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Sullivan Golf Team Knocks off Teutopolis Finish 26-0 for Season

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Aiden Short stands over his par putt to finish his round with a 41 at Ironhorse in Tuscola.

•October 2, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Sullivan boys’ golf team finished the regular season 26-0 by knocking off Teutopolis 158-196 Monday.
Logan Westjohn was Medalist with a score of 39, and Leyton Ellis also shot a 39.
Drew Rogers and Aiden Short each followed with a score of 40.
Camden Dwyer shot a 42, and Gary Herschberger carded a 46.
Thursday (26th), Sullivan defeated Tuscola, Tri-Valley, and St. Teresa with a score of 161 at Ironhorse.
Rogers scored a 37, and Westjohn followed with a 39.
Short shot a 41, and Ellis and Dwyer each carded a 44.
Gary Herschberger round out the team score with a 45. Read More

2019 SHS Homecoming Candidates

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SHS Homecoming Candidates
King & Queen Candidates front row from left:  Ashlyn Bennett, Avery Still, Erin Wallace, Jessica Williamson. Back row from left:  Zane Gardner, Luke Harlin, Hunter Taber, Dillon Wallace.
Homecoming Attendants are Freshman Molly Dendy & Paul Bates, Sophomores Morgan Moll & Camden Dwyer, Juniors Haylee Faulkner & Kanin Elder. SHS Homecoming parade begins at 4:00 p.m,. Friday with coronation ceremonies at the Homecoming Dance Saturday, Oct. 5.

Moultrie Moment of the Week

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Pictured above is the Lovington IOOF building. It was destroyed by a rainstorm in August of 1965. It was originally built in 1911 by Hagerman & Harshman and replaced the wood frame IOOF building that burned in 1910. It was on the south side of state street across from the East End. The building was razed in Oct 1965. 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.

Oktoberfest Cometh

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•October 2, 2019•

Oktoberfest is returning to the Sullivan square beginning with the 6:00 p.m. Friday Oct. 18th parade.
On Friday Artoberfest and Kids Corner opens with Inflatables and bumper cars.
Entertaining are The Northenders at the main stage beginning at 6:30 followed by the Feudin Hillibillies in the beer tent at 8:00p.m.
Saturday the 19th opens with the Sullivan Fire District Pancake and Sausage Breakfast from 6:00 to 10:00 a.m.
The SMS Interact 5K starts at 9:00 a.m. with Greg Ridenhour providing Gospel Music on the main state at 12:30 p.m.
The chili cook off starts at high noon with judging from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Wine tasting at 5 West Lounge is noon to 9:00 p.m.
The Sullivan FFA pedal tractor pull is at 2:00 p.m.
Drew Cagle is on the main stage at 6:00 p.m. with Page Mackenzie performing in the beer tent at 8:00 p.m.
Artoberfest and Chili Cookoff winners are announced at 7:30 p.m. This annual event is organized by Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development.

Why so Much Red Ink in Illinois Budgets?

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•October 2, 2019•
By Jim Nowlan
NP Guest Columnist

In response to a recent essay of mine about our state’s parlous load of debt and unfunded obligations, a reader asked: Why so much red ink? The answer lies in an unsavory stew of human nature; our state’s political tradition of careerist politicians, and the political self-admonition of “not on my watch.”
When I was a graduate student decades ago, I recall a seminar with political psychologist Harold Lasswell. He said that people who enter political life have, generally speaking, an even stronger desire than folks in other pursuits to be approved of, liked. It’s human nature, of course, but accentuated.
Second, in Illinois somewhat more than in most states, many people who enter politics do so with the objective of making political life their primary pursuit. This has been true in both Chicago politics as well as in hard-scrabble, deep southern Illinois. From Houses Speaker Mike Madigan and Alderman Ed Burke in Chicago to former Secretary of State Paul Powell in tiny Vienna, elected officials have gotten rich through politics.
So, elected officials have a strong need to do things for voters (spend money on them) and not do things to them (increase taxes to pay for the spending). Read More

Blue Days Follow as Community Mourns Tragic Accident

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Photo by R.R. Best
The Sullivan community joined together at the elementary school on Sunday, mourning the loss of kindergartener Tyson Mendoza. Reading prayers printed on Tyson’s favorite color blue paper are Lindsay Williamson, Sarah Crist and Amanda Sanner. They were joined at the interfaith service encircling the school building, locking hands in prayer at the Sullivan Ministerial Association organized gathering.

•October 2, 2019•
By Mike Brothers

It was a blue Monday at Sullivan Schools with nearly a thousand students dressed in blue honoring five year old kindergarten student Tyson Mendoza, who died in a Friday afternoon traffic accident.
Supt. Ted Walk, in his weekly column, explained teachers, bus drivers, and support staff gave up the weekend to help prepare for the task of comforting his classmates.
On Sunday an interfaith prayer gathering at Sullivan Elementary School drew a large enough crowd to encircle the school building locking hands in prayer for his rural Windsor family and the family of the school teacher who also died in the crash.
According to the Illinois State Police Dist. 10 news release from Trooper Joseph Rush at 3:39 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27 a 2014 Ford Escape stopped at the intersection of CR800N and proceeded east into the path of a southbound Yellow Bird School bus transporting 11 Sullivan school children. Read More

Sweet Taste of Victory for SHS Volleyball Team

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•October 2, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

It has been awhile.
But the Sullivan volleyball team tasted a conference victory for the first time in more than two years.
The Redskins defeated Warrensburg-Latham 12-25, 25-13, 25-17 last Tuesday.
Avery Still led the team with 11 kills and two blocks.
Zoe Walton hit five kills, and Raegen Sims hit six.
Emily White finished with seven digs and 20 assists. Read More

National English Honor Society at SHS 2019

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National English Honor Society at SHS
NEHS proudly accepted 17 new members for the 2019-20 school year.  On Sept. 23 14 of the new members were inducted.  Due to a conflict with the golf team, three will be inducted at a later date.  All new members, alphabetized by grade level are as follows: Sophomores- Benjamin Bushue, Raimi Gardner, Lilly Graham, Katie Honchell, Maddison Hopper, Jesse Kirk, Clayton Schmohe, Khushpreet Sian, Caprice Smith, Aaron Stutzman, Morgan Wallace, Sydney Williamson. Juniors- Brea Farris, Ian Plank, Andrew Rogers. Seniors- Kiley Will, Wrin Wallace.

Obituary 10-2-2019: Tyson Mendoza

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Tyson Mendoza

Tyson Gabriel Javier Mendoza, age 5, of Gays passed away at 4:01 p.m. on Friday, September 27, 2019.
Funeral services honoring his life will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 3, 2019 at Schilling Funeral Home with Pastor Joe Stephens officiating. Burial will follow at Resthaven Memorial Gardens. Visitation for family and friends will be held from 11:00 a.m. until time of service Thursday.
Tyson’s family welcomes anyone attending to wear his favorite color blue in honor of Tyson.
Tyson was born on December 19, 2013 in Mattoon the son of Ciara Jean Bowers and Marcos Antonio Mendoza.