THE LEGACY THEATER- ADA BAIR-  KICK OFF THE WEEKEND RIGHT WITH LOS CHICOS 512 THE SELENA EXPERIENCE THIS FRIDAY JUNE 2ND AT 7PM

CARTHAGE PUBLIC LIBRARY AMY GEE TORI BUCKERT

THE CARTHAGE PUBLIC LIBRARY HAS FUN PROGRAMS AND EVENTS THIS SUMMER FOR ALL AGES 

 DON O'BRIEN -BBB Scam Alert: Avoid moving scams this National Moving Month

Illinois Master Naturalists Graduate 21 New Natural Resource Volunteers

The University of Illinois Extension Master Naturalists welcomed 21 new volunteers to
their ranks on May 16. Adams County will benefit from 13 new Master Naturalists, Hancock County with four, Pike County with two, and Schuyler and Peoria counties each with one new volunteer.
Students within the class successfully completed 9 weeks of training to better share their passion about the environment and nature with their communities. Experts from University of Illinois and natural resource partners led 12 hours of classroom instruction and 19 hours of field work along with 10 hours of self-study to cover the prairie state’s natural history and environmental issues.
“We relaunched the program this year and our class is exceptionally passionate and motivated,” says Amy Lefringhouse, Illinois Extension Natural Resource Educator. “I learned just as much from the participants as I did from our classes. I look forward to seeing what the new class will contribute to their communities.”
The Illinois Extension Master Naturalist program is designed for adults who want to have a positive impact on their community by serving as an environmental steward and naturalist. Now that they have completed their training, the new volunteers will work toward completing 60 hours of service over the next two years with partner organizations such as the Quincy Art Center, Boy Scouts, Carthage and Hamilton Park Districts, Western Illinois University’s Kibbe Research Station, and Jensen Woods
Camp.
To learn more about the Master Naturalist program or if you’re interested in signing up for the next training, contact program coordinators Amy Lefringhouse or Kinsey Tiemann at 217-223-8380 or visit go.illinois.edu/WCILMasterNaturalist.

THE STRAWBERRY STRUT IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER ON JUNE 3RD REGISTER TODAY TO JOIN IN ON ALL THE FUN

ANDY BASTERT FOR THE LEGACY THEATER SHOW JUNE 2ND! 7 PM   GET YOUR TICKETS NOW FOR LOS CHICOS DEL 512 THE SELENA EXPERIENCE JUNE 2ND AT 7 PM

HANCOCK COUNTY FARM BUREAU - LIBBIE POLLOCK 

HCFB UPDATE WITH SCHOLARSHIPS GIVEN, DOWN ON THE FARM EVENT, SUMMER AG INSTITUTE, AND YOUNG LEADERS EVENT

T HEBERLEIN IS NOW WITH GOLDEN BRIDGES

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE SENIOR AND SPECIALTY MOVE MANAGERS GREAT SERVICES

Carl Sandburg College Names 2023 Faculty, Adjunct Faculty, Staff Member of the Year Award Winners?

Carl Sandburg College recognized the 2023 winners for Faculty of the Year, Adjunct Faculty of the Year and Staff Member of the Year during its 55^th annual Commencement on Thursday evening.

Tina Braun-Smith was selected as Faculty of the Year, Ashley Reaves was named Adjunct Faculty of the Year and Erin Carder was chosen as Staff Member of the Year.

FACULTY OF THE YEAR
TINA BRAUN-SMITH

Braun-Smith joined Sandburg as a nursing instructor in 2020 after nearly 15 years in health care and four years as an educator. As a student, Braun-Smith earned her LPN certificate from Sandburg in 2007 and her associate degree in nursing in 2009. She then went on to get her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from Chamberlain College.

In addition to her role at Sandburg, Braun-Smith teaches students at Woodruff Career & Technical Center in Peoria about entry-level health careers and assists with the school’s certified nursing assistant program. A licensed nurse in Illinois, Arizona and Texas, Braun-Smith also cares for critically ill patients as an RN with UnityPoint Health.

“I teach to give back to the community, as my education has provided me an opportunity to give back what was provided to me by the community college,” Braun-Smith said. “As an initial GED graduate, remedial courses and educators that took time to explain and provide objective feedback have guided my goals.”

A member of the Illinois CNA Educator Association, American Association of Critical Care Nurses and American Nurses Association, Braun-Smith created a remediation program for nursing students to assist with their success on licensure exams. She also serves on Sandburg’s Faculty Council; has been on the Student Services Committee; is the chair for the nursing program’s Evaluation and Outcomes Committee; and is the faculty advisor for the Student Nurses Association.

