Sports Boosters Add Another Donation to the List

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June 18, 2014 Also selling Cardinal tickets as latest fundraiser by Keith Stewart keith@newsprogress.com Volleyball warm ups, middle school track equipment, swimming gear, weight room equipment, a softball pitching machine, a tackling sled, an indoor pitching mound, trophies for athletics… The list goes on and on, and it’s just a portion of what the Sullivan Sports Boosters have purchased in recent years. But more recently, the organization,along with Sullivan Youth Baseball, footed the cost to completely renovate the batting cages at Wyman Park, a cost of around $8,000. … Read More

Open House for Saunders’ Retirement

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The Lovington Public Library district has announced the retirement of library director Suzy Saunders effective June 30, following 20 years of service. An open house is planned for Saturday, June 21, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the library. The public is invited to stop in and wish Saunders a happy retirement. Punch and cookies will be served. For more information contact the library at 217-873-4468. … Read More

J-Creek Breakfast Fundraiser Saturday

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The ministry group Caring Christians is doing a fundraiser breakfast from 7-10 a.m. this Saturday.12 The last fundraiser raised approximately $800 and is used to make weekend snack bags for students at Lovington grade school.  Last year the church was able to make 25 bags a week, and next year’s goal is 50. The breakfast will consist of biscuits and gravy, fruit, sausage, a waffle bar, eggs, juice, milk and coffee for a donation. … Read More

Bethany Post Office Celebrates Zip Code Thursday

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The Bethany USPS office will modestly celebrate this coming Thursday, which represents the village’s zip code, 61914. Postmaster Shelly Freeman and clerk Cindy Yoder invite the public to come in to the USPS office from 9-11:30 a.m. or 12:30-4 p.m. Thursday and enjoy cookies decorated with the village’s zip code. Bethany postal carriers are Norm Yoder, Luke Casteel, Cheryl Cribbet and John Oliver, and custodian is John Krohn. … Read More

Twain’s Classic Still Rings True with LTOTS’ Performance

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By Dan Hagen NP Theatre Critic “Big River” is a show with big heart that delivers big entertainment. What could be more natural — and trickier — than marrying the American popular art form of the musical with what a considerable number of people have called the greatest American novel, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” Mark Twain’s 1884 novel became a successful Broadway musical precisely 100 years later, running for more than a thousand performances. The Little Theatre’s production, directed and choreographed by Kelly Shook, succeeds on the strength of its exemplary cast. … Read More

Lovington Says “No” To Sunday Liquor Sales

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Ministers speak out against proposition by Joash Tiarks Reporting in Lovington It could have been contentious, but in an anti-climactic, routine village board meeting last week Lovington trustees voted five to one against allowing the sale of package alcohol on Sundays within the village. The topic originally came up for discussion at the May meeting but several trustees were uncomfortable putting it to a final vote because it was thought the matter had to be posted for public consideration. And given the extra time, the public did in fact weigh in on the matter. … Read More

State’s Attorney Receives Grant to Aid Violent Crime Victims

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Will help victims find resources often needed but unable to find by Keith Stewart keith@newsprogress.com Moultrie County State’s Attorney Jeremy Richey announced at Thursday’s county board meeting that his office has been named the recipient of a Violent Crime Victims Assistance (VCVA) grant in the amount of $11,000. “About six months or so ago I applied for this grant. The purpose of this is to get a victim witness coordinator, someone who will be a contact person when you have a victim of a violent crime or even a property crime. They can contact our office to know what the … Read More

From Big Screen To Computer Screen

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By Gerald Tilley Social Security District Manager in Decatur It’s summertime, and that means it’s time for popcorn, snacks, and blockbuster movies on the silver screen. Have you noticed that many of the heroes in theaters this year seem to be of a certain age? In fact, some of them are old enough they could easily be getting Social Security retirement benefits even as they continue to work—saving the world or otherwise. … Read More

New Ideas About Food

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by William C Bailey School of Agriculture Western Illinois University An interesting confluence of events could affect your pocketbook the next time you go shopping. Because of strong international demand for dairy products, butter prices are near record levels with the retail price of butter nearly 50% higher than last year at this time. A similar situation holds for beef. Prices are near record levels, with rib eye prices nearly 10% higher than last year and hamburger prices almost 50% higher. And, as the beef industry attempts to re-build the national herd from its smallest size in 60 years, beef … Read More