Category Archives: free news stories

Mobile Food Pantry

News Progress Posted on by

•February 10, 20201•

The University of Illinois Extension in cooperating partnership with sponsors Decatur Catholic Charities and Lovington Ambulance Service will be having a mobile food pantry on Wednesday, February 24 from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm at Lovington Ambulance Service. 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 Lovington. You must sign up prior to February 17 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. The food will be distributed according to your household size on February 24, from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm. You will need to drive thru the Lovington Ambulance parking lot.

Don’t Be Fooled By Thin Ice

News Progress Posted on by

•February 10, 20201•

Prolonged cold weather opens many recreational opportunities. It also opens up the potential for tragedy.
Curt Sinclair, University of Illinois Extension 4-H natural resources specialist, offers these guidelines for assessing whether icy ponds and rivers are safe.
“A minimum of four inches of clear, newly-formed ice is needed to support one person on foot,” Sinclair says. “New ice is usually stronger than old ice, and clear ice is usually stronger than ice that appears cloud.”
Ice across a pond is seldom uniform, Sinclair says. Water movement and snow cover can cause vast differences in ice thickness and strength. Moving water under frozen streams will slow the freezing process.
“A pond may have 12 inches of ice in one area and only 1 inch of ice only 10 feet away,” Sinclair says. Illinois 4-H offers a new winter ice safety video at go.illinois.edu/icesafety to teach youth basic ice safety guidelines.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources offers anglers these ice fishing tips at its website:
Test the thickness of the ice in several areas.
Wear a personal floatation device under winter gear.
Don’t fish or play on the ice alone and keep a safe distance from others on the ice.
Carry a rope to pull someone out of the water if needed.
Carry a pair of ice picks to pull oneself out of slippery-water-covered ice.
For more information on University of Illinois Extension programming in Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Moultrie and Shelby county, visit our website at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/ccdms/index.html or call us at (217)849-3931. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time for meeting your access needs. The University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.
Submitted by Judy Mae Bingman, Illinois Extension, Marketing and Communications Manager

Scholarship Applications Available

News Progress Posted on by

•February 3, 20201•

Applications are now available for the 2021 Irrevocable Scholarship program offered through the Sullivan American Legion Post 68. The scholarship is open to high school seniors who will be graduating from public high schools in Moultrie County and high school seniors that are descendants of members in good standing of the Sullivan American Legion Post 68. The program offers one $1,000 four year, annually renewable scholarship. Application deadline is March 31,2021. Copies of the application packet may be requested from your high school counselor. Applications have been distributed to Bethany and Sullivan High Schools. Applications can also be requested by calling the legion post at 217-728-4612 or Michael Keown, secretary of the Irrevocable Scholarship Trust at 217-855-1949.

Education for the Classroom

News Progress Posted on by

•February 3, 20201•

Children of all ages need positive reinforcement and role models who can successfully demonstrate and support healthy mental, physical, and social behaviors.
Happy Healthy Providers, an upcoming five-part online series offered by University of Illinois Extension SNAP-Ed and family life educators, provides K-12 teachers and childcare professionals an opportunity for continuing education while learning how to help children build those healthy habits.
“School communities will gain fresh ideas and tips for working with families and students in their everyday interactions, whether online or in person,” says Tessa Hobbs-Curley, Illinois Extension family life educator. Read More

LLC Fall 2020 Graduates

News Progress Posted on by

•January 27, 20201•

Lake Land College has announced their Fall 2020 graduates. Graduates from our area are:
Arthur: Colten Melton-Associate in Applied Science - paraprofessional educator.
Bethany: Hayley Carlson, certificate-management; Emilee Elder, certificate-cosmetology; Elizabeth Herbord - Associate in Arts-political science; Justin Norris, Associate in Arts - pre-nursing and Associate in Liberal Studies; Race Underwood, Associate in Applied Science-IT-programming.
Sullivan: Madison Dane, Associate in Applied Science-Associate Degree Nurse; Tanya Hendrix, certificate - management and certificate - accounting; Dylan Holt, Associate in Science-Conservation/Pre-Wildlife; Caitlin Howard, Associate in Arts-Psychology; Robert Russell, certificate -Computer Technician; Zach Sowers, Associate in Science-Environmental Science; Spencer Tinder, Associate in Applied Science-Associate Degree Nurse; Hunter Trussell, Associate in Arts-Psychology; Brett Wilhelm, Associate in Applied Science-Associate Degree Nurse; Samantha Wood, certificate -cosmetology.

Project H.E.L.P. Preschool Roundup

News Progress Posted on by

•January 27, 20201•

Project H.E.L.P. And the Windsor School District will offer free developmental screenings on Thursday, February 11 at Windsor Christian Church, 1100 Broadway in Windsor. These screenings provide parents the opportunity to discover how their child is developing in the areas of speech, language, concepts and motor skills. Vision and hearing screenings will also be provided, free of charge. For an appointment, call Windsor Elementary School at 459-2447.

NAMI Family to Family Class

News Progress Posted on by

•January 27, 20201•

NAMI is offering a free eight-session peer education program for family members, significant others and friends of people with mental health conditions. The program will be taught by NAMI-trained family members who have been there and includes presentations, discussions, and interactive exercises. The program is open to adults and those 14-17 when attending as a participant and accompanied by a parent or guardian. Sessions will be held Tuesday evenings from 6-8:30 p.m. from February 2-March 23 (March 30 if needed).
The number of participants for the program will be limited to 10-12. A meeting place in the Mattoon area is to be decided. Call Sue at 217-259-2550 or Donna at 217-273-9934 to sign up for this program and for questions. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, advocates for access to services, treatment, supports and research and is steadfast in its commitment to raising awareness and building a community of hope for all of those in need. See the website at nami.org or call the NAMI Helpline at 800-950-6264 or send an email to info@nami.org.

SIUE Fall Dean’s List

News Progress Posted on by

•January 27, 20201•

The Fall 2020 Dean’s List for Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville has been announced. The following students from our area named to the list Kaitlyn Dudley and Zachary Mayberry, both of Sullivan.

Ross Metzger Awarded Degree

News Progress Posted on by

•January 27, 20201•

Ross Metzger of Gays has received a bachelor of science in commerce and business administration from the University of Alabama. UA awarded some 2,257 degrees during its fall commencement on Dec 12.