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Kiki’s Boutique is for the Fashion Lover

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Photo by Ellen Fererra
Kiki’s Boutique owner Nikki Jacobazzi is pictured.

•April 19, 2017•

By Ellen Fererra

The exquisite Venetian chandelier catches your eye as you enter the very stylish new Kiki’s Boutique and the owner, Nikki Jacobazzi says, “ Yes, I had to have it, and it was the first item installed - everything was built around it. We had to wrap it in plastic for over a month while we remodeled.”

And what a charming space it is with racks of really beautiful and colorful blouses, dresses, jeans, t-shirts, shoes and must-have jewelry. So much temptation in such a small space but all artfully arranged. The sizes here run from small to 3x, and I was surprised to find almost all of the gorgeous blouses priced at $26 as they look much more expensive.

“We wanted a place to shop in Sullivan with high fashion and reasonable prices as so many shops like Penney’s and Kohl’s are closing.  Plus, you don’t have to drive to shop - we are right here,” she said.

Jacobazzi, who has the gamin looks of an Audrey Hepburn, grew up in Sullivan, went off to the big city and returned about five years ago. That’s when she began going to vendor fairs and selling online where she has shipped her line all over the U.S. and to a growing market in Europe.  Read More

Christmas Vacation Theme

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•April 19, 2017•

Operation Secret Santa is getting underway for fundraising for 2017.

The annual fundraiser will be July 15 at the Toy Bar in Sullivan starting with the annual Jeepin’ For Jessie Jeep Run with the theme Christmas Vacation. Following the jeep run, Secret Santa will host the annual silent auction followed by a live auction. Times will be posted at a later date. Raffle tickets for a half of a hog are available at the Toy Bar for a drawing the day of the event.

ALAH Shuts Out CG/Bement

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•April 19, 2017•

The Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond softball team shut out Cerro Gordo/Bement 8-0 Wednesday.

The Knights scored a run in the first inning, two in the third, two in the fourth and one in the sixth.

Logan Kauffman scored two runs on two hits, and Reagan Miller tallied three hits, a run scored and two RBIs. Read More

Main Street Makeover for Findlay

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•April 19, 2017•

A special Main Street Makover for Findlay is scheduled for Friday, April 21.

Inspired by school and community cooperation to help spruce up the village, more volunteers are coming forward.

A movement by Shelby County Partners and Shelby County Economic Development Agency is coordinating volunteers and businesses to work together in giving town, cities and villages within Shelby County some tender loving care.

Jody McCormick is the coordinator for Findlay, and she has reached out to Okaw Valley CUSD to help provide volunteers.

“At this time I have at least 25 high school and maybe as many middle school volunteers signed up,” McCormick said.

“Several projects are lined up with local businesses around Findlay with Tailwinds owner Chrissy Grant opening her place to the owners and volunteers for donuts, drinks and lunch.

“We are working hard to make Findlay fabulous!” Mccormick said. “The school district is really stepping up helping this community wide effort.”

Remember When? 4-19-2017

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25 Years Ago This Week

Sullivan holds its second Festival of Stars honoring many past stars appearing at The Little Theatre on the Square with the Sidewalk of Stars during the May 15-17 festival. Included in the entertainment were Benjy and the Be-Bops, Prairie Winds quartet, children’s caricaturist Bob Dondeville, Gene Trimble’s Strolling Clown Band, Ken Carlyle and the Cadillac Cowboys.

Bethany school board hired Dave Benning as assistant football coach and is continuing its search for a head coach.

Three-year-old Kara E. Lawler of Dalton City took her grandmother’s car for a drive around town. The child escaped with the keys and had the doors locked and car started before her grandmother could reach her. Grandma was only able to watch the child make a U-turn, head into a parking lot, over a railroad tie barrier and come to rest, after striking a parked pickup owned by Kelly M. Blakey of Decatur. No one was injured. Read More

Cole-Moultrie e911 System Tests Land Line Services

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•April 19, 2017•

Coles-Moultrie e911 is calling land lines to verify data the week of April 17, Arlene Aschermann, announced at the April 13 county board meeting.

The Moultrie Co Public Safety chair, explained telephone customers randomly called in Moultrie County will be given a code to dial back. This will the verify the individual’s information in the 911 database.

In Moultrie County 776 land lines are unpublished and 1936 published. Only the published numbers will receive calls.

People with unpublished land line numbers should call 217/345-2939 to be included in 911 data base. Read More

ALAH Boys’ Track Gets Three Top Spots

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•April 19, 2017•

The Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond boys’ track and field team competed in the Fisher Invitational Thursday, April 13.

The following Knights placed in the top three spots in their final heats.

Jordan Miller ran the 800-meter run in 2:13.39 for first place, and Mitchell Bernius triple jumped 36 feet and 1 inch for second place. Read More

Eagle Creek Resort Gets IDNR’s Attention

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Photo furnished
State Sen. Chapin Rose, Dave McCabe (Moultrie County Board Chairman), Dan Flannell (Sullivan City Administrator), and Dave Cruitt (Shelby County Board Chairman), State. Rep. Brad Halbook (R-Shelbyville) met at the statehouse April 6 and discussed the future of Eagle Creek Resort.

•April 19, 2017•

By Mike Brothers

Hope is not lost for Eagle Creek Resort. Moultrie County Board chairman Dave McCabe told the board it could be until September before prospective developers will get a chance to submit proposals on the Lake Shelbyville resort.

Shuttered since 2009, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is preparing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Eagle Creek Resort which, according to McCabe, should allow developers enough flexibility to submit plans to rebuild the resort which may not require total demolition. Read More

Understanding Illinois: Illinois Population—So Long, It’s Been Good to Know Ya’

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•April 19, 2017•

By Jim Nowlan
NP Guest Columnist

The modern American is restless. He moves around, toward good things like jobs, opportunity, warmth, family members, safety. It has been thus since our founding.

What, if anything, can or should be done about the movement of people out of Illinois?

Illinois has been losing white people on a net basis since the 1970s, maybe earlier, since the home air conditioner made the South livable.

This loss has been papered over by the “natural increase” (births over deaths) within our state. This gave us small population increases, until recently.

According to recent Census Bureau estimates, Illinois (12.8 million residents) has lost population annually for the past three years, 38,000 in 2016, more than any state in the nation. Even the metropolitan Chicago area, with its supposedly ever burgeoning suburbs, lost population this past year.

What’s going on? Read More

OV Baseball Dominates Opponents of the Week

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Photo by R.R. Best
Ethan Macklin pitches against Cerro Gordo at Bethany Friday morning.

•April 19, 2017•

The Okaw Valley baseball team dominated in four wins by defeating each opponent by 10 runs or more this week.

The Timberwolves defeated Arcola, Shelbyville, Cerro Gordo and Neoga.

Arcola Monday

After taking a 3-point lead in the third inning, the Timberwolves scored three runs in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings for a 12-2 win. OV totaled 12 hits and played errorless in the field.

In the first inning, OV scored when Connor Cloyd singled with two outs.

In the seventh, singles by Garrett Fritz and Tanner Coleman and an error scored the runs. Taylor Coleman earned the win. He pitched six innings, allowing two runs on three hits. He struck out five.

Coleman, Cloyd, Fritz, and Hagerman each collected multiple  hits. Fritz went 2-for-5 with four RBIs.

Shelbyville Saturday Morning Read More