•April 24, 2019•

An American Red Cross blood drive will be held 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday, April 29 in the Okaw Valley High School gym in Bethany sponsored by the student council. Any healthy individual age 16 through 75 who meets weight requirements may donate blood.
Donors should eat a healthy meal and drink an extra 16 oz. of water and fluids before donating, and they must bring identification showing a picture and a signature.
All blood types are needed, especially Types 0- and 0+. Every 2.5 seconds someone needs blood.
Up to 15 minutes may be saved when blood is donated by using RapidPass. Visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass for more information.
For more information regarding the blood drive or to make an appointment, contact Okaw Valley High School at 217-665-3631. An appointment may also be made online at www.redcrossblood.org. Walk-ins are also welcome.

•April 24, 2019•

The American Legion Crawl Luau Style which benefits the 100th celebration begins at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, May 18 leaving Sullivan Post 68 at 1 p.m.
The Sullivan Crawl visits the Lovington American Legion first and then travels to the Bethany American Legion and on to Findlay American Legion.
From Findlay the Legion Crawl Luau continues to the Windsor American Legion and returns to the Sullivan Post at approximately 6 p.m.
Grilled burgers and dogs will be available to purchase upon return to Sullivan Post 68. A DJ will provide music until 9 p.m.
Participants are encouraged to wear their favorite luau attire for a chance to win prizes. Games, challenges, etc. will be played at each stop.
The purpose of this fun day is to raise funds for the upcoming 100th Celebration which will be held Sunday, July 21.
To register sign up at the Sullivan American Legion during open hours or contact Tina Bolsen at 217-620-8185.

•April 17, 2019•

Sullivan City Clerk Monte Johnson is moving to McHenry, Illinois.
He has accepted the deputy city clerk/assistant to the city administrator position in the northern Illinois city with a population of 26,500.
“Our sophomore son is in the Math and Science Academy (Aurora) and our senior is going to the Air Force academy so this is the ideal time to move on,” Johnson said, noting his last day in Sullivan is April 23.
“I will stay for the last city council meeting to be sure everything is taken care of,” Johnson continued, noting he will be on the job in McHenry by Thursday, April 25.
The McHenry clerk is retiring at the end of April, giving Johnson four days to get acquainted with the new operation.
In McHenry the 22-year Sullivan employee will concentrate on the duties of the city clerk’s office.
In Sullivan Johnson wore many hats for the city and has been instrumental as GIS coordinator and IT specialist, doing everything from setting up electronic meter reading to making Greenhill Cemetery grave location as easy as the click of a mouse.
Johnson is a Sullivan alum who started working at the city as assistant Civic Center director and IT technician. When the city clerk position opened six years ago, he added those duties to his job and moved into city hall.

•April 17, 2019•

The Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond CUSD #305 Board of Education is announcing the hiring of Shannon Cheek as the next superintendent of schools starting July 1, 2019 to succeed Kenny Schwengel, who is retiring at the end of the school year.
After completing a nationwide executive search through the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB), Cheek was selected from a pool of 32 applicants. The search process was initiated by the board at the end of December, 2018.
Cheek is the current principal of Mahomet-Seymour High School, a position he has held since 2011. Prior to that he served as assistant principal for five years and was a teacher and coach in the district beginning in 1999. He also taught for a year at Heritage High School before moving to Mahomet-Seymour. Cheek received his Specialist in Education with Superintendent Endorsement from Eastern Illinois University. He received his Master of Educational Administration from the University of Illinois and also a Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology. Cheek and his wife, Kim, have two daughters, Morgan who is a sophomore at the University of Kentucky and Raegan who is a sophomore in high school.
“We are extremely excited to have Mr. Shannon Cheek as the new leader for CUSD #305 and feel he is a great fit for the district and communities,” said Jake Kamm, board president. “The board would like to thank the nearly 300 community members and district staff who completed a survey in conjunction with the search to help provide guidance to the board on what criteria to use in the selection process.”
The Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond school district encompasses 252 square miles and has more than 1200 students. “I am extremely grateful and excited to be given the opportunity to lead a district where its students, staff and communities are dedicated and passionate about education,” said Cheek. “My family and I are looking forward to becoming active members of the district.”
An open house will be held at a later date to welcome him to the district.

•April 10, 2019•

Tragedy struck the Larry and Ruby Schrock family when an explosion leveled their rural home and took the life of their son Jared on Feb. 1, 2019.
A family benefit is being hosted by area churches Saturday, April 13 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The event is located at The Arthur Christian School where lunch is served for donations from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. including sandwich choice, sides and dessert.
Gunny Sack Revue performs from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The Silent auction runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. as will face painting and the quilt block class.
A free throw competition and the cake/pie walk are from 1:30 to 3 p.m.
As a result of the explosion daughter, Janeva, 16, was critically injured and has remained in the hospital in a coma.
Area churches are participating with 100 percent of the profits going to help the Schrock family with their financial burden.
The Arthur Christian School is located at 1637 State Highway 133, Arthur.