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OV Volleyball Takes Third at LSA Tournament

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•September 18, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

Okaw Valley volleyball team defeated Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond last Tuesday, lost to Villa Grove Thursday and finished 4-1 to bring home the third-place trophy from the LSA Invitational Saturday.
“We started this season playing much more consistently than we have in the past,” OV coach Sarah McDowell said. “Our seniors have taken on their roles as the team leaders tremendously well and we have been able to add several players to our rotation smoothly after losing so many girls last year. We are starting to find out what works best for our offense and have been able to incorporate some new things as well.”
Senior middle hitter Kate Jeffers earned all-LSA Invitational team with her strong play in all five matches.
Against ALAH, the Timberwolves won in straight sets, 25-21, 25-16.
For OV, Kate Jeffers totaled 14 kills and six blocks, and Paige Coleman collected four kills, two blocks and five digs.
Grace Bunfill tallied 21 assists and five digs, and Macie Fleshner added seven kills and five digs.
April Decesaro led the team with nine kills, and Karson Park served two aces. Read More

Annual Senior Expo In Sullivan Draws Over 300 Visitors

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Senior Services Exec Dir Kathi Garvey(l), Assistant Vonnie Lee and Counselor Kim Adamson at Senior Expo.

•September 18, 2019•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Every last table in the Sullivan American Legion Hall was commandeered for seating and most of the vendors ran out of promotional items as over 300 senior citizens converged for the annual Senior Expo sponsored by the Mid-Illinois Senior Services September 13.
Griffin’s Catering prepared the free lunch of BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, baked beans, cole slaw and chocolate cake. The lunch was provided, as it has been for several years, by State Senator Chapin Rose and State Representative Brad Halbrook.
Some 20 members of the SHS Student Council volunteered to serve the meals so the seniors would not have to stand in a long lunch line.
Thirty vendors ringed the hall and offered an array of free promotional items such as umbrellas, hats, pill cases, note pads, key chains, plastic shopping bags and coin purses. The vendors also had drawings for many door prizes which are always favorites of the attendees. Read More

Redskins Football Continue to Improve

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Photo by R. R. Best
Redskin Luke Vander Burgh crossed the goal line for SOV.

•September 18, 2019•
Despite dropping its first three games of the season, the Sullivan-Okaw Valley football has shown improvement not only from last year to this year but also from the first game.
In Friday night’s game, Warrensburg-Latham scored 14 points in the first quarter to take an early lead.
Sullivan scored in the second quarter when Luke Vander Burgh crossed the goal line and cut the lead to 14-7 before the half.
But a strong third quarter for the Cardinals put the game away.
W-L scored 15 points in the third and eventually won 29-7.
SOV will now prepare for Shelbyville at home game at Okaw Valley High School for Okaw Valley’s homecoming week.

Patriot’s Day: Life is Short, No Time for Hate

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Photo by Mike Brothers
The Patriot’s Day ceremony at Sullivan High School on Wednesday, Sept. 11 honored all area first responders and military personnel. The 18th annual observation was coordinated by Rebecca Lawson’s Career English and Mirror Images students.

•September 18, 2019•
By Mike Brothers

The Sullivan High School Patriot’s Day observation Wednesday, Sept. 11 emphasized from tragedy, we learn that life is short and there is no time for hate.
Kelsie Allen, from the host Mirror Images class, reminded the student assembly of the words of the wife of the pilot of Flight 93 that went down Sept. 11, 2001.
A strong reminder of how fragile life is and the importance of Scott’s Law was relayed by Illinois State Police District 10 Commander Louis Kink.
Dillon Wallace of Rebecca Lawson’s Mirror Images group introduced ISP Social Media Coordinator Tracy Lillard and Commander Kink who recalled a tragic day after Thanksgiving in 2012.
Lillard told the audience she became physically ill when she heard about Trooper Kyle Deathrages accident on Interstate 55 that morning. “My heart was broken for his wife and two children,” Lillard recalled. Read More

