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WHS Homecoming Court 2017

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WHS Homecoming Court
Windsor High School will host a homecoming dance 8-11 p.m. January 14 in the high school gymnasium. Coronation is open to the public and will begin at 7:30 p.m. Pictured are court members: front right to left: Freshman attendant Ava Bennett, sophomore attendant Rachel Miller, junior attendant Morgan Lesko, and queen candidates Jodie Harris, Kaitlyn Armes, and Gillian Sanders. Back row left to right: Freshman attendant Mason Campbell, sophomore attendant Ben Beck, junior attendant Gage Sattler, and king candidates Joel Beck, Travis Fox, and Sterling Howard.

Eastern Illinois Foodbank Distributes at Sullivan VFW

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•January 11, 2017•

Eastern Illinois Foodbank will distribute a truckload of food to hungry area families. The distribution will be held 10-11:30 a.m. at Sullivan VFW. All Moultrie County residents who meet income eligibility criteria are welcome. Those attending are asked to bring bags or boxes to transport food.

The distribution is part of the Foodbank’s Foodmobile Program, a system of mobile food pantries designed to help bring nutritious food to areas of chronic or extreme need. Through the program, local companies and organizations are invited to contribute toward a one-day distribution of food and optionally participate in the distribution process. The cost to partner with the Foodbank on a Foodmobile distribution is $3,000. Read More

Obituaries 1-11-2017: Yvonne Smith

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Yvonne Smith

Yvonne Smith, 84, of Bethany, died at 8 p.m. Sunday, January 8, 2017 in Sullivan Rehabilitation and Health Care Center.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday in Reed Funeral Home in Sullivan with Pastor Barry Long officiating. Burial will be in Marrowbone Twp. Cemetery in Bethany. Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m. Friday.  Read More

Obituaries 1-11-2017: Jim Ellerbrook

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Jim Ellerbrook 

The Rev. James Harry “Jim” Ellerbrook, 94, passed away Dec. 24, 2016 in Indianapolis, Ind. A private family funeral was held Jan. 7 followed by interment in the Palestine, Ill. cemetery. A public memorial celebration of Ellerbrook’s life will be held at 1:30 p.m. April 2 in Allisonville Christian Church in Indianapolis. Flinn & Maguire Funeral Home in Franklin, Ind. is handling arrangements.

He was born April 3, 1922 in Washington, DC, the son of Harry Kelsey and Matilda May Evans Ellerbrook. Read More

Cold, Dry December Ends a Warm Year in Illinois

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•January 11, 2017•

The statewide average temperature for December was 28.6 degrees, 1.3 degrees below normal, according to Illinois State Climatologist Jim Angel, Illinois State Water Survey, University of Illinois.

December precipitation was light and below normal across most of Illinois, except for far southern Illinois. The statewide average precipitation was 1.41 inches, 1.28 inches below normal. Precipitation includes rainfall and the water content of snow. Read More

Timberwolves Outside Shooters Turn the Tale on Cumberland

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•January 11, 2017•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Okaw Valley boys’ basketball team has won its last 7-of-10 games to even its record to 8-8 for the season.

“We have been trending upward as the season has moved along,” said OV coach Brooks Inman. “Hopefully we can continue this trend into conference play.”

This week the Timberwolves split a pair of games, defeating Cumberland Friday and losing to Central A&M in a rescheduled game Saturday.

Against Cumberland, OV played from behind most of the game, trailing by four at the half, 21-17.

Down 23-20, the Timberwolves put together one of the best quarters the team has had all season.

“Against Cumberland, we executed pretty well in the first half,” said Inman. “We just didn’t knock down our shots. We came out in the third quarter and started connecting.”

While turning the ball over in the entire third quarter, OV made 4-of-5 3-pointers in the quarter, and in a span of less than three minutes, the Timberwolves scored 10 unanswered points.

With 5:50 left in the third, Taylor Coleman hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key.

“Taylor Coleman picked us up big-time with nine points in the quarter as well,” said Inman. Read More

Sullivan Chamber & Economic Development Announces Award Recipients

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•January 11, 2017•

The Sullivan Chamber & Economic Development have announced the winners of the 2016 annual awards, which will be presented at the SCED annual luncheon Friday, January 27.

Each recipient is a stand-out in a community of exceptional business and community members.

Jon England will be recognized as the 2016 Citizen of the Year.  It would be hard pressed to find a cause that England has not contributed to in the community of Sullivan. A person may go to EK Petro any day of the week and see a new cause they are helping.  He is dedicated to the growth and sustainability of Sullivan which is shown through his business practices with EK Petro, EK Petroleum and Transport Services, which are all based in our community.   Read More

Sullivan Faculty Face Harlem Wizards in Sports Fundraiser

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Harlem Wizards come to Sullivan High School

•January 11, 2017•

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED. IT WILL BE RE-SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY.

The Sullivan High School boys’ basketball team is scheduled to host the Harlem Wizards for an exhibition fundraiser game against Sullivan teachers, coaches and community members from 7-9 p.m. Saturday, January 14.

The game will be played at the Sullivan High School, and doors will open at 6 p.m.

“This event will be like no other event that has ever been at Sullivan High School,” said Sullivan head coach Chester Reeder. The Wizards are an amazing group of people that really know how to make it fun for everyone.”

The game is a fundraiser for the boys’ basketball programs and will consist of 30 players and volunteers.  Read More

Employer Withholding Tax Changes Increase Accuracy

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•January 11, 2017•

In an effort to reduce taxpayer filing and payment errors and increase the detection of false income reporting and insolvent employers, the Illinois Department of Revenue (“IDOR”) will begin requiring all withholding taxpayers to file quarterly withholding income tax returns and report detailed payroll data beginning in 2017. The change impacts employers, payroll service providers, software developers and individuals who pay gambling and lottery winnings. IDOR believes the detailed reporting of amounts and dates of any tax withheld under the new quarterly filing will make it easier and more accurate for withholding filers. Read More

Moultrie County Jail Serves Big Savings

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Photo by Mike Brothers
New ovens can accommodate 42 meals that exceed required inmate nutritional levels. Chief Deputy Gary Carroll shows one of the variety of prepared dinners served in-house at the Moultrie County Jail.

•January 11, 2017•

Moultrie County jail inmates are eating better in 2017 while saving taxpayer dollars at the same time.

Moultrie County sheriff Chris Sims started in house food service at the jail that could save $30,000 in annual food service costs for the jail’s inmate population. “Meal costs from outside vendors was running about $3.50 each, and we had a difficult time coordinating deliveries so inmates received warm food,” chief deputy Gary Carroll said of the outside caterers who had served the population in the past.

“Housing inmates for federal marshals created complaints about portions and quality,” Sheriff Sims recalled, noting the federal inmate population is important income for the county.

Tiger Correctional Services based in Jonesboro, Ark. provided vending services to Moultrie County Jail and were expanding the prepared food service operation to smaller correctional facilities.

“This worked out great for what we needed to do,” said Sims, emphasizing serving the inmate population in-house with this program requires no additional county jail staff. Read More