Category Archives: News Section

Diamond Rio Heads the Entertainment at the 91st Moultrie-Douglas County Fair

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•June 29, 2022•
by Doris Elmore
Guest Writer

Ninety-one incredible years of fun awaits you at the Moultrie-Douglas County Fair July 5-9 at the fairgrounds in Arthur. It is earlier this year, and follows on the tail of July 4 celebrations, but it just means the festivities just keep on coming.
With much excitement, the Moultrie-Douglas Fair Board is proud to welcome Diamond Rio in concert on Saturday, July 9. They will be on stage at 8:30 p.m. We have known of Diamond Rio for many years, and now we will see them in person, gracing our very own stage. Diamond Rio is an American country music band. They were founded in 1982 as an attraction for the Opryland USA theme park in Nashville, TN, and were originally known as the Grizzly River Boys, then the Tennessee River Boys. Read More

Moultrie Amateur Radio Klub Hosts Field Day in Sullivan

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Moultrie Amateur Radio Klub President Mike Morris with a ham radio made in Ukraine.

•June 29, 2022•
by Ellen Ferrera
NP Writer

On Saturday, June 25 a group of ham radio operators from central Illinois gathered at the Boy Scout cabin in Wyman Park to celebrate their annual Field Day.
Since 1933, Field Day has been celebrated by amateur radio operators and clubs in the U.S. and throughout the world. The primary purpose of the Field Day is to practice and demonstrate emergency procedures; although, each club may determine their own activities.
So how did this very popular hobby of being a ham radio operator begin? In 1888 Heinrich Rudof proved that radio waves existed, and they were adapted into a communication system in the 1890s by the Italian inventor Gugliuelmo Marconi. People then began experimenting with this “wireless telegraphy” – the term “radio” was not yet in use- and it soon expanded worldwide.
By 1908 the students at Columbia University formed the Wireless Telegraph Club of Columbia University which is the earliest recorded formation of an amateur radio club. By 1910 there were thousands of transmitters set up in the U.S. The Radio Act of 1912 began U.S. federal licensing of amateur operators and stations. All amateur radio operators in the U.S. must be licensed by the FCC and pass a 3-tier test. Read More

Kevin Landrus Receives Award

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Photo courtesy of ROE #11
Kevin Landrus, Director of Transportation and Maintenance for Sullivan Schools, recently received the Friend of Education Award from the Regional Office of Education #11. From left to right: Zakry Standerfer, Assistant Regional Superintendent: Kevin Landrus, Director of Transportation and Maintenance for Sullivan Schools; Katie O’Dell, Professional Development Coordinator and Transportation Director; and Regional Superintendent Kyle Thompson.

•June 29, 2022•
Kevin Landrus, Director of Transportation and Maintenance for Sullivan Schools, recently received the Friend of Education Award from the Regional Office of Education #11.
Regional Superintendent Kyle Thompson said, “Our Friends of Education Award recognizes individuals who make larger contributions to education, specifically to our region as a whole, and not just an individual school district.”
“Kevin is a great man. In all my years of working with him he has proven himself to be a caring, competent, reliable, individual who serves Sullivan Schools and ROE #11 well. I have no doubt anyone who has encountered Kevin personally or professionally is better off for it,” Thompson added.
The ROE’s formal announcement of the honor noted, “In addition to his responsibilities for the school district, he has served as a certified school bus instructor for ROE #11 for the past four years and has trained many of the bus drivers in our region. Kevin is a compassionate and dedicated individual who serves as a mentor for many new transportation directors. His hard work and willingness to go the extra mile to ensure safety for students sets him apart.”
Katie O’Dell, Professional Development Coordinator and Transportation Director for ROE #11, who nominated Landrus stated, “Kevin goes above and beyond to assist other transportation directors in our region. His experience, knowledge and willingness to go above and beyond in his position made me certain he was worthy of this award.” Read More

Broadway Bootcamp Held

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Broadway Bootcamp Held
The Little Theatre on the Square held Broadway Bootcamp last week for children entering first through third grades in the fall. They were instructed by professional actors and musicians. On Saturday, June 18 they had a showcase performance.

Bailey Trussell Campaign Visits Sullivan

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Bailey Trussell Campaign Visits Sullivan
The Darren Bailey and Stephanie Trussell campaign made a stop at New Life Church in Sullivan on Monday, June 20. Sullivan was stop 48 of 102 in 14 days. The campaign will be visiting all 102 counties over a two week time period. Pictured is Darren Bailey addressing those who gathered at the church to hear him speak.

Sullivan Native Checks Off His Bucket List

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Photo furnished
Steve Jenne sits in the co-pilot seat after taking a flight on a B-25. His father flew 50 bombing missions in a B-25.

•June 22, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Steve Jenne’s father, Loren E. Jenne, flew 50 bombing missions in a B-25. Steve recalls that after his father got home, he returned the plane to Chanute but not before buzzing the Moultrie County courthouse. This past Saturday, Steve had the opportunity to be a passenger in a B-25 which flew out of Champaign.
Loren was a well-known pilot and was a teacher in Jonathan Creek and at Sullivan Junior High. While he passed in 2016 at the age of 98, his son has donated his diary, uniform, medals and ribbons to the Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society Museum. One thing that wasn’t donated was his father’s original issue flight wings and a tie tack that is the profile of a B-25, both of which Steve wore on his flight this past Saturday. Read More

Organizations Team Up to Bring Blessing Box to Lovington

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Photo furnished
Kelly Creek, Jamie Franklin, Stephanie Leinard, Jane Franklin and Pam Anklam in front of Lovington’s Blessing Box, which is an emergency food pantry. Items are free for those in need.

•June 22, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Hometown Love, University of Illinois Extension and Christ’s Pantry in Lovington have come together to make a Blessing Box possible. The box is located near the Lovington Community Garden and is stocked with boxed items, canned goods and produce from the Arthur Produce Auction, and eventually, they would like to stock hygienic items. Read More

Family Participates in 5k As Memorial

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Photo furnished
Friends and family gathered to walk and run in memory of Tami Belton-Rocke at the 5k at the St. Jude Dash and Bash on Saturday, June 11.

•June 22, 2022•
The Belton-Rocke family participated in a run and walk during the Sullivan St. Jude Dash and Bash on Saturday, June 11. Wearing matching t-shirts, family and friends ran and walked in memory of Tami Belton-Rocke, who passed from breast cancer.
Rocke was first diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer February 2020. She finished her chemo and radiation therapy just before Thanksgiving 2020. Tami loved running and had run numerous 5k races previously. Read More

St. Jude Dash and Bash 2022

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Car Show
One of the events that happens during the St. Jude Dash and Bash is a car show. There were a variety of makes and models of vehicles on display. Pictured is a 1927 Ford Model T.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Lemon Shakeups
Amie Bauer juices lemons to be used for lemon shakeups on Saturday, June 11 during the St. Jude event.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Having Fun
Stella Schum utilizing one of the inflatables that was set up at the St. Jude Dash and Bash at the Sullivan American Legion last Saturday.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Bags Competition
One of the activities at the St. Jude Dash and Bash in Sullivan was bags tournaments for adults and children. Pictured are competitors practicing on Saturday.