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IDPH Endorses CDC Recommendation for COVID-19 Shots

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•September 20, 2023•

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has endorsed the recommendation by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for the newly FDA-approved COVID-19 shots for everyone over the age of 6 months. The federal agencies have given the green light for updated mRNA vaccines developed by Moderna and Pfizer that target the currently circulating strains of the COVID-19 virus.

Heading into the fall, IDPH is closely monitoring data on COVID-19 as well as other respiratory viruses including flu and RSV. The federal guidance comes as data indicates an uptick in COVID-19 hospitalizations in Illinois and the nation, with a seven percent increase statewide in the week ending September 2, the most recent period for which data is available. There are currently 12 Illinois counties at a medium level for COVID-19 hospitalizations according to the CDC national dashboard, meaning they exceed ten new cases per 100,000 population in the last week. Read More

OV Schools Put on Lockdown Sept. 15

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•September 20, 2023•

Okaw Valley schools were placed on lockdown the morning of Friday, September 15, due to a potential threat made toward OVHS. The Bethany Police Department was contacted by Okaw Valley High School at 9 a.m. that day in reference to the potential threat which specifically mentioned OVHS, Homecoming and Friday’s date. The threat was first reported by a student in Pennsylvania to their local police department who in turn contacted the schools. Read More

‘Unless’ or ‘Until’: It’s a Matter of Fairness

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•September 20, 2023•

By Jim Baumann

NP Guest Writer

There are those who say “mother-in-laws” and “attorney generals” and those of us who know the “in law” and “general” are modifiers.

You wouldn’t pluralize a modifier, would you? So it should be mothers-in-law and attorneys general.

Reader Bob Anderson pointed out to me the term “femme fatales” in a recent obituary. My first thought: That must have been a spicier-than-usual obit.

Bob’s point, however, is the plural should have been ”femmes fatale,” because “femme” is the noun modified by the adjective “fatale.” Think “Your mothers-in-law are femmes fatale.”

Man, I should be writing romance novels. Read More

Remember When? 9-20-2023

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25 Years Ago This Week

The Sun Porch had a new owner and a grand opening celebration planned to coincide with Sullivan’s Homecoming. The business was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Elder of Kansas City,Mo. The Elders continued to offer tanning packages but also added handcrafted gifts, homemade sweet treats and other items to their offerings.  Read More

Sullivan Elementary School New Addition Includes 16 Additional Rooms

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•September 20, 2023•

by Crystal Reed

Sullivan Elementary School hosted a grandparents’ event, book sale and open house to showcase the new addition to the community Thursday, September 14, . According to Sullivan Elementary School Principal Leslie Guyot, until the new high school is built, the school will be housing students from Pre-K to sixth grade. When the new high school is completed, the sixth-grade students will be moved to the middle school, and the elementary school will permanently become PreK through fifth grade. Read More

County Board Hears how Local Fire Departments Utilized ARPA Funds

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•September 20, 2023•

by Crystal Reed

The Moultrie County Board held a regular meeting on Thursday, September 14. Board member Scott Buxton attended the meeting via phone. During the guest speaker portion of the meeting, the board was able to hear from representatives of Sullivan Fire, Lovington Fire and Bethany Fire Departments and Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity in regards to how the organizations utilized their ARPA funds. 

Sullivan Assistant Fire Chief Chris Wright reported they received a ARPA grant in 2022. He noted they were operating a 2008 Ford ambulance that was experiencing many mechanical problems to the point where it would not run. They had another ambulance that was out of commission due to striking a deer. 

The department made a request for $245,000 to purchase a new ambulance to replace the 2008 one. Several options were explored including mounting the box on a new chassis. They found a demo ambulance at a reduced cost of $208,000.  Read More

Hometown LOVE Reveals Latest Project to the Lovington Community

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photo by Crystal Reed
From left to right: Dennis Garmon (mayor) Tracy Garmon, Westin Perrero (artist) and Hometown Love board members Stephanie Leinard, Jamie Franklin, Kelly Cree, and Pamela Anklam.

•September 20, 2023•

by Crystal Reed

Hometown LOVE revealed their latest project to the Lovington community on Saturday, September 16. Over the past couple of years they have helped multiple families with their yards, partnered with the food pantry and brought a blessing box to the town. The group put in hours to add the planter box to the Lovington Fire Department property. 

Going into 2023 Hometown LOVE knew that they wanted to do a big project that would benefit the whole town and beautify it. They asked Gary Smith if they could use his building to help do that.  Read More

Phipps Graduates

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•September 20, 2023•

Missouri State University awarded 550 degrees to students during summer 2023. Mason Phipps of Mattoon graduated with a Bachelor of Science, Information Technology. Students who graduated with honors completed at least 30 credit hours with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5.

Property Tax Informational Meetings

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•September 20, 2023•

Have you ever wondered what does the county collector do, who/what are levying bodies, how can you lower your property taxes or what an assessment notice is? These questions and others will answered during property tax informational meeting in October at various locations around the county. Meetings will take place on Tuesday, October 17 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm at Bethany Firehouse, 530 E. Main Street; Thursday, October 19 9:00 to 10:30 am at the Sullivan Senior Center, 114 E. Jefferson; Saturday, October 21 from 9:00 to 11:00 am at the Sullivan American Legion, 8 E. Strain; Tuesday, October 24 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm at Arthur Firehouse, 323 W. Columbia; Thursday, October 26 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm at Gays Village Hall, 815 Front Street and Monday, October 30 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm at Lovington Life Center, 232 W. State Street. The meetings are brought to you by Moultrie County Supervisor of Assessments Lori Barringer, Moultrie County Clerk and Recorder Linda Qualls and Moultrie County Treasurer and Collector Stephanie Helmuth.

Lynch Named National Merit Semifinalist

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•September 20, 2023•

Cian Lynch of Sullivan, a homeschooled senior, has been named a National Merit semifinalist. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced the names of more than 16,000 semifinalists in the 69th annual National Merit Scholarship Program last week. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,140 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition. About 95 percent of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and approximately half of the finalist will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.