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OV Girls Pick Up Two Tourney Wins

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

The Okaw Valley girls’ basketball team lost to Sullivan Thursday, but picked up two wins in pool play to kick off the Meridian Holiday Tournament Saturday.
The Timberwolves defeated Martinsville and Meridian in the tournament to improve their overall record to 4-11.
Against Meridian, OV fell behind four points at halftime, 16-12, but outscored the Hawks 20-9 in the third quarter to pull away.
The Timberwolves held on the fourth quarter for the 44-37 win. Read More

Obituaries 12-25-2019: Gail Wolfe

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Gail Wolfe

Gail E. Wolfe, 76, of Lovington, passed away at 5:47 p.m. Tuesday December 17, 2019 in St. Mary’s Hospital, Decatur.
Celebration of Life services were 11:00 a.m. Saturday December 21, 2019 in the Archie L. Sanders Chapel in Thomason Cemetery in Wayne City with Pastor Rodney Houser officiating. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Friday in the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan and from 10:00 a.m. Saturday until service time in the Archie L. Sanders Chapel in Wayne City. Burial will be in the Thomason Cemetery in Wayne City. Memorials are suggested to the Lovington Community Ambulance Service. Read More

Secret Sleigh Project Brings Santa To Homebound Arthur Child

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
The Santa Secret Sleigh project came to the area recently visiting Alicen Wooley of Arthur.

•December 25, 2019•
By Ellen Ferrera
for The News Progress

Three years ago Sarah Portillo in Loveland, Colo. realized she was unable to take her homebound daughter, Lilly, to see Santa. Lilly is a wheelchair bound child who communicates by blinking her eyes. Sarah was thinking how wonderful it would be for Santa to walk through their front door.
She talked with other parents in her situation, and they began to solicit volunteer Santas to visit homebound children.
On December 15 Alicen Wooley, a homebound child in Arthur received a visit from the most wonderous Santa who was dressed in sartorial splendor with a bejeweled cap, long, red velvet coat, a plaid vest and shiny black boots with bells all a-jingle.
The snow from outside still frosted his bushy eyebrows and long flowing beard. His moustache trailed into a curlicue on either side of his cherry red mouth. He kneeled by Alicen’s wheelchair and drew out a book from which he began to read, “The Night Before Christmas”. When he finished, I joined Santa and Alicen’s parents, Christina and Darreld, in singing “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”. Santa then spent time talking with Alicen about her Christmas wish list. Read More

Bethany Legion Post Delivers

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•December 25, 2019•

Bethany American Legion Post 307 and Auxiliary recently completed their annual Christmas drive for residents at the Danville Veterans Administration Hospital.
Legion members Jack Scott, Paul Snyder and Mike Brewer delivered an assortment of tennis shoes, sweat suits, and a variety of other hits to those veterans at the Danville facility.
Bethany American Legion Post 307 would like to thank all those who contributed,helping making the season merrier for those at Danville VA.

Sparrows Wraps

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Photo by Dennis Garman
Sparrows Wraps
Lovington based volunteers for Sparrows gathered at the Church of God Community Center in Lovington Saturday morning to wrap gifts and make deliveries to more than 144 local children.

iCash Day is at Titus Library

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•December 25, 2019•

Moultrie County Treasurer Stephanie Helmuth announced there is an iCash day scheduled January 7, 2020 at the Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library from 10:30 - 1:30pm.
The State Treasurer will be sending down a team to help process claims of those who attend. In a quick search over half the county board members themselves or a family member were on the list. There are county agencies and local businesses listed as well. Many citizens of our county and surrounding are on there too PLEASE check iCash using this link here:
https:/icash.illinoistreasurer.gov/app/claim-search
If you have property on there you should attend the event. They have made the process so much easier and even easier when they are present and you are filing a claim.

ALAH Girls Basketball Team Split Games

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•December 25, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor
The Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond girls’ basketball team split two nonconference games this past week.
The Knights knocked off Monticello last Tuesday but lost to St. Anthony Saturday.
Against the Sages, ALAH took an early lead in the first quarter and held on for the 60-32 win.
Mackenzi Bowles led the Knights with 19 points, seven rebounds and four blocks to go with two assists.
Makenzie Brown scored double digits with 11 points, and Alexa Miller collected four rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Kirsten Corum scored six points and freshman Charley Condill added four.
Saturday on the road, ALAH lost to St. Anthony in a close battle, 46-43. Read More

Sullivan Girls Basketball Improves Record with Win

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Photo furnished
Avery Still earned WCIA Player of the Week honors and was presented with a plaque Thursday evening.

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

The Sullivan girls’ basketball team beat rival Okaw Valley Thursday, but lost to Pana Saturday to set its record at 7-3.
Against Okaw Valley, the Redskins pressured its way to a 10-point first quarter lead, 23-13.
In the second half, Sullivan held the Timberwolves to eight points, while scoring 30, for the 60-24 win.
For Sullivan, Avery Still collected a game-high 23 points to go with seven rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
Lilly Null finished with seven points, three rebounds, five steals and five assists.
Emily White contributed 17 points, including three 3-pointers, eight rebounds, six assists and five steals.
For Okaw Valley, Kate Jeffers led the team with six points, and Mia Harris. Shyanne Harding and Bailey Bennett each scored four points.
Lexie Bartimus, Avery Bruns and Delaney Johnson each scored two points to round out OV’s scoring.
Against Pana Saturday, Sullivan played from behind most of the game, falling behind by four after the first quarter and five at the half. Read More

OVHS Boys Fall to Central A&M

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•December 25, 2019•
The Okaw Valley boys’ basketball team dropped a nonconference game 80-47 to a talented Central A&M team Friday.
Stats for early Christmas deadline were not available.
OV (4-4) is scheduled to enter the Vandalia Holiday Tournament from Thursday-Saturday.

Show Choir Preview Reset

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•December 25, 2019•

The Sullivan Show Choirs preview night/food drive is Sunday, January 12th, 2020 at 6:00 p.m.
The event was rescheduled from December.
Not only will audience get a preview of Sullivan schools shows for the new season but will have a chance to help the Moultrie County Food Pantry.
Two nonperishable food items are the price of admission to these combined performances at the Sullivan High School.
All proceeds benefit the Moultrie County Food Bank.
The Show Choir Preview/Food Drive is hosted by the Sullivan Singers Booster Club and Sullivan CUSD #300.