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Sullivan School District Spelling Bee

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Sullivan School District Spelling Bee
The Sullivan School District Spelling Bee was held on Tuesday, January 31 in the Sullivan High School Commons. There were 36 speller from third grade to eighth grade that competed. There are six finalists and two alternates for the next step in the process the Moultrie County Spelling Bee which will be held on Thursday, February 16 at The Little Theatre On The Square. The top six were Caleigh Dyer, eighth grade; Chester Ray, sixth grade; Koda Polley, fifth grade; Scarlett Perrott, fourth grade; Tenley Stollard, sixth grade and Bear Bryant, sixth grade. The two alternates are Mary Crist, eighth grade and Alex Fultz, seventh grade.

Lynch Named to Dean’s List

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•February 8, 2023•

Grace Lynch, of Sullivan, has been named to the dean’s list in the University of Notre Dame’s First Year of Studies for outstanding scholarship during the Fall 2022 semester. Students who achieve dean’s honors at Notre Dame represent the top 30 percent of students in their college.

Recent Obituaries: T. G. Redfern

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T. G. Redfern

T. G. Redfern, 54, of Lovington passed away Sunday, January 29, 2023 in Wisconsin.

Celebration of Life services will be 2:00 p.m. Sunday at the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan with Pastor Mel Workman officiating. Visitation will be from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. Saturday.  Memorials are suggested to the donor’s choice. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.
Mr. Redfern was born June 3, 1968 at Decatur, Illinois, the son of Theron E. and Cheryl Davis Redfern. T. G. farmed with Dawson Farms for 35 years with 25 of those years being the farm manager. He also had done custom baling with his father. T. G. was a member of the Lovington American Legion and the Illinois Farm Bureau. T. G. married Dawn Ferguson on March 21, 2009 at Lovington.
Survivors include his wife Dawn; children McKenzie (Javon) Brown of Lovington and Janette (Collin) Budd of Decatur; mother Cheryl Redfern of Lovington; sisters Trisha (Mark) VonLanken of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma and Kelly Bolt (Fiancé Bob Alexander) of Clinton; numerous nieces and nephews; his tractor and combine buddy Maddox Reedy and his fur baby Mr. Cooper.
He was preceded in death by his father and brother David.

T. G. had a close relationship with all of the Dawson Farms family. For T.G. the summertime was for spending time boating on Lake Shelbyville. In the wintertime was snowmobiling in Wisconsin. T. G. was a natural born leader but especially experienced when it came to planning outings with family and friends. Anyone could always depend on T.G. to help them with anything they would need. He will be missed by everyone who knew him.

ISBE Launches Search for Sponsors and Sites to Serve Nutritious Summer Meals

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•February 1, 2023•
There may still be a lot of winter left but the Illinois State Board of Education is already thinking ahead to the summer break and how children will continue to have access to healthy meals. ISBE is launching the search for new Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) sponsors and sites to help bring free nutritious meals to children across the state.
School districts, community organizations, churches, camps, park districts, and others helped serve more than 3.1 million meals last summer through SFSP, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by ISBE. There were 133 SFSP sponsors and 1,560 meal sites in 53 of the 102 counties in Illinois. Read More

Menu 2-1-2023

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Senior Peace Meal

For additional information or for reservations, please call 1-800-543-1770

Feb. 6 - Sausage Gravy, Paco Vegetables, Hot Fruit Compote, Juice, Biscuit
Feb. 7 - Beef and Noodles, Herbed Peas, Stewed Tomatoes, Fruit
Feb. 8 - Fried Chicken, Hash Brown Casserole, Seasoned Green Beans, Coleslaw, Roll
Feb. 9 - Skillet Rice w/Ground Beef, Lyonnais Carrots, Fruit Dessert, Cornbread
Feb. 10 - Breaded Pangasius Fish, Ranchero Beans, Brussels Sprouts, Romaine Salad, Bun

Dawkins Advances to District Competition

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Dawkins Advances to District Competition
Mae Dawkins, freshman at Sullivan High School and member of the FFA chapter, received 2nd place in creed speaking competition held at Clinton school last week. Dawkins will advance to district competition next.

Lovington Grade School Spelling Bee Finalists

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Lovington Grade School Spelling Bee Finalists
Lovington Grade School held their school spelling bee on Monday, January 23. Six finalists and two alternates were selected to move on to the Moultrie County Spelling Bee on February 16. The top three were first place Macee Boddy, second place John Williams IV and third Alexis Chism. Also qualifying to move on were Landon Willoughby, Makena Liming and Maxton Boddy. Alternates are Leland Willoughby and Ryan Mgawi.

Sullivan Dance Studio’s Competition Team Hosts Preview Showcase

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Sullivan Dance Studio’s Competition Team Hosts Preview Showcase
Sullivan Dance Studio’s 2022-2023 Competition Team hosted their annual Preview Showcase at Sullivan High School on Sunday, January 22. Friends, family and the public were invited to attend to view the team’s 32 different routines. Competition season for the team begins in just a few weeks. This year’s team is made up of 40 dancers age 2-17 from Sullivan and surrounding towns. Members include (in no particular photo order): Adalee Foster, Addi Finn, Addie Patterson, Addisyn Carter, Alayna Young, Aleena Ingram, Alyssa Taylor, Aubrie Payne, Avery Florey, Avery Patterson, Avery Smith, Blair Camp, Brinnley Hobbs, Elizabeth Owens, Emma Hostetler, Fionn Lynch, Gabrielle Carpenter, Gianna Krieger, Hannah Taylor, Kaylee Hostetler, Kinley Short, Knox Weakly, Kylin Wehrle, Lexi Yoder, Lillian Hood, Macie Rodgers, Mara Inman, Mia Lovett, Miah Voegel, Natalia Beals, Pearl Akins, Roxanne Clark, Sarina Voegel, Sophie Elliott, Sophie Foster, Synthea Doss, Tiffany Hostetler, Tinley Krieger, Zoe Lynch and Zola Krieger.

Department on Aging Seeks Nominations for Senior Illinoisan Hall of Fame

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•February 1, 2023•
The Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) is now accepting nominations for the Senior Illinoisan Hall of Fame, open to adults aged 65 and older who excel in the categories of community service, education, performance and/or graphic arts, and the labor force.
“When I think about the people of Illinois, a couple of words come to mind: kindness, generosity, ingenuity, and perseverance. Each year, my administration is proud to honor four older adults who embody these values through service, education, arts, and labor by inducting them into the Senior Illinoisan Hall of Fame,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Whether you know a teacher who goes above and beyond for their students or a community member who you can always find out and about lending a hand to others, we want to hear about the seniors in your life that make Illinois, Illinois.” Read More