•March 21 2018•
The Sullivan softball team dropped a non-conference game to Cumberland 7-1 Friday, March 16.
The Pirates are ranked 13th in Class 1A in the Illinois Coaches Association poll.
Cumberland jumped out early with a 2-0 first inning lead, then tacked on four more runs in the fourth inning. Read More
Photo furnished
OVHS Varsity Baseball first row - Talon Russell, Eli Hagerman, Austin Harshman, Anthony Jones, Sam Hagerman. Second row- Dalton Milligan, Hayden Fransisco, Cameron Sharp, Cody Drake, Camden Coleman, Dalton McGill. Third row - Ethan Macklin, Garrett Fritz, Tanner Coleman, Austin Hill, Hutson Dickens, Tyson Brown, Trey Yarnell.
•March 21 2018•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports
Okaw Valley senior Garrett Fritz tallied five hits, including two home runs, and 10 RBIs in wins against Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg Friday, March 16, and Mt. Pulaski Wednesday, March 14.
Against WSS, Fritz homered twice, scored three runs and had four RBIs to help the Timberwolves to a 10-0 win in six innings.
OV scored two in the first inning, three in the third inning, then scored five more runs in the next two innings.
Trey Yarnell was 2-for-3 with RBIs, and Austin Harshman had a hit, a run, a stolen base and one RBI. Read More
OVHS photo
OVHS Band Plays at Festival
The Okaw Valley Band traveled to the LOVC Band Festival on Thursday afternoon. The festival was held at Sangamon Valley High School. Students practiced all afternoon and put on a concert at 7:00. Okaw Valley Sophomore Addison Webner and Junior Elizabeth Herbord were also members of the featured LOVC jazz band that also performed. OVHS Band from left: Row one - Connor Powers, Issac Dickens, Clayton Bone, Ethan Suarez, Luke Vander Burgh, Eric Boomer, Hayden Carlson. Row two - Julia Hilderbrandt, TJ Williams, Madison Ray, Baylie Suarez, Shelby Harding, Alyssa Nihisar, Hannah Durbin, Elizabeth Herbord. Row three - Haven Caulfield, Alesia Smegal, Caleb Hildebrandt, Addison Webner, Shelby Hagerman, Madison Vogel, Hutson Dickens, Ethan Macklin, Tyson Brown, Bella Benning, Kyra Jackson.
Kenneth M. Puleo
Kenneth M. Puleo, 79, of Brownstown, formerly of Sullivan, passed away at 11:53 p.m. Tuesday March 13, 2018 in St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, O’Fallon, Illinois.
Celebration of Life services will be 2:00 p.m. Tuesday in the Brownstown First Baptist Church with Dr. Olen Evans officiating. Visitation will be from 4-6 p.m. Monday at the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan and also from 1:00 p.m. until service time at the church on Tuesday. Burial will be in the Liberty Cemetery, Brownstown. Memorials are suggested to the American Diabetes Association. Send online condolences to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.
Ken was born April 14, 1938 in Chicago, the son of Sam and Etta Castaldo Puleo. He married Wanda Bruce McDonald on December 8, 2001 and they have resided in Brownstown ever since. He was affiliated with the Sullivan First Christian Church before moving to Brownstown. He attended the Brownstown First Baptist Church. Ken retired from the R. R. Donnelly Company in Mattoon. Ken and Wanda enjoyed traveling to different states and had looked forward to returning to Chattanooga, TN. They also tried to return to Branson every year in December to celebrate their anniversary to see the Platters.
Surviving are his wife Wanda of Brownstown; sister Kathleen (Tom) Bunfill of Sullivan; stepsons Mike (Tammy) McDonald of Ramsey, Bill (Sandy) McDonald of Brownstown; stepdaughters Connie McDonald of Sandoval, Kathy (Matt) McConkey of Brownstown, Debbie McDonald of Brownstown, stepson Steve (Sue) Booker of Sullivan; nephew Kurtis (Megan) Bunfill of Sullivan; niece Kristi (Tim) Montgomery of Sullivan; several step grandchildren and great grandchildren; great nephews Jared Bunfill, Tyson Montgomery, Tucker Montgomery and a great niece Grace Bunfill.
He found pleasure in taking care of their four acres, mowing, having a garden, setting out trees and roses, having his Christmas tree on the corner lit up for the neighbors enjoyment as well as the Puleo family. He found he could love cats as well as dogs.
Ken had learned about bridge building when he was with the Army Engineers outfit, and decided to build a bridge acress the creek running through their property, which was used by cats and dogs alike.
Ken was a life long Chicago Cubs fan, and it must have been meant to be that they won the world series while he was still able to enjoy it.
Ken loved sports. He was a Golden Gloves boxer, played on softball, basketball and football teams while in Chicago and was still active in softball and bowling teams until middle age. He had been a referee for basketball and softball for the schools in the Sullivan area and also had a boxing club for several years. Even more that sports, he loved his family and enjoyed get togethers with them especially loved the precious grandchildren and their hugs and kisses.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Gladys D. Courtright Gladys D. Courtright, 95, of Sullivan passed away 12:23 a.m. Saturday, March 17, 2018, Mason Point, Sullivan. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 20, 2018, at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan. Visitation will be held an hour prior to the service Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery, Sullivan. Memorials may be made donor’s choice. Gladys was born February 7, 1923, in Falls of Rough, KY, the daughter of Henry and Bessie (Dunn) Harl. She married Edgar D. Courtright on November 6, 1946, in Decatur; he preceded her in death on February 20, 2012. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Sullivan. She loved playing Bingo, enjoyed dancing and music, loved visiting with her friends and family and her favorite saying was “See you down the road somewhere.” She is survived by her sons, Ed (Rose) Courtright, Jr. of Sullivan and Jan (Betty Lewis) Courtright of Shelbyville; sister, Daisey Hill of Pana. She is also survived by 8 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, 1 son Jerry L. Wiseley, 4 brothers and 6 sisters. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mcmullinyoung.com
Richard Reed
Richard Alan Reed, 66, of Sullivan passed away at 2:10 p.m. Saturday, March 10, 2018 in his home.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 15, 2018 at McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan. Visitation will be held after 9:30 a.m. Thursday. Burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery in Sullivan.
Richard was born June 13, 1951 in Tuscola, the son of Cliff F. and Dorothy Miller Reed. He attended Sullivan Schools and worked many years as an orderly at the Illinois Masonic Home until his health failure. Read More
Photo furnished
Cameron Nickerson Officially Signs with Illinois College
Okaw Valley High School senior Cameron Nickerson committed to Illinois College in Jacksonville to continue his academic and athletic career. He will play golf for the Blueboys. He is the son of Steve and Tara Nickerson.
•March 14, 2018•
Five members of the Sullivan girls’ track and field team competed in the Charleston High School Girls’ Indoor Invitational held Saturday at Eastern Illinois University.
Esther Miller led the way with a 10th place finish in the 400-meter dash in 1:06.5. Read More
Photo by R.R. Best
Easter Egg Prep
Sullivan fifth grade Girl Scouts worked on their Bronze medal while helping volunteers at Courtyard Estates prepare 14,000 plastic eggs for the April Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by the Sullivan Fire Protection District. Above from left: Annabelle Griffin, Phyllis Sheridan, Addison Brush and Zoe Conlin. The Sullivan Fire Dept. Easter Egg Hunt begins at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, April 1 at Wyman Park.
•March 14, 2018•
The Sullivan softball team was no hit in its 10-0 to season opener loss to Maroa-Forsyth Monday evening.
The Redskins are set to travel to Cerro Gordo Tuesday, then to Cumberland Friday, March 16.