•May 25, 2022•
University of Illinois Master Naturalists want to celebrate pollinator month with you. The local Master Naturalists group, Prairie’s Edge, has scheduled several, fun and informative presentations and guided walks throughout June.
“The goal is for participants to learn more about our well-known pollinators, some of the forgotten pollinators, the threats they face, and to identify ways to help them,” says Master Naturalis program coordinator Jenny Lee. Read More
Illinois 4-H Announces County Fair Poultry Shows Move to Virtual Format
•May 25, 2022•
The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) announced today that it will continue to enforce emergency rules prohibiting the sale or exhibiting of poultry and poultry products at swap meets, exhibitions, flea markets, and auction markets in Illinois to prevent the spread of avian influenza.
The Department’s emergency rules took effect on April 5, 2022. The emergency rules may be effective for up to 150 days; however, the Department is evaluating the need for the emergency rules every 45 days based on the most up to date avian influenza information. At the close of the first 45-day period, the Department has determined that the emergency rules should remain in effect as avian influenza has been detected in the State as recently as May 17, 2022. The Department will continue to evaluate in 45-day increments for up to 150 days. Read More
Changeover from COVID-19 Individual Contact Tracing Calls
•May 25, 2022•
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced it is shifting its COVID-19 contact tracing efforts and individual case investigation telephone calls to focus on a more strategic approach of automated case notifications.
Starting June 1, 2022, IDPH will no longer make individual case investigation calls to persons positive with COVID-19, and instead those individuals will receive an automated message. IDPH notifications to COVID-19 cases had previously included a call back option from contact tracers and individual case investigations of persons 65 years of age and older. Read More
Kids Fishing Tournament
•May 25, 2022•
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Lake Shelbyville and Friends of Lake Shelbyville is hosting a free fishing tournament for children 12 and under on Saturday, June 4, 2022 at Opossum Pond. The pond is located near the entrance to the Opossum Creek Recreation Area. Participants must pre-register by calling (217) 774-3951 ext. 2, or email lakeshelbyville@usace.army.mil. Information needed: name of participant, age of participant on event day, name of parent/guardian, and phone number for parent/guardian. Read More
IDNR Reminds Boaters to Wear Life Jackets, Boat Sober
•May 25, 2022•
As the summer boating season approaches, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources conservation police are reminding people to wear life jackets anytime they’re on the water and to only operate boats while sober.
The message to “Wear It!” is timed with National Safe Boating Week, May 21-27.
“The ‘Wear It!’ message is a simple and easy message to understand,” said Illinois Conservation Police Lt. Curt Lewis, who is the state’s boating law administrator. “Wearing a life jacket isn’t just a reminder for everyone on a motorboat; it’s also important for everyone who enjoys paddle sports, such as kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards.” Read More
Remember When? 5-25-2022
25 Years Ago This Week
The Sullivan City Council approved creation of a third Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district. The district was to encompass 25 3/4 acres included a new 36 housing unit subdivision proposed by Ron and Sharon White in addition to the Sullivan sewer plant and Patterson Road, which the city planned to upgrade with its share of the TIF monies generated.
Valedictorians and salutatorians were announced for Sullivan, Lovington and Bethany high schools. Lovington High School’s valedictorian was Shaun Casteel and salutatorian was Anna Creviston. Bethany High School valedictorian was Raven Freeland and Kelsie Buker as salutatorian. Sullivan High School’s valedictorian was Christy Kracht and Hollie Taylor was salutatorian. Read More
25 Years Ago This Week
The Sullivan City Council approved creation of a third Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district. The district was to encompass 25 3/4 acres included a new 36 housing unit subdivision proposed by Ron and Sharon White in addition to the Sullivan sewer plant and Patterson Road, which the city planned to upgrade with its share of the TIF monies generated.
Valedictorians and salutatorians were announced for Sullivan, Lovington and Bethany high schools. Lovington High School’s valedictorian was Shaun Casteel and salutatorian was Anna Creviston. Bethany High School valedictorian was Raven Freeland and Kelsie Buker as salutatorian. Sullivan High School’s valedictorian was Christy Kracht and Hollie Taylor was salutatorian. Read More
Updated IL Sport Fish Consumption Advisories
•May 18, 2022•
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has announced updated consumption advisories for sport fish caught in Illinois waters. These changes are the result of continued sampling by the Illinois Fish Contaminant Monitoring Program (FCMP).
This year, the IDPH has issued seven new site-specific methylmercury advisories and added Dongola Lake, Dutchman Lake, Lake Nellie, and White Hall City Lake to the list of waters with site-specific methylmercury advisories. In line with the statewide trend of declining polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) levels, no new PCB advisories were issued. Existing PCB advisories were relaxed for two waters (Horseshoe Lake (catfish) and Waukegan North Harbor) and removed from three others (Horseshoe Lake (common carp), Raccoon Lake, and Wabash River). Read More
Breese’s Fields Claims Strike King Co-Angler Division Victory
•May 18, 2022•
Boater Robert Davis of Bethalto, Illinois, caught four bass Saturday weighing 14 pounds, 4 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Shelbyville. The tournament was the season-opener for the Bass Fishing League Illini Division. Davis earned $4,825 for his victory.
“This tournament was a hot grind,” Davis said. “My original plan did not pan out, so I went with Plan B that I had found the week before – fishing spawning and post-spawn fish, and that paid off.
“I was going back and forth between shallow and deep fish,” Davis added. “I was slow-rolling a spinnerbait near the bottom. Everything I was getting was just subtle bites; they weren’t hitting very hard at all. It was just a reaction bite. I could get them fired up for about 10 minutes and then go two hours without another bite, then get them fired back up for about 10 minutes. It was tedious.” Read More
Do You Qualify for Social Security Spouse’s Benefits?
•May 18, 2022•
By Ileana Saveley
Social Security District
Manager in Decatur, IL
Social Security benefits are a crucial part of millions of Americans’ retirement income. If you don’t have enough Social Security credits to qualify for benefits on your own record, you may be able to receive benefits on your spouse’s record.
To qualify for spouse’s benefits, you must be one of the following:
· 62 years of age or older.
· Any age and have in your care a child younger than age 16, or who has a disability and is entitled to receive benefits on your spouse’s record. Read More