25 Years Ago This Week

Construction has begun on the new Hydro-Gear factory south of Sullivan. Workers from Standerfer Bros. General Contractors of Sullivan began pouring footings last week for the facility, where transaxles for lawn and garden tractors will be manufactured in a joint effort with Agri-Fab of Sullivan. Construction of the building is expected to be completed by Sept. 1.

For the second time this season, Braidy Miller has been selected as the Mid-Continent Conference Track and Field Athlete of the Week. The 1987 SHS graduate set a school record in the hammer throw. He also took first place honors in the discus with a toss of 179-2. Miller bettered his previous EIU record by seven feet with a toss of 198-3 for a first place finish at the SEMOtion Relays in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Bethany’s Andrew Hagerman struck out 14 batters and gave up six hits to lead the Mustangs in a 28-5 victory over Stonington last week in Meridian Conference action. Hagerman’s 14 strikeouts accounted for all but one of Stonington’s outs in the five inning contest. Bethany batters walked 26 times to send their teammates around the bases for the majority of the Mustangs’ runs. Ben Osman hit a two-run homer in the first inning, and “everyone got a chance to play,” said coach Dave Benning.

Nine Sullivan High School students recently attended a spring workshop put on by the Eastern District Assn. of Student Councils at Paris High School. SHS seniors Michelle Keown, Matt Stone and Jason Cobb; juniors, Wade Baumgartner and John Freese; and freshmen Tracey Johnson, Nikki Larkin, Matt Corzine and Tim Lowry all participated in the evening workshop. Read More

•April 20, 2016•

Millikin University’s Symphonic Wind Ensemble will wrap-up its 2015-16 performance season with an exclusive concert performance, free and open to the public, on Friday, April 22 in Kirkland Fine Arts Center beginning at 7:30 p.m.

The concert on April 22 will feature performances from Millikin’s student solo competition winners: Madeline Moylan (flute), a sophomore flute performance major from Breese, Ill.; Emily Hill (flute), a freshman flute performance major from Forsyth, Ill.; and Ryan Wood (euphonium), a sophomore music education major from Lisle, Ill.

The concert will open with a performance of Charles Rochester Young’s “Tempered Steele,” followed by Franz Doppler’s “Andante and Rondo,” featuring Madeline Moylan and Emily Hill on flute. The Wind Ensemble will also perform James Curnow’s “Rhapsody for Euphonium and Concert Band” featuring soloist Ryan Wood. Following a performance of Karel Husa’s “Cheetah,” the Wind Ensemble will conclude the concert with a performance of Percy Aldridge Grainger’s “Lincolnshire Posey.”

Student Soloists Read More

•April 20, 2016•

Millikin University’s Center for Entrepreneurship, in the Tabor School of Business, will be hosting Decatur’s first Startup Weekend, powered by Google for Entrepreneurs, April 22-24. Startup Weekend is an opportunity for participants to pitch an idea, form a team and become part of the world’s largest entrepreneurship community in 54 hours.

Whether you want to pitch an idea and lead a team, or be a founding member for a new product or service, Startup Weekend will provide the right entrepreneurial tools, skills and practices.

Startup Weekend participants will be part of a team that throughout the weekend develops an idea for a business to pitch to a panel of judges on Sunday, April 24. Read More

•April 20, 2016•

The junior parents are hosting a Post Prom event for all juniors and seniors and their guests 11 p.m.-3 a.m. April 23 in Sullivan Elementary School. This will be free of charge, regardless of whether or not students attend prom.  Read More

Photo Submitted

Focus on encouraging registration at Driver Services facilities

•April 13, 2016•

Secretary of State Jesse White kicked off the state’s organ/tissue donor campaign today as part of a statewide effort to encourage registration and awareness at all 138 Driver Services facilities.

“Since many registrations happen at our facilities, we want to be sure that people are informed when making the decision to give the gift of life,” said White. “There are many myths that make some people fearful about donation, and we want to dispel those concerns.”

During the campaign organ/tissue donor staff will be on-site at a number of facilities to answer questions regarding donation. Countertop displays of local recipients and donor families will be featured at various Driver Services facilities so that patrons may see how organ/tissue donation impacts their community. In addition, facility personnel will receive additional training on organ/tissue donation in order to discuss registration with patrons.

April is National Donate Life Month. White will attend events at facilities, hospitals and other venues throughout Illinois to encourage donation. Organizations will be working together to promote donor awareness throughout the state.  Read More