Kathy Black Receives Award

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•May 27, 2020•

Lake Land College honored Kathy Black, division chair business/business instructor, as the 2020 recipient of the Faculty Association Outstanding Service Award. After 23 years of service to Lake Land College, Black will be retiring at the end of August.
Several members of the Lake Land College Faculty Association nominated Black for the award.
Black said her fondest memory was how much friendlier the students were than at other places she has taught. On her first day at Lake Land College, Black recalled a student holding a door open for her, something that had not happened previously in her teaching. Read More

Shimkus’ Art Contest Winner Influenced by Coronavirus

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•May 27, 2020•
Reflecting the trying times we are enduring, an oil painting titled “War Paints” by Red Hill High School’s Lydia Higgins has been selected as the winner of the 2020 Congressional Art Competition for the 15th District of Illinois, Congressman John Shimkus (R, Illinois-15) has announced.
“Lydia’s technique certainly stood out in her piece. It is a worthy champion to wrap up my final art contest,” said Shimkus, who is retiring from Congress at the conclusion of his current term.
Lydia Higgins, Red Hill High School,
“War Paints,” oil painting Read More

Remember When?

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25 Years Ago This Week

A tornado ripped through Bethany at 9:45 p.m. Tuesday mowing down fields south of the business district.
“You know they say it sounds like a train,” Kathy Steimel said. “Well that’s just how it was.”
The tornado drove right through the Steimel farm, blowing a shed to pieces and collapsing the barn but leaving their house untouched.
Not only has Sullivan native Tony Armstrong achieved something for himself, but he’s brought academic bragging rights of the area to his own high school as well.
Armstrong is the lone student from the area and in particular, Sullivan High School, who was named to the Illinois High School Assn’s Academic Team. Read More

What Can We Learn from The Big Disruption?

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•May 27, 2020•
By Jim Nowlan
NP Guest Columnist

Since I live in a small out-of-the way county that has had one reported case of COVID-19, a second recently rumored, I have been hesitant to write about The Big Disruption in our lives. I am obviously not sharing the valiant struggles of nurses and their associates, at the side of infected patients gasping for air, most in densely populated urban centers like Chicago, or in nursing homes.
I will not gainsay or second-guess decisions made thus far by top elected officials, who are up to their eyeballs in alligators. My thoughts are about what we might learn for the future from our plight of the present.
As is typical when crises pop up, often unanticipated or undetected until too late, there has been a food fight of finger-pointing among elected officials. Governors are blaming the president. Mr. Trump is pointing his finger at everyone and anyone but himself. Congress is playing dumb, as if, “We didn’t know nuttin’.”
Yet some members of Congress knew enough to dump their stocks before the market tanked, without letting you and me in on the pending crisis. Maybe we could have been ahead of the curve instead of trying to flatten it. Read More

Penalty Enhancements for Assaults on Retail Workers

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•May 27, 2020•
By Jerry Nowicki
Capitol News Illinois
jnowicki @ capitolnewsillinois.com

Measures addressing aggravated battery of retail workers, disability leave for public employees and unionization of employees in the horse racing industry found their way into a COVID-19-response bill this week at the Capitol.
The aggravated battery language in Senate Bill 471 was a subject of heated debate in the House on Friday, which often turned into a philosophical discussion as to whether “penalty enhancements” were worthy public policy.
Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, who sponsored the bill, claimed that “penalty enhancement” was not the correct characterization of the measure, because “the individual action that would be a crime doesn’t exist. You can’t enhance something that didn’t exist previously.”
Strictly speaking, the bill amends the “aggravated battery” section of law by adding the crime of assaulting or battering a retail worker who is fulfilling duties such as relaying health care or safety regulations from an employer or public health agencies. Read More

New Human Resource Director for West & Co.

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•May 20, 2020•
Christine Ward has joined West & Company, LLC as Director of Human Resources. Chris has an extensive background in human resources, as well as experience in the areas of information systems, quality assurance and control, project management and training methodologies.  As Director of Human Resources, Chris will be devoting substantial time to the current issues relating to FFCRA and CARES, both for West & Company’s internal needs and also to serve as a resource for clients.  She will also be working with the management group in developing a convenient online payroll processing option for new and existing clients. Chris will also be tasked with overseeing the Firm’s social media presence as well as assisting with marketing and special projects. Read More

Theta Psi Scholar

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Photo furnished
Theta Psi Scholar
April Decesaro, daughter of Kim and John Decesaro, is a 2020 graduate of Okaw Valley High School. Theta Psi, the Bethany philanthropic chapter of Psi Iota Xi, has awarded a $500 scholarship to April. She plans to attend Lake Land College to pursue her goal to become a Registered Nurse. April’s overall objective is to become a Nurse Practitioner specializing in mental health.

Remember When? 5-20-2020

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25 Years Ago This Week

For the past 25 years the Sullivan School Dist. and Sullivan Civic Center cooperative program has taught hundreds of students swimming and water skills. This year more than 250 third, fourth and fifth graders participated in the two week sessions.
Instructors are Sue Weaver, Jennifer Bunderle, Bill Highland from the Civic Center plus Don Typer and Michelle Highland from the school staff.
Bobbie Bone, Carrie Wildman and Amber Romine all won individual events at the Clinton track and field meet.
The Lady Reds scored 108 points to edge out host Clinton who finished with 100 points.
Bone won the 100 in 12.9 seconds, finished second in the 200 in 26.5 and was third in the high jump with a 4’10” leap.
Wildman won the 300 hurdles in 51.9 seconds and finished fifth in the high jump at 4’8”.
Romine won the discus with an 81 foot 4 inch toss, ahead of Bone’s 80 foot 10 inch toss. Read More

Letters to the Editor 5-20-2020

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Yard Sign Assaults Make Our Town Look Bad

Editor,
2020 is a pivotal year in many ways. Americans have to make a choice between a Democratic leader with decency, honesty, ethics, intelligence, experience or a Republican failed reality host.
As the election approaches, political signs start to appear around town. Normally political signs contain the name of the candidates you’re supporting. Read More

OVHS and Lake Shelbyville Corps of Engineers Partnership Grows

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•May 20, 2020•
On May 13th, the Okaw Valley FFA planted sunflowers for the USACE annual Dove Hunt that is hosted in September.
OVHS planted 26 acres in sunflowers and an additional 10 acres will be in corn for the FFA.
An additional 18 acres behind the Ag Facility is planted in corn as well.
Thanks to the generosity of Louis Coleman for the planter and John Wise for the tractor. Tanner Coleman is pictured helping plant the crops.
Tanner is home from college and will be a junior at Millikin. When Tanner was in high school he was a big part of the CORPS Project and as a Senior he worked at the CORPS during the mornings and was extended a summer job after graduating. Read More