Photo by R.R. Best
Reflections
With the world going crazy all around and most folks fed up with the stay at home restrictions the lake at Wyman Park offers an opportunity for reflection. Reflecting on the way life used to be or whether there is a prize winning bass waiting to be hooked the lake offers the solution.
Photos by Mike Brothers
First Community Bank of Moultrie County received a $20,000 grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago and gave $2000 checks to ten non-profits in the County. At the Sullivan bank presentation from left: Angela Carnes and Betsy Miller of Moultrie County Paws; First Community Bank Sullivan President Reid Molzen making the presentations; Moultrie County Counseling Center, Dave Cole; CEFS Economic Opportunity and CEFS Moultrie County Food Pantry Coordinator Lisa White received $2000 for each organization; Sullivan Ministerial Association treasurer Dave Dolan; Mid-Illinois Senior Center Director Kathi Shackles; and Secret Santa representative Diane Waggoner
Grant from Federal Home Bank
•May 13, 2020•
By Mike Brothers
Ten charitable organizations in Moultrie County received $20,000 from First Community Bank last week.
First Community Bank of Moultrie County in Sullivan and Lovington received a grant from Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago in the COVID-19 program.
First Community Bank president and CEO Ray Duncan explained the Chicago bank, which loans funds to financial institutions in Illinois, contacted the Sullivan bank about the grant program.
“We got the notice during an officer’s meeting and applied the next day,“ Duncan said, emphasizing some 1000 financial institutions in the state were competing for a maximum $20,000 on a first come first serve basis. Read More
•May 13, 2020•
Instead of the community gathering for graduation the graduates of Sullivan High School have a parade of seniors.
The Sullivan High School graduation car parade kicks off at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 17 from the school parking lot.
With Pomp and Circumstance playing on the radio, live Honor guards Mallory Nichols and Reagan Crouse lead the seniors vehicles, arranged in order with police escort, south on Hamilton St. to Jefferson around the courthouse and exit on Main St. returning to the high school. Read More
Photo by R.R. Best
On the Lake
As the weather continues to improve and stay at home restrictions relax families are starting to enjoy the open air. Last weekend Lake Shelbyville’s vast water surface allowed boasters to enjoy the break in the weather without endangering personal space.
•May 13, 2020•
Due to the high chance of inclement weather and to reduce confusion, graduates will now receive their diplomas in the school before the car parade. Attached is a document that has time slots on it for when each graduate should be at the school with their guests. Each graduate is allowed to bring up to 7 guests with them. You will park in the back parking lot and enter the school through the science wing at your scheduled time. From there, you will enter the gym. The guests will go onto the gym floor and the student will walk onto the stage. When their name is read, the graduate will walk up to receive their diploma and turn their tassel (we encourage guests to cheer). There will be a professional photographer present for the receiving of the diploma, and it will be videoed as well. The graduate will walk down the stairs on the other side of the stage, where they will meet their guests and exit the gym out the opposite side. From there, you will head to the commons. We will have a camera set up to take a picture of the graduate and the guests in front of the mural in the commons, then you will exit through the commons doors and go home.
Students will return at 2 to get lined up for the car parade in the back parking lot (their parking spot will remain the same as the packet, but you will no longer need the tickets or the information on staging areas). Guests no longer need to go to staging areas, but instead can go to a spot of their choosing along the parade route (but the back parking lot needs to be reserved for graduates only, so it will be blocked off).
Upon completion of the parade route, students will park back in their spots until Mr. Walk finishes reading the names on the radio, at which point they can get out and throw their caps in the air if they so choose (but we recommend being somewhat cautious in case we can still have a formal ceremony). Graduates will have the remainder of the day with family (and maybe some fireworks in the evening).
I will continue to send information as I redo documents and have questions arise. Thank you so much for your patience and understanding.
Thank you,
Mr. Daniel Allen
Principal
Sullivan High School
•May 8, 2020•
The Moultrie County Board is holding a virtual meeting Thursday, May 14.
Please join our virtual meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/550084949
You can also dial in using your phone.
