Category Archives: News Section

Sullivan High School Sends Off Class of 2023

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Co-valedictorians of the Sullivan Class of 2023 were Paul Bates (left) and Cassidy Short (right). They spoke on how the class can live their lives for others.

•May 24, 2023•
by Crystal Reed

The 78 members of Sullivan High School Class of 2023 were sent off into the world Sunday, May 21, with a ceremony on the football field. After the staff, administration, teachers and graduates had entered, the high school band played the “Star Spangled Banner” as the flag was raised.
The senior class president Sydni Waidelich gave a welcome address in which she focused on opportunities. Waidelich was adopted from Guatamala at nine months old and moved to Sullivan in January, 2021.
“The past four years have been filled with opportunities that we have all been blessed to have,” Waidelich said. She thanked many people at the school for giving the class various opportunities. Waidelich recognized her class and said they have become such a huge part of her life. Read More

Sheep to Yarn to Quilts event 2023

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Washing and Dying Wool
Tyler, Ellie and Vonna Neethling learned about washing and dyeing wool by getting hands on experience during the Sheep to Yarn to Quilts event at the Illinois Amish Heritage Center on May 13.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Creating a Yarn Doll
Vera Yoder helps Noah Sulwer make a yarn doll during the Sheep to Yarn to Quilts event at the Illinois Amish Heritage Center.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Petting Zoo
Waylon Yoder enjoyed seeing the animals at the petting zoo during the Sheep to Yarn to Quilts event at the Illinois Amish Heritage Center.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Making a Quilting Block
Gloria Yoder watches as Sarah Hasib and Molly Yunyongying sew together a quilt block at the Illinois Amish Heritage Center on Saturday.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Grace Morris shears a sheep while Roger Otto watches during an event at the Illinois Amish Heritage Center on May 13.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Learning About Honeybees
Karen Bickers had a display on the life cycle of honeybees and information on beekeeping at a booth at the Illinois Amish Heritage Center on May 13. There is a club for those who are beekeepers or those interested in becoming a beekeeper held at the Arthur United Methodist Church on the first Monday of each month at 6:30 pm.

Arthur Residents Looking to Form a Local Arts Council

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•May 17, 2023•
Nearby area and residents of Arthur are coming together to form an arts council group in an effort to promote and support local art and help benefit community outreach at the same time.
The idea for the group came about after artist and poet, Ariana R Cherry realized that there wasn’t a lot of support for the arts in town. She feels that there is a need for this type of organization to help bring together artists, musicians, writers and other creatives within the community. Read More

Okaw Valley High School Holds Commencement for Class of 2023

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•May 17, 2023•
by Crystal Reed

The Okaw Valley Class of 2023 had commencement Saturday, May 13 in the high school gymnasium. Superintendent Kent Stauder was honored for 10 years of service to the district. Okaw Valley School Board President Brooke Bartimus presented him with an award. Stauder noted that the best thing that his family ever did was move to this area and become a part of Okaw Valley.
Stauder presented awards for the Volunteer Hall of Fame and Alumni Wall of Fame.

Dru Bennett, volunteer recipient, received a lifelong extracurricular pass and his name on a plaque placed in the gym lobby.
The Alumni Wall of Fame recipient was awarded to Brett Robinson. Robinson thanked the nominating committee and others responsible for his receiving the honor. He also thanked his parents and wife and daughters for always loving and supporting him.
Class president Hudson Ruppert said he realized that many of the class memories revolve around that gymnasium and noted they value each and every member of the class. Ruppert said his confidence in walking into the unknown comes from knowing that God does know. Read More

Collins Retires from Sullivan Fire

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Collins Retires from Sullivan Fire
Adam Collins (center) was recently recognized for dedicating over 21 years to being a member of the Sullivan Fire Protection District. He started with SFPD on November 5, 2001 and served until he retired on December 1, 2022. Adam has dedicated most of his adult life to serving the citizens of Sullivan. He also works for the Sullivan Police Department. Pictured from left to right are: Jackie Collins, Boddie Collins, Adam Collins and Sullivan Fire Chief Larry Edwards.

MCHGS Grand Opening

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MCHGS Grand Opening
The Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society held a grand opening at their museum on Thursday, May 4. The exhibit is called "The Auschwitz Experience In The Art Of Prisoners." The society partnered with the Champaign-Urbana Jewish Federation to bring the special exhibit to Moultrie County. The exhibition features artwork by 12 survivors who documented their experiences in the Auschwitz Concentration Camp. The 24 panel exhibit consists of 60 pieces that depict the experiences the survivors had during the Holocaust. The exhibit has never before been exhibited outside of Europe and is on loan from the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, Oswecim, Poland. Pictured (from left to right): Rebecca Lawson, Natalee Hunter, Museum Director Pam Wood and Holocaust Education Center of the Champaign-Urbana Jewish Federation Co-Director Robert Lehmann. During the grand opening, student Natalee Hunter shared her two film projects, each of which documented Holocaust survivors and their stories. Lehmann spoke about the Auschwitz Concentration Camp showing historical and more recent photos of the structures inside the camp.

City Council Discusses Public Works Director Position

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•May 10, 2023•
by Crystal Reed

The new Sullivan City Council met for the first time on Monday, May 8. During the meeting it was decided to postpone changes to electric and gas rates. “I think we need to be looking at what we can do to keep gas rates and electric rates as low as we can,” commented Mayor Mike Mossman. Commissioners Mossman and Kirk need time to review the rate study done by BHMG. They may end up doing so in the future but not at this point in time. However water and sewer rates are automatically increased by 4% at the beginning of each fiscal year, unless the Council votes not to increase the rates. Since Commissioner Chuck Woodworth was in favor of the increase, no vote was taken. Read More

Auction for Sullivan Middle School to be Held June 3

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•May 10, 2023•
by Crystal Reed

Sullivan Middle School will be torn down in the near future. However before that happens those in the community have the opportunity to take home a piece of the school that brings back memories or simply sparks their interest. The auction will consist of everything left at the middle school from desks to doors. However anything that would disturb the walls is off limits.
According to Nicole Monroe, a secretary with the Sullivan School District, the auction will be held at 9 am on Saturday, June 3. There will be a final walkthrough that morning at 7:30 am. She noted that the auction will be a walking auction that will start on the first floor and end at the bus garage.
There will be concessions that morning with proceeds from the concession stand going to the Sullivan Athletic Boosters. Some of the items up for bids include desks, doors, the scoreboard, bleachers, lockers and basketball hoops, a Ruscin strength peg board and much more.

Paige Robinson Day Held in Bethany to Celebrate WNBA Recruit

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Paige Robinson rides in the back of a vehicle during the parade portion of Paige Robinson Day held last Wednesday, May 3 in Bethany.

•May 10, 2023•
by Crystal Reed

A celebration of Okaw Valley alumna Paige Robinson was held last Wednesday in Bethany. The day began with a parade that started at Bethany First Christian Church and then rolled past Okaw Valley Elementary School before ending at Okaw Valley High School where several presentations were made to Robinson.
Brooks Inman, Okaw Valley Athletic Director, described a performance he had seen by Paige as a basketball player at OV which occurred Saturday, January 20, 2018 during the conference championship against Tri-County. She went down with a serious left shoulder injury. The trainer taped her up and said there would be no way she could play.
Inman said Paige came back to the game to finish with 31 points. She played through a lot of pain the rest of that season, he said, but was able to avenge that loss in the sectional championship.
In high school, she scored 2,125 points and in her senior year led the team to their first regional, sectional and super sectional. Ultimately, the team placed fourth in state. Read More