“In health care, there are many challenges. I always ensure (students) know that they should always not only be prepared for changes but look for ways to lead the changes,” Braun-Smith said. “I may not always have all the answers, and none of us ever will. But I seek to teach them how to find answers to these questions and ensure they are relevant to the future.”

ADJUNCT FACULTY OF THE YEAR
ASHLEY REAVES

A 2008 graduate of Sandburg’s dental hygiene program, Reaves returned to the college in 2013 as an adjunct instructor. Reaves maintains dental hygiene licensure in Illinois and Iowa and has 15 years of clinical experience in both public and private health sectors, including currently practicing pro re nata for Dr. Adam Sanberg in Monmouth. She credits her decade of teaching success to her clinical experiences. 

“I strive to be the type of instructor that my studies at Sandburg provided me: positive, supportive and informative,” Reaves said. “I aim to provide a mentally healthy learning environment where each student is encouraged to show up uniquely and comfortably. I want all of my students to be reassured that their overall wellbeing is as important as their progression through any course or program.”

Reaves specializes in dental radiology and assisted the dental hygiene program in its transition from analog to digital radiography. She later played a role in the program’s move from one type of digital technology to another. In addition to teaching Sandburg students, Reaves’ favorite experiences as a dental hygienist include visiting preschools and elementary schools to educate young people on the importance of maintaining their dental health as well as accompanying students to community health events.

“I would not be able to positively influence my students in any capacity if I had not had the privilege of learning from — as well as studying and practicing alongside — irreplaceable teachers and mentors throughout my life,” Reaves said. “Without those individuals, I would not be the person, practitioner or educator I am today. I like to think my teaching methods are a direct reflection of them, with my own dedication and compassion included.”

STAFF MEMBER OF THE YEAR
ERIN CARDER

An academic advisor and retention coordinator with Sandburg’s TRIO Student Support Services program, Carder first began working at Sandburg in 2014 as a student herself. While taking classes, she worked in the college’s Learning Center as a tutor for English as a Second Language, adult basic education and GED courses.

She continued as a peer tutor and later a professional tutor from 2015-17 and then as an academic support assistant from 2017-18. She became a full-time employee in September 2018 as an advisor for TRIO Upward Bound until moving to her current role in April 2021.

“Under the guidance of my college mentors, I realized I wanted to enter a helping profession where I could serve as a mentor to others as they pursue their goals,” Carder said. “Working with TRIO Student Support Services has provided me with a wonderful opportunity to share my knowledge, experience and skills with students who are facing similar challenges to those I faced as a student, and it has been such a rewarding experience to build meaningful relationships with my students and provide support for them throughout their educational journeys.”

 44th Strawberry Strut in Carthage is just a few days away scheduled on June 3

The Strawberry Strut includes the classic five-mile run along the Carthage Lake.
Other events in this year’s Strut are a 5K run, a 5K walk and a one mile fun run/walk.
Participants can still register on-line at the advance discount until end of the day
June 2. To sign up, go to runsignup.com/Race/IL/Carthage/StrawberryStrut.
Those who have pre-registered can pick up race packets on Friday, June 2, from 4
to 6 p.m. at the Hancock County Courthouse in Carthage, or after 7 a.m. the morning of
the race. All race packets must be picked up by 7:45 a.m. Race day registration is
available at 7 a.m. and will end at 7:45 a.m.
The fee for the five-mile run, the 5K run and 5K walk is $30 in advance, increasing
to $35 on race day. The fee for the one-mile run/walk is $10, or $15 on race day.
The two 5K events in the Strut were added last year.
“We believe the addition of 5K events will allow more people to participate,” said
Steve Evans, chairman of the Strawberry Strut steering committee.
“Everyone wanted to keep the traditional five-mile run. However our committee felt
the 5K distance would be more comfortable for some runners and walkers, and would
encourage more people to take part.”
Race day start times are staggered. Awards will be presented at around 10 a.m.
Participants will start on the following schedule:
? 5-mile run – 8:15 a.m.
? 5K walk – 8:30 a.m.
? 5K run – 8:40 a.m.
? 1-mile fun run/ walk – 8:45 a.m.
There are three water stops along the course, sponsored by Carthage Kiwanis, Boy
Scout and Girl Scouts.
Sponsors who have given to the Strawberry Strut committee so far include
Carthage Veterinary Service, Fortress Bank, Marine Bank, Memorial Hospital, More
Medical, MTC Communications, Ramsey Financial, Western Illinois Insurance, and Will
Sullivan Auction.
Proceeds from the race this year have been pledged to benefit Hancock County
Fights Cancer, whose summer event will be held on the Hancock County Courthouse lawn
immediately after the Strut on June 3. Other events are planned on the square for that
day, coordinated by the Carthage Area Chamber of Commerce.
Watch Strawberry Strut on Facebook for updates.

