•February 23, 2022•
Cheri Burcham
Extension Educator University of Illinois Extension

I am a huge believer in incorporating mindfulness practices into every day. Extension Educator Judy Schmidt recently wrote this article that just goes to show the important role that mindfulness can play in our lives. Judy says: In my family, when interactions start to escalate or an argument is spiraling out of control, you can often hear one of us say the words, “Can we have a restart?” That’s a sign that someone has recognized this interaction isn’t headed in a good direction and we need to take a step back. Being able to acknowledge you need to take a moment is an important step in managing your emotions. Equally important, yet sometimes more challenging is the actual resetting of your emotions. Mindfulness techniques are a great way to help your body and mind reset to a more peaceful state. These three techniques are good ones to try when trying to reset after a stressful situation. Read More

•February 23, 2022•
Lake Land College will celebrate with graduates during an in-person Commencement ceremony on Friday, May 13, 2022 at 6 p.m. in the Field House.
“We are excited to gather together and recognize the accomplishments of our graduates in a traditional in-person Commencement,” Lake Land College President Josh Bullock said.
This will be the first in-person ceremony the college has held since 2019. Read More

•February 23, 2022•
Since February is American Heart Month, it’s the perfect time to refresh your memory on the warning signs of a heart attack. Prairie Cardiovascular and HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital encourage everyone to take a moment to learn what you should do if you or a loved one experiences heart attack symptoms.
Heart attacks aren’t always the swift and intense events that are portrayed on TV. As a result, some people may delay calling 911 because they don’t realize that what they’re feeling is a heart attack.
“Most heart attacks involve discomfort (felt in the center of the chest) that lasts more than a few minutes or comes and goes,” says Arti Singh, MD, a cardiologist with Prairie Cardiovascular. Many people describe it as pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain. Other discomfort not generally perceived as ‘pain’ may: Read More

25 Years Ago This Week

Thirteen year old T.J. Wingard of Bethany spelled “pheasant” and “opportune” to clinch the Moultrie County Spelling Bee championship. Wingard was a seventh grader at Bethany. Second place in the competition went to Rachel Creviston, a 12 year old seventh grader from Lovington. The third winner was Lindsey Tull, a Sullivan eighth grader. Seventeen contestants from Sullivan, Lovington and Bethany public schools and New Life Academy in Sullivan participated in the bee. Read More

•February 16, 2022•
With statewide COVID-19 hospitalization rates declining faster than any other point in the pandemic, Illinois is on track to lift the statewide indoor mask requirement on Monday, February 28, 2022. Mask requirements will continue where federally mandated, such as on public transit and in high-risk settings including healthcare facilities and congregate care. Masking requirements will also continue to apply in all daycare settings. The state intends to continue masking requirements in P-12 schools subject to pending litigation which impacts a number of schools. As the CDC reaffirmed just today, masks remain a critical tool to keep schools safe and open. Read More