•October 14, 2020•
True cleverness is timeless.
Take this from William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night,” written 419 years ago: “Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them.”
Does that not ooze contemporary sarcasm? That old saw remains in heavy circulation.
So I was not surprised while researching the origin of a pass-along email full of goodies that it has been shared and reshared in various forms on the internet at least as far back as 2001.
Even though I found a version of it in the Daily Parker blog, posted when the World Trade Center towers were still standing, the content was credited as a submission from “M.B.” Read More

•October 14, 2020•
Submitted by Cheri Burcham
Extension Educator, University of Illinois Extension

Family Life Intern Sabrina Roley from the Champaign Extension office wrote this great article that I wanted to share with you. She asks: have you ever thought about how the online world affects us and why we should take a digital detox? Social media has become the number one activity on the internet. People are becoming more addicted to social media causing mental and physical issues. Taking a break from social media can help improve anybody’s life.
A digital detox is a period when an individual becomes disconnected from social or online media. This can include reducing the amount of time spent on social media or disconnecting completely.
• The younger generations are more likely to become addicted to social media because they have more knowledge and are more familiar with smartphones. Read More

•October 14, 2020•
The Moultrie County Retired Teachers Association met at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, October 7, 2020, at the Christian Church in Lovington, Illinois.
President Sue Yarnell led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. Jane McKown, Membership chair, introduced new members, Connie Dotson, Karen Moon, and Vicki Newberry. Our guests were then introduced by Judy Uphoff. These guests included Tracy Garmon who teaches at Monticello High School, Sage Hale, principal of Arthur grade school, and Jenny Moore, a teacher in the Mt. Zion school district. These ladies discussed their experiences with teaching both remotely and in the classroom since Covid-19.
President Yarnell opened the business meeting. The August 2020, minutes were approved. The treasurer’s report was given by Jim Luedke and filed for audit. Read More

25 Years Ago This Week

Recapturing the past is no easy task, as the large crowd attending the 1995 Lovington High School Homecoming learned Saturday night. The opening of a time capsule of World War II, a gift from the 1943 Future Farmers of America club at Lovington was a highlight of the homecoming banquet. The time capsule had been contained in a chunk of concrete recovered from an outdoor fireplace/barbecue pit built by the ‘43 FFA.
The Moultrie County United Way board kicked off its annual fund drive. Board members who presented RSVP with its quarterly check were Tom Houser, Joan Highland, Cheri Burcham, RSVP representative Mary Lou Kidwell, Becky Moran, Barbara Davis, Mickey Hrvol, Scot England and Mike Elder. Read More

IDOT, IDNR remind motorists to stay alert, don’t veer for deer
As the leaves begin to change and cooler temperatures prevail, the Illinois Department of Transportation and Illinois Department of Natural Resources are reminding you to watch out for deer. With autumn comes deer mating season, a time of increased activity at dawn and dusk from October through December.
“We are starting to begin our peak season for deer-vehicle crashes,” said Acting Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. “We ask all drivers to keep a watchful eye and remember the cardinal rule: don’t veer for deer. While the urge to swerve is instinctual, it could cause you to lose control of your vehicle or drive into oncoming traffic, increasing the severity of a crash.”
This fall, take the following steps to help ensure your safety: Read More