•November 23, 2016•
The Windsor FFA Chapter, along with 63, 000 other FFA members and guests, invaded downtown Indianapolis Oct. 19-21.
Ten members of the Windsor FFA Chapter attended the 89th Annual National FFA Convention & Expo. There they listened to guest speakers give motivational life stories in the convention hall and explored the many booths in the career show.
Photo furnished
•November 23, 2016•
SAIL, Soyland Access to Independent Living, will host a workshop introducing information about the Affordable Care Act Updates, Thursday, 9:30-11 a.m. December 1 in First United Methodist Church located at 216 W. Jefferson Street in Sullivan. Read More
Compiled by Bekki Ferguson-Stevens
25 Years Ago This Week
Sullivan Civic Center director Bill Highland coached both Sarah and Jake Shasteen Saturday on how to use the aerobicycle exercise bike before he convinced their mom, Ruth, to try it also, during an open house. The Shasteen family purchased a membership pass along with 40 other individuals and families who decided to become Civic Center members after witnessing the improved health and fitness facilities offered at the center.
Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Eckel celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary in July with a white water rafting trip on the Snake River near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.
Seth Dunscomb won three events and placed in five, while Holly Highland placed in five events Nov. 1-3 in the Peoria Spooktackular Swim Meet.
On Nov. 12, the Quilting Group of the Moultrie County Retired Senior Volunteer Program distributed nap time quilts to the 34 children enrolled in the Moultrie County Head Start program and nap time pillows to the kindergarten children at Powers Elementary School in Sullivan. RSVP members Alta Lee, Freda Netherton and Mildred Moran distributed the quilts and pillows.
Clint Edwards of Sullivan was among the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts from Sullivan, Lovington and Bethany who picked up food donations in their respective communities Saturday for the Moultrie County Food Pantry. Read More
•November 23, 2016•
The Lake Land College Center for Business and Industry recently announced a new workshop titled “The Indispensable Employee.” The workshop will be offered twice in December; 6-9 p.m. Thursday, December 1 or 9 a.m-noon Tuesday, December 6 at the Lake Land Center for Business and Industry facility located at 305 Richmond Avenue East in Mattoon. Read More
•November 23, 2016•
By Gerald Tilley
Social Security District Manager in Decatur
Social Security has you covered, even outside our nation’s borders. We’re with you through life’s journey, even if you’re traveling outside the United States. Many people who travel or live outside the country receive some kind of Social Security benefit, including retired and disabled workers, as well as spouses, widows, widowers, and children.
If you’re a U.S. citizen, you may receive your Social Security payments outside the United States as long as you are eligible. When we say you are “outside the United States,” we mean you’re not in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, or American Samoa. Once you’ve been outside the United States for at least 30 days in a row, we consider you to be outside the country. Whether you’re off to Europe, or considering a stay in our newly reopened neighbor Cuba, you may be able to receive your Social Security benefits even while you’re outside the United States. If you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you cannot receive benefits if you’re outside of the United States for a month or more. Read More
•November 23, 2016•
First things first, TAKE THE TURKEY OUT! It may already be time to take the turkey out of the freezer so that it will be thawed in time for Thanksgiving. Allow approximately 24 hours for each four to five pounds of turkey when thawed in the refrigerator. A 20 to 24 pound turkey could take five to six days to thaw. Never thaw a turkey at room temperature.
“Every year, one in six Americans gets sick by consuming contaminated foods or beverages, or what is commonly referred to as food poisoning,” said Illinois Department of Public Health Director Nirav D. Shah, M.D., J.D. “By adhering to what we call ‘the big four – clean, separate, cook, and chill,’ you can avoid becoming ill and ruining your holidays.”
1. Clean - wash hands, cutting boards, dishes, utensils, and countertops before and after preparing each food item. Read More
•November 16, 2016•
Illinois Department of Human Rights Director Janice Glenn today issued a reminder of the anti-discrimination protections available under the Illinois Human Rights Act to active duty service members and veterans of the armed forces. State law prohibits discrimination based on military status and also protects employers from discrimination complaints if they establish a hiring preference for veterans.
“While we come together as a nation and state to recognize the commitment made by our veterans, it is important to publicize the strong legal protections available in Illinois to those who have served, including freedom from unlawful discrimination,” said Director Glenn. “I encourage both veterans and those on active duty to familiarize themselves with the legal rights available to them, particularly for employment.” Read More
•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
Special Recognition Deserved for an Outstanding Job!
To the Editor,
Knowing how busy the County Clerk’s office would be the last week of early voting Mary White and I volunteered to work as election judges in the office.
I had done this before but never had it been so busy with people registering to vote for the first time, people updating their addresses and name changes, plus people wanting information about items on the ballot.
Many came because they simply wanted to vote early. All the while, the phones were ringing, and regular business “not” dealing with the election was being conducted. 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