBS program, learning, participating in crafts and enjoying a meal during the 6-8:30 p.m. sessions each evening. The greater giving came after members of Sparrows of Lovington told them about the volunteer community help organization. Donna Walker is involved in the community volunteer organization and explained that Sparrows representatives helps provide toys and other gifts for children in Lovington who might not otherwise afford them. … Read More

Letters to the Editor: 7-26-2017

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What Can Tabor Park Do to Attract Children? Dear Editor, I am so happy to see that Mr. Burger stood up for Tabor Park. When Dean and I first moved out to Cottontail Lane we were happy to see the park as it first appeared after it had been left to the city of Sullivan. We saw teachers taking their students to see the different wildlife that the park had and the different types of foliage that had attracted and sustained them. We saw several types of ground nesting birds including pheasants, killdeer and grass sparrows. We had a fox … Read More

Look for Conservation Partners at Farm Progress Show

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•July 26, 2017• The 2017 Farm Progress Show in Decatur will be held August 29-31 and promises to be full of new things to see, hear, and learn. A visit to the “Partners in Conservation” tent is a must. According to Illinois State Conservationist Ivan Dozier, “Stop by and see us at location 26E in the Southeast Quad. You can’t miss it—just look for big, blue flags and a huge soil pit!” … Read More

Senior Center Participates in Sullivan Rocks 

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•July 26, 2017• By Ellen Ferrera for the News Progress Inspired by the July 13 News Progress story on Sullivan Rocks, the Mid-Illinois Senior Services will offer rock painting for seniors. The classes will be officially offered starting in August, but anyone may come in now to paint rocks. The center has river rocks, paints, brushes, color pens, glitter, lace, ribbon and all manner of things for decorating – all you need to bring is your inspiration. No political or religious messages, please. Executive Director, Kathi Shackles, said, “We were just taken with the story and wanted the senior citizens … Read More

Mo-Co Rush Softball Tryouts Set

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•July 26, 2017• Tryouts for the Mo-Co Rush girls’ traveling softball will be held Saturday and Sunday, August 5 and 6 on the west diamond of Jurgens Park in Arthur.  The diamond is located next to ALAH high school and the four-way stop on 133.  The day will start with the 10U tryouts from 10 a.m –12:30 p.m., 11/12U will be from 12:30–3 p.m., and 14U will be from 3–5:30 p.m.  Registration and warm-ups will begin 30 minutes prior to the scheduled time.  … Read More