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Tough Competition Gives Valuable Learning Lessons for Redskins Volleyball

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•September 27, 2023•

by E. Scott England

It was a busy week last week in volleyball for the Sullivan Redskins. The first five teams the Redskins faced had a combined record of 64-24.

The week started Monday on the road in Monticello. The Redskins split the first two sets with the Sages (25-21, 14-25) forcing a third set which Monticello won 10-25. The team had a total of 24 kills on the evening with senior Paige Connor leading the team with five. Juniors Emily Miller and Mayci Strauf each had four. Offensively, the Redskins had four aces. Sophomore Aeralyn Thrasher had a team high of 2 with Miller and junior Isabella Stone each picking up one apiece. Read More

Redskins XC Compete in Road Meet at Spartan Classic

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•September 27, 2023•

by E. Scott England

The Sullivan Redskins XC teams took to the streets of St. Joseph, Illinois to compete in the St. Joseph-Ogden Spartan Classic last Saturday. Twenty-eight teams brought a total of 313 runners for the traditionally fast road course. It looked like a repeat for team results as the Tolono (Unity) girls once again took first in the meet while Tuscola again secured the win for the boys. Read More

Obituaries 9-27-2023: Steven Wood

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Steven Wood

Steven K. Wood, 83, of Sullivan, passed away September 22, 2023.

Visitation will be held Saturday October 7, 10 a.m. -1 p.m. at Reed Funeral Home in Sullivan. Military Honors will be conducted by Sullivan American Legion Post #68 at 9:30 a.m., Saturday at Reed Funeral Home. Read More

Storyteller Visits Arthur Library

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photo by Crystal Reed
Storyteller Visits Arthur Library
Storyteller Kathleen Brinkman of Champaign visited Arthur Library on Saturday, September 23. She has been telling multicultural stories for 20 years. Prior to retirement, Brinkman worked at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana as the Director of Career Services for the biotechnology center. She likes to incorporate interesting stories for children into her programs while mixing in jokes that adults would like as well. Brinkman said that she has always told stories and that she is part of a storytelling guild. She noted that being a member of a storytelling guild has helped nurture her storytelling skills. Brinkman is pictured using a limber jack to tell one of the stories during the program.

Council Awards Bids

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•September 27, 2023•

by Crystal Reed

The Sullivan City Council awarded the bid for the Wyman Park Splash Pad and Sports Courts during Monday night’s regular meeting. The bid was awarded to Building Systems for $479,407. Commissioner Abbey Sherwood said that the total project cost is $763,612.00 and half of that is coming from a matching grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. They received $20,668.85 in donations from Becky Ogle and the SPARK initiative. 

In public comment, Nancy Barker addressed Commissioner Doug Shook, who was attending the meeting via phone, in regards to his mileage report that he submitted to the city. She noted that the report was very thorough but she would like to know the places he has traveled in the city for that type of mileage. Barker noted that on the Fourth of July he recorded 15 miles. 

Shook said that he drove around prior to the parade to check on projects. She said there was another for 21 miles and said that she would like to know where he went in the city. Shook said he was looking at projects to advise his crew and the council.  Read More

Let’s Eat Some Crow

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•September 27, 2023•

By Jim Baumann

NP Guest Writer

When in doubt about the origin of an idiom, there are places to go, notably etymonline.com and idiomorigins.org.

I sometimes get lost in these websites because I learn so much every time I dip my toe in.

I decided to look up the birth of “eat crow” for reasons I’ll explain in a bit.

Idiomorigins.com calls it the American version of “eating humble pie.” It’s the act of admitting one’s mistake.

How does a mea culpa translate to eating crow? Crows, as you know, eat rotting flesh. Hence, it is believed crows themselves taste terrible. I wouldn’t know; I’ve  eaten it only in an idiomatic sense. But something like that would be a humiliating experience. Read More

Remember When? 9-27-2023

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25 Years Ago This Week

Sullivan City Council members discussed the imminent closure of the indoor pool area at the Sullivan Civic Center which had been plagued by structural problems. The walls and roof of the structure had again been eroded by moisture and chemicals. Structural and mechanical repairs were estimated at close to $1 million. The pool was expected to close in November and remain closed through the winter and beyond. 

“Professional volunteer” Joan Lundy Pound, Sullivan High School class of 1955 received the Who’s Who Award at the Sullivan High School Alumni Association banquet.  Read More

Sullivan-Okaw Valley Football Team Helps With Move

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photo furnished
Pamela Browning had a moving team to help her move out of her three story home in Sullivan on Sunday. She noted that she had nobody to help her initially but that members of the SOV football team volunteered to help her out. Browning said that her group of helpers were an answer to prayers for help.

•September 27, 2023•

by Crystal Reed

Pamela Browning moved out of her house in Sullivan on Sunday, September 24 so that she can live closer to her daughter who lives in Southern Illinois. Something that weighed on her mind though was how was she going to get everything moved out of her three story house all on her own. Browning said that she prayed for someone to help and she not only had help she had a whole team, a football team that is.

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Sullivan Fire Chief Retires After Over 26 Years Of Service

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photo by Crystal Reed
A walk out ceremony was held for Sullivan Fire Chief Larry Edwards on Friday, September 22 at the Sullivan Fire Department. He had over 26 years of service to his community through the Sullivan Fire Department. He is looking forward to spending more time with his wife and family.

•September 27, 2023•

by Crystal Reed

Sullivan Fire Chief Larry Edwards noted in a speech he gave last Friday that it had always been a dream of his to retire on his 50th birthday. Last Friday that dream came true for Edwards as the department held a walk out ceremony for a fire chief who had dedicated more than 26 years of service to the Sullivan community.

Edwards said he is retiring from a career he fell in love with. At the age of 22 or 23 he recalled driving by a wreck and thought that being a firefighter might be something interesting to do. He stopped by the Sullivan Fire Department to get an application. Edwards noted that about a year later he got a call asking whether he was still interested in being a volunteer. He started his career volunteering for the department but was hired on full time on July 18, 1998. Over the years he moved up through the ranks and was promoted to Fire Chief in 2022 after the retirement of Mike Piper. Read More

Sullivan Women’s Civic Club Chili Supper

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•September 27, 2023•

The Sullivan Women’s Civic Club will hold its annual Chili Supper on Friday, October 6 from 4:30 to 7:00 pm at the Sullivan American Legion. Proceeds from the chili supper go to Sullivan High School scholarships. The Civic Club was formed in 1976 by Maxine Davis and Mary Lou Kidwell. The first chili supper was held at the Masonic Temple. With the kitchen being limited, the ladies borrowed trays and pans from Sullivan School cooks, Maxine Barrett and Phyllis Hughes. After a while the event grew and the meal was moved to Sullivan High School and later to the American Legion where it remains. Now the chili and potato soup was always delicious but people came for the homemade pies. In the past, Oleta Lane baked some mouth-watering cream pies, but due to more recent regulations the bakers are only allowed to serve fruit pies. The pies still seem to be a big hit. The Civic Club is still going strong after 47 years. Over those 47 years, the civic club has given more than $65,000 in scholarships. They are always welcoming new members. If you’re interested, they meet the second Monday at the Moultrie County Senior Center. Join them after this year’s Homecoming parade to help them support the graduating class of 2024.