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Helping Hands Swim with the Dolphins

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Photo furnished
Helping Hands Swim with the Dolphins
Helping Hands is a non-profit organization in Sullivan. They are always looking for fun activities for children with disabilities to have time to interact with their non-disabled peers outside of the school day. In a Blue Dolphin’s board meeting, J.D. Graham, Vice President of the Sullivan Blue Dolphins, brought up the idea of having children with Helping Hands swim with the Blue Dolphin swimmers.
On November 14th after swim practice, the Blue Dolphins had several older swimmers step up and offer to stay to swim with children from Helping Hands. This was a great opportunity for the Dolphins Swim Team to interact with their peers and to show other children some swimming techniques. This is one of many examples of how Helping Hands and the Blue Dolphins are organizations that commit to our community. All of the children had a great time meeting each other and swimming together.
Photo courtesy Jamie Crosier
Pictured from left to right: Aaron Schrock, Liam Donovan, J.D. Graham, Brant Jesse, Cadence Schmohe, Max Kersten, Miles Kersten, Mary Crist, Olivia Hullum, Isaac Chambers, Libby Henry, CJ Chapman, Diannah Booker, Zoe Conlin, Noah Smith, Kennedy Fultz, Deanna Clark, Alivia Melvin, Lilly Graham, Linnea Graham, Sophie Foster, Landon Nuzzo

From Mule Team to Tractor, Farm Life was Good

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•December 4, 2019•
By Jerry Ginther
NP Guest Columnist

My kneecaps were raw and bleeding slightly from being rubbed against the front of the old wagon as I did my best to steer the mule team.
I was eleven or twelve years old and had been allowed to drive the team to and from the hay field some distance behind my Uncle Frank’s dairy barn. The weight of the heavy lines and the force I had to exert on them to turn the mules necessitated my bracing against the front of the wagon. The turns in the lane were tight, and the lane was uneven, making the wagon roll slightly from side to side causing the rough wood to work like sandpaper on my knees. Perhaps wearing shorts on that day was not the best choice of clothing for working in the hay field. Read More

Tree Trimming

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Photo by Sonya Best
Tree Trimming
Sullivan pre-schoolers took a field trip to the Moultrie County Courthouse Tuesday, where they took part in decorating the Christmas tree in the rotunda.

IGA Breaks Record

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Photo by Mike Brothers
IGA Breaks Record
The eighth annual Sullivan IGA Roundup collected a record $1543 plus change Nov.3-9 when customers donated change from their purchases to the Moultrie County Food Pantry. Those donations purchased some 130 turkeys donated to the food pantry and distributed in Thanksgiving dinners last week. Above the Sullivan IGA meat department Thanksgiving delivery crew: (back from left) Emmalee Hortenstine, Blake Eller, Mason Harner; (front) Seth Cobb and IGA Meat Dept. manager Barry Golden.

Recent Obituaries: John Krohn

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John Krohn

John F. Krohn, 76, of Bethany, passed away at 8:00 a.m. Saturday November 30, 2019 in his residence.
Celebration of Life services will be 5:00 p.m. Monday in the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan with J. E. Miller officiating assisted by Mike Pippin. Visitation will be 3-5 p.m. Monday. Memorials are suggested to the Sullivan Church of Christ or to the National Kidney Foundation, 30 East 33rdStreet, New York, New York, 10016. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.
John was born October 4, 1943 in Decatur the son of Guy and Margaret Wiley Krohn. He had been a welder for Caterpillar in Decatur, Blaw Knox on Mattoon and Kelly Construction in Decatur. John was a member of the Sullivan Church of Christ, the Illinois Bow Hunters Association, the NRA and the Findlay American Legion. John was an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoyed making knives and arrows and was a very good artist. He was very proud of his granddaughters and enjoyed spending time with them. He married Mary Kier on March 8, 1980 in Decatur.
Surviving are his wife Mary of Bethany; daughter Christine Erwin and fiancé Gerry of Witt; son Danny Krohn of Stewardson; sister Leota Hurst of Mt. Zion, granddaughters Kelsy Erwin of Bethany and Katy Erwin of Peoria and special friend and kidney donor Mike Pippin
He was preceded in death by his parents, son Randy and three brothers.

