•November 18, 2020•
It is with great sadness that the Moultrie County Health Department (MCHD) confirms a ninth COVID-19 related death of a Moultrie County male resident in his 70s.
“We send our deepest condolences to his friends and family, and ask for their privacy during this difficult time,” Angela Hogan, Administrator for the Moultrie County Health Department, said. “The MCHD will release no additional information.”
To date, 703 Moultrie County residents have tested positive for COVID-19, which includes eight previous COVID-19 related deaths.
The MCHD strongly advises individuals and businesses to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our communities by using these precautions:
• Watch physical distance and keep six feet from others.
• Wear a mask when in public places.
• Wash hands routinely.
• Above all, stay home if ill.
• Protect yourself with the annual flu vaccine.
Due to the increase in cases across the state, mitigations have been put into place to help slow the spread of COVID-19. To learn more about this mitigation, please visit https://dceoresources-ssassets.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/public/Restore-Illinois/COVID-19-Resurgence-Migitations.pdf. Information on area testing sites can be found online at https://dph.illinois.gov/testing.
For more information on the Moultrie County Health Department’s news, events and services, please visit www.moultriehealth.org and follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/moultriecountyhealth.
webmaster
Letter to the Editor 11-18-2020
Dear Editor,
Having served as an election judge at the Moultrie County courthouse during this past election, I would like to publicly thank County Clerk Georgia England and her staff for their outstanding work during an especially difficult election period.
Georgia, Jamie, Pam and Mary spend countless hours preparing for early voting, absentee voting, in-person voting, and curbside voting, making sure that every eligible voter could exercise his/her Constitutional right to vote. All of this preparation was done with the pandemic adding to their workload. Read More
West & Company , LLC Announces Promotions
•November 18, 2020•
West & Company, LLC is pleased to announce some changes in our firm. Jim Russell has been promoted to Tax Manager with firm-wide review and preparation responsibilities. Jim started with the firm in the Mattoon office in January 1989 and transferred to the Sullivan office in 1998, where he has been the Office Manager since 2017. Jim has always enjoyed advising, educating, and assisting clients to help them achieve their financial goals, and he looks forward to continuing to do so in this position. Jim lives in Mattoon with his wife and daughter. Read More
Closure of Driver Services Facilities Due to Worsening Pandemic
Driver’s licenses and ID card expirations will be extended
•November 18, 2020•
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White is reminding the public that Driver Services facilities statewide will be closed for in-person transactions effective Tuesday, Nov. 17, and will reopen on Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, due to the worsening COVID-19 pandemic. White is encouraging the public to take advantage of online services.
In an effort to reduce facility visits for in-person service, White has expanded online renewals for driver’s licenses and ID cards. Not everyone qualifies, particularly those who are required to pass a written or road test. For qualifying drivers, if the driver’s license or ID card expired between Feb. 1, 2020 and Jan. 31, 2021, then the individual will receive a letter with a unique PIN needed to renew online. This letter will be sent in December 2020 or January 2021. If the driver’s license or ID card expires after Feb. 1, 2021, the individual will receive the PIN letter approximately 90 days before the expiration date. For more information on determining whether an individual qualifies for online renewal, visit www.cyberdriveillinois.com and click on “Read more on how to renew your driver’s license or ID card online” near the top of the main page. Read More
IHSA to Meet on November 19 to Discuss Policy for Winter Sports
•November 18, 2020•
by Jason Brown
NP Sports
After competing announcements coming from Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois High School Association about playing high school basketball, most athletic directors and coaches were left in the lurch this past two weeks.
Thursday Nov. 19, the IHSA Board of Directors has an originally scheduled meeting in which representatives from the Governors J.B. Pritzker’s office, Illinois Department of Public Health, Illinois Principals Association, Illinois Association of School Administrators, and others organizations are slated to discuss policy for winter sports.
The IHSA is also seeking representation at the meeting from the Illinois Principals Association (IPA), the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA), the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and a coalition of nearly 200 school superintendents who issued a letter last Friday addressed to Pritzker regarding sports during the 2020-21 school year. Read More
Secretary White Upgrades Temporary License Plates
New temporary license plates provide more information
•November 18, 2020•
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced that his office has upgraded temporary license plates (also known as TRPs or temporary registration permits), making them more durable and providing more information to law enforcement in an effort to continue to combat fraud and criminal activity.
“This newly designed temporary license plate continues to give law enforcement the tools to quickly and accurately identify the owner of a vehicle,” said White. “Illinois was the first state in the nation to connect temporary license plates with LEADS (Law Enforcement Agency Data System), and we continue to make upgrades to our program and to the temporary license plate itself.” Read More
Shelby 4-H’ers help with Mobile Food Pantry
Submitted by Yolanda Nation
Assisting with Mobile Food Pantry are, from left, 4-H members Caitlynne Therieau, Amanda Hall, Aiden Lister, Lilah Bonny, Marissa Barringer, Zoie Wemple and Delaney Nation.
•November 18, 2020•
Seven Shelby County 4-H Federation members assisted at the Mobile Food Pantry held at Windsor Grade School on October 28. The Mobile Food Pantry is sponsored by Decatur Catholic Charities and the Windsor School District and coordinated by Shelby County Extension SNAP ED Program Coordinator MaryBeth Massey. Federation members helped unload 225+ boxes and distributed food to 90 families. This is just one of many community service projects that 4-H Federation has assisted with this fall. Shelby County 4-H Federation members meet once a month and plan county programs for 4-H members, and sponsor a variety of activities for 4-H clubs. When asked why Federation members like helping in community service projects, Delaney Nation, Federation president commented “it’s a way to give back to our community and also, let the community know that the youth in Shelby County 4-H are here to help in any way we can”.[/s2If]
Remember When? 11-18-2020
25 Years Ago This Week
About $18,000 worth of damage was sustained at the Bethany home of Richard Kenneller. The fire was attributed to a malfunction in an attic furnace, Bethany Fire Chief Jerry Ward said.
Increased assessed valuation on local property will boost the Lovington school district’s tax levy to more than 105 percent, school board members learned in last week’s meeting. That means that a truth-in-taxation hearing must be held on the tax levy for taxes payable in 1996. Dianne Reedy, board secretary canvassed the election results and declared the following elected to the new Board of Education: Jan Harner, Larry Traxler and Cindy VanWinkle who were incumbents and Tina Bolsen, who was running for the seat being vacated by Dean Creviston. Read More
Menu 11-18-2020
Senior Peace Meal
For additional information or for reservations, please call 1-800-543-1770
Nov. 23 - Pork Chop in Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Seasoned Baby Carrots, Dinner Roll, Whole Grain Fruit Bar
Nov. 24 - Baked Ham, Candied Sweet Potatoes, Buttered Midori Vegetables, Whole Grain Wheat (1), Blushing Pears
Nov. 25 - Chili with Beans, Mixed Lettuce Salad w/Dressing Pkt., Crackers, Waldorf Salad
Nov. 26 - CLOSED FOR THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
Nov. 27 - CLOSED FOR THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
Schools Celebrate Veteran’s Day
Photo by Crystal Reed
Photo by R.R. Best
•November 18, 2020•
Sullivan High School’s Career English Class arranged an event called the “Road of Valor” in front of Sullivan High School and Sullivan Middle School on Veterans Day. The road was lined with 1,300 American flags representing all 1,151 students in the district and all full-time employees. Okaw Valley hosted a Veterans Day Parade through downtown Bethany. The parade was presented by the Okaw Valley Marching Band and High School Chorus. Students from the schools lined the streets holding flags, signs and banners that showed appreciation for our veterans.