Woman Killed in Saturday Morning Crash

12/05/2009

A 39-year-old woman lost her life early Saturday morning in a fatal car crash in Christian County. Beth Pearson-Holthous of Nokomis was driving a 2008 Chrysler Sebring on IL RT 16, west of CR 1900 East. The vehicle traveled off the roadway, and struck a culvert before going airborne just around 3:30 am. The woman’s vehicle came to rest in the south ditch of route 16; entrapping her inside. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident is currently under investigation.

Twilight Parade Today

12/05/2009

(Taylorville) The annual Taylorville Twilight Parade takes place tonight in Taylorville. Parade lineup begins at 4:30, with festivities getting underway at 5:00 pm. For the complete parade route go to downtowntaylorville.com.

Courthouse On Display Friday Night

12/05/2009

(Taylorville) The Christian County Courthouse showed off its new look to central Illinois Friday night, with a special ceremony that kicked off at 6 pm. The event was part of the 2009 Taylorville Holiday Home Tour. The 107 year old courthouse has undergone a series of restorations, including a new stained glass dome. Those restorations were on display Friday night, along with entertainment provided by Lincoln portrayals and french horn music.

2nd Annual 'Adopt A Family' Underway

12/05/2009

The Taylorville Care Center is currently accepting donations for their second annual “Adopt A Family” fundraiser. Activity Director for the Taylorville Care Center Erin Domonusky says that they have adopted three families this year in hopes of bringing joy to them this holiday season.

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Domonusky adds that the community is encourage to give monetary donations to help out the selected families for gift purchasing.

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For more information, or for anyone wishing to donate to the Taylorville Care Center “Adopt A Family,” contact Taylorville Care Center Activity Director Erin Domonusky at 217 – 824 – 9636.

Illinois Could Face Lawsuit Over The Spread Of Asian Carp

12/05/2009

The state of Michigan is considering suing the state of Illinois over the spread of Asian carp. On Wednesday, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm sent a letter asking the state Attorney General to pursue "every legal means" to keep the fish from entering the Great Lakes. Office of the Great Lakes Director Ken Debeaussaert says Michigan wants the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal closed to keep the fish from spreading.

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A spokesperson for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources says they are aware of the potential legal action but will "let the lawyers sort it out." Federal and state authorities poisoned the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal Wednesday to stop the spread of Asian carp.

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Debeaussaert says the state is worried that the spread of Asian carp could hurt the region's four-and-a-half-billion-dollar sporting fish industry.

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Debeaussaert says Michigan is involved in the cleaning action at the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal.

For more information regarding the Asian carp problem visit the website www.asiancarp.org/rapidresponse.

Turner Named Pana Bank & Trust Volunteer Of The Quarter

12/04/2009

As a community bank, Peoples Bank & Trust recognizes the value of volunteerism in our communities. To recognize, commend and promote the volunteerism, Peoples Bank & Trust has established a program to recognize an outstanding community member for their volunteer efforts of improvement to our community.

Stephen Turner has been chosen as the Peoples Bank & Trust Volunteer of the Quarter for his support with the American Cancer Society. Stephen is an American Cancer Society CAN member, an organization that does lobbying and educational outreach for cancer awareness. He is also an ACS Western Board member, communications chair and participates in the monthly radio program. He has participated in the ACS Relay for Life for 10 years.



Besides his services with the American Cancer Society, Stephen has served on the Taylorville City Council, Delavan IL School Board, Chair and Board member of the Christian County United Way as well as United Way Campaign Chair at the Kincaid generating station. He has also served as a Counselor at Camp Care-A-Lot, Taylorville High School Band Booster Co-President, Taylorville Optimist Club member serving as President for 2 years and 4th of July Co-Chair. Steve is also past Director of Christian County Economic Development.

In honor of his service, Peoples Bank has donated to the American Cancer Society and Mr. Turner’s name will be placed on a plaque to be displayed at the bank.

