Category Archives: News Briefs

Facts for Families: Program to Provide Ways to Improve Happiness

News Progress Posted on by

•August 10, 2022•
By Cheri Burcham
Family Life Educator

Our lives are bombarded with negativity, stress, and countless threats to our emotional well-being, work, and closest relationships. In the past, it was suggested that if we focused more and worked harder, we would be more successful, and then experience more happiness. But new research shows that when we experience happiness and positivity first, it turns on all the learning centers in the brain and fuels positive outcomes in all aspects of our lives. In fact, research shows that more happiness and positivity cause us to be three times more creative, 23% less fatigued and 31% more productive. (Wharton, 2014) Read More

Hopper Receives Nurses Scholarship

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•August 10, 2022•
Maddison Hopper, a 2022 SHS graduate, recently received the Past Presidents Parley Nurses Scholarship from the American Legion Auxiliary Department of Illinois.
This $1000 scholarship is awarded to students pursuing a degree in nursing. Read More

Be The First to Use New Drainage Tools at Workshop

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•August 10, 2022•
by Judy Mae Bingman
University of Illinois Extension Marketing and Communications Manager

Managing land resources is a competing balance of environmental, economic, social, and life-sustaining issues in an ever-changing and ever-growing world. Land improvement practices play a key role in sustainable land management.
University of Illinois Extension and the Illinois Land Improvement Contractors Association are offering a three-day workshop Aug. 16 to 18 at Richland Community College in Decatur. This hands-on, comprehensive training will provide contractors all the tools necessary to design and implement subsurface drainage practices. Read More

Menu 8-10-2022

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Senior Peace Meal

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

Aug. 15 - Turkey Burger w/Condiment, Pinto Beans w/Bacon, Hot Beets, Pineapple, Bun
Aug. 16 - Beef Tips, Mashed Potatoes, Honey Glazed Carrots, Pears, Whole Grain Roll
Aug. 17 - Marinated Pork Loin, Mac & cheese w/Peas, Broccoli, Tomato Salad
Aug. 18 - Chicken Salad, Vegetable Soup, Cucumber & Onion Salad, Apricots, Whole Grain Bread, Crackers
Aug. 19 - Lasagna, Italian Vegetables, Romaine Salad w/Dressing, Rosy Applesauce, Whole Grain Roll
Aug. 22 - Biscuits and Gravy, Baby Bakers, Tropical Fruit Compote, Juice
Aug. 23 - Fried Chicken, Twice Baked Potato Casserole, Cooked Spinach, Pears, Whole Grain Bread
Aug. 24 - Hamburger, Baked Beans, Corn , Potato Salad, Bun
Aug. 25 - Taco Salad with Meat, Lettuce, Beans, Tomatoes and Salsa, Pears, Taco Chips, Surprise Dessert
Aug. 26 - Pulled Pork, Green Beans Italiano, Yellow Squash, Tangy Cole Slaw, Bun

Harlan’s Leadership Expands to 48 Counties

News Progress Posted on by

•August 10, 2022•
by Judy Mae Bingman
Illinois Extension Marketing and Communication Manager

Doug Harlan’s leadership has guided University of Illinois Extension staff in central Illinois for more than 20 years. Now, Harlan will oversee Extension programs in the state’s lower 48 central and southern counties, serving as Extension assistant director for the 100+-year organization.
Extension has a local presence in every Illinois county, allowing it to seamlessly link communities, businesses, and the public to the innovative research of the university and its partners. A regional network provides support for the organization’s 650 staff members.
Doug Harlan Read More

Substance Abuse, Treatment and Recovery Program

News Progress Posted on by

•August 10, 2022•
HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital’s substance abuse, treatment and recovery program, provided in conjunction with Gateway Foundation, is a resource available to patients in the emergency department as well as throughout the hospital. Gateway Foundation is the largest nonprofit provider of substance use disorder treatment in the U.S. with its largest footprint in Illinois and has been providing life-saving treatment for over 50 years. In addition, Gateway has been engaged in a statewide program with hospitals and health systems over the last few years. Read More

Letter to the Editor 8-10-2022

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To the Editor:

I’ve never been much of a fan of clichéd words and hackneyed phrases. They are usually unimaginative, lazy and platitudinous tropes that quickly wear out their welcome. That said, occasionally one of these terms finds itself as the perfect descriptor for a situation for which no other word or phrase can suffice nearly as well. Read More

Just One More Day With You

News Progress Posted on by

•August 10, 2022•

by Sarah Hudson Pierce
NP Guest Columnist

Having lost a very dear friend, a year ago I am led to tell you a story about a widower who was looking through his old family trunk a few years ago and how he discovered a poem penned in his wife’s own hand. It was dated just days before she died, after a long illness, over thirty years ago.
The piece was titled Just One More Day.
It went something like this: “Give me just one more day with you!”
Those poignant words were overwhelming to him and are enough to get our attention because life is so uncertain. Our rugs can be jerked out from under our feet so quickly, with no warning. Read More

I spell tomato and you spell tomahto

News Progress Posted on by

•August 10, 2022•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer

An outfit called www.unscrambled-words.com decided to mine Google’s search function data to determine which words we seem to have the most trouble spelling.
After seeing many of them, I’m truly terrified for our future. Please share in my grief.
“Tomato,” “cheese” and “Idaho” are among America’s most misspelled words for 2022, according to the study.
Yet these are primary ingredients in most Burger King meals, if you count potatoes as Idaho’s chief contribution to the culinary world. I know this about Burger King from doing plenty of market research.
Do we really not know how to spell these words?
In defense of Alaska, where the biggest stumbling block is “cheese,” let’s consider that in the entire state there are only 10 dairies. So, like many of us, Alaskans probably eat Cheez-Its by the box and put Cheez Whiz on corn chips. Read More

Remember When? 8-10-2022

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25 Years Ago This Week

Ciara Bush, Rachel Marshall and Sara Sims were contestants in the Little Miss Bethany contest.
Ray Shain, water supply operator for the City of Sullivan, was a nominee for “operator of the year award” given annually by the Illinois Potable Water Supply Operators Assn.

50 Years Ago This Week

The newly appointed zoning board of appeals and the Lovington Village Board approved a variance to the zoning ordinance to allow Moultrie Grain Assn. to build buildings higher than allowed by the ordinance. The association planned to build several grain storage bins at their property on the south side of the elevator office. The bins were 100 feet tall or 45 feet higher than allowed in the ordinance without a variance.
A five day canoe trip, from Cooks Mills to the Shelbyville Dam, was being planned by eleven Boy Scouts from Troop No. 39 and their leaders. During the fifty mile trip, the boys were required to spend at least 10 hours on a conservation project.