•September 28, 2022•
Lakeview College of Nursing recently held a White Coat Ceremony to recognize students who achieved the transition into clinical practice within their bachelor’s degree nursing program. Area students who were honored include the following:
Dakota Clayton of Sullivan. Clayton attends the College’s Charleston Campus and Zachary Lensink of Mattoon. Lensink attends the College’s Charleston Campus.
About 25 Lakeview students participated in the recently held event at the Paris Fine Arts Center in Paris, IL. Read More
ALAH Principals and Staff Share Information Regarding School Improvement Plans
•September 28, 2022•
by Ariana R. Cherry
NP Writer
Members of the ALAH School Board went into a closed session Wednesday, September 21, for a grievance hearing after opening their meeting and going over communication that was received. After a short time, the board returned and made a motion to deny the grievance.
Once again, a budget hearing was held for the tentative 2023 school district budget. Superintendent Shannon Cheek stated that nothing had changed with the budget, and it had been displayed publicly for the past 30 days. He reiterated what was mentioned at last month’s hearing.
“We tried to be as conservative as possible when we were building the budget and overestimated on expenses.” Last month Cheek informed the board that the ALAH District is considered a Tier 3 school and that it has been operating at 90% adequacy. Although he mentioned that the increase in funding received was pretty minimal as the district received only about $22,000 extra.
Some of the amounts calculated in the budget were as follows: the projected balances for 6/30/23 are as noted: Education Fund: $4,273,025; Operation and Maintenance: $1,738,757; Transportation: $375,056; Working Cash: 880,253 which makes the subtotal of operating funds at 7,267,091. Board members voted to approve the FY2023 Budget as presented. Read More
Auto-Mattock for the People
•September 28, 2022•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer
I was decluttering recently and happened upon my lab journals from some of the engineering courses I took in college.
I’ve always had it in my mind that I could be an inventor, whether they be things or words. I failed miserably at the former, so I’ve focused on the latter.
In one class, my lab partner, John Wayne (I kid you not), and I worked up a concept for a gizmo that would eject a cassette tape, flip the tape to the B side and play it, then eject it and load another tape from a carousel.
Think of a jukebox, but less sensible.
Sure, it would have been difficult to retrofit it for anything but my Sankyo stereo cassette deck, and it would have been about the size of a Costco shopping cart, but we thought we were onto something.
That was in 1982, just before Sony entered the market with the first commercially produced compact disc player.
That was the death knell for cassettes. And not long after that, I abandoned engineering for the word business.
Fast forward (pun unintended, but I’ll keep it) 40 years. My wife and I were planting a tree last weekend, and my buddy Kevin lent me a pair of shovels and a mattock. Read More
Remember When? 9-28-2022
25 Years Ago This Week
Sullivan observed Homecoming and announced their attendants and queen candidates. Junior Jodi Pound; sophomore Georgia Rollins; freshman Amanda Martin; seniors Tiffany Bone, Erica Keown, Brooke Coy and Jennifer Sanner.
Phyllis Schultz of Arthur was selected as Moultrie County’s Outstanding Senior Volunteer.
The Arthur-Lovington Knights football team pounded Illiopolis 29-7 in Little Okaw Valley Conference play. Read More
OSFM Encourages College Students to Practice and Follow Fire Safety Plans
•September 21, 2022•
September is Campus Fire Safety Month and Illinois is among numerous states urging students to create and practice a fire escape plan. Governor JB Pritzker has again this year proclaimed September as Campus Fire Safety Month in Illinois. This month serves as a good reminder for schools, universities, colleges, and local municipalities to join together and evaluate the level of fire safety being provided in both on and off-campus student housing. It’s important that all the proper steps are being taken to ensure fire-safe living environments are available for students. Read More
2022 Okaw Valley Homecoming King and Queen Candidates
Photo by Jeni Yantis
2022 Okaw Valley Homecoming King and Queen Candidates
Front: Queen candidates Reagan Reedy, Avery Bruns, Karson Park and Lexi Bartimus. Back: King candidates Brett Lybarger, Hudson Ruppert, Jace Rickey and Blayne Ryherd.
2022 Okaw Valley Homecoming Attendants
Photo by Jeni Yantis
2022 Okaw Valley Homecoming Attendants
Front: Freshman Reese Bruns, Junior Jade Crockett, Sophomore Reagan Russell. Back: Freshman Braden Montgomery, Junior Ryan Forlines and Sophomore Hayden Foster. The Okaw Valley Homecoming King and Queen will be crowned during the homecoming dance which will be held on Saturday, September 24 in the OVHS gym. Coronation will be at 6:45 with the dance following from 7-10pm.
Moultrie County Man Sentenced to IDOC for Domestic Battery
•September 21, 2022•
Matthew D. Phelps, 35, of Kirksville has been sentenced to 6 years of imprisonment in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
At a hearing on September 6, 2022, Judge Jeremy Richey accepted an agreement whereby Phelps pled guilty to Domestic Battery (Enhanced Sentence), a Class 4 Felony, in Moultrie County case 2022-CF-55 as well as Domestic Battery (Enhanced Sentence), a Class 4 Felony, in Moultrie County case 2022-CF-53. The charges stem from incidents on July 14, 2022, and on July 27, 2022, where law enforcement from the Moultrie County Sheriff’s Office and the Sullivan Police Officers responded to a residence in Sullivan regarding a domestic dispute involving Phelps. Read More
Lake Land College to Host Laker Visit Day
•September 21, 2022•
Lake Land College will host Laker Visit Day from 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 10 in the Luther Student Center, giving potential students the opportunity to learn about The Laker Advantage and how it can guide them on the path to success. Read More
Illinois Departments of Agriculture and Labor Highlight National Farm Safety and Health Week, September 18-24
•September 21, 2022•
As we enter fall, the Illinois Departments of Agriculture (IDOA) and Labor (IDOL) remind all farm workers to stay safe, especially during the busy harvest season.
To this end, Governor Pritzker has proclaimed the week of September 18-24, 2022, National Farm Safety and Health Week in Illinois, with the theme, “Protecting Agriculture’s Future.”
The latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the agriculture sector is one of the most dangerous in America. Each year the farming profession sees over 500 fatalities nationwide.
“It is important to bring awareness not only to the physical dangers of farming, but the emotional toll it takes as well,” said Jerry Costello II, Director, IDOA. “While we highlight roadway safety, confined spaces safety, and other traditional farming hazards, it is also important to encourage farmers to take care of their own health.” Read More