The Prairie Press

Adult education is key

Paris Union School District 95 took another step to help adults earn their high school diplomas this past week. Paris Superintendent of Schools Jeremy Larson announced plans to offer adult … more

1/20/20

Seeing the good and bad in people

It has been an interesting week. Good news came at the end of last week when volunteers with the Salvation Army were doing a final count of kettle donations and found a gold coin wrapped in a … more

1/13/20

New year will bring taxing times

The next time someone think lawmakers should do something to make things better for the public, consider this: More than 250 new laws will take effect in Illinois on Jan. 1 and many of them are … more

1/6/20

Go tell it! Christ is born

“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirin′i-us was governor of Syria. “And all … more

12/23/19

Shop local this season

Many of us know why residents should shop locally instead of going online or traveling to another community to buy gifts. We invite you to consider reasons how you benefit yourself, your … more

12/2/19

A Bee Well opportunity

We normally would not say this, but stay out of Twin Lakes Park – unless actively participating in Bee Well’s Dashing through the Lights, Wednesday, Nov. 27. This first time event gives people … more

11/25/19

Celebrate our veterans

“To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of … more

11/12/19

‘Shop small’ a big deal

As we move past Halloween and forward to Thanksgiving, Christmas shopping will begin in earnest for many families in East Central Illinois. It’s no accident, then, that this year’s Christmas … more

11/4/19

Think Halloween safety

In case you’ve missed the candy displays or don’t have a young person in the house to remind you, Thursday is Halloween. When we were younger, this day meant running from door to door with our … more

10/29/19

NECAS moving again

The Northern Edgar County Ambulance Service (NECAS) special meeting Tuesday, Oct. 15, finally got something moving. Board members voted to place an advisory question on the March 17 ballot asking … more

10/21/19

Be kind to one another

“I’m friends with a lot of people who don’t share the same beliefs that I have. We’re all different, and I think we’ve forgotten that’s OK that we’re different… But just because I … more

10/14/19

Celebrate our freedom

Beginning Sunday through Saturday, Oct. 12, newspapers throughout the country are marking the 79th annual National Newspaper Week. The annual observance is a recognition of the service of … more

10/7/19

NECAS now in doubt

The failure of the Ross Township Board to act Thursday night on the question of how to save the Northern Edgar County Ambulance Service again prolongs the effort to find a workable funding … more

9/16/19

Declare Jesse White Day

In 1998, Jesse White was elected to lead an Illinois Secretary of State’s office that was mired in scandal. Four years earlier, a truck driver who had paid a bribe to obtain an Illinois license … more

9/9/19

Get busy with NECAS

The time to make a decision about the fate of the Northern Edgar County Ambulance Service is long past due. Earlier this year the NECAS board started a process to create a special service area to … more

9/4/19

Watch out for the kids

School is back in session this week throughout Edgar County. That means preschool age through high school students are out again in large numbers. Let’s make this a safe year by taking special care … more

8/26/19

Making a difference

An additional 60 Paris 95 children will have the opportunity to attend pre-school during the 2019-2010 school year, thanks to an Illinois State Board of Education grant — and we believe this will … more

8/19/19

Talk to your children

Edgar County students will be returning to their classrooms next week. It’s a good time for students and parents to prepare for the year ahead. Spark PE, a research-based group providing … more

8/12/19

Put your phones down

Cartoonist Walt Kelly coined the phrase, “we have met the enemy, and he is us,” in the 1960s as a reflection of the turmoil surrounding the war in Vietnam. The phrase — a reprise of the … more

8/5/19

It’s been a fair week

It’s been a fair week in Edgar County with both the 4-H Fair and the Edgar County Fair dominating the activities for our friends and neighbors. As always, the 4-H fair, under the direction of … more

7/29/19