•May 1, 2019•
By Jerry L. Ginther
NP Guest Columnist

At 14 years old, his job, his personality and his car favorably impressed me. At first meeting, it was the job of telegraph operator and freight agent for the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad (C&EI) that caught my interest.
Enter Bert Benjamin Condo. Bert was a tall, lean gentleman probably in his early 60s when we first met. Actually, I would later learn that this wasn’t our first meeting. I was just too young to remember the first, which had occurred when I was about three years old. From that second meeting Bert would become very important to my future. Bert became one of the best friends and mentors that a young boy could have. My long railroad career as a telegraph operator and train dispatcher was the product of this second meeting and resulting friendship. Read More

25 Years Ago This Week

Family will gather at Sullivan Living Center to celebrate Hattie Pearse Bolin’s 100 years of life. The Sullivan native and widow began teaching at the age of 16 at Miller School, a one-room schoolhouse in Moultrie County. She married Guy Bolin in June of 1914. They had five children.
Midnight, an 11 week-old female puppy is the newest member of the Sullivan Living Center family. Employees for the month of March were Gwen Murphy, Betty Purdeu, Bonnie Dick and Janet Reedy.
Luke Bland of Bethany, who was a member of the Okaw Conference and regional golf championship team, has informed Millikin golf coach Gerald Temples of his intention to enroll at Millikin in the fall. Bland averaged 39.8 for nine holes and helped set a school record with 17 wins this year.
The Prairieland Frontiersmen held their 18th Annual Spring Rendezvous. Organizer Steve Wood predicted it could be one of the largest gatherings they have sponsored. Matches sponsored by the Frontiersmen include a rifle match, X-stick match, woods walk, trap and skeet, trade gun match, ladies’ woods walk, ladies’ fun match, kids’ events and an egg shoot. Read More

•May 1, 2019•
Jessica Renfro, a senior at Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond High School, attended the FCCLA State Leadership Conference.
She competed in the “Chapter in Review Portfolio” Senior Category and received a silver medal. Her project was named “Most Outstanding” in the category and earned a National Delegate title. Jessica served as a voting delegate at the conference and was one of 22 students chosen to participate in a special flag ceremony during the Friday night general session. Ginger Voegel, ALAH FCCLA adviser and her daughter Sarina Voegel, also represented ALAH FCCLA at the conference. Read More

25 Years Ago This Week

Tom Wopat, former star of The Dukes of Hazzard and a top-notch country singer, will headline Sullivan’s 1994 Festival of Stars. Wopat’s concert will be Saturday, May 21 on the main stage on the Sullivan Square.
Organizers are gearing up for their annual Appalachian Project. Orris and Athelene Drew and Lee and Delores Hopper are now coordinating the project. Chick and Ilene Morgan who have volunteered their time for the past 17 years are taking a break until their health improves. They take 20 or more trucks loaded with clothes, toys and small household items to the families in Appalachia.
Ron and Angela Coy of Sullivan have announced the engagement of their daughter, Misha, to Kris Hutchings, son of Dennis and Mary Hutchings of Sullivan. A July 23 wedding is being planned.
Linda Scheer of Sullivan won honorable mention in the Category II amateur division in the 15th annual Lake Land College Foundation Photography Show. Her win was for a photo entitled “Pelican Landing”. Read More