Category Archives: News Briefs

OV Science Students View Cadavers

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OV Science Students View Cadavers
Okaw Valley anatomy and physiology students visited Lake Land College March 29 and participated in a cadaver lab. It was a great opportunity for the students to ask questions and see aspects of A&P they otherwise would not see. After visiting LLC, the students headed to the University of Illinois to tour the veterinary school. The students were able to see a lot of different animals and learn about the different procedures they are performing at U of I.

Managing Concerns About Falls Program Comes to Courtyard

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•April 4, 2018•

Catholic Charities of Decatur is offering A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls on April 19-June 7, Thursdays 3-5 p.m. at Courtyard Estates in Sullivan.

Fear of falling can be just as dangerous as falling itself. People who develop this fear often limit their activities, which can result in severe physical weakness, making the risk of falling even greater. Many older adults also experience increased isolation and depression when they limit their interactions with family and friends. A Matter of Balance can help people improve their quality of life and remain independent.   Read More

OVHS Seniors Attend Advisory Council

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•April 4, 2018•

Seniors Ethan Macklin and Natalie Jeffers attended the Youth Advisory Council held at Richland Community College this past winter.

State Senator Chapin Rose has spearheaded this initiative. It provides an opportunity for Senator Rose to meet and hear from students within his district and see the students engage in public policy debates.  Read More

WHS Scholastic Bowl First Team

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WHS Scholastic Bowl First Team
Maranda Tarvin, a junior at Windsor High School, recently made the varsity first team all conference (NTC) in Scholastic Bowl. Max Carr, sophomore, recently made the fresh-soph first team all conference (NTC) in Scholastic Bowl. Pictured from left: Max Carr and Maranda Tarvin

OV Students Help Corps with Spring Clean-up

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OV Students Help Corps with Spring Clean-up
Twenty Okaw Valley students ventured to Lake Shelbyville to help the CORPS of Engineers with spring clean-up. The students removed the snow fence at the main dam, assisted with a prescribed burn at Coon Creek, cleaned up campsites for the upcoming camping season, cleaned the hiking trails, cleaned the amphitheater, worked on playground repairs and spread mulch at Lone Point playground. Okaw Valley students will return to the lake in April and May to assist with further spring clean-up. Okaw Valley workdays are set up by civil engineer tech Matt Miller and OVHS ag teacher Wes Wise.

OV Livestock Judging Team Competes at LLC

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Photo furnished OV Livestock Judging Team Competes at LLC The Okaw Valley Livestock Judging Team traveled to Lake Land College for a Livestock Judging Competition. Pictured from left: Ethan Macklin - 3rd High Individual Overall, 2nd High Individual Questions, 12th sheep, 13th swine; Tanner Coleman - 44th individual, 25th sheep, 29th placings, 31st cattle; Garrett Tippit - 135th individual; Elizabeth Herbord - 97th individual. Team Results - Sheep - 2nd place out of 50, Swine - 11th place out of 50, Cattle - 21st out of 50.

Hey Kids. Go Outside and Play – You’ll Live Longer

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•April 4, 2018•

A new study published in the journal Health Affairs has attached a hefty price tag to the issue of inactivity in American children.

According to the study, only about 40% of children get 25 minutes of high-calorie-burning physical activity three times a week, which could result in $1.1 trillion in direct medical costs over the course of their lifetimes.

This is something Erin Kennedy, OSF HealthCare Center for Healthy Lifestyles Manager, says could be changed with a little early intervention.

“Exercise should be fun, and when you start at a young age it will not become a chore, but it will be something that people look forward to,” she said. “That’s what our communities need. We need to want to be physically active, and want to be outside of that house.” Read More

OV Senior Excels at Hydro-Gear

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OV Senior Excels at Hydro-Gear
Okaw Valley High School senior Cameron Nickerson visited the Hydro-Gear plant in Princeton, Kentucky. Nickerson is in the work-study program at OVHS and is employed by Hydro-Gear. He reports to Hydro-Gear every morning and then comes to OVHS in the afternoon to finish up his credits for graduation. He is working for the safety department and has been creating emergency and visitor maps for the plant in Sullivan. The company was so impressed with his work they want him to do the same thing for the Kentucky and Indiana plants.

Fourth Wettest February-March on Record in Illinois

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•April 4, 2018•

The statewide average precipitation for February-March was 8.69 inches, which made it the fourth wettest February-March on record, according to Illinois State Climatologist Jim Angel of the Illinois State Water Survey at the University of Illinois.

The wettest February-March was in 1898 with 8.96 inches. Read More

Imposing Tariffs Would Hurt, Not Help, American Jobs

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•April 4, 2018•

By Sam Fisher
IP Guest Editorial

Trade laws and, ultimately, imposing tariffs are designed to protect American interests and jobs. That’s a concept everyone can agree on.

But what happens when those laws and tariffs have the opposite effect? That’s an issue that’s playing out in D.C. with the Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission.

A lone newsprint mill in Washington state, owned by a New York hedge fund, brought a complaint to the International Trade Commission alleging unfair trade practices against Canadian producers of newsprint. Read More