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Troop 39 Holds Court of Honor

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Photo furnished
Pictured Front row (L to R) Carson Nixon, Idrees Al-Arab; middle row: Jack Woolen, Ulrich Harshman, Anderson Crouse, Curtis Kite, Andrew Kirk, Ryan Bailey; back row: Trenton Harlin, Seth Webner, Nathan Tighe, Max Harner, Beau Fleming, Jacob Bettinger, Wyatt Miller.

•November 13, 2019•

On October 21st Troop 39 held their Court of Honor at the Boy Scout cabin in Wyman Park with family and siblings in attendance.
During the second week of July, 15 scouts from the Troop attended Boy Scout Summer camp at Rhodes-France Scout Reservation in Pana, IL. They completed and received 40 merit badges between them.
While at camp the Troop participated and completed the Duty to God program including attending Chapel service, daily devotionals and leading the camp in saying Grace before a meal.
Idrees Al-Arab completed the mile swim award. The Troop won Splash-O-Rama and the Troop 39 Patrol won the Scout Olympics over-all. While at camp, five Scouts were called out to be inducted into the Order of The Arrow. They are Jacob Bettinger, Beau Fleming, Wyatt Miller, Nathan Tighe & Seth Webner. Read More

Food Pantry Chocolate Fundraiser Offers Sweet Chance to Help

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Flesor’s Candy Kitchen crew is working day and night getting special gifts ready for the pre Thanksgiving Flesor’s Candy Sale in Sullivan to benefit the Moultrie County Food Pantry.

•November 13, 2019•
By Cara Melapple
for the News Progress

Flesor’s Candy Kitchen hand dipped Chocolate Fund Raiser returns to Cathrine’s Gallery in Sullivan for the eighth year Saturday, Nov. 23 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
“This year the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is tight,” Devon Flesor said, explaining Christmas orders can be placed during the fundraising event for the Moultrie County Food Pantry in Sullivan.
The Tuscola candy kitchen is celebrating its 15th anniversary, offering more of their hand made gifts for Moultrie County visitors. Everyone at the candy kitchen is putting in a special effort for the 15th anniversary of sisters Devon and Anne reopening the candy kitchen started by their grandfather Gus in 1901. Read More

New Pastor for Sullivan First Baptist Church

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Pictured is Rev. Mark Bjornbak with wife Lucy.

•November 13, 2019•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Reverend Mark Bjornbak has been selected to serve the congregation of Sullivan’s First Baptist Church where he delivered his first sermon on October 3.
He grew up in Michigan and has been a church member his entire life. Of his early life he recalls, “My family had a business I could have entered but I knew from the age of 14 that the Lord had called me to the ministry.”
Bjornbak received his BA in Human Relations and Fine Arts from Judson University in Elgin, IL. It was there that he met his future wife, Lucy Lane, from Sullivan. He majored in human relations because he wanted to know about working with people before entering seminary.
After completing his Masters in Divinity at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY Pastor Bjornbak began his service at Calvary Baptist Church in Elgin as the Sunday School Director and Youth Leader. Read More

AOC Volleyball Finishes Third

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AOC Volleyball Finishes Third
The Arthur-Okaw Christian Volleyball team finished the 2019 season with a 36-2 record and a third place finish in the National Association of Christian Athletes tournament.
The team started the season winning all four matches in the Arthur Christian Classic.
The Conquering Riders went on to win their first 17 matches before losing their only regular-season match against Goshen Home School Sept. 21.
Arthur-Okaw Christian then went on to win 19-straight games before losing to The Rock Lions Oct. 25.
AOC’s starting lineup consisted of two seniors, four sophomores and one freshman.
The team roster included senior Lyla Kauffman, senior Lindsey Mast, senior Chloe Tiarks, junior Alexis Cutler, junior Trinity Gregory, junior Susie Pickett, sophomore Chloe Mast, sophomore Ava Yoder, sophomore Halie Rhoades, sophomore Keisha Miller, sophomore Victoria Cisney, and freshman Liana Kauffman.

Moultrie Moment of the Week

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Pictured above are some Moultrie County WWII veterans in 2004. Front row: Gil Crawford, Bill Daily, Carroll Elliott, Everett Drummond, Cecil Crowe, Bud Cochran. 2nd row: Richard Booker, Shirley Osborne, Paul Hutchcraft, unknown, Hubert Walton, unknown, unknown. The rest of the rows are staggered but some of the names are: Row 3: Dwayne Bragg, Cletus Reed, Bruce Thomsen, “Toad” Kinney, Myron Haney, Bill Kidwell, Don Cochran, Dick Mills Row 4: Tom Jennings, Bob (?), Woody Spaugh, John Ruscin Lloyd Chappel, “Mush” Shirey, Row 5: Gerald Obrecht, Freeman Wildman, Richard Booker, Harry Woolen, Floyd Buckalew, Ed Courtright, Dick Brown, William Brown, Gene Rowe, Lynn Huntsburger. 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.

Democrats Offer Supper

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•November 13, 2019•

You are invited to join your friends and neighbors at the Democrat Spaghetti Supper held Friday, Nov. 15 at the Sullivan American Legion. Get your chances at the 50/50 raffle and remember Veterans and kids 12 and under eat free.
Doors open at 4:30 p.m., speakers begin at 6:00.

Superintendent-Y Stuff: A Walk with Mr. Walk

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•November 13, 2019•

By Ted Walk,
Supt. Sullivan CUSD #300

As we celebrate Veterans Day, the Sullivan School Community expresses its gratitude to all of those who have served our country.
Our teachers and staff members go above and beyond to pass this message on to our students. The appreciation for the members of our military is instilled early, and the programs that are hosted by all Sullivan students are one example that is very prominent. Read More

Help a Friend Benefit Nov. 23

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•November 13, 2019•

The Help a Friend Benefit for Edna Bailey begins with a Jeep/All vehicle run from 12:00 to 4:00p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23 from the Sullivan American Legion.
Line up for the run is at the Legion Post 68 parking lot on East Strain St. an noon.
Meal service and silent auction begins at 4:00 p.m. with the auction starting at 5:00 p.m. there is a 50/50 raffle, bake sale and entertainment by Roger Chapel and Chuck French beginning at 7:30 p.m.
All proceeds will go toward Edna’s surgery and medical bills.

IGA Round Up Breaks Record

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IGA Round Up Breaks Record

The eighth annual Sullivan IGA Roundup set an all time record Nov. 3 through Nov. 9.
IGA customers rounded up their grocery purchases to the next dollar totaling $1543 plus change, according to IGA manager Pat Stinson
That record donation to the Moultrie County Food Pantry will help make Thanksgiving better for more than a hundred families.
“The devotion of Sullivan IGA to the community is illustrated by the generosity of customers whose contributions from 99 cents to a penny which added up to help so many,” volunteer Turk Rounder said.
The Moultrie County Food Pantry and the families they serve thank everyone at Sullivan IGA for Round Up week and First Community Bank of Sullivan for promoting the record breaking effort in 2019.

Greenhill Clean Up Extended

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•November 13, 2019•

The Greenhill Cemetery in Sullivan will be completing fall clean up the week of Dec. 1, 2019.
The flower arrangement clean up is limited to season displays and excludes saddles, shepherd’s hooks and vase arrangements.
Those wanting to retrieve seasonal flower arrangements are encouraged to do so prior to Dec. 1.
Weather permitting after December 7 cemetery employees will clear remaining special arrangements from Greenhill Cemetery.