Peoples Bank & Trust is an independent Community Bank with five offices located in Pana, Taylorville, Altamont, Tower Hill and Springfield. Peoples is a full service bank offering outstanding customer service to consumers, small business, and farmers in Central Illinois. People First Bancshares, Inc., with corporate offices in Pana, Illinois, is the holding company for Peoples Bank & Trust.

State's Corn Crop "Still Has A Long Way To Go" According To Pioneer Agronomist

12/04/2009

In October farmers saw a near record-breaking amount of rainfall, as well as near record lows for the month, causing many farmers throughout the state to put off an already delayed corn harvest. With more precipitation in the latter part of November, farmers continued to struggle to get the remaining corn harvest out, and according to Pioneer agronomist Brad Radamacher the state still has a long way to go.

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Radamacher says that diplodia ear rot has been a major threat to this year’s corn crop due to all of the moisture.

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Radamacher says for anybody needing more information to contact their local Pioneer sales professional.

High Lake Levels Continues To Put Lake Shelbyville Boaters At Risk

12/04/2009

The recent heavy rains in central Illinois has once again forced many of the primary boat ramps on Lake Shelbyville to be closed. With Lake Shelbyville taking in more water than it can let out, many of the boat ramps, beaches, and even some of the trails are underwater, forcing Lake Shelbyville boaters and fishermen to use the high-water boat ramps. Natural Resources Specialist Pam Doty says that although water is high, the lake remains open.

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Doty adds heavy rainfall has slowed down construction on some of the new Lake Shelbyville projects including the new bathroom facility at the dam west overlook.

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Doty says its unclear at this time if the high lake level will affect lake activity come spring.

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The U.S. Army Corpse of Engineers would like to remind boaters to use extreme caution stating that with high waters comes hidden debris.

Shelby County Health Department Holding H1N1 Vaccination Clinic

12/04/2009

On Monday, December 14th, from 2:00pm until 6:30pm the Shelby County Health Department will offer a walk-in H1N1 Influenza A vaccination clinic for all people ages 6 months through 24 years of age. Administrator for the Shelby County Health Department Steve Melega says only certain people will be eligible for the vaccination.

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Melega adds that anybody with questions, or anyone that would like more information is urged to contact the Shelby County Health Department.

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The SCHD would also like to remind parents that children nine years of age and under will need to receive a second dose of H1N1 vaccine at least 28 days after the first dose to be fully protected. Clinic dates will be scheduled for those children requiring a second dose.

For additional H1N1 information go to www.flu.gov, or www.ready.illinois.gov, or call 217 – 774 – 9555.

"Taking Tea With Mrs. Lincoln" This Weekend at Taylorville Memorial Hospital Auditorium

12/04/2009

This weekend you can enjoy “Taking Tea With Mrs. Lincoln” at the Taylorville Memorial Hospital Auditorium. This British-style tea party is an event for people to experience what tea gatherings were like in the days of Mary Todd Lincoln. Charry Fines of Cottage Rose says that it was the “Remember When” event at the Christian County courthouse that brought about this years theme for the tea party.

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Fines explains that the tea party hostesses use their very own antique tea sets for the party.

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Fines adds that there are limited tickets left for this weekends event.

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"Taking Tea With Mrs. Lincoln" will begin at 10:30am on Saturday at the Taylorville Memorial Hospital Auditorium. Tickets for this weekends event are available at Cottage Rose for $20. For more information contact Charry Fines at 217 – 824 – 9447.

Ameren Searching For Best Solar Energy Technology

12/04/2009

Ameren is on a quest to find the best solar energy technology, launching a new solar initiative in Missouri and Illinois. Bill Barbieri with Ameren says solar energy poses specific challenges for much of the Midwest.

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The study will include installation of solar energy systems at its downtown St. Louis campus and a site in Illinois. The information will be available online to customers and schools could come into the site to learn about solar energy. Project designs should be done by April with the first phase of installation projects being completed by the fall of 2010.

Illinois Student Assistance Commission Recognizes 2010 "Ilinois State Scholars"

12/03/2009

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission recognized over 19,000 high school students from 752 different schools from across the state as 2010 “Illinois State Scholars.”

