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Drew Kirk Creates, Plans and Places Signage For Water Trail

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Photo furnished
Drew Kirk has created, planned and placed signage for the Lake Shelbyville Water Trail. From left to right: Illinois Corps of Engineers volunteer Erica Nabers, Andrew Kirk and SPARK volunteer Laurrie Minor.

•August 26, 2020•
While many people enjoy fishing and other watersports on Lake Shelbyville, Drew Kirk hopes to get people out in kayaks and canoes with the completion of his Eagle Scout Project.
Kirk’s project was planning, creating, and placing signage for the Lake Shelbyville Water Trail, a project developed by the Sullivan SPARK’s Park and Recreation Committee, the US Army Corps of Engineers, and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
“The trail was initially proposed by the Corps, “Kirk noted. “It starts at the Denham Pit access area north of the main lake and goes with the current allowing people to travel with ease.”
While the trail signs are not all installed yet, people are already using the trail. Read More

Coffee, Cookies and Conversation with the Mayor

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Photo by Ellen Ferrara
About 20 people attended last Wednesday’s Coffee with the Mayor held at the Sullivan McDonald’s..

•August 26, 2020•
by Ellen Ferrera
for the NP

Last Wednesday was the perfect, sunny fall day for Mayor Richard Glazebrook to pitch a tent in McDonald’s parking lot and coffee klatch with Sullivan residents.
Between 7 and 9 a.m. some twenty people formed their portable lawn chairs into a tight semi-circle while enjoying coffee, chocolate chip cookies and the almost lost art of gentle conversation. Several city workers, dressed in their neon yellow, came by as did others in their vehicles to wave support for the Mayor.
Mayor Glazebrook made several announcements to the group, the first being that future meetings of the City Council would be held at the Little Theatre so more people could attend and social distancing possible. All attendees to the Council meetings must wear masks as this is the Theatre’s policy. Read More

Alumni Banquet Canceled

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•August 26, 2020•

The 2020 Sullivan High School Alumni Banquet has been cancelled for this year, according to a release by the Sullivan Alumni Association, long-time sponsors of the event. The banquet was to be held in October at the 1225 Building in Sullivan and would have celebrated all graduates but especially the 50th anniversary of the class of 1970. That celebration is moved to the 2021 banquet.
The Association felt that due to the well-known possible corona virus dangers inherent in any group gathering, they did not want to place any of the alumni or their families in jeopardy.
The Association’s Hall of Fame and Who’s Who awards will be resume next year when, hopefully, the corona virus is history. To leave a message or make a nomination for next year’s awards, please go to facebook.com/SullivanAlumniAssociation/

Kruckerberg Starts Training

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•August 26, 2020•

Keegan Kruckeberg, son of Richard and Robin Kruckeberg of Sullivan is one of seventy-four medical students from the Class of 2024 that has begun their academic medical training at the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. The students are starting four years of intensive education to become physicians.

COVID-19 Update

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Moultrie County Remains at Warning Level for 2nd Straight Week

•August 26, 2020•

For the week ending August 21, The Moultrie County Health Department (MCHD) has confirmed a total of 16 new cases of COVID-19. These individuals range from 6-90 years in age and include individuals related to the Sullivan Rehabilitation and Health Care Center (SRHCC). Public health officials have notified all close contacts.
On Wednesday, August 12, SRHCC identified 20 Moultrie County residents and staff who were positive with COVID-19. This week, five more residents and two staff members all of whom reside in Moultrie County have been confirmed positive for COVID-19. Of the SRHCC cases, four individuals are hospitalized with one in the ICU. The rest are recovering in isolation in their residence. The SRHCC continues to work closely with the MCHD and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).
To date, 2,914 Moultrie County residents have been tested for COVID-19. Of those tests, 131 have been confirmed positive for COVID-19. A total of 37 Moultrie County residents remain in isolation due to COVID-19.
For the second straight week, Moultrie County has exceeded the acceptable positivity rate set by the IDPH for COVID-19 activity. These numbers occurred during the week of August 8-15, and include the SRHCC situation along with elevated numbers from community-based transmission. For more information, visit the IDPH county metric map at www.dph.illinois.gov/countymetrics?county=Moultrie.
The Moultrie County Health Department is asking all individuals and businesses to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our communities by using the three basic W’s:
• Watch physical distance and keep six feet from others.
• Wear a mask when in public places.
• Wash hands routinely.
The CDC recommends that individuals who are experiencing COVID-19-like symptoms stay at home and away from other people until:
• At least 10 days have elapsed since symptoms first appeared and
• In the last 24 hours the individual has been fever-free without fever-reducing medication and
• Symptoms have improved.
People with weakened immune systems may need to self-isolate longer than 10 days.
Information on area testing sites can be found at 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 on Facebook at www.facebook.com/moultriecountyhealth.

