Photo by Crystal Reed
Probus Signs with Kaskaskia
Maddy Probus signed her letter of intent on Monday, February 27 to play softball at the collegiate level at Kaskaskia College. Some of her many accomplishments include the 2019 Joe Marks Award, 2021 Defensive Award Sullivan HS, 2022 Redskin MVP Award, 2022 CIC 2nd Team All Conference, 2022 Herald and Review Honorable Mention, 2022 News Gazette Honorable Mention. She is pictured with her father Mike Probus and mother Jennifer Dinger.
As Pritzker makes $250M pitch for child care investment, data show the obstacles to access across Illinois
•March 8, 2023•
By Andrew Adams
Capitol News Illinois
aadams @ capitolnewsillinois.com
In some Illinois communities, finding child care isn’t just a routine task for families to work through, but a seemingly impossible dream.
In some of those places, costs are too high for middle class families to afford. In others, day cares have had to cut staff, limiting the number of available placements. Some areas, especially rural ones, have just one or two licensed day care centers for a population of hundreds of children.
Gov. JB Pritzker has made child care and early childhood education a priority in this year’s proposed budget. Since introducing his budget on Feb. 15, he has visited child care centers in eight cities to promote his “Smart Start” plan, a program of policies aimed at bolstering the child care workforce and making it more affordable for families.
“It is important to us to make sure that every 3- and 4-year-old in Illinois can go to preschool and have child care available to them,” Pritzker said during the Springfield stop on his multi-city tour. Read More
•March 8, 2023•
Daylight Saving Time begins this Sunday, March 12, and the Red Cross reminds you to turn your clocks forward one hour and test your smoke alarms. Working smoke alarms can cut the risk of dying in a home fire by 50 percent. It is important to “Turn and Test” to help stay safe from home fires – the nation’s most frequent disaster. Read More
•March 8, 2023•
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) launched its annual Women’s HERstory Month campaign — developed to celebrate and support women-owned businesses and future female founders throughout Illinois. As part of the month-long celebration, DCEO is hosting events, launching a social media campaign, and sharing new resources to elevate and promote Illinois’ entrepreneurial women.
“DCEO is committed to uplifting communities who have historically faced barriers to business ownership, and we’re proud to spotlight and support women-owned businesses across our great state during Women’s History Month and beyond,” said Acting DCEO Director Kristin A. Richards. “In order to ensure Illinois remains the best place to live, work and do business, we continue to focus on supporting women as they continue to make progress and break glass ceilings.” Read More
•March 8, 2023•
By Cheri Burcham
Family Life Educator
Health is a lot more than how one looks and feels. Conversations about health should include all eight dimensions or areas of wellness—that is mental, social, emotional, spiritual, financial, occupational, environmental, and intellectual. That’s the focus of Living Well Month, a national event in March promoting overall wellness and the education provided by Family and Consumer Sciences professionals to improve the lives of people, families, and communities.
“The Illinois Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences works through University of Illinois Extension to offer information that will help families achieve a positive, healthy lifestyle,” says Cheri Burcham, Family Life Educator. “Whether you are trying to manage your diabetes through meal planning and exercise, make decisions about health care and insurance, or get tips on effective parenting techniques, Extension FCS has a research-based answer.” Read More
Kathleen Wood
Kathleen Wood, 97, of Sullivan, passed away at 7 p.m., Saturday December 31, 2022, in St. Mary’s Hospital in Decatur. Read More
Debra Monroe
Debra Kay Monroe, 62, of Bethany passed away at 6:35 a.m., March 3, 2023, in Decatur Memorial Hospital. Read More
Dwight Miller
Dwight A. Miller, 91, of Sullivan, passed away in Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana.
Graveside services will be 11 a.m., Friday, March 10, in Greenhill Cemetery in Sullivan with Pastor Grant Wade officiating. Military honors will be conducted by the Sullivan American Legion Post #68. Read More
Jean Lacher
Jean Linda Lacher, 82, of Sullivan, passed away at 2:30 a.m., Friday, March 3, 2023, at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield. Read More
Kenneth Bontrager
Kenneth R. Bontrager, 63, of Sullivan, IL passed away Monday, March 6, 2023 at 9:26 p.m. at his home surrounded by his family. Read More