Category Archives: News Briefs

Remember When? 11-29-2017

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25 Years Ago This Week

About 200 people gathered around the Sullivan square for the lighting of the Starflake Trail. WAND-TV weatherman Bob Murray, Sullivan Area Chamber president David Leslie and Starflake Trail organizer Patti Ketchmark were present when Mayor Leon Lane pulled the switch to light the trail in Sullivan.

Moultrie County Inter-Agency Council helped low-income families enjoy a merry Christmas for the past 11 years and hope to help 450 kids this season.

Carol Meadows, of the council Christmas committee, noted that the fund goal of $11,400 has received $6,480 so far. Vouchers donated may be used by children at The Fashion Shop, Index, Family Shoe Store, Dollar General, Coast to Coast Hardware, and D&M. Read More

Visit with Santa at Lake Shelbyville

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•November 29, 2017•

Santa Claus is coming to town Saturday, December 9 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Lake Shelbyville Visitor Center.

Children of all ages and their families are welcome to stop in and see Santa. All who attend will receive a free photo print with Santa as well as some water safety items from Bobber the Water Safety Dog.  Read More

Before Becoming a State, Illinois Had Its Own Liberty Bell

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•November 29, 2017•

By Travis Lott
Of the County Journal

No exploration of the 200 years of Illinois history would be complete without a look at what preceded those two centuries.

While Illinois became a state in 1818, its story began nearly 150 years before that, in 1673, when Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette explored the Mississippi River in search of a route to the Pacific Ocean.

When the two explorers’ travels led them near hostile Spanish territories, they turned back and traveled along the Illinois River, finding safety among the Kaskaskia Indian tribe. Marquette founded the Mission of the Immaculate Conception, but left the mission in the hands of Father Pierre-Gabriel Marest due to Marquette’s poor health. Read More

OV Skillathon Team Gets Third

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OV Skillathon Team Gets Third
Okaw Valley senior Ethan Macklin was a part of the 4H Livestock Skillathon Team that represented Illinois. Skillathon overall third place team - Illinois team members pictured are left to right Sam Schneider (coach), Ethan Macklin, Wyatt Claire, Evan Link, Bobby Batson. North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) in Louisville, Kentucky is the largest all-breed, purebred livestock event in the world with 10 livestock divisions and nearly 30,000 entries from the 48 contiguous states.

Bethany Country Christmas Dec. 3

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•November 22, 2017•

BASO is sponsoring Bethany Country Christmas 3-4:30 p.m. Sunday, December 3 at the Bethany Depot.

Santa will arrive at 3 p.m. with stockings and photo opportunities. Various activities are planned in addition to hot cocoa and cookies. Read More

SCED Seeks Award Nominations

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•November 22, 2017•

Sullivan Chamber & Economic Development is now accepting nominations for recipients of the 2017 Citizen of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award, Small Business of the Year and Business of the Year. Winners of the 2017 annual awards will be presented at the SCED Annual Dinner Wednesday, January 24.   Read More

Remember When? 11-22-2017

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25 Years Ago This Week

Marrowbone Township road commissioner Art McReynolds and co-worker Dale Fleshner designed a chair lift to allow the wheelchair bound McReynolds access to equipment so he can perform his township duties. The $9200 lift lets the road commissioner move around the township garage as well as get into vehicles.

The Bethany School Board gave its approval to a proposed realignment of the junior high sport conference. Nine districts including Bethany, Blue Mound, Central A&M, Findlay, Illiopolis, Lovington, Macon, Niantic-Harristown and Tower Hill are considering formation of a larger conference. All the district’s high schools are in the Meridian Conference. Read More

ALAH Students Attend FCCLA Leadership Session 

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•November 15, 2017•

Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond High School FCCLA participated in the Illinois FCCLA Fall Leadership meeting held October 18 at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.

This year the students who attended the annual Fall Leadership meeting could attend an array of workshops on current issues including stress management, self-defense, career preparation, college campus safety, safe relationships, culinary arts demonstrations and healthy lifestyles.

Elizabeth Bjorling Poest, one of Illinois FCCLA’s former state officers, shared her message of leadership and “how to pack your bag for the journey of life”. Poest’s audience engaged presentation was both entertaining and enlightening. Read More

OVHS Honor Society

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OVHS Honor Society
Okaw Valley National Honor Society Chapter inducted 14 new members Nov. 7. The new NHS members are Canaan Christensen, Paige Coleman, April Decesaro, David Dial, Kailey George, Gavon Hargrove, Caleb Hildebrandt, Kate Jeffers, Kami Landreth, Parker Perrine, Angela Robinson, Chloe Ryherd, Cameron Sharp, Sarah Weber. Current and new members of the Okaw Valley National Honor Society are pictured above. The chapter sponsor is Jennifer Crowder.