Director of Communications for ISAC Paul Palian explains that the
"Illinois State Scholar" winners rank in the top ten percent of high school seniors.

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Palian adds that there is no monetary award for those named to the "Illinois State Scholars," but that it is a great thing to add when applying for colleges.

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Palian says you can show friends and relatives the award online, as well as find out more information for college planning and information to help pay for college.

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For more ISAC information visit their website www.knowhow2goillinois.org, or call
800 – 899 – 4722. To view the awards by county and school online, visit www.collegezone.com.

Farmers Making Progress On Corn Harvest

12/03/2009

In this week’s crop report, Brad Schwab tells us that despite muddy fields, farmers were able to make some progress on harvesting corn. He adds, however, that the late harvest progress has led to fall tillage falling behind regular schedule.

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Tune into Regional Radio weekly for crop reports from Brad Schwab through the end of the 2009 harvest.

Even With Cancer, Holidays Can Be A Great Time Of Year

12/03/2009

Dealing with cancer is very stressful for both patients and their families and the stress can increase during the holidays.

Families who have someone diagnosed with cancer are faced with multiple stresses caused both by the disease and by seasonal activities. But, Chad Noggle, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield, says the holidays can be enjoyable for the individuals with cancer and their families. He offers these suggestions.

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Noggle says communication is the key to getting through the holidays. He advises families to listen to the concerns of the person with the disease and be there to support and comfort them.

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Noggle says families should involve the person who is ill in the activities and make sure they feel part of the festivities. He recommends that families focus on being together rather than focusing on the illness. If someone has serious difficulty coping with the illness, they should contact a local cancer support group, mental health counselor or their family physician.

12/03/2009

Dealing with cancer is very stressful for both patients and their families and the stress can increase during the holidays.
Families who have someone diagnosed with cancer are faced with multiple stresses caused both by the disease and by seasonal activities. But, Chad Noggle, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield, says the holidays can be enjoyable for the individuals with cancer and their families. He offers these suggestions.

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Noggle says communication is the key to getting through the holidays. He advises families to listen to the concerns of the person with the disease and be there to support and comfort them.

Click here for audio

Noggle says families should involve the person who is ill in the activities and make sure they feel part of the festivities. He recommends that families focus on being together rather than focusing on the illness. If someone has serious difficulty coping with the illness, they should contact a local cancer support group, mental health counselor or their family physician.

Pana Moose Lodge #1015 Donates "Tommy the Moose" Stuffed Animals To Pana Fire and Police Departments

12/03/2009

The Pana Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge #1015 recently donated several stuffed “Tommy the Moose” animals to the Pana Fire Department and Pana Police Department.
Pana Fire Chief Rod Bland says that the dolls will be given to children who are at the scene of an accident or fire.

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Moose Lodge #1015 Administrator Pete Harlow says that the stuffed animals are purchased from the National Moose Organization, and it’s a program that they’d like all lodges to be a part of.

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Harlow adds that the mission of the “Tommy the Moose” program is to give the local police and fire departments stuffed animals to children so they can have something to find comfort in.

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For more information regarding “Tommy the Moose” contact the Pana local Moose Lodge #1015 by calling 217 – 562 – 2433.

Lincoln Land Community College Officially Breaks Ground On Long Awaited EREC Classroom Building

12/02/2009



Wednesday marked a historical and monumental day for the campus of Lincoln Land Community College’s Eastern Region Education Center in Taylorville. Community members, students, faculty, and other city dignitaries were in attendance as the Lincoln Land Board of Trustees broke ground with their ceremonial shovels for the first major step in the realization of the new $2.9 million dollar facility. Executive Director of the EREC Jim Brubaker says that this is a big step forward for Lincoln Land Community College of Taylorville.

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Brubaker adds that LLCC is all about providing the best education possible at the most affordable cost.

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After the groundbreaking ceremony, the Lincoln Land Board of Trustees invited everybody in attendance to meet and greet session located inside the Administration Building.

