•March 3, 2021•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer

From wearing masks to social distancing, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused many changes to our lives in the past year. While some social distancing is good, don’t let that turn into complete isolation from others.
According to kff.org, during the pandemic, about four in 10 adults in the United States have reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder, a share that has been largely consistent, up from one in 10 adults who reported those symptoms from January to June 2019. A KFF Health Tracking Poll from July 2020 also found that many adults are reporting specific negative impacts on their mental health and well-being such as difficulty sleeping (36%) or eating (32%), increases in alcohol consumption or substance abuse (12%) and worsening chronic conditions (12%) due to worry and stress over the coronavirus.
Dave Cole, director of the Moultrie County Counseling Center, said that statistically there has been a rise in mental health concerns and substance abuse due to the coronavirus. “I feel that it is a very big concern that the longer COVID continues it becomes an ongoing issue,” he said. Read More

Board hires Marla Graham as the new Lovington Grade School Principal
by Ariana Cherry
NP Writer

Jacob Bettinger, an Eagle Scout, attended the ALAH District School Board meeting Wednesday, February 17. Last year he had informed the board of his plan to build an enclosed see-through bus stop shelter at Lovington Grade School.
The enclosed bus stop will measure approximately 6 ft. by 12 ft. to accommodate 10-12 students and will be located east of the old Lovington High School parking lot. He wishes to buy the supplies to build the enclosure rather than buy a prebuilt one as that would be more cost effective. Prebuilt structures cost about $6,000 whereas it would be only around $3,000 to build one himself. He hopes to get sponsors, donations and volunteers to help. His reasoning behind choosing this as his project is because he and his parents have noticed several of the high school students waiting to ride the bus from Lovington to Arthur outside in the elements - especially when it is either raining or snowing. Superintendent Shannon Creek is very pleased with Jacob’s idea and mentioned it would be a great idea to document the project as it is built. After the board reads through some of the designs and plans for the project, they are looking forward to signing its approval. Read More

•February 17, 2021•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer
During the Feb 8 City Council meeting, an ordinance establishing a revolving loan program for the city of Sullivan was approved. The council appropriated a sum of $400,000 for initial funding of the program.
Prior to 1992, the US Department of Agriculture had a revolving loan program available to communities at low interest rates to push development and employment. That program had the amount of $250,000 appropriated to it. City Administrator Dan Flannell said that through that program the city of Sullivan made many loans to businesses, but as interest rates declined the need for the program went away. Read More