•March 2, 2016• Illinois State University’s indoor track team came away from the Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Track and Field championship with two first place finishes. Held at Cedar Rapids, Iowa over the weekend, Redbird Amanda McClain of Findlay finished first place in the long jump at 5.99m (19 feet, 8 inches) on Saturday. … Read More
•March 2, 2016• Artists and crafters are invited to participate in the Mattoon Arts Council’s fifth annual Artworks. The daylong arts festival is planned on June 11 in downtown Mattoon. Artist booths will be set up near 17th Street and Broadway Avenue from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Artists may reserve a 12-foot by 12-foot booth. Those who provide demonstrations of their art will be eligible for a booth fee discount. … Read More
•March 2, 2016• By Gerald Tilley Social Security District Manager in Decatur, IL Basketball fans are gearing up for March Madness, which will culminate when the final four teams in the NCAA fight for the title of national champion. Fans wait in eager anticipation to see whether their favorite team or alma mater will be included in the “final four.” While basketball fans are excited about March Madness, Social Security already has its own winning “final four” to help you this season. Now, let’s turn to the action! 1. The online services you can put into play with a my … Read More
•March 2, 2016• By Gerald Tilley Social Security District Manager in Decatur, IL March is Women’s History Month — a time to focus not just on the past but on the challenges women continue to face in the 21st century. Ida May Fuller, born September 6, 1874, was the first American to receive a monthly Social Security benefit check. Along with Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins — who was instrumental in the creation of the Social Security Act — Ida May Fuller was one of the first famous women of Social Security. She received the check, amounting to $22.54, January … Read More
•March 2, 2016• The Illinois Mennonite Relief Sale Board is working diligently in preparation for the annual two day relief sale that attracts people of all faiths and denominations for a common cause: Providing relief for the needy. For Peoria and all surrounding communities March signals the traditional Illinois Mennonite Relief Sale. This year marks the 58th Annual Illinois Sale to be held at Interstate Center in Bloomington on March 18-19. This family festival is not only a special event filled with food, fun, and fellowship, but also a time for achieving the purpose of helping the needy at home … Read More
Some Oldsters Have a Lead Foot I get my paper by mail on the west coast, so I just now read about the traffic arrests over Valentine’s weekend. The article reminded me of a thought I have every time I read the arrest records. … Read More
•March 2, 2016• Soil temperatures in Illinois have been above normal for most of the winter, according to Jennie Atkins, Water and Atmospheric Resources Monitoring (WARM) Program manager at the Illinois State Water Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois. For the period of December 1 through February 21, soil temperatures at 4 inches under bare soil averaged 36.7 degrees F across Illinois, 2.6 degrees above the long-term average and 2.9 degrees higher than last winter. Soil temperatures this winter have fluctuated with air temperatures. The highest temperatures were reported in December with a statewide monthly average of 42.7 degrees … Read More