•March 29, 2023•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer

I once wrote about my overuse of the word “that” in response to a reader’s question about it. I’ve been more mindful about how I use the word, but I haven’t scrubbed it from my lexicon.
Reader Steve Bense’s recent letter made me wonder whether I’m using another favorite word too much.
“In your March 12 column, I noticed your use of a word which I have striven to stop using,” he wrote. “The word is ‘but.’ Furthermore, I noticed you started a sentence with it.
“I wish I could recall the source of this advice, however it has stuck with me for a long time. It was: ‘Any time you insert the word “but” into a sentence, you’re indicating everything prior to the “but” was a lie (at worst) or not worth remembering (at best).’ Read More

25 Years Ago This Week

Sullivan’s Water Department was notified by the Illinois Dept. of Public Health that it has been recognized for its public water supply’s high degree of compliance with the state’s Illinois Fluoridation Law maintained throughout 1997.
The Sullivan Singers captured the second place trophy and won best crew award in competition against eight other high school show choirs in the Westosha Show Choir Invitational in Salem, Wis. Read More

•March 22, 2023•
The 2023 Illinois spring trout fishing season will open Saturday, April 1, at 58 ponds, lakes, and streams throughout the state.
An early opportunity at selected trout sites – the spring catch-and-release fishing season – opened March 18. No trout may be kept during the catch-and-release fishing period, but anglers can keep trout after the opening of the regular season beginning April 1.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) stocks more than 80,000 rainbow trout each year in bodies of water where trout fishing is permitted during the spring season. An additional 80,000 trout will be stocked for the fall trout fishing season, which begins in October.
The Illinois Catchable Trout Program receives funding support from those who use the program through the sale of Inland Trout Stamps. Read More

•March 22, 2023•
By Cheri Burcham
Family Life Educator

Now that we are all getting back out and attending events again, we need to find a happy medium with balancing “down time” with activities – especially with our children. This article was written by Extension Educator Susan Sloop and is a good reminder to allow children breaks. Susan says: Is your child forgetful, crabby, or constantly tired? He may be “overscheduled.” Would you be surprised to find your child’s day is as hectic as your own? People who study young children say that youngsters need time for unstructured activity—what adults sometimes call “free time” or “down time.”
Why is free time good for children?
· Health. A child’s body and brain need relief from demands and expectations. Rest and recreation help keep a child healthy and ready to learn! Read More

•March 22, 2023•
Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) have announced that the state is launching a $29.6 million program to distribute more than 60,000 HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) purifiers to Illinois schools to help reduce the transmission of respiratory viruses, including COVID-19.
IDPH is coordinating the program with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). The program is funded by the CDC through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and is targeted for school districts that serve lower income communities and counties that have elevated air pollution counts. IDPH estimates almost 3,000 schools will be eligible for the program, covering 68 percent of school districts in the state. It will cover schools throughout the state, including Cook County, with the exception of Chicago, which has received a separate federal grant. Read More