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Dove Lights Candles

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•October 23, 2019•

Dove invites you to join us for our 19th Annual Candle Lighting Ceremony, “Journey to Justice”. At this service, we will mourn those who have suffered and died through domestic violence and celebrate with the survivors and those working to end the abuse. This ceremony takes place in October as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
The ceremony will be held Tuesday, October 29, 2019, at the United Methodist Church, 210 W. Jefferson, Sullivan. The service will begin at 7:00 p.m. and will include remarks from coordinator Mary Hughes, music, and the lighting of the candles.
For additional information, please call 728-9303.
Support Coats for Kids! Now through November 30th.

First Christian Church Prepares for Holiday Market

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•October 23, 2019•

The First Christian Church of Sullivan will hold their 2019 Holiday Market on Saturday, Nov. 2, from 9:00 to 1:30 pm. Lunch will be available from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.
Raffle tickets for a “Sullivan Redskins” quilt are on sale now. The 65” square quilt was designed and pieced by Sharon White, an FCC member, with shirts donated by church members & friends. Tickets are available at First Community Bank (see Kim Smith), at Cathrine’s Gallery, or see Judy Sumner. You can also purchase raffle tickets at the church office, where the quilt is on display, and all day at the Holiday Market until it ends at 1:30 pm. Read More

ALAH Knights Secure Playoff Eligibility in Back and Forth Match

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•October 23, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond football team secured playoff eligibility two weeks ago but could not secure an automatic playoff berth with a tough 42-34 road loss at Argenta-Oreana Friday.
The Knights stayed in the game with their offense that totaled more than 400 yards, but their defense gave up a couple big plays too many in a back-and-forth game.
“With the exception of their last touchdown, which was a 1-yard run, all of their other scores were long plays,” said ALAH coach Ryan Jefferson. “For the most part, we bottled them up and didn’t give them much, but then they would bust a long one and take the momentum.” Read More

Three Win Week for Okaw Valley Volleyball

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•October 23, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Okaw Valley volleyball team won three games this past week.
The Timberwolves defeated Meridian, Cumberland and Sangamon.
Against Meridian, OV knocked off the Hawks 25-17, 25-13.
Grace Bunfill recorded 17 assists and two digs, and Kate Jeffers had seven kills and three blocks.
Macie Fleshner added eight digs and six kills, while Paige Coleman contributed four kills, seven digs and an ace. Read More

Gingerichs’ Harvest Parade

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Photo by R.R. Best
Gingerichs’ Harvest Parade
Gingerich Farms of Lovington used a parade of combines to make big progress on the soybean harvest over the weekend. In South Central Illinois soybeans price ranged from $8.80 to $9.08 a bushel while corn was $3.65 to $3.87 with the average soybean price $8.94 and corn $3.78 on October 21. Corn was three cents lower and soybeans down a penny.

Recent Obituaries: Jim Wheeler

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Jim Wheeler

Jim Wheeler, 85, Sullivan, IL, died Tuesday, October 22, 2019, at St. Mary’s Hospital.
Jim was born April 11, 1934, in Decatur, the son of James E. and Nona (Sanders) Wheeler. While living in Greenville, Il., his mother died and Jim moved to Bethany to live with his grandparents, Otis and Clara Wheeler. He married Donna Shank in 1956 and had three sons, Brad, Kris and Derk. Donna died in 1991, after a long illness. Jim married Ann Poland in June 1994.
While a young man, Jim, like his father and grandfather, started a commercial and residential construction company. He, along with his friend attorney Robert M. White, was responsible for the first retail IGA complex and the Quick Plastics commercial building in Sullivan. He also built the education building for the Sullivan First United Methodist Church.
In 1963 Jim joined his father-in-law, Owen Shank, in the road maintenance business in Mattoon. Later he and his sons operated Earl Walker, Inc., a road maintenance business in Sullivan.
Jim was a member of the Moultrie County Merit Commission for 33 years and served on many First United Methodist Church boards. He was appointed to the Sullivan City Council and served as a member of the Vocational Board at the Sullivan High School. He also served on the board of the Sullivan Country Club.
He is survived by his wife Ann, sons Brad (Tammie), Kris (Shelly), and Derk (Nicole Atchison) and grandchildren Ben, Hannah, Jed and Gus. Other survivors include his sister and brother-in-law, Phyllis and George Stall of Summerville, SC, and their daughters Jennifer (Harold) Albo and Janene (Cliff) Keefe; sister-in-law Georgia (Rex) Ashbrook and niece Missa (Michael) Cook. Jim shared a close relationship with Gene Compton of Mattoon.
A memorial service will be 2:00 p.m.,Sunday, October 27, 2019, in the Sullivan First United Methodist Church sanctuary followed by a private family burial.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Sullivan Food Bank, Mary’s Weekend Food Bags, or to the Sullivan First United Methodist Church.

