•February 22, 2023•
The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA), along with the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) are encouraging Illinois farmers to set aside time to recognize Grain Bin Safety Week from February 19-25 and review safety practices while working in and around grain bins.
According to researchers at Purdue University, more than 900 cases of grain engulfment have been reported with a fatality rate of 62% in the past 50 years ending in 2010. In 2010, at least 26 U.S. workers were killed in grain engulfment accidents - the highest number on record. It only takes 4 seconds for a full grown adult to sink to their knees in flowing grain and 20 seconds to be completely buried in flowing grain. Suffocation from engulfment is the leading cause of death in grain bins. Read More
Category Archives: News Briefs
You Talk Funny. No YOU Talk Funny.
•February 22, 2023•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer
It’s not every day I get an avalanche of mail from readers of this column.
But then it’s not every day I get my dander up and essentially call something stupid.
Last Sunday I wrote about a silly attempt to draw attention to a website that purports to help improve your writing.
The PR person who took that job is probably rueing the day it landed on his desk.
Writing Tips Institute says it polled 3,000 Americans on whether they would support a law protecting their states’ individual dialects.
My point: Illinois doesn’t have one dialect. Nor does it have two or three. And besides, how does one enforce a law that so clearly, as reader Dennis Nowicki pointed out, is an affront to the First Amendment of the Constitution?
“Right on,” he wrote, clearly putting himself in my age group. “There is no need for more laws that are near impossible to enforce and that further negatively impact free speech.” Read More
Remember When? 2-22-2023
25 Years Ago This Week
It took 27 rounds to determine a winner in the Moultrie County spelling bee. Vying for first place in the final round were Josh Smith and Rachel Creviston, both eighth graders from Lovington. Smith correctly spelled “burrito” to take top honors. He and Creviston, the second place winner, would move on to the Regional Spelling Bee. Read More
Jeep Run 2023
Photo submitted
Jeep Run
A Jeep Run was held last Saturday to raise funds for the Windsor Harvest Picnic. Pictured is the arrival in Windsor.
Windsor January Students of the Month
Photo Submitted
Windsor January Students of the Month
Windsor Jr./Sr. High School recently announced their January Students of the Month Lillian Cole and Bradley Davis. Lillian Cole is the daughter of Aaron Cole and April Cole. She is currently a junior and is involved in Cheerleading, Student Council, National Honor Society, Volleyball, Spanish Club, and was voted CEO of the Shelby County CEO program. She plans to one day be an ultrasound technician or to open up her own business. Bradley Davis is the son of Chris Davis and Tiffany Davis. He is currently a 7th grade student and enjoys playing outside or playing video games. He plans to one day become a police officer. Pictured (left to right): Lillian Cole and Bradley Davis
Impending Medicaid Changes Could Leave Hundreds of Thousands Uninsured
Pandemic-era program will expire on March 31, sparking redeterminations
•February 15, 2023•
By Peter Hancock
Capitol News Illinois
phancock @ capitolnewsillinois.com
As many as 700,000 Illinoisans may lose Medicaid coverage in the months following March 31, but the Department of Healthcare and Family Services says it is working to reduce that number and help those affected find health insurance elsewhere.
Medicaid is a health insurance program for poor and disabled people that is jointly funded by the federal government and the states.
A spending bill that Congress passed in December put an end to a pandemic-era rule that sent billions of additional federal dollars to states that kept Medicaid patients continuously enrolled in the program through the end of the public health emergency.
Under the program that will expire on March 31, those enrolled in Medicaid did not have to go through the normal process of reapplying every 12 months to determine whether they were eligible, even if there were changes in their income or household that would normally make them ineligible. Read More
Lake Land College Honors 2023 Non-traditional Student of the Year Award Recipients and Nominees
Photo furnished
Lake Land College recognized the 2023 Non-traditional Student of the Year Award winners and nominees. Pictured Left to Right are: (Front row) Christina Dickenson, Tashia Carter, Holly Cornell, Hollie McCarty and Ron Mason. (Back row) Lake Land College President Josh Bullock, Anthony Gasperini, Brianna Sexton, Benjamin Wilson and Stephanie Sample
•February 15, 2023•
Lake Land College presented the Non-traditional Student of the Year Award to both Ron Mason, Mattoon and Stephanie Sample, Sullivan during an event Wednesday. Sample and Mason were among 14 nominees who were honored for their perseverance and outstanding achievements in returning to college to pursue their dreams.
The nominees were: Derek Clark, Charleston; Benjamin Wilson, Paris; Brianna Sexton, Charleston; Anthony Gasperini; Travis Fox, Windsor; Holly Cornell, Montrose; Chelsea Rouleau, Effingham; Tashia Carter, Mattoon; Kyler Roan, Paris; Christina Dickenson, Pana; Brooklyn Cook, Neoga; and Hollie McCarty, Paris.
“The individuals we honor this evening have not had an easy path to success, yet you would never know it. They inspire the people around them with their positive attitude and determination to succeed,” said Kelly Allee, director of marketing and public relations. “We are humbled by their accomplishments and are grateful for the opportunity to celebrate with them. We cannot wait to see what they accomplish in the future.” Read More
Tarble Arts Center’s Winter Exhibition Cycle
•February 15, 2023•
Art from Here arrived at the Tarble Arts Center on February 10th, continuing the Tarble’s annual tradition of showcasing the creativity and expression of young artists in east-central Illinois. This year’s exhibition celebrates 40 years of collaboration with regional art teachers, presenting 134 artworks by 128 students across six counties—Douglas, Coles, Effingham, Edgar, Moultrie, and Cumberland. The exhibiting artists come from Arcola, Ashmore, Charleston, Effingham, Mattoon, Oakland, Paris, Sullivan, Teutopolis, and Toledo. This exhibition will be on view through March 11th, 2023. Read More
HSHS Illinois Hospitals Encourage Frequent Hand Washing to Avoid Spreading Illnesses
•February 15, 2023•
Health care providers at HSHS Illinois hospitals encourage everyone to frequently wash their hands when exposed to highly touched surfaces to aid in reducing the spread of these illnesses like RSV, Influenza, COVID and more.
“COVID, flu and RSV primarily spread through droplets in the air but could also be spread by our hands,” said Stephanie Thannum, HSHS Illinois manager of quality and infection prevention. “Germs can be spread by hands coming into contact with a hard surface contaminated by the cough or sneeze of an infected person. Washing your hands often, especially before eating or touching your face and after using the restroom, can help prevent many illnesses including COVID, flu and RSV. Read More
Election Notice
•February 15, 2023•
Citizens who are not registered to vote and cannot leave their home or Nursing Home/Assisted Living Facility because of a permanent physical disability can arrange for voter registration and voting by contacting the Moultrie County Clerk’s office.
The last day to register to vote before the April 4, 2023, Consolidated Election is Tuesday, March 7, 2023, with the exception of grace period registrations and transfers between March 8, 2023, and Election Day. Read More