The City of Carthage will be holding their annual Clean up Days

The City of Carthage will be holding their annual Clean up Days
May 20 th from 8 am to 12:00. Residents of the City may bring their clean up items
to the High School parking lot.
Residents may be required to show proof of residency. We reserve the
Right to limit quantities if deemed excessive.

A separate roll-off will be available for metal.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL
REGULATIONS THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
Appliances (white goods)
Tires of any type (truck, auto, farm, etc.)
Storage batteries (e.g. Auto)
Liquid paint (dried paints are usually acceptable)
Landscape waste (from the cutting and trimming of grass, leaves, bushes,
trees, etc.)
Any item containing friable asbestos (capable of generating dust)
Animal carcasses
Medical Sharps (unless containerized)
Construction and Demolition debris
E-Waste - TV's, computer, electronic equipment
Hazardous Material (oil, gas, solvents)
Please NO dumping allowed without attendant from The City or
Area Disposal!

HANCOCK COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT- MELITA FINNEY - MOSQUITOS, TICKS, AND LOOKING OUT FOR SAFETY COMING INTO THE OUTDOOR SEASON

USE CAUTION AND WATCH FOR TRAPS ON FREE TRIAL OFFERS

N UPDATE OF RECENT GOINGS ON AND FUTURE EVENTS FOR THE U OF I EXTENSION WITH KRISTIN HULS AND ABBY JOHNSON

Sheriff Travis Duffy reports the following arrest in reference methamphetamine
possession and burglary.

At approximately 7:20 PM on May 16, 2023, the Sheriff’s Office received a report
of a burglary in progress at the storage units on Warsaw Road at US 136 in
Hamilton, IL. The victim witnessed the burglary and was able to provide a suspect
and vehicle description.

A Sheriff’s Deputy was able to locate the suspect vehicle and conduct a traffic
stop. The suspect was identified as Andrea L. Blint, age 39 of Fort Madison, IA.
Blint was found to be in possession of the stolen items, burglary tools, and a glass
smoking pipe with methamphetamine residue.

Blint was placed under arrest and transported to the Hancock County Jail where
she was charged with Driving While License Suspended, Burglary, Possession of
Burglary Tools, and Possession of Methamphetamine.

All persons arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

MTC COMMUNICATIONS RACHEL KERNS

RECONNECT GRANT IS MOVING FORWARD ON TRACK, NEW ROUTERS WILL BE ROLLING OUT SOON, AND APPLICATIONS ARE BEING ACCEPTED FOR GLADSTONE CONNECTIONS

 LEGACY THEATER JOY SWEARINGEN

NEXT ON DECK LOS CHICOS 512 THE SELENA EXPERIENCE FRIDAY JUNE 2ND AT 7PM

 Kathryne Herslow was in grade school the first time she remembers being at Carl Sandburg College.

Her mother, Veronica, was a student at the time and on her way toward graduating with her nursing degree in 2014.

“I don't know why, but I liked it. I really wanted to go here at that moment in time, and I was only like 10 years old,” Herslow said. “My mom just walked around the school with me, and she's like, ‘You're going to go here one day.’”

Mother knew best.

Herslow, a 2020 Galesburg High School graduate, will earn her first degree from Sandburg at the college’s commencement Thursday evening. After that, she’s going to follow in her mother’s footsteps by going to nursing school here this fall at her hometown college.

Herslow’s first year at Sandburg coincided with the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. With all her classes taking place online, she noticed she became less outgoing. She started spending more time to herself and began having anxiety around others.

Then she got an email from Genny Stevens, Sandburg’s coordinator of student life, inviting Herslow to become a student ambassador. Sandburg student ambassadors serve and represent the college in a variety of ways, including giving tours to prospective students and assisting with orientation sessions.

Then she met with Anthony Law, Sandburg’s coordinator of diversity and inclusion. He told Herslow about Women of Character, a service and leadership group on campus. Joining those two organizations, Herslow said, changed her experience at Sandburg and made her a better leader.

“They were kind of like my backbone,” said Herslow, who served as the president of WOC this year. “I became more outgoing. I just started loving Sandburg more, in a sense. It wasn’t the same routine over and over again.”

Being back on campus and taking classes in person also helped change Herslow’s outlook.

