Category Archives: News Briefs

Spelling Bee Winners

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Spelling Bee Winners
The 2019 Moultrie County Spelling Bee champion is Johnathan Iacobazzi who spelled “Caribbean” correctly Feb. 27 at the Little Theatre on the Square.
The Sullivan fifth grader will compete in the Regional Spelling Bee Sat. March 16 at Eisenhower High School in Decatur.
Lovington fifth grader Alyssa Richards is the alternate.
Five students from Lovington and six students from Sullivan advanced from their school district spelling bees to participate in the county bee.
Participating from Lovington were Austin Bates-sixth grade; Garrett Casteel-seventh grade; Andrew Jeffers-eighth grade; Peyton Newberry-seventh grade and Alyssa Richards-fifth grade.
From Sullivan were Mary Crist-fourth grade; Johnathan Iacobazzi-fifth grade; Nicole Lofland-seventh grade; Rowan Mast-fourth grade; Alyssa Ray-fifth grade; Neveah Wilson-fifth grade.
Judges for the Moultrie County Spelling Bee include Tara Bates, Micah Heddins, and Danielle Lewis of Sullivan.
Pronouncer was Ashley Lehman of Lovington.

Lakeview College of Nursing Honors Carolyn Rauch with Flame Award

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•March 6, 2019•

Lakeview College of Nursing recently honored one of their faculty members with a new award. Carolyn Rauch of St. Joseph received the Flame Award at the College’s recent White Coat Ceremony.
Rauch, who is an assistant professor at Lakeview College of Nursing, has been with the College since 2005. She is the first recipient of this new award.
Lanette Stuckey, who is the Dean of Lakeview’s nursing program, said the College’s administration wanted a way to honor and recognize a faculty member who has demonstrated a commitment to high-quality nursing care through their years of experience. The award itself was inspired by Lakeview’s logo. The logo is an evolution of three symbolic components, one of them being the flame, according to Stuckey. Read More

County Clerk’s Office Offers Grace Period Registration and Voting

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•March 6, 2019•

The last day to register to vote has passed; however, it’s not too late to vote in this election by taking advantage of Grace Period Registration and Voting in the county clerk’s office.
This method of registration is available only in the county clerk’s office, 10 S. Main, Sullivan, weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and runs from March 6 through Election Day. If a person registers to vote or change an address during Grace Period and wants to vote in the upcoming election, he/she must vote at the time of registration. Read More

George Washington, America’s First Statesman

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•March 6, 2019•

By John F. Gilligan

History reveals that great and noble leaders are forged in adversity. Valley Forge was that crucible for George Washington where the mettle of his character was tested to the limit.
During that winter of 1777-78, a German newspaper from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, perceived that formation of a statesman. It described Washington as Des Landes Vater, “Father of the Country.” And we have known him thus ever since.
Valley Forge was “a place of squalid and horrendous conditions,” as Bob Drury and Tom Clavin have written in their latest book “Valley Forge.” “Men dying every day from famine, malnutrition, cold and disease.” Like a poisonous gas, the stench of fetid air from the rotting carcasses of starved horses, nearby latrines and the daily collection of corpses hung over all.
Alexander Hamilton, never one to mince words, attributed these conditions to the government the Continental Army was fighting for. Congress, he said, “was our greatest antagonist.” Read More

Art Club Opens Season with Acrylics

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•March 6, 2019•

The Sullivan Art Club will begin its 2019 season with an acrylic painting workshop led by area artist Ron Bartanen. The workshop will be held 9 a.m-3 p.m. Saturday, March 16 in the St. Columcille Church hall located at the east end of the church at the corner of W. Jackson and McClellan Streets in Sullivan. There is a dedicated entrance to the hall adjacent to the parking lot.
According to Bartanen’s mother, he started drawing as soon as he could hold a pencil. His brother introduced him to the use of pastels when he was a teen, but he only became serious about painting after attending an art show in Chicago when he was a young adult. He studied with Chicago artist Dorothy Frantz for three years. After that time, Bartanen used art magazines and books and membership in art clubs to hone his skills as an artist. Read More

ALAH High School Honor Roll

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•March 6, 2019•

Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond High School First Semester Honor Roll:
9th Grade High Honors - Austin Abercrombie, Maxwell Allen, McKayla Custer, Cassandra Diener, Jacob Duzan, Reginald Edmonds, Delaney Gillis,
Jace Green, Kade Herschberger, Gavin Mechling, Alexa Miller, Hailey Miller
Sarah Rafferty, Payton Rawlins, Emma Sausman, Daylon Stutzman, Zackary Woodard, Kaitlyn Zander.
Honors-Lance Mercer, Reagan Miller, Carlie Moore, Taylor Nichols, Marcy Petersheim, Taylor Powell, Austin Romine, Meredith Schrock, Tyra Wingler, Andrea Witbeck, Kara Yoder, Casey Benedict, Quentin Day, Makayla Harshbarger, Piper Johnson,Ryli Kauffman, Mallory Nichols, Michaela Powell, Maleah Roberts, Kaiya Schrock Melyne, Sherwood Elizabeth Tighe. Read More

WeKnowtheFeeling.org Offers Help with Gambling Disorder

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Website expands access to treatment and recovery resources

•March 6, 2019•

The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) today announced the launch of a statewide website to provide access to treatment and recovery for those impacted by gambling disorder.
The website, WeKnowtheFeeling.org, will accompany 1-800-GAMBLER and provide another outlet for individuals experiencing gambling disorder and their families 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Individuals can also text ILGAMB to 53342 to find treatment options. Support specialists who operate the helpline and website are trained in evidence-based approaches to help connect callers and web users with treatment and recovery support services.
The gaming industry is expanding and evolving at unprecedented rates. The global online gambling market alone is forecasted to grow to more than $59 billion by 2020. A recent National Survey of Problem Gambling Services reported that more than 2% of adults in Illinois may have a problem with gambling. Treatment needs vary with each individual, but often stigma and shame prevent individuals with gambling disorder from asking for help. Read More

March is Severe Weather Preparedness Month

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•March 6, 2019•

As a record number of tornado outbreaks in December clearly demonstrated, severe weather can happen at any time of the year. To help people better prepare for weather emergencies, IEMA and local emergency management agencies will be promoting Severe Weather Preparedness Month throughout the month of March.
The National Weather Service and state and local emergency management officials strongly encourage people to have a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) All Hazards Weather Radio with battery backup. These radios can be programmed to receive alerts for specified counties to keep you and your family apprised of impending weather and post-event information for all types of hazards including natural (earthquakes), environmental (chemical spills) and public safety hazards (AMBER alerts). When an alert is issued for the programmed area, the device will sound a warning alarm tone followed by the essential information. Read More

Trial Set for Accused Shooter

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•March 6, 2019•

Alvan L. Booths, 33, of Mattoon appeared before the Honorable Judge Jeremy Richey in Moultrie County Circuit Court Feb. 27 on charges stemming from the Feb. 4 shooting of Otha Phillips in Sullivan.
Booths entered a not guilty plea to attempted first-degree murder, home invasion and attempted aggravated battery. Judge Richey set the jury trial date for April 29. Read More