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Knights Fought Hard but Were Overcome in Overtime

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•October 10, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond football team’s playoff hopes slipped away in a heartbreaking overtime loss to Cerro Gordo/Bement Friday in Cerro Gordo.
After hosting its homecoming last week, ALAH could not play spoiler for CGB’s Homering in a back-and-forth game.
“Most fun game I’ve been a part of in my young career,” said ALAH coach Ryan Jefferson. “These are the types of games I enjoy the most, the ones where both teams battle hard for 48 minutes. Even without the win, I am so proud of our kids because of the fact that this was the first game where we battled through adversity and fought back. We have had a terrible habit of letting an opponent’s big play or a two score margin get to us mentally, and it gets us out of the grinding gear when that happens.”
The Knights scored first on a 6-yard run in the first quarter to take a 7-0 lead.
The Broncos battled back in the second quarter with a 28-yard touchdown run. The kick failed, leaving the score at 7-6. Read More

Lovington Holds Free Fall Festival

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•October 10, 2018•

The Lovington Revitalization Coalition will hold the 4th Annual Lovington Fall Festival Weenie Roast on Sunday, October 14. This free event will be held 4-7 p.m. in the Lovington park.
There will be activities for all ages including a pumpkin carving/decorating contest and bobbing for apples. Gail Wolfe will be offering free rides in his horse-drawn wagon from 4-5 pm.
Youth activities include sack races, pumpkin races and games. Races will start at 5 pm. Games will include candy corn bowling, pumpkin putt-putt golf, corn cob ring toss and more.
Free food and beverages for the public will include hot dogs, chips, sides, hot chocolate, water and s’mores.
For more information about the festival and for pumpkin carving contest entry forms, see the “Putting Back the Love in Lovington” Facebook page.

Despite Headquarters Move, Peoria Still Home to 12,000 Caterpillar Workers

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FRED ZWICKY/JOURNAL STAR
East Peoria’s Building SS is the manufacturing home of Caterpillar Inc’s D10, a trendsetting track-type dozer that is one of Caterpillar’s largest dozers in the company lineup. The company celebrated the 40th anniversary of the D10 in 2017. The D10 represented a significant advance in the design of tracks using an elevated sprocket.

•October 10, 2018•

By Steve Tarter
Of the Journal Star

Peoria wasn’t always a company town. It was a distillery town, a farm implement town and a river town before the Caterpillar Tractor Co. set up shop.
A bond developed between company and town that became a mutually-beneficial relationship.
Caterpillar rose to international prominence on the strength of rugged, reliable earthmoving machines while the Peoria area gained jobs — not only in bustling factories but at the headquarters of a Fortune 100 company, a rare distinction for a city of a population of 100,000.
But in 2017, that symbiotic relationship underwent a dramatic change. Caterpillar announced two things that reverberated across central Illinois: one, the company ditched plans for an expansive office project in Downtown Peoria that Caterpillar had promised with great fanfare just two years earlier, and, two, the corporate headquarters would move to the Chicago area. Read More

SHS Honor Society New Members

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SHS Honor Society New Members
The Best-Shirey-Little Chapter of the National English Honor Society at Sullivan High School had inductions for its new members Oct. 2.  In order to become a member, students must have an overall minimum 3.0 GPA in addition to a minimum 3.0 GPA in English classes throughout high school. New members for 2018-2019 include sophomores Noah Bates, Reagan Crouse, Arabella Dudley, Haylee Faulkner, Keelie Fleener, Jerralee Goad, Alexa Hauser, Anna Mathias, Avery McGregor, Mallory Nichols, Taylor Orris, Carsyn Seeley, Trenton Tarr, Carley Towle, Zoe Walton, Emily White and junior Zane Gardner.

Remember When? 10-10-2018

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25 Years Ago This Week

A grain dryer caught an old farm crib on fire late Tuesday night at the John Durbin residence north of Sullivan. Sullivan firefighters, with the assistance of Bethany and Lovington fire personnel, fought the blaze for about two hours.
Sullivan school board members like the idea of constructing a new building to house kindergarten through fifth grade adjacent to the high school. The idea for the construction is due to the deteriorating condition of Powers School. The original structure of Powers School was built in 1873.
Sgt. Jeff Thomas was honored by the East Central Illinois (Drug) Task Force for his assistance in drug investigations. His assistance in a drug investigation led to the collection of about 20 marijuana plants. He was also cited for providing valuable narcotics information to the task force on many occasions. Read More

Sullivan IGA Has Cookout

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•October 10, 2018•

Sullivan IGA is showing its appreciation to area police, fire department and first responders offering free grilled ribeye sandwiches Friday, Oct. 12 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Barry Golden and the meat department crew will have the grill smoking in the Griffin’s BBQ wagon on the parking lot during the 2018 Beef Stampede. Visitors will get a chance to purchase freshly cooked ribeye sandwiches as well as get a chance to guess the weight of the Lehman family’s award winning Hereford Heifer. The two closest guesses will win four 3/4 inch thick ribeye steaks.
Central Illinois Toughest Putt is back! A hole in one is good for a free ribeye sandwich.
Special guests are the Sullivan Okaw Valley Redskins football team. Drop by to meet the team, their coaches and wish them luck in Friday night’s game.

Sectional Girls’ Golf Team

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SHS Golf Team advances: (from left) Alexis Britton, Alyssa Shriver, Esther Miller, Coach Andy Wagner, Addison Darush, Irie Dulin and Erin Wallace.

•October 10, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

For the fifth time in school history, the girls’ golf team advanced to a sectional meet by placing third in the IHSA Class 1A Charleston Regional at the Charleston Country Club last Wednesday.
“I am very proud of all our girls in the golf program this year,” said Sullivan coach Andy Wagner. “Out of all the teams I’ve coached, this team deserves to be at sectionals more than any. Very, very proud of their competitiveness”
Sullivan scored a combined 392 to finish second place behind winner Charleston’s 370.
Monticello placed third with 418 and Pana fourth with 430.
On a windy and hot day, Sullivan placed four golfers in the top 15 places. Read More

Lovington Village Amends Ordinances

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•October 10, 2018•

Village of Lovington trustees took action on amending the ordinance regulating how vicious and dangerous dogs are handled at the October 8 meeting.
September 10 meeting minutes indicated the business code ordinance was amended to include a no knock registry for residents of the village not wanting door to door solicitors. Trustee Dennis Garmon made the motion that was seconded by Pam Anklam with Brenda Wood, Doug Smith and April Daily all voting yes. Read More

Auto Show & Exhaust Competition

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•October 10, 2018•

Strasburg Community Action Network’s (SCAN) Burn Out in The Burg Car Auto Show and Loud & Proud Exhaust Competition will be held Saturday, October 13 in the Strasburg Park (two blocks east of Marathon gas station).
Registration is at 10 a.m. (No preregistration required; there is a registration fee). Handmade trophies will be awarded to the winners of each class as well as people’s choice and best in show. New this year will be two bounce houses for the kids. Arm bands for all day bouncing are available. Read More

SCED Safe Trick or Treat

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•October 10, 2018•

October 19 is the deadline for businesses to register for Safe Trick or Treating in Sullivan from 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, October 31.
Sponsored annually by Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development Safe Trick or Treat participating locations are marked with the orange Jack-O-Lantern in the window.
The AmBucs Halloween Parade on the square follows Safe Trick or Treating at 6:30 p.m.