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Miller Amish German Schoolhouse Moved to Illinois Amish Heritage Center

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Photo by R.R. Best
The Miller Amish German Schoolhouse being moved by a team of horses to the Illinois Amish Heritage Center last Friday morning. The schoolhouse was moved using a tractor for part of the route and then was switched over to being pulled by a team of Belgian horses.

•April 14, 2021•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Route 133 between Lovington and Arthur was buzzing with activity last Friday morning as the historical Miller Amish German schoolhouse was moved to the Illinois Amish Heritage Center. The schoolhouse was moved using a tractor for part of the route and at one point was switched over to being pulled by a team of Belgian horses. The 100-year-old schoolhouse was built around 1920 and was located two miles west of Arthur on Illinois Route 133. The school was moved in 2011 to the Miller farm two miles further west where it was preserved in its original historical condition by Karen Miller whose father and grandfather taught in the school. The Miller school served as a German school where Amish youth, after graduating from the eighth grade, went during the winter months to learn the German language. Read More

Lest We Forget, There is a Nuance to Using ‘Recall’

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•April 14, 2021•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer

“I don’t remember. I don’t recall. I’ve got no memory of anything at all.”
When in doubt, employ a Peter Gabriel lyric, I always say.
Remembering. Recalling. Synonyms, right? Well, for the most part.
Reader Michael Haupt shared a comment concerning a story we’d written about a beloved former Buffalo Grove village trustee.
“One headline that particularly grabbed my attention was: ‘Former Buffalo Grove trustee recalled for commitment to family, community.’ Why would voters remove someone from office for a commitment to family? How were they able to do it days before the election?”
OK, smarty-pants. Read More

Letters to the Editor 4-14-2021

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Dear Editor,
Rather sad: Election held Tuesday April 6. Paper printed Wednesday, April 7. No voter results in print. According to phone call to office April 8, Thursday, person advised a decision was made to make a photo and information placed on the “Web”. May I remind you not all your readers have access to the “Web.” May I have my dollar back.

Thank you,
Luella Hughes

•••

Dear Editor, Read More

Remember When? 4-14-2021

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25 Years Ago This Week

A Bethany family has gone into the business of fun on the Sullivan square. Daniel Rice and his mother, Judy have opened the Sweet Occasions shop at 110 E. Harrison, a former Merle Norman site. Fine candy, balloons and gifts were the fare.
Carey Netherton, son of Larry and Laura Netherton of Sullivan, was recently awarded the Chairman’s Award and Best of Show award in Eastern Illinois University’s 1996 All-Student Show.
Patricia Larkin of Sullivan won first place in the category II amateur division and an honorable mention in the 17th annual Lake Land College Foundation Photography Show. Linda Scheer of Sullivan and Cecile Agullo of Lovington also won honorable mentions for photographs entered in the show. Read More

Moultrie Moment of the Week

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Pictured above is the 1950 Sullivan Grade School state champions. They had a perfect season with 33 wins and 0 losses. Pictured include: front: mgr. George Webb, Bob Poland, Reggie Smith, Larry Beavers, Ken Neal, Bob Clark, Larry Taylor, Richard Carnes. Middle: Asst. Coach J.C. Moore, Don Dennis, Glen Reider, Stan Barnes, Gerald Reedy, Eugene Smith, Jerry Winchester, Coach Russell Ashbrook. Back row: David Purvis, Lloyd Smith, Roger Lane, Jerry Jean, Randall Barnes, Milton Wirth, & Glen Barrett.Please submit photos to the News Progress for future consideration. Originals will be saved for return or forwarded to Moultrie County Historical Society. If you have any other information, please contact the Moultrie County Historical Society at 217-728- 4085.

