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OVHS Selects Homecoming Royalty

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OVHS Selects Homecoming Royalty
Okaw Valley High School in Bethany hosted annual homecoming festivities with a “Small Town USA” theme last week.
The Homecoming King Ethan Bartimus and Queen Madalyne McPheeters coronation was at 7:45 p.m. Saturday in the Bethany gym.
Freshmen attendants were: Riley McPheeters and Carmine Brown; sophomore attendants Emma Bush and Kaeden Primmer; junior attendants Autumn Burns and Kobi Weaver.
The week included dress up days, float and hallway decorating, a “pack the place” volleyball game, plus the homecoming parade Friday afternoon.
Photo courtesy Jeni Yantis

Yellow Ribbon Sign

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Photo furnished
Yellow Ribbon Sign
Jessica Williamson, a senior at SHS this year completed 10 weeks of basic at Fort Leonard Wood, MO over the summer. Willliamson is with the 1- 58th Infantry Regiment and will complete her AIT after graduation May 2020. Jessica is an American Legion Junior Auxiliary member and Sullivan American Legion Post 68 Auxiliary sponsored her sign. Pictured during the sign presentation at Sullivan Post 68 were Junior Auxiliary members: (left to right) Ryann Kelley, Brooklynn Clark, Addison Daily, Jessica and Sydney Williamson.

Recent Obituaries: Bryan Selock

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Bryan Selock

Bryan Andy Selock passed away Saturday, September 14, 2019 at the age of 69 in Decatur after a long battle of cancer.
Bryan was born August 5, 1950, in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the son of Samuel and Norma Jean (Pressey) Selock of Sullivan.
Surviving are her two brothers, Terry (LaDonna) Selock of Gypusm, Kansas, and Samuel (Carol) Selock of Kansas City, Missouri; three nephews; two nieces; and eight great nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his nephew, Brad Andrew Selock of Lansing, Kansas.

Andy will be truely missed by his family. We will miss his sense of humor and his ability to put a smile on our face.

Honoring Bryan Selock's wishes, cremation services have been provided by Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home, 2091 N. Oakland Ave. Decatur, IL. A private graveside service will be held at a later date at Greenhill Cemetery in Sullivan. Please view the online obituary, send condolences, and share memories at www.gracelanfairlawn.com

SHS HC Parade

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•September 18, 2019•

The students of Sullivan High School are extending an invitation to join them in the annual homecoming parade.
The theme for the floats is decades, as each class float will have a different decade for their theme.
The parade steps off at 4 p.m. October 4.

OV Volleyball Takes Third at LSA Tournament

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•September 18, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

Okaw Valley volleyball team defeated Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond last Tuesday, lost to Villa Grove Thursday and finished 4-1 to bring home the third-place trophy from the LSA Invitational Saturday.
“We started this season playing much more consistently than we have in the past,” OV coach Sarah McDowell said. “Our seniors have taken on their roles as the team leaders tremendously well and we have been able to add several players to our rotation smoothly after losing so many girls last year. We are starting to find out what works best for our offense and have been able to incorporate some new things as well.”
Senior middle hitter Kate Jeffers earned all-LSA Invitational team with her strong play in all five matches.
Against ALAH, the Timberwolves won in straight sets, 25-21, 25-16.
For OV, Kate Jeffers totaled 14 kills and six blocks, and Paige Coleman collected four kills, two blocks and five digs.
Grace Bunfill tallied 21 assists and five digs, and Macie Fleshner added seven kills and five digs.
April Decesaro led the team with nine kills, and Karson Park served two aces. Read More

Annual Senior Expo In Sullivan Draws Over 300 Visitors

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Senior Services Exec Dir Kathi Garvey(l), Assistant Vonnie Lee and Counselor Kim Adamson at Senior Expo.

•September 18, 2019•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Every last table in the Sullivan American Legion Hall was commandeered for seating and most of the vendors ran out of promotional items as over 300 senior citizens converged for the annual Senior Expo sponsored by the Mid-Illinois Senior Services September 13.
Griffin’s Catering prepared the free lunch of BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, baked beans, cole slaw and chocolate cake. The lunch was provided, as it has been for several years, by State Senator Chapin Rose and State Representative Brad Halbrook.
Some 20 members of the SHS Student Council volunteered to serve the meals so the seniors would not have to stand in a long lunch line.
Thirty vendors ringed the hall and offered an array of free promotional items such as umbrellas, hats, pill cases, note pads, key chains, plastic shopping bags and coin purses. The vendors also had drawings for many door prizes which are always favorites of the attendees. Read More

Redskins Football Continue to Improve

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Photo by R. R. Best
Redskin Luke Vander Burgh crossed the goal line for SOV.

•September 18, 2019•
Despite dropping its first three games of the season, the Sullivan-Okaw Valley football has shown improvement not only from last year to this year but also from the first game.
In Friday night’s game, Warrensburg-Latham scored 14 points in the first quarter to take an early lead.
Sullivan scored in the second quarter when Luke Vander Burgh crossed the goal line and cut the lead to 14-7 before the half.
But a strong third quarter for the Cardinals put the game away.
W-L scored 15 points in the third and eventually won 29-7.
SOV will now prepare for Shelbyville at home game at Okaw Valley High School for Okaw Valley’s homecoming week.

Patriot’s Day: Life is Short, No Time for Hate

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Photo by Mike Brothers
The Patriot’s Day ceremony at Sullivan High School on Wednesday, Sept. 11 honored all area first responders and military personnel. The 18th annual observation was coordinated by Rebecca Lawson’s Career English and Mirror Images students.

•September 18, 2019•
By Mike Brothers

The Sullivan High School Patriot’s Day observation Wednesday, Sept. 11 emphasized from tragedy, we learn that life is short and there is no time for hate.
Kelsie Allen, from the host Mirror Images class, reminded the student assembly of the words of the wife of the pilot of Flight 93 that went down Sept. 11, 2001.
A strong reminder of how fragile life is and the importance of Scott’s Law was relayed by Illinois State Police District 10 Commander Louis Kink.
Dillon Wallace of Rebecca Lawson’s Mirror Images group introduced ISP Social Media Coordinator Tracy Lillard and Commander Kink who recalled a tragic day after Thanksgiving in 2012.
Lillard told the audience she became physically ill when she heard about Trooper Kyle Deathrages accident on Interstate 55 that morning. “My heart was broken for his wife and two children,” Lillard recalled. Read More