•July 22, 2020•
Roger Dearman, after 27+ years of employment with Scott State Bank, will be retiring from his position as Loan Officer at our Bethany location.
Roger began his career in finance at ITT Financial Company where he worked three years and then took a position with Personal Finance Company for five years. Read More
Community-Driven Broadband Plans
•July 15, 2020•
New Illinois Connected Communities program will foster community engagement and planning for broadband access, adoption, and utilization across Illinois
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Office of Broadband today announced the first recipients of the Illinois Connected Communities grant program, created to assist some of the most underserved areas of the state with building broadband capacity. Through cross-sector collaboration, this new program directs $150,000 in state-funded small grants for 12 community and local government partners to lead the development of strategic plans to ensure access, adoption, and utilization of high-speed broadband in their communities. The state grants will be paired with $150,000 in philanthropic matching funds. Read More
Letters to the Editor 7-15-2020
An Appreciative Customer who Became a Friend
Editors Note: In the June 24 edition of the News Progress Flannell Tuckpointing and Masonary was featured on the back page thanking employees and customers as well as giving a history of company founder and long time contractor Herb Flannell. One of the customers was Clayton Sales Co. and this was their response. Read More
Increase in Adult Drowning
•July 15, 2020•
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that more than 30 people lost their lives to drowning in June at lake and river projects the agency manages. The June statistics represent a 47 percent increase in drownings over the same time period last year. USACE also reported that nearly all the drowning victims were adult males between the ages of 18 and 85 and were not wearing a life jacket at the time of the drowning.
“With some public beaches and community pools closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are finding more people this summer are swimming, wading, floating, and playing in open water areas (lakes, rivers, ponds, etc.) not designated for swimming,” said Pam Doty, USACE National Water Safety Program manager.
“Unfortunately, these areas are associated with hidden dangers that swimmers may not be aware of including waves, currents, drop-offs, underwater obstructions and others.” Read More
Maintaining Boundaries Between Work and Home Life
•July 15, 2020•
By Krishna Patel
U of I Extension
The effects of no separation between work, family, and no down time to decompress can vary from person to person.
On top of that, having to work from home can be challenging and difficult to adjust to, especially if that’s not your norm.
When this happens, it can create a stressful environment for you and those around you. It’s important to create boundaries for yourself to avoid letting that stress build up in you.
Here are some tips on how you can create and maintain a boundary between your work, family, and self-care while working at home.
• Designate one spot in your home as your work area. In this area, create an environment in which you can focus on your work and other priorities and try to devote this place for work only. By creating a work only space, this allows you to decompress in other areas of your home without thinking about work.
• You might even have to share your workspace with someone else. If that’s the case, create a schedule for the space or work out a plan for sharing and dividing the space. This will help keep everything a bit more organized. Read More
SBL Offers Program on Vegetarian Diet
•July 15, 2020•
Learn the benefits and potential drawbacks of following various vegetarian diets during a program hosted by Sarah Bush Lincoln’s Food and Nutrition Services.
The free program begins at 6:00 pm, Wednesday, August 12, in the Lumpkin Family Center for Health Education at the north side of the Health Center. Read More
Remember When? 7-15-2020
25 Years Ago This Week
The Moultrie-Douglas County Fair Queen contest pageant features 11 contestants. Vying for the crown are Miss Lovington Jenny Uphoff, Miss Lovington runner up Jennifer Elliott, Shannon Phillips of Sullivan, Ellecia Parsell of Arthur, Miss Tuscola Casey Herschberger, Miss Newman Jessica Luth, Heather Sumption of Newman, Jadie McLane of Arthur, Miss Villa Grove Janis Dunn, Sheri Wyant of Villa Grove and Tosha Clodfelter of Villa Grove.
Sullivan prepares to celebrated the silver anniversary of Lake Shelbyville. Festivities begin with the Sullivan Singers ribeye and brat cookout on the IGA parking lot. The Sullivan Band Boosters host breakfast at the Masonic Lodge with the event wrapping up with a fish fry the next day.
Marion Best was able to get out of cleaning her desk when Midge Farris, predecessor to News Progress mother hen Ruth Suddarth, dropped by. Read More
Funding Provided for Organizations Offering COVID-19 Relief
•July 15, 2020•
Funding will support organizations providing housing, support services, food, and other resources in areas most impacted by the pandemic
The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) announced it will make $7.1 million in funding available to organizations providing support services and resources to communities hit hardest by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Interested organizations must submit an application to ICJIA by July 24th. Read More
Moultrie & Shelby Counties Receive $60,000 for COVID-19 recovery
•July 15, 2020•
United Way of Decatur & Mid-Illinois (UWDMI) announced today an investment of $60,000 for COVID-19 relief and recovery in Moultrie & Shelby counties. This investment will help vulnerable rural populations with mortgage, rent, utilities, and food, in addition to other basic immediate needs. Read More
Grant Funds to Local Food Pantries
•July 15, 2020•
First Mid Bank & Trust was recently awarded $20,000 in grant funding from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago COVID-19 Relief Grant Program to assist small businesses and nonprofits affected by the pandemic. Today, the bank has announced that the awarded grant funds will be distributed across the bank’s footprint to local food pantries. Read More