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Ash Grove Christian Church Celebrates Anniversary

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Haney Delivers Sermon at Ash Grove
Tom Haney, who grew up in Windsor and attended Ash Grove Christian Church, returned to the area on Sunday, June 5 to deliver a sermon during the church’s anniversary.

•June 8, 2022•
Ash Grove Christian Church in Windsor celebrated their 190th anniversary with a worship service and meal on Sunday, June 5. Tom Haney who grew up in Windsor and attended the church gave the sermon and he and his sister Jane McKown sang several pieces of music together and separately.
At the beginning of the service, State Representative Brad Halbrook presented a certificate in honor of the milestone to Pastor Patrick Powers. After the service those in attendance were invited to a catered meal.

Photo by Crystal Reed
State Representative Halbrook Presentation
State Representative Brad Halbrook (left) presented a certificate to Pastor Patrick Powers (right) of Ash Grove Christian Church during the worship service on the church’s 190th anniversary.

The Arches in Findlay Being Brought Back to Life

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Rob (pictured) and Kara Pfeiffer of Shelbyville have been working on the Arches building in Findlay the last few years with the goal of opening a business when the building’s renovations are complete.

•June 8, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

In Findlay there is a building called the Arches Building. That building was constructed around 100 years ago. For the last few years, a local couple has been working on the inside with the end goal of opening a business. Rob and Kara Pfeiffer of Shelbyville are carrying out this labor of love.
According to Kara, in August 2019 they started the demo of the inside of the building. They have also put on a new roof, rebuilt the brick, tackled the outside overhangs and removed plaster and garbage. She said they hope to keep as much of the original as they can because it gives the building more character. Read More

June Fest

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•June 8, 2022•

Lovington’s June Fest will be Saturday, June 11 at the park from 4 to 7 pm. There will be a fish fry, food vendors and craft vendors, a rock wall, extreme air and obstacle course. Collage of Faith will perform. There will be fireworks that evening at the old football field at 8 pm.

Community Blood Drive

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•June 8, 2022•

Mid-State Tank will host a community blood drive on Tuesday, June 21 from 7 am to 12 pm at 1357 Jonathan Creek Road, inside a donor bus. To donate, contact ImpactLife Urbana at (800) 747-5401 or visit www.bloodcenter.org and use code 71293 to locate the drive. Masks and appointments are required.

Meeting Rescheduled

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The June County Board meeting will be:   JUNE 14, 2022  at 7:00 P.M. in the Board Room
The Liquor Commission will meet prior to the Board meeting at 6:45 P.M.

Liquor Committee Members:  Billy Voyles, Todd Maxedon, Tyler Graven.

Recent Obituaries: Darlene Burgess

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Darlene Burgess

Darlene R. Burgess, 87, of Sullivan, passed away at 8:45 a.m. Saturday June 4, 2022 in St. John’s Hospital, Springfield.

Celebration of Life services will be 12:00 noon. Tuesday June 7, 2022 in the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan with Pastor Don Lusk officiating. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until service time on Tuesday. Burial will be in the Greenhill Cemetery, Sullivan. Memorials are suggested to a charity of the donor’s choice. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.
Darlene was born July 15, 1934 in Moultrie County, the daughter of Delmar and Minnie Kidwell Elzy. She had retired in 1992 from GE in Mattoon. She was a member of the Sullivan Church of God. Darlene married Cecil R. Burgess on October 17, 1953 in Sullivan and he preceded her in death on November 26, 2016.
Surviving are her daughters Shirley (Bill) Lindley, Linda (Richard) Probus and Susie Burgess all of Sullivan; daughter in law Heide Burgess; brothers Kenneth Elzy of Texas, Gale (Charlene) Elzy of Sullivan and Marshall (Kathy) Elzy of Sullivan; sister Inna Pickel of Sullivan; four grandchildren; nine great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, four brothers, a sister, son Ron and Grandson Richie Probus.

Mid-Illinois Senior Services Creates and Sells Memorial Day Arrangements

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Mid-Illinois Senior Services Creates and Sells Memorial Day Arrangements
The Mid-Illinois Senior Services in Sullivan has been making artificial flower arrangements for graves for around ten years. The majority of the requests come in around Memorial Day. They make saddles, baskets, bricks and cones. Around 80% of the artificial flowers that are used are donated to them. Proceeds from the sales of these arrangements go towards Mid-Illinois Senior Services. “We all really love doing this and it’s a group effort,” Nancy Ozee said. Pictured is Nancy Ozee working on a patriotic themed arrangement that was ordered.

OV Middle School State Runners-up and Two State Champions

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•June 1, 2022•
Okaw Valley Middle School track sent 10 student-athletes to the Class 2A state track meet on May 13-14 in East Peoria. All 10 students that qualified, medaled at the state meet. The 7th grade girls team, which also won Sectional 8 in Assumption the weekend of May 7th, took state runner-up honors home with them. Gabby Totten led the way when she won the 7th grade girls long jump with a leap of 16’6”, took 2nd in the 100m dash, and 4th in the 200m dash. Erin Harris solidified the team’s success when she won the 7th grade girls high jump with a height of 5’0”. Payton Booker brought home the 8th place medal for pole vault as a 6th grader. The girls 4x100m relay team of Kyah Calhoun, Keely Collins, Erin Harris, Gabby Totten, and alternate Payton Booker earned 5th place overall. The 8th grade boys 4x100m relay team of Wyatt Hildebrandt, Kwame Calhoun, Byron McCarrey, Braden Montgomery, and alternate Brady McQuilling, took 4th in the state. Kwame Calhoun also brought home medals for the 7th grade boys. Kwame earned 4th in pole vault, 5th in the 200m dash, and 5th in the 400m run. Great day on the track for these students and a great season all around.

GOP Debate: Candidates Address Rising Crime, Texas School Shooting

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•June 1, 2022•
By Jerry Nowicki
Capitol News Illinois

The six Republican candidates for Illinois governor faced off Tuesday night in Chicago, albeit on two separate debate stages, hours after a shooting at a Texas elementary school that dominated a large portion of the debates.
A scheduling conflict between two TV networks – WGN and NBC 5 – had the candidates split into groups of three, with the NBC debate beginning at 6 p.m. and the WGN debate starting immediately after it at 7 p.m.

NBC’s debate included Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin, the polling and money frontrunner, along with former Waterloo state Sen. Paul Schimpf and suburban attorney Max Solomon. The WGN debate that followed included Sen. Darren Bailey, of Xenia, Petersburg venture capitalist Jesse Sullivan and suburban paving magnate Gary Rabine. Read More

Car Show 2022

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Photos by Ellen Ferrera. Car Show The Memorial Weekend Cruise was held on Saturday, May 28 on the square in Sullivan. The car show was put on by Sullivan Street Machine Association.