Category Archives: News Briefs

Remember When? 9-27-2023

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25 Years Ago This Week

Sullivan City Council members discussed the imminent closure of the indoor pool area at the Sullivan Civic Center which had been plagued by structural problems. The walls and roof of the structure had again been eroded by moisture and chemicals. Structural and mechanical repairs were estimated at close to $1 million. The pool was expected to close in November and remain closed through the winter and beyond. 

“Professional volunteer” Joan Lundy Pound, Sullivan High School class of 1955 received the Who’s Who Award at the Sullivan High School Alumni Association banquet.  Read More

Area FCCLA Chapters Meet for Conference

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Sullivan High School FCCLA.

•September 20, 2023•

ALAH and Sullivan FCCLA attended a “IL FCCLA Section 7 Fall Conference” in Charleston on Wednesday, September 13. Three students from Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond High School attended along with adviser, Ginger Voegel. 8 students from Sullivan High School attended along with adviser Kali Taylor. FCCLA members from seven area schools made up the 75+ participants at the event. Members in attendance from ALAH were Perla Juarez-cuevas, Logan Burgin and Samantha Vanmeter. Read More

OAKtober Celebration

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•September 20, 2023•

Local Master Naturalists want to inspire you to appreciate Illinois’ trees and learn some interesting facts along the way. Our OAKtober Celebration will take place on Saturday, October 7, 9-11 a.m. at Douglas-Hart Nature Center. Read More

Patriot Day Thank Yous

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Patriot Day Thank Yous
The members of the East Central Illinois Red Cross Club sent thank you notes and treats to the Sullivan Police Department, Sullivan Fire Department, and the Moultrie County Sheriff’s Office on 9/11, also known as Patriot Day. They thanked them for their service to our community and recognized the heroic actions and sacrifices made by first responders on 9/11/2001. Pictured are (left to right) Fire Chief Larry Edwards and volunteer firefighters and SHS seniors Konnor Randol and Landry Still.

IDPH Endorses CDC Recommendation for COVID-19 Shots

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•September 20, 2023•

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has endorsed the recommendation by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for the newly FDA-approved COVID-19 shots for everyone over the age of 6 months. The federal agencies have given the green light for updated mRNA vaccines developed by Moderna and Pfizer that target the currently circulating strains of the COVID-19 virus.

Heading into the fall, IDPH is closely monitoring data on COVID-19 as well as other respiratory viruses including flu and RSV. The federal guidance comes as data indicates an uptick in COVID-19 hospitalizations in Illinois and the nation, with a seven percent increase statewide in the week ending September 2, the most recent period for which data is available. There are currently 12 Illinois counties at a medium level for COVID-19 hospitalizations according to the CDC national dashboard, meaning they exceed ten new cases per 100,000 population in the last week. Read More

OV Schools Put on Lockdown Sept. 15

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•September 20, 2023•

Okaw Valley schools were placed on lockdown the morning of Friday, September 15, due to a potential threat made toward OVHS. The Bethany Police Department was contacted by Okaw Valley High School at 9 a.m. that day in reference to the potential threat which specifically mentioned OVHS, Homecoming and Friday’s date. The threat was first reported by a student in Pennsylvania to their local police department who in turn contacted the schools. Read More

‘Unless’ or ‘Until’: It’s a Matter of Fairness

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•September 20, 2023•

By Jim Baumann

NP Guest Writer

There are those who say “mother-in-laws” and “attorney generals” and those of us who know the “in law” and “general” are modifiers.

You wouldn’t pluralize a modifier, would you? So it should be mothers-in-law and attorneys general.

Reader Bob Anderson pointed out to me the term “femme fatales” in a recent obituary. My first thought: That must have been a spicier-than-usual obit.

Bob’s point, however, is the plural should have been ”femmes fatale,” because “femme” is the noun modified by the adjective “fatale.” Think “Your mothers-in-law are femmes fatale.”

Man, I should be writing romance novels. Read More