Thinking About Health: Obamacare Policyholders Question Rising Deductibles

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•November 25, 2015• By Trudy Lieberman Rural Health News Service Is health insurance really affordable?  That’s the question thousands of Americans who signed up for policies under the Affordable Care Act are beginning to ask as third year open enrollment gets underway. A few weeks ago a 63-year-old woman, a reader of these columns, contacted me about the health insurance policy she had bought through the Illinois exchange. She lost her coverage after her husband died and had been uninsured for nearly two years before Obamacare came along.  She had some health problems and worried, she said, that she was … Read More

Obituaries 11-25-2015: Bill Williams

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Bill Williams Bill G. Williams, 83, of Assumption died Nov. 15, 2015 in Decatur Memorial Hospital. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Friday Nov. 20 in Assumption Christian Church. Burial will full military rites by Assumption Honor Guard was in Pleasant View Cemetery in Assumption. Seitz Funeral Home in Assumption handled arrangements. … Read More

Prospective Students Invited to Laker Visit Day

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•November 25, 2015• Visit Lake Land College and find out all the college offers at its upcoming Laker Visit Day. The event will be held Friday, Dec. 4 with activities starting in the Luther Student Center lobby at 9 a.m. and running until noon. The event is for potential students who are interested in learning more about Lake Land College. Parents/guardians and spouses are welcome to come along and attend the Parent and Spouse Session. … Read More

Lovington Public Library December News

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•November 25, 2015• The “Reading Redbirds” Youth Book Club for 4th-8th graders meets 3:30-4:30 p.m. the first and thirdTuesday of each month. This club plans and assists with events that are held at the library and discussing books. “Wee Readers Storytime” meets 10-10:30 p.m. Thursday mornings for preschoolers 2 years. and older. Dates and themes are Dec. 3-“Gingerbread Man”, Dec. 10-“Rudolph, Dec. 17-“Christmas Party”, and Dec. 24-No Storytime. … Read More

ALAH School Board Deals with Uncertain Funding

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4.97% Levy Increase Ahead •November 25, 2015• By Ariana Cherry for the News Progress The checkbook currently has $7,169, 575.50, and all funds are in the black,” stated superintendent Ken Schwengel at the most recent Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond School Board meeting. “The state aid payments are scheduled through December 20, but after the first of the year, I am not sure what will happen,” he stated. “We’ve received 90% of the property taxes and have not received any incentive funding yet,” he added. The board also discussed and approved a tentative 2015 tax levy for property taxes paid in 2016. The levy is … Read More

Veterans Honored at Sullivan Schools

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•November 18, 2015• By Mike Brothers Veterans Day observations filled Sullivan schools on Nov. 11 with a musical tribute to attending veterans at the elementary school followed by the high school program featuring veteran speakers. Coordinated by the careers class at Sullivan High School who were emcees of the event, the high school program began as a middle-high school assembly  at 10:30 a.m. in the gym. The American Legion Post 68 Color Guard presented the flag with Sullivan High School band performing the Star Spangled Banner to open the assembly. World War II Veteran Myron Haney opened recalling his service … Read More

Moultrie County Board Approves Budget for Next Year

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•November 18, 2015• Moultrie County board members learned of the progress of the No Job Left Behind initiative at the November 12 meeting. Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development Director Stepheny McMahon explained that the initiative to promote jobs and job training for local businesses has grown since 2013. “We have grown to include 160 different people from business, manufacturing and education,” McMahon said. “ During our recent No Job Left Behind manufacturing tour, Okaw Valley took the whole school.” The partnership between area schools, manufacturing and business has led districts to implement new vocational offerings for those wishing to enter … Read More

New Rules for State Retirement Savings Plans

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•November 18, 2015• U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez and Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs on Monday announced sweeping new rules outlining the path forward for state-sponsored retirement savings initiatives. Secretary Perez and Treasurer Frerichs listened to leaders who worry that the looming retirement savings crisis will have a profound impact on lower-income workers’ quality of life in retirement and become an untenable burden on states. The Department of Labor’s proposed rules will dismantle barriers for state-based solutions to the retirement savings crisis, including Illinois’ Secure Choice Retirement Savings Program. Already, 26 states, including Illinois have taken some type … Read More

Remember When? 11-18-2015

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Compiled by Bekki Ferguson-Stevens 25 Years Ago This Week Sullivan High School seniors Terri Caruthers, Amy Raymer, Christy Seeley and Janice Standerfer are vying for the title of Miss Merry Christmas. One of the four will be selected by a vote of students this week. Announcement of the winner will be made Friday night during halftime activities of the Sullivan Turkey Tournament. Mark Righter of Sullivan was one of more than 50 Lake Land College Foundation scholarship recipients who attended a recent reception at the college in honor of recipients and donors. Righter received an agriculture scholarship from the State Bank … Read More

Deer Crashes Up

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•November 18, 2015• Moultrie County sheriff Chris Sims would like to remind motorists to watch out for deer on the county’s highways. “We handled six car-deer crashes on Tuesday,” Sims said, reminding everyone deer activity increases this time of year. Deer are highly unlikely to try to avoid an accident so it is up to the motorist. … Read More