Category Archives: News Briefs

Before Becoming a State, Illinois Had Its Own Liberty Bell

News Progress Posted on by

•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

News Progress Posted on by

Photo furnished
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

News Progress Posted on by

•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

News Progress Posted on by

•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

News Progress Posted on by

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 

News Progress Posted on by

•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

News Progress Posted on by

Photo furnished
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.

Menus 11-15-2017

News Progress Posted on by

Sullivan Pre-School Breakfast

Monday, November 20 - Breakfast bites, grape juice, milk
Tuesday, November 21 - Pancakes, grape juice, milk
Wednesday, November 22 - Biscuits & gravy, grape juice, milk
Thursday, November 23 - Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday
Friday, November 24 - Cereal, grape juice, milk

Sullivan Pre-School Lunch

Monday, November 20 - Burritos and cheese sauce, lettuce salad, peaches, milk
Tuesday, November 21 - BBQ chicken sandwiches, tater tots, pears, milk
Wednesday, November 22 - Turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, peaches, rolls, milk
Thursday, November 23 - Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday
Friday, November 24 - Bologna and cheese sandwiches, veggie sticks, banana, milk

Senior Peace Meal
For additional information or for reservations, please call 1-800-543-1770

Monday, November 20 - Roast turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, seasoned green beans, dressing, peaches
Tuesday, November 21 - Baked ham, candied sweet potatoes, buttered midori vegetables, dinner roll, pie
Wednesday, November 22 - Chili with beans, mixed lettuce salad w/dressing packet, crackers, waldorf salad
Thursday, November 23 - Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday
Friday, November 24 - Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday

Okaw Valley Student Spotlights

News Progress Posted on by

Photos furnished

OVHS Senior Spotlight

Name: Adam Wheeler, son of Jack and Carolyn Wheeler

Adam enjoys playing basketball and hanging out with his friends.

Future Plans and Goals - I want to join the military and then after, go to college to study to become a marine biologist.  Read More

ALAH FFA Competes in Agronomy and Dairy Products CDE

News Progress Posted on by

Photo furnished
ALAH Agronomy Team
The ALAH FFA agronomy team placed third in Section 17. Pictured are ALAH FFA members Taylor Powell, Zane Crist, and Makenna Green.

•November 15, 2017•

The Section 17 FFA Agronomy and Dairy Products Career Development Event was held on Tuesday, November 7, at Parkland College in Champaign.

The ALAH FFA members who competed were Zane Crist, Taylor Powell, Makenna Green, Katie Gingerich, and Aaron Schmitt.

Photo furnished
Dairy Products Team
Pictured is the ALAH FFA Dairy Products team: Katie Gingerich and Aaron Schmitt.

Green competed in the Agronomy CDE which included  a 25 question test, identifying different crops, machinery, and weeds, plus judging one-grain ring of soybeans and one ring of wheat. Then they identified different insects and their life cycle as well as environmental impact.

Gingerich and Schmidt competed in the Dairy Products CDE where they had to identify different types of cheeses, taste different milk samples and determine the defects and differentiate between real and artificial dairy products.

“I loved it. My favorite part was the milk tasting. I would recommend this to everyone in the FFA,” Schmidt said.

Green for placed first and Powell seventh in the section in the Agronomy CDE, and the team placed third overall. Gingerich placed 20th in the Dairy Products CDE.