Sarah Bush Lincoln will provide school and sports physicals to students and athletes from Sullivan schools.
Sports and school physical clinics will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 11, and Thursday, August 6, at the SBL Sullivan Clinic, 7 Hawthorne Lane, Sullivan. The cost is $20 per physical with all fees being donated to the Sullivan Athletic Booster Club. Read More
June 10, 2015By Jim Nowlan
NP Guest
Columnist
Based on a couple of days nosing around the state capitol at the end of the regular session of the legislature, which adjourned with a whimper May 31, I sense that Illinois is in for several years of rancorous political conflict. There is a new sheriff in town (Gov. Bruce Rauner), but the old one hasn’t left (House Speaker Mike Madigan).
Maybe a more apt simile is that of the dueling popes of Avignon and Rome, battling for years for papal supremacy around the end of the 14th Century.
After all, there won’t be a single gunfight to the death between Republican Rauner and Madigan, but instead a protracted “Battle for the future of Illinois,” as Rauner terms it, which appears likely to go on for years.
The combatants come from different worlds. Rauner is a businessman from the rarefied high-finance atmosphere of buying and selling companies; he is used to being king of the hill.
Madigan and his protégé, state senate president John Cullerton, are professional politicians, for whom politics is also a business. They have pretty much run the state legislature since the 1980s.
Rauner wants to take them down. Read More
Submitted
Mike Overlot Field Rededication
On Tuesday May 26 the Mike Overlot field and sign was rededicated at Crowder Park in Bethany. Over $4,400 were raised by the Okaw Valley kids and from donations by the Okaw Valley community. The project was headed up by math teacher Shari Bryun and fundraisers included a dodge ball tournament and “hat” day where kids in the district could wear a hat to school for a $1 donation. The funds were used to replace the 30 year old score board and update the signature, Mike Overlot sign.
Pictured, left to right are: Shari Bryun, Tod Jeffers, the Okaw Valley 15 and under boys, David Overlot and Marge Overlot.
When Should Churches Be Silent?
In regard to the writer of the “Cherry Picking Scripture” letter on the editorial page May 27, I would voice my disagreement. I appreciate the fact that the writer may, in a sense, not object to Christians holding beliefs based on God’s word, but the view that one is “cherry picking” when he picks one sin to object to, when that sin is spoken of less in the Bible than other sins. Would he think, therefore, that if pedophilia or incestuous relationships were being forced upon us, demanding our acceptance of such, as homosexuality presently is, that churches should keep silent? There are more passages of Scripture dealing specifically with homosexuality, such as Leviticus 18:22, 20:13, Romans 1 :24-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9, and 1 Timothy 1:9-10, than with the other two combined. There is no “cherry” on God’s cherry tree that is to be picked. Read More
4% raise in water/sewer while gas rate increase is undecided
by Ariana Cherry
Arthur/Sullivan Reporter
At their May 26 meeting, the Sullivan city council voted to not raise electric rates this summer.
“Normally, every year, there is a four percent increase in electric rates, but this year since we are at a good balance, I ask that it be abated,” said Commissioner Mike Kirk.
Although the electric rates did not see an increase, the water rate’s annual four percent increase was allowed.
“Since it is automatic, and it is an annual increase, I pass that we go ahead and raise the water rates,” said Commissioner Bill Hagen. Read More
Competing at Timberlake Golf Course Monday, May 25, the team of Clint Marshall, Adam Dillard, Colten Bush, and Aaron Fruchtl finished first with a 6-under par. Taking second with a 5-under par and playoff hole was the team of Cole Russell, Shane Russell, Sean Still and Davey Emritt. Third place went to the team of Tim Sawyer, Steve Sawyer, Scott Ohm and Mason Ohm, also shooting a combined 5-under par. Read More
Below is the information graduates from the class of 2015 voluntarily submitted regarding their future plans. Graduates from Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond, Okaw Valley, Sullivan, and Windsor are included:
Sixty-four Graduate in First Ever ALAH Class
Christy Eileen Allen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dave Allen, plans on attending the University of Illinois to study agricultural communications. She then hopes to have a career in advertising or public relations.
Toby Wayne Ball, son of Elizabeth Irene Ball and Robert Douglas Ball Sr., plans on attending Lake Land College to study either agriculture business or radio broadcast. He is currently employed with the Arthur IGA.
Tristan Barrett, son of Chris Stilwell, plans to study paleontology.
Tyler Benedict, son of Jerod Benedict and Christy Benedict, has no immediate plans.
Jonathan Bialeschki, son of Ed and Paula Bialeschki, plans on attending Lake Land College.
Dylan Ray Black, son of Rick and Dee Black, plans to attend South Dakota School of Mines and Technology to obtain a mechanical engineering degree. He also plans to participate in football.
Courtney Bontrager, daughter of LaMar and Barbara Bontrager, plans on earning a full time job once out of high school while also beginning to practice photography. She also wishes to start her own charity to put together gifts for children in the hospital with cancer.
J. Tanner Brewer, son of Tod Brewer and Krystal Lester, plans to attend the University of Illinois through the Pathways Program at Parkland College to major in sport management.
Mary Ann Budnick, daughter of the late Paul Richard Budnick and grand-daughter of Valerie Turnbow and Walter Turnbow plans to start work at a facility that deals with long-term health care including the Arthur Home and the Moultrie County Beacon. Read More
Submitted
Sullivan Softball All-Conference and Team Awards
Pictured are the members of the Sullivan high school softball team that received all-Central Illinois Conference recognition and/or team awards. From left to right: Bailee Pratt, all-CIC honorable mention; Heidi Clements, second-team all-CIC, MVP and Co-defensive player of the year; and Elissa Stewart, second-team all-CIC, offensive player of the year. Pictured, below, is Allison Miller, most improved. Not pictured are Makenzie Ruppert, all-CIC honorable mention and co-defensive player of the year; and Ciara Anderson, hustle award.
Dorothy Ashinhurst
Funeral services for Dorothy Edith Ashinhurst, 86, of Shelbyville were held at 10 a.m. Saturday in Howe and Yockey Funeral Home in Shelbyville. Burial was in Graceland Cemetery in Decatur.
Photo by Keith Stewart
Okaw Valley senior Devon Still hoists the team’s super-sectional plaque into the air for the home crowd to see Tuesday night in Champaign after he and the Timberwolves defeated Princeville 6-5.
Still going, OV baseball wins super-sectional Tuesday 6-5 to advance to state
June 3, 2015
By Matt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter
Lefty Devon Still had a game to remember Tuesday night in Champaign, pitching all seven innings to tally 14 punch-outs and earning his 11th victory on the season. Still also drove home the game winning run in walk-off fashion sending Okaw Valley to the team’s first final four state qualifier.
“Now having kids will be the second happiest day of my life,” said Still. “I can’t believe it. It’s something I dreamed of as a kid, but I never really pictured me in that position, but now we’re here.”
Leading by one run, 5-4, heading in to the top of the seventh inning Okaw Valley was three outs from advancing, but Princeville had other ideas.
The Princes got the lead-off runner on due to a throwing error and brought him around to score on a swinging bunt with two outs to tie the game and put the pressure back on Okaw Valley.
“It was more motivating actually,” said Peyton Hagerman. “There were a few people with their heads down. Fritz and I were ripping their heads back up. Garrett walked up to me and said, ‘You’re getting on, and I’m hitting you in.’ And I said, ‘Deal.’ Then I got on, Taylor got on, Garrett got on, and then Devon, he had himself a day.” Read More