New U of I educator, IDC director says there is no shortage of challenges

LAWRENCEVILLE - Steve Groner's new job will take him to five southeastern Illinois counties, but he'll be giving special consideration to Lawrence. Groner is the new University of Illinois Extension Educator for the Community and Economic Development serving Edwards, Richland, Wabash and Wayne counties, as well as Lawrence. As part of the job, he's director of the Lawrence County Industrial Development Council, with help from Jessica Gertsch, the office assistant. The two work from the extension, located west of Lawrenceville on Illinois Route 250. Thursday, September 15, 2016

IECC plans Constitution Day activities

OLNEY - Illinois Eastern Community Colleges will observe Constitution Day on Friday.  IECC officials said the following activities are planned at the IECC colleges: •Frontier Community College: The Learning Resource Center (LRC) at Frontier Community College will have a Constitution Day display and distribute free copies of the U.S. Constitution booklet and other Constitution Day 2016 materials.  The LRC will also sponsor a Constitution Day Trivia Contest and register students to vote. •Lincoln Trail College: LTC will have a Constitution Day display in the library.  Pocket-size copies of the U.S. Constitution will be available. Informative videos on the Constitution will be available from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Information and notices on 2016 Constitution Day will also be included on LTC's social networking pages. •Olney Central College: At OCC, a Constitution Day exhibit will be on display in the Anderson Library and free booklets of the Constitution will be available to students.  "Creating the Constitution" will be played on monitors in the Anderson Library gallery from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.   •Wabash Valley College: A Constitution Day display will be prominently featured in the Learning Resource Center. Copies of the U.S. Constitution booklet will be available to students and visitors from the community.  WVJC-TV will also telecast a reading of the preamble by President Matt Fowler. Wednesday, September 14, 2016

VU prepared to help ITT students

VINCENNES - Vincennes University is ready to help ITT students who have had their education disrupted by the sudden closing of ITT Technical Institutes. "If we can assist Hoosiers affected by the ITT closure, we would certainly be ready to work with them," said VU President Chuck Johnson. ITT was banned Aug. 25 from enrolling new students who used federal financial aid because the company had become a risk to students and taxpayers, according to officials from the U.S. Department of Education. Monday, September 12, 2016

Lawrence County Fall Festival opens Wednesday

LAWRENCEVILLE - Festival season is in full swing in Lawrence County and the area. The Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce-sponsored festival will again feature carnival rides, games, entertainment and plenty of good food.

Ultralights become retirement hobby for local man

LAWRENCEVILLE - Sixty-eight-year-old Jim Kelly of Lawrenceville has quite the interesting hobby not too many people in Lawrence County find themselves doing, especially after retirement.  Kelly loves to fly ultralight aircrafts. He learned to fly ultralights in 2015 and has been flying them ever since. Kelly originally started flying planes in the 90s when he took lessons in Mount Carmel and received a private pilot's license in 1991. Shortly after receiving his pilot's license, he purchased a Cessna 150 airplane; however, he eventually sold it to pursue other interests and avenues.  Thursday, September 8, 2016

Summer Junior Ranger Series to host 'Natural Resources Day'

VINCENNES - George Rogers Clark National Historical Park is inviting youth and their families to the fourth Junior Ranger Day. "Natural Resources Day" will be held at the Houchins Shelter at Ouabache (Wabash) Trails Park in Vincennes from 1-4 p.m. (EDT) on Sept. 17. Junior Ranger programs are geared to youth from ages 5-16 but open to any who wish to participate. Junior Rangers will rotate through a variety of interactive stations and discover how the environment provides us with a variety of goods and services, from energy sources to fertile soil. Rangers will also learn about various animals. Thursday, September 8, 2016

FCA 5K fund-raiser to be used for free summer camp

SUMNER - The Red Hill High School Fellowship of Christian Athletes, along with the Lawrenceville High School FCA chapter hosting the annual 5K Color Run/Walk and Family Fun Run at Red Hills State Park on Oct. 8. The race will begin at 8 a.m. and runners and walkers from all over the area are invited to participate.  Organizers said the event is a fund-raiser. The money raised will go toward hosting an FCA Sports Camp next summer.  The camp will be made available to Lawrence County students going into the fifth through eighth grades.  It will be offered free to these students. "In order to put this camp on, we must raise the money needed to provide the camp," organizers said in a news release.     Participants who pre-register for the Red Hill and Lawrenceville FCA 5K Color Run/Walk and Family Fun Run will receive a T-shirt and color packet. Friday, September 2, 2016

Record rainfall measured in Illinois in August

CHAMPAIGN - The statewide average rainfall for August was 6.89 inches, 3.30 inches above normal and the wettest August on record, according to Illinois State Climatologist Jim Angel, Illinois State Water Survey, University of Illinois. This year's August rainfall just beat the old record of 6.86 inches set back in 1977. The highest rainfall total was in Sterling with 14.01 inches. A damp July with a very wet August combined equals the wettest July-August on record. The rainfall total of July-August was 13.74 inches, which is 6.07 inches above normal. It beat the old record for July-August of 12.83 inches, set back in 1915. Friday, September 2, 2016

Hidden in plain site

ROBINSON -Could you recognize the signs of drug abuse in your child or loved one? A free upcoming community event geared toward families and the community will shed light on the growing drug problem facing rural southern Illinois. This event will be on Sept. 13, at Highland Church of Christ, 500 W. Highland Ave., Robinson. The talk will begin at 6 p.m., with an interactive drug awareness exhibit opening at 5:30 p.m. The "Hidden in Plain Sight" exhibit, presented by Community Partners Against Substance Abuse (CPASA), is an interactive exhibit that helps teach parents what to look for if they suspect their child has a drug problem. Open only to those age 21 and older, the exhibit features a mock bedroom with drug paraphernalia camouflaged throughout the room. The highlight of the night will be the evening's speakers "A Man in Recovery," a Naperville, Illinois-based group with the mission of helping drug addicts and their families. Tuesday, August 30, 2016

LIHEAP enrollment through ERBA begins Thursday

LAWRENCEVILLE - The Lawrence County Embarras River Basin Agency, Inc. (ERBA) will begin accepting applications for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) beginning Thursday Local ERBA officials stressed that this Sept. 1 round of applications is only for households with members 60 years of age or older, or receiving disability. On Oct. 3, applications will be accepted for families with children under age six and for disconnected households. On Nov. 1, all other eligible households may make application. Residents should call 943-2938 for an appointment. Monday, August 29, 2016