Category Archives: News Briefs

How is Excessive Screen Time Affecting Us?

News Progress Posted on by

•November 16, 2022•
Cheri Burcham
Extension Educator U of I Extension

I would like to share this article written by Illinois Extension intern, Sharon Kim. Sharon says: screens seem to be everywhere in the form of phones, laptops, tablets, and even watches, so we have to think about how we function in an environment with screens constantly being utilized in our lives. According to the CDC website, children ages 8-10 have a screen usage time of around 6 hours. Youths ages 11-14 spend around 9 hours a day in front of a screen. Youths ages 15-18 spend around 7.5 hours a day in front of a screen. We have to ask ourselves: what effect excessive does screen usage have on us? Read More

Democrats Maintain Control in Illinois

News Progress Posted on by

•November 16, 2022•
By Capital News
Illinois

As votes continued to be tallied this week, returns showed Illinois Democrats would hold every statewide elected office and maintain supermajorities in the General Assembly while extending their majority on the Illinois Supreme Court.
After a fiery election night speech in which Gov. JB Pritzker excoriated the Republican Party as “unwilling to expel the extremists in their midst,” he gave an upbeat news conference about his plans for a second term Wednesday at the Marriott Marquis hotel in Chicago that was the site of his election night party the day prior.
“The election yesterday was a chance for Illinoisans to decide who we want to be,” Pritzker said, citing his administration’s acceptance of asylum seekers, support for mental health and substance use treatment, protection of women’s rights, civil rights and voting rights, and renewable energy policies. Read More

Georgia’s Retirement Celebration Open House

News Progress Posted on by

•November 16, 2022•
A retirement celebration open house for Georgia England will be held on Saturday, November 26 from 1 to 4 pm at the Sullivan American Legion. The celebration is being hosted by her children Angie, Mike, Jodi and Scott. For 21 years Georgia served Moultrie County but she could not have done it so efficiently if it were not for family, friends, co-workers, the County Clerk/Recorder family, Election Judges, etc. Georgia would like to personally thank you for your continued support throughout the years and asks that you join us during her Retirement Celebration Open House. No gifts.

Christmas in the Park

News Progress Posted on by

•November 16, 2022•
The second annual Christmas in the Park will be held on Saturday, November 26 from 1 to 4 pm at Thomas L. Conn Community Park in Lovington. Tree decorating will be from 1 to 3 pm, Santa will be there from 2 to 4 pm. Ornament making station from 1 to 3 pm and tree auction from 3:00 to 3:30 pm. Auction winners need to take trees by 4 pm. Cookies and hot chocolate provided during event.

HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation Lights the Christmas Star

News Progress Posted on by

•November 16, 2022•
At HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital, the holidays are celebrated with our Star Lighting ceremony. Each light on the star that sits atop the hospital honors a loved one.We’ll celebrate those special people in a beautiful ceremony filled with music and prayer.
This year we will once again be lighting the star and broadcasting the event on COZI TV at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 1, 2022, as well as streaming the event on NowDecatur.com. Read More

Facts for Families: A Grateful November Family Activity

News Progress Posted on by

•November 16, 2022•
By Cheri Burcham
Family Life Educator

November is national gratitude month and is a wonderful time to reflect on things you are appreciative of and to be more aware of the goodness around you. Extension Educator Judy Schmidt has written this great article about practicing gratitude in families. Judy says: It seems like in recent years, there has been an increased focus on gratefulness during this month, and we see flurries of social media posts about gratitude. Why such an emphasis on gratitude in recent years? Research shows that practicing gratitude can have dramatic and lasting effects on an individual. Positive effects include physical benefits such as lowered blood pressure, increased immunity and better sleep; as well as mental health benefits such as lower risk for depression and anxiety (Emmons, 2015). Read More

Grammar Moses: Why ‘Farther’ Takes a Ruler and ‘Further’ an Imagination

News Progress Posted on by

•November 16, 2022•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer

The headline read: “In the suburban counties, the blue wave spread further.”
I had anticipated getting a phone call or two from readers who interpreted the headline as rubbing their noses in Tuesday’s results. That would have been a stretch, mind you, but emotions run high this time of year.
However, I hadn’t anticipated anyone asking me about word choice in this way: “If we’re talking distance, shouldn’t this be ‘farther,’ not ‘further’?” Tom Petersen wrote. Read More

Remember When? 11-16-2022

News Progress Posted on by

50 Years Ago This Week

The Sullivan Junior Woman’s Club received a citation of achievement from the General Federation of Woman’s Clubs and Sears Roebuck and Company for the community improvement project of building and maintaining the Santa Claus house. The house was financed by proceeds from the homecoming chili supper and contributions from other clubs and individuals in the community. Read More

Shelby/Moultrie County ROSC Community Training Event

News Progress Posted on by

•November 9, 2022•
Recovery Oriented Systems of Care (ROSC) is holding a Community Training Event on November 16 at 5 p.m. This meeting will take place at the First Assembly of God Church in Shelbyville. ROSC is a new program in Moultrie and Shelby County that works to increase recovery resources in the community and address the needs specific to substance use in the county. The purpose of the Community Training Event is to bring education to community members surrounding the topics of Human Trafficking and Drug and Endangered Children. The training will be conducted by Liesl Wingert from the SIU School of Medicine. Read More

SBL Donates Physical Proceeds

News Progress Posted on by

•November 9, 2022•
Sarah Bush Lincoln recently donated $1,080 to Sullivan Sports Boosters to support Sullivan CUSD 300 athletics.
Cole Huber, the Sullivan school district athletic director, said the district and boosters are grateful for the donation.
“We appreciate the service that Sarah Bush Lincoln provides,” Huber said. “With the money going back to the boosters, it will allow us to support our athletes during their seasons.” Read More