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All the world’s a sports analogy, and all the men, women merely players

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•June 29, 2022•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer

What I know about sports you could stick in my eye and I’d still be able to see.
But I can still turn just about anything into an entertaining sports analogy with the best of them. It’s how I’ve survived weekly meetings with sports editors for more than a decade.
I received an email from D.M. Cook, a dentist who wonders whether he is being too picky. Having a dentist ask me whether he’s too picky is like asking Anthony Rizzo whether he’d like me to lob him an 80 mph “fastball” around the knees.
See what I mean? Read More

Remember When? 6-29-2022

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25 Years Ago This Week

The Old School Market received a low-interest loan to develop a restaurant. The $250,000 loan, at 4 percent interest, covered almost half of the $580,000 estimated cost of the project. Market owner Larry Yoder planned a 140-seat restaurant with private banquet facilities in the gym area of the old Powers Elementary School, which at that time housed Yoder’s extensive set of antique and craft shops. Read More

Diamond Rio Heads the Entertainment at the 91st Moultrie-Douglas County Fair

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•June 29, 2022•
by Doris Elmore
Guest Writer

Ninety-one incredible years of fun awaits you at the Moultrie-Douglas County Fair July 5-9 at the fairgrounds in Arthur. It is earlier this year, and follows on the tail of July 4 celebrations, but it just means the festivities just keep on coming.
With much excitement, the Moultrie-Douglas Fair Board is proud to welcome Diamond Rio in concert on Saturday, July 9. They will be on stage at 8:30 p.m. We have known of Diamond Rio for many years, and now we will see them in person, gracing our very own stage. Diamond Rio is an American country music band. They were founded in 1982 as an attraction for the Opryland USA theme park in Nashville, TN, and were originally known as the Grizzly River Boys, then the Tennessee River Boys. Read More

Moultrie Amateur Radio Klub Hosts Field Day in Sullivan

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Moultrie Amateur Radio Klub President Mike Morris with a ham radio made in Ukraine.

•June 29, 2022•
by Ellen Ferrera
NP Writer

On Saturday, June 25 a group of ham radio operators from central Illinois gathered at the Boy Scout cabin in Wyman Park to celebrate their annual Field Day.
Since 1933, Field Day has been celebrated by amateur radio operators and clubs in the U.S. and throughout the world. The primary purpose of the Field Day is to practice and demonstrate emergency procedures; although, each club may determine their own activities.
So how did this very popular hobby of being a ham radio operator begin? In 1888 Heinrich Rudof proved that radio waves existed, and they were adapted into a communication system in the 1890s by the Italian inventor Gugliuelmo Marconi. People then began experimenting with this “wireless telegraphy” – the term “radio” was not yet in use- and it soon expanded worldwide.
By 1908 the students at Columbia University formed the Wireless Telegraph Club of Columbia University which is the earliest recorded formation of an amateur radio club. By 1910 there were thousands of transmitters set up in the U.S. The Radio Act of 1912 began U.S. federal licensing of amateur operators and stations. All amateur radio operators in the U.S. must be licensed by the FCC and pass a 3-tier test. Read More

Kevin Landrus Receives Award

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Photo courtesy of ROE #11
Kevin Landrus, Director of Transportation and Maintenance for Sullivan Schools, recently received the Friend of Education Award from the Regional Office of Education #11. From left to right: Zakry Standerfer, Assistant Regional Superintendent: Kevin Landrus, Director of Transportation and Maintenance for Sullivan Schools; Katie O’Dell, Professional Development Coordinator and Transportation Director; and Regional Superintendent Kyle Thompson.

•June 29, 2022•
Kevin Landrus, Director of Transportation and Maintenance for Sullivan Schools, recently received the Friend of Education Award from the Regional Office of Education #11.
Regional Superintendent Kyle Thompson said, “Our Friends of Education Award recognizes individuals who make larger contributions to education, specifically to our region as a whole, and not just an individual school district.”
“Kevin is a great man. In all my years of working with him he has proven himself to be a caring, competent, reliable, individual who serves Sullivan Schools and ROE #11 well. I have no doubt anyone who has encountered Kevin personally or professionally is better off for it,” Thompson added.
The ROE’s formal announcement of the honor noted, “In addition to his responsibilities for the school district, he has served as a certified school bus instructor for ROE #11 for the past four years and has trained many of the bus drivers in our region. Kevin is a compassionate and dedicated individual who serves as a mentor for many new transportation directors. His hard work and willingness to go the extra mile to ensure safety for students sets him apart.”
Katie O’Dell, Professional Development Coordinator and Transportation Director for ROE #11, who nominated Landrus stated, “Kevin goes above and beyond to assist other transportation directors in our region. His experience, knowledge and willingness to go above and beyond in his position made me certain he was worthy of this award.” Read More

2022 Junior Miss Moultrie-Douglas Fair Queen Contestants

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Photo furnished
2022 Junior Miss Moultrie-Douglas Fair Queen Contestants
Competing for the title of 2022 Junior Miss Moultrie-Douglas on Wednesday, July 6 beginning at 7:00 pm are (front row) Alyssa Adkins, Villa Grove; Emmalee Nall, Arthur; Wren Wall, Sullivan; and Kimberly Krutsinger, Arthur. (Middle row) Paislee Lorenzen, Paris; Ava Whitson, Tuscola; Shelbey Grimsley, Arthur; and Aymara Leal, Arcola. (Back row) Bekka Bloom, Villa Grove; 2021 Junior Miss Moultrie-Douglas Molly Appleby, Atwood; Jorga Ledbeter, Arthur; and Lily-Lynn Davis, Villa Grove.

