•July 31, 2019•
The Miss Sullivan Pageants are coming back.
Anyone interested in being in the Miss (ages 16-21), Jr. Miss (ages 11-14), or Little Miss (ages 4-7) should contact Marsha Kirby at 217-853-6842 or Kelsey Clark at 217-254-5992 for more information or the Facebook page Miss Sullivan Pageants. The pageant will take place in September.
Photo courtesy Jamie Crosier
Blue Dolphins Swim at Regionals
Sullivan Blue Dolphins Swim Team attended the Summer Regional Championship meet in Peoria this past weekend. First through eighth place swimmers made the podium. Pictured left to right are: Alivia Melvin: 1st place 100 fly, 200 IM and 200 Free, 2nd place 50 back and 100 IM, 3rd place 50 free and 100 free, 5th place 50 fly. Gabrielle Spain: 2nd place 100 fly and 1650 free (mile), 4th place 200 back, 5th place 200 IM, 6th place 100 back, 7th place 50 free, 8th place 500 free. Matthew Wesselman 2nd place 500 free, 6th place 200 free, 8th place 100 free. Emerson Risley: 7th place 50 back. Johnathan Iacobazzi: 3rd place 100 breast, 4th place 100 back, 7th place 200IM, 8th place 500 free and 50 back. Ryan Schodlatz represented SBD with a 50 free open division. Mackenzie Erixon: 1st place 200 back, 3rd place 100 back, 5th place 200 free, 6th place 100 free. Ethan Schmohe: 1st place 200 free and 100 free, 2nd place 400IM and 200 IM.
Larry Shipman
*this obituary was updated after the printed publication
Larry Shipman, 81, of Omaha, Arkansas, formerly of Cerro Gordo and Lovington, went to his heavenly home Tuesday, July 23, 2019 in Harrison, Arkansas.
Visitation will be from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Thursday at the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan. Graveside services to follow at the Greenhill Cemetery with Pastor Mike Fender officiating. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net. Read More
Deiedre French
Agnes Deiedre French, 83, of Lovington, passed away at 5:20 a.m. Tuesday, July 30, 2019 at Mason Point in Sullivan.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, August 3 at McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan. Visitation will be held an hour prior to the service Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will be in French Cemetery in Allenville. Read More
www.bestdroneography.com
Birdseye View
The Findlay Walleye Festival enjoyed perfect weather July 26-27. This R.R. Best drone photograph shows the giant American flag displayed during the Saturday parade while the OVHS band played. The festival featured walleye meals and breakfasts, kiddie tractor pulls, garden tractor pulls, a car show and music from Identity Crisis, Battle Creek, Big Spike Hammer, Sounds of Swing, Billy Coalt and the Blues Deacons, The North Enders and the Feudin’ Hillbillies.
•July 31, 2019•
United Producers Inc. (UPI) in Shelbyville is offering a free cattle evaluation clinic at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, August 29.
This clinic is the first of its kind to be held at the livestock auction market and is designed for cattle producers of all ages.
The hands-on clinic will feature Jodie Pitcock, USDA Division of Livestock Marketing, as he teaches participants the importance of grading cattle and how grades can impact profitability. Read More
High school roof project discussed
•July 31, 2019•
By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress
In the July meeting, ALAH Community School District new superintendent, Shannon Cheek and retiring superintendent Kenny Schwengel, attended the July school board meeting.
“I want to start off my report by saying thank you to the many people involved in welcoming us to the school district and the four communities,” Superintendent Cheek opened his report. He went on to thank Haley McGrath, his administrative aide, as well as Kelly Creek, Ken Munds, the board of education, all the administrative staff, the custodial staff and the community.
“You have made my family feel right at home from the very beginning,” he added.
In a separate interview Cheek explained what interested him in the ALAH district.
“My interest in the superintendent position here centered around the communities’ support for education and dedication to the students,” he began.
“It’s that level of dedication that I wanted to be a part of and lead.” Read More
•July 31, 2019•
By Rebecca Anzel
Capitol News Illinois
Lack of affordable housing impacts many facets of family life — access to education and health care, for example — for Illinoisans throughout the state, Sen. Mattie Hunter and Rep. Delia Ramirez said.
It’s a truth the Chicago Democrats said they each experienced before their time in office. Each has a background in social service work — Hunter as a community organizer who grew up in public housing and Ramirez as director of a community social service agency.
Illinois’ affordable housing program received $200 million through the state’s first capital plan in 10 years, signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker in late June. Other investments totaling about $129 million are included elsewhere in the budget.
And while Hunter and Ramirez said that money will make a “significant difference,” they added it will take $1 billion to properly address the infrastructure need in Illinois.
“I’m trying to be the kind of organizer that celebrates the small victories, and certainly the funding was a small victory and we’re grateful for it,” Ramirez said. “It means, at a minimum, we’ll be able to develop another 2,000 units of affordable housing — so it’s another 2,000 families that otherwise would not be able to have some kind of permanent, stable housing — and certainly that’s a victory. But I certainly can’t say enough about how much more we need.” Read More
•July 31, 2019•
Training is available for individuals interested in educating themselves on the issues surrounding domestic violence. The training will take place October 28 - November 13, Monday through Thursday evenings, from 5-9 p.m. in Decatur at Dove, 302 S. Union, Dean Simcox Conference Room. This 44-hour training is approved by ICADV, Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence. This training is being facilitated by two Illinois Certified Domestic Violence Professionals, one of whom is also an Illinois Certified Partner Abuse Intervention Professional. There is a $200 fee for the training. Read More
Photo furnished
Sullivan High School students traveled to Italy and Greece for 10 days with Marsha Kirby, social studies teacher at SHS. They visited the famous sites of the Colosseum, the Vatican, and the Acropolis. Next summer Kirby is planning a trip to Paris, Normandy and London and in 2021 a trip to Costa Rica. Spots are available for both trips.