•September 23, 2015•

Sullivan Police Department has issued an IRS scam warning to residents.

Chief John Love explained some residents have been called by someone claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). “They’re telling people they owe the IRS money and should send a cashier’s check or money order to keep local police from being sent to arrest them.” Love explained.

“It just isn’t true, that’s not how we operate,” he said, noting anyone receiving one of these calls should call local police to report the scam.

•September 16, 2015•

The Lovington Public Library District is offering “Introduction to Digital Photography Workshop” 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday September 29 in the library meeting room. It is being conducted by Lovington resident Alma Fair. There is a preregistration requirement deadline of Friday September 25, and participants are asked to call the library at 873-4468 or stop in to register. There is no cost for the workshop, but participants are asked to bring their digital camera, questions they may have and the camera manual.

Photo by RR Best
Bagpiper Paul Hinson

•September 16, 2015•

Paul Hinson played the “Flowers of Forest” on Scottish Highland bagpipes for the Patriot Day assembly in Sullivan Friday, Sept. 11.

For Hinson, who lives in Oakland, his interest in the bagpipe started when he heard his first one played in St. Louis.

“That was 37 years ago,” Hinson said, noting he started buying records and then gained enough skills to start playing.

He explained the pipe’s sound comes from the blend of reeds from the clarinet, saxophone and oboe teamed with the consistency of the player in controlling the air flow through the bag.

Mutual friends connected Hinson with Rebecca Lawson which resulted in his performance at the Sullivan Patriot Day assembly.

“Bagpipes are experiencing a bit of a revival,” Hinson continued. The history of the bagpipe started in India and North Africa and was brought to the Irish and Scots by the Greeks and Romans.

Although there are several styles, Hinson plays the fuller sounding Scottish Highland bagpipe because of its superior sound outdoors.

•September 16, 2015•

The Sullivan High School Marching Redskins hosted the second annual marching band competition Saturday.

Mt. Zion High School and Paxton-Buckley-Loda were class winners of the competition. The Marching Redskins performed in exhibition.

•September 9, 2015•

The Sons of the American Legion member drive is underway with National Commander Kevin Collier noting the group currently has a 358,000 nationwide membership.

He explained that the SAL squadron at the local American Legion Posts has men who joined to honor fathers/mothers or grandfathers/grandmothers service in the US military.

By being a member of the SAL and paying your dues annually, you receive benefits such as discounted prescription and eye glass care, car rental and hotel discounts, access to life and health care insurance, and many more.