•November 16, 2016•

Hunters in Illinois are being reminded to make safety a top priority, especially during the state’s busiest hunting seasons this fall.

“There is no better place to participate in and celebrate our hunting heritage than right here in Illinois during the fall,” said Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Director Wayne Rosenthal. “No matter the hunting seasons, we want hunters to enjoy their time in the field and to be safe while doing so.”

The IDNR Office of Law Enforcement, which administers the state’s Hunter Safety Education Program, has investigated 10 hunting incidents so far during 2016, eight of which involved hunters falling from elevated tree stands or falling while climbing into or out of tree stands.

In 2015, there were 25 hunting incidents reported in all hunting seasons in Illinois. Among the hunting incidents reported last year, 15 involved tree stands.

The IDNR reminds hunters using tree stands to use a Fall Arrest System (FAS) safety harness. Nationally, more than 80 percent of reported tree stand incidents involve hunters who were not using a fall restraint system.  Read More

And Learning Conditions during 5Essentials Survey

•November 16, 2016•

Sullivan Community Unit School District #300 will join the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) in the fifth statewide survey of school climate and learning conditions. The survey provides a unique opportunity for students, teachers and parents to have a voice in improving their schools.

From now through January 16, students, teachers and parents will be asked to take a 25 -minute research-based survey to help identify strengths and weaknesses in their school’s learning environment. This survey will serve as an opportunity for schools to reflect on progress since the last statewide implementation.

The Illinois 5Essentials Survey provides a comprehensive picture of a school’s organizational culture in an individualized report measuring five “essentials” critical for school success: Effective Leaders; Collaborative Teachers; Involved Families; Supportive Environment; Ambitious Instruction. Read More

Photo furnished
The ALAH FFA members pose in front of the RFD-TV backdrop. First Row (L-R)  Katie Gingerich, Bri Smith, Makenna Green, and Janette Comstock. Back Row (L to R) Zane Crist, Colton Romine, Adam Day and Adam Hingson.

•November 16, 2016•

By Katie Gingerich
FFA Reporter

The 89th National FFA Convention was held in Indianapolis, Ind. on October 19-22. Janette Comstock, Colton Romine, Zane Crist, Bri Smith, Adam Hingson, Makenna Green, Adam Day, and Katie Gingerich represented ALAH at the convention. They were accompanied by their advisor Wendy Leenerts and chaperone, Monica Green.

The ALAH FFA members stayed in Indianapolis for three days. They attended the first general session of the convention on October 19. FFA members were able to hear from the featured speaker, Diana Nyad, who is the first person to swim from Florida to Cuba without a shark cage. The students were able to walk around the career show as well. That night, they went to the FFA concert where they saw the Henningsens, Cole Swindell, and Chris Young play. “I had a blast. It was really fun,” said Katie Gingerich. Read More

•November 16, 2016•

During Get Smart About Antibiotics Week, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is asking Illinoisans to learn how they can help prevent the misuse of life saving medications.

“Antibiotics are among the most commonly prescribed drugs. However, up to 50 percent of all antibiotics prescribed are not needed or are not as effective as intended,” said IDPH Director Nirav D. Shah, M.D., J.D. “Because of misuse, antibiotic resistant bacterial infections are more common, resulting in many of our life saving medications losing efficacy. I encourage everyone to take some time this week to learn how you can keep antibiotics working.”

Antibiotics are medicines that treat bacterial infections. They do not cure infections caused by viruses, such as the common cold or flu. Taking antibiotics when you do not need them can prevent them from working when you do need them. Read More

Photo by Erica Lehman
Mobile Ag’s visit to Sullivan found Nora Becker, daughter of Cassie and Nathan Becker, and “Skittles” the calf seeing eye to eye at the Sullivan Oktoberfest.

•November 16, 2016•

The Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) program has announced that  Moultrie County Soil and Water Conservation District has funded the agriculture literacy coordinator for the 2016-2017 school year. Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom based these grants to counties off the 2015-2016 year-end reports.

In 2015-2016, the Illinois AITC program reached 646,201 students with a message about agriculture. Additionally, 37,563 teachers and 1,263 pre-service teachers learned how to incorporate agriculture into their existing curriculum while meeting state learning standards. Locally, Erica Lehman, Ag Literacy Coordinator, reached 5,061 students and 267 teachers with multiple topics regarding agriculture throughout the 2015-2016 school year.

Kevin Daugherty, Education Director for the Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom program, said, “The county level programs that implement the AITC program are our biggest strength. Although AITC is a national program, Illinois has the benefit of local contacts that provide content and knowledge and easy strategies for teachers to utilize. The county programs work to integrate agriculture into existing classroom curriculum.” Read More