“Before when we weren't here, I was always at home stuck on the laptop, and I'd never done online classes before,” Herslow said. “It was harder for me. When the transition to come back to the college came, it was easier because everyone was helpful. If you asked anyone at the college for help, they’d help you immediately.”

That support system was one reason Herslow decided to apply for Sandburg’s nursing program. When she told Stevens back in March that she’d been accepted to it for the 2023-24 academic year, the two screamed together over the phone. Law has already talked to Herslow about her pinning ceremony for when she graduates from nursing school.

While this week will be the first time Herslow will get to walk at her own graduation (her high school ceremony was reconfigured because of COVID), she’s saving her biggest celebration for her next degree from Sandburg. She even has a Pinterest board with nursing-themed party ideas, and her cake is already picked out.

“I guess it gives me a sense of motivation,” Herslow said, “the feeling of succeeding.”

MEMORIAL HOSPITAL WELCOMES DR. YOON HANG KIM

Carthage, IL – 5/16/2023 – Memorial Hospital is excited to announce Dr. Yoon Hang "John Kim MD, Chief Wellness Officer, has joined the Memorial Hospital team. Dr. Kim specializes in integrative medicine, acupuncture for pain management, and functional medicine lab testing andwill begin seeing patients at Memorial Medical Clinic at 630 Locust Street in Carthage, Illinois.
Integrative medicine is an approach to healthcare that incorporates evidence-based
complementary and alternative therapies into medical treatments. Integrative medicine includes mind-body techniques such as meditation, yoga, tai chi, and lifestyle therapies such as food and physical activity as medicine. Functional medicine lab testing provides much more comprehensive data for treating complex patients.
Dr. Kim has been practicing integrative medicine since 1999. He received his Bachelor of
Science in Chemistry from Beloit College. He then completed his Mastes in Public Health from San Diego State University and his medical degree at the Medical College of Wisconsin. As a residential fellow at the University of Arizona, he trained with Dr. Andrew Weil, a world-
renowned leader in the integrative medicine field. Dr. Kim was also awarded the Howard
Hughes research fellowship in pharmacology.
Dr. Kim has certifications from the American Board of Preventive Medicine, the American
Board of Medical Acupuncture, and the American Board of Integrative and Holistic Medicine.
He is also the founder of the Integrative Health Studies Certificate Program at the University of  West Georgia, where he has previously served as a faculty member. He is the author of two  books and more than twenty articles on integrative medicine. As an integrative health consultant to hospitals, academic institutions, and clinicians, Dr. Kim has helped establish numerous integrative medicine practices.
Dr. Kims clinical practices have been influenced by his own experiences and illnesses as well as by his family. Previously, he had developed devastating chronic pain unresponsive to conventional medicine, including surgery, which is no longer an issue due to the successful application of a neuroanatomical approach to pain. Based on his experience, Dr. Kim has developed integrative approaches to help those living with chronic pain and how to thrive despite the pain. He has seen some of his close family members overcome cancer, toxic mold, and severe allergies, which he was involved with closely developing effective clinical programs.
Dr. Kims clinical interests include; integrative medicine for treating autoimmune conditions and chronic pain such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, long COVID symptoms,
neuropathy, and integrative oncology. He has an integrative approach to GI conditions such as IBS, severe allergies, and toxic mold. Dr. Kim also has an interest in functional medicine testing, which is an approach that focuses on identifying and addressing the root cause of a disease.
Dr. Kim enjoys spending time with his family and friends and traveling in his spare time. He is married to his wife, Vena, and has one son, Michael, and seven pets.
To learn more about Dr. Yoon Hang "John" Kim, MD, or to schedule an appointment, call Memorial Medical Clinic at 630 Locust Street in Carthage, Illinois, at (217) 357-6560 or visit mhtlc.org.

J.R. PARNS WITH MEALIFF INSURANCE -   OFFERING A NEW INSURANCE CARRIER TO SAVE BIG ON YOUR INSURANCE NEEDS!

 Heidi Davis woke up Feb. 22 and sent a group text to her classmates in Carl Sandburg College’s practical nursing program.

“It’s baby time, everybody!”

Just a week later, she was back in the classroom with them after giving birth to her son Levi.

“He was born on a Wednesday,” Davis said, “and I was at school the next Wednesday, taking a test.”

For Davis, who will graduate from Sandburg on May 18 with her licensed practical nursing (LPN) certificate, the motivation she needed to finish the program came from the son she carried along the way and the two young children she already had at home, 3-year-old son Braxton and 2-year-old daughter Ava.

