•July 15, 2020•
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that more than 30 people lost their lives to drowning in June at lake and river projects the agency manages. The June statistics represent a 47 percent increase in drownings over the same time period last year. USACE also reported that nearly all the drowning victims were adult males between the ages of 18 and 85 and were not wearing a life jacket at the time of the drowning.
“With some public beaches and community pools closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are finding more people this summer are swimming, wading, floating, and playing in open water areas (lakes, rivers, ponds, etc.) not designated for swimming,” said Pam Doty, USACE National Water Safety Program manager.
“Unfortunately, these areas are associated with hidden dangers that swimmers may not be aware of including waves, currents, drop-offs, underwater obstructions and others.” Read More
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Maintaining Boundaries Between Work and Home Life
•July 15, 2020•
By Krishna Patel
U of I Extension
The effects of no separation between work, family, and no down time to decompress can vary from person to person.
On top of that, having to work from home can be challenging and difficult to adjust to, especially if that’s not your norm.
When this happens, it can create a stressful environment for you and those around you. It’s important to create boundaries for yourself to avoid letting that stress build up in you.
Here are some tips on how you can create and maintain a boundary between your work, family, and self-care while working at home.
• Designate one spot in your home as your work area. In this area, create an environment in which you can focus on your work and other priorities and try to devote this place for work only. By creating a work only space, this allows you to decompress in other areas of your home without thinking about work.
• You might even have to share your workspace with someone else. If that’s the case, create a schedule for the space or work out a plan for sharing and dividing the space. This will help keep everything a bit more organized. Read More
Moultrie Moment of the Week
Pictured above is St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Lovington. The church was built in 1915. 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.
Sullivan Reaches Out to Tourism for Growth
•July 15, 2020•
By Mike Brothers
Sullivan is spending $39,000 for a digital marketing campaign to bring in tourists, who may become residents, of the city.
Chamber and Economic Development President Linda Huber introduced Marketing consultant Cassie Yoder, who proposed a six month digital marketing plan to promote tourism in Sullivan.
By using a multi media digital approach to niche markets, Yoder told the council people who are attracted to Sullivan for tourism can be potential residents.
Huber went on to point out if five families moved into Sullivan as a result of the digital commercials it would pay for the contract.
That was based on the formula that each family generates an average $8000 income for the city.
“This is good for business and economic development,” Mayor Richard Glazebrook said, urging the council to approve Yoder’s proposed six month campaign.
Commissioner Peggy Hargis, noting this was the first she had heard of such a plan, requested the item be tabled for commissioners to further review details. Read More
Returning to The Classroom
•July 15, 2020•
By Supt. Ted Walk
Sullivan CUSD #300
Though there could still be circumstances that cause a change to our return to school this fall, the current plan is for students of Sullivan Schools to return to in-person instruction five days a week, while remaining receptive to changing recommendations from the Illinois State Board of Education, Illinois Department of Public Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and, of course, the Moultrie County Health Department.
As information is changing monthly, weekly, and even daily, we are waiting to finalize a number of aspects related to the process of reopening, but we want our students, parents, and community to be able to plan on sending their students to school safely beginning on August 17th. Read More
“No One Cares How Much You Know, Until They Know How Much You Care.”
•July 15, 2020•
By: Sarah Hudson Pierce
NP Guest Columnist
President Theodore Roosevelt said “No one cares how much you know, until they know how much you care”
The poet Robert Burns also said “Oh the gift that God could give us, to see ourselves as others see us” which leads me to ask would we really want to know how zit-picking at someone maybe we need to ask ourselves if this is what is really bugging us or is there a deep seated problem that we cannot articulate?
I am thoroughly convinced that there are many of us who could benefit from some deep soul searching or counseling to help us arrive at a mutually satisfying solution to problems that plague us, that keep us awake day and night, when we cannot let go -- and just laugh at our own pettiness.
Though only an arm chair psychologist I think that many of our personal problems arrive from a lack of self-worth, of not feeling wealthy enough, not feeling pretty enough or deeply loved by our friends and family so we criticize each other, trying to make them fit our mold of how we think people should behave.
Does any of this make sense to you? Read More
SBL Offers Program on Vegetarian Diet
•July 15, 2020•
Learn the benefits and potential drawbacks of following various vegetarian diets during a program hosted by Sarah Bush Lincoln’s Food and Nutrition Services.
The free program begins at 6:00 pm, Wednesday, August 12, in the Lumpkin Family Center for Health Education at the north side of the Health Center. Read More
HG Society is Thursday
•July 15, 2020•
The Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society will hold the July general meeting Thursday, July 16th at 7 p.m. in the Heritage Center in Sullivan. The topic for the evening will be American Indian Artifacts and the speaker will be Randy Fair of Lovington.
Please bring any artifacts you may have and wear your face masks. Social distancing will be observed as best as possible.
As a reminder the Historical Society office hours are Monday and Friday 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
Windsor Schools Register
•July 15, 2020•
Windsor Schools registration is Weds. July 29 from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. and Thurs. July 30 from 8:00 a.m. - 12 noon in the new Jr./Sr. High School gym.
Registration packets for all students are available in the office beginning Weds., July 15 from 8:00 a.m. -3:00 p.m.
Masks are encouraged during registration.
Lovington Considers Curbside Beer Sale Request
•July 15, 2020•
Lovington village board met Monday, July 13 with action expected on a request from Casey’s General Stores for curbside beer sales.
Casey’s request from Gayle Begalske proposed that a Casey employee take a tablet to the car, allowing the drivers license to be scanned and payment made prior to the sale.
At the regular meeting on June 8 guest Roger Brust questioned trustees on three points.
He was requesting the village have a clean up day. Read More