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Mobile Food Pantry

News Progress Posted on by

•January 20, 20201•

The University of Illinois Extension, in cooperating partnership with sponsors Decatur Catholic Charities and Windsor School District will be having a mobile food pantry on Wednesday, February 10 from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm. 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. This distribution is open to all, not only residents of Windsor. You must sign up prior to February 2 by calling 217-855-5616 during business hours of 8 am to 4 pm Monday-Friday. Once your form is completed by phone, you will be given a number to bring with you on the day of distribution. If you lose your number, you need to bring identification. Food will be distributed according to your household size on Feb 10, from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm at the Windsor Grade School cafeteria.

Foods That Can Positively Affect Mood

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•January 20, 20201•
No one is immune to the occasional bad mood. Whether it’s the weather, waking up on the wrong side of the bed or another variable, various factors can have an adverse affect on a person’s mood.
Food is one factor that can have a positive effect on mood. Certain foods have been found to positively affect mood, so incorporating them into your diet may help you stay positive even on those days when you get up on the wrong side of the bed. Read More

COVID-19 Update: New Guidance on Indoor Dining, Vaccination Plan, New Virus Strain, Sports

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Indoor dining allowed in Tier 1, but no regions there yet; Vaccine Phase 1B starting Jan. 25

•January 20, 20201•
By Jerry Nowicki
Capitol News Illinois
jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com

Gov. JB Pritzker announced revisions to his COVID-19 mitigation tiers Friday that would allow earlier indoor dining, but no regions have thus far met the requirements.
He also announced that the whole state would move to Phase 1B of vaccination efforts as of Jan. 25, while some counties might already individually have entered that phase. As well, a new, more contagious strain of the coronavirus has been confirmed to be spreading in Illinois.
Per the revisions, indoor dining will be allowed in Phase 1 of the mitigation plan with the lesser of 25 people or 25 percent capacity allowed. An establishment must serve food to be able to offer indoor service, reservations will be required, tables will be limited to four people each, and the establishments must be closed between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. Read More

Miller Draws Criticism for Remarks Referencing Hitler

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•January 20, 20201•
By Janice Hunt
NP Guest Writer

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mary Miller (R-Ill.) of Oakland has apologized after drawing national criticism for quoting Adolf Hitler during a rally Tuesday, Jan. 5, two days after taking the oath of office.
Miller was speaking to the group Moms for America outside of the U.S. Capitol when she said, “Each generation has the responsibility to teach and train the next generation. You know, if we win a few elections, we’re still going to be losing, unless we win the hearts and minds of our children. This is the battle.
“Hitler was right on one thing – he said whoever has the youth has the future. Our children are being propagandized. Today, I want to encourage you to do two things. Fill your children’s minds with what is true and right and noble, and then they can overcome evil with good because they actually discern between what is evil and what is good.”
Reaction to her reference to Hitler included some calls for her resignation. Miller later apologized and said some people were “trying to intentionally twist my words to mean something antithetical to my beliefs.” Read More

How to Make Driving in Inclement Weather More Safe

News Progress Posted on by

•January 20, 20201•
Impaired visibility can be a safety hazard while driving. Everything from sun glare to hail can affect a driver’s ability to see the road and navigate it effectively. Before drivers get behind the wheel, they should make note of their local forecast and make a plan for what to do if rain, snow or other conditions make it challenging to drive.
The International Association of Traffic and Safety Sciences indicates that, based on an examination of crash test data conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the “likelihood of a crash increases during periods of low visibility, despite the tendency for less traffic and for lower speeds to prevail during these times.”
Drivers can take several steps to improve their visibility when driving in poor weather conditions. Read More

6 Steps to Organize Your Home Office

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•January 20, 20201•
Remote working has become popular in recent years, but the “working-from-home” economy bloomed exponentially as the world was forced to confront the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Stanford economist Nicholas Bloom, as of summer 2020, 42 percent of the United States labor force was working from home full-time.
The need for home office spaces has increased as more people work from home. Many people have retrofitted various spaces around their homes into areas to get work done. More organized home work spaces can increase productivity. Individuals can follow these guidelines to create effective, organized home offices.
Begin with the desk Read More

Heightened Security Measures Remain in Place at Illinois Capitol After Quiet Weekend

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•January 20, 20201•
By Tim Kirsininkas
Capitol News Illinois
tkirsininkas @ capitolnewsillinois.com

While there have been no confirmed threats made against the Illinois Capitol, heightened security measures remain in place “out of an abundance of caution” after a quiet weekend in the capital city.
State officials said it will remain that way until sometime after the Wednesday inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden.
Following a riot at the U.S. capitol building on Jan. 6 and an FBI warning about possible armed protests around the nation in the lead-up to Biden’s inauguration, Gov. JB Pritzker activated 250 members of the Illinois National Guard Friday. Their task is to support law enforcement’s efforts to secure the city.
“Following the violent siege at our nation’s Capitol and reports from federal law enforcement on threats to state capitols, I am bringing all resources to bear to protect our residents and our democratic process,” Gov. JB Pritzker said in a news release Friday.
Pritzker said Friday there were no specific threats necessitating the activation, other than the FBI’s Jan. 11 warning about possible armed protests in all 50 states. Read More

Okaw Valley Ag Program Receives ADM Cares Grant

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Photo by Crystal Reed
One of Okaw Valley’s heifers with her baby that was born on January 7. Through an ADM Cares grant this year the ag program was able to purchase two bred heifers and one bred gilt. The two heifers will be the foundation of the Okaw Valley Ag Beef program.

•January 20, 20201•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer
Housed in a blue nondescript building behind Okaw Valley High School is a unique hands-on experience that allows students to learn about agriculture while they are still in school. Okaw Valley High School ag instructor Wes Wise believes that his program is offering an experience no one else in Illinois is doing.
The Okaw Valley ag program was started in 2016 in partnership with the US Army Corps of Engineers which involved an ag lease in exchange for in-kind services. The past two years the program has received ADM Cares grants.
The goal for the program is to build a university farm on the high school level. They have a land lab and land for agronomy as well as a science, fishery, tree and wildlife program. Read More

Dumping Tires

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Photo submitted
Dumping Tires
Recently John Durbin discovered that about 75 tires had been dumped in a drainage ditch in Sullivan Township. Last week through the cooperation of the Sullivan Township and Neal Tire in Sullivan, Township Highway Commissioner Richard Rutledge, operator Matt Elder and volunteers Joe and Mark Kuhns cleared out the drainage ditch using a backhoe with a thumb and loaded the tires into a truck. Neal Tire volunteered to dispose of the tires that were removed from the ditch.