“I just want them to reach all their goals in life, and that's why I keep pushing for mine,” said Davis, 24, of Roseville. “I want them to be able to know my mom did it pregnant, tired, big. ‘My mom did it. I can do it.’”

Davis’ dream of going into nursing sparked after her dad was diagnosed with colon cancer when she was in eighth grade. One of the nurses who cared for him had what Davis described as “a special heart,” and she wanted to make a similar difference for others. While a student at Monmouth-Roseville High School, she earned her nursing assistant (CNA) certification through the Galesburg Area Vocational Center. She started taking classes at Sandburg after graduating from Monmouth-Roseville in 2017.

Last spring Davis learned she’d been accepted into Sandburg’s LPN program for the 2022-23 academic year. Not long after, she also learned she was expecting her third child. Tackling nursing school while caring for two toddlers would have been challenging enough. Adding a newborn into the mix — in the middle of the spring semester, no less — only enhanced the degree of difficulty.

“It was a huge scare to me,” Davis said. “I was like, oh my god, what am I going to do? But I didn't want to back out. I was like, I'm just going to keep going.”

She started to have doubts about being able to complete the program when she realized the homework load. She arranged appointments for herself and her kids around her class schedule. Dinner, baths and bedtimes took precedence over being able to study at home. Sometimes she’d try to sneak in some textbook time at home as Braxton and Ava flung balls around the room. Only once they went to sleep could she finally focus on schoolwork.

“I wanted to have a career in something where my kids could look up to me,” Davis said. “Nursing has always been my dream. Even though it was a lot, my kids pushed me to keep going.”

And at Sandburg, she knew she could rely on instructor Stacy Bainter when negative thoughts started to creep in.

“She was the one person that was always like, ‘You can do this; you can do this,’” Davis said. “When I needed somebody to talk to, Stacy was the person I went to talk to because she always had that pep talk for me. She just gives you that little mom talk.”

As Levi’s due date approached, Davis’ classmates in the LPN program threw her a surprise baby shower. They loaded her up with diapers, clothes, a bathtub and a playpen with a bassinet. Her instructors even joined together to give her a new car seat.

“I literally could have left that day, had the baby and had everything I needed,” Davis said. “It's amazing how much support you do have that you don't know you have. They’re not my class. It’s my family.”

Once Levi was born, Davis didn’t want to miss much class time and fall behind on schoolwork. She was back to classes and clinicals in only a week, quickly trying to develop a new routine. Her mom, Darla, helped watch the kids at home. Often on the way to Sandburg, Davis passed her boyfriend, Devin Welsh, a third-shift employee at John Deere, going in the opposite direction as he came home from work in Davenport, Iowa.

Stacked with the stress of leaving her newborn, her two other kids, finishing school and trying to keep things at home in order, Davis said she broke down and cried while driving to class that first week back. But as the first person in her family to go to college, she had the mindset that turning back was not an option.

“The baths and the dinners and the constant messes and the laundry — oh, god, the laundry — everything just kept piling up,” Davis said. “I would get overwhelmed, but then I was like, just take it one step at a time.”

That next step will be walking across the stage as a Sandburg graduate.

Davis said she eventually plans to go back to school and become a registered nurse, but not before some well-deserved time away from the classroom and with her family. While she knows her children are too young to comprehend the magnitude of their mother’s accomplishment right now, she can’t wait for them to look back one day at pictures of her in her cap and gown and fully realize what she went through to have that moment.

“Nursing school helped me find out who I was,” Davis said. “It made me be a better person. It made me be a better mom, making sure my kids have someone who is an important person, because every nurse is an important person. I hope I make them proud one day. That's my goal.”

VIEW STORY ONLINE

Davis_family: Carl Sandburg College student Heidi Davis with her daughter Ava Welsh, boyfriend Devin Welsh and son Braxton Welsh. (Courtesy Heidi Davis)

DR. KOLLEEN BURNETT, PEDIATRICIAN, JOINS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

