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Project H.E.L.P. Preschool Round Up

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•February 17, 2021•

Each year, Project H.E.L.P. and the Okaw Valley School District offer free developmental screenings for two to five year olds to provide parents the opportunity to discover how their child is developing in the areas of speech, language, concepts and motor skills. Vision and hearing screenings will also be provided free of charge. This year the screenings will be held on Thursday, March 4 and Friday, March 5 at First Christian Church, 312 W. South Water in Bethany. For an appointment call Stacie Hill at 665-3541.

Demolition on Titus Home Expected to Take 3-4 Weeks Depending on Weather

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Photo by R.R. Best

•February 17, 2021•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The demolition process began last week at the site of the Titus home. According to Sullivan City Administrator Dan Flannell, the demolition is expected to be completed within three-four weeks.
The brick and concrete from the structure will be removed to the city of Sullivan’s storage lot where it will be ground up and repurposed. The property will not be for sale and will stay in the inventory of the city long term.
Flannell said that the demolition crew is avoiding the disturbance of trees and plantings on the property, and a small metal garage will remain in place as storage for the park system.
According to a biography written by R. Eden Martin, the Titus home was built by Winnifred Titus’s father, J.B. Titus, in 1895, replacing an earlier and small four-room structure on the same site. The new house was a home for J.B., his wife Louise, Winnie (22 in 1895) and Louise’s aged mother Wilhelmina. After Winnie returned from Europe in 1910, she lived with her parents in that home where she offered piano lessons to her students. Read More

OV Girls Basketball Wins Against Argenta-Oreana

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•February 17, 2021•
by Jason Brown
NP Sports

After defeating Argenta-Oreana for its first win of the season, the Okaw Valley girls’ basketball team dropped its next two games.
The Timberwolves knocked off Argenta-Oreana 38-24 for its first overall win and first Lincoln Prairie Conference win.
Okaw Valley took a 12-4 first quarter lead and 12-5 in the second quarter and never looked back.
For the Timberwolves, sophomore Lexie Bartimus scored a game-high 13 points.
Junior Mia Harris hit double digits with 11 points, and freshman Rissa Montgomery contributed six points.
Sophomores Avery Bruns and Bailey Bennett each scored four points. Read More

When Your Valentine is a Heart-Healthy Cereal

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•February 17, 2021•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer

My wife walked into my ersatz office Tuesday morning while I was between meetings and proffered her spoon.
Is this one I send shuddering down the garbage disposal, I thought?
And then I saw it: a lone, misshapen Cheerio.
“It was the last one in the bowl,” she said. “Look.”
Pareidolia strikes again!
On Wednesday morning, my wife shared with me a Cheerios ad on the TV that announced General Mills had begin adding heart-shaped Cheerios to its boxes to spice things up.
So, it was not an example of pareidolia at all. Read More

Obituaries 2-17-2021: Larry McKown

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Larry McKown

Larry Lee McKown, 74, passed away Saturday, February 13, 2021, at Beverly Farms in Godfrey, Illinois.
Larry was born April 22, 1946, in Decatur, a son of Donald and Fern (Bolin) McKown.
Larry grew up on the family farm north of Sullivan and attended Sullivan schools. He was the first client at the Moultrie County Beacon and for many years a resident in group homes in Sullivan. Read More

Obituaries 2-17-2021: Don Matheson

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Don Matheson

Don W. Matheson, 89, of Sullivan passed away at 6:40 a.m. Thursday, February 11, 2021, at his home in rural Sullivan.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, February 16 at McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan. Burial was in Greenhill Cemetery in Sullivan, with military rites by Sullivan American Legion Post #68. Memorials may be made to Southern Baptist Church in Sullivan. Read More

Austin Kelley wins Moultrie County Spelling Bee

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Photo submitted
Moultrie County Spelling Bee Champion Austin Kelley with a book he got to help prepare him for the bee. Austin is the son of RJ and Dawn Kelley.

•February 17, 2021•
The Moultrie County Spelling Bee was held last Wednesday virtually using the Scripps online platform. Students participating in the virtual bee were from Lovington Grade and the Sullivan School District.
Sullivan School District participants were James Conlin, Austin Kelley, Hannah Creek, Brady Stollard, Landon Jesse, Xandria Smith. Alternates were Rowan Mast and Nixon Dundee. Lovington Grade School participants were Isabella Menna, Brian Hadley, Rylie Pitts, Macelyn Boddy, Maxton Boddy and Jacob Hurt. Alternates were Makenna Liming and Samantha Fowler.
Austin Kelley from Sullivan School District was named the Moultrie County Spelling Bee Champion. Runner-up was Maxton Boddy from Lovington Grade School. Austin will advance to the Regional Spelling Bee on Saturday, March 13 at 9 am at Richland Community College in Decatur.

Okaw Valley Boys Basketball Posts Wins

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•February 17, 2021•
by Jason Brown
NP Sports

The Okaw Valley boys’ basketball team improved its overall record to 4-1 and its Lincoln Prairie Conference with blowout wins against Tri-County and Blue Ridge.
Friday night, the Timberwolves took care of Tri-County 53-32.
Okaw Valley took an 18-14 first quarter lead and extended that lead to 30-22 at the half.
The Timberwolves extended that lead to double digits in the third quarter, then outscored the Titans 14-4 in the final period.
Every Okaw Valley player scored at least one point.
Eli Hagerman scored a team-high 17 points, including three 3-pointers in the first quarter, and Cale Roley hit double digits with 14 points. Read More