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Recent Obituaries: Nancy Miller

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Nancy Miller

Nancy E. Miller, 83, of Sullivan, passed away at 3:55 a.m. Tuesday December 24, 2019 in her residence.
Celebration of Life services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday in the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan with Pastor Mark Bjornbak officiating. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time on Friday. Burial will be in the Greenhill Cemetery, Sullivan. Memorials are suggested to the Sullivan First Baptist Church. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.
Nancy was born October 3, 1936 in Windsor, the daughter of Edward King and Ethel Harris King Colbert. She had worked at the First National Bank, the Ace Hardware and had been a bookkeeper for Wood and Mayberry Law Office in Sullivan. She was a member of the Sullivan First Baptist Church for over 50 years where she had served as a Deaconess, Treasurer and Sunday school teacher. Nancy had served as a Girl Scout Leader, a 4-H Leader and was very supportive of her children and grandchildren in all of their activities. She enjoyed sewing, doing hand work which included making beanies and sock monkeys for family and neighborhood children. She also enjoyed working in her flower garden. Nancy was a very courageous woman and an inspiration to all her entire life , particularly the last four years during her battle with cancer. Nancy married Billy Joe Miller on January 14, 1956 in Sullivan.
Surviving are her husband Billy Joe ‘B.J.’ Miller of Sullivan; son Michael Ray (Dawn) Miller of Arcola; daughters Rhonda (Tony) Cook of Rochester and Yvonne Miller-Lux (Russell Lux) of Notingham, PA; brothers Robert King of Mesa, AZ and Eddie (Teri) King of Windsor; sister Debra (Steve) Bland of Clinton; step mother Lottie King (John) of Windsor; grandchildren Elizabeth (Bill) Sanchez, Daniel Janssen, Eric (Caitlyn) Miller and, John Miller (Anneka); great grandchildren Reese Miller, Jackson Clark, Susana, Ross and Brandon Sanchez, Ross Henry Miller and Jude Miller; sisters -in-law Wilma (Everett) Austin of Clinton, MO and Hazel (J.C.) Shoemeyer of Monroe City, MO.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brother Steven King; sister Gloria Beabout and sister-in-law Donna King.

Recent Obituaries: Richard Casteel, Jr.

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Richard Casteel, Jr.

Richard “Rick” Casteel, Jr., 69, of Lovington got his angel wings at 5:21 p.m. December 23, 2019 at home.
Minister Steve Ingram will be doing the Celebration of Life services at 12:00 p.m. Saturday, December 28th, 2019, at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan; visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home in Sullivan. Burial will follow at Keller Cemetery, Lovington. Memorials may be made to SIU Alumni Association or Cancer Care Specialist of Decatur; 210 W. McKinley Ave Suite 1, Decatur, IL 62526.
Rick was born May 19, 1950, son of Richard T. and Ruenell Casteel. He married Connie Patrick, his high school sweetheart, on July 23, 1970. He loved his LHS Class of ’68 and graduated from SIUC in ’72. He worked at Firestone over 27 years and farmed all of his life with his Dad; when his Dad retired, he took over the farm. He was a member of the Hammond Church of Christ and a faithful attendee over 7.5 years at South Shore Christian Church. He loved God, family, country, and SIU Salukis Athletics and school.
He is survived by his wife Connie; children, Tonya (Ed) Irvin of Ellsworth, Carrie (Jason) Maretti of Pawnee, and Shaun Casteel of Lafayette; sisters, Nina Casteel of Lovington, Carolyn Casteel of Westerville, OH, and Nancy (Doug) Wildman of Sullivan; grandchildren, Lauren (Kip) Reckard, Jonathan Irvin, Haley and Emily Maretti, Elaina, Maya and his namesake Dean Richard Casteel; honorary grandson, Ranger 2 Lt. Reid Sealby.
Rick was preceded in death by his parents.
His family would like to thank Dr. Tarter, Dr. Yoon and his caring staff, Dr. Wade, DMH 5th floor staff and DMH Hospice.
Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mcmullinyoung.com

Sullivan School Board Approves Tax Levy, Schools Report on Holiday Activities

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•December 25, 2019•
By Ariana Cherry
for The News Progress

