Photo furnished
Honoring Honor Guards
Sullivan American Legion Post 68 members helped with the 2017 WCIA and Sunset Funeral Home fund-raiser for Honor Guard groups who preform military rites for the families of deceased veterans. From left to right are Bob Sims, Marty Reynolds, Rick Darby of Sunset Funeral Homes, Mac Bond and Mike Keown.
Photo by R.R. Best
Costume Winners
The Sullivan Halloween parade winners from Oct. 31 include Caidon Hill-Scary Clown, Ivan Moxley-Lego, Natalie Stinson-Peacock, Ashley and Madelyn Stinson-Cruella and Dalmatian, Synthea Doss-Dinosaur, Kinsley Eads-Ice Cream Truck, Gunyr Fitzgerald-Richard Simmons, Jeff and James Feldkamp-Wizard of Oz and Hilary Booker, Oliver Florey-Chicken, Audrey and Marissa Lake-Cops and Robbers.
Photo furnished
Learning About Insects
First graders at Sullivan ElementarySchool have been learning all about insects. SES Students learning about insects from left bottom: Charlie Guyot, Laynie Zbinden, Kiley Grooms, Erica Lehman (teaching), and Julianna Lind. The students learned how to eat and see like an insect; they made their own insects and recreated the insect life cycle with pasta thanks to Erica Lehman, Verna Tice, and Sue Yarnell from Ag in the Classroom. Then, with the help of Jim Palmer and Dave VanDeursen, the students were able to explore and look at insects in their natural habitat.
Photo by R.R. Best
Sullivan Middle School eighth grader Sydney Williamson shows Tara Standerfer her artistic efforts as she decorates a pumpkin for SCED Oktoberfest weekend.
•November 1, 2017•
Sullivan Middle School’s first community service day began as a leap of faith for principal Nathan Ogle.
By the end of the morning Thursday, October 19 it set the bar for Proudest Principal Moment.
“I believe that one of the responsibilities we have as educators is to instill in our students a sense of ownership in their community,” Ogle said. “If our small town is going to succeed in the next century, it is because individuals take responsibility to make it so.”
Service Day at Sullivan Middle School included eighth grade students painting pumpkins to help the Chamber of Commerce decorate for Octoberfest; seventh grade students traveling to Mason Point to visit residents, do crafts and entertain; and sixth grade students spending the morning with K-first grade students on reading activities.
“Our teachers tackled the challenge with enthusiasm and came up with ideas beyond anything I had in mind,” Ogle continued, noting they coordinated all the community events to make Fall Service Day take shape. Read More
Photo furnished
OVHS Band is First
OVHS Band competed at the Pinckneyville Competition on Saturday, Oct. 28. They swept all of the 1A awards by earning first place finishes in class, drum major, color guard and percussion.
Stephanie Helmuth
•November 1, 2017•
Stephanie Helmuth is seeking election as a Republican candidate for the Moultrie County Treasurer position.
“I feel I can bring new eyes to the processes,” Helmuth said, “and help find efficiencies and work towards saving the taxpayers dollars.”
She has nine years in banking after graduating college in 2008, two of those doing audit and analysis and seven of them in trust services.
She has worked at The First National Bank in Mattoon for seven years and has been the trust officer for the last four years. Read More
•November 1, 2017•
By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress
The city’s animal ordinance regarding chickens was brought to light at a council meeting on October 9 when Enos Yoder asked if it was possible to have a couple of chickens at their home.
Sullivan administrator Dan Flannell had looked into the issue and reported to the council. During the discussion of the ordinance, Flannell instructed the council that they would have to be careful how they crafted it.
Details to consider include enclosures (and the visual effect they would cause), if it were necessary for families to hold permits, what would happen if animals were to escape and the restriction of the number of chickens/animals a family could have. Read More
Glenn Poshard
•November 1, 2017•
By Harry S Truman
for the News Progress
Moultrie County Democrats gathering for the election season who kick off dinner at the Sullivan American Legion are in for a treat Friday, Nov. 3.
Glenn Poshard, retired three-term 19th District U. S. Representative, is the featured speaker with former 101st District State Representative Julie Curry (1995-2003), and State Treasurer Michael Frerichs completing the program that begins at 6:45 following the 5:00 p.m. spaghetti supper.
Julie Curry
Local Democrats will be joined by 15th Congressional District candidates Anthony March, Carl Spoerer and Kevin Gaither.
Keynote speaker Poshard’s last political race was against convicted Republican governor George Ryan in 1998 where he lost to Ryan 51% to 47%. Poshard endorsed campaign finance and refused to accept money from lobbyists during the campaign where Republicans outspent him four to one.
Poshard broke the story about Ryan’s licenses for bribes as secretary of state, which eventually led to the governor’s conviction on racketeering charges. Read More
Photo by Mike Brothers
Habitat for Humanity volunteers Gene Mueller of Sullivan, Bob Gillespie CAV Leader from Michigan, and Lowell McGregor of Lovington replaced Pastor Paul McGghghy’s roof in the off season.
•November 1, 2017•
By Mike Brothers
Habitat for Humanity volunteers are going above and beyond the call of duty replacing the roof of one of their greatest supporters.
Pastor Paul McGhghy stepped down from the pulpit at Faith Lutheran Church earlier this year due to health reasons. When Moultrie County Habitat volunteers and Habitat Care-A-Vanners learned he needed a roof at his Eastlawn home, they stepped up to help the man who had helped so many.
“This is not a Habitat official function,” Bob Gillespie, Care-A-Vanner team leader, said. “We’re just doing this for a friend who has made a huge impact on all of us and been a great supporter of Habitat for Humanity.”
Gillespie and his brother Jeff traveled from Michigan a week ago Sunday to join Moultrie County Habitat volunteers Gene Mueller of Sullivan and Lowell McGregor of Lovington on Pastor McGhghy’s roof replacement. Read More
Photo furnished
Occupational Health
Okaw Valley students have taken advantage of the Lake Land College Health Occupations program this semester. Okaw Valley has four students participating, three of whom are at the Shelbyville Manor and one at Sarah Bush. The students are all going into the medical field. Pictured (left to right): Angela Robinson, Destiny Underwood, Savannah Gibbons (Health Occupations students at Shelbyville Manor) Not pictured - Justin Oathout - Sarah Bush.