2022 Little Miss Moultrie-Douglas County Fair Queen Contestants

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2022 Little Miss Moultrie-Douglas County Fair Queen Contestants
Front row Zamara Leal, Arcola; Maelee Stirrett, Atwood; Logan McCumber, Villa Grove; Charlotte Duzan, Sullivan; Paisley Yoder, Arthur; Charlee Lenz, Gays; Emery Hill, Sullivan; and Brynley Liles-French, Bethany. Middle row Rylan Lake, Villa Grove; Isla Harriss, Tuscola; Whitley Fryman, Sullivan; 2021 Little Miss Moultrie-Douglas Quinn Chapman, Villa Grove; Nataleigh Doty, Bethany; Hope Whitlow, Lovington; and Paisley Milleer, Villa Grove. Back row Madison Dunn, Arcola; Harper Riley, Newman; Charlotte Franklin, Tuscola; Ember Ely, Atwood; and Tatum Faust, Pesotum. Not pictured is Evelyn Kenton, Villa Grove. The Miss and Little Miss Queen pageant will be held on Tuesday, July 5 at 7:00 pm at the North Grandstand.

2022 Miss Moultrie-Douglas County Fair Queen Contestants

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Photo furnished
2022 Miss Moultrie-Douglas County Fair Queen Contestants
Vying for the title of 2022 Miss Moultrie-Douglas County Fair Queen to be held on Tuesday, July 5 at 7:00 pm are (front row) Andrea Dehart, Atwood; Logan Streible, Atwood; reigning 2021 Miss Moultrie-Douglas Karis Hortin, Tuscola; and Mikayla Dunn, Tuscola. (Middle row) Kendall Burdick, Arthur; Layna Kapp, Lovington; Reggan Smith, Tuscola; Meadow Picazo, Tuscola; and Julia Kerkhoff, Tuscola. (Back row) Ella Chupp, Arcola; Regann Bowles, Atwood; Claire Meyer, Tuscola; and Jade Garza, Arcola. Not pictured is Addisyn Wilson, Villa Grove.

Recent Obituaries: Sandra June Dolan

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Sandra June Dolan

Sandra June Dolan, 83 of Arthur, IL passed away at 8:36 PM on Thursday, June 23, 2022 at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, IL.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, June 29, 2022, at the Vine Street Christian Church, in Arthur, IL. Pastor Bob Silvanik will officiate. Burial will be in the Arthur Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Tuesday, June 28, 2022 at the church. The Edwards Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.
Sandra was born on June 7, 1939 in Sullivan, IL. She was a daughter of Carl Layton and Myrtle (Ames) Dolan.
Survivors include one brother, James Terry Dolan and his wife Nancy of Catlin, IL, two nephews, Charley Dolan of Catlin, IL and Michael Dolan of Texas.
She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Ralph Ames Dolan.
Sandra was a 1957 graduate of Sullivan High School. After high school she earned her master’s degree in Education from Eastern Illinois University.
Sandra retired from the Arthur School District after 39 years, where she taught 4th, 5th and 6th grade science and math, she also coached grade school and junior high, basketball and track. After she retired, she owned Sando’s in Arthur for 21 years and she also worked at The Great Pumpkin Patch for several years.
Sandra was a member of the Vine Street Christian Church, where she also taught Sunday School. She was a member of the CWF, Christian Women’s Fellowship at the Vine Street Cristian Church, and a member of the BPW, a professional women’s club in Arthur, and a member of the Psi Iota Xi sorority and the Zeta Omicron sorority.
Sandra was an avid fan of the Arthur Knights, Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears.  She loved teaching, sewing, gardening, helping others, caring for animals and sports.
Memorials may be made to the Vine Street Christian Church.

Recent Obituaries: Elizabeth Hubbert

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Elizabeth Hubbert
Elizabeth Colleen Hubbert, 59, of Sullivan, passed away 12:16 a.m. Thursday, June 23, 2022, at Sarah Bush Lincoln Hospital, Mattoon.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Monday, June 27, 2022 at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan, with a Prayer Service held at 4:30 p.m. Monday. Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, June 28, 2022, at the St. Columcille Catholic Church, Sullivan. Burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery, Sullivan. Memorials may be made to St. Columcille Catholic Church of Sullivan.

Elizabeth was born on April 14, 1963, in Decatur; the daughter of Richard and Joyce (Woolen) Welsh. She was the Deputy Supervisor of Moultrie County Assessments. Elizabeth was a member of the St. Columcille Catholic Church.

She is survived by her son, Michael Hubbert of Sullivan; daughters, Sarah Hubbert of Sullivan and Christina (Ian) Naslund of Elmwood; granddaughter, Evelyn Davis; sisters, Patricia (Dr. James) Mauck of Elkhart, IN, and Victoria (Steve) Ludwig of Ocala, FL.

She was preceded in death by her parents and 1 brother, Timothy Welsh.

Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mcmullinyoung.com