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Martin’s Sullivan History Sales Benefit SCEF

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•December 12, 2018•

R. Eden Martin, a 1958 Sullivan graduate who went on to become a well-known Chicago attorney, has generously donated 100 copies of his recent book Fragments of the History of Sullivan, Illinois to the Sullivan Community Education Foundation.
Donations raised from the purchase of his book will be used by SCEF to support and promote educational opportunities for students of Sullivan schools and learners of all ages in the community.
To acquire a copy, a donation made payable to SCEF is requested. Donations and pick-up of the book may be made at the Sullivan High School office during normal business hours.
For more information about SCEF, visit the website at SCEF.info.

Windsor Students of November

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Windsor Students of November
Erika Elison, daughter of DJ Webster and Toby Ellison and granddaughter of Corky and Sara Hopper, and Caleb Dison, son of Kirk and Corrie Dison are November Students of the Month at Windsor Jr./Sr. High School.
Elison, a senior, loves working with animals and plans to work at the Ultimutt after graduation. Dison is an eighth grader and is involved in basketball and track and is interested in becoming a writer.

Downtown Christmas

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•December 12, 2018•

Sullivan’s Old Fashioned Christmas Downtown Celebration is Friday, Dec. 14 from 4-7 p.m.
Dress warmly the the old fashioned celebration is filled with outdoor activities.
The Community Christmas Tree lighting on the southeast corner of the courthouse lawn is at 6 p.m.
The family friendly event offers the Hardy Reindeer, carriage rides, visits with Santa at his house; a photo booth sponsored by Sullivan Spark under the pavilion on the square and Christmas music.

Obituaries 12-12-2018: Evelyn Jack

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Evelyn Jack

Evelyn M. Jack, 90, of Sullivan passed away peacefully at 7:50 p.m. Sunday, December 9, 2018 in her son Ron’s home in rural Sullivan.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, December 13 in McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan. Visitation will be held from 5–7 p.m. today (Wednesday) at McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan. Burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery in Sullivan. Read More

Live Nativity Walk is in Lovington

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Live Nativity Walk is in Lovington
The Lovington First Church of God will present their fourth annual live walk through nativity event, “O Come Let Us Adore Him”, on Saturday, December 15 from 5–7 p.m. at the Family Life Center located at 305 West State Street.
Come share and experience the true meaning of Christmas, which features costumed characters and live animals.
Hot chocolate, cookies and live readings of the nativity story are provided inside the Life Center where the kids can make a Christmas keepsake.
The Lovington United Methodist Church Christmas choir will perform a special preview of their Christmas cantata, “Good News from Home” at 6 p.m.
This event is a free gift to the community from the Lovington First Church of God.

NEHS Barnes and Noble Book-Buying Trip Brings New Novels to SHS Library

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NEHS Book Shoppers from left to right: Miles Gregory, Alexa Hauser, Mallory Nichols, and Avery McGregor

•December 12, 2018•

By Paige McLaughlin and Cami Badman
For the News Progress

Sullivan High School’s National English Honor Society (NEHS) went on their third annual trip to Barnes and Noble in Champaign Nov. 29 to purchase books for the Sullivan High School and Middle School Media Center.
Students met with Anna McClellan, the school’s media specialist, a week and a half before the trip to learn how to shop for the library which is much different than shopping for oneself. The group discussed how the library needed variety in genres and titles and how to find books based on popular awards, read-alikes for books already loved, and series completion.
They also discussed budgeting and making sure the books were appropriate for the library. Each member filled out a common spreadsheet so they could double check that no one selected the same titles as other groups and made certain the books weren’t already owned by the library. This year NEHS was given $100 per team of three-four for book purchases. Read More

Obituaries 12-12-2018: Phil Phillips

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Phil Phillips

Phil Leon Phillips, 85, of Sullivan, passed away Wednesday, December 5, 2018 in St. Mary’s Hospital in Decatur.
No services will be held. McMullin-Young Funeral Home is in care of the arrangements.
Phil was born March 21, 1933 in Bethany, the son of Earl and Lela Standerfer Phillips. He served in the United States Army. Phil married Loretta May Aldridge December 20, 1963, and she preceded him in death June 13, 2014. Read More

Sullivan Rehab. & Health Care Center Holiday Fundraiser

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•December 12, 2018•

Sullivan Rehab & Health Care Center paired with Modern Woodman to do a fundraiser. The event and 50/50 raised $2,554 for the Activity Department at Sullivan RHCC.
The money raised will go toward Christmas and holiday events for the residents at SRHCC. The SRHCC appreciates the Modern Woodman representatives who worked with SRHCC staff to make the event a success. To make a donation or assist in the activities at Christmas contact Valerie Tischler, Administrator at 217-728-4327.

Obituaries 12-12-2018: Harold Rutan

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Harold Rutan

Harold (Ruty) Eugene Rutan, 85, of Arthur, died at 1:46 p.m. Wednesday, December 5, 2018 at his residence.
Harold was born February 4, 1933 in Charleston, a son of Clifford and Olive Bryant Rutan. He married Betty Wood in Arthur January 13, 1979, and she survives.
Besides his wife, he is survived by his daughter Dawn (Michael) Moutray of Varna; stepdaughter Lisa (Dick) Agge of Sullivan; grandsons Tyler (Kate) Moutray of Magnolia, Ill., Ryan (Brittney) Moutray of Peru, Ill. and Nicholas (Shaina) Wood of Texas; granddaughters Beth (Ryan) McCann of Imperial, Missouri, Cathryn Agge of Greenwood, Indiana and Megan (Jason) Wood of Edwardsville; great-grandchildren Avery, Morgan, Taylor, Charlotte, Kennedy, Delaney, and Nolan; brother Charles Rutan of Ashmore and sister Vera Hackett of Charleston. Read More

Coping With the Aging Process or Where Did I Put My Coffee Cup?

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•December 12, 2018•

By Jerry L. Ginther
NP Guest Columnist

If I’d known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself. I thought getting old would take a lot longer. I’ve heard those amusing comments several times recently; from those my age as well as those who are older.
Not that introspection is a new thing with me, but the years seem to now be flashing by at warp speed. In recent years it seems I’m putting up and taking down the Christmas tree more frequently. As a matter of fact it seems that I go through this ritual every couple of months. And, the frequency of my own birthday is coming around more often than in the past. Now, I’m thankful, of course, that this keeps occurring, but as those annual celebration numbers increase, I am also reminded that it’s obvious that I have more of them behind me than I have to look forward to. This makes planning for future events a bit more restrictive. Not only do I have to consider the time element, but also, now I have to consider whether I’ll be physically and mentally capable to even consider some things I might want do in the years to come. Read More