Category Archives: News Section

Car Crash

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Photos by R.R. Best
Car Crash
According to Sullivan Police Chief Andrew Pistorius, on Tuesday afternoon last week at 4 p.m. there was a traffic complaint received about a vehicle between Bethany and Sullivan. A Moultrie County Sheriff’s deputy tried to catch up to the vehicle but was unable to due to the vehicle’s rate of speed. A Sullivan police officer also tried to catch up to the vehicle. At Eden Street and Hamilton the vehicle tried to go around another vehicle and lost control hitting a large utility pole. The driver of the vehicle involved in the crash was ticketed by Moultrie County and the Sullivan Police Department.

Lions Club Awards Scholarships

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Lions Club Awards Scholarships
Sullivan Lions Club recently awarded two scholarships. Emma Moran received the $1000 Coach John Ruscin award, and Mallory Nichols won the Larry Jones Memorial Scholarship for $500. Pictured left to right: Emma Moran, Bill VanKeuren, scholarship committee chairman, and Mallory Nichols.

City Council Holds Special Meeting

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•May 19, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The City Council had a special meeting Monday evening to discuss funding methods for the water plant and city building projects. The meeting started with a presentation by City Treasurer Sarah Golden.
She had proposals as to where she is suggesting they pull funding for the two projects. For the City Building she is suggesting they pull from an excess in TIF, the State Legislative grant and up to $250,000 from electric and gas reserves if needed. The water plant funding she proposes pulling from Titus funds, electric and gas reserves. Read More

Okaw Valley High School Graduation

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Okaw Valley High School Graduation
Okaw Valley High School held graduation this past Saturday. This year due to COVID restrictions, Okaw Valley High School graduates had individual graduation ceremonies where their parents presented them with their diplomas. This year’s valedictorian was Carleigh Bobbett and salutatorian was Macie Fleshner. Later in the day a car parade was held through Bethany and Findlay.
Pictured above: Delaney Johnson and Carleigh Bobbett with their decorated graduation caps.

Photos by Crystal Reed
Car Parade
Okaw Valley graduate Preston Ozier and family ride down Main Street in Bethany following graduation on Saturday. The parade route went through Bethany and Findlay.

Illini Prairie CEO Class Showcases Businesses During Trade Show

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Mackenzie Wright, a student at Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond High School, holds a few of her candles from her business Moonlit Sky Candles during the Illini Prairie CEO Trade Show held last Wednesday.

•May 19, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The Illini Prairie CEO class showcased their businesses during a trade show last Wednesday at Arcola High School. This year’s class had 13 students from the school communities of ALAH, Tuscola, Arcola and Sullivan that participated in this year’s course.
“CEO” stands for Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities. It is a year-long, experientially learning based course, designed to utilize partnership in the community to provide an overview of business processes and development.
Throughout the program year students have visited local businesses, heard from guest speakers, participated in operating a class business, written a business plan and from concept to reality built their own legal, functioning entity.
Mackenzie Wright, 16, a student at Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond is one of the students showcasing their business during the trade show. Her business is called Moonlit Sky Candles.
She makes and sells organic soy wax candles and wax melts. “I’ve always been really creative, and when it came to picking a business to do, I thought that I’ve never done candles before,” she said. Read More

Board Gives Approval to Start Bidding Process for Courthouse Roof

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•May 19, 2021•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The Moultrie County Board approved roof specifications and starting the bidding process with Architecture and Design Group (ADG). According to Rick Matthews, the specifications detail the project for the replacement of the roof on the courthouse as well as repainting the dome and maintenance on the clock faces.
The board approved a request from the city of Sullivan to support the extension of Tax Increment Area Development District #1 to December 29, 2033. Read More

Windsor High School 2021 Prom Court

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Windsor High School 2021 Prom Court
Front Row (left to right): Crown bearer Lucy Purcell, 2021 Prom Queen Jessica Rauch, 2021 Prom King Jacob McQueen, and Crown bearer Ayris Abbott. Back Row (left to right): Queen Candidates MaKenna Tabor and Lexi Domzalski, 2021 Homecoming Queen Marylee Orman, 2021 Homecoming King Morgan Greuel, King Candidates Gunnar Jakobsson and Toby Kemper.

Sullivan High School Holds Outdoor Commencement Ceremony

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Hats Off To The Graduates
The Sullivan High School Class of 2021 celebrates by throwing their graduation caps into the air at the end of the commencement ceremony.

•May 19, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Sullivan High School held their 143rd Annual Commencement Ceremony Sunday on the football field. The class of 2021 was made up of 70 members.
Chase McClure, Senior Class President, gave the introduction. “We are about to step into the real world, thanks to our parents and the Sullivan staff. We couldn’t be more prepared,” he said.
High School Principal Daniel Allen then recognized those who had reached the rank of Eagle Scout and those who are enlisting in the military. Earning the rank of Eagle Scout is Ryan Bailey.
Those enlisting in the armed forces are Jacob McIntosh, Illinois Army National Guard; Terence McRill, Illinois Army National Guard; Austin Scott, Illinois Army National Guard and Canon West, United States Marine Corps. Read More

Perfect Attendance During Academic Career

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Perfect Attendance During Academic Career
Peyton Pool, a 2021 graduate of Sullivan High School, never missed a day of school from kindergarten through his senior year of high school. Pool (right) is pictured with Sullivan High School principal Daniel Allen.

SHS Mirror Images To Screen ENOUGH

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A scene from the Halloween party in ENOUGH, an original production by Mirror Images that will be presented in movie form.

•May 12, 2021•
Have you ever wondered if you are ENOUGH? Are you good ENOUGH? Smart ENOUGH? Just plain old ENOUGH?
The characters in ENOUGH, this year’s original production by Mirror Images, ponder these questions in the group’s movie which will be shown May 14 and 15 at 8 p.m. in the high school Commons. Tickets are $5 and may be purchased from cast members, in the high school office, or at the door. Advance purchase of tickets is recommended as seating is limited due to COVID protocols.
Written, filmed, and edited by members of Mirror Images, Sullivan High School’s prevention theater group, the story takes place at a small high school in a small town. Read More