News Progress

2013 

The Sullivan AmBuCs chapter provided a bike for 12 year old Zoe Powell who dreamed of being able to ride a bike but was born with a condition that a traditional bike would not be an option for her. AmTrykes can be operated via hand or food pedal to accommodate different needs. 

The Lovington Girl Scout Troop 3009 conducted their annual food drive collecting more than 500 pounds of nonperishable food and paper goods for Lovington’s Christ Pantry which supplies food to those in need not only in Lovington but in surrounding communities.

One Book One Sullivan announced their book choice for the community to be “Lions of Little Rock.” Read More

•November 29, 2023•

Cheri Burcham

Extension Educator, University of Illinois Extension

As the weather turns cooler, you may find yourself reaching for a warm mug of hot cocoa. I would like to share this great article from Illinois Extension Educator Jenna Smith from the blog Simply Nutritious, Quick and Delicious. Jenna says: While it’s convenient to grab a packet of hot cocoa out of the box, making your own only takes three simple ingredients: sugar, cocoa powder and milk. This is a far cry from the hot cocoa mix you buy at the store, which generally has corn syrup, hydrogenated oil, natural flavor, and other preservatives added. Not to mention, most people prefer the taste of homemade. Read More

•November 29, 2023•

Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) has announced $25 million in available grant funding through the Back to Business (B2B) NewBiz program. Following state recovery programming for businesses totaling $1.5 billion, the latest American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)-funded opportunity is designed to provide additional support for businesses in hard-hit sectors who launched during the pandemic. Businesses that launched in 2020 or 2021 and remain in operation have faced significant impacts during the pandemic, but they have not been eligible for other federal or state relief programming since they were not operational prior to the pandemic. Read More

•November 29, 2023•

Many will be decking the halls to celebrate this holiday season. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) more than two of every five home decoration fires occur due to decorations being placed too close to a heat source. More than one-third of home decoration fires are started by candles. Between 2017-2021, US fire departments responded to an average of 150 home fires that started with Christmas trees per year. US fire departments responded to an estimated average of 793 home structure fires per year that began with decorations, excluding Christmas trees. Read More

•November 29, 2023•

The calendar says November, so snow and ice probably aren’t far away – which is why the Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police and Illinois Tollway are reminding the public that it’s time for “Winter Weather – Get it Together.”

“At IDOT, preparing for winter is a year-long endeavor, but we need the public’s help to keep you and your loved ones safe during the coming weeks and months,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. “The team at IDOT is ready to take on snow and ice with your cooperation. Plan ahead. Reduce speeds. Increase stopping distances between vehicles. Anticipate conditions will change quickly at any time. Keep your eyes on the road. And if you are out during snow removal operations, do not crowd the plow.”

Now is a crucial time to begin practicing basic winter driving skills and preparing for even routine trips to take longer to complete, though temperatures are above freezing during the day and roads appear clear. As part of the “Winter Weather – Get it Together” campaign, travelers are encouraged to follow these simple guidelines:  Read More