Category Archives: News

One Year Anniversary of Tornado Touchdown South of Windsor

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•December 7, 2022•
by Crystal Reed

On Friday, December 10, 2021, at about 9:50 p.m., a tornado touched down south of Windsor. Thankfully, no one was injured or killed that night. At that time the National Weather Service at Lincoln said when the tornado touched down, it caused the loss of roof panels to a farm outbuilding.
Then the tornado strengthened, causing total destruction of a farm outbuilding and breaking wood power poles southeast of Windsor. South Central FS saw significant damage west of Gays with numerous buildings damaged or destroyed, and three large tanker trucks were flipped. Read More

Lovington’s Christmas in the Park 2022

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Singing Christmas Carols
This group of ladies came to the event and sang several Christmas carols. Other activities during the event included vendors, cookies and hot chocolate, a craft for children and visits with Santa.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Handmade Decorations
For this Christmas tree entry, the decorations were all handmade and included snowflakes, round plaid fabric ornaments and a large snowflake tree topper. In total there were ten trees decorated by schools, individuals and businesses that were auctioned off.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Tree Decorating Contest
During Christmas in the Park in Lovington there were ten trees that were decorated and auctioned off. Trees were decorated by residents, schools and businesses. The tree pictured was decorated by the Lovington Grade School Student Council and they were the school winner. Residential winner was a tree decorated by Tracy Garmon and Alexandria Poe. Winner in the business category was TGM. Themes included board games, Star Wars, angels, Willy Wonka, and others.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Santa Photo
Santa was at Christmas in the Park on Saturday, November 26 in Lovington posing for photos and hearing requests from children and adults. He arrived at the park in style on a Lovington Fire Department fire truck.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Listening to Christmas Wishes
Santa heard requests from children during Christmas in the Park in Lovington. Here he talks to one of the local children.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Creating a Snowman Ornament
A young child draws a carrot nose on her snowman ornament during Christmas in the Park in Lovington with assistance from her mother. This is one of several activities that was going on that day.

City Council Approves Memorandum of Understanding with Agri-Fab

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•November 30, 2022•
by Crystal Reed

The Sullivan City Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Sullivan and Agri-Fab. The memorandum involves an unused three-phase pad mount 1500 KVA transformer that was previously provided by the city. The city has requested possession of the transformer for use in another location. Agri-Fab has agreed to this on the condition that the city provide Agri-Fab with an equivalent replacement transformer. Commissioner Mike Fowler said they need permission from the company to move the transformer.
In attendance was Bob Ingram who asked whether the replacement transformer would be new or refurbished. According to Commissioner Abbey Sherwood there are two different copies of the agreement. One that was in the packet and one on which the lawyer changed the verbiage which said that it should be a new transformer given to Agri-Fab as a replacement. The transformer sits at Agri-Fab because they have vendors who require them to keep one in place should the one being used have a breakdown or malfunction. Read More

One Book, One Sullivan Announces Newest Book Selection

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Photo by Crystal Reed
One Book, One Sullivan announced this year’s book selection during an assembly on Tuesday, November 22. This year’s selection is The Blackbird Girls by Anne Blankman. One Book, One Sullivan members are (in no order): Adalyn Cruitt, Emma Drake, Alex Fultz, Ava Johnson (not pictured), Kent Lehman, Grant Martin, Vinnie McClellan, Daisy Richardson, Avery Renfro, Tenley Stollard, Mitchell Wesselman, Ronin Woods, North Dean, Isabel Donovan, Reading Interventionist Rikki Ray, Media Center Specialist Anna McClellan and Rotary member Susan Rauch.

•November 30, 2022•
by Crystal Reed

One Book, One Sullivan presented a book trailer to their middle school classmates Tuesday, November 22, in an assembly at the beginning of the school day. The group narrowed their top choices for this year’s selection by reading all 20 books from the Rebecca Caudill list. The group of 12 middle school students, two high school students and four staff members read the books from that list to pick one for the community reading program.
The committee meets weekly to discuss the books and debate to find the perfect one. They narrow it down to the top five and then down to the final selection. The top five books were Amari and the Night Brothers, Black Brother, Black Brother; The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez, When Stars are Scattered and this year’s selection Blackbird Girls by Anne Blankman. Members of the group distributed copies of the book to students during the assembly. Read More

Turkeys Donated to Moultrie County Food Pantry

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Turkeys Donated to Moultrie County Food Pantry
Sullivan IGA meat department delivered 50 turkey breasts and 25 turkeys to the Moultrie County Food Pantry on Monday, November 21. Those who delivered the donation were (in no order): Mason Harner, Meat manager Seth Cobb, Blake Eller, Cameron Eccles, Timothy VanDeursen and Judy Sumner.

Air Conditioning Systems to be Installed at AGS and Upgraded at LGS This Summer

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•November 23 2022•
by Ariana R. Cherry

The ALAH School Board of Education’s most recent meeting was held Wednesday, November 16, at Atwood-Hammond Grade School.
Superintendent Shannon Cheek discussed the HVAC Bids the district received for both Arthur and Lovington grade schools. The bids were for installing air conditioning at Arthur Grade School and upgrading the AC system at Lovington Grade School. There were seven bids total. The lowest bid was awarded to Davis Houk for an amount of $1,158,775.00. The project is to begin this summer and hopefully be completed by the end of summer. Read More

General Election Held

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Photo by Crystal Reed
General Election Held
The General Election was held on Tuesday, November 8. Unofficial results can be viewed by visiting il-moultrie.pollresults.net. Pictured is Karen Goss (right) helping Kaye Wagner (left) with obtaining a ballot on Election Day.

Sullivan High School Class of 1968 Honors Class Veterans

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•November 9, 2022•
Submitted by Lou Ann Soper
Guest Writer

SHS Class of 1968 has proudly honored its Class Veterans with two benches located at Wyman Park near Lane Memorial Field. The idea was sparked when Class Veteran, Richard “Huck” Huckstep, was honored with a bench located near Wyman Lake by family and friends. Donations by SHS 1968 Classmates provided the benches and plaques attached to the benches. Class members Dale Hale, Charles Landers and Bill Standerfer are responsible for installation at the site location. Read More

Third Annual Anglers Tribute to Veterans Held

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Photo courtesy of Travis Hughes
Veterans were celebrate during the Anglers Tribute to Veterans this past weekend. On Friday night was a steak dinner and on Saturday afternoon was a fish fry. Normally veterans are taken on a fishing trip on Saturday morning but that was cancelled due to a high wind advisory. More photos are on page 8.

•November 9, 2022•
The Third Annual Anglers Tribute to Veterans was held this past weekend. Usually the event involves taking veterans fishing on Lake Shelbyville along with other events but due to a wind advisory on Saturday the fishing trip on Saturday was not held this year. However there was a steak dinner and veteran and boater introductions on Friday night and a fish fry for veterans and their families on Saturday afternoon with a guest speaker. Read More

Moultrie County Sheriff Retires

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Moultrie County Sheriff Retires
Moultrie County Sheriff Chris Sims was recognized for 28 years with the department last Friday during a retirement party at the sheriff’s office. Sims plans to spend his retirement spending time with his wife and grandchildren, as well as fishing and traveling. During the retirement party, Chief Deputy Gary Carroll (left) presented Sims (right) with a plaque.