Category Archives: News Briefs

Remember When? 2-8-2023

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25 Years Ago This Week

The Sullivan City Council advanced $67,983 in TIF funds to the Sullivan School Dist. That amount represented the cumulative bond revenue loss to the district for 1993 through 1996. The city received this “extra” money from the implementation of a tax rate to pay the Sullivan Elementary School bonds.
After going more than a month without a victory, the Bethany Mustangs bounced back to win three of four games. They defeated Findlay for the second time in a week 62-47 in non-conference action. The team had a tough home loss to Beecher City earlier in that week. Read More

ISBE Launches Search for Sponsors and Sites to Serve Nutritious Summer Meals

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•February 1, 2023•
There may still be a lot of winter left but the Illinois State Board of Education is already thinking ahead to the summer break and how children will continue to have access to healthy meals. ISBE is launching the search for new Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) sponsors and sites to help bring free nutritious meals to children across the state.
School districts, community organizations, churches, camps, park districts, and others helped serve more than 3.1 million meals last summer through SFSP, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by ISBE. There were 133 SFSP sponsors and 1,560 meal sites in 53 of the 102 counties in Illinois. Read More

Menu 2-1-2023

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Senior Peace Meal

For additional information or for reservations, please call 1-800-543-1770

Feb. 6 - Sausage Gravy, Paco Vegetables, Hot Fruit Compote, Juice, Biscuit
Feb. 7 - Beef and Noodles, Herbed Peas, Stewed Tomatoes, Fruit
Feb. 8 - Fried Chicken, Hash Brown Casserole, Seasoned Green Beans, Coleslaw, Roll
Feb. 9 - Skillet Rice w/Ground Beef, Lyonnais Carrots, Fruit Dessert, Cornbread
Feb. 10 - Breaded Pangasius Fish, Ranchero Beans, Brussels Sprouts, Romaine Salad, Bun

Dawkins Advances to District Competition

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Photo furnished
Dawkins Advances to District Competition
Mae Dawkins, freshman at Sullivan High School and member of the FFA chapter, received 2nd place in creed speaking competition held at Clinton school last week. Dawkins will advance to district competition next.

Sullivan Dance Studio’s Competition Team Hosts Preview Showcase

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Sullivan Dance Studio’s Competition Team Hosts Preview Showcase
Sullivan Dance Studio’s 2022-2023 Competition Team hosted their annual Preview Showcase at Sullivan High School on Sunday, January 22. Friends, family and the public were invited to attend to view the team’s 32 different routines. Competition season for the team begins in just a few weeks. This year’s team is made up of 40 dancers age 2-17 from Sullivan and surrounding towns. Members include (in no particular photo order): Adalee Foster, Addi Finn, Addie Patterson, Addisyn Carter, Alayna Young, Aleena Ingram, Alyssa Taylor, Aubrie Payne, Avery Florey, Avery Patterson, Avery Smith, Blair Camp, Brinnley Hobbs, Elizabeth Owens, Emma Hostetler, Fionn Lynch, Gabrielle Carpenter, Gianna Krieger, Hannah Taylor, Kaylee Hostetler, Kinley Short, Knox Weakly, Kylin Wehrle, Lexi Yoder, Lillian Hood, Macie Rodgers, Mara Inman, Mia Lovett, Miah Voegel, Natalia Beals, Pearl Akins, Roxanne Clark, Sarina Voegel, Sophie Elliott, Sophie Foster, Synthea Doss, Tiffany Hostetler, Tinley Krieger, Zoe Lynch and Zola Krieger.

Department on Aging Seeks Nominations for Senior Illinoisan Hall of Fame

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•February 1, 2023•
The Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) is now accepting nominations for the Senior Illinoisan Hall of Fame, open to adults aged 65 and older who excel in the categories of community service, education, performance and/or graphic arts, and the labor force.
“When I think about the people of Illinois, a couple of words come to mind: kindness, generosity, ingenuity, and perseverance. Each year, my administration is proud to honor four older adults who embody these values through service, education, arts, and labor by inducting them into the Senior Illinoisan Hall of Fame,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Whether you know a teacher who goes above and beyond for their students or a community member who you can always find out and about lending a hand to others, we want to hear about the seniors in your life that make Illinois, Illinois.” Read More

Illinois Human Services Seeks to Educate SNAP Households to Prepare for USDA’s Return of SNAP Benefits to Pre-Pandemic Levels

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•February 1, 2023•
The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) has announced that per the federal USDA Food and Nutrition Service, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will return to pre-pandemic levels beginning in March 2023.
These federal changes impact one million families and two million people in Illinois. Nearly half of the states across the country have already ended their SNAP emergency allotments ahead of the federal change, while Illinois will sustain benefits through February when the federal increases expire. Read More

What Seniors Can do to Safeguard Their Mental Health

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•February 1, 2023•
No one is immune to issues that can adversely affect their mental health, including men and women nearing retirement age and those who are already retired. Though the term “golden years” suggests life in retirement is one sunny day after another, many individuals 60 and older are dealing with mental health issues.
According to the World Health Organization, approximately 15 percent of the world’s adults aged 60 and over suffer from a mental disorder. What makes that statistic even more troubling is that the WHO acknowledges it likely doesn’t paint the most accurate picture of seniors and mental health, as depression is often undiagnosed among older men and women and untreated because it co-occurs with other issues affecting seniors. Read More

Facts for Families: Managing the Winter Blues

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•February 1, 2023•
By Cheri Burcham
Family Life Educator

Winter is upon us, and those longer hours of darkness coupled with the colder temperatures can make many people experience those “winter blues. I have become much more aware of the signs of mental health issues since facilitating Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) and Trauma-Informed Care trainings, and also co-facilitating a youth mental health awareness program called Your Thoughts Matter. I would highly recommend anyone to complete MHFA as the purpose is to help you recognize when someone is having difficulties and be able to respond in a helpful way. And it is very likely that you will need to be there for someone in that circumstance since according to the National Alliance of Mental Illness, one in four American adults are diagnosed with a mental disorder in their lifetime and half of those disorders begin by age 14 and three quarters by age 24. Read More