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Sullivan 4th of July 2021

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Tractors
In addition to lots of floats, business vehicles and classic cars, this year’s Sullivan Fourth of July parade featured several tractors.

Photo by Crystal Reed
60th Anniversary
Roger and Jeri Wenberg were celebrating on the Sullivan Fourth of July parade route this year.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Sullivan Blue Dolphins
Swimmers with the Sullivan Blue Dolphins throw candy and ride down the parade route in Sullivan on July 4.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Fourth of July Parade Grand Marshall
Becky Lawson, Grand Marshal of Sullivan’s parade, is all smiles on the route.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Mayor and City Council Thank You
This sign, with the names of the mayor and city commissioners, thanked residents for their resiliency during this past year.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Dunk Tank Fun
Adyn Fowler gets advice about dunking City Commissioner Mike Fowler during Pack The Park on July 4.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Dunk the Police Chief
Sullivan Police Chief Andrew Pistorius gets dunked at Pack the Park on July 4.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Turtle Races
Easton Wickline, with his turtle, was a winner in multiple races.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Patriotic Jeep
This Jeep decorated with flags and signs with patriotic messages was part of Sullivan’s Fourth of July parade.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Patriotic Kid
Vera Black, 11 months, was wearing her patriotic best for the Fourth of July.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Corn Hole Tournament
Ayden Matheson (left) and Megan Ray (right) play in the Corn Hole Tournament during Pack the Park on Sunday.

Photo by Crystal Reed
In Honor Of Our Veterans
Veterans ride along the parade route on a float during the Fourth of July in Sullivan.

Marrowbone Library Petting Zoo

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Marrowbone Library Petting Zoo
Marrowbone Library in Bethany held a petting zoo on Thursday, July 1. Children were able to interact with goats, rabbits, chickens, a dog and a frog. For more information on their adult and children’s summer reading programs call the library at 217-665-3014. Pictured is Gus Crowder with a rabbit during the petting zoo.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Chicken
Brayden Kennedy holds his chicken during the Marrowbone Library Petting Zoo on Thursday, July 1.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Frog Surprise
Prior to the start of the petting zoo at Marrowbone Library on Thursday, July 1, a few children found a frog behind the library. It was decided to incorporate the frog into the petting zoo that day just for fun. Pictured balancing the frog on her wrist is Emily Mowry.

Driver’s License and ID Card Expiration Dates

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•July 7, 2021•

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced that expiration dates for driver’s licenses and ID cards have been extended an additional five months —from Aug. 1, 2021, to Jan. 1, 2022. The new Jan. 1, 2022 extension also includes expiration dates that will occur between July and December of this year. As a result, expired driver’s licenses and ID cards will remain valid until Jan. 1, 2022 so customers do not need to rush into Driver Services facilities, especially during hot weather. This extension does not apply to commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) and CDL learner’s permits. Read More

Clayton of Sullivan Graduates

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•July 7, 2021•

Sullivan native Cheyenne Clayton graduated with a MA in Counseling Professional School from Bradley University in May. Clayton was among the 1,000-plus students who earned degrees.
Bradley University is a top-ranked, private university in Peoria, Illinois, offering 5,400 undergraduate and graduate students the resources of a larger university and the personal attention of a smaller university. More than 185 academic programs are offered in business, communications, education, engineering, fine arts, health sciences, liberal arts and sciences, and technology.

Grammar Moses: When Is Something ‘Offensive’ And When Is It ‘Anachronistic?’

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•July 7, 2021•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer

Pardon my interruption of your birthday party, America, while I get philosophical.
“I’ve begun to find the word ‘offensive,’ well, offensive. It seems like so many things that are outdated are called ‘offensive’ unnecessarily,” wrote regular reader Bob Kopp.
“When I looked up the synonyms for ‘offensive’ I got more of a flavor of intentionality from them. Now I know I can be offensive, but it’s usually more about impulsivity than intent. I found a word new to me — ‘anachronistic.’ I like that word, although I don’t expect to see it in the newspaper five times a week.”
Bob cited a news story about an old plaque at Wheaton College about which some at the school objected.
It commemorated five young missionaries who died at the hands of “savage Indians” in 1956. Read More

Faux Stained Glass

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Faux Stained Glass
Hannah Taylor paints her faux stained glass project at the Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library last Thursday. In July, the library will be offering adult art classes on Thursday evenings. Contact the library for more information or to sign up.

Sullivan Couple Creates Free Little Library in Memory of Son

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Pictured is Nathan’s Little Neighborhood Library which was established by Roger and Michelle Campbell in his memory. The Free Little Library is located at 1450 E. Jackson in Sullivan.

