News Progress

•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

•February 23, 2022•
Lake Land College will celebrate with graduates during an in-person Commencement ceremony on Friday, May 13, 2022 at 6 p.m. in the Field House.
“We are excited to gather together and recognize the accomplishments of our graduates in a traditional in-person Commencement,” Lake Land College President Josh Bullock said.
This will be the first in-person ceremony the college has held since 2019. Read More

•February 23, 2022•
Since February is American Heart Month, it’s the perfect time to refresh your memory on the warning signs of a heart attack. Prairie Cardiovascular and HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital encourage everyone to take a moment to learn what you should do if you or a loved one experiences heart attack symptoms.
Heart attacks aren’t always the swift and intense events that are portrayed on TV. As a result, some people may delay calling 911 because they don’t realize that what they’re feeling is a heart attack.
“Most heart attacks involve discomfort (felt in the center of the chest) that lasts more than a few minutes or comes and goes,” says Arti Singh, MD, a cardiologist with Prairie Cardiovascular. Many people describe it as pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain. Other discomfort not generally perceived as ‘pain’ may: Read More