Slot Machines For Racetracks Is Good Business According To Illinois' Horse Racing Industry

12/02/2009

The Illinois horse racing industry says letting racetracks offer slot machines would be good for state revenues.

A statewide infrastructure plan passed by the state legislature this year depends in part on revenue from legalizing video poker in local communities. But many towns are saying “no” to more gaming, and that’s where the tracks come in says representative Bob Molaro of Chicago.

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Molaro says this would provide money for the capital bill, and for the sagging horse racing industry. Racetracks have long lobbied for gaming machines, saying they are needed to compete with the riverboats and increase their purses. Molaro says he’ll introduce legislation on this proposal next month.

Taylorville City Council To Be Televised On Local Public Access Channels

12/02/2009

Taylorville City Council meetings will now be as transparent as ever. Starting next Monday, all bi-monthly meetings will be televised in their entirety on the New Wave Communications and Consolidated Communications public access channels. Mayor Greg Brotherton, who’s using his own camera to record the meetings, says he got the idea from local church groups.

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New Wave Communications will air the meetings on the second and fourth Monday of each month at 4:30 pm. Consolidated Communications will air the meetings on the second and fourth Monday of each month at 10:00 pm, and again on the following Thursday at 3:30 pm.

Taylorville Kiwanis Holds Monthly Business Meeting

12/02/2009

The Taylorville Kiwanis Club held their monthly business meeting at their weekly meeting Tuesday at the Taylorville Memorial Hospital Auditorium.

Kiwanis committee chairs reported on their activities to promote children and youth in the Taylorville community.

Kiwanis Key Club chairperson Brenda Spurling reported that the High School Key Club will be distributing Christmas baskets to needy families during the month of December, and in January the club will be holding a fund-raiser with the proceeds to benefit Cystic Fibrosis. The Taylorville Kiwanis Key Club is the high school organization of the Taylorville Kiwanis Club.

The Taylorville Kiwanis Club is part of a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time. Weekly meetings are held Tuesdays at noon at the Taylorville Memorial Hospital Auditorium.

IDOT Begins "Operation Save 100"

12/02/2009

The Illinois Department of Transportation has started a new a campaign in hopes of reducing the number of traffic deaths across the state. IDOT Director of Traffic Safety Mike Stout says the "Operation Save 100" initiative is being done to keep a thousand Illinoisans from losing their lives on the roads.

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Stout adds the department will also focus on reducing distracted driving in work and school zones.

House Republican Leader Tom Cross Calling For Committee To Meet About Thomson Correctional Center

12/02/2009

House Republicans are calling for a special committee to study the state’s potential sale of a northwest Illinois prison to the federal government that will house terrorism suspects now held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

House Republican Leader Tom Cross has called on House Speaker Michael Madigan to establish a bipartisan committee to help address topics ranging from safety and security to how many jobs would be created and how much the federal government would pay Illinois for the Thomson Correctional Center.

87th District State Representative Bill Mitchell agrees with Cross. The Forsyth Republican says his main concern is whether or not the terror suspects will be tried in central Illinois federal courthouses.

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Mitchell believes the people of Illinois deserve the opportunity to question the federal government's intentions with the facility, and more importantly the Guantanamo detainees. He says a House committee would be able to address the situation openly and transparently to allow for a more knowledgeable decision.

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Critics of Cross' request call it a duplication of efforts, as a bipartisan House-Senate committee is already set up to examine the sale of the Thomson prison. Governor Quinn hopes a decision on Thomson can be made before the end of the year.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources To Repair Chicago Sanitary And Ship Canal Electric Barrier

12/02/2009

On Wednesday, December 2nd, members of the Asian Carp Rapid Response Workgroup will be on site at the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal near Lockport to begin response operations on the electrical barrier for the ongoing battle to keep Asian Carp from entering Lake Michigan. Spokesman for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Chris McCloud explains that the nuisance specie is a major threat to Lake Michigan.

