•April 22, 2020•
Lake Land College students Suhyun Moon, Gimhae, South Korea and Chandler Smith, Charleston, submitted essays for consideration in the 2020 Illinois Community College Trustees Association’s Paul Simon Essay Contest.
The theme of the essay contest was “How My Community College Changed My Life,” and both Moon and Smith had some heartfelt words to share about their time at Lake Land College.
All students enrolled at ICCTA member colleges were eligible to participate in the contest at the local level, with one entry per college entered at the statewide competition each year. Read More
Category Archives: News Briefs
Letters to the Editor 4-22-2020
Proud to have Tabor Park
With the recent restrictions on our activities due to the coronavirus, all of us have had to change our lifestyles in order to prevent the spread of the virus.
My wife and I have been walking Tabor Park daily for our exercise. Still not sure why we cannot walk on a golf course, but we can’t. A few years back when I was a teenager, I had the privilege of mowing Ruth Tabor’s yard. Read More
Ill. DCFS Reminds Parents of the ABCs of Safe Sleep
•April 22, 2020•
Unsafe sleep is a leading cause of death for children one year old and younger, and while families are spending more time at home together, Illinois DCFS reminds parents of three simple steps they can take to ensure their infants are put to sleep safely.
“It is vitally important for parents and caregivers to learn and use the ABCs of Safe Sleep,” said Illinois DCFS Acting Director Marc D. Smith. “A baby should sleep Alone, on his or her Back in a safe Crib – it’s that simple.”
Between January 1 and June 30, 2019, 53 infants in Illinois under the age of 1 died as a result of being put to sleep unsafely, including being placed to sleep in locations other than a crib, bassinet or pack and play; in positions other than on their back or co-sleeping with another individual at the time of death. Read More
Remember When? 4-22-2020
25 Years Ago This Week
The Bethany Mustangs bats exploded for 32 runs in their first two games, while the pitching staff held opponents to three runs and three hits.
A 22-3 victory over Springfield Calvary and 10-0 shut out at Bement.
Against Springfield in the top of the first Phil Ozier (4 for 5 with 5 RBIs) knocked in Shane Martin for the first run. Aaron Osman used a bunt to score two runs. Bliss Schwartz smashed a single to center scoring a run. Jon Ashley knocked in Osman with a ground out.
Bethany voters bought at least three years life for their schools with a decisive vote facing steeper taxes. Voters approved a $1.25 tax rate increase 436-327 to prevent consolidation. Read More
Prison Sentence Commutations Raise Questions in Springfield
Prisoner Review Board Signs Off
•April 22, 2020•
By Jerry Nowicki
Capitol News Illinois
Illinois Senate Republicans are calling for greater communication from the governor’s office when he commutes prison sentences, but Gov. JB Pritzker has not indicated he will make any voluntary changes to the process, which is spelled out in state law and also goes through the state Prisoner Review Board.
The Chicago Tribune reported Pritzker commuted 17 sentences between March 11 and April 9. Another two commutations were conducted on April 13, according to the Prisoner Review Board.
“We have learned through the media that you have reduced the sentences of some violent criminals, including seven or more convicted murderers,” eight Senate Republicans wrote in a letter to the governor on April 16. “We are concerned that you have done so without informing the victims, their families, witnesses who testified against them, local law enforcement leaders, the judges who decided their sentences, or members of the General Assembly. Are all of these commutations because of the COVID-19 crisis? We believe that the public deserves to know.” Read More
How Earth Day and Environmental Conciousness Have Evolved
•April 22, 2020•
Reduce, reuse, recycle is a mantra for many people. It’s difficult to imagine that just 50 years ago awareness of the state of the environment was not part of the collective consciousness.
An emerging public consciousness about the planet began amid environmental issues like increased air pollution and massive consumption of fossil fuels in the 1960s. The bestselling book “Silent Spring” by Rachel Carson also raised public concern for living organisms and the links between pollution and public health. The push for environmental reform gained even more momentum on April 22, 1970, when the first Earth Day was celebrated. Then-Senator Gaylord Nelson from Wisconsin put Earth Day on the national stage following a large oil spill that struck off the coast of Santa Barbara, Calif. Before this disaster, recycling was not a word in the popular lexicon. But when the disaster struck, people began to reason that changes would have to be made to save the planet. Read More
Sullivan School District is Committed to Serving Students and Community
•April 22, 2020•
By Supt. Ted Walk
Sullivan CUSD #300
Governor Pritzker has announced that all public schools in Illinois will be closed for the remainder of the academic year. It is truly heartbreaking that we will not be able to interact with our students as we normally would again this year. The Sullivan School District remains committed to serving our students and community throughout these unprecedented times.
While additional information may cause modifications to our plan moving forward, we did want to update our students, parents, and community with the following tentative information. Read More
Social Security Recipients Should Start Getting Checks
•April 22, 2020•
“Social Security beneficiaries and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients who don’t file tax returns will start receiving their automatic Economic Impact Payments directly from the Treasury Department soon. People receiving benefits who did not file 2018 or 2019 taxes, and have qualifying children under age 17, however, should not wait for their automatic $1,200 individual payment. They should immediately go to the IRS’s webpage at www.irs.gov/coronavirus/non-filers-enter-payment-info-here and visit the Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here section to provide their information. Social Security retirement, survivors, and disability insurance beneficiaries with dependent children and who did not file 2018 or 2019 taxes need to act by Wednesday, April 22, in order to receive additional payments for their eligible children quickly. SSI recipients need to take this action by later this month; a specific date will be available soon. Read More
Remember When? 4-15-2020
25 Years Ago This Week
Seven of eight candidates for Sullivan City Council attended a Chamber of Commerce sponsored forum at First Mid-Illinois Bank.
First Mid-Illinois President Larry Stenger moderated the event.
East View subdivision drainage was discussed with water and sewer commissioner candidates Ken Meadows and Richard Glazebrook responding.
Glazebrook explained the issue was identified in an earlier study with resident George Clayton noting the city should give the subdivision a break on storm drainage.
Mayor Leon Lane explained the way to solve the drainage problem was buy land from a private owner and reroute the drainage ditch.
Wayne Lindley and George “Pat” Frazier are seeking commissioner of accounts and finance and electric commissioner posts respectively
Jon England is also running for electric commissioner. Wallace Booker is Lindley’s opponent for accounts and finance.
Two area students were presented awards at the Eastern Illinois University All-Student show. Read More
Stay at Home – and Shop Local
•April 15, 2020•
Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development is joining chambers and small businesses across the state of Illinois to launch the ‘IL’ove Local campaign to encourage people to support local businesses during the week of April 11 – 18, 2020.
While the Illinois Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (IACCE) is leading efforts to unite chambers across the state in the initiative, Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development is taking a leadership role in our community.
“Our local business are the heart and soul of this community. People from our local and neighboring communities come to Sullivan for the unique products and services they provide,” explains Laurrie Minor,Executive Director, SCED. “We want our local businesses to survive this shut-down.”
The statistics are staggering for small businesses following natural disasters: according to FEMA, roughly 40-60% of small businesses that close after a disaster never re-open. Read More