photo by Crystal Reed
Burgers and Brats Fundraiser
A Burgers and Brats fundraiser was held on Friday, October 6 in the Methodist Church parking lot in Sullivan. Funds from the event are going towards the outdoor electric message board for the church. Pictured is Ray Burrus checking the grill.
photo by Crystal Reed
Scouts Selling Popcorn and Coffee
These young scouts were on the corner of Jackson and Hamilton on Monday, October 9 selling popcorn and coffee as a fundraiser for their troop. Pictured are Klarence Martin, Jax Moxley and Owen Linder. If you would like to help out the scouts with their fundraising contact Kim Jones at 815-622-8577.
•October 11, 2023•
by Crystal Reed
The Sullivan City Council approved an ordinance regarding prohibiting uses of public parks in the city during their regular meeting on Monday. At a previous meeting in September, Mayor Mike Mossman noted there had been people trying to live in the park. He said in the past that had happened, but this year it has happened twice. If shelter space is available and a person refuses to go, they will be cited. The ordinance was tabled at the September 25 meeting due to corrections needing to be made but was brought back at Monday’s meeting where it was approved.
Resident Nancy Barker addressed the board saying she would like to thank Commissioner Doug Shook for what his department is doing to resolve some of the flooding issues in the area where she lives. She also said she appreciates everyone trying to get the brush fire extinguished. Read More
photo by Crystal Reed
Horse power is used to press sorghum at the Illinois Amish Heritage Center this past Saturday.
•October 11, 2023•
by Crystal Reed
The Illinois Amish Heritage Center hosted their Harvest to Home event this past weekend. The purpose of the show is to teach attendees how crops were grown and harvested during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
One of the highlights of Friday’s activities according to Levi Yoder was that corn was harvested and shelled then ground into cornmeal. The cornmeal was then made into cornbread. That same day they stripped sorghum and pressed it and cooked it. By the middle of the afternoon those visiting the event could eat hot sorghum on cornbread. Read More
photo by Crystal Reed
Bethany High School alumni surround Chris Davis, a Bethany High School alum, Class of 1983, during the 92nd Alumni Banquet held Saturday, September 30. Davis was the guest speaker at the banquet held in the Okaw Valley High School gymnasium.
•October 4, 2023•
by Crystal Reed
Bethany High School Alumni gathered on Saturday, September 30, for the 92nd Alumni Banquet at Okaw Valley High School. Six classes were recognized, classes of 1953, 1963, 1973, 1983, 1993 and 1998. Prior to the dinner there was a social hour in the gymnasium and interested alumni could also take a tour of the high school.
Dinner music was provided by David Hagerman, class of 1984. Terry Muzzy, class of 1966 addressed the alumni in regard to the military recognition and encouraged those who know of alumni who have served to submit photos and information so they can be on the wall in the high school. There was also a roll call of classes where alumni introduced themselves and the year they graduated. Read More
photo furnished Sullivan Homecoming Attendants From left to right: Freshman Julia Moody and Avram Bates, Sophomores Mikaela Guest and Josh Cremeens, and Juniors Katilyn Kirby and Rhett Lehman.
photo furnished
Sullivan Homecoming Queen and King Candidates
Senior Queen Candidates (front row, left to right): Paige Conners, Ruby Haegen, Triniti Preyer, and Tessa Seeley. Senior King Candidates (back row, left to right): Kyle Corkill, Davis Diepholz, Hayden Moody, Raymond Yang.
photo by Crystal Reed
New Sullivan Jazzercise owners CJ Yoder and Jena Atchison hang a banner at their new location at 2 W. Harrison in Sullivan. They purchased the business from Jenny Moore.
•October 4, 2023•
by Crystal Reed
On Saturday, September 30, Sullivan Jazzercise participants celebrated the new ownership of the franchise and a new location in Sullivan. After class finished that morning participants, the new owners and others walked to the new location holding a Jazzercise banner which the new owners hung on the wall at the new location when they arrived there. The new owners are Jena Atchison and CJ Yoder, they purchased it from Jenny Moore. Read More
•October 4, 2023•
by Ariana R. Cherry
Grants have been an important way of acquiring specific technology items needed in the Arthur #305 School District. Technology Director Amanda Romine provided a three-year Technology Plan for the district. In 2027, there are many Chromebooks that will need to be replaced with their “end of life dates” (Chromebooks have specified dates where the system will no longer make security or other necessary app updates) approaching. Since that time isn’t too far away, the technology department has a plan to help stretch their dollars.
With Google extending the “end of life dates,” on some of the current devices, they will be able to last longer. Some of those dates have been extended through 2029. Each Chromebook also carries Accidental Insurance (in case they are dropped, etc). If each one is taken care of adequately, the Chromebooks should last up to nine years.
The ESEF Grant helped purchase 140 Chromebooks, and last year, all new Promethean Boards were purchased for all the buildings using ESSOR Funds. Also, this school year, every desktop computer was able to be replaced in the district. Desktop computers can last five to seven years at a time. Read More
photo by Crystal Reed
Shoni Anderson and her mother Becky Clayton-Anderson with their book Warrior Princess at the Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library on Wednesday, September 27. There was a book signing for their book that afternoon at the library.
•October 4, 2023•
by Crystal Reed
Shoni Anderson is a warrior princess, a nickname that she got from family members during her fight with leukemia. She was diagnosed with leukemia February 1, 2021, and on June 7 of this year she rang the bell symbolizing that she was in remission. Shoni had two parties in honor of being in remission, one at the hospital and one at home on July 3 where those in attendance brought toys donated to the children at the hospital. Read More
photo by Crystal Reed
Senior Expo Held In Person for First Time Since 2019
Mid-Illinois Senior Services, Inc. held their Senior Expo on Friday, September 22 at the Sullivan American Legion. This year’s expo was the first in-person expo since 2019. In recent years it had been a drive thru event due to COVID. The event was attended by 130 people this year. The Senior Expo had 23 tables representing different service organizations and businesses, a bake sale, bingo and prize drawings. Griffin’s Barbecue served brunch to attendees. Agri-Fab and HydroGear donated money towards the cost of the meal. Sullivan High School Student Council served food, delivered plates and drinks to participants, cleaned up and ran bingo cards and prizes.
photo by Crystal Reed
Bingo!
Jonathan Boyd, branch manager at First Mid Bank and Trust, calls out bingo at the Senior Expo on Friday, September 22 at the Sullivan American Legion.