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COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Effects on Mental Health

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•March 3, 2021•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer

From wearing masks to social distancing, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused many changes to our lives in the past year. While some social distancing is good, don’t let that turn into complete isolation from others.
According to kff.org, during the pandemic, about four in 10 adults in the United States have reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder, a share that has been largely consistent, up from one in 10 adults who reported those symptoms from January to June 2019. A KFF Health Tracking Poll from July 2020 also found that many adults are reporting specific negative impacts on their mental health and well-being such as difficulty sleeping (36%) or eating (32%), increases in alcohol consumption or substance abuse (12%) and worsening chronic conditions (12%) due to worry and stress over the coronavirus.
Dave Cole, director of the Moultrie County Counseling Center, said that statistically there has been a rise in mental health concerns and substance abuse due to the coronavirus. “I feel that it is a very big concern that the longer COVID continues it becomes an ongoing issue,” he said. Read More

Lake Land College Introduces Court Reporting Degree Program

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•March 3, 2021•
The Court Reporting Technology Degree program is a new special admission program at Lake Land College beginning Fall 2021. The introduction of the program follows the increased high demand for court reporting and closed-captioning professionals throughout the nation.
Lake Land College business faculty worked closely with area court reporters to create the degree program, which will train students for careers in the judicial setting as either official or freelance court reporters. The program also provides students with the option to attain a captioning specialization, which prepares students for careers providing captioning for broadcast television and internet programs and working with the deaf or hard-of-hearing population by providing an accurate word-for-word text translation in education, civic and corporate settings. Read More

Menu 3-3-2021

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Senior Peace Meal

For additional information or for reservations, please call 1-800-543-1770
March 8 - Beef and Noodles, Mashed Potatoes, Brussels Sprouts, Whole Grain Wheat, Peaches
March 9 - Turkey Pot Roast with Baby Carrots and Celery, Macaroni and Cheese w/Peas, Dinner Roll, Pineapple Chunks
March 10 - Ham/Cabbage Combo, Baked Beans, Dinner Roll, Cinnamon Applesauce
March 11 - Baked Chicken, Delmonico Potatoes, Italian Green Beans w/, Tomatoes, Onions & Bacon, Texas Toast, Pears
March 12 - Swedish Meatballs, Scalloped Corn, Black-Eyed Pea Salad, Whole Grain Wheat Seasonal Dessert

Recent Obituaries: Shirley Pawson

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Shirley Pawson

Shirley Pawson, 89, of Sullivan, passed away at 7:15 p.m. Sunday, February 28, 2021 in her daughter’s residence surrounded by her loving family.
Celebration of Life services will be 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Reed Funeral Home with Pastor Mike Fender officiating. Burial will be in Liberty Cemetery, rural Sullivan. Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. Memorials are suggested to the FUMC Honduras Mission Fund. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.
She was born Shirley Hanks on July 5, 1931 in Hindsboro, IL. Shirley was the widow of Robert L. Westbrook of Decatur and Clarence Phillip Pawson of Delavan.
Survivors include her son Robert ‘Art’ Westbrook (Lori Olson) of Delavan, IL, grandson Shane Westbrook (Heather) and their children Kyi, Jaxton, Egan, Ryker and Beckham, granddaughter Karli Westbrook; son William ‘Bill’ Pawson (Peggy) of Marquette Heights, IL, grandson Josh Pawson (Andrea) and their children Ethan, Samuel and Addison, granddaughter Billie Jo Jordan and her children Dillon and Brianna; daughter Nancy (Mike) Craig of Sullivan, grandson Phillip Craig (Jessica) and their children Cooper and Ellison, granddaughter Abby Russell (Nathan) and granddaughter Natalie Free (Nick).
Shirley was a woman of deep faith in God and had a great love for her family and friends. She spent may happy years on the family farm in Delavan being a farm wife. Later she became a CNA and was passionate about taking care of seniors. Her beautiful voice and musical talent was sought by many for all occasions
She was preceded in death by both husbands, one brother and one sister.

Remember When? 2-24-2021

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25 Years Ago This Week

An estimated 1,500 people gathered to see Sullivan’s new $5.6 million elementary school for the first time. The ceremony was capped by the official presentation of the school by the builders-- Jim Graham of Graham, O’Shea & Hyde Architects and Tim Erickson of Williams Brothers Construction-- to Elementary Principal Rita Florey and six students representing the grade levels at the new school. The school district plans on moving into the new facility March 5, less than a year from the beginning of construction. The $5,650,000 total cost includes furniture, equipment, landscaping, site development, fees and all construction costs. The school contains 24 regular classrooms and seven specialized classrooms. Read More

Moultrie Moment of the Week

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Pictured above is a snow buried car owned by Vic Dwerlkotte on East Jackson Street in Sullivan in February 1965. Please submit photos to the News Progress for future consideration. Originals will be saved for return or forwarded to Moultrie County Historical Society. If you have any other information, please contact the Moultrie County Historical Society at 217-728- 4085.

Pets Need Extra Care In Frigid Weather

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by Ellen Ferrara
NP Writer

Because cats and dogs are covered in fur, we tend to think they are protected from the cold, but such is not the case. Dogs and cats are as susceptible to frostbite as humans, especially on the former’s ears, tails and feet.
A good rule of thumb to remember is that if it’s too cold for you to be outdoors, it is probably too cold for your pets as well.
My cousin’s husband, Dr. Trent Fisher, is a graduate of Purdue University Veterinary School and is recently retired after many years at his veterinary clinic in Salem, Indiana. Dr. Fisher offers the following tips for pet care during the winter:
.  Make sure dogs and cats are microchipped or have a collar in case they get lost. More dogs are lost in winter storms than any time of the year.
.  Make sure they have shelter to keep them warm and dry. If sheltered outside, bed them with straw and blankets and turn their shelter away from the wind. Read More

OV Boys’ Basketball Posts Wins Against Decatur LSA, Argenta-Oreana

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•February 24, 2021•
by Jason Brown
NP Sports

The Okaw Valley boys’ basketball team improved its record to 6-1 overall and 5-0 in the Lincoln Prairie Conference with wins this week.
The Timberwolves defeated Decatur LSA Friday and Argenta-Oreana Saturday.
Okaw Valley wasted no time building a lead in the first quarter by outscoring AO 23-6. The leaders of the LPC did not look back in the 71-23 route.
Three Timberwolves finished with double digit scoring.
Eli Hagerman scored a game-high 19 points, including five 3-pointers and nine points in the first quarter.
Tyson Montgomery netted 14 points to hit double digtis. Read More