One-day event raises over $800
by Florence Hallford
Lovington Reporter
The Lovington Housewalk, an event that has not been held for more than five years, took place on Sunday, December 8.
The walk formerly benefitted Lovington High School, but this year its proceeds went to support the Relay for Life, a fundraising event for the American Cancer Society.
Stephanie Eccles ran the event with help from Tracy Garmon and Norma Brust, and it proved successful by raising more than $800. Read More
Photo by Keith Stewart
OVES third graders Abby Luckenbill (left) and Lexie Bartimus (right) enjoy the fruits of their labor during a school dance Friday after they organized a toy and canned food drive at their school last week.
OV third graders create toy/food drive
by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com
During this time of year, it’s not uncommon to see or read about a coat, toy, or food drive. But typically, such events are organized by adults, not children, especially not elementary school children.
But for Okaw Valley third graders Abby Luckenbill and Lexie Bartimus, the idea of creating such a drive is one they’ve each harbored since the first grade but did not actually organize until last week, when they managed to rally the entire school to collect both toys and canned goods for local families. Read More
Photo by Keith Stewart
Sullivan High Schooler Beretta Phelps puts the finishing touches on the gift wrapping at Shopko last Thursday. She along with other high school students helped wrap gifts as they were purchased through Secret Santa, which this year has seen an increase in the need for assistance.
Program sees increase in need for assistance this year
by Ariana Cherry
Arthur/Sullivan Reporter
Fifteen years ago a young child had wished for a bicycle for Christmas. While it was one of the few things he had asked for, his parents were unable to afford it because of a financial hardship. The story soon found its way to John Love, chief of the Sullivan Police Department. He wanted nothing more than to make this dream come true for the young child. Love made arrangements to “accidentally” bump into the child at the former Pamida store in Sullivan.
While in the bicycle section, Love approached him and said, “I am buying a bike for someone about your age. If you could have a bicycle, what would it look like?” The young child described the colors and then pointed out a bicycle that had caught his eye. Love commented that the bicycle was very nice, and then replied, “Merry Christmas. The bike is yours.” Nothing at that point and time could explain the expression that came on the young child’s face. Read More
$25,000 check comes with important pledge of safe driving
by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com
Photo by Keith Stewart
Sullivan High School’s FFA and FCCLA were the recipients of a $25,000 State Farm grant, which was presented on Friday, December 6. Pictured, from left to right are: local State Farm Agent Duriah Delp, FFA vice-president Keegan Kruckeberg, and FCCLA member Gabby Uphoff.
Ginger Voegel wasn’t told to keep the news secret until after screaming from her classroom a few weeks ago. The Family, Career and Community Leaders of America advisor at SHS had just received a phone call from State Farm’s public affairs rep. Jim Sloven, informing her that the school would be receiving a $25,000 grant, just one of 100 schools nationwide.
“It was a good thing I didn’t have any kids in my room, because then he said I had to keep it quiet,” recalled Voegel. “I said, ‘Are you serious? Are you serious?’ I was not expecting a phone call.” Read More
Latest message in One Book One Sullivan’s new reading choice
by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com
Students at Sullivan Middle School Wednesday morning were finally told why, for the last week, they’d been subjected to such “harsh” measures.
“How many of you noticed the signs over the water fountains?,” asked sixth grade language arts teacher Rikki Ray, to which the gym full of students raised their hands.
In an effort to creatively introduce One Book One Sullivan’s choice read for the community to partake this school year, the group, along with staff, devised ways to draw attention to being treated unfairly–an important theme of the book. Read More
Local AmBuCs chapter provides girl with pleasant surprise
Photo by Keith Stewart
Zoe Powell is seen on her new AmTryke, as father Mike, and mother Betty each help her get going.
by Christina Whitford
Sullivan Reporter
For those who are living with physical limitations, doing everyday activities such as riding a bike can present a challenge. This was the case for 12-year old Zoe Powell who dreamed of being able to ride a bike. But due to a condition with which she was born, a traditional bike was not an option for Zoe.
Zoe was born with Turner’s syndrome which caused her to be smaller than most children her age. She loves to ride bikes, but because of her size, many regular bikes would not accommodate her.
But during this year’s Oktoberfest, Zoe and her parents Mike and Betty Powell were walking around the square when they came across a trailer for the Sullivan AmBuCs which displayed a variety of AmTrykes. Read More
Tribute to lost children part of larger effort to heal by remembering
By Mallory Murphy
Sullivan Reporter
“From a young age we are taught that everyone will die and that you will one day bury your parents or grandparents. No one ever mentions your child. You aren’t supposed to bury your child; that’s just not how it is supposed to happen. Sadly though, it does happen.”
These are the words of Morgan Schum, a lifelong citizen of the Sullivan community and member of the East Central Illinois Chapter of The Compassionate Friends, an organization created to provide support to bereaved families.
