Resources help you be “water smart” 

•June 5, 2024•

The American Red Cross encourages families to prepare for the summer swim season by learning to be “water smart.” Research shows that participation in formal water safety and swim lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88% for one to four-year-olds.

“Before families head out to pools and parks, it’s important for all family members to learn and review critical water safety skills,” said Celena Sarillo, Chief Executive Officer, Red Cross of Illinois. “Knowing fundamental Red Cross water safety skills will help you feel more prepared for fun outings in, on and around the water and help save lives.” 

Each year, more than 2.5 million people learn to swim through Red Cross lifesaving aquatics programs. These programs incorporate the latest science-based curriculum and industry best practices, helping to keep individuals and families safer while enjoying water activities. Through this work, over the last century, the Red Cross has helped to reduce accidental drownings by nearly 90% nationwide. Read More

2014

Okaw Valley Middle School received a donation from the Findlay Planning Committee two weeks ago in the form of 50 white pine trees. With a $250 donation to the project from the Findlay Planning Committee and trees from Roger Kirkwood, the task was underway. The original windbreak, planted in 1943, had contracted a disease last year. With the trees literally falling over, they had to be cut down. Mike Cummins, the Okay Valley Middle School principal, was then approached by Kirkwood with a proposal on the new windbreak. Read More

Luke Waelde

Kiley Dyer

•June 5, 2024•

Sullivan High School’s valedictorian was Kiley Dyer and salutatorian was Luke Waelde of the graduating class of 2024. Kiley will be attending the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis, majoring in pharmacy and playing both basketball and volleyball.  In high school, she played basketball and volleyball for four years and ran track for three years. She was named 1st team all-conference in basketball and honorable mention all-conference in volleyball her senior year. She was also involved in Spanish Club, Student Council, NHS, and NEHS. Luke will be attending Eastern Illinois University and will be majoring in Finance. In high school, he participated in track all four years, cross country for 3 years, and basketball for 1 year. Luke was also a member of the Tech Club, Student Council, Spanish Club, NEHS, and NHS. Additionally he does a great deal of volunteer work with Ambucs.

Bison Bison…Buffalo’s Real Name 

•June 5, 2024•

by Janet Roney

As my grandmother unfolded the dark hairy blanket trimmed in red and black she had pulled down from the shelf in her cedar closet, bits and tufts of loose hair swirled in the sunlight coming through her window.  

“Take a good look at it,” she said. “Someday soon, robes like this may be all that’s left of buffalo. Your great uncle Clem sent me this from Oklahoma Territory back in the 1890s.”    

I don’t know what happened to that old buffalo robe, but we all do know what happened to the vast herds of American bison, a.k.a. buffalo, out west. Their slaughter and near extermination from the Great Plains west of the Mississippi is a sad chapter in American history.   Read More

•June 5, 2024•

The Village of Lovington will hold their JuneFest event on June 8 at Thomas L. Conn Park from 4-7 p.m. Free kids entertainment will be provided including a bounce house, face painting, obstacle house, dry slide, rock wall, extreme air and nichols power wheel derby and races. The Lovington Community Club will hold its annual Fish Fry starting at 4:30 p.m. in the pavillion. Cost is $10 for adults, $4 children five and up, $2 children four and under. As always, Veterans eat free. From 6 to 9 p.m. there will also be several food trucks on the grounds of the Lovington Grade School, a DJ and at dusk fireworks will take place.