•April 23, 2025•

4-H members from Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, and Moultrie counties had the amazing opportunity to attend a Livestock Clinic on Saturday, April 12, at the CCEEBA Livestock Barn. The clinic focused on the four species of livestock shown during Master Showmanship shows: beef, goats, sheep, and swine.

Attendees started their day with an engaging talk on Animal Nutrition by Megan Torrance of Purina Foods. Megan had the members participate in hands-on activities and questions and sent them home with reading materials. Learning about proper nutrition is essential when caring for animals. The members gained a wealth of knowledge thanks to Megan’s expertise.

Laker Connect program for Dual-Credit students

•April 23, 2025•

Lake Land College is partnering with area high schools to launch Laker Connect, a redesigned and enhanced dual credit program aimed at increasing access to college-level course work for high school students.

With the new Laker Connect Dual Credit program, students can simultaneously earn high school and college credit for free by enrolling in college courses in an academic pathway taught by qualified high school instructors. The program also aligns Lake Land and high school course curricula to create a seamless educational experience between high school and college.

More to it than meets the eye

•April 23, 2025•

While most in Moultrie County are aware of some of the events, meals, and activities that Moultrie County Senior Services (MISS) offers, what they provide is far broader than most realize. Through service, ongoing education, and a developed sense of community, MISS is the heart of the Senior Community.

In FY24, MISS Assisted: 333 clients with FREE Senior Information Services providing 1000 units of service (1 hour in our office = 1 unit of service); 78 clients with free Caregiver Advisory Services providing 3763 units of service; 153 clients with Medicare D issues; 96 clients with the Benefit Access Application (gives beneficiary a discount on one vehicle’s license plate sticker/household $10/year); 30 clients with Low Income Subsidy & other Medicare Savings Programs; 320 clients with SHIP Counseling services; 41 clients with Medicaid issues; 17 clients with Medicare Supplement issues; 10 clients with billing issues; 4 clients with FOID card renewals; 20 clients with license plate registration; 8 clients with Property Tax Freeze paperwork;2 clients with Veteran’s Administration issues; 3 clients handicap placard renewal; 5 clients with Fishing License renewal; and 16 clients with phone calls to Social Security Administration.

•April 16, 2025•

1,222 pairs of socks were collected by the East Central Illinois Red Cross Club in February for the Socks for Soldiers Drive. This number exceeded the goal of 1100 pairs that had been set for the entire South and West Central Illinois Red Cross Region, which consists of 33 counties.

Club members met with Val Logan, a Red Cross volunteer from the Decatur office, to give her the socks on February 27.

“She was overwhelmed by the amount of socks that we collected. She mentioned that the goal for the 33 county region was 1100 pairs. She was astonished that we surpassed that just from Sullivan, “stated SHS junior Liam Donovan who, along with sophomore Ellie Lehaman, spearheaded the club’s efforts to collect socks.