– Memorial Hospital is excited to announce Kolleen Burnett, D.O.,
FACOP, FAAP, has joined the Memorial Hospital team. Dr. Burnett specializes in Pediatrics
and has begun seeing patients at Memorial Medical Clinic Hamilton at 1471 Keokuk Street, Hamilton.
Dr. Burnett began her career as a Pediatrician in 2002. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology (Pre-Med) from Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri. Then she attended Midwestern University – Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine in Downers Grove, Illinois, where she received her doctorate. She is board certified in Pediatrics. Dr. Burnett role will involve seeing patients ages newborn to twenty-one. Her clinical
interest includes having a passion for Endocrine Disorders in kids and Mental Health
issues, including ADHD. Dr. Burentt has served the local community over the last ten years as a practicing pediatrician. Dr. Burnett is excited to bring excellent pediatric care to Hancock County, as she loves all aspects of pediatrics. In addition, she is excited to
welcome some of her previous patients as well as new patients.
Dr. Burnett truly believes that children are not little adults, they deserve specialized care,
and she is so happy to be able to provide that and see all her patients medical milestones.
She loves being able to share with patients and their loved ones and truly believes that
being a Pediatrician is a privilege and a blessing.
Dr. Burnett is married to her husband of twenty-two years and has four children and two
stepchildren. In her spare time, Dr. Burnett loves swimming and watching NFL games as an avid Chicago Bears fan.
To learn more about Kolleen Burnett, D.O. FACOP, FAAP, or to schedule an appointment,
call Memorial Medical Clinic Hamilton at (217) 847-3383 or visit mhtlc.org.

IN THE AFTERMATH OF STORM ACTIVITY LET RUSSELL AND HIS TEAM WORK WITH YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS FROM INSURANCE ADJUSTERS TO COMPLETED PROJECTS OR ANY UPGRADES YOU MAY NEED

HANCOCK COUNTY FIGHTS CANCER - JOY SWEARINGEN AND KRIS PILKINGTON

CARTHAGE PUBLIC LIBRARY AMY GEE  AND TORI BUCKERT  STACKED FULL OF EVENTS FOR SUMMER

MEMORIAL HOSPITAL IN CARTHAGE, ILLINOIS, HONORED AS THE 2023
OUTSTANDING RURAL HEALTH ORGANIZATION BY THE NATIONAL RURAL
HEALTH ASSOCIATION (NRHA) PUBLIC INVITED TO CELEBRATION

Carthage, IL – 5/8/2023 – Memorial Hospital in Carthage, Illinois, has been recognized by the National Rural Health Association (NHRA) as the 2023 Outstanding Rural Health Organization.
The prestigious award honors the hospital& xceptional dedication to ensuring access to patient care and providing quality services to its community.
Memorial Hospital invites the public to the campus at 1454 N. County Road 2050 on Tuesday, May 9, from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM to celebrate this momentous occasion. A short program that will include community and regional leaders& proclamations will begin at 5:15 PM, followed by appetizers and a meet and greet with the new Memorial Hospital chef. Additionally, a sneak peek viewing of the acceptance video that will be shown at the NRHA award ceremony will be playing in the Health & Wellness conference room.
Memorial Hospital opened in 1950 and has been serving the community for over 70 years; it has a long history of providing quality healthcare services to the west central Illinois region.
Under the hospital leadership of CEO Ada Bair, Memorial has continuously expanded its
medical specialties, technology, and facilities, earning multiple years of five-star ratings in patient satisfaction and placing Memorial at the top hospital percentage nationally.
"We are honored to receive this award from the National Rural Health Association," said Memorial Hospital CEO, Ada Bair.  Our team at Memorial is committed to providing the highest level of care to our patients and ensuring that our community has access to quality healthcare services. This recognition is a testament to our entire team hard work and dedication.
We will continue striving to meet our community& healthcare needs and provide exceptional care to our patients.  Memorial Hospital is a shining star representing what is best in rural hospitals. Its caring culture, progressive leadership, engaged board, dedicated employees, and involved community have worked together to keep the community strong and healthy.
The NHRA is a national organization dedicated to improving the health and well-being of rural  Americans through advocacy, education, and outreach. The NHRA's Outstanding Rural Health Organization award recognizes hospitals and healthcare organizations that have made significant contributions to improving the health and well-being of rural communities across the country.

The 2023 Outstanding Rural Health Organization award will be presented at the NHRA 46 th Annual Rural Health Conference on May 18 in San Diego, California, where a banquet in honor  of the 2023 Rural Health Awardees will be held. Over 1,000 rural health professionals are expected to be in attendance. Memorial Hospital looks forward to celebrating this award and continuing its commitment to providing quality healthcare for its community for many years.
For more information about Memorial Hospital and its services, visit MHTLC.ORG

HANCOCK CEO TRADE SHOW INFORMATION AND BROADBAND LISTENING SESSIONS

2 Sandburg Students Win Gold at SkillsUSA Illinois Championships 

Two Carl Sandburg College students were named gold medalists at the SkillsUSA Illinois Championships on Saturday in Peoria.

Gavin Gerard of Oneida took first place in the Job Interview category, and Faith Kiprop of Iten, Kenya, won in Technical Computer Applications. As champions in their respective categories, Gerard and Kiprop qualified to compete at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference from June 19-23 in Atlanta.

