New vaccination requirements for adolescents

April 29, 2015

Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director Nirav D. Shah, M.D., J.D., is urging parents to talk with their child’s doctor about the new school-entrance vaccination requirements, which include meningococcal conjugate vaccination (MCV). In observance of National Infant Immunization Week, April 18-23, IDPH plans to raise awareness of the value of timely vaccinations for infants, as well as for residents across the lifespan.
Beginning next school year, all students entering the sixth and twelfth grades will be required to show proof of recent MCV in order to prevent all students from acquiring this potentially fatal disease. Although disease incidence is at historic lows, the overall case-fatality rate remains between 10 to 15 percent, with between 11 to 19 percent of survivors experiencing long-term sequelae such as neurologic disability, limb or digit loss, and hearing loss. Read More

April 22, 2015

Moultrie County has been chosen to receive $2,800 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county. The selection was made by a national board that is chaired by the U. S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency and consists of representatives from American Red Cross; Catholic Charities, USA; National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA; The Jewish Federations of North America, The Salvation Army; and, United Way Worldwide. The local board was charged to distribute funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas around the country. Read More

April 15, 2015

The Sullivan boys’ basketball program is having fundamental basketball camps starting in May. These camps are for all boys in the third - 11th grades. Campers will be taught the fundamentals of the game of basketball by the boys’ basketball coaching staff.
Current third-fifth grade camp is 3:30- 5 p.m. May 11, 12, 13 and 15 in the Sullivan Elementary School gym. All campers will receive a shirt and basketball. Camp forms may be found in the SES office or on the SHS website under boys’ basketball. Read More

April 15, 2015

USDA Rural Development has launched a new website to enhance program accessibility and customer service.
The new website (www.rd.usda.gov) features quicker and more intuitive access to programs, simplified site navigation, and information about services and staff contacts in every state office. The site also provides easily accessible resources for loan and grant applications, eligibility information and program descriptions. Illinois Rural Development offices and information may be accessed at www.rd.usda.gov/il.
“The new website is part of a continuing effort to make information about Rural Development programs easier to access for anyone interested in the future of rural communities,” said Colleen Callahan, Illinois Rural Development Director. “Reflecting how mobile we’ve all become, the site can now be easily accessed on Smartphones and tablets.” Read More

April 8, 2015

In recognition of National Volunteer Week (April 12-18), established by the Points of Light Foundation in 1974, the American Cancer Society applauds its approximately 2.5 million volunteers who continue to pour their passion into finishing the fight against cancer.
“From driving cancer patients to and from treatment, making meals for patients staying at Hope Lodge, and leading Relay For Life and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer teams, our volunteers are the heart and soul of the American Cancer Society,” said Alicia Pettyjohn, community manager with Relay For Life. “Our volunteers inspire us, showing us each and every day how one person can make a difference in the fight against cancer.” Read More