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.

•April 16, 2025•

People who live in cold climates understand that it can sometimes be challenging to warm up after a day spent combatting snow, wind or freezing rain. Luckily, eating hot soup is a very effective means to returning the body to a less-chilled temperature. Soup also tends to be easily digested and nutrient-dense, making it an ideal meal at any time.

This recipe for “Sweet Potato and Peanut Soup” from “The Culinary Institute of America Book of Soups” (Lebhar-Friedman Books) by The Culinary Institute of America is thick, creamy and full of savory flavor.

Sweet Potato and Peanut Soup

Makes 8 servings

Empowering schools to protect students, staff from outbreaks

•April 16, 2025•

With cases of measles being reported in more than 20 jurisdictions around the United States, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has unveiled a new data dashboard to help school officials and members of the public assess the potential severity of any outbreaks of measles, should one occur in Illinois. The new Measles Outbreak Simulator Dashboard (https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/prevention-wellness/immunization/coverage-dashboards/measles-outbreak-simulator-dashboard.html) makes it easy for the public to find out the measles vaccination rate in any school in Illinois, public or private, and to determine the risk of a child being exposed to measles if a case is introduced in their school.