The cash balance for the Sullivan School District stated at the most recent board meeting was $335,169.88. The balance of the Education fund was $4,637,824.83 and transportation funds sat at $1,431,386.20. Bills totaling $155,675.75 along with the treasurer’s report was authorized.
Last month, the board also authorized Superintendent Ted Walk to prepare the 2020-2021 annual budget.
Supt. Walk presented the tentative tax levy mentioning that there would be a slight decrease in the IMRF, Social Security and Tort funds. The tentative tax levy for 2019 payable in 2020 is $4,780,928. The estimated 2019 tax rate payable in 2020 is 4.1213% which was an estimated decrease of 0.0389%. Read More

Obituaries 12-25-2019: Sondra Daily

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Sondra Daily

Sondra J. Daily, 87, of Sullivan, passed away at 11:41 a.m. Wednesday, December 18, 2019 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Decatur.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, December 21 at McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan. Burial was in Greenhill Cemetery in Sullivan. Read More

Remember When? 12-25-2019

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25 Years Ago This Week

Pam Conley of Findlay won the $1000 overall prize in the Festival of lights Starflake Trail contest for homes. Conley’s home is west of the Findlay Bridge over Lake Shelbyville. Ella Davis won Zone 1 (Findlay - Sullivan) and Jeff and Judy Getz winners in Zone 7 (Shelbyville-Findlay area).
Faced with a bad building condition report Bethany school supt. Marilyn Bayley pointed out the reorganization committee will face a school consolidation decision sooner than later.
Lovington’s Josh Born and Chad Watkins scored 15 points apiece as Lovington beat Atwood-Hammond 65-54. Jim Minor added 12 points and Kevin McGregor nine points for the Panthers. Read More

News Year’s at Sullivan Legion

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•December 25, 2019•

The Sullivan American legion is hosting a New Year’s Eve party beginning with dinner from 6:30 -8:30 p.m.
Complete Pork chop or Steak dinners are offered at the Strain Street Post .
Wreckless Whiskey plays from 9:00 to 12 midnight.
Reservations deadline is Sat. Dec. 28. Call 217/728-4612 for reservation.

County Board Learns of Property Tax Changes, Prohibits Cannabis Sales

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•December 25, 2019•
By Mike Brothers

With the quadrennial assessments published and county tax notices in the mail Supervisor of Assessments Lori Barringer pointed out Moultrie County Board members may be questioned about property tax bills.
Barringer explained that the Assessments office staff had logged some 237 hours transferring hand completed Real Estate Transfer Declarations into an electronic format. She emphasized transferring documents into electronic data would improve accuracy as well as save office time in the future.
The Supervisor of Assessments reported the Equalized Assessed Valuation of property in the county is $282,990,701 before the Board of Review accepts challenges. This is a seven percent increase over last year. Read More

Award of Distinction

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Photo furnished
Award of Distinction
Members of the Okaw Valley Community Unit School District 302 traveled to the Illinois Association of School Boards annual conference in Chicago where the OV Agricultural Complex received an Award of Distinction. Designed by BLDD Architects, Inc. Decatur, the jury comments noted the complex recognizes a glaring need that is drastically overlooked and respects the community it serves. Great example of career tech space.

SHS Post Prom Seeks Donations

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•December 25, 2019•

Sullivan High School Post Prom is Sat. April 25, 2020 and parents are in the process of organizing activities.
Open to all eligible prom-goers whether they attend prom or not the event at Building 1225 is from 11:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m.
Post prom committee is asking for monitory donations or gift certificates or products from local businesses that can be used as prizes during the event.
Donations can be mailed to Post Prom treasurer Lis White at 23 Bradford Hills, Sullivan, 61951.

ALAH Knights Put Away Shelbyville Rams

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•December 25, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond split a pair of games against Central Illinois Conferences teams last week.
The Knights hosted Shelbyville for a win Friday night but lost to Monticello last Tuesday.
Against the Rams at home, ALAH outscored Shelbyville 34-21 in the middle quarters to pull away for the eventual 67-53 win.
Freshman Kaden Feagin finished a team-high 16 points, and junior Jamison Rocke hit double digits with 13 points.
Feagin also collected seven rebounds and three blocks, and Rocke added two rebounds and a team-high four steals. Read More