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Red Cross Offers Extreme Heat Safety Tips

News Progress Posted on by

•August 23, 2023•

Extreme heat is expected throughout much of the Illinois region this week and it is important to take action and be prepared to protect yourself and your loved ones. The Red Cross offers the following reminders that help us stay safe when the temperatures soar.

1. Hot cars can be deadly. Never leave children or pets in your vehicle. The inside temperature of the car can quickly reach 120 degrees.

2. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids. Avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol. Read More

SBL Hospice Binga Set for September 7

News Progress Posted on by

•August 23, 2023•

The Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Foundation will host its annual SBL Hospice Binga on Thursday, September 7, at the Mattoon Eagles Club, 1917 Oak Avenue. Net proceeds from this event will support the SBL Hospice House Endowment.

The new Hospice House, opening later this year, is a beautiful 14,470 square-foot facility complete with eight private suites, a family gathering space, beautiful landscaping and more to help make patients’ last days as comfortable as possible. Donations will directly impact people throughout East Central and Southern Illinois by helping those with limited resources pay for their stay at the Hospice House. Read More

On Adult Diapers and Causation v. Correlation

News Progress Posted on by

•August 23, 2023•

By Jim Baumann

NP Guest Writer

I try to be a positive force both in this column and my workaday life, so I was surprised to find this email from Mark Taylor in my inbox:

“Look at this headline with a triple negative: ‘Harder to avoid virus when tests aren’t free?’ I think it means, ‘Tests are no longer free, so the virus is making a comeback.’ I see now that this article is from The Washington Post, so maybe your editors simply adopted their headline along with the story.”

I wasn’t on the debate team in high school, because I would have been that kid who was a deer in the headlights, drooling instead of counterpunching, but I do like a good, reasonable, respectful discussion these days. Read More

Facts for Families

News Progress Posted on by

•August 23, 2023•

By Cheri Burcham

Family Life Educator

Have the uncomfortable money talk with your college student

Having a college student of my own – I can relate to this important article by Kathy Sweedler with Illinois Extension. Kathy says: student loans, rental agreements, car purchases, employment contracts plus day-to-day spending – all in the life of a college student! Between the ages of 18 to 25 years old, people go from spending money on fun to significant financial decisions that can affect them for many years. Launching young adults includes helping them develop healthy financial behaviors. Read More

Birth to Five Illinois Meetings

News Progress Posted on by

•August 23, 2023•

Learn about the strengths and needs of Region 11 and about their report and share your insights. There will be two meetings, one on Tuesday, September 5 for Moultrie County from 6 to 8 pm on Zoom. RSVP for a link. The other meeting will be on Thursday, September 7 from 6 to 8 pm at the Arthur Community Building, 120 E. Progress St. in Arthur. For more information visit www.birthtofiveil.com/region11.

Mobile Food Pantry

News Progress Posted on by

•August 23, 2023•

The University of Illinois Extension in cooperating partnership with Decatur Catholic Charities and Sullivan United Methodist Church will hold a mobile food pantry on Thursday, September 14 from 4 to 5 pm at Sullivan United Methodist Church, 216 W. Jefferson, Sullivan (across from the firehouse). A mobile food pantry delivers a 2 week supply of food per family in rural communities. Any individual or family that does not have a steady food supply qualifies to receive food. No financial information is required to qualify. This distribution is open to all, not only residents of Sullivan. Please note: There is a mobile food pantry held in Windsor, Sullivan and Lovington. Choose the location closest to your residence. Deadline to sign up is 4:30 pm on Thursday, September 7. To signup call 217-259-2920 or 217-728-8521 during the Sullivan Senior Center’s regular business hours.

Tentative FY 2024 Budget Approved, Student Enrollment Numbers are Dropping

News Progress Posted on by

•August 23, 2023•

by Ariana R. Cherry

The 2023-2024 FY Tentative Budget was approved at the school board meeting Wednesday, August 16. “We try to be as conservative as possible when we put these numbers together. It is a solid budget, and we fell into tier four this year,” Superintendent Shannon Cheek stated. The EAV dollars and enrollment are how the state decides how much funding the school district will receive and what tier it is put into. The ALAH district received an additional $890.

“Our EAV continues to grow each year, but when your enrollment is dropping, that is not such a good thing. But even with those two factors, I feel like we have built a pretty solid budget. We fell into the black this year, but the fund that we need to monitor the most is our transportation fund. Those rates continue to go up. We are projecting a deficit in that account and will have to monitor and see what happens. There is a chance that we might need to do a transfer of funds,” explained Cheek. Read More

Arthur Area Art Council to Promote Artists Through “Artist of the Month Program”

News Progress Posted on by

•August 23, 2023•

by Ariana R. Cherry

At their meeting on Tuesday, August 8, members of The Arthur Area Arts Council spoke about starting an “Artists of the Month” program and creating opportunities to partner with local business owners in downtown Arthur who might be interested in displaying art. 

They will begin by putting out a “call for artists” via local news outlets and social media. Any age will be eligible for artist of the month. Their plan is to help get local artists’ names out in the community while also helping support local businesses and organizations in the area. If the council is able to find businesses who are willing to partner with them, the art from the individual who is named “artist of the month” will be showcased in that particular business which will get promotions throughout the month. Artist Don Chambers also offered the possibility of adding the business in the background of his comics that he publishes in the newspaper for added exposure as well. Read More

Moultrie County Sheriff Makes Arrest Related to Scam 

News Progress Posted on by

•August 23, 2023•

On Friday, August 18, 2023, the Moultrie County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations and the Lovington Police Department, arrested Kaushal S. Patel, age 30, of Oaklawn, Illinois, for the felony offense of theft by deception.

The Moultrie County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint of a resident receiving multiple phone calls from an unknown caller. Read More

Illinois Deer Donation Program Hosting Food Pantry Summit

News Progress Posted on by

•August 23, 2023•

The Illinois Deer Donation Program is excited to offer a Food Pantry Summit on Wednesday, September 13 from 9am-3pm at the Lake Land College Foundation & Alumni Center in Mattoon, IL. Extension will be offering training on food safety, the relationship of trauma in food, and food dignity. Sessions will include information about the Illinois Deer Donation Program and how to become a partnering pantry to receive ground venison for your pantry guests. Food handlers training with certificate will be offered free of charge. Read More