Okaw Valley Golf Team Places in Third

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•September 18, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Okaw Valley golf team dropped a match against Arcola/ALAH Monday and placed third in a quadrangular against St Anthony, Shelbyville and Meridian last Tuesday.
Against Arcola at the Kaskaskia Country Club, Arcola/ALAH shot a 168, while OV totaled 193.
Dallas Sisk was the medalist with a 39. Read More

Drive to Help Christ’s Pantry

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•September 18, 2019•

Lovington area residents are given a chance to participate in a food drive on Saturday, October 5.
The Food and Cash Drive benefits Christ’s Pantry and will be held in the middle of Lovington from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. Oct. 5.
Food and monetary donations may be taken to the Lovington American Legion prior to the event. Hours are from Mon-Sat. and at 1:00 p.m. Sundays.
Donations may also be mailed to Christ’s Pantry c/o Sparrows at P.O. Box 742, Lovington, IL 61937.
For more information call Barry at 217/433-6123.

Menu 9-18-19

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Senior Peace Meal
Call 1-800-543-1770

Mon., Sept. 23 - Chicken cordon bleu, mashed potatoes w/gravy, Italian green beans, dinner roll, pineapple chunks
Tues., Sept. 24 - Breakfast casserole, applesauce, fruit juice, connamon roll, cranberries
Wed., Sept. 25 - Ham salad, creamy broccoli soup, gelatin w/fruit, assorted crackers, peaches.
Thurs., Sept. 26 - Sloppy Joe, midori blend veggies, corn, bun, apple slices
Fri., Sept. 27 - Pork tenderloin, potato casserole, mixed veggies, Texas toast, pears

Defense Tells the Tale in Knights/Pirates Clash

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•September 18, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond football team scored score 41 points in each of its first two games of the season.
But Friday night against Cumberland, it was the defenses that prevailed in a game that came down to the last play.
In its second-straight home game, ALAH’s defense held the Pirates to 13 points, but the Knights’ offense could not push the ball into the end zone in a 13-7 loss.
“Great game, great atmosphere,” ALAH coach Ryan Jefferson said. “Had a playoff feel to it. Came down to the wire.”
ALAH’s defense gave up a touchdown reception on the first drive of game and a fourth-quarter touchdown.
The Knights tied the score at 7-7 in the second quarter. Read More

County Board To Take Up Issue Of Recreational Marijuana In Moultrie County

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•September 18, 2019•
High Tax for Getting High

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

At the regular board meeting on September 12 chairman Dave McCabe reminded the Moultrie County Board that they will need to take up the issue of legalized recreational marijuana in Moultrie County.
The new Illinois law, Cannabis Regulation Tax Act (CRTA), takes effect January, 2020. The comprehensive 610-page bill sets forth rules and regulations by which counties and municipalities will tax and regulate the sale of recreational marijuana. Read More

Fiscal Chaos Looms for Illinois; It’s Time for Politically Difficult Measures

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•September 18, 2019•
By Jim Nowlan
Capital News Service

The only way for Illinois to avoid a fiscal apocalypse is to create a powerful, independent board that would administer bitter budget medicine. Lawmakers would be required to take a single vote — up or down, with no amendments ­­— on the prescriptions. Why so draconian, Nowlan?
First, the Legislature has never once in the past 20 years adopted an honest balanced budget. Obviously, the Legislature lacks the will to solve our problem. The result is the equivalent of $60,000 of debt and unfunded future obligations for each household in Illinois (at three people per), according to Truth in Accounting, a CPA-led research group.
Second, if the 2020 election vote on Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s proposed new tax on high-income earners fails, fiscal chaos is likely to follow. Unpaid bills would balloon beyond the present $7 billion. Bond houses would declare our debt junk. Businesses would shun the state because of uncertainty about their future taxes. Read More