Photo by Crystal Reed
Bake Sale for Ukraine
On Friday, March 18 the Sullivan American Legion Auxiliary Unit 68 and The Baking Brigade of Sullivan held a bake sale at the Legion to raise money to donate for humanitarian aid in Ukraine. Pictured are Ann Shaw, Johna Sims, Dawn Morris, Executive Director of the American Red Cross serving South Central Illinois; Becky Lawson and Lisa Tate.
•March 23, 2022•
by Ariana Cherry
NP Writer
During the ALAH School District’s board meeting at Lovington Grade School held Wednesday, March 16,
board members browsed through the consent agenda, approving the bills and treasurer’s report. The total of all funds was $4,443,749.26, and the checkbook balance was reported at $4,076,145.74. Also approved was submitting the proposition of issuing school building bonds in the amount of $30,600,000 to the voters of the district at the June 28, 2022 general primary election. This is money that will go toward the improvement of the school buildings in the district. The recommendation for phase one was passed at a recent special school board meeting. Superintendent Shannon Cheek commented that he was hopeful and excited to move forward. Read More
Photo furnished
Natalee Hunter, Lee Hunter and Becky Lawson at Chapman University after the awards ceremony for the Holocaust Art and Writing Contest sponsored by Chapman University and The 1939 Society. These ladies traveled to Los Angeles for an awards ceremony recently. Natalee was an international finalist in the contest for her short film Brushstrokes of Resilience.
•March 23, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
Sullivan High School junior Natalee Hunter, her mother Lee Hunter and retired teacher Becky Lawson recently traveled to Los Angeles for an awards ceremony at which Natalee accepted an award for being an international finalist in the Holocaust Art and Writing Contest sponsored by Chapman University and The 1939 Society. She was recognized for a three-minute video called Brushstrokes of Resilience, about a Holocaust survivor.
That survivor is Sally Roisman, who, at the age of 12, was taken to the ghetto, then a labor camp and then Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. Some of the footage in the video is from the USC Shoah Foundation. With the support of her family and the help of Lawson and some of her classmates, she was able to make the video that she submitted for the contest. Read More
•March 16 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
The Sullivan City Council held a regular meeting on Monday. Due to the absence of commissioners Chuck Woodworth and Doug Booker, some items under new or unfinished business were postponed until the next meeting.
Lee Beckman of Milano and Grunloh reported that for the water plant project, contract 1 is Grunloh Construction, contract 2 is All Service and contract 3 is Grunloh Building. Grunloh Construction was actually the lowest bidder. He was unable to look at the numbers in detail due to the bid opening being a short time before the special meeting.
The contracts were awarded during a special meeting on March 1. Preconstruction meeting for that project is on March 30. On the Bernius project, everything has been approved, and engineering was started. Read More
•March 16 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
The Moultrie County Board set salaries for elected officials during their monthly meeting. A motion was approved to establish the Moultrie County Clerk starting salary (12/1/2022) set at $52,000 with an annual raise set for the second year (FY24) at 3%, third year (FY25) at 4% and the fourth year at 4% (FY26). The annual stipend is $6,500 per year.
The board also approved the Moultrie County Treasurer starting salary (12/1/2022) set at $58,527.04 with annual raises set for the second year (FY24) at $1,820, third year (FY25) at $1,820 and fourth year (FY26) at $1,820. The annual stipend is $6,500 per year. The salary for Moultrie County Sheriff was set at a starting salary of $78,000 with annual raises set for the second year at 4%, third year at 4% and fourth year at 4%. The annual stipend is set at $6,500 per year.
The board also approved a resolution establishing that Moultrie County Board members are to receive $75.00 per member associated meeting with a maximum of $75.00 per day allowed if any member attends more than one meeting in any given day, effective December 1, 2022. Read More
Photo by Crystal Reed
Working on the roof
The first week of disassembling the Hershberger/Miller barn involved the removal of roof panels.
•March 9, 2022•
Work to disassemble the Hershberger/Miller barn started the week of February 14, and, as of last Friday, there was very little left to be taken down. The timbers will be shipped to the facilities of Trillium Dell Timber Works in Galesburg for restoration or replacement as needed. A traditional barn raising is planned for the fall. This will be coordinated by Trillium Dell staff and involve interested public and Amish from the local as well as other Amish areas.
The Hershberger/Miller barn was constructed three miles west of Arthur in 1879. The large, five bay, Pennsylvania-style barn features the typical forebay overhang on the east side and a drive-in threshing floor on the west side. On the lower level are stalls for six draft horses, pens for various livestock and the milking bay along with grain and feed bins. The upper level is open for hay and grain storage. Read More
•March 9, 2022•
By Ellen Ferrera
NP Writer
The Sullivan Middle School gym was the location for the first of a three-part series of public forums to assess future facility needs for all three schools.
The meeting was held 6:30-8 p.m., Monday, February 28. Eight large tables with seating for 10 people each were arranged in the gym. All seats were filled with an almost equal number of teachers and community members. Read More
Photo by Crystal Reed
Sullivan FFA Auction
Sullivan FFA held a complimentary dinner and live auction on Saturday, March 5 in the Sullivan High School gym. One of the items auctioned off was a piggy bank that had traveled to various places around Sullivan and those who wanted to make a donation placed it in the bank. Pictured are Sullivan FFA members with the “Feed the Pig” piggy bank.
Photo by Crystal Reed
Sullivan Singers
Sullivan Singers and Singers Jr. had two preview shows on Saturday, February 26 in the Sullivan High School gym. During the program both groups performed their competition shows. At the two showtimes there were also students that were spotlighted by singing their solo competition solos.
Photo by Crystal Reed
Sullivan Singers Jr.
Sullivan Singers Jr. performing their competition show at the preview night held last Saturday, February 26. Both groups will compete next at Glenwood High School in Chatham on March 4 and 5.
Photo by Crystal Reed
Janet England retires from Sullivan VFW
The evening of Friday, February 25 a celebration was held for Janet England at the Sullivan VFW. England retired from volunteering at the VFW after 18 years. She is pictured with a quilt that was made from some of her Sullivan VFW t-shirts.