Recent Obituaries: William Crum

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William Crum

William Paul “Bill” Crum, 81, passed from his earthly life to his heavenly home, 12:50 a.m. Thursday, October 17, 2019 at the Mattoon Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center. He had been a resident there for the past three years.

Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. Monday, October 21, 2019, at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Sunday at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan. Burial will be in the Oakland Cemetery, Oakland. Memorials may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation: 200 SE 1st Street, Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131 or to Mattoon Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center: 2121 S. 9th Street, Mattoon, IL 61938

Bill was born on August 7th, 1938 on a farm in rural Oakland, to Paul and Edith (Hawkins) Crum. Bill was the oldest of four children to this union. Doris Crum Reinhart of Mattoon, Donald (Monica) Crum of La Grange, IN, and Patricia Cozad of Sunrise Lakes, FL. Also surviving are four nephews and a niece.

Bill graduated from BHS in May 1957. He started as a mechanic at Red Hanna’s Garage in Brocton. He then worked for Roger Bridges as a mechanic for about 47 years. He retired following an automotive accident. He continued working in his own shop in Windsor as a small engine repairman. He worked at this until Parkinson’s Disease made it impossible for him to continue.

He spent the last years of his life in an assisted living home and a nursing home in Mattoon.

Bill was a family person, loved his work, both as a hobby and an occupation. He was a faithful member of Smyser Christian Church in rural Gays.

Recent Obituaries: Pattie Wood

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Pattie Wood

Pattie F. Wood, 85, of Lovington, passed away at 11:50 a.m. Wednesday October 16, 2019 in Mason Point in Sullivan
Celebration of Life services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday in the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan with Pastor Rodney Houser officiating. Visitation will be from 9 - 11 a.m. Saturday. Burial will be in the Keller Cemetery, Lovington. Memorials are suggested the Lovington Ambulance Service, the Moultrie County Relay for Life or to the Lovington Church of God. Please send online condolences to the family atreedfuneralhome.net.
Pattie was born March 15, 1934 in Lovington the daughter of Herschel and Nannie Harlin Carter. She had worked at the Moultrie Independent Telephone Company and was a member of the Lovington Church of God. Pattie married Edward ‘Ed’ E. Wood on January 13, 1951 in Pochahontas, Arkansas and he preceded her in death on November 2, 2005.
Surviving are her children, Vickie (Steve) Mechling of Logansport, Indiana, Keith (Brenda) Wood of Lovington, Steve (Potae) Wood of Chicago, Judy (Larry) Austin of Mt. Zion; fourteen grandchildren; twenty three great grandchildren and a great great granddaughter and special friend Dorthea Wood of Decatur.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sister, brother, grandson and great granddaughter.

Grain Pricing

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•October 16, 2019•

At ADM in Sullivan prices on Oct. 11, 2019.
Cash price for corn is $3.95. Soybeans $9.00.
Okaw Farmers Coop in Sullivan and Lovington.
Oct corn $3.88; January $3.98. Soybeans Oct. $8.86; Jan $9.00.

Moultrie County Board Strays from Pay Policy in Split Vote

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•October 16, 2019•
By Mike Brothers

During the Moultrie County Board discussion on salary and bonus recommendations Oct. 10 prior to the vote on a tentative budget, the county’s pay policy was tested.
Treasurer Stephanie Helmuth requested a $1000 bonus for first deputy Michelle Liddiard. Helmuth is the newly elected Republican treasurer and explained Liddiard was instrumental in the transition.
Circuit Clerk Christa Helmuth explained that the circuit clerk’s office, county clerk’s office and supervisor of assessments were all called on to donate staff to the Treasurer’s office.
Retired Democrat treasurer Marci Thompson had agreed to help with the office transition and the board had budgeted for that, but the new treasurer elected to use her a limited amount, saving the line item in her budget.
The circuit clerk explained it was not fair for the other offices to donate services in order to allow the treasurer to give bonuses.
Supervisor of assessments Lori Barringer reminded the board that her request for bonuses for office staff during her transition was turned down by the board, demonstrating inconsistency in the policy. Read More