42nd Annual Barbershop Christmas Concert Sunday

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•November 30, 2016• The Coles County Barbershop Chorus will present their 42nd Annual Christmas Benefit Concert(s) Sunday, Dec. 4. The 3 p.m. concert will be held at Wesley United Methodist Church in Charleston, and the 7 p.m. program will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Mattoon. The concert lasts one hour and is free to the public. A free will offering is taken, and annually more than $5,000 is generated for area food pantry and homeless shelter programs.  … Read More

Okaw Valley Falls Hard Against St. Anthony

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•November 23, 2016• In seasons past the Okaw Valley baseball team has beaten teams 18-0. The same could be said for the softball team and SOV football. But to start the 2016-17 boys’ basketball tenure, the ‘Wolves were on the wrong end of that margin after a quarter. The first bucket of the season came with 5:09 to go in the first half when Garrett Fritz took to the lane and lifted up a floater that wasn’t sent back by one of the St. Anthony post players. … Read More

Thanksgiving Day – An American Tradition

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•November 23, 2016• By Jerry L. Ginther NP Columnist Tradition has significance for most seniors, I believe, especially during the autumn and winter holidays. I mean, what would Thanksgiving Day be without the traditional turkey dinner with pumpkin pie, stuffing, cranberry sauce and the many other treats associated with the day? The aroma from the kitchen created anticipation for all who waited for the feast to be served. Who would think of dining out at a restaurant on this occasion unless one had no family with which to share the day? There was always excitement in the preparations, too. And, … Read More

Moultrie Douglas Farm Bureau Update

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Training and Traveling with the Farm Bureau •November 23, 2016• By Annaleah Emm Illinois Farm Bureau Manager Trainee My name is Annaleah Emm, and I am a manager trainee with Illinois Farm Bureau. I have been training in the county for the past two weeks. The training program is a unique program that allows me to train and travel with Farm Bureau managers from around the state. I have currently trained in Livingston, Bureau, Knox, Cass- Morgan, Lawrence, Piatt and Douglas-Moultrie counties. The holiday season is among us. While most are preparing for the holiday festivities, farmers are still hoping for … Read More

Lovington Village Receives Drainage Report

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•November 23, 2016• Lovington Village board met November 14 approving a request from Amanda Kreher to help with Breakfast for Santa Saturday, December 17. Kreher told the board that the breakfast is from 9-11 a.m. in New Life Community Building. She requested the village donate $500 toward the event’s food and treat bags for the children. At the October village board meeting David Bowers reported on drainage district progress.  … Read More

Football Players Honored At Sports Awards Banquet

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•November 23, 2016• The fall sports banquet for Sullivan Okaw Valley sports was held recently with football all conference recognition given to several players. Coach Gerald Temples announced that Preston Waggoner was named Most Valuable Offensive Lineman;  Kolton Rose – Most Valuable Defensive Lineman. … Read More

Understanding Illinois: New Dem Comptroller Could Wreak Havoc

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•November 23, 2016• By Jim Nowlan NP Guest Columnist I promise readers this is the last column, at least for a while, about my near-obsession, understandable as I think it is, over the failure of the governor and Illinois House speaker to come together somehow to forge a responsible state budget. In the recent election, GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner reduced the speaker’s House Democratic majority from 71-47 to 67-51, and in the state Senate he gained two GOP seats, which brings the Dems’ majority in that chamber down to just under two-thirds. The governor was unable, however, to hang onto … Read More

Menus 11-23-2016

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Senior Peace Meal For additional information or for reservations, please call 1-800-543-1770 Monday, Nov. 28 – Sloppy Joe, German potato salad, green bean casserole, bun, Hawaiian salad. Tuesday, Nov. 29 – Swedish meatballs w/gravy, mashed potatoes, broccoli, whole grain wheat, fresh fruit. Wednesday, Nov. 30 – Cheese tortellini alfredo w/ham, buttered peas, tomatoes & zucchini, whole grain wheat, pears. Thursday, Dec. 1  – Fried chicken, mashed potatoes w/gravy, mixed vegetables, Texas toast, peaches. Friday, Dec. 2 – Beefy vegetable soup, creamy cole slaw, fruit salad, crackers, peanut butter pie. Sullivan Pre-School Breakfast Monday, Nov. 28 – Cereal, grape juice, milk. Tuesday, … Read More

Sullivan School Board Reviews Testing, Approves Tax Levy

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•November 23, 2016• The Sullivan Community Unit 300 school board approved the 2016 payable in 2017 tentative tax levy of 4.99% based on a projected Equalized Assessed Valuation of $121,595,853. Supt. Brad Tuttle explained the amount requested could be reduced and noted the district tax levy increase has averaged two percent per year since maximum rates were set in 1983. Director of maintenance Kevin Landrus reported that work has begun on the elementary school chillers now that the  cooling season in over. He told the board the new boiler was fired at the high school, and the middle school boiler … Read More

Sullivan Chief Served a Giving Community

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•November 23, 2016• By Mike Brothers When Sullivan Chief of Police John Love became a patrolman in 1985, he knew local police could have a greater purpose in the community. As Chief Love looks toward retirement Nov. 23 after 28 years on the force, it’s with mixed emotions. “It’s kind of funny, but I know I’m going to miss those weekend calls at home and people stopping me at the local restaurant to discuss a problem,” Love said of the years he has served the community. For the past 10 years Chief Love, with the backing of the Sullivan City … Read More