Kathleen Camp
Kathleen (Kathy) Camp, 73, passed peacefully at home on Sunday, May 21, 2023.
Private family services honoring her life are planned, and Reed Funeral Home in Sullivan is assisting the family. Read More
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Obituaries 5-24-2023: Larry Barker
Larry Barker
Larry Joe Barker 77 of Bethany, passed away Thursday, May 11, 2023 , at Sullivan Healthcare, in Sullivan, surrounded by family. Larry was born November 14, 1945 in Strasburg to Burl Curtis Barker and Margaret Elizabeth (Volkman) Barker. Larry married his former wife, Wanda Sue Webb, June 14, 1968 in Sullivan. They were married nearly 48 years, but Larry loved her faithfully until the very end. Read More
City Council Discusses Ordinance Regarding Living Spaces on the Square
•May 24, 2023•
by Crystal Reed
The Sullivan City Council discussed the ordinance regarding living spaces on the square during their meeting Monday night. Commissioner Chuck Woodworth was absent.
Changes have been made to the ordinance regarding living spaces on the square. Commissioner Abbey Sherwood reported that a public meeting had been held with all parties represented, and they worked to adjust the ordinance to what the majority of the group agreed to send to Planning and Zoning. Under uses permitted, they need to add banks, and there needs to be verbiage controlling the density of the amount of people in each residence.
Sherwood noted that nothing had changed since the approval of planning and zoning, but when changes are made, it will be sent to the various parties before it comes back to the council. According to Planning and Zoning Director Kristi Hart, a letter would be attached, and properties grandfathered in would be recorded in the minutes. Sherwood said it would be possible to amend the ordinance in the future should someone want to be grandfathered. Read More
Letter to the Editor 5-24-2023
•May 24, 2023•
Has Sullivan youth sports dropped the ball for our kids?
Dear Editor,
Summer is a time for the great American game of baseball and for years our Sullivan ball diamonds have been open to all of our youth, giving them the opportunity to play recreational (rec) baseball or softball. For the last 8 years, I have had the privilege of coaching many of these kids. I care passionately about sports, particularly youth sports and the opportunities it provides for our children to develop both physical and social skills.
Last year we had 26 girls sign up for middle school softball rec league which gave us two teams, one of which I coached. This year I received an email stating there would be no girls middle school recreational softball team for Sullivan. Knowing we had so many playing last year, I was shocked to hear this. And as someone who also signed up to coach again this year, I wrote to the Sullivan Youth Sports Board asking why. Here is, in part, the answer I received: Read More
When is a Question Not a Question?
•May 24, 2023•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer
Tod Kruse has a question about questions.
“Today, I decided to ask you about the use of ‘right’ or ‘OK’ at the end of a sentence when the speaker or writer is not asking a question, nor expecting a response. This seems to proliferate in interviews, speeches and general conversations. Help.”
Thanks for your email, Tod. Was there a question? You mentioned you were going to ask me one, but never quite did. What tipped me off was the lack of a question mark.
Assuming you meant to pose one, I’ll do my best to answer.
As the editor of the paper, I might say to a reporter or one of our editors, “Why don’t you write a story about the proliferation of weasels living under people’s decks.” Read More
Remember When? 5-24-2023
25 Years Ago This Week
Susan Foster, an educator in the Lovington Elementary School, was named Rural Teacher of the Year in Telecommunications for her accomplishments as a technology coordinator. The announcement was made by the Fund for Rural Education and Development, a national educational foundation located in Washington.
The Bethany school board voted to eliminate three of the four name which the district had acquired over the year and to refer to all teams, from now on, as the Mustangs. Read More
Sesquicentennial Celebration
•May 24, 2023•
Lovington is going to “Celebrate Good Times” Friday, June 9 and Saturday, June 10. This year marks the 150th year since Lovington was officially incorporated as a village. Several organizations have joined to celebrate the sesquicentennial.