Next month marks the five year anniversary that Morgan and husband Jason Schum lost their firstborn child Grant to complications during delivery. With a nursery back home decorated in red and green tractors, the couple went into delivery that day with the intent to bring their son home, but after the infant’s three day struggle for life, the Schums made the decision no parent wants to make - to remove their newborn from life support. They left with the knowledge that their lives would never be the same.
“For a bereaved parent there is no ‘normal’ anymore, and we can’t have the same life we had before,” said Schum. “We have to figure out in our own ways how to continue on in our new lives.”
As with most loss, the couple found themselves coping with theirs in different ways from each other, often finding that when one was having a good day, the other was upset.
“My husband rarely talks about him (Grant) or the situation. Don’t get me wrong, he will talk about his son if someone else brings him up, but he doesn’t discuss anything outside of that,” said Schum. “He does not attend meetings with me and usually goes to the cemetery on his own.”
Schum was able to find the support and comfort she had needed a month after her son’s death when another bereaved mother in the community told her about The Compassionate Friends. The nonprofit organization, founded 40 years ago and run by bereaved parents volunteering their time, provides grief support to families after the death of a child. With 650 chapters worldwide, the organization connects family members of any given area who are affected by the loss of a child, regardless of age.
“They changed my life,” said Schum. “I never thought I could move past my son’s death but being able to talk with other parents who understood what I was going through helped me continue on in life.”
With the biggest fear of bereaved parents being that their child will be forgotten, The Compassionate Friends organization finds ways through communication, therapy, fundraisers, and memorials to keep the child’s memory alive. This also allows parents to work through their own struggles in the grieving process.
“The group has really showed me that I’m not crazy,” said Schum. “It is okay to be fine one minute and crying the next and that I’m not wrong for wanting to talk about my child. They’ve also taught me how to go on with my life. It’s okay to have good days and not feel guilty that I’m smiling even though my child is not here.”
The Compassionate Friends’ 17th annual Worldwide Candle Lighting, an event believed to be the largest mass candle lighting in the world, will take place Sunday, December 8. The East Central Illinois Chapter will be bringing the lighting to Sullivan for the first time, and the special service will be held at the First United Methodist Church beginning at 6:30 p.m. Candles will be lit at 7 p.m. local time and burn for one hour. The candles will go out in that time zone as they are being lit in the next, causing a 24 hour flow of light worldwide in honor of the children remembered.
TCF/USA Executive Director, Patricia Loder invites everyone to join this year’s service held in Sullivan.
“Here throughout the United States, members of our 650 chapters observe this day in different ways: some alone, some with friends and family, and many in organized candle lighting ceremonies like the service planned by the East Central Illinois Chapter,” says Loder. “We invite everyone, whether or not they have suffered the personal loss of a child, to join this moving tribute.”
Photo Submitted
Along with their classmates, Madison Flexser (front) and Sarina Voegel (right), search throughout various plants for insects.
Annual insect day gives students up close study
By Mallory Murphy
Sullivan Reporter
Friday, October 11 marked the third annual “Insect Day” for first graders at Sullivan Elementary School. After a week-long reading series on insects, four first grade teachers in Sullivan–Eudora Drollinger, Scott England, Meredith Shook, and Clarice Singer–arranged for an activity-filled day full of learning, exploring, and researching the crawly critters. Read More
Photo by Keith Stewart
Cary Netherton, a Sullivan native and now Minneapolis based sculptor, stands with his newly reassembled creation “Fallow”, which he donated to the city of Sullivan and that now resides in Tabor Park.
Scultpor Donates Creation to Tabor Park
by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com
Professional Minneapolis-based sculptor Cary Netherton recently returned home for more than just to reminisce over his roots–he practically came back to install one.
After first returning back in August with half of a sculpture he’d agreed to donate, the Sullivan native came back once again in October with the remaining segments and began installing it on October 22.
After a few days of rebolting and mortaring the insides, Netherton’s work of art was officially home, permanently presented on a slab of concrete near the entrance of Tabor Park.
“In putting it together, it was just a lot of wrestling of parts, and at one point we brought in a machine, a tractor, to lift up some of the heavier pieces,” explained Netherton. Read More
Submitted
The C.E.F.S. Head Start 0-5 Program Policy Council recently recognized three volunteers who completed their three year terms of service on the council.
Pictured (L-R): Stacey Rubsam of Effingham, Ethel Wagner of Shelbyville and Michelle Nolan of Sullivan.
C.E.F.S. Economic Opportunity Corporation, Head Start 0-5 Program Policy Council recently recognized three volunteers who served three year terms on the Head Start 0-5 Program Policy Council.
Stacey Rubsam of Effingham, Ethel Wagner of Shelbyville and Michelle Nolan of Sullivan were given a certificate of appreciation by the Head Start 0-5 Program for their dedicated three years of volunteer service to the program by serving on the Head Start 0-5 Program Policy Council.
Stacey Rubsam, chairperson of the C.E.F.S. Head Start 0-5 Program Policy Council, recognized council members for volunteering their time and giving their public service to Read More