Relay For Life Defies Rain

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•August 15, 2018• By Ellen Ferrera For the News Progress A sudden rain squall overturned tents and sent people scurrying for cover just as the Relay for Life was set to begin Friday evening at 5 p.m. The event was delayed an hour before the skies cleared, but the cooler temperatures prevailed for the resilient participants. This year’s goal is $50,000 and by Relay time nearly $26,000 had been raised. An additional $17,000 raised since the Relay has put MCRL within reach. “If we reach our goal by August 31, we will receive national recognition,” staff coordinator Tony Holly announced, … Read More

Bethany Looks at Utility Recovery

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•August 15, 2018• As part of an on-going discussion between the village board of Bethany and the local landlords, Kent Frantz, president of the Sullivan Landlords Assoc., shared the experience Sullivan has had using a State Recovery Program to help towns in Illinois recover utility debts from tenants. At issue is who should pay for delinquent utility bills when tenants skip out without paying. The Bethany ordinance makes landlords responsible for overdue utilities on the property. However, the state comptroller’s office can help recoup the debts by accessing the tenants’ state wages, lottery winnings or income tax refunds. Frantz reported … Read More

Understanding Illinois: The Strength of Family and Community Can Fight Poverty

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•August 15, 2018• By Jim Nowlan NP Guest Columnist I have been reading a 2017 report, “Cycle of Risk: The Intersection of Poverty, Violence and Trauma” by a century-old social services organization in Chicago called the Heartland Alliance. Since the stated objective of the organization is to end poverty, maybe it follows that the 43-page report seems to hammer away on the theme that poverty is the fount of all social pathologies. I beg to differ. Doing so will put these scribblings in the middle of an intense, on-going, half-century old debate about the roles of culture and poverty in … Read More

Thinking About Health: Health Study “Good News” Reporting is Not Always Good

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Headlines About Medical Studies May Be More Enthusiastic Than Accurate •August 15, 2018• By Trudy Lieberman, Rural Health News Service “Lowering Your Blood Pressure Could Stave Off Dementia,” heralded the headline from Bloomberg, which was not alone in delivering the “good” news. Time advised, “There May Finally Be Something You Can Do to Lower Your Risk of Dementia.” Reuters’ headline was even more definitive. “Lowering Blood Pressure Cuts Risk of Memory Decline: US Study.” Readers can be forgiven if they rushed to their doctors to discuss more aggressive blood pressure treatment. Who wouldn’t want to escape the scourge of dementia? … Read More

Obituaries 8-15-2018: Mary Ann DeBorde

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Mary Ann DeBorde Mary Ann DeBorde, 60, of Sullivan, passed away at 3 p.m. Wednesday, August 8, 2018 in her residence. Celebration of Life services were at 10:30 a.m. today (Wednesday) in Reed Funeral Home with Bob Vail officiating. Burial was in Greenhill Cemetery in Sullivan. Ms DeBorde was born August 23, 1957 in Cincinnati, Ohio, a daughter of Charles and Mary Lyons DeBorde. Mary Ann was a woman of many talents, best described as a domestic goddess, seeker of knowledge, talented writer and artist, devoted mother, lover of animals, and an amazing woman. Survivors include her daughter Chandra (Caleb) … Read More

Christmas Tree Returns to Middle

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•August 15, 2018• Lovington Village Board terminated officer Rick Levine at the regular meeting on July 9. Levine, a Lovington police officer, appeared before the village board along with attorney Richard Blass. Blass asked the board for the reasons for taking action and copies so he could address them. He was referred to the attorney handling the matter. Dennis Garmon moved to terminate Levine based on recommendation of the village attorney, chief of police and police trustee Pam Anklam. Brenda Wood, Garmon and Gary Clem voted to terminate. April Daily voted against the motion, and Anklam abstained. Anklam reported that … Read More

Governor Rauner Attends Sullivan Marina Gathering

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•August 15, 2018• Governor Bruce Rauner visited the Moultrie County Republican Central Committee candidate’s gathering at NorthEnd Pub and Grill at Sullivan Marina Monday, August 13. Gov. Rauner pointed out that Central Committee Chair Dave McCabe and the Moultrie County Republican party are a passionate organization dedicated to party values and giving back to the community. Before a crowd of 75 the governor emphasized his campaign pledge to work for term limits and replace Michael Madigan as leader of the State House of Representatives. Gov. Rauner illustrated his commitment to helping pick up the nine seats needed to gain control … Read More

Obituaries 8-15-2018: John Casteel

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John Casteel John F. Casteel, 93, of Lovington passed away at 6:36 a.m. Tuesday, August 7, 2018 in the Anna Veterans’ Home in Anna, Illinois. Celebration of Life services were noon Saturday in Reed Funeral Home in Sullivan with D. J. Smith officiating. Burial was in Keller Cemetery in Lovington with military rites conducted by Lovington American Legion Post #429. Mr. Casteel was born July 7, 1925 in Moultrie County, a son of Charles W. and Lydia Schuetz Casteel. John was a farmer and had worked for the Illinois Department of Transportation in Sullivan. He was a WWII Army veteran … Read More