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McCloud says that although no physical specimen of Asian Carp has been collected in the Sanitary and Ship Canal, there is plenty of eDNA that proves the threat is imminent. McCloud adds that while the electric barrier is down for repairs, the IDNR will be adding Rotenone to help combat the species during constructional phases.

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McCloud says that anyone who believes they have captured either species of the Asian Carp should notify the IDNR or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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Although most Asian Carp problems are within the Illinois River, as well as the Mississippi River, anglers have reportedly caught some of the nuisance specie in some local waters such as Lake Decatur, the Kaskaskia River, and the Sangamon River. For more information about the Asian Carp Rapid Response Workgroup visit www.asiancarp.org/rapidresponse.

Illinois Lottery Teams Up With Illinois Department Of Health For "Red Ribbon Bonus Bucks"

12/02/2009

In recognition of yesterdays World AIDS Day, the Illinois Lottery and the Illinois Department of Public Health unveiled a new Quality of Life scratch-off ticket, “Red Ribbon Bonus Bucks,” with 100 percent of the net proceeds helping support HIV and AIDS-prevention education and awareness across the state of Illinois.

The Illinois Lottery, in partnership with IDPH, legislative supporters, and HIV/AIDS advocates, is once again working together to raise millions of dollars to help people living with HIV and AIDS in Illinois, and is encouraging residents to “Wrap it Up Illinois.”

Illinois has the sixth highest number of AIDS cases in the nation, with more than 40,000 reported cases of AIDS since 1981. Of those diagnosed with the disease, about 19,996 persons have died. In 2008, there were 1,915 persons newly diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. This represents an 8 percent increase in the number of new diagnoses over the previous year.

During this winter season, the Illinois Lottery is encouraging people to participate in “Wrap It Up Illinois,” and are offering a special red Quality of Life commemorative scarf, while supplies last, to those who submit $20 worth of non-winning “Red Ribbon Bonus Bucks” scratch-off tickets.

For more information regarding “Wrap it Up Illinois,” visit www.wrapitupillinois.com.

For more information about HIV/AIDS in Illinois, call the Illinois AIDS, HIV, and STD Hotline at 1-800-243-2437. Trained counselors can help to answer your questions and help find a testing site.

Lincoln Land Community College To Offer Culinary Courses

12/02/2009

Lincoln Land Community College is partnering with the Pasfield House to offer a variety of culinary classes beginning in January. Featured on the Food Network with world-renowned chef, Bobby Flay, the Pasfield House Chef’s Table will host local top chefs cooking up German, French, Creole, tapas, desserts, chocolates, and more. Each class will include recipes, step-by-step instructions, as well as a light dinner to be prepared by the chef.

Program Director for the Lincoln Land Culinary Department Jay Kitterman explains that classes begin Thursday, January 21st.

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Kitterman says the first course offered is ‘Knife Skills’ with Lincoln Land’s very own Denise Perry, as she will demonstrate various knife cuts, what knives to own, and how to properly maintain them.

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All classes will take place at the Pasfield House Kitchen Chef’s Table, located west of the Capitol Complex at 535 South Pasfield in Springfield. Classes will begin at 5:30pm. Cost for the classes is $49, with the exception of the Creole class, which will cost $59. For more information, or to register for the classes, call Lincoln Land Community College’s Registration Services at 217 – 786 – 2292, or toll free at 800 – 727 – 4161, extension 62292.

Deer Harvest Numbers Down For Second Year In Row

12/01/2009

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources recently released the preliminary numbers for deer harvested in the first weekend of the 2009 Illinois Firearm Deer season. For the second straight year, first weekend numbers were down from the previous year. Hunters were able to harvest 66,126 deer this year, as opposed to 71,894 deer this time last year. Spokesman for the DNR Tim Schweizer says that although numbers were down, a good amount of deer were still harvested in the first part of the 2009 firearm season this year.

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Schweizer says that it’s not only the farmers who are suffering from a prolonged 2009 harvest, but that the hunters are also having troubles as deer have been taking shelter and refuge by hiding in the fields.

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Schweizer says that with the second firearm season drawing near, harvest progress and weather conditions should lead to better numbers for hunters.

