Area Fishermen Help Build Lake Shelbyville Habitat

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Volunteers Make Difference •March 8, 2017• By Wally Bass for the News Progress Fishing habitat is serious business so it was no surprise to Chip Christensen when so many fishermen showed up for a habitat build March 4. Chip’s Marine service bays south of Sullivan were converted into an assembly line for building some 50 fish habitats for Lake Shelbyville. In this joint venture with the Illinois Department of Conservation and Army Corp of Engineers volunteers from a variety of clubs joined individual sport fishermen to build and place the artificial habitats in the lake. … Read More

Warmest February

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•March 8, 2017• All those days with temperatures in the 60s and 70s have paid off: February was the warmest February on record for Illinois, according to State Climatologist Jim Angel at University of Illinois’ Illinois State Water Survey. The statewide average temperature for February was 40.5 degrees, 9.6 degrees above normal, beating the old record of 40.0 degrees set back in 1998. February was dry too. The statewide average precipitation for February was 0.7 inches, 1.36 inches below normal and the ninth driest February on record. … Read More

Obituaries 3-8-2017: Nelda Smith

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Nelda Smith Nelda Smith, 90, of Bethany, passed away at 11:05 a.m. Saturday, March 4, 2017 in St. Mary’s Hospital, Decatur. Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 7 in McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Bethany. Burial was in Marrowbone Township Cemetery in Bethany. … Read More

New Partner for West & Company

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•March 8, 2017• David W. Faller has been named a partner of West & Company, LLC. Faller is a native of Newton and a graduate of the University of Illinois. He resides in Dieterich with his spouse Pam and their children. Faller was recently named partner-in-charge of the firm’s Accounting & Auditing Department. His duties include oversight of the firm’s quality control policies and procedures and of the firm’s adherence to professional standards.  … Read More

Thinking About Health: Readers Ask for Clarifications About Medicare

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•March 8, 2017• By Trudy Lieberman Rural Health News Service Over the past few months, these columns have raised plenty of questions about Medicare, present and future, and I’ve received many responses to those questions from readers. Today’s column addresses some of readers’ concerns about Medicare, a complicated program. Q: Why do you refer to Social Security as social insurance?  This continues to baffle me just as those who continually refer to SS as a handout. It’s not a handout. That money has been taken out of every one of my paychecks since I was 16. This is my money.  … Read More

Remember When? 3-8-2017

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25 Years Ago This Week Second place state champion Lady Redskins Carinna Elder, Tiffinie French, and Sheri Adams displayed the trophy at Redbird Arena at Illinois State University. Tom Fitzgerald of Bethany was elected director of Scott State Bank in Bethany. Bethany football coach Kris Wheeler unexpectedly resigned during a public meeting called to determine the future of the school’s football program. A crowd of 60 gathered in the high school gym for the meeting chaired by high school principal David Nolan and athletic director Dave Benning. Richard Hortenstine of rural Sullivan was the first to report finding morel mushrooms for … Read More

ALAH’s Hall Breaks Record at Invitational

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•March 8, 2017• Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond track and field runner Logan Hall broke his own school record in the 3,200 meter run at the Centennial Charger Invitational Saturday, March 4. Hall knocked off 13 seconds with a time of 9:21.70 and was named as one of the 13 elite performers at the meet. … Read More

Red Cross Blood Drive

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•March 8, 2017• The American Red Cross and  Sullivan Legion Post 68 will host a blood drive  noon-6 p.m. March 14th at the American Legion. Blood supplies are at a critical low level right now so every donation is important. For every unit donated a possible three people can be helped. Those coming in and donating (or attempt to donate) will receive a $5 Amazon gift card. Walk-ins are welcome, but having an appointment ensures proper Red Cross staffing and decreases wait time. Call Jeri Davis at 273 9456 for an appointment or go to redcrossblood.org to make an appointment. … Read More

Okaw Valley Sends Fritz to Conference All Stars

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•March 8, 2017• Okaw Valley junior guard Garrett Fritz made 6-of-15 shots at the sectional 3-Point Shootout in Nokomis Friday. The six made shots were one short of qualifying for state. Last week, Fritz was also named to the Little Okaw Valley Conference All-Star second team where he will be coached by Okaw Valley’s Brooks Inman. The all-star game is schedule for March 25 in Cumberland. … Read More