Don’t Be Fooled By Thin Ice

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•February 10, 20201• Prolonged cold weather opens many recreational opportunities. It also opens up the potential for tragedy. Curt Sinclair, University of Illinois Extension 4-H natural resources specialist, offers these guidelines for assessing whether icy ponds and rivers are safe. “A minimum of four inches of clear, newly-formed ice is needed to support one person on foot,” Sinclair says. “New ice is usually stronger than old ice, and clear ice is usually stronger than ice that appears cloud.” Ice across a pond is seldom uniform, Sinclair says. Water movement and snow cover can cause vast differences in ice thickness and … Read More

OV Boys Basketball Starts Season With Two Wins

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•February 10, 20201• by Jason Brown NP Sports The Okaw Valley boys’ basketball team opened the season with two wins. The Timberwolves knocked of Villa Grove/Heritage Friday and Windsor/Stew-Stras Tuesday, Feb. 2. Against Villa Grove/Heritage, only ten points were scored in the first quarter total when Okaw Valley took a 6-4 lead. The Timberwolves doubled up Villa Grove/Heritage 10-5 in the second quarter to take a 16-9 halftime lead. Okaw Valley extended that lead by four in the third quarter and eventually won 44-30. … Read More

Senate Committee to Discuss State Vaccine Rollout

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•February 10, 20201• Capitol News Illinois The state administered 64,469 COVID-19 vaccinations statewide over the weekend following a single-day record for vaccinations on Friday. As of Monday, Feb. 8, the state has issued over 1.3 million doses, with 2.3 percent of the population having been fully vaccinated. Illinois has ranked near the bottom of all 50 states in vaccines administered thus far, according to a New York Times database, leading some state lawmakers to call for increased transparency and a more effective process for allowing eligible residents to receive vaccines. On Monday, Senator Julie Morrison, D-Lake Forest, announced that the … Read More

Learn Self-Management Skills for Chronic Health Conditions

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•February 10, 20201• Ignoring a chronic condition will not make it go away, and suffering is simply a poor management technique. So, if you live with a long-term health condition, why not learn how to more effectively manage it and live an active and fulfilling life? Believe it or not, although the specifics of managing each condition vary, the skills for managing most chronic conditions are actually quite similar. Take Charge of Your Health is a program designed to help you become a better health manager! Cheri Burcham of University of Illinois Extension and Penny Arthur of Moultrie County Counseling … Read More

Winter: A Time for Storytelling

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•February 10, 20201• Cheri Burcham Extension Educator, U of I Extension I think winter is officially here! I actually enjoy the snow and watching the birds at my feeders. I feel that this is usually the time to slow down a little, reflect and regroup, and especially this year more than ever. I found a great article by Extension Program Coordinator Wendy Ferguson on the Extension blog “Naturalist News” about storytelling and some recommended reads in the areas of nature, environment and stewardship. I thought this would be a good time to share it with all of you. Wendy writes: … Read More

City Council Hears Citizens Concerns About Utility Rates

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•February 10, 20201• by Crystal Reed NP Writer Citizens expressed their concerns about utility rates during Monday’s meeting of the Sullivan City Council. Allison Beard addressed the council saying her utility bill this past month was almost $400. “My boyfriend has recently started going to work early every day of the week just so we can afford to pay this extremely high utility bill,” she said. Beard added that she has had several people reach out to her saying their bills are high as well. Mayor Richard Glazebrook said the staff has put a lot of time in this and … Read More

OV Girls Bball Falls to Villa Grove/Heritage

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•February 10, 20201• by Jason Brown NP Sports Whether coming off a good year or a bad year, coaches will tell everyone before the season starts that each year has different players and last year’s record doesn’t matter. Last season, Okaw Valley coach Brad Ackers was rattling off each one of those sentiments after his team had come off a trip to the state basketball tournament. This year, Ackers might have been saying the same things but for completely different reasons. Those sentiments are more applicable to this unprecedented season than ever before. First, each team has about half the … Read More

Stay Safe on the Farm This Planting Season

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•February 10, 20201• Submitted by Emily Steele Spring is characterized by a fury of activity on farms. In the rush to get crops in the ground, safety and health is not always a priority. Stay safe during this critical time with the free webinar Preparing for a Safe Planting on February 18 about how to prevent common farm injuries and illness. … Read More

Obituaries 2-10-2021: Donald Frevert

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Donald Frevert Donald B. Frevert, 76, of Sullivan, Illinois passed away at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield February 2, 2021. A funeral mass was held at 10 a.m. Monday, February 8, at St. Columcille Church in Sullivan with Father John Titus officiating. Following the mass, burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery in Le Roy, Illinois. … Read More