More than 2,000 students took part in the state championship event last weekend in Peoria. Gerard and Kiprop earned their way to the state competition through an online state qualifying assessment in February.

The job interview competition includes completion of an application, a preliminary interview with a receptionist and an in-depth interview. Competitors are evaluated on their understanding of employment procedures in the occupational areas in which they are training.

In the technical computer applications competition, competitors perform in teams while demonstrating individual technical skills in installation, configuration and use of Windows, Mac OSX and Linux operating systems as well as one or more integrated office suite packages. The competition also includes an oral presentation, a hands-on skills demonstration and a written examination.

Gerard and Kiprop will be among the more than 5,000 students who are expected to participate in over 100 different trade, technical and leadership career competitions at the SkillsUSA national conference. SkillsUSA serves students at the college, high school and middle school level who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled-service occupations and for further education.

Winners of 34th Carl Sandburg College Poetry Contest Announced

GALESBURG — Carl Sandburg College has announced the winners of the 34th annual Carl Sandburg College Poetry Contest.

Winners were selected in four categories: elementary (grades 1-5), junior (grades 6-8), intermediate (grades 9-12) and adult.

This year’s contest featured 277 total entries, with 82 poems in the Elementary Division, 105 in the Junior Division, 58 in the Intermediate Division and 32 in the Adult Division. There were submissions from five elementary schools, six middle schools, nine high schools and two home-schooled students. The Adult Division included entries from four states and three Sandburg alumni.

The names of winners are also published at sandburg.edu/poetryawards.

34th ANNUAL CARL SANDBURG COLLEGE POETRY CONTEST AWARDS

Elementary Division

First place — “Jay…” by Lillian Edwards (Galesburg)

Second place — “Superstitions” by Wesley Anderson (Kirkwood)

Third place — “Red” by Tristin Williams (Oneida)

Honorable mention — “Looking Around” by Marcus McBride (Monmouth)

Honorable mention — “I Once Met a Guy” by James Rozny (Galesburg)

Junior Division

First place — “Friends” by Jaylie Garrison (LaHarpe)

Second place — “A World of Light” by Veronica Sanchez (Galesburg)

Third place — “I am” by Abreanna Stevens (Williamsfield)

Honorable mention — “Deadly Dancer” by Pola McClure (Galesburg)

Honorable mention — “Until I Met You” by Elizabeth J. Martin (Galesburg)

Intermediate Division

First place — “The Mind’s Murder” by Julia Evans (Knoxville)

Second place — “The Hill I Died On” by Tenley Houzenga (Dahinda)

Third place — “Awareness” by Mitchell Parrish (Knoxville)

Honorable mention — “Hypocrisy” by Samuel Kirk Watson (Galesburg)

Honorable mention — “The Soldier” by Rachel Leary (Little York)

Adult Division

First place — “but today…I do” by Gary M. Armstrong (Galesburg)

Second place — “Last Day” by Marie Smysor Watson (Galesburg)

Third place — “To Me This Is Home” by Sarah Amschler (LaHarpe)

Honorable mention — “A Petal of Inception” by Heather Bjoin (Golden Valley, Minn.)

Honorable mention — “The Lamppost In The Ocean” by Karisa Warren (Ladson, SC)

CINCO DE PIE-O FUNDRAISER TO HELP FUND THE HERITAGE DAYS FESTIVITIES IS THIS FRIDAY  MAY 5TH GET SOME DELICIOUS PIES AND CAKES AND HELP FUND THIS GREAT FREE EVENT

CINCO DE PIE-O FUNDRAISER TO HELP FUND THE HERITAGE DAYS FESTIVITIES IS THIS FRIDAY  MAY 5TH GET SOME DELICIOUS PIES AND CAKES AND HELP FUND THIS GREAT FREE EVENT

