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Redskins Pick Up Offensive Game Against Meridian

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Photo by RR Best
SOV defense stops Meridian back at Victory Field.

•September 26, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Sullivan-Okaw Valley football team may have lost against Meridian 27-14 at Victory Field Friday, but the fundraising efforts of the “Real Men Wear Pink Night” were winners.
Meridian jumped out to an early lead and did not let go.
In the first quarter, SOV punted from its own end zone, and a good punt return put the Hawks deep into Sullivan territory.
SOV had the Hawks at second down and 14 yards, but Hawks quarterback Jacob Jones ran for a first down, and three plays later, Jones kept the ball on an option play and scored from the six yard line.
The point after kick was wide left, leaving the score at 6-0 with just more than six minutes left.
“Defensively, we struggle to stop the run,” said SOV coach Jeff Myers. “Can’t win football games at any level when you can’t stop the run.”
After an SOV drive that took Sullivan into Hawk’s territory stalled on downs, Meridian scored on an option play where Korey Damery scored on a 48-yard touchdown run.
The extra point was good to extend the lead to 13 with just more than three minutes in the first quarter.
“We moved the ball but couldn’t finish drives,” said Myers. Read More

C.E.F.S. LIHEAP Assistance Program Starts October 1st

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•September 26, 2018•

The C.E.F.S. Economic Opportunity Corporation will begin accepting applications for the 2019 Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Monday October 1. This is the first day that appointments may be made for the program. Appointments may be made by contacting the local C.E.F.S. County Outreach offices.
October and November are priority months. Starting on Monday, October 1 households that have either a member aged 60 and above or are disabled may begin applying.
On Thursday November 1, households that have children under age six may also start applying. Proof of age will be required. Households who are disconnected from their utilities will also be allowed to apply for the program during November. In addition, households who are within seven days of being disconnected or have less than 25% in their propane tank and are unable to secure a delivery on credit may also apply during November. Read More

Moultrie Moment of the Week

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Pictured above is The Armour Creameries in Sullivan. It was founded in 1935 when the Isaac brothers bought out Sullivan Dairy & Bottling Co. The photo was taken in 1935 of the original 25 employees. It was located at the corner of Main St. & Van Buren St. in Sullivan. Please submit photos to the News Progress for future consideration. Originals will be saved for return or forwarded to Moultrie County Historical Society. If you have any other information, please contact the Moultrie County Historical Society at 217-728- 4085.

SHS’s First Homecoming Queen was Crowned 90 Years Ago

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Queen Helen Cummins Hargis

•September 26, 2018•

Ninety years ago, in 1928, most of the country was feeling the first rumblings of the coming Great Depression. In Sullivan, however, the high school students and alumni were planning their first homecoming celebration.
Numerous committees were formed to plan and organize the pep rally, homecoming play, the parade, banquet and football game. It was a momentous undertaking and over 190 invitations were mailed to the alumni. SHS Student Council was the chief sponsor of the event. It was so important that all the stores closed for the day so everyone could participate.
The events of the homecoming day were reported in detail in the Sullivan Progress. From this account the pep meeting began at 11 a.m. with the band playing and “yells” being screamed. The parade followed at 1:30 from the high school and was led by Wenzel Nedder on horseback to Poland Field on the south side of town. Behind Nedder were the queen candidates and class floats decorated in class colors. Teachers and alumni joined the procession. Read More

Arthur Teacher Receives Excellence in Education Grants for Teachers

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Photo furnished. Principal Sage Hale, Dennis Hutchings and Amber Crothers.

•September 26, 2018•

The Illinois Retired Teachers Association Foundation (IRTAF) awards nearly $36,500 in grant money to several public school educators (Pre-K through 12) statewide. IRTAF is affiliated with the Illinois Retired Teachers Association, a lobbying group for retired educators, with a current membership of over 38,000. Amber Crothers was awarded her IRTAF grant check in September. Below is more information on the winner, along with her school, the amount of the award, IRTA Area, and a summarized paragraph of the project in the winner’s own words.
Amber Crothers, Arthur Grade School, Arthur ($385.00) Area 5
This grant request is for updated assessments and materials targeting language disorders. The Language Processing Test, Language Processing Treatment Activities and Differential Processes Training books are excellent tools for diagnosing and treating students with communication disorders that may limit academic success in the public school setting. These resources will help the SLP better serve students with speech and language impairments. Read More

Remember When? 9-26-2018

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25 Years Ago This Week

News Progress photographer Lisa Muirheid captured many area award winning 4-H’ers at the Illinois State Fair. Heidi Crawford of Sullivan had to field numerous questions about her Computer Science II project, pastry was the foods choice of Cassandra Jackson of Lovington, bread baked by Paige Clark of Bethany earned one of six superior awards. Alyssa Gilmore of Lovington chose a tractor and a baby cradle as the foundations for her flower arrangements in the horticulture competition. Read More

Lovington Petitions Available

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•September 26, 2018•

Residents of the village of Lovington wishing to become candidates for municipal office in the April 2, 2019, election may pick up their candidate petition sheets beginning immediately.
Offices up for election are three Village Trustee positions.
Petitions are to be picked up at the Village Office, located at 222 S Railroad Street in Lovington.
Office hours are 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The filing period for petitions is December 10-17, 2018. On the final day of the filing period, December 17 petitions will be accepted until 5 p.m.
To qualify as a candidate, you must be a registered voter, must not have been convicted of a felony crime in any court located in the United States and meet the one-year residency requirement prior to the election date of April 2, 2019.

Patroit Day – 17 Years Since 9/11 Tragedy

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Photo by Mike Brothers
First responders from left: State Trooper Tom Houser, Sullivan Fire Dist. Chief Jeff Waite (ret), Sullivan Police officer Jared Hayse and Sullivan Chief of Police Jim Waggoner along with the SHS student body reflect on the 17th anniversary of the 9/11/01 attack during the Patriot’s Day observance at SHS.

Strong and United

•September 26, 2018•

By Mike Brothers

Patriot Day marked the 17th anniversary of the 9/11 attack on the United States, and Sullivan High School seniors marked the last generation born before the 2001 tragedy.
Rebecca Lawson’s English Mirror Images class hosted the event honoring all first responders and recognizing those who perished on Sept. 11, 2001.
From the opening performance of the Star Spangled Banner by the high school band and chorus to the final notes of Flowers of the Forest by bagpiper Paul Hinson the gymnasium was filled with students spellbound by the stories they heard.
Belgium foreign exchange student Corentin Bernard reflected on how 9/11 affected Europe. “The impact on Europe was fear,” Bernard, said of that day in Sept. 2001. “We thought if this happens to the U.S. what about us.” Read More

Sullivan Volleyball Travels to Central A&M

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•September 26, 2018•

The Sullivan volleyball team could not find its first win of the season this past week.
The Redskins lost four games in the Arcola Invitational Saturday, as well as losses to Meridian and Warrensburg-Latham.
In the Arcola Invitational Sullivan lost to Arcola in three sets, 25-21, 20-25, 15-8.
Sullivan then lost to marshal in two sets, 25-12, 25-16.
The Redskin also lost to Heritage 25-20, 25-9 and Armstrong-Potomac 25-18, 25-15. Read More

SHS Decorates Windows for Homecoming

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•September 26, 2018•

Sullivan High School artists are taking to the streets decorating windows for Homecoming Week beginning Monday, Oct. 1.
Window decorating voting will be open Oct 1-Oct 5 and the ballot will be at Cathrine’s on the square. There will be two award categories: best class window and best group window. Everyone may vote.