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Lovington Old Fashioned Christmas 2021

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Santa Arrives
Santa arrived on a Lovington Fire Truck to Christmas in the Park. Other activities during the event included crafts, silent bids on fully decorated trees and carolers.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Christmas Crafts
Jaxson and Chase Utley decorate ornaments during Christmas in the Park last Saturday. There are plans to make it an annual event.

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Decorating the tree
On the morning of Christmas in the Park, businesses, individuals and organizations gathered to decorate trees for the silent auction. There were 20 fully decorated trees on display during the event that people could bid on.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Visiting Santa
Hometown LOVE organized Old Fashioned Christmas in the Park on Saturday, November 28 in Lovington. Pictured is Joseph Spradling talking to Santa.

Sparrows Annual Auction

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•December 1, 2021•

Sparrows Unlimited is a non-profit organization that was started to help families in Lovington who were in need of a hand up during Christmas. Each year the organization holds an auction, this year, the auction will be held December 4 at Jerry’s East End in Lovington.
Donations are still being accepted at the East End, they may be dropped off Monday through Saturday.

Lady Timberwolves Split games at Thanksgiving Tourney

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•December 1, 2021•
The Okaw Valley girls fell to Williamsville last Friday during the Pana Thanksgiving Tournament 42-29 before bouncing back Saturday. Saturday afternoon they scored a close victory over Central A&M 44-40.
Against Williamsville, Mia Harris scored seven of her team leading ten in the fourth quarter. Bailey Bennett and Rissa Montgomery each added seven, Madison Whitney drained a three and Megan Roley rounded out the scoring with two.
In the win Saturday against Central A&M, three scored in triple digits. Bennett led the team with 14, Harris had 12 and Montgomery 11. Roley contributed five points in the win including one of the teams four three pointers and Reagan Reedy had a basket in the fourth quarter.
The girls are now 3-5 on the season and hosted St. Anthony Monday night.

MCHD Announces December Clinics for COVID-19

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•December 1, 2021•
The Moultrie County Health Department (MCHD) will hold COVID-19 vaccination and booster clinics during the month of December. Individuals may register for an initial vaccine series or a booster. All vaccinations are by appointment only.
The CDC and Illinois Department of Public Health recommend that anyone over the age of 18 be fully vaccinated and receive a booster. Individuals who have initially received Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccinations must wait at least six months from their last injection before receiving a booster. Those who have received a Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine should wait at least two months since their initial vaccination.
Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is the only vaccine currently available for children aged 5-17 years. The December 10th clinic will provide adult and children’s COVID-19 vaccines. All minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. It will be held at the Sullivan American Legion, 8 East Strain, Sullivan. Read More

Menu 12-1-2021

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Senior Peace Meal

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

Dec. 6 - Chicken and Noodles, Mashed Potatoes, Pickled Beets, Pineapple, Whole Grain Wheat
Dec. 7 - Taco Salad w/Meat, Lettuce, Beans and Tomatoes, Pears, Taco Chips, Pudding
Dec. 8 - Ham and Beans, Copper Carrots, Mandarin Oranges, Cornbread
Dec. 9 - Sloppy Joe, Sweet Potato Puffs, Corn, Chunky Applesauce, Whole Grain Bun
Dec. 10 - Seasoned Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, California Medley, Seasonal Fruit Dessert, Whole Grain Wheat

U-Knights – a Website Resource for the ALAH School

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District Facilities Committee Planning Process

•December 1, 2021•
by Ariana Cherry
NP Writer

Arthur CUSD is looking to the future to ensure their students have what they need to be successful. U-Knight 305 is a community led master planning program tasked with identifying the current and future goals, aspirations and facility needs of the Arthur CUSD #305 School District.
The U Knights website (https://sites.google.com/bldd.com/u-knight305/home) has the latest presentation from meetings and a video from the first community engagement session. Read More

VFW Customers Help To Make A Difference

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VFW Customers Help To Make A Difference
Veterans Serena Briscoe and Jolene Wright are busy organizing holiday gifts for veterans in nursing homes. One of the missions of Sullivan Post #6410 is to reach out to fellow veterans who are unable to enjoy the VFW Canteen. Funding for this project comes from bar and grill profits, Thursday night raffle drawings, facility rental, gaming and donations. The VFW is open to the public daily. The kitchen serves food until 7 pm Monday through Friday and 2 pm on Sunday.

Local Residents Organize and Deliver Thanksgiving Food Baskets

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Photo by Crystal Reed
A group of Moultrie County residents gathered to prepare and deliver 13 Thanksgiving baskets to families on November 23. Pictured are Michelle and Rob Young, Lisa and Phil Ozier, Melissa Hughes and Jeff Webb.

•December 1, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

A group of local residents gathered to organize and deliver Thanksgiving baskets for those in need on Tuesday, November 23. This year Rob and Michelle Young, Phil and Lisa Ozier, Melissa Hughes and Jeff Webb gathered in a garage to fill the baskets with all the fixings for a meal. According to Rob, all the food items were purchased from IGA, pies and cinnamon rolls from Moultrie County 4-H and the baskets from Dollar General.
The group raised over $3,000 to fund the baskets this year. They post that they are doing this on Facebook and people with a need request a basket or a family. Items in the baskets included turkey, ham, potatoes, canned yams, canned corn, french fried onions, cool whip, marshmallows and more.
The Young’s and Ozier’s both own businesses in the county and see this as an opportunity to give back to the community.

Did you know?

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•December 1, 2021•
Lights on a Christmas tree may seem like a relatively recent phenomenon, but people who can’t wait to deck the halls each December may be surprised to learn that this beloved tradition dates all the way back to the late nineteenth century. Edward Johnson, a friend and colleague of Thomas Edison, introduced holiday light bulbs in 1882. Prior to that, candles were lit on trees and families would briefly gaze at this awe-inspiring bit of holiday decor before the candles were quickly extinguished. Johnson is credited with being the first to suggest light bulbs, which were invented by his friend Edison, be used to light trees in place of candles. While many were impressed by Johnson’s eight-bulb holiday display, it remained a novelty until the 1920s, when preassembled lights became more accessible. Since then, Christmas tree lights have taken hold as a must-have piece of holiday decor in households across the globe. HL21A363

LLC Dental Hygiene Student to Participate in Externship

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•December 1, 2021•
Lake Land College student Kelly McGill, of Findlay, will be taking part in a week-long externship through Heartland Dental.
The program is designed to place second-year students alongside practiced dentists and teams to help the students develop professionalism, ethics, communication and knowledge.
“Lake Land College and Heartland Dental’s values are comparable, in that both of these affiliations want the students to gain hands-on experience through this externship,” Director of Dental Hygiene Program Kristen Holsapple said. “We are proud to have such a collaborative teamship with Heartland Dental.” Read More