Category Archives: News Section

Sullivan City Council Approves Raises

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•May 12, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The Sullivan City Council approved a 75-cent per hour raise for full-time, non-union employees of the city with the exception of five employees at the water plant who are currently seeking union representation. Their pay rate cannot be changed at this time.
The council also approved funding in the amount of $75,000 for the Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development. According to City Administrator Dan Flannell, this is the city’s annual support payment to SCED which is used in conjunction with county funding for operations. This is the same amount provided in the previous fiscal year. Read More

Boy Scout Troop 39 Takes Third In Last Scout Standing Competition

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Photo submitted
Boy Scouts in Troop 39 recently competed in the Last Scout Standing Competition and finished in third place. Scouts who participated were Jack Woolen, Anderson Crouse, Beau Fleming and Curtis Kite.

•May 12, 2021•
A farmer has to get a fox, a chicken, and a sack of corn across a lake. He has a canoe and it can only carry him and one other thing. If the fox and the chicken are left together, the fox will eat the chicken. If the chicken and the corn are left together, the chicken will eat the corn.
How does the farmer do it? Read More

ALAH Looks to Return to “Pre-Covid Schedules” Next School Year

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Planning for all students to return to in-person learning

•May 5, 2021•
by Ariana Cherry
NP Writer

"I am pretty proud of where we are. We are in good shape. I feel pretty confident we will continue to move in that direction,” noted Superintendent Shannon Cheek when he presented COVID-19 updates to the board during his superintendent’s report. At the time of the meeting, there were 16 students who were in quarantine and only one student in quarantine due to a positive test. No staff was in quarantine. Since August 19, the district has had only 75 positive cases among students and 21 positive cases among staff.
The district is planning on a full return with pre-COVID schedules for the next school year. This means that all of the buildings are looking at a full school day with everyone returning to in-person learning. There will be guidelines that the district may have to follow, and if there are students with health conditions who have a note from their doctor that requires them to have remote learning, then the district will make plans for that. Read More

Eastlawn Block Party

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Photo by R.R. Best
Eastlawn Block Party
This past weekend there was an Eastlawn Block Party for the reuniting of the Villagettes. Pictured are: Peggy Reeder, Candy Monroe, Cindy Sanner, Dee Buker, John Weakly and Kathy Goetz.

Moultrie County Man Sentenced To 8 Years In Prison

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•May 5, 2021•
Charles Willis, Jr., 26, has been sentenced to 8 years of imprisonment in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
At a hearing on April 26, 2021, Judge Jeremy Richey accepted a plea in which Willis pled guilty to the offense of Arson, a Class 2 Felony, Moultrie County case 2020-CF-17. Read More

Lady Lakers Basketball Team Member Reflects On National Championship Victory

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SHS alumni Josie Orris and Avery Still, members of the Lake Land College Lady Lakers basketball team with the NJCAA Division 2 National Championship trophy.

•May 5, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Recently the Lady Lakers Women’s Basketball team won the NJCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Championship. On the team are two students from Sullivan.
Avery Still, of Sullivan, is a freshman at Lake Land College and played basketball all four years she attended Sullivan High School. She is majoring in criminal justice with plans to become a law enforcement officer after she graduates.
Still also is employed at Mason Point where she has been working since age 15. She received a full ride scholarship to play basketball at Lake Land College.
Going into the national tournament, the Lady Lakers’ record was 21-2 with a 12-game win streak. They earned the No. 2 seed, which was the highest in the program’s history. Read More

Illini Prairie Trade Show to be Held May 12 at AHS Gym

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•April 28, 2021•
The Illini Prairie CEO Board of Directors will be hosting the Illini Prairie Trade Show on Wednesday, May 12 from 5 – 7 pm in the Arcola High School Gym located in Arcola. At this event, this year’s class of high school students that were part of the Illini Prairie CEO class will be displaying and presenting on the businesses they have developed as part of this course.
“CEO” stands for Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities. It is a year-long, experientially learning based course, designed to utilize partnerships in our community to provide an overview of business processes and development. Read More

RSVP Hosts 20th Awards Luncheon to Honor Volunteers

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Photo by Ellen Ferrara
Shirley Cochran with her 5 year service pin at the RSVP Awards Luncheon.

•April 28, 2021•
By Ellen Ferrara
NP Writer

Approximately 50 members of the Retired and Senior Volunteers Program (RSVP) gathered at First United Methodist Church on April 21 to celebrate their 20th year Awards Luncheon.
Last year’s luncheon was cancelled due to COVID so this was a most welcome celebration. Each attendee received a brightly colored thermos mug, and the tables were set with daffodil arrangements, candy bars and festive placemats.
Ladies from the church served a plated luncheon of salad, herbed chicken filet, mashed potatoes, green beans and an apple/nut brownie with hot caramel sauce and whipped cream. Read More