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Alumni Banquet at Building 1225

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•August 28, 2019•
By Ralph Kirk
for The News Progress

Over 3,000 Sullivan alumni from this area and all across the country have been invited to party at Building 1225 in Sullivan on October 5 to celebrate their Sullivan High School heritage.
Many of the class of 1959 will be celebrating their 60th graduation anniversary, and the class of 1969 will be saluted for their 50th.
There will be a catered dinner, music from the 60s (the class of 1969 is the final class from the 60s to graduate), awards presented and lots of reminiscing and visiting time. Janet Roney, a local historian and artist, will be the master of ceremonies. Read More

Free Renaissance Festival Tickets

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•August 28, 2019•

The St. Louis Renaissance Festival at Rotary Park in Wentzville MO is open weekends Sept. 14 through Oct. 14 and readers of the News Progress can have Free season tickets.
The free 2019 Admission voucher to the 21st annual festival is available at the News Progress office 100 W. Monroe, Sullivan.
Claim one and enjoy a trip to the Renaissance!

ALAH Volleyball Team Faces Increased Competition Level

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•August 28, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

When 2019 volleyball practice began, Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond coach Emily Crossman knew she had to get everything she could out of the limited hours before the first match.
Unlike former years, Crossman saw this season’s starting positions as “up for grabs” because of the level of competition.
During preseason practice, she focused on coming together as a team.
“Finding the right combination of players,” Crossman said, “we have tried so many different line-ups. We are just seeing who clicks together and who can earn and keep a starting spot.” Read More

Benning Closes Out Coaching Three Daughters at OV

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Photo furnished
The Benning family posed in 2016 after winning a regional championship. Left to right: Keeley (class of 2015), Bella (class of 2019), and Camille (class of 2012).

•August 28, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

After losing a close 2-1 game to Nokomis in the Bethany Regional on May 13, Dave Benning stepped down as Okaw Valley softball coach.
“When I took the softball job, I had a goal in mind that I wanted to stick with it for all three of my daughters’ high school careers,” Benning said. “I achieved that. I got to coach all three girls, and I enjoyed every minute of it.”
In his nine years (2010-19), Benning finished his softball-coaching career at OV with an overall record of 138-134.
His teams won two regional titles (2015, 2016) and won the 2015 Little Okaw Valley Northwest Conference title.
When considering his some of his favorite coaching moments at OV, Benning thought back to the two regional championships.
He also recalled a couple games in his second year of coaching, in the regional quarterfinals.
“We were the home team, and we ended up scoring seven runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to win,” he said. “We had a walk-off grand slam to win that game. At the time, it was one of the most exciting games I’ve been involved in whether it was softball or baseball.”
Benning also noted last year’s game-two of a doubleheader at Arcola. Read More

Habitat Breaks Ground at New Sullivan Build

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Breaking ground at the 604 Faith Lane, Sullivan Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity build site Sunday. Shoveling soil were County Habitat Vice president Mike Aikman, new homeowners Kendall and Jennifer Penberthy, Rev. Grant Wade and Habitat Care A Vanner and team leader Bob Gillespie. Local Habitat board members, national Habitat Care A Vanners, family and friends gathered to kick off the new home build.

By Woody Pine
for the News Progress

Let us rise up and build a new Habitat for Humanity home in Moultrie County.
With the arrival of the Habitat for Humanity Care-A-Vanners came the ground breaking for the Jennifer Penberthy family home Sunday afternoon.
Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity vice-president Mike Aikman welcomed the group of Care-A-Vanners as well as local Habitat volunteers, family and friends at 604 Faith Lane, the 30th build site.
Bob Gillespie, Care-A-Vanner and Habitat team leader, returned with wife Betty from Michigan where he has been coordinating the Faith Lane build long distance with county Habitat Read More

Superintendent-Y Stuff: A Walk with Mr. Walk

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•August 28, 2019•
By Ted Walk,
Supt. Sullivan CUSD #300

I wanted to take the opportunity this week to give an update on the number of students enrolled in Sullivan Schools.
Our enrollment has been trending upward over the past few years, and this year was no exception.
Last year, Sullivan Schools served 1,161 students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.  Read More

Obituaries 8-28-2019: Ruth Stone

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Ruth Stone

Ruth Alice Stone, 90, of Sullivan, passed away at 2:11 a.m. Saturday, August 24, 2019 at Mason Point in Sullivan.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, August 29 at McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan. Visitation will be held an hour prior to the service Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery in Sullivan. Read More

Bethany Alumni Banquet

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•August 28, 2019•

The Bethany Alumni Association Banquet will be held Sat. October 5, 2019 at the OVHS gymnasium (formerly the BHS gymnasium).
Social hour at 5:00 p.m. dinner at 6:00 p.m. Reservations returned by Tues. Sept. 24 is the cut off date.
Contact 217/671-0212 if questions. Mail reservations to Bethany Alumni Association P.O. Box 327, Bethany, IL 61914.

Primary Candidate Petitions At County Clerk’s Office

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•August 28, 2019•
Nominating petitions for candidates planning to run in the March 17, 2020 General Primary Election will be available in Moultrie County Clerk Georgia England’s office September 3.
The first day to circulate petitions for established political parties is September 3, 2019. Filing period is November 25 and December 2, 2019 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and December 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Read More