Photo by R.R. Best
Reflections
With the world going crazy all around and most folks fed up with the stay at home restrictions the lake at Wyman Park offers an opportunity for reflection. Reflecting on the way life used to be or whether there is a prize winning bass waiting to be hooked the lake offers the solution.
25 Years Ago This Week
Two girls from Moultrie County qualified for the state Horse Bowl competition. Jamie Banning and Jodi Banning both of Bethany qualified in regional action at Springfield. Both 4-H members placed in the Hipology Bowl with Jamie competing in the senior division and Jodi in the junior division.
Members of the Sullivan track team placed at the Bi-County meet in Shelbyville. Adam Elder, Jed Shasteen and Greg Yoder were first place finishers.
Elder won the high jump with a 6-0 leap, Shasteen won the 800 with a time of 2:10.94 and Yoder won the 400 with a time of 54.75.
Ryan Cook’s two run single in a three run sixth inning, put Findlay ahead of the Lovington Panthers. Findlay went on to win 7-6.
Dustin Yantis put Findlay up with a two-run homer. Travis McCoy and Josh Born both 2-4, highlighted the Panther comeback driving in two runs apiece in a five run second inning. Read More
Photos by Mike Brothers
First Community Bank of Moultrie County received a $20,000 grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago and gave $2000 checks to ten non-profits in the County. At the Sullivan bank presentation from left: Angela Carnes and Betsy Miller of Moultrie County Paws; First Community Bank Sullivan President Reid Molzen making the presentations; Moultrie County Counseling Center, Dave Cole; CEFS Economic Opportunity and CEFS Moultrie County Food Pantry Coordinator Lisa White received $2000 for each organization; Sullivan Ministerial Association treasurer Dave Dolan; Mid-Illinois Senior Center Director Kathi Shackles; and Secret Santa representative Diane Waggoner
Grant from Federal Home Bank
•May 13, 2020•
By Mike Brothers
Ten charitable organizations in Moultrie County received $20,000 from First Community Bank last week.
First Community Bank of Moultrie County in Sullivan and Lovington received a grant from Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago in the COVID-19 program.
First Community Bank president and CEO Ray Duncan explained the Chicago bank, which loans funds to financial institutions in Illinois, contacted the Sullivan bank about the grant program.
“We got the notice during an officer’s meeting and applied the next day,“ Duncan said, emphasizing some 1000 financial institutions in the state were competing for a maximum $20,000 on a first come first serve basis. Read More
•May 13, 2020•
By Supt. Ted Walk
Sullivan CUSD #300
As we wind down this unprecedented school year, I wanted to send a thank you to our students, parents, staff, and community for their willingness to partner with the Sullivan School District.
This has been a crazy time that will be remembered for generations to come. Our schools have been honored to be a part of this community, who continues to give back even during difficult times. Read More
•May 13, 2020•
Instead of the community gathering for graduation the graduates of Sullivan High School have a parade of seniors.
The Sullivan High School graduation car parade kicks off at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 17 from the school parking lot.
With Pomp and Circumstance playing on the radio, live Honor guards Mallory Nichols and Reagan Crouse lead the seniors vehicles, arranged in order with police escort, south on Hamilton St. to Jefferson around the courthouse and exit on Main St. returning to the high school. Read More
•May 13, 2020•
Carley Towle, currently a Junior at Sullivan High School, has been elected to the Illinois Association of Student Councils executive board for the office of Secretary.
Carley will serve over the next year on the state board and will be in charge of grading all honor books across the state, travel to other district conventions, and attend and take minutes at all state board meetings.
She is an active member of the Sullivan High School Student Council serving as Secretary and President in addition to duties as Eastern Illinois District Association of Student Councils Secretary. She is the daughter of Kevin and Tina Towle.
•May 13, 2020•
Photo furnished
Kate Jeffers, daughter of Tod and Karen Jeffers, a graduate of Okaw Valley High School in Bethany and a member of St. Isidore Parish, was awarded a $500 scholarship from the Springfield Diocesan Council of Catholic Women. Kate plans to attend the University of Illinois majoring in Elementary Education. She has been involved in numerous community activities, including a mission trip to Tennessee to help people in need and she serves as an altar server and lector in her parish.
Photo by R.R. Best
On the Lake
As the weather continues to improve and stay at home restrictions relax families are starting to enjoy the open air. Last weekend Lake Shelbyville’s vast water surface allowed boasters to enjoy the break in the weather without endangering personal space.
•May 13, 2020•
Amanda Clevinger of Windsor graduated from Georgia State University during the spring 2020 semester with a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the university’s College of Arts and Sciences.
Clevinger majored in Psychology with a focus in Cognitive Sciences.
More than 4,000 students graduated from Georgia State in the spring of 2020, and were honored by the university with a virtual celebration on May 6. Spring 2020 graduates have been invited to return to the university to participate in an in-person, formal commencement when it is safe to do so. Read More
Another 3.2 million file claims nationally
By Jerry Nowicki
Capitol News Illinois
jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com
Another 3.2 million Americans filed for unemployment during the week ending May 2, including more than 74,476 Illinoisans.
That brought the total number of insured unemployed for the week to 697,443 in Illinois, according to the U.S. Department of Labor estimates, while the total number of jobless claims since mid-March grew to 33.3 million nationwide. The numbers represent roughly 11 percent of Illinois’ civilian labor force and 15 percent of the nation’s workforce.
The numbers continue to grow while states around the country contemplate the best plan for reopening their economies as the novel coronavirus pandemic appears to be in the middle of a plateau.
Gov. JB Pritzker’s “Restore Illinois” plan, which he says is backed by science and epidemiologists, has faced criticism from Republican lawmakers for moving too slowly to get the state working again.
“Until we have a vaccine or an effective treatment or enough widespread immunity that new cases fail to materialize, the option of returning to normalcy doesn’t exist,” Pritzker said in unveiling the plan Tuesday. “That means we have to learn how to live with COVID-19 until it can be vanquished.” Read More