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Blue Dolphins Win Again at Terre Haute

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•November 20, 2019•

Photo courtesy Jamie Crosier
First at Terre Haute
Left to right Cadence Schmohe, Emerson Risley, Max Kersten, Rylan Diener, Lilly Graham, Matthew Wesselman, Miles Kersten, Madalyn Booker, Gabby Spain, Mackenzie Erixon, Ethan Schmohe, Isaac Chambers, Kaiden Smith, Libby Henry, Kara Chambers, Johnathan Iacobazzi, Deanna Clark, Eli Crosier

The Sullivan Blue Dolphins Swim Team competed at Terre Haute in the Halloween Splash.
In a total team effort, with fast swims, the Dolphins kept the tradition going and brought home the 1st place trophy.
The 13-14 division brought home individual trophies as well with Madalyn Booker 2nd place, Ethan Schmohe 1st place and Matthew Wesselman 2nd place.

Recent Obituaries: Megan M. Thompson

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Megan M. Thompson
Megan M. Thompson, 32, of Monticello, peacefully entered the Lord’s presence on November 19, 2019 at home surrounded by her family.
Megan was born July 8th, 1987 in Decatur, IL the daughter of Steve and Paula Buxton. Megan graduated from Sullivan High School in 2005. She then went on to graduate from Lincoln Christian University with a B.S. in Intercultural Studies and Business Administration where she also was a 4-year member of the LCU basketball team.
Megan married Charlie Thompson on May 19th, 2012.
Megan utilized her talents in graphic design, marketing and event planning during her career at CHI overhead doors (2010-11), Christ in Youth (2011-12), The City of Champaign (2012-14) and the ASPCA APCC (2014-17). She had started her own home décor business in 2018 specializing in custom wreaths that have beautified countless homes around the world. Megan touched so many along way.
Her passions included serving the youth of Monticello, homeless ministry through CU at Home, and planning retreats for local women to grow their faith. She also found joy in spending time with family, traveling with her husband, hiking, kayaking and taking photographs.
Megan’s inspiring faith and strength were most evident in her journey with breast cancer, documented at: noonefightsalonemt.blogspot.com. Megan’s story is not finished - “But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ”
Megan is survived by her husband Charlie Thompson and dog Ruger of Monticello; her parents Steve and Paula Buxton of Sullivan and Mark and Karen Thompson of Buffalo; her siblings Jenny Rau (Brad Rau) of Mattoon, Emily Buxton of Chicago, and Abbey Sherwood (Caynan Sherwood, niece Cassidy Sherwood) of Sullivan, Blake Scroggins (Whitney Scroggins) of Mattoon; Ben Thompson (nephew Jack LaPorte) of Charleston, SC; and her maternal grandparents Cliff and Connie Dobbs of Sullivan. She is also survived by several aunts, uncles, and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to CU Church with “1 for One” in the memo, or to Metavivor – Metatstatic Breast Cancer Research, Support and Awareness – at https://secure.metavivor.org/page/contribute/megan-thompson.
Visitation will be on Sunday, November 24th 2019 from 1-6pm at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Champaign, Illinois 710 N. Neil St. Champaign, Illinois 61820. A Celebration of Life Service will be held Monday, November 25 at 12pm at the funeral home.
Please join her family in sharing photos, videos and memories on her tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com

Sullivan Community Comes Together Once Again

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Once again, the Sullivan community comes together to show their support for a family that has suffered a tragic loss. Long time Sullivan residents, Bill and Jackie Protz were traveling home with granddaughter, Jenna and her best friend, Holly, after watching the Vandalia football team in the state playoffs when tragedy struck. A pickup driven by a 17 year old boy crossed over the center line and hit the Protz’s vehicle head on, killing all four of them. Randy Protz, formerly of Sullivan and Principal at Vandalia schools, is the son of Bill and Jackie and the father of Jenna. A prayer vigil is being held at 4:00 pm this afternoon in Vandalia. The Illinois State Police are still investigating the accident. The driver of the truck was air lifted to an area trauma center with life threatening injuries.

Recent Obituaries: Russell Richardson

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Russell Richardson

Russell G. “Rusty” Richardson, 48, of Bethany, passed away 10:46 a.m. Wednesday, November 13, 2019, at St. John’s Hospital, Springfield.
Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday, November 16, 2019, at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Bethany. Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Todd’s Point Cemetery, Bethany. Memorials may be made in care of the family.
Rusty was born July 9, 1971, in Decatur; the son of Russell Elder and Tonia Lee (Skelton) Richardson. He enjoyed building projects, working outside and working on motorcycles. Rusty loved spending time with his family.
He is survived by his mother, Tonia Richardson of Shelbyville; significant other, Quinnie Kidwell of Bethany; sons, Lehland Richardson, Landyn and Layth Porter; daughters, Lahney Richardson and Lyrik Porter; sisters, Teresa (Mel) Miller of Arthur, Trenda Richardson of Bethany, Tahnee Richardson of Shelbyville and Totie Richardson of Findlay. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father.
Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mcmullinyoung.com

Kibler Earns Chance for USA Trampoline Team Spot

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Photo furnished
Arthur resident Ariel Kibler poses in her USA leotard that she will be wearing in Tokyo at the World Age Group Championships Dec. 1-9.

