News Progress

•March 2, 2022•
GriefShare sponsored by First Christian Church, Sullivan, will be held at the church Tuesday from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, March 15 through May 31.
Each session includes a time to share thoughts about the previous week’s learning, new material delivered via an approximately 40-minute video, and a discussion of the main ideas in the video. Read More

•March 2, 2022•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer

“This is the police. We have you surrounded!”
You’ve likely heard this line in a variety of movies right before the antihero does something foolhardy and gets himself shot.
You know there is no way out. He knows there is no way out.
Why? Because the police have told him he is surrounded.
He can’t go forward, backward, to the left or the right — because he is surrounded. Read More

•February 23, 2022•
Snow-covered lawns can be pretty, but heavy snowfall can contribute to winter lawn damage.
Mother Nature can be harsh on a lawn, and it’s up to homeowners to nurse their lawns back to health after they endure the elements. That’s often the case when winter ends and homeowners uncover signs of damage to their lawns.
Homeowners cannot begin to repair winter lawn damage until they learn to identify it, and the following are some telltale signs that winter took a harsh toll on a landscape. Read More

•February 23, 2022•
Cheri Burcham
Extension Educator
University of Illinois Extension

I would like to share this article written by Eastern Illinois University graduate student, Kayli Worthey. Kayli says: While conflict is bound to happen in all family structures, blended families encounter many unique challenges. Knowing what to expect can help address issues before they spiral out of control. Growing up in a blended family was anything but simple. I witnessed arguments between co-parents, legal disputes, scheduling challenges, and even felt jealous of my half-siblings and territorial of my parents and home. It was not until I got older that I realized the blessings blended families hold. Every family gathering is filled with laughter, guidance, support, and most of all love. While we may not all share DNA, we are family and that is the best gift that life can offer.
A blended family, also known as stepfamily, is a family where at least one parent has children from a previous relationship, making the child(ren) not biologically or adoptive related to the other spouse (Kumar, 2017). Often, blended families are created after remarriage. According to a study done by the Pew Research Center, 42% of the 2,691 participating adults have a step-relationship including stepparents, step- or half-siblings, or a stepchild(ren) (2011). The Pew Research Center also found that 16% of children are living in a blended family where at least one household member is a stepparent, stepsibling, or half-sibling (2015). Read More

•February 23, 2022•
Cheri Burcham
Extension Educator University of Illinois Extension

I am a huge believer in incorporating mindfulness practices into every day. Extension Educator Judy Schmidt recently wrote this article that just goes to show the important role that mindfulness can play in our lives. Judy says: In my family, when interactions start to escalate or an argument is spiraling out of control, you can often hear one of us say the words, “Can we have a restart?” That’s a sign that someone has recognized this interaction isn’t headed in a good direction and we need to take a step back. Being able to acknowledge you need to take a moment is an important step in managing your emotions. Equally important, yet sometimes more challenging is the actual resetting of your emotions. Mindfulness techniques are a great way to help your body and mind reset to a more peaceful state. These three techniques are good ones to try when trying to reset after a stressful situation. Read More