STRAWBERRY STRUT TOMMIE LONG ANDY BASTERT

COME OUT TO THE STRAWBERRY STRUT THIS JUNE THE 3RD REGISTRATION DEADLINE FOR T-SHIRTS IS MAY THE 15TH

Memorial Hospital Evergreen Center and Behavioral Health
Department Celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month and
Encourages Everyone To Look Around and Look Within
Carthage, IL – 5/4/2023 – Join Memorial Hospital’s Evergreen Center and Behavioral Health
team this May as they celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to spread
awareness and help break down the stigma surrounding mental illness.
This Mental Health Awareness Month, individuals are invited to Look Around and Look
Within to learn about how ones surroundings can impact mental health. Take a moment to
consider where you live. Do you feel safe? Do you have access to health care and grocery
stores? Does your environment support you both physically and mentally?
Where a person is born, lives, learns, works, plays, and gathers, as well as their economic
stability and social connections, are part of what is called social determinants of health
(SDOH). The more these factors work in your favor means you are more likely to have
better mental well-being. However, when it seems like the world is working against you,
your mental health can suffer.
“Despite the fact that many aspects of your environment are beyond your control, there are
steps you can take to improve your environment and protect your well-being,” said Valerie
Brown, RN, BSN, program director of Memorial Hospital’s Evergreen Center.
Mental Health America has a few suggestions on how to do just that.
? work toward securing safe and stable housing: This can be challenging due to
finances, age, and other reasons, but there are a few things you can try, such as reaching
out to state/local agencies to secure housing, removing safety hazards in the home, or
finding another space (such as a community center or friend’s home) where you can get
the comfort you are missing at home.
? focus on your home: Consider keeping your space tidy, sleep-friendly, and well-
ventilated. Surround yourself with items that help you feel calm and positive.
? create bonds with your neighborhood and community: Get to know the people
living around you, join or start neighbors-helping-neighbors groups, and support local
businesses to challenge gentrification.
? connect with nature: Hike in a forest, sit in a city park, bring a plant inside, or keep the
shades open to absorb natural light.

The world around us can be both positive and negative – bringing joy and sadness, hope
and anxiety. Learn more with Mental Health America’s 2023 Mental Health Month toolkit,
which provides free, practical resources, such as how an individual’s environment impacts
their mental health, suggestions for making changes to improve and maintain mental well-
being, and how to seek help for mental health challenges. Go to mhanational.org/may to
learn more.
If you’re taking steps to improve your surroundings but are still struggling with your
mental health, you may be experiencing signs of a mental health condition.
Memorial Hospital’s Evergreen Center is designed to meet the unique needs of individuals
typically 65 and older experiencing depression and/or anxiety related to life changes that
are often associated with aging. If you or someone you know is struggling with a decline in
their mental health, our program wants you to know we are here to help. Whether through
our program, or another service, our team works to identify and address the emotional
needs of those in our community and provide support.
Memorial Hospital also has a Behavioral Health team who provides care to children ages 4-
17 and adults 18+, including medication management, counseling, addiction services, and
more. For more information, contact 217-357-6888.
Both the Evergreen Center and Behavioral Health team are located at the Memorial Medical
Building at 1450 N. County Road 2050, Carthage, Illinois on the hospital campus. If you, or
someone you know can benefit from either of these programs, do not hesitate to reach out.

“OUTSTANDING IN OUR FIELD” IS THE THEME FOR MEMORIAL

HOSPITAL’S HEALTHCARE WEEK 2023

Carthage, IL – 5/4/2023 – Every year, Healthcare Week is celebrated nationwide during the
second week of May. Memorial Hospital recognizes this week in May to celebrate staff members of Memorial Hospital, Memorial Medical Clinics, and Hancock County Senior and Childcare Services. This year a planning committee from members of all entities decided to base this year's theme on Outstanding in Our Field.

The theme Outstanding in Our Field came easy to the planning committee as Memorial has so much to be proud of. From doctors and nurses to technicians and administrators, it takes a team of exceptional individuals to meet everyone healthcare needs. Memorial has a team of professionals who go above and beyond each and every day to provide outstanding healthcare for its patients.

This year's Healthcare Week festivities will include a food truck coming to the Memorial
Hospital campus, treats for every employee, games, and more.

In conjunction with providing outstanding healthcare, Memorial has received a 5-star rating for the past three years in a row in patient satisfaction from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid  Services (CMS). Of the 3,478 hospitals rated, Memorial Hospital is one of only 263 hospitals to achieve a five-star rating in patient experience. This equates to ranking in the top 8% of hospitals nationwide. Most recently, Memorial was honored as the 2023 Outstanding Rural Health Organization by the National Rural Health Association (NRHA).

Natalie Nicholson signs her letter of intent to play softball 

for Heartland College in Normal Illinois pictured with her Mother Jennifer Still and sister Brianna Nicholson.   Not pictured her father Brad Still of WCAZ!     Congratulations Natalie!

LEGACY THEATER ANDY BASTERT -  PUPPY PALS LIVE COMING TO THE LEGACY THEATER MAY 12TH AT 7PM

BBB INVESTIGATION UNPACKING TIMESHARE AND VACATION CLUB SALES

GAY DICKERSON   WITH AREA AGENCY ON AGING   - REACH OUT FOR ALL YOUR MEDICARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY NEEDS