Recent Obituaries: Danny Miller

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Danny Miller

Danny L. Miller, 68, of Bethany, passed away 2:50 a.m. Saturday, November 30, 2019, at Mason Point, Sullivan.
Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 4, 2019, at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Bethany. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home in Bethany. Burial will be in Marrowbone Township Cemetery, Bethany. Memorials may be made to the United Methodist Church in Bethany.
Danny was born September 26, 1951, in Decatur; the son of Raymond C. and Hillis M. (Wilkinson) Miller. He married Karen J. Phillippo on March 19, 1971, in Bethany; she survives. He was a long-time member of the NRA. Danny loved spending time with his grandchildren and canine sidekick Torii. He enjoyed fishing and his coin collection. Danny was an avid fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Bears and the Fighting Illini sports teams.
He is survived by his wife, Karen of Bethany; son, Tony (Heather) Miller of Bethany; daughter, Kasey (Rob) Mowry of Bethany; brother, Chuck (Peggy) Miller of Oroville, CA; sisters, Connie Smith of Sullivan, Trinka Miller of Sullivan, Tam Stinson of Bethany and Jill (Roger) Bragg of Sullivan; brother-in-law, Larry (Barb) Phillippo of Fishers, IN; sister-in-law, Brenda (Mike) Woolridge of Sullivan; grandchildren, Kyler Culter, Nichael Mowry, Maci Mowry, Jaxon Mowry and Kadan Miller.
He was preceded in death by his parents, father-in-law and mother-in-law, Ansell and Nadine Phillippo, 2 brothers-in-law, David Smith and Denny Stinson.
Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mcmullinyoung.com

County Approved Levy and Budget

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Tax Levy Increased $100,000

•November 27, 2019•
By Mike Brothers

The Moultrie County Board approved the FY2020 Budget and Levy at the Nov. 14 meeting.
County board and budget committee chair Dave McCabe explained that although the proposed total tax levy for the county had increased by $100,000 over the previous levy to $2,740,000 the amount is $38,533 below the 105% increase that would require Truth in Taxation notice and hearing.
Board member Tyler Graven requested McCabe to review the previous levy amounts which totaled $2,635,500. The board voted 5 to 3 for the 2020 tax levy. Read More

Obituaries 11-27-2019: Megan M. Thompson

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Megan M. Thompson

Megan M. Thompson, 32, of Monticello, peacefully entered the Lord’s presence on November 19, 2019 at home surrounded by her family. Megan was born July 8th, 1987 in Decatur, IL the daughter of Steve and Paula Buxton. Megan graduated from Sullivan High School in 2005. She then went on to graduate from Lincoln Christian University with a B.S. in Intercultural Studies and Business Administration where she also was a 4-year member of the LCU basketball team.
Megan married Charlie Thompson on May 19th, 2012. Read More

Lovington Village Board Discuss Drainage and Sidewalks

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•November 27, 2019•
The Lovington village board met Oct. 14 with Pastor Mike Carriger of Maranatha Church on North Broadway, Lovington offering to get involved in community events.
Pastor Carriger explained the church offered hot dogs, chips, a drink and a treat as a drive thru project for Halloween. Trustee Pan Anklam, who is an officer in Sparrows, offered to get with the pastor to let him know the needs in the community.
In the absence of President Roger Walker, trustee Dennis Garmon reported that the sidewalk project is nearing completion.
Trustee Gary Clem noted the good price the village received from Brad Eaton allowed additional sidewalks on High Street.
Garmon reported the village could clean up the burned house on State Street and attach a lien to the property.
Roots that clogged the storm sewer on the Rte. 32 curve will have to be removed and the drainage tile replaced with Trustee Clem reporting President Walker was working with several people on the project. Read More

SBL Health Screenings

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•November 27, 2019•
SBL Lincolnland Home Care and Lincolnland Hospice will conduct a free blood pressure clinic from 8:30 to 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 19, 2019 at the Senior Center, Sullivan. For more information, call Lincolnland Home Care at 1-800-879-3212.
SBL Lincolnland Home Care, Lincolnland Hospice and Lincolnland Home Medical will sponsor bingo from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. following the blood pressure clinic.
Please note: If the schools are closed due to adverse weather, the senior center will also be closed.