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ALAH School District Awarded Grant

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•March 23, 2022•
by Ariana Cherry
NP Writer

During the ALAH School District’s board meeting at Lovington Grade School held Wednesday, March 16,
board members browsed through the consent agenda, approving the bills and treasurer’s report. The total of all funds was $4,443,749.26, and the checkbook balance was reported at $4,076,145.74. Also approved was submitting the proposition of issuing school building bonds in the amount of $30,600,000 to the voters of the district at the June 28, 2022 general primary election. This is money that will go toward the improvement of the school buildings in the district. The recommendation for phase one was passed at a recent special school board meeting. Superintendent Shannon Cheek commented that he was hopeful and excited to move forward. Read More

Moultrie Moment of the Week

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Pictured above is J.W. Poland meat market circa 1908. He had several different locations during the early years but this might have been when he was located on the east side of the square in Sullivan. Please submit photos to the News Progress for future consideration. Originals will be saved for return or forwarded to Moultrie County Historical Society. If you have any other information, please contact the Moultrie County Historical Society at 217-728- 4085.

Happy Hacks for More Positivity

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•March 23, 2022•

Our lives are bombarded with negativity, stress and countless threats to our emotional well-being, work and closest relationships. New research in neuroscience and positive psychology shows that when we experience happiness and positivity, it turns on all the learning centers in the brain and fuels positive outcomes in all aspects of our lives. Read More

What’s so Scary about Portmanteaus?

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•March 23, 2022•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer

Did you know that 11% of people in America are terrified of animals, including cats?
So claims the news release I just read promoting a book on phobias.
I haven’t independently verified this as fact, but if you were to visit my home at about 10 every night you’d witness the 15-minute window during which I’m terrified of my own cats, because that’s when they get the rip-roarin’ Zoomies.
But that’s not why I’m writing about this.
The copy writer says the book includes our fears “from agoraphobia to arachnophobia.”
That, my friends, is a false range. Read More

Remember When? 3-23-2022

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25 Years Ago This Week

Allenville and East Nelson Township voters would decide whether to be included in the Sullivan Fire Protection District.
Curtis Barker and Jake Hughes, members of the Sullivan FFA chapter, were named as recipients of FFA district awards. Barker was an award winner in small animal care and Hughes was a winner in emerging agricultural technologies. Read More

SHS Student International Finalist in Holocaust Art and Writing Contest

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Photo furnished
Natalee Hunter, Lee Hunter and Becky Lawson at Chapman University after the awards ceremony for the Holocaust Art and Writing Contest sponsored by Chapman University and The 1939 Society. These ladies traveled to Los Angeles for an awards ceremony recently. Natalee was an international finalist in the contest for her short film Brushstrokes of Resilience.

•March 23, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Sullivan High School junior Natalee Hunter, her mother Lee Hunter and retired teacher Becky Lawson recently traveled to Los Angeles for an awards ceremony at which Natalee accepted an award for being an international finalist in the Holocaust Art and Writing Contest sponsored by Chapman University and The 1939 Society. She was recognized for a three-minute video called Brushstrokes of Resilience, about a Holocaust survivor.
That survivor is Sally Roisman, who, at the age of 12, was taken to the ghetto, then a labor camp and then Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. Some of the footage in the video is from the USC Shoah Foundation. With the support of her family and the help of Lawson and some of her classmates, she was able to make the video that she submitted for the contest. Read More

Structure fire in Bethany

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Photo sent in by Cortney Sands
Structure fire in Bethany
The Bethany Fire Department received a call for a structure fire at 5:21 pm on Monday, March 21. According to Bethany Fire Chief Mike Jennings, they arrived on scene in six minutes. A second alarm was activated after six departments were worn down due to short staffing. There were some small injuries sustained during the response and one firefighter sustained a head injury. That firefighter was transported to the hospital and has since been released. Departments who responded to the fire were Bethany, Sullivan, Mt. Zion, Lovington, Findlay, Dora, South Macon, Moweaqua and Arthur. Jennings requests that when members of the public are near a fire scene that they do not drive over fire hoses. The investigation of the fire has been turned over to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

Prairie View Baptist Church Celebrates 75 years

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Prairie View Baptist Church pastor Mike Jones (at pulpit) honors Patty Bailey, Duane Gregory and Tom and Sandy Williams during the church service on Sunday, March 20. The service was part of the celebration of the church’s 75th anniversary.

•March 23, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

On Sunday, March 20 Prairie View Baptist Church in Lake City celebrated their 75th anniversary. During their church service they had testimonies by former pastors, former pastor’s wives, church members and those who had grown up in the church. They started as Lake City Bible Church 75 years ago in the little white church on their property.
In 1974, the church built the new building that they are currently using. The name was voted to change to Prairie View Baptist Church. According to Pastor Mike Jones, the church has a thriving ministry to the kids of their community on Wednesday evenings, where they take a bus out and pick them up. Read More

Fish Fry

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•March 23, 2022•

The Lovington American Legion will be having a Fish Fry on Saturday, March 26 starting at 4 p.m. Meal will include 3 filets, fries, beans, slaw, hushpuppies and a dessert for $10.00. The public is invited to this Legion fundraiser.

Blood Drive at SHS

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•March 23, 2022•

The Sullivan High School Student Council will be hosting a blood drive on Tuesday, April 5 from 9:30 am- 2:30 pm in the high school gymnasium. For more information contact Marsha Kirby at kirbym@sullivan.k12.il.us, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS.