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Two Story Outhouse Festival In Gays 2023

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Two Story Outhouse Festival In Gays
The Two Story Outhouse Festival was held in Gays on Saturday, August 12. A pageant was added to this year’s event which had three participants that received crowns and sashes. The opening ceremony included the cutting of the TP by a couple that have been residents of Gays for many years. This year’s Kidz Korner included inflatables, pony rides, games and face painting. Food and craft vendors lined the road offering a variety of foods and craft vendors offered items for sale such as t-shirts, tumblers, wreaths, jewelry and other items. Live entertainment that day was provided by the band Katzmandu and The Kate Brothers. This year’s festival was in memory of Tammy Howard. This year Brayden Armstrong, 12, also published a single page newspaper called the Poop Scoop specifically for the Two Story Outhouse Festival. He wrote the newspaper to give visitors to the festival updates and information about the event.

Partners in Produce Seeking Donations to Provide Fresh Produce

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•August 16, 2023•

by Crystal Reed

Partners In Produce, a partnership between Arthur Produce Auction Inc. and the Illinois Extension is seeking financial assistance to continue to provide fresh produce to food pantries in the Extension Unit 19 Area. The Extension Unit 19 Area serves Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Moultrie, Shelby counties and beyond. The partnership started in 2019, and on auction days throughout the season, Mary Beth Massey, Susan Stollard and others attended the produce auction to receive donations of fresh produce.

According to Massey, from May-October she visits the produce auction where Amish farmers grow vegetables and bring it on Tuesdays and Fridays where people come and buy for farmers markets, grocery stores and other purposes. So far this year 57,432 pounds of produce have been purchased and distributed through the program. Produce is delivered to food pantries, Eastern Illinois Food Bank and Catholic Charities. Read More

County Board Sets Pay for Election Judges, Hears from Liberty Systems Representative

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•August 16, 2023•

by Crystal Reed

The Moultrie County Board held a regular meeting Thursday, August 10. All board members except for Marsha Kirby were present. 

Alex Hansen of Liberty Systems, the supplier of the county’s voting equipment provider for the last 17 years, came to answer questions that county board member Scott Buxton had asked at last month’s meeting. The system they use is manufactured and developed in California. She said they are required to support voting systems for 10 years after purchase.

Hansen said the county’s current tabulators are in good condition, and they have not had any issues with them. The tabulators are stored in Moultrie County, and any work the company does on them to get ready for the election is done in county as well as maintenance, testing and audits. Read More

City Council Approves Ordinance Regarding Downtown Business District

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•August 16, 2023•

by Crystal Reed

The Sullivan City Council met Monday, August 14. Prior to the meeting there were two public hearings regarding applying for Illinois Safe Routes to School Grant Program and the OSLAD grant which would have granted fund improvements to Wyman Park.

The council approved an ordinance regarding the downtown business district and residences in that district. Commissioner Chuck Woodworth abstained. Commissioner Abbey Sherwood said the ordinance was presented to the council last September, and they took it back and broke it down so that various parties were represented. A few changes made include banks and bed and breakfasts because previously they had been denied. “One thing this does do is restrict residential living on the first floor of any buildings that are not grandfathered in,” Sherwood said. “It restricts it, but people can come to the council for a special use permit.” Read More

Blue Dolphins Bring Home First

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•July 12, 2023•
by Jaime Perrott

The Sullivan Blue Dolphins traveled to Terre Haute, Indiana to compete at the THT Summer Steam Meet. They finished out the weekend with a whopping 1386 points bringing home 1st Place overall out of six teams. Awesome swimming SBD!
The following swimmers also earned high point awards: Read More

Illinois Master Naturalist Program Accepting Applications for August Training

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•July 12, 2023•
University of Illinois Extension, serving Coles-Cumberland-Douglas-Moultrie-Shelby Counties will be offering Illinois Master Naturalist training from August 8-October 10 with the majority of classes every Tuesday from 5:30 PM-8:30 PM held at Douglas-Hart Nature Center in Mattoon. There will also be classes onsite at Warbler Ridge Woods and Shelbyville Visitor’s Center.
The mission of the University of Illinois Extension Master Naturalist Program is to provide science-based educational opportunities that connect people with nature and help them become engaged environmental stewards. “The Master Naturalist training is a great way to learn more about our local natural areas, get together with people who are interested in helping our environment, and make some great connections”, says Extension Program Coordinator Jenny Lee. Read More

Summer Reading Carnival

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photo by Crystal Reed
Summer Reading Carnival
Marrowbone Public Library held a summer reading carnival for children who had read 30 books during the library’s summer reading program on Saturday, July 8.

Lake Land College Economics Instructor Receives Award for Innovative Teaching

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photo furnished
Lake Land College Economics Instructor Brian Lynch, Sullivan, received the 2023 ICCFA Dr. Joseph Cipfl Faculty Research/Workshop Grant. Pictured is Lynch.

•July 12, 2023•
For the last 24 years, Lake Land College Economics Instructor Brian Lynch has sought to improve his students’ learning with the help of innovative teaching strategies. For instance, he has found that karaoke, ice cream and paper airplanes are excellent tools to help students grasp complex concepts such as supply, pricing and modeling. Recently, the Illinois Community College Faculty Association (ICCFA) recognized Lynch’s inventive efforts by awarding him the 2023 Dr. Joseph Cipfl Faculty Research/Workshop Grant. Read More

Obituaries 7-13-2023: Jaretta Nichols

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Jaretta Nichols

My dear mother Jaretta Margaret Nichols passed away Saturday July 8, 2023, at the age of 89. She was a wonderful mother who was always there when we needed her. She also had many friends and was a well-loved member of the community in Bethany. She also loved her flower gardens, fishing and camping with Dad. She will be deeply missed. Read More