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ALAH School Board Approves $0.25 Increase to School Lunches

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•July 5, 2023•
by Ariana R. Cherry

After several years of not adjusting lunch prices, the ALAH School Board approved a $0.25 increase at their school board meeting held Wednesday, June 21. The school district is currently looking at a loss of $17,000 due to unpaid lunch bills, increases in food and operating expenses. With the new increase, the cost of elementary student lunches will be $3.15, and the cost for junior high and high school will be $3.25. There also is a $0.10 raise for the cost of breakfast. Superintendent Shannon Cheek stated that for the district to break even, they should be charging about $3.80, but with the $0.25 increase, it should at least get the district moving in the right direction.
Along with approving an increase to school lunches, the board also approved the final year for its Aramark food contract. The district has been in contract with them for five years. Next year, there is a plan to take bids to see what other companies are available. The cost to this year’s Aramark contract was raised 11% due to inflation.
Other items discussed/voted on include: Read More

The Buzz About Honeybees

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photo by Crystal Reed
The Buzz About Honeybees
Marrowbone Public Library Co-Director Lisa Spracklen presented “The Buzz About Honey Bees” on Thursday, June 29 as part of the library’s summer reading program. Attendees learned about the equipment and tools used by bee keepers and other facts about bee keeping.

Monthly Quarter Madness

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•July 5, 2023•

Moultrie County Monthly Quarter Madness will hold their July Quarter Auction on Wednesday, July 12. The event will be held at the Sullivan American Legion. Sullivan Boy Scout Troop 39, the charity of the month, is an organization that provides youth with leadership skills using core values and character development. They are also faith based and allow each scout to follow their own religious path. Funds raised would be used to purchase camping supplies such as food items because scouts love to eat. Or may also be applied to rank and merit badge patches. At the July Quarter Madness, vendors could include: direct sales such as Avon, Scentsy, JBloom Jewelry, PaperPie, Tastefully Simple, Plunder Jewelry, Pampered Chef, PLUS different craft vendors, hair bows and other accessories, laser engraved designs, and more. Come shop the vendors and stay for the Quarter Auction. Bring your quarters for charity items and extra bidding. All-In-Paddle will be $20. Doors open at 6:00 and the Quarter Auction begins at 6:30. All ages are welcome to attend. Food will be available for purchase through Highway Heartburn Food Truck in the Legion Parking Lot. Drink purchases can be made through the Legion. For more information visit “Mo Co Monthly Quarter Madness” Facebook page.

Obituaries 7-5-2023: Raymond Bunfill

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Raymond Bunfill

Raymond Lozelle Bunfill went home to be with his Lord and Savior June 25, 2023 at 7:10 a.m. at Carriage Crossing Senior Living in Arcola, Ill. under Transitions Hospice Care.
Raymond Lozelle Bunfill was born near Cooperstown in Brown County, Ill.. February 3, 1926 to Thomas Raymond {Ray} and Ethel Mae Herren Bunfill. He attended the Cooperstown, Perry and Hill grade schools in Brown County and the Hersman and Brown County Community High School and graduated in 1943. Read More

Vacation Bible School

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•July 5, 2023•

Smyser Christian Church will be hosting “Backstage with the Bible” VBS July 17-21 from 6-8 p.m. each night. VBS is for children entering preschool-5th grade. The closing program will take place on Friday July 21st from 6-8 p.m.. All families of VBS students are invited to attend the closing program. For more information and to register please visit smysercc.com/kids

Sullivan Students Attend National Vision Conference

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Photo furnished
Sullivan Students Attend National Vision Conference
The 2023 National Vision Conference for Student Council took place in Collinsville, IL June 26 thru 28 and the Sullivan High School Student Council sent three students and their advisor, Marsha Kirby. Senior Daniel Downs and Junior Addison Brush both serve on the Illinois Association of Student Councils executive board as public relations director and convention secretary respectively and Junior Katilyn Kirby is the President of the Eastern Illinois District Association of Student Councils. The Sullivan High School Student Council will be the official host of the 2024 Illinois Association of Student Councils conference which will be held in Springfield.

Food Drive for Local Veterans Being Held

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•July 5, 2023•
The East Central Illinois Red Cross Club, in conjunction with the South-Central Illinois Region of the American Red Cross, is gathering items needed by local veterans.
Their food drive will run from July 3 through July 10 and items may be dropped off at Kirby Foods in Sullivan and at The Houser Agency - Country Financial at 1102 W. Jackson Street in Sullivan. Read More

The Ins and Outs of Unnecessary Words

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•July 5, 2023•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer

Last week we looked at how jargon can create roadblocks in our writing, how it can turn off or confuse readers.
This week, it’s all about ridding our writing of unnecessary words.
Again, this comes in the form of a letter to the staff I’m sharing with you.
As with jargon, unnecessary words make reading a slog. And we know online readers, at least, appreciate it when we get to the point. It’s demoralizing to learn how short readers’ attention spans are. In some cases, the average digital reader moves on before the point of the story is expressed. Read More