Remember When? 8-19-2020

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25 Years Ago This Week

Charleston High School science teacher and coach Charles Castle was the new principal at Bethany Junior Senior High School. An Eastern Illinois University graduate with a master’s degree in physical education and an administrator’s certificate he has taught chemistry, math and science at Charleston High School since 1984. He replaces John Reif who recently resigned to take a principal’s position at Bunker Hill.
Many hours of work by several dedicated members are being credited for the improvements at the Lovington Masonic Lodge. Debbie Riley reported that the main items in the kitchen had been completed. On the outside, grading has been done and landscaping underway with new sidewalks having been poured with handicapped access.
Sondra Hoffman captured the Sullivan County Club Monday night ladies league nine hole handicap division tournamnet by beating Judy Sumner by two strokes. Hoffman shot a 36, while Sumner finished in second shooting a 38. Bev Copass had a chip-in on the ninth hole and tied Barb Graven for low putts with 16.Judy Patrick won the Monday night league Play of the Day with a score of 37. She also had the low gross with a score of 49. Patrick also had a 49 in the Tuesday morning league to win the low gross. Joyce Shasteen won the Play of the Day which was getting the ball closest to th pin on the ninth hole from acrsoss the creek. Sylvia Martin won the low net with 34. Mary Thimens had the low putts with 14 and Barb Graven had a chip-in. Read More

Pritzker Announces Launch of Housing Assistance Programs

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Calls it largest pandemic-related housing stability program in the nation

•August 12, 2020•
By Peter Hancock
Capitol News Illinois

SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday announced a pair of housing assistance programs aimed at helping lower-income households meet their rent and mortgage payments during the pandemic.
“The economic pain brought on by COVID-19 has impacted every Illinoisan, but no one has carried a burden larger than those least able to weather a financial hardship,” Pritzker said during an announcement in Chicago. “Every action that we take to pave our way through this crisis and beyond must be done with a special focus on those who have too often been left out and left behind.”
The two programs are being administered by the Illinois Housing Development Authority. The Emergency Rental Assistance Program will provide $150 million in federal CARES Act funding to help low-income households catch up on their rent payments.
Tenants who are approved for that program will receive one-time grants of $5,000, paid directly to their landlords, to cover rental payments they missed starting in March and to prepay rent bills through December, or until the $5,000 is exhausted, whichever comes first. Those grants will not have to be repaid. Read More

Menu 8-13-2020

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Senior Peace Meal

For additional information or for reservations, please call 1-800-543-1770

Monday, August 17 - Pork Burger Sandwich, Midori Blend Vegetables, Harvard Beets, Bun, Apple Slices
Tuesday, August 18 - Fried Chicken, Mashed Potatoes w/Gravy, Brussels sprouts, Texas Toast, Water Melon
Wednesday, August 19 - Turkey Salad w/Grapes, Cucumber/Onion salad, Fruit Cocktail, Dinner Roll, Strawberry Oatmeal Bar
Thursday, August 20 - Riblet, Seasoned Black-Eyed Peas, Vegetable Pasta Salad, Bun, Warm Fruit Cobbler
Friday, August 21 - Beef and Noodles, Mashed Potatoes, Sweet Cinnamon Carrots, Whole Grain Wheat (1), Melon Salad

Millikin University Spring 2020 Dean’s List

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•August 12, 2020•
Millikin University is pleased to announce the names of the outstanding undergraduates who have been named to the Dean’s List for the spring 2020 semester.
Students who attempt 12 graded credits during a fall or spring semester and earn a grade point average of 3.5 or higher earn Dean’s List honors. Students earning a perfect 4.00 grade point average on 12 graded credits attempted earn High Dean’s List honors. Read More

The Benefits of a New Approach to Learning

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•August 12, 2020•
The validity of the adage “necessity is the mother of invention” was on full display during the COVID-19 outbreak. People quickly had to learn to adapt to a new way of life, including an educational system that was transformed dramatically by social distancing guidelines.
More than 76 million students are enrolled in United States schools, per the latest Census Bureau information. In 2018, 2.12 million students were in Canadian postsecondary institutions alone. In a matter of days, millions of students who once attended classes in-person were forced to transition to virtual learning instruction. The process showed just how flexible learning systems can be, and how virtual instruction may become more than an emergency protocol in the future. Read More

Face Your Older Years with Confidence

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•August 12, 2020•
Submitted by University of Illinois Extension

Age may just be a number, but 2020 is putting that statement to the test. University of Illinois Extension educators offer suggestions for handling the physical and emotional challenges of aging, especially in light of the current health challenges.
“Now more than ever, we could all use encouragement and practical ways to slow down and enjoy the art of healthy aging,” says Karla Belzer, Extension family life educator. “Throughout September, learn ways to face aging with confidence and positivity in a free online webinar series.”
Discover Healthy Aging begins Sept. 3 and will give practical tips from research-based information to enhance the elder years. “Small changes can have a positive impact,” Belzer says. “This series targets the aging population, though it’s never too early to practice living well.”
Each of the four webinars begins at 10 a.m. each Thursday in Sept..
Webinar topics include: Read More

Quit Smoking for Good

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•August 12, 2020•
Kicking a smoking habit is a gift that keeps on giving. Your body will experience health benefits almost immediately and in the years to come. While quitting is often easier said than done, relying on tools and support can help. Here are a few tips to help you quit for good:
• Set a date to quit with meaning behind it. Read More

Manage Bandwidth During Remote Learning

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•August 12, 2020•
In the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, many schools hastily transitioned from traditional in-person learning to remote learning. This transition posed new and unique challenges to educators as well as students and their parents.
One of the biggest challenges posed by remote learning was keeping students connected to their teachers and their classmates, not all of whom had readily available access to devices that could facilitate such connections. In recognition of that challenge, school systems worked to procure devices for students only to be confronted by another challenge: low bandwidth. According to Microsoft, bandwidth refers to the amount of data that can be transferred over an internet connection per second. Low bandwidth can compromise students’ ability to stay connected to their virtual classrooms. In an effort to help students overcome that challenge, Microsoft offers the following tips on how educators, students and parents can manage low bandwidth during remote learning sessions. Read More

Kids are Online More These Days, Here is How to Keep Them Safe

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•August 12, 2020•
Children are spending more time online due to social distancing measures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. And while the internet can be an amazing gateway to knowledge and a tool to connect with family and friends, if parents and caregivers don’t follow certain precautions, it can also pose safety hazards.
Indeed, the United Nations has warned that the increased unstructured time online has put millions of children at greater risk of both cyberbullying and of being exposed to harmful content. Experts note that in the same way financial scammers have been working in overdrive to exploit the current crisis, the internet has also seen a surge of online predators targeting children.
Fortunately, there are effective actions parents can take to help keep kids safe online so that they can continue to reap the educational and social benefits of online use. Read More