•August 11, 2021•
On Thursday, July 29, Governor Pritzker signed SB265 into law expanding the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and increasing access to the Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP). The PIPP is a companion program to LIHEAP which addresses utility affordability by allowing qualified participants to pay no more than 6% of their monthly income for electric and gas utility services as well as receive forgiveness of 1/12 of their total utility debt for each on time monthly payment. Read More
Facts for Families: Rounding Up Fresh Blueberries
•August 11, 2021•
By Cheri Burcham
Family Life Educator
I absolutely love blueberries and also when I get to pick them myself! So I wanted to share this article and recipe by Extension Educators Caitlin Mellendorf and Jenna Smith. They say: I got to spend some time a few weeks ago picking blueberries! Put on my hat and UV shirt, brought a bottle of water, and got to pickin’. Thank goodness for taller blueberry bushes so I could take a break from crouching down. Now the question is: what to do with all the fresh blueberries?
Nutritionally, a 1/2-cup of blueberries contains around 40 calories, 10g carbohydrates, 2g fiber, and is a good source of vitamin C, folate, and vitamin K. Blueberries do not have significant amounts of fat, sodium, or protein. Read More
Remember When? 8-11-2021
25 Years Ago This Week
Coloring contest winners who received free Little Theatre tickets were Kim Dever, Mead Flannell, Alyssa Maxedon and Suzanne Ring.
The Bethany Village Board took final action amending an ordinance banning the discharge of firearms in the village. The new ordinance specifies that American Legion members may discharge firearms in the village for ceremonial purposes.
Manci Reynolds of Sullivan won a silver medal at the AAU Junior Olympics in New Orleans. Reynolds,10, won the silver in the trampoline competition. She also helped her team to a first place finish in the event. Reynolds also captured a copper medal for a fourth place finish in tumbling. She failed to make the finals in the double mini competition. Read More
Booth Library Awarded Grant
•August 11, 2021•
Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity have announced that Booth Library on the campus of Eastern Illinois University was awarded a $50,000 grant to implement a digital literacy program in the Southeastern region of Illinois. The grant is part of the Office of Broadband Regional Engagement for Adoption + Digital Equity (READY) program, through which $200,000 was awarded to four regional entities to accelerate progress toward eliminating the digital divide. In addition to EIU, READY grantees include awards of $50,000 for the following entities:
· Region 1 Planning Council on behalf of the Northern Stateline Region
· Southern Illinois University on behalf of the Southern Region
· University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign on behalf of the East Central Region Read More
PAHCE Annual Meeting Held
•August 4, 2021•
The Prairie Association for Home & Community Education (Moultrie-Douglas Counties) Annual Meeting was held June 24, 2021 at the Arthur Mennonite Church. The afternoon speaker was Mary Liz Wright, Extension Educator for Nutrition and Wellness. She presented a program on “Salt” from mining to its many uses. Read More
Lawn Mower Safety
•August 4, 2021•
Each year thousands of individuals are injured while mowing the lawn. These injuries can be as simple as a first degree burn to something as tragic as an amputation or even death. HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital urges the public to use caution while mowing, especially when children are involved.
Prevention of these injuries is key, as the most common injuries could be prevented by just slowing down and being aware of your surroundings.
The types of injuries sustained while mowing the lawn vary greatly. Some of the most common injuries are:
Cuts: Cuts can occur anywhere on the body but most often occur on the hands and feet from the sharp blades. Small wounds or cuts can harbor unsafe bacteria. Infections are common, and antibiotic medicines usually are necessary.
Burns: The hot engine, gas tank or exhaust of a lawn mower can cause burns. Read More
Technology Resources and Financial Benefits Available to LLC Students this Fall
•August 4, 2021•
Lake Land College is implementing several initiatives to assist students this fall, including financial assistance, a new laptop rental program and new classroom technology.
“We are committed to helping our students succeed by providing access to the resources and technology they need, when they need it,” President Josh Bullock said. “The new technology and financial assistance programs made available with COVID-relief funding will be able to break down some barriers for students and allow them to continue on their path to a successful career.”
On Monday, July 12, the Lake Land College Board of Trustees approved the purchase of 300 new Dell laptops using Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) governmental funds. The Information Systems and Services team will prepare each of the laptops, and beginning August 16, students can check them out in the Judge Learning Resource Center/Library. The college will also be proposing the implementation of a new help desk at a future Lake Land College Board of Trustees meeting. If approved, the help desk will be available to students during the hours they are using online resources. Read More
Educational Course on Caregiving Self-Care Offered
•August 4, 2021•
Caregivers often feel physically, emotionally and financially drained while caring for a loved one with a chronic condition. They may feel as though they have lost their identity or are ill-equipped to help their loved one. “Powerful Tools for Caregivers” is a self-care educational program to help participants build skills that caregivers need to take better care of themselves as they provide care to others.
“This is not a support group – it’s a training course about how to not lose yourself while caring for someone with a chronic condition. We teach participants coping mechanisms, communication methods, and identifying certain traits in themselves and their caretaker,” Andrea Applegate, class facilitator, said. Read More
Remember When? 8-4-2021
25 Years Ago This Week
Scot Hollonbeck won a silver medal in the 1500 in the Olympic exhibition wheelchair race in Atlanta. Defending champion Claude Issoat of France edged out Hollonbeck in a race that took place in a downpour. Hollonbeck continued to stay in Atlanta for the 1996 Paralympic Games. Scot, the grandson of Lefty and Wilma Hollonbeck of rural Sullivan, holds the world record in the 800 meters and won two gold medals and a silver medal in the 1992 Paralympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. Read More
New Masking Recommendations
•August 4, 2021•
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced last Tuesday that it is fully adopting updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) masking recommendations to protect against COVID-19 and the Delta variant.CDC recommends that everyone, including fully vaccinated individuals, wear a mask in public indoor setting in areas with substantial and high transmission. CDC is also recommending universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status. Read More