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Remember When? 12-1-2021

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25 Years Ago This Week

Workers constructed high-water boat ramps at Lake Shelbyville. Following the 1996 washout of the recreational season at the lake, two-lane concrete, high-water boat ramps were added at five locations around the lake: Dam West, Bo Wood, Lithia Springs, Opposum Creek and Lone Point.
Selena Griffith of Mattoon purchased the Sullivan Bakery from Barb Woolsey. She purchased the recipes along with the store.
Steve Mayberry and Tim Singer were re-elected chairman and vice chairman of the Moultrie County Board in a reorganizational meeting following the swearing in of newly elected county officials. The four board members sworn in by Judge Dan Flannell were all re-elected to four year terms. They were Sally Foley, Joe Bone, Mayberry and Orris Drew. Read More

Tentative Levy Set at 4.94%,Tax Levy Hearing to be held in December

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•December 1, 2021•
by Ariana Cherry
NP Writer

Members of the ALAH school board met at the Atwood Grade School at their recent school board meeting held November 17. Superintendent Shannon Cheek reported that some of their bills were a bit larger than usual - one of the reasons being that they had both bond payments and interest that needs to be paid. There was nothing new to report in the treasurer’s report, but Cheek stated that the district received a payment from transportation; although it was the first they had received for this calendar year.
The audit for the calendar year through June 30, 2021 was presented. The district received financial recognition with a 3.9 Financial Score. Financial recognition is the highest level in the financial finding process. This recognition was also received in last year’s audit. In the treasurer’s bond finding, there were no bank accounts overdrawing the shares, and balances were being kept where they needed to be. The district’s debt is a total of $2.89 million dollars. COVID had an effect in some parts of the audit such as attendance, which was mainly because of many students having to quarantine or do remote learning during the last school year. The 305 School District attendance was down 86 students. The auditor mentioned that in most of the reports they did, these figures were all over the board for many school districts. Read More

Moonlight Acres Ready for the Holiday Season

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Angie (left) and Cory Neal (right) at their farm Moonlight Acres outside of Bethany. Currently the farm offers Christmas trees, wreaths, garlands, and grave blankets and pillows for sale.

•December 1, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
Moonlight Acres is ready for the holiday season. The farm which is located near Bethany has shifted their focus to the holiday season with Christmas trees, wreaths, garlands, grave blankets and pillows. They have Frasier, Balsam, White Pine and Concolors for sale. Last year they received reports that their trees and wreaths held up and stayed green into the month of January.
This is the second year of business for Cory and Angie Neal. Earlier this year they planted their own trees, but they will not be ready for seven years. Grave blankets and pillows may be ordered and are decorated for no extra charge. “We want people to feel like we did it just for them,” Angie said. Read More

One Book, One Sullivan Presents “The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise”

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Photo by Crystal Reed
One Book, One Sullivan revealed their book pick for this year during an assembly on November 22. This year’s book is ‘The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise’ by Dan Gemeinhart. They were joined by Sullivan Rotary members Stan Parks and Lori Shasteen.

•December 1, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

After showing a book trailer, One Book, One Sullivan revealed this year’s book to their middle school classmates during an assembly at Sullivan High School November 22. The group narrowed down the options for this year’s selection by reading books from the 2021 Rebecca Caudill list.
Over the summer, One Book, One Sullivan students read their way through the reading titles and met in person once a week. In late September, they announced the top four titles which were Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes, Free Lunch by Rex Ogle, From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks and The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart. Members of the group distributed some copies of the book to students during the assembly. Read More

Holiday Vendor Event

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•December 1, 2021•

A Holiday Vendor Event will be held Friday, December 3 at the Sullivan American Legion hall from 5:30-8:00pm. Over 20 vendors will be set up to help you with your holiday shopping needs. Cash bar will be available and Danny and Marissa Luck will be in the kitchen. Tina Bolsen can be contacted if you have any questions at 217-620-8185.

Community Blood Drive

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•December 1, 2021•

Agri-Fab Inc. will host a community blood drive on Wednesday, December 15 from 9 am to 2 pm at 809 S. Hamilton St, Sullivan, inside meeting room. To donate contact Barb Werling at 217-728-8388 ext 281 or visit www.bloodcenter.org and use code 71025 to locate the drive. You may also call ImpactLife at 800-747-5401 to schedule. Masks and appointments are required.

Recent Obituaries: Glen Ray

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Glen Ray
Glen Ray, 68, of Sullivan, passed away at 10:50 p.m. Tuesday November 23, 2021 in Carle Hospital in Urbana.

Celebration of Life services will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday December 1, 2021 in the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan with Pastor Steve Meyer officiating.  Visitation will be Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until service time.  Burial will be in the Greenhill Cemetery in Sullivan.  Memorials are suggested to the Lake Shelbyville Fish Habitat Alliance or to the Lakeside Baptist Church in Sullivan.  The family kindly suggests masks and social distancing for the visitation and services.
Glen was born January 2, 1953 in Decatur the son of Henry M. and Alberta May Harl Ray.
He had worked at Firestone in Decatur, Kaiser Chemical in Sullivan, Trailmobile in Mattoon, Illinois Department of Transportation at the Sullivan Shed from 1984 to 2009 and he worked for Earl Walker Company in Sullivan.  Glen had also helped farmers Eric Shuman and Mike Bone. Glen was a member of the Lakeside Baptist Church.  He was a avid outdoorsman.  He loved fishing, hunting, trapping, camping in Southern Illinois and going to Wyoming.  He loved to prank people and visit at Faststop for coffee with his friends Bob Emel and Cheryl Coddington and go fishing at the river with Terry Lane.  He was an avid CUBS fan.  Glen was a great father and grandfather.  He married Jane Funk on July 13, 1985 in Sullivan.
Surviving are his wife Jane of Sullivan; children Heath Ray of Sullivan, Jeremy (Autumn) Ray of Sullivan, Patricia (Mike) Carter of Charleston, Chad (Brandi) Vail of Champaign and Mark (Sarah) Vail of Mattoon; grandchildren Grace Ray, Matthew Ray, Joe Carter, Abby Carter, Elexa Vail, McKinzie Ray, Logan Ray and Briannae Saunders.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Mark Ray, sister Becky Emel and half-sister Matina Wiggins.

Family Reading Night 2021

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Family Reading Night
Okaw Valley Elementary School Principal Heidi Vander Burgh reads a story during Family Reading Night at Marrowbone Public Library.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Demonstrating Musical Instruments
Kathy Doty, Music and Tech teacher at Okaw Valley Elementary School, demonstrates a didgeridoo during Family Reading Night. This year’s theme was Can You Read Music?

Sparrows Unlimited Fruit Baskets 2021

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Sparrows Unlimited Fruit Baskets
Students at Lovington Grade School helped decorate boxes for this year’s fruit baskets. Volunteers organized and delivered the fruit Saturday. Sparrows will be collecting toys at Dollar General on Sunday, November 28 from 10 am to 2 pm. Their annual auction will be December 4 at Jerry’s East End in Lovington.