Category Archives: News

OV Celebrates FFA Week 2023 with Activities

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Photos by Crystal Reed
OV Celebrates FFA Week with Activities
Okaw Valley High School FFA celebrated FFA Week last week. On Tuesday there were school wide donuts in the cafeteria, Wednesday there was a petting zoo, Thursday there was Ag Olympics and lunch and Friday students had pork burgers for lunch and it was anything but a car day. The highlight of the petting zoo was the first OV baby calf born this year. His mother was the first calf ever born at the OV Ag complex. A second baby calf was born later in the week.

New Water Plant on Schedule for July 2023 Start Up

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•March 1, 2023•
by Crystal Reed

One of the current projects for the city of Sullivan is a new water plant which is currently under construction. The original cost estimate was $8.5 million, but with the cost of equipment and supplies after COVID, they are close to $9.5 million.
According to Commissioner of Public Safety and Health Chuck Woodworth, the determination of the need for a new water plant was done by the Illinois EPA. They evaluated the current plant and pointed out the deficiencies of no redundancy of the main treatment process equipment. “There is only one softner, currently,” he said. “If it breaks down or needs to be taken out of service for cleaning or repairs, the water would not be able to be treated.” Read More

Rep. Halbrook and Sen. McClure Host Town Hall

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Rep. Halbrook and Sen. McClure Host Town Hall
State Rep. Brad Halbrook and State Senator Steve McClure hosted a town hall at the Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library on Monday, February 20. Both legislators gave updates on what is happening in Springfield and took questions from those in attendance. Topics included the expansion of abortion, unconstitutional gun ban, administrative pay raises and Governor Pritzker’s FY 2024 budget.

Information About the Results from the School District’s Facility Survey Shared

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•February 22, 2023•
by Ariana R. Cherry

Superintendent Shannon Cheek, members of the school board and Rod Wright of Creative Entourage discussed the results of the facility survey that was sent out to members of the communities of the ALAH School District at the most recent Board of Education meeting which was held at Lovington Grade School.
In the communities of Arthur, Lovington and Atwood, only 361 surveys were completed. One of the main reasons that those who voted selected no to the proposal was they worried that the tax increase would be too much. Another big worry was that the elementary schools in Atwood and Lovington would eventually be closed down and/or torn down. Board member Ryan Nettles pointed out that since the high schools have all consolidated, both the Atwood and Lovington buildings were torn down. People could have some anxiety about their elementary buildings being torn down next. One other concern to which voters chose no to the proposal was the uncertainty of the current state of the economy. Read More

LLC Students Given Opportunity to Travel to Europe

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•February 15, 2023•
Lake Land College students and community members will have the opportunity to explore London, England and Paris, France in June 2023. Those interested can secure a spot on the trip for less than $100 by March 20, 2023.
Those participating will depart from Lake Land College on Friday, June 23, 2023 and will return Saturday, July 1, 2023
The trip will include a stop at Disneyland Paris on the trip’s final day as well as the optional opportunity to attend a St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs MLB exhibition game in London, England. Read More

2023 Sheep to Yarn to Quilts Set for May 1 at the Illinois Amish Heritage Center

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•February 15, 2023•
Sheep to Yarn to Quilts returns to the Illinois Amish Heritage Center on Saturday, May 13, 2023, and hours for the event are from 7:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. CDT. This event will include sheep shearing demonstrations, cleaning and dyeing the wool, and spinning it into wool. Weavers will demonstrate weaving with looms, and quilting displays and demonstrations will complete the journey from Sheep to Yarn to Quilts. Visitors will be invited to try their hand at many of the activities being demonstrated. Read More

Marrowbone Public Library Story Time

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Marrowbone Public Library Story Time
Marrowbone Public Library in Bethany holds story time on Fridays, starting in September and going through December and then resuming in January until May at 11:15 am. It is open to preschoolers ages 3-5. Programming includes books, crafts and a snack and it goes for one half hour. Pictured is Children’s Librarian Lesa Oathout reading to children at story time.

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Photos by Crystal Reed
Demolition of Old City Building Begins
The demolition of the old city building began on Monday, February 6. A new city building will be built on the same spot in the near future. The building had indoor air quality and structural issues including 5,400 square feet of asbestos floor tile, holes and missing brick and mortar in structural foundation walls intended to hold multiple vaults, extensive mold growth in the HVAC system that serviced personnel workspaces and recommendations to utilize hazmat suits when accessing the second floor. Asbestos abatement was done before demolition began on the building.

Lovington Grade School Spelling Bee Finalists

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Lovington Grade School Spelling Bee Finalists
Lovington Grade School held their school spelling bee on Monday, January 23. Six finalists and two alternates were selected to move on to the Moultrie County Spelling Bee on February 16. The top three were first place Macee Boddy, second place John Williams IV and third Alexis Chism. Also qualifying to move on were Landon Willoughby, Makena Liming and Maxton Boddy. Alternates are Leland Willoughby and Ryan Mgawi.

Illinois EPA Grant Recipients

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•February 1, 2023•

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) Director John J. Kim today announced Lead Service Line Inventory (LSLI) Grants to 48 communities to assist in meeting the requirements outlined in the Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act. The LSLI Grants, ranging from $20,000 - $50,000, will fund the creation of a complete lead service line inventory.
The Village of Lovington is the recipient of a $30,000 grant. Read More