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Remember When? 11-27-2019

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25 Years Ago This Week

Lakeland Marine Outdoor World, Inc. of Arcola was selected long term operator of former Fox Harbor marine facility. LLM Chairman and CEO Bill MacPhee said his company plans to invest $1.8 to $2 million, adding dock space for 50 boats within a year. Westree Marine, Art Hemmerline and Dennis Fayhee from Paris, who had purchased Fox Harbor’s physical assets during the Sept bankruptcy auction, all submitted proposals.
Phyllis McReynolds of Bethany was recently elected chairman of the Moultrie-Douglas Extension Foundation.
Brian McDowell of Sullivan is vice chairman, John Dukeman of Arthur, treasurer; Martha Fleming of Sullivan, secretary. Board members include Nancy Burnett of Villa Grove, Roger Tice of Sullivan, Ken Dalimier of Oakland, Doug Wood of Sullivan, Kim Bassett of Tuscola and Karen Smith of Newman. Read More

Sullivan Chamber & Economic Development Taking Award Recipients Nominations

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•November 27, 2019•
Sullivan Chamber & Economic Development is now accepting nominations for recipients of the 2019 Citizen of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award, Small Business of the Year and Business of the Year.  Winners of the 2019 annual awards will be presented at the SCED Annual Luncheon on Wednesday, January 29, 2020. Read More

School Host Meeting on Special Ed

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•November 27, 2019•

On Tuesday, December 3, at 2:00 pm, a meeting conducted by the Sullivan School District will take place at Sullivan Unit Office, 725 North Main Street, Sullivan, IL 61951 in the conference room.
The purpose of this meeting will be to discuss the district’s plans for providing special education services to students with disabilities who attend private schools and home schools within the district for the 2019-2020 school year.
If you have further questions pertaining to this meeting, please contact Jessica Reeder at (217) 728-8381.

Busy Week for Okaw Valley Girls Basketball

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•November 27, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Okaw Valley girls’ basketball finished a busy first week of action to kick off the season.
The Timberwolves lost to Shelbyville but knocked off Meridian before entering the Pana Thanksgiving Tournament.
In the tournament, OV fell to Mattoon, Athens and Centralia.
Against Meridian last Tuesday, OV outscored the Hawks by five points in each of the first two quarters for a 27-17 halftime lead. Read More

Nutrient Rich Farming Practices Promote Progress

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Photo by R.R. Best
Becca Dickens, she was showing us the paw paw plants they are attempting to grow

Farmers Market Response Inspired Expansion

•November 27, 2019•

O. Mac Donald
for The News Progress

Regenerative Life Farm started as a hobby for Becca Dickens and Jarrod Yantis of Findlay.
The popularity of their nutrient rich vegetables at Sullivan Farmers Market this season gave the Findlay couple inspiration to expand the operation.
“Regenerative gardening starts with the soil,” Dickens said of the natural growing process used.
That includes cover crops during the winter to reduce soil erosion and practicing chemical free production. Read More

Moultrie Moment of the Week

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Pictured above is the barber shop that was located in Lovington and operated by Will Hesler. Hesler operated his shop starting in the late 1800s. 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.

Protz Memorial Service at Faith Lutheran

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•November 27, 2019•

There will be a Memorial Service for Bill and Jackie Protz on Saturday, November 30 at 1:00p.m. at Faith Lutheran Church.
Bill and Jackie Protz of Sullivan died in an Montgomery County automobile accident Nov. 16 while returning from the Vandalia High School play off game with their granddaughter Jenna and her friend Holly Lidy who both perished in the crash.
Services were held Nov. 22 at the First United Methodist Church in Vandalia

ALAH State Scholars

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Photo by Kendall Huffman
ALAH State Scholars
Seven students from the Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond High School Class of 2020 have been recognized as Illinois State Scholars. Scholars are chosen by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission based on their outstanding SAT/ACT test scores and their class rank. Pictured are (from left to right) Aiden Stewart, Carly Peck, Caden Miller, Audrianna Kauffman, Abigail Abercrombie, Aubry Strong, and Wyatt Schlabach.

Sullivan Moves Closer to New Metering Systems

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Street Dept. Gets Bucket Truck

•November 27, 2019•
By Mike Brothers

Sullivan City Council approved the purchase of $273,500 in ultrasonic water meters from Mueller Systems at the Nov. 12 meeting.
In Public Health and Safety commissioner Chuck Woodworth’s recommendation for bid waiving he explained the Mueller meters provided functions required for the Nextgrid meter conversion of the city’s utility metering systems. The bid was approved unanimously.
Competitive bids for a Small Wheel Loader for the department were opened with Commissioner Woodworth reserving a vote until a review of the bids which ranged from $59,650 to $99,700.
Street and Public Improvements commissioner Peggy Hargis proposed purchasing a 2009 bucket truck with a winch which could be used for the street dept. as well as the Parks Dept. and Public Health and Safety. Read More