Category Archives: News Briefs

July 4th Tradition in Sullivan Illinois

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•June 29, 2022•
by Jerry L. Ginther
NP Guest Writer

As far back as I can remember, Sullivan has always celebrated the Fourth of July with a carnival and fireworks. The week of the carnival always brought some excitement to the community. For a few days it provided some afternoon entertainment and colorful nightlife for our little town. The swirling, multi-colored lights on the rides created a festive atmosphere and the laughter and excited shrieks from the riders could be heard for many blocks. Read More

All the world’s a sports analogy, and all the men, women merely players

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•June 29, 2022•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer

What I know about sports you could stick in my eye and I’d still be able to see.
But I can still turn just about anything into an entertaining sports analogy with the best of them. It’s how I’ve survived weekly meetings with sports editors for more than a decade.
I received an email from D.M. Cook, a dentist who wonders whether he is being too picky. Having a dentist ask me whether he’s too picky is like asking Anthony Rizzo whether he’d like me to lob him an 80 mph “fastball” around the knees.
See what I mean? Read More

Remember When? 6-29-2022

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25 Years Ago This Week

The Old School Market received a low-interest loan to develop a restaurant. The $250,000 loan, at 4 percent interest, covered almost half of the $580,000 estimated cost of the project. Market owner Larry Yoder planned a 140-seat restaurant with private banquet facilities in the gym area of the old Powers Elementary School, which at that time housed Yoder’s extensive set of antique and craft shops. Read More

2022 Junior Miss Moultrie-Douglas Fair Queen Contestants

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2022 Junior Miss Moultrie-Douglas Fair Queen Contestants
Competing for the title of 2022 Junior Miss Moultrie-Douglas on Wednesday, July 6 beginning at 7:00 pm are (front row) Alyssa Adkins, Villa Grove; Emmalee Nall, Arthur; Wren Wall, Sullivan; and Kimberly Krutsinger, Arthur. (Middle row) Paislee Lorenzen, Paris; Ava Whitson, Tuscola; Shelbey Grimsley, Arthur; and Aymara Leal, Arcola. (Back row) Bekka Bloom, Villa Grove; 2021 Junior Miss Moultrie-Douglas Molly Appleby, Atwood; Jorga Ledbeter, Arthur; and Lily-Lynn Davis, Villa Grove.

2022 Little Miss Moultrie-Douglas County Fair Queen Contestants

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2022 Little Miss Moultrie-Douglas County Fair Queen Contestants
Front row Zamara Leal, Arcola; Maelee Stirrett, Atwood; Logan McCumber, Villa Grove; Charlotte Duzan, Sullivan; Paisley Yoder, Arthur; Charlee Lenz, Gays; Emery Hill, Sullivan; and Brynley Liles-French, Bethany. Middle row Rylan Lake, Villa Grove; Isla Harriss, Tuscola; Whitley Fryman, Sullivan; 2021 Little Miss Moultrie-Douglas Quinn Chapman, Villa Grove; Nataleigh Doty, Bethany; Hope Whitlow, Lovington; and Paisley Milleer, Villa Grove. Back row Madison Dunn, Arcola; Harper Riley, Newman; Charlotte Franklin, Tuscola; Ember Ely, Atwood; and Tatum Faust, Pesotum. Not pictured is Evelyn Kenton, Villa Grove. The Miss and Little Miss Queen pageant will be held on Tuesday, July 5 at 7:00 pm at the North Grandstand.

2022 Miss Moultrie-Douglas County Fair Queen Contestants

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2022 Miss Moultrie-Douglas County Fair Queen Contestants
Vying for the title of 2022 Miss Moultrie-Douglas County Fair Queen to be held on Tuesday, July 5 at 7:00 pm are (front row) Andrea Dehart, Atwood; Logan Streible, Atwood; reigning 2021 Miss Moultrie-Douglas Karis Hortin, Tuscola; and Mikayla Dunn, Tuscola. (Middle row) Kendall Burdick, Arthur; Layna Kapp, Lovington; Reggan Smith, Tuscola; Meadow Picazo, Tuscola; and Julia Kerkhoff, Tuscola. (Back row) Ella Chupp, Arcola; Regann Bowles, Atwood; Claire Meyer, Tuscola; and Jade Garza, Arcola. Not pictured is Addisyn Wilson, Villa Grove.

Sealed Bid Auction for Real Estate Properties

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•June 22, 2022•
Moultrie County, as trustee, has completed their tax deed proceedings on real estate properties that were delinquent for 2018 and prior real estate taxes. The County, as trustee, will now offer for sale the real estate obtained to the public. They will offer approximately 3 items through a sealed bid auction sale. All sealed bids must be in the Moultrie County Treasurer’s Office, located in the Moultrie County Courthouse, 10 S. Main Street--Suite 10, Sullivan, IL 61951 no later than the close of business on July 8, 2022. Read More

Can a con artist run the gambit?

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•June 22, 2022•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer

Assistant Weekend Editor Susan Klovstad said she thought of me when she saw this in a recent news release:
“In the summer of 1978, two recent college graduates and their high school drama director founded the organization because they wanted to expand the scope of community theater in town by producing plays and musicals that run the gambit from important classics to completely new plays and musicals.”
“Obviously, he means ‘run the gamut,’” Susan told me.
If you’re a Netflix subscriber, you probably remember hearing of or breathlessly streaming “The Queen’s Gambit,” a series about a young female chess player who takes the boys club of players by storm in the 1950s and ’60s. Read More

Remember When? 6-22-2022

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25 Years Ago This Week

Sullivan native Griz England was selected as a finalist for the 1997 Marconi award in the category of Small Market Personality of the Year.
Lovington Hall of Fame and Citizen of the Year award winners were announced at Lovington’s Junefest. Charles G. Glancy (deceased) and Ellen Thomas were long-time Lovington residents who performed many services for the community. They won the Hall of Fame and Citizen of the Year awards respectively. Read More

Boy Scout Troop 39 holds Court of Honor

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Boy Scout Troop 39 held a Court of Honor recently. Pictured are front row (left to right): Joshua Bailey, Idrees Al-Arab, Curtis Kite, Liam Coil, Grant Martin. Back row (left to right): Timothy Tighe, Jacob Bettinger, Jack Woolen, Beau Fleming, Ivan Moxley, Anderson Crouse.

•June 15, 2022•
On April 11, Troop 39 held their Court of Honor at the Sullivan American Legion with family in attendance. In total, the Boy Scouts earned 48 merit badges, and eleven scouts ranked up.
The ceremony began with Summer camp awards for those who attended camp last June at Rhodes-France Scout Reservation in Pana, Illinois. Scouts who earned their Summer camp badges were Charles Conlin, Gavin Finn, Joshua Bailey, Liam Coil, Grant Martin, Kylan Collins, Idrees Al-Arab, Carson Nixon, Curtis Kite, and Anderson Crouse. Read More