•September 9, 2020•

Are you aware there is a mobile food pantry in Sullivan? Sullivan Church of God partners with Catholic Charities of Decatur, to provide food boxes filled with basic needs that include milk, bread, eggs, canned vegetables, pasta, paper products and frozen foods, to any individual or family in the Moultrie County area. The size of the box(es) are based on the number of members in the family, and this is indicated on the registration form. The only restriction is the recipient(s) must be a resident of Moultrie County. However, because of the dividing line between Moultrie and Douglas County, an exception is made for the entire village of Arthur. If anyone outside Moultrie County needs the same assistance, the church can put them in contact with their county’s MFP coordinator.
Recipients must be registered prior to the distribution day as the boxes are filled according to the specific individual and their dietary needs and restrictions. There is a link on the church’s website at https://sullivanchog.org that will take them to an online form. Once that form is completed and the conditions have been agreed to, the recipient will click “submit.” The information will be sent to Sullivan Church of God, who is instrumental in compiling the list to be sent to Catholic Charities. If there is no access to the internet or any type of technological equipment, individuals may call the church at (217) 728-7855, during normal business hours, and the office administrator will register them over the phone.
Registration typically opens four to six weeks before the distribution day and this, too, will be posted on the church’s website. In addition, a handout will be given to all of the recipients on distribution day, reminding them of the next Mobile Food Pantry date and when that registration will open. Registration closes approximately ten days before the distribution day. The next MFP distribution is October 19 and registration opens on September 10.
Because of COVID-19, recipients are asked to pull up to the front of the church, under the portico, staying in their car. A volunteer will meet them at their car, take their name, give them a number that
corresponds to their box(es), and will direct them on to the fellowship hall. There, a volunteer will take their number, retrieve the corresponding box(es) and load them into the vehicle. All volunteers observe COVID restrictive guidelines including masks, gloves, and social distancing.
In addition to the every-other-month distribution days, the November date gets a little “extra” in the form of items necessary for a full Thanksgiving meal, including the turkey, provided by the Sullivan
Church of God. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the distribution schedule for 2021 will be the third Monday in January, March, May, July, September, and November. If a date needs to be changed, for any reason, the change will be posted on the church’s website.
If you have any questions about the Mobile Food Pantry or how to get registered, please contact Lenda Johnson, Office Administrator, at (217) 728-7855.

•September 2, 2020•

The Pulling For Paula Benefit Tractor Pull, hosted by the Strasburg Lions Club, will be held Monday, September 7 at Noon in Strasburg City Park. Weigh-in starts at 11 a.m. And entry fee is $30. All hook fees and proceeds will be donated to the Paula Jones Benefit Fund.
Entries must be signed in before class starts. Digital mph and distance board. Unlimited hooks as long as puller has paid. There are 24 pull classes.
On August 14, Paula Jones was diagnosed with brain and lung cancer. After a successful brain surgery on August 18, Paula is at home recovering. One fully healed from surgery, Paula will begin the process to eliminate the other cancer.
Paula is a 1974 graduate of SSHS and along with husband, Ron, live in Strasburg. Their children are Jordan, Nikki (Chris) Daniels, and Liz (Kenny) Fitzgerald.
The Strasburg Lions Club will be serving pork burger and hamburger meals with drinks. Profits go to the Paula Jones Benefit Fund. No cover charge to enter, but a “pass the hat” will be done throughout. the pull with proceeds going to the Paula Jones Benefit fund.
For more information call Denny Wirth at 217-254-6628.

•September 2, 2020•

The Publisher will be doing a Jeep run with all proceeds going to the Ronald McDonald House of Springfield. Sign in will start at 11 a.m. at the Publisher in Bethany and the run begins at Noon. The run is $10 per person or $25 per Jeep. All vehicles are welcome. Pauly’s BBQ will be cooking all day. Identity Crisis will be performing 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Call Mike Sweeney at 474-6148 for more information.

•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/

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.