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At a Remote Mental Health Facility, a Culture of Cruelty Persists Despite Decades of Warnings

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Federal and state officials have urged reforms at the rural facility for people with mental and developmental disabilities. But the state-run center still has more allegations of abuse and neglect than any other in Illinois.

•September 7, 2022•

By Molly Parker
Lee Enterprises Midwest

Beth Hundsdorfer
Capitol News Illinois

This article was produced for ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network in partnership with Capitol News Illinois and Lee Enterprises.
Over a year ago, the security chief at Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in southern Illinois sent an email to the head of the state agency that operates the facility, warning her of dangerous conditions inside.
“What I am presently seeing occur at Choate and hearing occur at other facilities concerns me more than it has my entire career,” Barry Smoot, a decades-long IDHS employee, wrote to Illinois Department of Human Services Secretary Grace Hou on May 26, 2021. Among the recommendations he wanted to make: that cameras be installed inside the facility.
Hou responded that same day, agreeing to meet. Read More

Former Moultrie County Clerk Receives Awards

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•September 7, 2022•
Presenter Robin Harper-Whitehead stated on August 23, 2022, that the Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders has never had a tie for County Clerk of the Year - until this year, and it was an honor to present the award to former Moultrie County Clerk Georgia England and Warren County Clerk Tina Conard.
England assumed the Moultrie County Clerk and Recorder position in June 2001 when she was appointed following the death of the previous clerk, her husband, Gerald “Griz” England. She ran for re-election, unopposed, for five additional terms. England faithfully, dutifully, and timelessly served Moultrie County until her retirement in mid-July 2022. Read More

Senior Heifer Calf Champion

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Photo by Cindy Cagwin-Johnston
Senior Heifer Calf Champion
Dameron Northern Miss 1201 won senior heifer calf champion at the 2022 Illinois State Fair Roll of Victory (ROV) Angus Show, Aug. 15 in Springfield, Ill. Quentin Day, Lovington, Ill., owns the winning heifer.

A New and Faster Way to Request a Social Security Card

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•September 7, 2022•
By Ileana Saveley
Socoal Security District
Manager in Decatur, IL

Do you need an original or replacement Social Security Number card? We now have a new – and faster – way for you to start online. When you go to our Social Security Number and Card webpage at www.ssa.gov/ssnumber, we now ask you a series of questions to determine whether you can:
· Complete the application process online.
· Start the application process online, then bring any required documents to your local office to complete the application, typically in less time. Read More

Obituaries 9-7-2022: Nancy Gill

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Nancy Gill

Nancy Gill, 85, of Sullivan, passed away 2:37 a.m., Thursday, September 1, 2022, in her home with her family around her.
Visitation will be Saturday, September 10, from 10 a.m. until noon. A Celebration of Life memorial service will be noon in the Sullivan First Christian Church with Pastor Grant Wade officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity. Reed Funeral Home in Sullivan is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be made to the family at reedfuneralhome.net Read More

Facts for Families: Monarchs, Milkweed and Mowing

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•September 7, 2022•
By Cheri Burcham
Family Life Educator

Most people that know me know that I am very passionate about protecting monarch butterflies. Their numbers have been rapidly declining each year, primarily due to loss of habitat. So recently when I turned onto the country road leading to my house and saw that the ditches that had been full of milkweed were completely mowed down, I thought it would be appropriate to republish this article from 2018. Read More