Yard and Garden: Handy ways to feed and water your tomato plants
Been thinking about planting tomatoes, but haven’t gotten around to it yet? If you purchase good-sized plants, it’s not too late to plant them. Look at all those fuzzy “hairs” on the stem. They’re actually wanna-be roots. Plant new plants deeply, burying about three-fourths of the plant!

USA's Yesterdays: Charles Wilson Peale -- Jack of many trades, master of paints
Two country gentlemen lived as virtual neighbors in early 19th-century Virginia. Both were experimental farmers. Both were devoted to the study of natural history. Both practiced music and writing discourses. Both were amateur inventors. Both had been involved in politics.

Teutopolis resident has led anti-abortion efforts for more than three decades
Go to lunch at the home of Loretta Koester in Teutopolis and you’re likely to share space at the table with stacks of pro-life literature.

Aflame for life: Teutopolis church hosts people from all walks of life for Day of Prayer
Throughout the day they came to pray, sometimes in small numbers, sometimes in large groups.

Program to explain 'Landscaping on the Wild Side'
ARTHUR — University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator Sandy Mason will share easy ways to develop an attractive landscape that birds, butterflies and other wildlife will appreciate during the program “Landscaping on the Wild Side – Attracting Wildlife to your Yard.”

Tarble Arts Center to offer August workshops for adults
CHARLESTON — Three intensive art workshops for adults (ages 15 and over) are being offered through the Tarble Arts Center, Eastern Illinois University, from Aug. 10-21.

Facts for Families: Heat alert -- Never leave a child in a vehicle!
Children, cars and heat can be a deadly combination in the summer, warns Milly Kaiser, University of Illinois Extension family life educator. And with the recent temperatures, the danger is very real.

Artist's Day in the Garden set Saturday
CHARLESTON — The annual Artist’s Day in the Garden at Dr. Whiteside’s will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

History comes home: Former minor league flagpole dedicated back to Mattoon
MATTOON -- A former baseball park flagpole that was located in the Mattoon minor league baseball park is going to fly the American flag once again over a ballpark.

Mowers named champion in 4-H aerospace judging contest
CHARLESTON — The Coles County 4-H Aerospace Judging and Rocket Launch was held on June 9 at Sister City Park, Charleston.

BOOK REVIEW: 'The Last Child', By John Hart
Review by Juanita Sherwood

BOOK REVIEW: 'Go Down Together: The True, Untold Story of Bonnie and Clyde' By Jeff Guinn
Review by Herb Meeker, Staff Writer

Farmers, check your fields — Do you need a grassed waterway?
You probably know your fields better than the backs of your hands – every slope and the soil. And you probably know the natural paths that water follows as it meanders across your fields in search of a place to drain. However, after this spring’s rainfall, that has been excessive at times, Bob Frazee, University of Illinois Natural Resources Educator reports that it may be very obvious to many farmers and landowners that some of fields are definitely in need of a grassed waterway.

ACRE informational meeting planned
The Coles County Farm Bureau, Prairie State Bank and Trust, Coles County FSA and Diversified Services are sponsoring an informational meeting on the Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) Program. It will be July 15th.

Carbon credits for forest landowners becoming increasingly important
With the development of voluntary carbon markets and consideration of federal climate change legislation in 2009, the issue of carbon credits for forest landowners is increasingly important.

"Friendship Bridge" connects church family to nursing home residents
 MATTOON — Pastor John Connett knows that things happen in God’s time, and not his.

Clergy Views: Many times our sacrifices benefit others
DR. JOHN CALIO, PASTOR
First Southern Baptist Church, Mattoon

Teutopolis resident has led anti-abortion efforts for more than three decades
Go to lunch at the home of Loretta Koester in Teutopolis and you’re likely to share space at the table with stacks of pro-life literature.

Teutopolis church hosts people from all walks of life for Day of Prayer
Throughout the day they came to pray, sometimes in small numbers, sometimes in large groups.

Sam Parr Lake: area's hidden jewel
Who cares if it’s sprinkling a bit of rain, right? Rosalie, that’s who! She loves to fish as long as it’s dry and sunny and the wind isn’t blowing and the fish are biting and the birds are chirping and there are a few snakes for her to aggravate or at least some turtles to watch.

From pythons to fungi, foreign species are invading America
WASHINGTON (AP) — A pet Burmese python broke out of a glass cage last week and killed a 2-year-old girl in her Florida bedroom. The tragedy became the latest and most graphic example of a problem that has plagued the state for more than a decade: a nonnative species that is wreaking havoc in the Everglades, threatening people, the environment and native wildlife.

When raccoons become a problem
It’s hard to get mad at animals that look so cute. It is a problem I face these days as I witness one of nature’s mothers try to teach her young how to survive on their own.

COLUMN: Right crankbait means
maxium productivity
We all know that crankbaits produce fish pretty much all year around and in all weather conditions. So why do we not catch fish all of the time on crankbaits? Mostly because we fish the bait that suits us instead of pleasing the fish, or we’re not fishing in the right location. The old adage that 90 percent of the fish live in 10 percent of the water is still as true today as when it was first uttered. Unfortunately, most of the anglers are fishing in the 10 percent that holds few fish.