25 Years Ago This Week

Nathan R. Hutchings of Sullivan has been awarded an honor scholarship to attend MacMurray College in Jacksonville as a result of scholarship competition held in November 1991. He is the son of Dennis and Mary Hutchings and plans to major in biology or chemistry for pre medicine at MacMurray.

Several area students are among the nearly 50 candidates for degrees or certificates upon completion of the fall term at Lake Land College. Two area students graduated summa cum laude with a 3.8 to 4. grade point average. They are Michael H. Hafer of Arthur and Tamara M. Cox of Findlay, who both earned associate in science degrees in business administration. Lisa M. Perry of Bethany earned cum laude status leading to her associate in applied science degree in management. Other graduates are Joyce M. Lowder, Arthur; Kelly R. Austin, Bethany; Martha J. Elliott, Windsor; and Sullivan residents Linda M. Dean, Sean W. Ruppert, Staci L. Shafer and Brenda S. Ray.

Rhonda Rutledge of Sullivan has been named to the Midstate College dean’s list for the fall 1991 quarter. Midstate College is in Peoria. Read More

•January 4, 2017•

By Trudy Lieberman
Rural Health News Service

Lori Eng, a 62-year-old office manager who works in western Nebraska, sent an email not long ago telling me she was “terrified” she might lose her Obamacare health insurance. The many horror stories passed along in the media had frightened her, and she wanted me to hear from someone who had benefitted from the law.

No wonder Eng is scared. Ever since the Affordable Care Act passed almost seven years ago, opponents, mostly Republicans, have vowed to repeal the law and replace it with a different plan. The November election results now make that a possibility.

Eng didn’t have health insurance before the Affordable Care Act came along. Her four-day-a-week job did not provide it, and her salary - less than $20,000 a year - was too low for her to swing an insurance premium. She bought her first Obamacare policy from one of the insurance co-ops that operated in Iowa and Nebraska that was supposed to offer cheaper coverage. It did - until it collapsed. With her government subsidy, she was able to buy a plan for only $50. She also qualified for an extra subsidy to help pay her deductible and coinsurance.

When the co-op failed, as most eventually did, she got a similar plan the next year from another company. Because her subsidy had increased, she paid only $34 each month. That year Eng was diagnosed with breast cancer, and her treatment, which included chemotherapy and a double mastectomy, cost around $200,000. She paid just $1,450 out of pocket. Read More

Sullivan Pre-School Breakfast
Monday, Jan. 9 - Cereal, berry juice, milk.
Tuesday, Jan. 10 - Donuts, berry juice, milk.
Wednesday, Jan. 11 - Pop tarts, berry juice, milk.
Thursday, Jan. 12  - Biscuits & gravy, berry juice, milk.
Friday, Jan. 13 - Granola bars, berry juice, milk.

Sullivan Pre-School Lunch
Monday, Jan. 9 - Baked ravioli, lettuce salad, Mandarin oranges, garlic bread, milk.
Tuesday, Jan. 10 - Chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, peaches, dinner roll, milk.
Wednesday, Jan. 11 - Chili, carrots & celery sticks, crackers, cheese stick, banana, milk.
Thursday, Jan. 12  - Fish on bun, green beans, pears, milk.
Friday, Jan. 13 - Pork fritters, mixed vegetables, mixed fruit, bread & butter, milk.

Senior Peace Meal
For additional information or for reservations, please call 1-800-543-1770
Monday, Jan. 9 - Cabbage rolls, mashed potatoes, Italian green beans, whole grain wheat, pineapple tidbits.
Tuesday, Jan. 10 - Chicken pot pie w/vegetables, mixed lettuce salad w/dressing, biscuits, warm cinnamon apples.
Wednesday, Jan. 11 - Chili Mac with beans, carrots, texas toast, warm peach crisp.
Thursday, Jan. 12  - Pork chop in gravy, mashed potatoes, winter mixed vegetables, texas toast, frosted pumpkin bar.
Friday, Jan. 13 - Ham or cheese salad, potato soup, creamy cole slaw, whole grain wheat, crackers, fruit salad.

•December 28, 2016•

By Tyler Harvey
Douglas-Moultrie Farm Bureau Manager

With the holidays in full swing farming has slowed down somewhat around the area. Some dry fertilizer is still being applied, but for the most part field operations are suspended.

This stretch of the year is a good time for farmers to work on bookkeeping and to continue to make the decisions on the next crop year. You will see some grain moving down the road to local elevators, but for the most part, grain is staying in the bins. For farmers the extreme cold we have had was good for trying to haul grain out of bins.

When the ground is not frozen, farmers have a very difficult time being able to fill a semi or truck with grain due to the sheer weight of the crop in the truck. With the end of harvest and winter approaching, many farmers are working on cleaning and preparing their equipment for the next crop season. With winter also comes informational meetings that farmers may take advantage of to learn about new seed, equipment, and other inputs that they use on a yearly basis. Even though machinery may not be running in the fields, farmers stay very busy with other aspects of farming during the winter season.  Read More

•December 28, 2016•

The Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) and Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today announced openings are still available for the Employment Opportunities, Personalized Services, Individualized Training, and Career Planning (EPIC) pilot program. This new pilot program is designed to provide SNAP recipients with valuable training and skills to help them gain meaningful employment.

“Working through innovative programs like EPIC, Illinoisans receiving food assistance can gain the education and skills they need on their journey toward self-sufficiency,” DCEO Acting Director Sean McCarthy said. “We hope that this program can serve as a launching point for broader engagement of SNAP participants as we support them in their movement toward independence.” Read More