•December 9, 2020•
Planters Precision, an innovative precision ag company owned by The Equity, is excited to announce its acquisition of H & H Precision, a Precision Planting and Yetter Equipment dealer located east of Gays, Illinois. H & H Precision will operate as a new location for Planters Precision. Read More
Category Archives: News Briefs
HS Seniors can Apply for 2021 Conservation Achievement Scholorships
•December 9, 2020•
Applications are being accepted by the Illinois Conservation Foundation (ICF) for the 2021 Conservation Achievement Scholarship program.
The ICF awards the annual Conservation Achievement Scholarships to encourage the next generation of leaders to preserve and enhance a sustainable outdoor environment. Read More
It’s Not Too Late to Get Your Flu Shot
•December 9, 2020•
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is encouraging everyone six months and older who has not yet received the seasonal flu vaccine to get it this week as part of National Influenza Vaccination Week.
“This year it is more important than ever to get your flu shot to help avoid being co-infected with flu and COVID-19,” said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. “Not only could being infected with both a flu virus and the virus that causes COVID-19 result in severe health complications for individuals, it also places a tremendous burden on our health care system and health care workers who are being stretched due to the increase in COVID-19 cases. If you have not already received your flu shot, get it as soon as possible to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your community.” Read More
Remember When? 12-9-2020
25 Years Ago This Week
It was no coincidence that State Rep. Julie Curry announced her re-election plans at a school. The Decatur Democrat made the announcement last week at Decatur’s Ida Coppenbarger Elementary School as a way of emphasizing her theme that public service is about creating a brighter and safer future for our children.
If you thought you saw Sullivan on national tv you were probably right. The traveling broadcasters from the FX national cable channel were due at Scot England’s home in Sullivan for a live satellite uplink to the channel’s Personal FX show, a program on collectibles. England’s extensive collection of memorabilia on boxer Muhammad Ali and daredevil Evel Knievel was the focus of the interview. Read More
Menu 12-9-2020
Senior Peace Meal
For additional information or for reservations, please call 1-800-543-1770
Dec. 14 - Pork Burger Sandwich, Baked Beans, Spinach, Bun, Cranberry oatmeal Cookie
Dec. 15 - Meatloaf, Creamed Peas and Potatoes, Tomatoes and Zucchini, Whole Grain Wheat (1), Peaches
Dec. 16 - Creamed Chicken with Green Onions & Pimento, Warm Black-Eyed Pea Salad, Biscuit, Sliced Pineapple
Dec. 17 - Beef Stroganoff over Noodles, Corn, Creamy Coleslaw, Whole Grain Wheat, Warm Fruit Compote
Dec. 18 - Roasted Turkey, Mashed Potatoes w/Gravy, Seasoned Green Beans, Dressing, Pumpkin Pie
Capital Recap: Pritzker Says State Far From Out Of ‘Danger Zone’
•December 9, 2020•
By Capitol News Illinois
Hospitalizations for COVID-19 have fallen from their second-wave highs, but the death toll from the disease continues to mount.
While Gov. JB Pritzker said Monday he was encouraged by the trend in the 18 days since the state levied Tier 3 mitigations, he added, “the numbers still have a long way to go to move away from what could reasonably be called the danger zone.”
“In other words, the surge on top of a surge that national experts have said might define the holiday season is still the focus of our attention,” Pritzker said at his daily COVID-19 briefing in Chicago.
From Saturday through Monday, the state reported another 372 deaths, an average of 124 each day over the three-day span. The death toll surpassed 13,000 since the pandemic began, rising to 13,343 among 796,264 cases and 11.1 million test results reported.
Statewide, the rolling seven-day average case positivity rate was 10.3 percent Monday, the 15th straight day it has hovered between 10 and 11 percent.
At the end of Sunday, there were 5,190 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Illinois, an increase of 30 from the day prior. For the seven-day period ending Dec. 6, there were 5,484 people hospitalized each day on average. That’s a decrease of 461, or about 7.7 percent, from the week prior, the second week in a row the average decreased.
Approximately 28 percent of hospital beds remained open statewide, and Pritzker said COVID-19 hospitalizations are still 14 percent above spring highs. Read More
This Has Been an Interminable, Irredeemable Year
•December 9, 2020•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer
If you had to choose one word to sum up 2020, what would it be?
Interminable?
Irredeemable?
Abominable?
Guano?
These are definitely in my Top 10. Come to think of it, these are probably the one-word reviews of my column on Twitter.
But if you work for Merriam-Webster and you have a tradition of coming up with a Word of the Year, you look beyond yourself and do some statistical analysis of words that people are looking up in your online dictionary in increasing numbers. Read More
Safety When Decorating for the Holidays
•December 9, 2020•
The holidays are here and that means many will be decorating their homes. Hanging up decorations is fun, but keep in mind, holiday decorations can increase your risk for a home fire. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) more than two of every five home decoration fires occur due to decorations being placed too close to a heat source. More than one-third of home decoration fires are started by candles. The NFPA also reports that US fire departments responded to an average of 780 home structure fires per year that began with decorations between 2013-2017.
More than half of home decoration fires in December are started by candles. Candle fires peak in December followed closely by January. The top three days for home candle fires are Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and New Year’s Eve. Before you head to bed or out for the evening, extinguish all lit candles.
Remember When? 12-2-2020
25 Years Ago This Week
Santa Claus and his assistant Miss Merry Christmas (Michaela Carroll) stop to light the holiday decorations on the Sullivan square after arriving by horse and wagon. Then it was on to the American Legion Hall to listen to Christmas wish lists.
Congressman Glenn Poshard was in Bosnia with a congressional delegation studying the proposed American role in bringing peace to the former Yugoslavia. The 19th Congressional District Democrat left for Europe at the invitation of House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Minority Leader Richard Gephardt.
The Sullivan City Council okayed the purchase of a new street sweeper. The council was also informed that Triax Cable rates will increase to $1.35 per month effective Jan 1. Read More
Millikin University to Present Virtual Vespers Performances
•December 2, 2020•
For more than 60 years, Millikin University’s Vespers has signaled the start of the holiday season in central Illinois. With nearly 8,000 attendees each year, Vespers is one of Millikin’s most popular events, and the heartfelt mix of carols, choirs and candlelight has become a much-beloved tradition celebrating the community’s creativity and good cheer.
This year, Millikin University is inviting the community to join the holiday tradition, albeit in a slightly different form. On Saturday, Dec. 5, and Sunday, Dec. 6, the supremely talented Millikin students and faculty, who put so much into making Vespers soar, will do so again — virtually.
Vespers performances will be available for livestream viewing on Dec. 5 at 7 p.m., and Dec. 6 at 2 p.m. on Millikin University’s Facebook page (facebook.com/millikinuniversity), homepage (millikin.edu) and YouTube channel (youtube.com/millikinuniversity). Because of this year’s virtual format, no ticket purchase is required to attend. Read More