•January 26, 2022•
The Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) began accepting 2021 state individual income tax returns on Monday, January 24, 2022, the same date that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) began accepting federal individual income tax returns.
“We encourage taxpayers to file their taxes electronically and choose direct deposit, as early as possible in the tax season, to ensure the fastest processing and issuance of any refunds,” said IDOR Director David Harris. “Taxpayers may file their electronic returns for free with MyTax Illinois, our free online account management program. Electronic filing is also available through third party software or with most tax preparers.” Read More

•January 26, 2022•
By Cheri Burcham
Family Life Educator

Happy New Year! I thought it might be good to kick off the year with an article about healthy eating since so many resolutions are related to that topic. This article is from Extension Educator Kristin Bogdonas and explains why eating certain colored foods are good for us. Kristin says:
The function of Anthocyanins in Plants:
· Colored pigments in plants are produced to protect them from pathogens, predators, and climate conditions.
· They attract pollinators and act as antifeedants (adversely affects insects when eaten) and phytoalexins (inhibit the growth of parasites).
· Contribute to the plants’ sensory characteristics, color, and nutritional value.
· Natural colorants used in the food industry. Read More

•January 19, 2022•
On December 10, 2021, what is now known as The Quad-State Tornado event heavily impacted western Kentucky affecting many people and businesses –including team members of the Hydro-Gear facility in Princeton. Among those, 17 employees lost their home and all belongings with numerous others impacted to varying degrees.
In an effort to support our families, Hydro-Gear quickly reached out to ensure immediate needs were being met and then established the Hydro-Gear Employee Quad-State Tornado Response Committee to coordinate ongoing support activities. The timing of these losses being so close to the holidays made them especially troubling, yet the outpouring of support has been truly remarkable. Read More

•January 19, 2022•
The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) is urging residents to take time in the coming weeks to test their home for radon as part of Radon Action Month. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Radon related health risks are preventable with a simple home detection test.
Radon comes from the natural breakdown of uranium and radium in the soil.This odorless, colorless, tasteless gas is found in the air that we breathe in buildings, homes, offices and if not properly mitigated can reach drastically high levels causing major health concerns. It’s estimated more than 1,100 people in Illinois develop radon-related lung cancer each year. Read More

•January 19, 2022•
by Sarah Hudson Pierce
Guest Columnist

French author Antoine de Saint-Exupery, author of The Little Prince wrote “ One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eye.”
Love and hugging are essential.
Having born to poverty stricken parents who I knew loved me and then to go into a loving foster home for a couple of months before going into an orphanage, I can speak from experience. To be given love until one’s addicted and then to have it snatched away is one of the most cruel, devastating experiences that can happen to a child or even an adult.
Having just watched child star Margaret O’Brien, with the leading role in Lost Angels, helps me to explain just what is wrong with orphanages and why we need hugging! Read More