•February 9, 2022•
Lake Land College will host Laker Visit Day from 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 21 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.
Attendees will tour campus with a student ambassador, who will share information from a student perspective. Participants will also meet with faculty to learn more about specific programs. Read More
Engage Your Brain with Wits Fitness Classes
•February 9, 2022•
Cheri Burcham
Extension Educator
University of Illinois Extension
Since 2015, I have been facilitating monthly Wits Fitness brain exercise classes at several locations in Moultrie, Coles, Cumberland, and Shelby counties with an additional class being offered in Douglas county. The purpose of these classes has been to educate participants on healthy brain contributors, and to present cognitive or mental challenges to participants in a highly social setting. Participants are not tested for Alzheimer’s Disease, and we make no claims that memory will be regained or that the classes prevent the onset of dementia. Wits Fitness classes simply engage participants in interactive activities that challenge thinking and therefore help them stay mentally active – which can contribute to maintaining and improving brain function. Read More
In Headline Writing, Leave Room for Logic
•February 9, 2022•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer
A pair of letter writers this week reminded me that not everyone on this planet was trained to write headlines.
Hollywood, which rarely offers an accurate portrayal of a newsroom, doesn’t know how headlines work, either.
In movies, you’ll see complete sentences in heavy bold type that half fill a front page of a prop newspaper. I understand that in prop papers there is only one headline on the page that helps propel the plot, but to make “FINGERPRINTS FROM THE ESTRANGED WIDOW OF WEALTHY INDUSTRIALIST SILAS MCGREEDY ARE FOUND ON A SERRATED BREAD KNIFE” a 120-point headline is rather silly.
Space is precious. That’s just isn’t how it works in the real world.
I’ve mentioned before that in headlines we almost never use complete sentences, unless they are downsized secondary headlines. We abbreviate our thoughts and drop articles, punctuation and verbs with élan. Read More
Remember When? 2-9-2022
25 Years Ago This Week
The Lovington Board of Education accepted the resignation of Rosemary Brown, the elementary school principal at a board meeting. Mrs. Brown was with the district 27 years and served as principal of the elementary school since 1989. Prior to serving as principal, Mrs. Brown taught at both the high school and grade school level.
The county’s tentative plan to purchase the former Sullivan Sale Barn for use as an animal control facility was scrapped after a contract for sale had already been signed for the property. Previously the county’s plan to purchase a former local veterinary facility for the same purpose was vetoed by strong opposition from neighbors.
New officers for the Sullivan Area Chamber of Commerce were Mimi Atchison of Atchison True Value (treasurer); Randy Butler of Jerry’s IGA (vice-president); and Diane Weaver of Sullivan Printers (president) and Linda Carlton of CF&H Insurance (secretary). Read More
Ruling on Legal Challenge to School Mask Mandates could come soon
•February 2, 2022•
By Capital News Illinois
A Sangamon County judge is considering a motion to block Illinois schools from requiring people to wear face masks in classes and excluding students and staff from school buildings if they’ve had close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
Circuit Judge Raylene Grischow heard oral arguments last week in a class action lawsuit against 145 school districts that was filed last year by Greenville attorney Thomas DeVore, who has unsuccessfully challenged the state’s COVID-19 mitigation measures in several other lawsuits.
In September, DeVore filed a motion for a temporary restraining order to permit students to continue in-person learning in school. Read More
Shawnee Communications makes donation to District #305 Education Foundation
•February 2, 2022•
Shawnee Communications delivered a late Christmas gift to District #305 Education Foundation. On Wednesday, January 19th, Jamie Franklin, Customer Service Manager for Shawnee Communications, presented the District #305 Education Foundation with a much-needed donation. The $5,400 donation consisted of employee donations, which were matched individually by Shawnee’s four shareholders and then matched by the company. On hand to receive the donation were board members Carol Smith, Marty Yeakel and members of the “100 People Who Care” organization. Read More
Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library News
•February 2, 2022•
Register today to receive a S.T.E.A.M. kit to take home.
Who: Students in grades K-8.
When: Two times a month from February- May
What: Included will be a STEAM activity, some reading materials, and a mystery for you to solve. When you solve the mystery you will uncover a code that will give you access to a locked box that contains a prize.
Yarn Matters: Do you love fiber arts?
Do you crochet, knit, weave, maybe even embroider?
Bring your projects, knowledge, and/or a desire to learn. Read More
Millikin University Announces New Dual Degree Program and Major
•February 2, 2022•
Millikin University has announced an opportunity for undergraduates to accelerate their careers in arts management through a new accelerated Arts Administration/Master of Business Administration (MBA) 3+1 dual degree program. Millikin will begin enrolling students in the program in the fall 2022 semester.
Through the accelerated Arts Administration + MBA program, students can earn a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree in Arts Administration and an MBA degree in just four years. Students will spend three years completing the Arts Administration major and will enroll as a graduate student in Millikin University’s 13-month Daytime MBA program in their fourth year. Read More
Lake Land College Celebrates Assessment Month
•February 2, 2022•
February is the month to celebrate assessment at Lake Land College. Students and staff members are encouraged to participate in this year’s activities to learn about the importance of assessment.
According to Lisa Madlem, director of assessment and program review for the college, the assessment process at Lake Land is essential to help students and staff make informed decisions that ultimately improve the teaching-learning process. Read More
Daily Farm Scholarship Accepting Applications from Coles and Moultrie County Students
•February 2, 2022•
Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation is now accepting applications for the newly-acquired Daily Farm Scholarship. The scholarship application is available online at www.enrichingourcommunity.org/Scholarships, and the deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. on Friday, March 11, 2022. Read More