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Graduation Reflects on the Good Old Days at SHS

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Valedictorian Spencer Johnson

•May 22, 2019•
Sullivan High School held the 141st commencement exercises Sunday in weather that was as unpredictable as the 66 seniors’ futures.
Intermittent storms forced the 2:30 p.m. graduation into a packed high school gymnasium where principal Erik Young presented his final high school class to the board of education.
Young will start the 2019-20 school year as superintendent of Ridgeview CUSD #19, near his hometown of Fairbury. Young has been high school principal for the past six years, previously serving as middle school and high school assistant principal the prior four years.
Valedictorian Spencer Johnson’s opening remarks included being thankful he could count on his fingers, and his legs would stand up for him.
He went on to point out the lessons learned in high school were preparation for those graduating to live their own lives out in the world.
“Do your own thing, don’t just survive,” Spencer encouraged his classmates.
Class salutatorian Broderick Goss reeled off favorite quotes noting, “I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them.” Read More

Early Memorial Day Deadlines

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•May 22, 2019•

The News Progress and The Fish Wrap have an early deadline for the Memorial Day weekend.
All advertising and news should be in by noon Friday, May 24 in order to be in the May 29 and 30 editions of the News Progress and The Fish Wrap.

McKendree Degree for Graduate

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•May 22, 2019•
Elizabeth Inman of Sullivan received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing degree from McKendree University during commencement exercises held May 11.
Inman is the daughter of Jill Inman of Sullivan and Michael Inman of Charleston and a 2014 graduate of Sullivan High School.
This year marked McKendree’s 179th commencement exercises. A total of 663 degrees including 152 masters and 479 bachelors degrees were bestowed.
Founded in 1828, the historic Lebanon campus is 25 miles from downtown St. Louis.

Nursing Home Week Celebrations

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Nursing Home Week Celebrations
As part of the American Nursing Home week celebration residents at Sullivan Health Care got dressed up and had a prom Thursday. It was a week of celebration with Western Day and Sports Day preceding Prom for the 75 attendees. After prom? What else but Hawaiian Day on Friday.

Memorial Day Observations

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•May 22, 2019•

Memorial Day observations begin at the Moultrie County Courthouse at 7:45 a.m. Monday, May 27.
From there the Sullivan American Legion Post 68 Honor Guard will lead the Memorial Day Parade to Greenhill Cemetery where a formal service will be conducted at 8 a.m.
The Honor Guard will then attend services at the Wyman Park Memorial followed by breakfast at American Legion Post 68.
They will conduct Memorial services at the Moultrie County Memorial Park at 11 a.m.
Lovington American Legion will host their Memorial Day services Sunday, May 26 at 1 p.m in Tom Conn Park.
Memorial Day mass will be observed at St. Isidore Catholic Cemetery in Rural Bethany at 10 a.m. Monday, May 27. Bring lawn chairs.
Memorial Service at Oak Grove Baptist Church, located on Wilborn Creek Road, is 10:30 a.m. Sunday, June 2.

Roar VBS at Jonathan Creek

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•May 22, 2019•

Jonathan Creek Christian Church invites children to Roar VBS: Life is wild, God is good.
A summer kids’ event called Roar VBS will be hosted at Jonathan Creek Christian Church from June 3 to June 7. At Roar, kids discover that God is good even when life gets wild. Kids participate in memorable Bible-learning activities, sing catchy songs, play teamwork-building games, make and devour yummy treats, experience one-of-a-kind Wild Bible Adventures, collect Bible Memory Buddies to remind them of God’s love, and test out Sciency-Fun Gizmos they’ll take home and play with all summerlong.
Plus, kids will learn to look for evidence of God all around them through something called God Sightings.
Each day concludes with the Safari Celebration that gets everyone involved in living what they’ve learned. Family members and friends are encouraged to join in daily for this special time at 5:30 p.m.
Kids at Roar VBS will join a mission’s effort to provide nutrition packets and health checkups for moms and babies in need in Zambia, Africa.
Roar is for kids from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade and will run from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. each day. For more information, call 217-728-4369.

ALAH Softball Wins Regional Title

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•May 22, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond softball team took home the Class 2A Newton Regional after defeating host Newton 7-3 Friday.
The Knights scored a run in each of the first, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh innings, and scored two runs in the third inning.
Newton scored three runs in the sixth inning when Knight pitcher Makenzie Brown walked batters before a double down the line.
The only other hit Brown allowed was a bunt single. Read More

Memorial Day Weekend at Lake Shelbyville

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•May 22, 2019•
The Lake Shelbyville U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is gearing up for a busy Memorial Day weekend. Campground programs are on the agenda for Saturday evening, and rangers will be on beach and lake patrol throughout the weekend.
Campground Programs:
#LakeShelbyvilleMDW19 Instagram Challenge for All Lake Shelbyville USACE Campers in Bo Wood, Lithia Springs, Coon Creek, and Opossum Creek.
Instructions from the sign posted at your campground amphitheater and on our new LakeShelbyvilleUSACE Instagram page; winners will redeem prizes at the Lake Shelbyville Visitor Center. Read More

Lions Club Scholarship Award

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Lions Club Scholarship Award
The Sullivan Lions Club presented Sullivan High School senior Esther Miller with the John Ruscin Award. The $1000 scholarship is in honor of SMS coach and teacher John Ruscin. Pictured during the presentation are Lions Club presenter Dave Walker, recipient Esther Miller and John Ruscin for whom the scholarship is named.

Bridge, Liquor and Taxes Occupy Moultrie County Board Session

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•May 22, 2019•
By Mike Brothers

The Moultrie County Board approved a liquor license for Fairway Family Restaurant, funded a bridge replacement and learned when tax bills are due.
A Class B liquor license ($750) was approved for Panther Property 58 located at Fairways Family Restaurant at the Sullivan Country Club. The annual Special Events liquor license ($100) was granted The Little Theatre on the Square for May 17-18 at the Great Pumpkin Patch Back 40 Market.
Road and Bridge Committee chair Kevin McReynolds moved to approve $150,000 in Special Bridge Funds to aid Sullivan Road District replace the bridge at TR145, CR1125N. The motion was approved unanimously. Read More