OVHS Presents Spring Musical (2021)

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OVHS Presents Spring Musical
The Tony Award winning musical comedy, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” will be presented by the Okaw Valley Drama Club on April 15, 16, 17 at 7 p.m. and April 18 at 2 p.m in the OVHS gym.
Set in a middle school gym, SPELLING BEE takes a hilarious and heartwarming look at the pressures of growing up through the eyes of quirky yet lovable characters competing for the title of spelling bee champ. Throughout the Bee, each learns that winning isn’t everything and that losing doesn’t necessarily make you a loser. At each performance, three audience volunteers will be selected and invited on stage to participate in the Bee, making each performance unique.
The cast features Hannah Durbin as Rona Lisa Perretti; Kayla Fleshner as Vice Principal Daphine Panch; Delaney Miller as Michelle Mahoney; Lincoln Dickens as Chip Tolentino; Peytyn Durbin as Logainne Schwartz and Grubenierre; Madeline Ray as Leaf Coneybear; Mikhayla Ward as Marcy Park; Savannah Hagerman as William Barfee; and Amelia Landreth as Olive Ostrovsky.
“It feels so good to have the students back on stage doing what they love, Director Jeni Yantis said. “This particular cast has been amazing and I cannot wait for audiences to see what they have been working on for the past two months.”
Due to limited seating, only a small number of tickets will be on sale at the door. Call the OVHS office at 665-3631 for more information and advance sales.

Illinois Capital Development Board Releases Nearly $1.7 Million in Funding to LLC

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Funding to Repair Aging Facilities Made Possible by Governor Pritzker’s Rebuild Illinois Capital Plan

•April 14, 2021•
The Illinois Capital Development Board has announced $1.7 million has been released for the improvements to the parking lot at Lake Land College from the state, with local matching funds supporting a total investment of $2.3 million. The funding will help address deferred maintenance projects on the Lake Land College campus that have been stalled due to a lack of investment by previous administrations. Made possible by Governor Pritzker’s bipartisan capital plan, the first in nearly a decade, the renovation work will create good jobs and economic opportunities for residents in the surrounding community. CDB will oversee the project’s renovation under the protocol for state-appropriated capital projects. Read More

Findlay Farmer Wins Top Placement

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•April 14, 2021•

Findlay farmer Troy Uphoff earned a first-place state award in the 2020 National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) National Corn Yield Contest. He is among the highest corn yield producers in the nation. Uphoff placed with DEKALB DKC63-57RIB brand corn yielding an outstanding 323 bushels per acre in the Conventional Non-Irrigated category.
“It’s amazing to see the hard work, time and innovation these farmers put into their operations to grow high-yielding corn,” said Kathleen McKittrick, DEKALB Brand Manager. “The DEKALB brand is proud to help farmers increase performance potential and reach their yield goals with exclusive genetics.”
The 56th NCGA contest continues to challenge farmers to achieve record-setting yields with improved management practices that can help farmers everywhere. It’s NCGA’s most popular program with this year’s event producing 7,869 entries.
In the 2020 NCGA yield contest, DEKALB farmers captured 10 of the 27 national awards and 156 first through third place awards at the state level, 55 of which yielded 300 bushels per acre or higher.
To learn more about maximizing yield performance potential and see a full list of DEKALB winners, visit www.asgrowdekalb.com or contact your local DEKALB Asgrow dealer.

Area Sports Briefs

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•April 14, 2021•
All-Area Teams
The News Gazette announced its all-area girls’ basketball teams this past week, including several local players.
Senior Redskin guard Emily White earned first team honors.
Senior forward Jerra Goad and senior forward Taylor Orris each earned special mention honors.
Senior Zoe Walton earned honorable mention honors.
Junior Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond guard Alexa Miller earned first-team honors.
Knights senior Makenzie Brown and freshman Claire Seal each earned special mention honors.
Knights senior Mackenzi Bowles, sophomore Charley Condill and sophomore Kailee Otto each earned honorable mention honors.

All-LPC Teams
The Lincoln Prairie Conference announced its girls’ basketball all-conference team this past week. Read More

Council Approves Lease Agreement For 304 S. Hamilton

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•April 14, 2021•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The Sullivan City Council approved a lease agreement for 304 S. Hamilton St. during their meeting on Monday night. The premises are for the business purpose of housing city operations and administrative offices.
The terms of the lease are for a 12-month period for the sum of $16,800 that is payable in 12 monthly payments of $1,400 per month. “At this point I think we are going to be moving forward with different options for the old city building so we need to keep these offices for at least the next year,” Commissioner Abbey Sherwood said. Read More