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Preliminary numbers for Christian County shows that 400 deer were harvested in 2009, which is 66 less than the previous year. For Shelby County, 996 deer were harvested versus 1,025 from the year before. The final weekend of the 2009 Illinois Firearm Deer season begins this week, starting Thursday, December 3rd, running through Sunday, December 6th.

Nokomis Holds 18th Annual Turkey Bowl

12/01/2009

Nokomis North Elementary School recently held the 18th Annual Turkey Bowl. Four teams participated in the league, with each team having seven to eight players. Commissioner, referee, and quarterback for all the teams participating in the Turkey Bowl, Nokomis North Elementary School Principal James Rupert, says it was one of the closest games in Turkey Bowl history.

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The games were played Monday, November 23rd, through Wednesday, November 25th, with the championship game being played on Wednesday. The championship game saw the St. Louis Rams and the Tigers go head-to-head. Captain B.J. Chausse led the Rams, and captain Josh Clymer led the Tigers. The Tigers would score first. Despite a late rally by the Rams, the Tigers would go on to win by a final score of 18 – 12.

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Aside from commissioner of the games, Rupert was also the quarterback for all the teams, as well as the referee. Rupert complemented all the teams for their hard work, and commended them on all of their good sportsmanship throughout the tournament.

Governor Quinn Asks Families To Remember Active Duty Soldiers And Veterans During This Holiday Season

12/01/2009

Governor Pat Quinn is hoping Illinois families remember active duty soldiers and veterans this holiday season.
There are several ways you can honor our troops, such as giving to the state’s military family relief fund, or picking up a few veteran’s cash instant lottery tickets. The governor is urging children to get involved as well.

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For more details on how to get involved in these programs, visit the website, www.OperationHomeFront.org.

IDOT Releases Tips For Safer Driving During Holiday Season

12/01/2009

Illinois Department of Transportation officials have released several guidelines for drivers during the holiday season. Department spokesperson Paris Ervin says the biggest thing drivers can do is to be alert, aware, and plan ahead before going out.

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Ervin adds that drivers should take it slow when approaching intersections, off ramps and shady areas because they are prone to black ice.

IRS Looking For Illinoisans Who Haven't Received Tax Refunds

12/01/2009

The Internal Revenue Service is looking for about 36-hundred Illinoisans who haven't gotten their tax refund. IRS spokesperson Sue Hales says most of the unreturned refunds are for people who have moved and didn't update their address.

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Anyone wanting to find out if they have an undeliverable tax refund is to go to www.irs.gov and click the "where's my refund" link.

Illinois Treasurer's Office Looking To 'Bling In The New Year'

12/01/2009

Looking for the perfect gift this holiday season? The Illinois Treasurer’s Office can help. Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias’ office is selling more than 30,000 dollars worth of jewelry, coins, and other collectibles during its two weeklong ‘Bling in the New Year’ holiday eBay auction. The auction kicked off on November 25th, and runs until December 9th. Money raised from the auction goes toward reducing the state’s pension deficit. Spokesman for Giannoulias, Scott Burnham explains that the auction’s 60 items come from safe deposit boxes that were abandoned at financial institutions.

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The auction used to take place live at the Illinois State Fair, before Giannoulias moved it online in August of 2007. Burnham says the auction has been much more successful since the transition occurred.

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To partake in the auction, visit the website www.treasurer.il.gov, and click on the special eBay logo.

Taylorville EREC Set For Groundbreaking On Wednesday

12/01/2009

Construction on a new classroom building at Lincoln Land Community College in Taylorville officially gets underway with a groundbreaking ceremony tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon in Taylorville. The ceremony will take place at noon on the campus of Lincoln Land Taylorville at 800 South Spresser. Lincoln Land Trustee Wayne Rosenthal says it feels good to finally break ground on the new facility.

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Rosenthal says plenty of 'big wigs' will be on hand for tomorrow’s groundbreaking.

