Scouts BSA Troop 178’s annual spaghetti dinner and silent auction fundraiser will be held on Jan. 25, 2025, from 4 to 8 p.m., at the Morton United Methodist Church, 420 N. Tennessee Ave., Morton. Tickets are available at the door: $10 per person for adults, $7 for seniors (60+) and children, $33 for a family of up to five.
Reed Naughton has been honored as the State FFA Proficiency Winner in Agricultural Services. A member of the Olympia FFA Chapter within the Illinois Association FFA, Naughton was recognized for his work-based learning, also referred to as Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE). The Illinois FFA acknowledges students in forty-eight distinct areas for their SAEs. FFA members who exhibit exceptional agricultural skills and competencies through meticulous record-keeping, leadership, and academic accomplishments are eligible for this accolade. SAEs provide students with practical learning opportunities, whether through owning and operating an agricultural business, interning or working at an agriculture-related business, or conducting and reporting on an agricultural scientific study. Naughton's SAE is centered around his involvement in his family's auction service.
Olympia High School celebrated National FFA Week from February 19 to 23. Throughout the week, FFA members engaged in a variety of activities, including themed dress-up days, driving tractors to school, and creative alternatives to backpacks. The events featured a truck competition, a 'kiss a pig' challenge, multiple assemblies, and relay races. Senior Chase Litwiller won the straw bale tossing contest. An impressive turnout saw 16 tractors at school on Tuesday morning. FFA Officers dedicated Wednesday morning to preparing and serving a homemade breakfast for members and staff at OHS. During Tuesday's assembly, Kamryn Rader presented 'The FFA Creed' to the students. It was a week filled with enjoyable activities, celebrating our passion for FFA within our school community.
The unemployment rate decreased over-the-year in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas in January for the tenth consecutive month according to preliminary data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES). Jobs were up in twelve metro areas, and were unchanged in one, and down in another.
Everything happens for a reason. This well-known phrase holds true in our business spotlight today. Jeff McGee experienced a no-show for the DJ he hired for his wedding. He improvised and took over the responsibilities of DJ and groom. After working as the DJ for a friend’s weekend, his business never looked back. JDs DJ Service started on November 23, 1991 and began with working weddings and parties. Since then, the business has shifted to working automotive events. The mobile DJ service caters to car shows and cruise nights. McGee’s DJ service is located out of Delavan, IL and has different options for the services that can be provided.
With summertime approaching, there is nothing more fun than sitting around a fire pit with your friends or family! Well, maybe a tropical trip! Fire pits are a great way to add some fun to a yard! With a little hard work and some elbow grease, you’ll have one in no time. We put one in at our last home and loved it, I can’t wait to do it again!
In Native American culture, dream catchers were believed to catch and trap bad dreams, whilst allowing good dream to pass through the spider-web design, and drift into the heads of the children that lie sleeping below them. Nowadays, dreamcatchers come in many shapes and sizes, and are an incredibly popular bedroom decor choice! If you’re ready for some sweet dreams, why not learn how to make a dreamcatcher?
Sometimes you are in the middle of a project and realize you need something else! This happened to me when I was creating my back garden scape. I placed my new Adirondack chairs in there place. They were a perfect fit, if the ground didn’t slope down in the back! I knew I needed to make an elevated bed for them. I had recently found a ton of old pavers in the yard and knew this was the spot for them.
Into The Bloo
There’s something special about a film that doesn’t just tell a story but pulls you into its heart, allowing you to feel every shade of its subject’s journey. INTO THE BLOO achieves this with a courageous yet tender look at the creative and personal evolution of Lagoona Bloo, David Brumfield's dynamic drag persona. In just 15 minutes, director Austin Nunes crafts a dazzling narrative that blends raw emotional depth with artistic celebration, proving that even short-form storytelling can leave a lasting impression.
My Boo
A film that mixes humor and heart with an inventive twist that captivates audiences; this short film does precisely that. What begins as a quirky exploration of an unconventional romance evolves into a meaningful reflection on personal growth and the courage it takes to embrace individuality. The story combines lighthearted humor with self-acceptance, making it entertaining and thought-provoking. By balancing the whimsical with the introspective, this project captures the complexity of human emotions—even when told through a supernatural optic.
Saint Rose
Few films effectively condense emotion and thematic complexity into a short runtime like Saint Rose. This drama combines striking visuals, heartfelt performances, and sharp social commentary to tell a deeply personal and universally resonant story. It’s a testament to how powerful storytelling can thrive within any constraints, presenting a portrait of quiet resistance against systemic oppression.
The Other Side of the Mountain
Some films invite you to pause, reflect, and soak in the quiet moments that often slip past in life’s rush. THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN, directed by Yumeng He, is one of those films. This 19-minute documentary is an evocative exploration of memory and modernization, blending a personal story with themes about the passage of time and the cost of progress. By focusing on the relationship between a father and daughter as they journey through Southwestern China, the film creates a delicate balance between intimate emotions and larger cultural narratives, all while asking questions about what is gained and lost in the name of development.
Crois Pas Qu'on Dort (Don’t Think We’re Sleeping)
Some documentaries resonate beyond their surface story, capturing not just events but the essence of human determination, and CROIS PAS QU’ON DORT achieves this with genuine precision. Directed by Nick Walters and Lou Marillier, this film offers an authentic and compelling exploration of ambition through the lens of three young Parisian athletes. With its premiere at the Grand Rex venue, the documentary delivers a fresh perspective on balancing the weight of expectations with personal identity.
Temperatures are looking to rise again this week, making now a great time to talk about how to help care for your garden crops in the hot and dry times of summer. Late July through August can tend to be very hot and it is important that you are taking proper care of your crops to get them through when they are ready to be picked from the garden. Some plants can tolerate the heat better than others. When you consider that most plants are made up of 85 to 90 percent of water, it makes more sense why plants need extra attention in the heat.
Crop scouting is when fields are evaluated for pest and disease problems, or for checking in on growth progress. Scouting is important because if a problem of any kind is found in the field, it can be solved or managed as quickly as possible. This process is critical for farmers to grow their best crops and have the highest yields possible, which allows them to make the most profit. Crop scouting is a critical tool to protect a farmer’s investment in each field.
Like many holidays, the Fourth of July is connected to agriculture! In the spirit of celebrating our Independence Day this weekend, we can look at a quote about agriculture from Thomas Jefferson. The Founding Father and former president stated, “Agriculture.. is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to wealth, good morals, and happiness…”. Jefferson proclaimed the importance of agriculture in our country in a letter he wrote to George Washington.