•November 13, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP sports Editor

In her last year of eligibility, Arthur resident Ariel Kibler has earned one more chance to represent the USA trampoline team.
Kibler, 21, made the World Age-Group Competition Team and is scheduled to compete in Tokyo at the World Age Group Championships.
“This is my last year to be eligible for this competition,” Kibler said. “I will compete in the 17-21 age group. The next step is World Championships, which is the week before our event, and they are the best of the best from each country. However, because of the Olympics next year, there will not be a world championship.”
To earn her spot on the team, Kibler earned enough scores during competitions in Evansville, Ind., Winston-Salem and Des Moines to move on.
“After the first event I had the first spot,” said Kibler. “After the second, I moved to second, and the third, I moved down but was able to hang on to earn a spot.”
She was also invited to the World Championship selection camp, where she
gained a lot of experience training and competing with the best.
This was also when she heard the announcement that she made the World Championships and World Age Groups. Read More

Sullivan Planning Session Draws People Planning Projects

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•November 13, 2019•

By Mike Brothers

With the public sale of Winifred Titus Sentel farmland promising a cash windfall for the city of Sullivan a variety of groups offered to help the city spend it.
During the special meeting held for the purpose of a study session regarding strategic planning at 6 p.m. Tuesday, November 5 the city council heard proposals from the public and learned that conditions at city hall and the Civic Center are priorities.
Following the public portion of the meeting, city administrator Dan Flannell reported the recently purchased Titus home is being evaluated for possible office space. He explained architects have warned the cost to convert the home into office space could be twice the cost to build new.
Treasurer Sarah Golden reported that conditions at city hall have not improved, and the recent addition of an IT person is crowding space to aggravate the situation. Read More

Wyatt Earp Featured

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•November 13, 2019•

The Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society will hold their Annual Dinner and Program on Thursday, Nov. 21 at the Arthur Christian Church on Vine Street in Arthur.
The guest speaker for the evening will be James Wilhelm of Peoria as Wyatt Earp and his program is entitled “My Side of the Story”.
The program will be at 7:30 and is free and open to the public. Dinner will be offered prior to the program.
Reservations can be made at the Heritage Center in Sullivan Mon. or Sat. from noon to three. Reservations can also be made by sending your check to The Heritage Center, 117 E. Harrison St., Sullivan, IL. 61951-0588. The last day to make reservations will be Sat., Nov. 16th from noon to 3:00 or by calling 217-728-4085
The Center will be closed on Mon. the 11th Veterans Day and also the Sat. after Thanksgiving.

Remember When? 11-13-2019

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25 Years Ago This Week

They’re military to the Bone. A couple of military Bone’s posed for a photo on Veteran’s Day. Joe Bone served in the U.S. Army 1951-1953 and was stationed in Bethany. Renee Bone is a Navy Lieutenant and her Father-in-law, Jack Bone also served in the U.S. Army for two years beginning in 1951 and was also stationed in Germany.
The boy’s basketball season doesn’t officially begin until Monday morning but Bethany Mustangs new coach, Jim Lawrence, brought his boys out at 12:01as part of Midnight Madness at the high school. There was a lot of enthusiasm as about 100 people including faculty, students, parents and administrators chose to attend the event.
Heidi Kleiss of Bethany has been selected as a semi-finalist in the 1995 Miss Illinois USA Pageant. Read More

OVHS Drama Club Takes Audiences to Nowwhere

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Photo courtesy Jeni Yantis
Cast members included: Seniors Kate Jeffers, Isaac Dickens and Canaan Christensen, Junior Hannah Durbin, Sophomores Amelia Landreth, Mikhalya Ward, Savannah Hagerman and Lincoln Dickens and Freshman Peytyn Durbin.

•November 13, 2019•

Okaw Valley High School Drama Club presented “Faith County” on November 8 & 9, 2019 at 7:00 pm in the OVHS gym.
“Faith County” is written by Mark Landon Smith.
It takes place somewhere in the middle of nowhere in the South, a place where a place where friends and family are priority and Saturday nights are reserved for the tractor pull in nearby Pickler.
Audiences visited a colorful collection of good ole’ country folk who gather ‘round for this year’s county fair including the sweet and proper reverend’s wife, the flirty grocery cashier, the romantic owner of the Bee-Luv-Lee beauty parlor, a surprisingly talented Bubba, the smitten town mechanic, a local pig farmer, the eccentric and inebriated First Lady, and a bossy busybody who thinks she’s running the whole show.

Beacon Director Among Those Recommended to State Task Force

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•November 13, 2019•
Two local non-profit leaders will now have a major voice in improving how non-profit organizations work with state government. Amy Bliefnick and Susan Rauch were appointed to the “Task Force on State Contracting with Private Nonprofit Human Service Providers” after being recommended by State Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet).
“It’s important to have local representation from here in Central Illinois to improve how our government works with local non-profits,” said Rose. “These two are both quality leaders that do a great job of serving people in need. My hope is that they will help make the state a better supporting partner for the important missions of our nonprofits.” Read More