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The new 12,500 square foot facility will provide seven classrooms and a state of the art science lab. Rosenthal says the building will enhance educational opportunities in Taylorville.

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Rosenthal says everyone is welcome to attend the ceremonial groundbreaking. Newstalk 97.3 WTIM-FM will broadcast live from the event, as shovels break ground at noon.

Two Arrested In Relation To Saturday Morning Shooting In Taylorville

11/30/2009

During the early hours of Saturday morning, the Taylorville Police Department responded to a shots fired in the 1100 Block of Sherman Street. Upon their arrival, Taylorville Police Department personnel found a male subject suffering from a non life-threatening gunshot wound to the leg.

Officers were advised that the suspect had fled from the scene in a vehicle. The Springfield Police Department, Sangamon County Sheriff’s Department, and the Illinois State Police later located the suspect and vehicle in question.

Marcus A. Moulds was arrested and charged with unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, aggravated robbery, and aggravated discharge of a firearm. Moulds was being held in custody of the Christian County Correctional Center pending formal charges.

Moulds’ passenger, Melvin T. Archer, was also arrested on a FOID card violation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Farmers Adding Cooler Temperature To Their List Of Obstacles In 2009 Harvest

11/30/2009

As the 2009 harvest season reaches ‘crunch time’, farmers in central Illinois now have to add cooler temperatures to their list of obstacles. U of I Natural Resources Educator Gary Letterly says when it’s cold and soggy, the drying conditions become problematic for crops. Letterly adds that throughout the month of November, farmers have been grappling with mold problems.

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Given the weather conditions and delays, Letterly struggles to remember a harvest season as difficult as this one. Despite heavy rainfall, which resulted in the second wettest October on record, and cooler temperatures, which lead to the seventh coldest October on record, Letterly says farmers managed to do okay.

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Weather hasn’t been the only problem this harvest season. Letterly says farmers are also dealing with other issues like long lines at the elevator.

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There is no rain in the forecast for this coming week, however temperatures are predicted to drop to the mid 30’s by mid to late week.

FDA Approves 'Agriflu'

11/30/2009

There is a new seasonal flu vaccine now approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Known as Agriflu, the vaccine does not offer protection against the H1N1 virus. The new vaccine is made by Novartis and is intended for people 18 and older. The company has another seasonal flu vaccine called Fluvirin which can be given to children as young as four. The FDA said Agriflu was given the green light through an accelerated approval process, but added further studies are still needed on the vaccine. Agriflu had previously been available in Europe.

Social Security Administration And Department Of Defense Team Up For 'Wounded Warrior Initiative'

11/30/2009

The Social Security Administration is teaming up with the Department of Defense to show their appreciation for the men and women serving in the armed forces. Through an agreement with the Department of Defense, Social Security is making an effort to speed up the process of disability claims for people in active military duty. Jack Myers, of the Social Security Office in Springfield, says the ‘Wounded Warrior Initiative’ applies to anyone injured during active duty on or after October 1st of 2001.

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Through the ‘Wounded Warrior Initiative’, Social Security will have access to the Department of Defense electronic database, making the securing of medical records easier. As a result, Myers says the processing time for disability claims becomes significantly shorter.

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For more information on the program, and to register, visit the website www.socialsecurity.gov.

Mayor Brotherton Says Potential Dredging Of Lake Taylorville Is Important Issue To Keep In Mind

11/30/2009

There are more pressing issues facing the city of Taylorville than the potential annexation of Bertinetti Lake, which is why city officials decided during their last meeting to put the controversial matter on the backburner. With a new water tower on the way, and numerous street and sewer projects in the works, lost in the mix is the potential dredging of Lake Taylorville. Silt dams at the Lake are filling up, which is why Mayor Greg Brotherton says a 20 to 30 million dollar dredging of Lake Taylorville will eventually need to happen.

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Brotherton says dredging the lake is not an urgent matter, but he believes its something that current city officials need to think about and discuss.

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The Mayor agrees that Lake Taylorville is a money-losing proposition. However Brotheron says some things, like the lake, just can’t be measured in dollars and cents.

