SMS Teacher Receives Excellence Award

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•June 15, 2022• Tacos. 80s music. Big Hair. Big heart. If you’ve been a Sullivan Middle School student or had a kid at SMS recently, chances are you know what teacher is associated with those words. Deena Lee, who many people associate these words with as well as the positive impact she has on many students, recently received the Recognition of Excellence Award from the Regional Office of Education #11. According to the ROE #11 website, the award recognizes teachers who have “modeled excellence in education” and who are “exceptionally skillful and dedicated individuals who have the respect and admiration … Read More

Sullivan Schools Ballot Referendum Up for Vote on June 28

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•June 15, 2022• by Crystal Reed NP Writer The primary election is coming up on Tuesday, June 28, and there will be a referendum for the Sullivan School District on the ballot. The ballot wording asks voters about issuing bonds in the amount of $25,000,000. The total cost is estimated around $27 million; however, $2 million will come from existing fund balances. The tax rate impact would raise the school tax rate from approximately 4.19 to approximately 4.37. For a home valued at $100,000, this would result in a property tax increase of about $5 per month. … Read More

Smyser Church VBS

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•June 15, 2022• Smyser Christian Church invites children to Make Waves VBS. Make Waves VBS will kickoff with a pool party at Lytle Pool in Mattoon on June 26 at 8:00pm. VBS will continue at Smyser Christian Church from June 27 to June 29 from 6-8p each night. Make Waves VBS is for kids age Pre-K through 4th grade. You can register your child at smysercc.com/vbs or at the pool party on June 26. … Read More

Moultrie-Sullivan Fair

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•June 15, 2022• The Moultrie-Sullivan Fair will mark their 74th year since beginning in 1947 at this year’s event June 24-25. Livestock departments make up shows for both days. Friday livestock shows include Goats, Cattle, Rabbits, Horses & Ponies. Saturday’s livestock show includes swine. On Friday, Department P, Non-livestock also takes place. This includes baking, clothing, crafts, photography, robotics and more. All Departments except for P will be open to all ages. Department P will be open to Junior aged exhibitors only, who are 8 (eight) years of age or in third grade and not yet 19 (nineteen) years of … Read More

Road across Lake Shelbyville Dam Closed

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•June 15, 2022• The road across the main dam at Lake Shelbyville will be closed starting the week of June 13th throughout the summer. The closures apply to both vehicle and pedestrian traffic. However, access to the Dam West Overlook area will continue to be open during this time. These closures are necessary to provide safety for workers and members of the general public while work is being conducted. The closure is a result of performing periodic maintenance, painting the Tainter gates, and bridge of the dam. Large equipment will be placed on top of the dam to aid in … Read More

Gov. Pritzker Signs Legislation to Expand Access to Higher Education

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•June 8, 2022• Governor JB Pritzker has signed legislation designed to increase access to Illinois’ higher education system, close equity gaps, and improve student protections and operational effectiveness. The bills expand resources available to students and build on the administration’s efforts to expand equitable access to public universities and community colleges. House Bill 4201 helps students at state universities and community colleges access benefits through “benefits navigators.” Each institution is tasked with assigning a benefits navigator for the purpose of guiding students to seek and apply for any federal, state, or local program that provides assistance or benefits for which … Read More

IDPH and Discovery Partners Institute Announce Extension of COVID-19 Monitoring in Wastewater

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•June 8, 2022• The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Discovery Partners Institute (DPI) today announced their comprehensive effort to monitor the coronavirus and its variants in wastewater will extend into mid-2023 with $8.2 million in additional funding. The federally funded effort will help public health officials track the prevalence of COVID-19 across Illinois and provide a potential sign of another surge in infections. SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is detectable in human waste nearly from the onset of infection, while symptoms may not appear for three to five days. … Read More

New IDOT Safety Campaign Highlights real Consequences of Unsafe Driving

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•June 8, 2022• The Illinois Department of Transportation is launching “It’s Not a Game,” a multimedia safety campaign that drives home the message there are no extra lives, no respawns and no second chances to get it right when you are behind the wheel. “It’s Not a Game” continues the comprehensive approach by IDOT to reduce injuries and fatalities associated with motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians, seatbelt use, work zones as well as impaired and distracted driving. … Read More