Shelby County Asks Residents To Sign-Up to Receive Local Alerts

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March 18, 2015 Shelby County, Ill. has partnered with Nixle to implement a Community Notification System to alert residents in real-time for localized emergency situations and relevant community advisories. As a resident, there are several simple ways to register: 1. Text SHELBYEMA to 888777 from your mobile phone 2. Text your Zip-Code to 888777 from your mobile phone 3. Go to www.shelbycounty-il.com and sign up via the Nixle Widget 4. Go to www.scso87.org and sign up via the Nixle Widget Once registered, residents will receive a confirmation text to their mobile device. Residents may also customize their alert settings by … Read More

Central Illinois Restaurants Raise Thousands for Local Ronald McDonald House

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March 18, 2015 Continuing its commitment to the community, central Illinois and Peoria/Bloomington McDonald’s® Restaurants helped raise thousands during the annual “Give a Little Love” campaign to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Illinois (RMHCCI). This year, over $211,178.51 was raised for the charity from January 22 to February 15. More than 100 central Illinois and Peoria/Bloomington McDonald’s restaurants participated in the campaign. The money that was raised will go directly towards providing a home away from home for families of critically ill children receiving treatment at Springfield-area hospitals. … Read More

Head Start Now Taking Applications

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March 18, 2015 C.E.F.S. Head Start 0-5 Program is a federally-funded program that provides comprehensive classroom and home-based educational services to pregnant women and children ages 0-5 including those with significant or multiple special needs. The C.E.F.S. Head Start 0-5 Program is located at 203 S Graham Street in Sullivan. Preschool center-based classes are provided in either the morning or afternoon Monday through Thursday. Each session lasts 3½ hours and includes healthy meals and snacks. Teachers plan daily lessons with developmentally appropriate activities that advance the children’s self-confidence, problem solving skills, and social development. Indoor and outdoor activities are provided … Read More

Revisiting the Public Library Act and Its Signing in 1872

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by Tom Emery March 18, 2015 Today, library users in Illinois enjoy of the best public libraries in the nation and a statewide commitment to resource sharing and library technology that is the envy of the nation. It wasn’t always that way. This March marks the anniversary of the signing of the Public Library Act by then-Governor John M. Palmer in 1872. The law provided for the tax-supported, free-usage public libraries that Illinoisans know today. Before then, Illinois residents had no access to free reading, and had to join private organizations for library material. Social libraries date to 1818 with … Read More

Comedy Night in Sullivan Saturday Night

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March 18, 2015 Comedienne Zan Aufderheide will be back in Sullivan this coming Saturday to perform stand-up on stage at the Little Theatre. Aufderheide has been seen on Bob & Tom, Comedy Central and recently performed at Gotham Comedy Club in New York City. Her performance last summer at Pauly’s On the Green was the perfect combination of wit and sarcasm that kept the audience roaring. … Read More

Lovington Revitalization Meeting March 26

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March 18, 2015 A Lovington Revitalization meeting with Mike Crews of Illinois Coalition Community Service is set for March 26 at 6:30 p.m.at the Lovington Public Library. The public is invited. Discussions will center on a summer lunch program for the youth. Tony Schuering the V.P. of of Municipal Consulting Group will also be present to give information on TIF (Tax Increment Financing). Other topics of interest may be discussed. The effort is looking for fresh, innovating ideas, or events that have been done in the past that may be rejuvenated. Volunteers are also needed and welcome. For more information, … Read More

Art Club Kicks Off 2015 Saturday with Workshop

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March 18, 2015 Returning artist, Joycelyn Padgett, will kick off Sullivan Art Club’s 2015 workshop season on Saturday, March 21. The workshop will be conducted in the St. Columcille Church hall located on the east end of the church at the corners of W. Jackson and McClelllan Streets. There is a dedicated entrance to the hall adjacent to the parking lot. … Read More

Rural Housing Loans For Low Income Families

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March 18, 2015 Home-buying season is just around the corner, but saving enough money to qualify for a mortgage is one of, if not the, biggest barriers to buying a home. Through the 502 Direct Single Family Housing Loan program, USDA Rural Development helps low income individuals and families purchase a home with 100 percent financing. As homeownership grows, rural communities across Illinois are strengthened. Heather and her husband had no idea where they would get the money for a down payment on a larger home for their growing family. They, and 240 other families around Illinois in FY2014, qualified … Read More