Winter Safety at Lake Shelbyville

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January 28, 2015 When is ice safe? There really is no sure answer. You can’t judge the strength of ice just by its appearance, age, thickness, temperature, or whether or not the ice is covered with snow. Strength is based on all these factors — plus the depth of water under the ice, size of the water body, water chemistry and currents, the distribution of the load on the ice, and local climatic conditions. There is no such thing as 100 percent safe ice. Lake Shelbyville is a flood control project with fluctuating water levels, therefore the U.S. Army Corps … Read More

Growing up in Sullivan: A Saturday Morning Adventure

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January 28, 2015 by Jerry Ginther NP Columnist On one of my bicycling tours of the town when I was 12 or 13 years old, I came upon a man plowing a garden near the intersection of Seymour and Strain streets. That, in and of itself, was not unusual, but the fact that he was plowing the garden with a horse caught my attention right away. Even in the late 50’s this was somewhat of a novelty to see someone plowing in town with a horse. Truthfully, there was something else about this scene that made it even more appealing … Read More

Obituaries 1-28-2015: Tom Marlow

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Tom Marlow A funeral service for Thomas E. Marlow, 88, of Arcola was held at noon today (Wednesday) in Edwards Funeral Home in Arcola with the Rev. Vince Rohn officiating. Burial with military rites was in Dodge Grove Cemetery in Mattoon. He passed away at 6:47 p.m. Tuesday, January 20, 2015 in St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tucson, Ariz. … Read More

New Crop Insurance Option for Specialty Crop Growers

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January 28, 2015 USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) announced the release of the Whole-Farm Revenue Protection crop insurance program for the 2015 crop year. The policy allows producers to insure between 50 to 85 percent of their whole farm revenue and makes crop insurance more affordable for producers, including fruit and vegetable growers and organic farmers and ranchers. Whole-farm revenue protection combines and enhances two popular and well known plans of insurance, Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) and Adjusted Gross Revenue-Lite (AGR-Lite). Policy enhancements include an expanded range of coverage levels, coverage for replanting, provisions that increase coverage for expanding operations, … Read More

Standerfer’s “Scroll” an Ambitious Endeavor

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January 28, 2015 Fifth grader starts elementary school newspaper by Ariana Cherry Sullivan/Arthur Reporter Fifth grader Wesley Standerfer isn’t your typical kid. Just a little over a year ago, he started his very own neighborhood newspaper, the “Shumanville Times.” Living on Shuman farmland inspired him to share the family news to those nearby. He delivered print editions locally, while others requested it by email from as far away as Texas and Washington D.C. At such a young age, he already began to see the potential of the printed word so Standerfer expanded his horizons and took to reporting in the … Read More

Obituaries 1-28-2015: Dr. Earl Walker

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Dr. Earl Walker Dr. Earl Edwin Walker, loving husband of 57 years of Ruth (nee Whittenberg) Walker, passed away after an acute illness January 21, 2015 with Ruth by his side.  He was born to Carl and Thelma Walker in Princeton, Indiana, January 18, 1934. At one point, his family lived in Harrisburg, Illinois where he attended school in the one room schoolhouse in Cain Community.  He graduated from high school in Catlin, Illinois where he earned recognition in both sports and academics. At Southern Illinois University, he pursued his undergraduate degree in pre-med before moving to Chicago where he … Read More

Obituaries 1-28-2015: Leona Shank

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Leona Shank Leona Luella Gabelman Shank of Sullivan died at 4:27 p.m. Monday, January 26, 2015 in the Mattoon Rehabilitation and Health Care Center. Celebration of Life Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Thursday in the Sullivan First United Methodist Church with Pastor Charliam Renner officiating. Visitation will be 2-2:30 p.m. at the church. Burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery in Sullivan. Arrangements are by Reed Funeral Home in Sullivan. … Read More

Foodmobile in Sullivan Saturday

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January 28, 2015 The Eastern Illinois Foodbank will be distributing a truckload of food to hungry area families at the Sullivan VFW Post 6410 (1146 State Hwy 32, Sullivan) on January 31 from 10 a.m. to noon. All Moultrie County residents who meet income eligibility criteria are welcome (see below). Those attending are asked to bring bags or boxes to transport food. The distribution is part of the Foodbank’s Foodmobile Program, a system of mobile food pantries designed to help bring nutritious food to areas of chronic or extreme need. Through the program, local companies and organizations are invited to … Read More