•July 7, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

A Sullivan couple has recently placed a structure in their yard which they hope draws young and old to either take or bring books and encourage a love of reading. Roger and Michelle Campbell have built and stocked a Free Little Library in their yard in Sullivan. The concept of the library is that people may either bring or take books from it at no charge.
The library holds approximately 30 books now depending on how large the books are, and there are a variety of books from which to choose including titles for children, youth and adults. There are also books from a variety of genres, and the more people participate, the more variety there will be. The Moultrie County Habitat ReStore has offered to donate books to help keep the free library stocked. Read More

LLC Full-Time Honors List

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•July 7, 2021•

Lake Land College recently announced that more than 800 full-time students earned academic honors for the 2021 spring semester.
To qualify for the president’s list, a student must have completed at least 12 credit hours in courses numbered 040 or higher per semester, excluding summer term, with a GPA of 3.8 – 4.0.
To qualify for the dean’s list, a student must have completed at least 12 credit hours in courses numbered 040 or higher per semester, excluding summer term, with a GPA of 3.65 – 3.79.
To qualify for the honor’s list, a student must have completed at least 12 hours in courses numbered 040 or higher per semester, excluding summer term, with a GPA of 3.5 – 3.64.
A grade “A” is four points, a “B” is three points, a “C” is two points, etc.
The following full-time students have achieved these academic honors: Mindy Bontrager, President’s List; Hannah Cook, President’s List;
Makenna Green, President’s List; Kaylee Yeakel, President’s List; Donnelle Daily, Honor’s List; all of Arthur. Mary Hart, President’s List; Savannah McKee, President’s List; Kamryn Landreth, Dean’s List; Ethan Bartimus, Honor’s List; April Decesaro, Honor’s List; all of Bethany.Kailynn Bobbett, President’s List; Cole Nichols, President’s List; Brittany Gordon, Dean’s List; Sophie Zimmerman, Dean’s List; Sadie Zimmerman, Honor’s List; Sidney Zimmerman, Honor’s List; Canaan Christensen, Honor’s List; Sayne Schultz,
Honor’s List; all of Findlay. Rachel Miller, President’s List; Mia Meintjes, President’s List;
Marylee Orman, Dean’s List; all of Gays. Bradley Edwards, President’s List; Ciara Emrick, President’s List; Jessica Diener, President’s List; Daniel Reedy, Dean’s List; all of Lovington. Mindy McPheeters, President’s List; Michelle Williams, President’s List; Maelona Sims, President’s List; Coen Foster, President’s List;
Miles Gregory, President’s List; Seth Mayberry, President’s List; Zachary Kimberlin, President’s List; Michael Gingerich, President’s List; Katelynn Gingerich, President’s List; Kaitlynn McClure, President’s List; Zach Sowers, President’s List; Abigail Hussong, President’s List; Hannah Schlieker, President’s List; Kayla Dowds, President’s List; Amanda Freese, Dean’s List; Rena Herschberger, Dean’s List; Cullen Dyer, Dean’s List; Eleanor Diepholz, Dean’s List; Josie Orris, Dean’s List; Timothy Lawyer, Dean’s List; Layni Boyer, Honor’s List; all of Sullivan. Lesa McDaniel, President’s List; Katherine Greuel, President’s List; Pyrinthia Ballinger, President’s List; Beau Bennett, President’s List; Logan Greuel, President’s List; Nikki Trussell, President’s List; Mason Campbell, President’s List; Jessica Rauch, President’s List; Sydney Tabor, President’s List; Brandon Milligan, Dean’s List; Chelsea Coleman-Scott, Honor’s List; all of Windsor.

Bethany Celebration 2021 Photos

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Tot Rod Pedal Pulls
A child smiles as the seat is adjusted on her pedal tractor before her pedal pull at the Bethany Celebration.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Pork Chop Dinner Fundraiser
On Saturday evening, during the Bethany Celebration, there was a Pork Chop Dinner Fundraiser for Moultrie County Relay for Life. Pictured are volunteers Kaylee Beals, Heather Dendy and Jessica Seeley.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Patriotic John Deere
A John Deere implement drives through Bethany during the Celebration parade.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Bethany Celebration Opening Ceremony
Bethany Celebration Grand Marshals Sally Ascenzo and Lisa Spracklen (center) cut the ribbon for the 2021 Celebration with help from 2021 Miss Bethany Calista Clark, 2021 Little Miss Bethany Abby McQuilling, 2021 Junior Miss Bethany Reagan Russell and 2021 Young Miss Bethany Bristol Wilderman while Tara Nickerson watches on the left.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Bethany Celebration Royalty
The Bethany Celebration pageant was held on Thursday, July 1 at 6 pm in the Okaw Valley High School gymnasium. Pictured are the newly crowned royalty and 2019 royalty. Front: 2021 Little Miss Bethany Abby McQuilling, 2021 Miss Bethany Calista Clark, 2019 Little Miss Bethany Dallis Wages. Back row: 2019 Junior Miss Bethany Jade Crockett, 2021 Junior Miss Bethany Reagan Russell, 2021 Young Miss Bethany Bristol Wilderman, 2019 Young Miss Lydia Webner. Not pictured:2019 Miss Bethany Chloe Ryherd.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Sullivan Dance Studio Performance
Students at the Sullivan Dance Studio performed at the Bethany Celebration in Crowder Park on Friday night.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Watermelon Eating Contest
Three children compete in the watermelon eating contest during the Bethany Celebration. In the center Miss Bethany Calista Clark helping hold back a competitors hair.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Bethany Celebration Parade
Sullivan Boy Scout Troop 39 members lead the parade Saturday through Bethany.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Mud Volleyball
Teams played mud volleyball for a large portion of the day at the Bethany Celebration on Saturday, July 3.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Bags Tournament
The Bags Tournament was held near the Beer Tent during Bethany Celebration.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Cool Cars
This 2012 Chrysler 300, owned by Jamie Kleimenhagen, was an entry in the Bethany Celebration Car Show this year.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Car Show
This 1976 Cadillac Eldorado was entered in the Bethany Celebration Car Show. There were a variety of cars entered this year’s show.