Early Deadlines

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•August 26, 2020•

Early deadline for the September 7 issue of the News Progress is Friday, September 4 for all advertising. The News Progress will be closed on Labor Day.

MCHD Acknowledges COVID-19 Exposure and Takes Prompt Action

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•August 20, 2020•
Sometimes the enemy is closer than one thinks. The Moultrie County Health Department (MCHD) has received notice of a COVID-19 exposure in its office. For the safety of those the department serves and to reduce the risk of further COVID-19 transmission, the MCHD building will be closed to the public through Thursday, August 27, 2020. Until then, the health department will remain partially staffed and available for calls during regular business hours. Due to concerns about potential identification, additional information about the case/exposure is not being released.

“It is essential that we continue to serve our county to the best of our ability during this critical period,” said Moultrie County Health Department Administer Angela Hogan, RN, MSPH. “Staff and services will remain available as feasible by phone, Mon.-Fri., 8:30 a.m. - noon and 1- 4:30 p.m. Please call our office at 217-728-4114 if you need to schedule an appointment or to obtain immunization records, information or other assistance.”

Hogan noted that cases of COVID-19 are on the rise in Moultrie County and asks that all individuals join the department in reducing the transmission of the COVID-19 virus. She expressed confidence in our ability to achieve this reduction and reiterated the following four steps:
Wear a mask when in public or with anyone who is not a household member;
Watch physical distance from others in social situations and gatherings;
Wash hands frequently;
Stay home if ill or experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19.
Hogan goes on to say, “To every person in Moultrie County, the MCHD Staff greatly appreciates your patience and understanding during this challenging time. We are in this battle together, and our staff will continue to do our part to assist you in every way possible. Please do your part to protect each other and reduce the burden which COVID-19 places on our residents, schools, businesses and communities.”

For more information on the Moultrie County Health Department’s news, events and services and COVID-19 updates, please visit www.moultriehealth.org and follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/moultriecountyhealth.

Sincerely,

Glenda Plunkett

Moultrie County Public Health Department

Public Health Services Coordinator

202 S. Main St. l Sullivan, IL 61951

Office: (217) 728-4114 l Fax: (217) 728-2650

Sparrows Hold Collection Drive Saturday

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•August 19, 2020•
Lovington American Legion Auxiliary and Sparrows Unlimited members will be doing a collection drive for the kids of Lovington Grade School on Saturday, August 22 from 9:30 to 11:30 am in the middle of town, Lovington. They will be collecting school supplies, masks, hand sanitizer, Clorox type wipes, paper towels, baby wipes, spray bottles for cleaning, beach towels for outdoor learning, picnic tables, paper plates, plastic cups and plastic silverware. Cash donations are appreciated as well.

Redistricting Reformers Seek to Change to Mapping Process

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Illinoisans can use app to draw their own communities

•August 19, 2020•
By Rebecca Anzel
Capitol News Illinois
ranzel@capitolnewsillinois.com

Reformers say it’s time for Illinoisans to “advocate for themselves” when lawmakers redraw the state’s political boundaries in a few months.
That’s the message the Coalition for Honest and New Government Ethics, or CHANGE Illinois — a group that has long advocated for changes to the redistricting process — intends to deliver through an online application its helped develop.
Using Representable, residents can input information about their communities — geographic borders, historical information, cultural and ethnic members and economic factors — to draw more “actionable” maps for use by lawmakers during redistricting, said company co-founder Preet Iyer. Read More