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Some people suggest that building a new lake would be cheaper then dredging. Brotherton says when its all said and done, building a new lake would be much more expensive then dredging. Regardless, the mayor says right now the city doesn’t have money for either one of the potential projects

Quinn Signs Phone 'Cramming' Bill

11/30/2009

Governor Pat Quinn signed a new law Sunday, aiming to stop unauthorized charges from showing up on your phone bill.
The measure was supported by the Citizens Utility Board, and battles a problem known as cramming says Executive Director David Kolata.

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This law requires third party companies to confirm the service and subsequent charges before they go on your phone bill.

Lake Shelbyville's 20th Annual Deer Hunt Yields Rich Harvest

11/29/2009

Lake Shelbyville – The Twentieth Annual Deer Hunt for People with Disabilities, hosted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Wolf Creek State Park was held November 20, 21 & 22. Numerous sponsors, partners and volunteers helped make the event one of the best ever at Lake Shelbyville. Twenty-six hunters harvested eighteen deer. The event provided a high quality recreational experience for those members of the outdoor community faced with disabilities. It also served as a management tool to keep deer populations at appropriate levels to limit disease, deer-automobile collisions, and crop and vegetation damage.

Trophies, donated by D to Z Sports in Mattoon, were awarded for the first deer, largest buck, largest doe and smallest deer. Grants from the NRA Foundation, Wal-Mart, and Kaskaskia-Kaw River Conservancy provided food and other supplies needed for the three day hunting event. Other donations to the hunt included drinks provided by Lithia Springs Marina and hats for volunteers provided by Prosser Construction Company.

The hard work of twenty-two dedicated volunteers performing a wide variety of tasks allowed the event to run smoothly. Volunteers took hunters to and from the blinds, carried the hunter's gear, retrieved and cleaned harvested deer, and made sure meals were served. The twenty-two volunteers donated a total of 660 hours of service over the three day period.

To obtain more information about volunteering or participating in the hunt, write, phone, or email Natural Resource Specialist, Lee Mitchell at the Lake Shelbyville Project Office, R.R. 4, Box 128B, Shelbyville, IL 62565, (217) 774-3951 or Lee.R.Mitchell@usace.army.mil.

Illinois' Oldest Capitol Building Hosting Christmas Open House

11/29/2009

VANDALIA – 1830s rooms illuminated by candle light will highlight the annual Christmas Open House scheduled for Saturday, December 12 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Vandalia Statehouse State Historic Site, the oldest remaining Capitol building in Illinois.

The Statehouse where Abraham Lincoln served as a State Representative from 1836 to 1839 will be trimmed with 1800s decorations including fresh greenery, fruits and nuts. Statehouse staff and volunteers in period clothing will greet visitors and be available to answer questions. Period recorder music will be provided by Baroque Folk. The first 100 families will receive a free handmade Christmas ornament. Cookies and mulled cider will be served by Vandalia Friends of the Old State Capitol.

The Christmas Open House is free and open to the public. It is cosponsored by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, which administers Vandalia Statehouse; Vandalia Friends of the Old State Capitol; the Old Capitol Foundation; and the City of Vandalia Tourism Commission.

The City of Vandalia was the state capital for 20 years, and during that period there were three different Capitol buildings. The earlier two are no longer standing but the third and final one, the Vandalia Statehouse, was the seat of Illinois government from 1836 to 1839. It is located one mile south of I-70 on U.S. 51 South, and is open Wednesday through Sunday for free public tours.

Black Friday Online Sales Up Noticeably

11/29/2009

Black Friday online sales were up noticeably over 2008 as shoppers went online to begin shopping for the start of the 2009 holiday season. That's according to the online retail tracking company Coremetrics, which says shoppers spent 35-percent more on the Internet yesterday than last year, with the average order reaching just over 170-dollars. Shoppers also bought an average of 5.4 items per purchase, up from last year's average of four-point-six. WalMart.com was the most popular retail site on Thanksgiving for the fifth year in a row, followed by Amazon.com and Best Buy.

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