Cheri Burcham
Extension Educator
University of Illinois Extension                      

I am definitely not one to usually eat breakfast, only because I don’t like most breakfast foods. I found this article written by Illinois Extension Educator Jenna Smith very interesting and helpful and wanted to share it you. Jenna says: While some people wouldn’t dream of skipping breakfast in the morning, others just aren’t breakfast eaters. There are three common reasons as to why breakfast may be overlooked: “I don’t have time,” “I don’t like breakfast food,” and “I’m not hungry.” It’s the “I’m not hungry” excuse that most people have a hard time understanding. After all, you’ve probably heard many health professionals tell you to listen to your body’s cues and only eat when hungry. 

•February 19, 2025•

Aging brings challenges that affect physical, mental, and social well-being. Addressing these challenges requires a holistic approach that includes healthcare, social support, and financial planning to ensure a dignified and fulfilling life for older adults.

•February 19, 2025•

The University of Illinois Extension just released a 10-year strategic plan that commits to serving the state by focusing on food and agriculture as well as the economic, community, environmental and health sectors through partnerships, discovery, technology and workforce excellence. In an interview with News Bureau life sciences editor Diana Yates, Illinois Extension director Shelly Nickols-Richardson explains how one of the largest Cooperative Extension Systems in the nation tackles so many issues at once.   

Simon Kenton, Shelby Explorer

•February 19, 2025•

by Janet Roney

Simon Kenton was born in Virginia in 1755.  When he was a teenager, he thought he had killed another man in a fight over a girl. He ran away west of the mountains, changed his name, and honed his survival skills in the wilds of Kentucky. He was one of the few who could prime and load a flintlock rifle while on a flat out run. He learned Indian ways better than most Indians did.

Few captives survived the blows from war clubs wielded by enraged Indians in a gauntlet run, but Kenton did…nine times in nine villages! Few captives survived being burned at the stake, but Kenton did when a heavy rain came from a nearly cloudless sky and doused the fire. Kenton became a frontier legend.

•February 12, 2025•

The City of Monticello and Make it Monticello Tourism have announced the 11th Piatt County Antique Day on Saturday, March 1st, from 9am-4pm. The event, which began in 2013, is a way to spotlight the antique shops in some of the smallest communities (ex. Cisco, pop. 238) in one of the most rural counties in central Illinois. Visitors can traverse through Piatt County and dispel the cabin fever blues, while exploring these hidden gems in 4 rural Piatt County communities. With a record number of 13 stores participating, there is plenty to see and participants are encouraged to make a day out of it, with some shopping and dining too! Each stop has its own specialty and visitors are sure to enjoy the experience.