(For supported devices, tap a one-touch number below to join instantly.)
United States: +1 (408) 650-3123
- One-touch: tel:+14086503123,,550084949#
Access Code: 550-084-949
New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/550084949
Questions Still Remain
•May 6, 2020•
By Ellen Ferrera
for The News Progress
In a recent conversation a friend related the story of her German grandfather and the flu pandemic of 1918. His family sacrificed everything they had to send their 19-year-old son to America so he wouldn’t be conscripted into the Kaiser’s WWI army.
Her grandfather came full of promise and hope but died three years later at the age of 22 – one of the estimated 20-50 million victims, including 675,000 Americans, in one of the deadliest epidemics in human history. It infected 500 million people. It killed l00 million people or 5% of the world’s population in just over a year.
Over 100 years later researchers and scientists are still seeking answers to many questions such as where did the virus originate, why were the healthiest young people ages 20-45 the largest number of fatalities and how was it spread so quickly?
First of all, “Spanish Flu” was a misnomer. During WWI Spain was a neutral country and its newspapers were free to report on the epidemic’s effects in Spain. Read More
Photo by Jason Brown
Andrew Hagerman screams words of encouragement to his players during the super-sectional game against Ottawa Marquette in Bloomington’s Jack Horenberger Field on the campus of Illinois Wesleyan in May 2018. Timberwolves were two outs away from advancing to the Final Four for the second time.
•May 6, 2020•
By Jason Brown
News Progress Sports
When Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker implemented a stay-at-home order on March 21, Andrew Hagerman did not have to make many career adjustments.
Hagerman, who is Regional Sales Manager at Hagerman & Company, sells software in the tech industry and typically works from home during the high school baseball season.
“In reality, our entire company can function remotely at 100%,” he said. “So we are blessed with that fact. Nothing has changed from a standpoint of how I can do my job, and how busy I’ve been.”
What has changed for Hagerman this spring has been baseball. Or the absence of baseball.
Hagerman, who is coach of the Okaw Valley baseball team, misses the competition and day-to-day preparations.
“I miss seeing all of the players each day, working through the season and always focusing on how to get better,” he said. Read More
Photo furnished
At the SBL Clinic in Sullivan IL: Beth Cook and Brook Seaman receive donuts from Heather Dendy, Relay for Life Event Leadership Team. Thanks to the Vineyard Church, Sullivan Campus for purchasing donuts from the Traditional Sullivan Bakery.
•May 6, 2020•
The Relay for Life of Moultrie County will be having a DONUT DAY on May 26th. to raise money for the continued care of cancer patients, their housing during treatment, and cancer research.
Relay for Life Moultrie County Event lead Adam McReynolds explained that Cancer patients need your support more than ever. As COVID-19 spreads, cancer patients are more vulnerable than ever.
“We need your help to support them during this unprecedented crisis,” McReynolds said.
“While we may not be able to gather survivors and supporters together for public events to raise money, we can still do online fundraisers.”
Search in your internet browser for Relay for Life Moultrie County or on Facebook to follow our online information. Read More
Photo by R.R. Best
Lightning Strikes Bell Tower
Lightning struck the First Baptist Church bell tower April 28 blowing bricks as far as the post office out the back and into the neighbors lawn across the street in front.
Sullivan Fire Department was called to the Harrison Street church at 8:57 p.m. last Wednesday.
Fire Chief Mike Piper reported the lightning strike had caused some structural damage to the bell tower as well as electrical damage when the strike continued to the roof flashing, the gutter system and on to the ground.
No fire damage was discovered and Sullivan firefighters returned to the station at 9:59 p.m.
Pastor Mark Bjornbak explained the lightning strike destroyed the church sound system and computers with damage assessments on going.
“We appreciate our alert neighbors who called the fire department and we are thankful no one was injured,” Rev. Bjronbak said.
He explained the building damage was limited to the bell tower and the remaining building is safe.
The First Baptist Church is observing social distancing and regular services have been suspended since the stay at home order due to the COVID-19 pandemic.