On Friday, June 9, the LHS Alumni Association will hold its annual homecoming banquet starting at 4:30 p.m. at the Church of God Family Life Center. The alumni will honor new Hall of Fame members Sally Duncan, David Kidwell, Don Bell, Jeff Davis, Elise Wildman and the 2005 boys basketball team at the banquet.
At 8:00 p.m. the band Identity Crisis will entertain village residents uptown. Food trucks will also be available.
Saturday morning, June 10, starting at 6:30 a.m. the firemen will hold their pancake breakfast at the firehouse.
The Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society will display Lovington memorabilia at the Lovington Library starting at 9:00 a.m.
The sesquicentennial parade featuring the American Legion Honor Guard, the ALAH Marching Knights, pageant queens, antique tractors, floats, fire trucks, etc. will begin at 11:00 a.m., followed by a bags tournament at 1:00 p.m.
The Lovington Community Club will hold its annual fish fry at 4:30 pm in Tom Conn Park. 25/X8 Extreme Sports with inflatables, a bake sale and several vendors will also add to the celebration.
The fireworks display will begin at dusk at the Lovington Grade School.
Village board park and recreation chairman Brittany Bates and her committee have coordinated all of the events with the other organizations.
Moultrie County Child Care Efforts Continue
Photo furnished
The first round of Moultrie County Childcare grant funding is being distributed to current eligible providers in Moultrie County. Rita Florey (right) presents a check to Linda Featherling, a childcare provider in Sullivan (left).
•May 24, 2023•
Submitted by Rita Florey
A community group spearheaded by the Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development organization to explore new ways to support and grow child care options in Moultrie County, Illinois, is continuing efforts forward to support child care in the local community.
The group formally kicked off its initial efforts in January of this year, contracting with Business of Child Care, which helps communities nationwide identify child care needs and develop plans to address them. Through those efforts, Moultrie County Kids set a goal of creating 100 new child care spaces, as well as supporting and retaining 205 existing spaces already in the county. Read More
Windsor High School Graduating Class of 2023
Photo submitted by Lesley Baker
Windsor High School Graduating Class of 2023
Windsor High School held their graduation for the Class of 2023 on Sunday, May 21. This year’s valedictorian was Kiersten Wheeler and salutatorian was Dylan Curry. During the ceremony the Myrtle Jones Scholarship and Sharon Keck Scholarship were presented. Myrtle Jones Scholarship Recipients were Karlie Bean, Kaylynn Carey, Ella Gilbert, Cameron Hughes, Graham Kasey, Madison Pfeiffer, Jessica Rauch, Rhett Rincker, Donta Virgil and Kiersten Wheeler. The Sharon Keck scholarship was presented to Gracie Brownlee.
Front Row (left to right): Donta Virgil, Kaylynn Carey, Caleb Dison, Nate Ashe, Reese Bennett. Middle Row (left to right): Abby Carey, Jennifer Armer, Andrew Mason, Daylen Kircher, Gracie Brownlee, Kiersten Wheeler. Back Row (left to right): Dylan Curry, Rhett Rincker, Joe Dispennett, Alex Kidwell, Robbie McDaniel.
Sullivan High School Sends Off Class of 2023
Photo by Crystal Reed
Co-valedictorians of the Sullivan Class of 2023 were Paul Bates (left) and Cassidy Short (right). They spoke on how the class can live their lives for others.
•May 24, 2023•
by Crystal Reed
The 78 members of Sullivan High School Class of 2023 were sent off into the world Sunday, May 21, with a ceremony on the football field. After the staff, administration, teachers and graduates had entered, the high school band played the “Star Spangled Banner” as the flag was raised.
The senior class president Sydni Waidelich gave a welcome address in which she focused on opportunities. Waidelich was adopted from Guatamala at nine months old and moved to Sullivan in January, 2021.
“The past four years have been filled with opportunities that we have all been blessed to have,” Waidelich said. She thanked many people at the school for giving the class various opportunities. Waidelich recognized her class and said they have become such a huge part of her life. Read More