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A Moving Tribute to the American Spirit Presented to Sullivan School Board

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•January 22, 2020•
By Ariana Cherry
for The News Progress

Sullivan High School student, Blake Thompson presented his winning Voice of Democracy speech at the Sullivan Community Unit 300 Dist. board meeting. Thompson competed and won the district competition and will be presenting his speech at the state competition in Springfield in February.
SES teacher Jennifer Hobbs coordinated the event, and SHS English teacher Becky Lawson was his sponsoring teacher.
“His speech on what makes America great is a moving tribute to the American spirit,” commented Sullivan High School Principal Daniel Allen.
The board discussed the changes to the district’s Course Description Book for the 2020-2021 school year, which were approved.
The Sullivan Elementary School building is over 20 years old and the floor tile has been starting to show some wear and will need replaced. Read More

Two Wins for Okaw Valley Girls Basketball Team

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•January 22, 2020•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Okaw Valley girls’ basketball team defeated Cumberland and Villa Grove this week to improve its overall record to 8-16.
Thursday, Jan. 16, the Timberwolves picked up a Lincoln Prairie Conference road win against Cumberland.
After falling behind 10-6 in the first quarter, OV went on a 16-4 run in the second quarter for a 22-14 halftime lead.
The Timberwolves had a strong third quarter then held on the rest of the way for the 44-34.
Bailey Bennett and Mia Harris led OV’s scoring with 13 points each.
Kate Jeffers also hit double digits with 11 points, while Lexie Bartimus netted five points. Read More

Windows to Heaven Celebration of Life at SBL

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•January 22, 2020•
The annual Windows to Heaven celebration of life, a memorial program that honors children who have died, will be held at 10 am on Saturday, February 8, in Lumpkin Family Center for Health Education at Sarah Bush Lincoln.
This service is open to anyone who has suffered the loss of a child and will feature a remembrance slide show. If you wish to attend, please contact bereavement counselor Resa Ware at 800-454-4055 or rware@sblhs.org so we can include your child’s name in the slide show.
Inspired by a Swedish children’s song, Windows to Heaven is a series of beautifully handcrafted windows from which an artist’s rendition of the brilliant night sky filled with stars can be seen. Its permanent home is in the chapel at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center. Read More

Menu 1-22-2020

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Senior Peace Meal

For additional information or for reservations, please call 1-800-543-1770

Monday, January 27 - Savory sausage stew w/beans, seasoned carrots, biscuits, spiced apple rings

Tuesday, January 28 - Fried chicken, mashed potatoes w/gravy, breaded tomatoes, dinner roll, seasonal dessert

Wednesday, January 29 - Ravioli w/meat sauce, broccoli, corn, whole grain wheat (1), pudding

Thursday, January 30 - Salisbury beef pattie, mashed potatoes, spinach, dinner roll, banana bread w/cream cheese

Friday, January 31 - Pulled pork sandwich, baked beans, fruit juice, bun, scalloped potatoes

FFA Reaches Members With a Diversity of Lessons

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•January 22, 2020•
By Wyatt Miller
Boy Scout Troop #39

If I had to give a speech to my school, I would choose the benefits of FFA.
My speech would sound similar to the following: In many towns across the United States, members of a club gather.
Blue corduroy jackets and crisp white shirts cover every member.
All participants repeat a pledge.
Each person has a role to play in order for the club to succeed.
What is this group?
The corduroy clad congregation is the FFA. It was established in 1928 the organization began with 33 original representatives and has since grown to 700,170 registered members in 2019 according to the National FFA Organization. FFA is known country-wide for livestock showing competitions. Read More

Feast of the Epiphany

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Photo furnished
Feast of the Epiphany
On Saturday, January 4 Saint Columcille parishioners were blessed with a visit from the Magi (from left to right: Ron Auer, Rob Farabaugh, and Duane Deters)!
Catholics bless their home on the Feast of the Epiphany by marking above the doorway with blessed chalk and pray for God’s blessing during the coming year. An Epiphany Party was enjoyed by all in the Parish Center.

Recent Obituaries: Margaret Koehnke

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Margaret Koehnke

Margaret F. Koehnke, 94, of Sullivan, passed away 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, January 21, 2020 in Mason Point, Sullivan.

Celebration of Life services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday at the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan with Pastor Glenn Strohschein officiating. Burial will be in the Moultrie County Memorial Park, Bethany. Vistiation will be from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Friday. Memorials are suggested to the Faith Lutheran Church, Sullivan or to Moultrie County PAWS. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.

Mrs. Koehnke was born October 27, 1925 in Moultrie County, Illinois, the daughter of Robert L. and Dorothy B. Crouch Matheson. Margaret was a homemaker. She had also worked at Brown Shoe Company in Sullivan and at the Bennett School in Mattoon. Margaret had been a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Mattoon and had attended the Faith Lutheran Church in Sullivan. She married Erwin C. Koehnke on February 1, 1952 in Sullivan and he preceded her in death on October 31, 1976.

Survivors include her sisters Dorothy Craig of Sullivan and Emogene Burrows of Sullivan; brother Dale Matheson of Tuscon, Arizona and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by three brothers and four sisters.

Three Win Week for ALAH

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•January 15, 2020•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond boys’ basketball team completed a three-game winning streak this week by defeating Cerro Gordo/Bement, Tri-County and Paris.
Monday night against Paris, the Knights finished the winning streak with a huge second-half comeback at home against the Tigers.
After a tied first quarter at 10, the Tigers outscored the Knights 15-2 to take a 25-12 halftime lead.
ALAH came out in the third and outscored Paris 22-10 to cut the lead to one.
In the fourth quarter, the Knights kept the momentum and pulled away in the fourth. Read More

SHS Agriculture Teacher is National Teacher of the Year Finalist

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Photo by Mike Brothers
SHS Agriculuture teacher honored at Jan. 9 assembly: left to right: Rod Stoll of Farm Credit IL, SHS Principal Daniel Allen, honoree Don Lockwood., State FFA Treasurer Emma Freebairn, State FFA President Gage Miller, and Shawnda Vega with Nationwide Sponsor Relations

•January 15, 2020•
Sullivan High School principal Daniel Allen opened the school assembly January 9 with an apology for gathering the student body under false pretenses.
In an unprecedented move students were called to an assembly for a reason which had been kept secret for days.
The secret was out at 2:30 p.m. Thursday and SHS Agriculture Teacher and FFA sponsor Don Lockwood was the reason.
Lockwood is a national finalist for the 2019-2020 Ag Educator of the Year honor through Nationwide’s Golden Owl Award.
As a finalist, Lockwood was presented with a $500 cash prize and plaque in front of fellow teachers and students. Read More

Obituaries 1-15-2020: Paul Romano

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Paul Romano

F. Paul Romano, 97, of Decatur, formerly of Sullivan, passed away December 28, 2019, in St. Mary’s Hospital surrounded by family and friends. Visitation and mass were at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Decatur followed by Mass with burial in Marrowbone Twp. Cemetery.
Paul was born September 23, 1922, in Decatur to Rocco and Domenica Romano, immigrants of Tricarico, Italy, in 1914. He shared their story at every opportunity. Paul was married to Adelyn Ekiss of Decatur in 1955; their daughter Vicki (Chuck) Schroeder lives in Sequim, Washington; Adelyn died in 1974. He married Dorothy Freeman of Sullivan in 1986 and became a devoted stepfather to Barry (Janet) Freeman and Larry (Janet) Freeman and joyful grandfather to Terri (Darren) Via and their three children. Dorothy died in 2001. Read More