Category Archives: News Section

Three Decades Volunteering for Ambulance Service

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Photo by Mike Brothers Harold White of Lovington has spent the past 30 years inside an ambulance, but only been a passenger one time.

Photo by Mike Brothers
Harold White of Lovington has spent the past 30 years inside an ambulance, but only been a passenger one time.

Lovington Paramedic honored

•October 14, 2015•

By Mike Brothers

Harold White is a 30 year volunteer with the Lovington Ambulance Service, and on Saturday, October 17 his service will be recognized.

From 10 a.m. until noon Saturday everyone is invited to stop by the Lovington Fire Station, have a snack, a drink and thank him for his service.

White has touched a lot of lives over the past three decades, but it wasn’t exactly part of his original plan.

“Guess you can say I backed in to this,” he began. “When I started, my kids were small, and I just wanted to take the course for the knowledge.”

He was still working at Caterpillar in Decatur then but has since retired from manufacturing life.

“I do something I enjoy,” he said. “If you enjoy doing something, it isn’t a job.”

Community needs overshadowed the pursuit of knowledge, and Harold became one of the most devoted EMTs in the area. He still serves double duty in Lovington and for the Decatur Ambulance Service.

By 1997 White started training other EMTs and still teaches courses throughout the area.

He has taught at Richland Community College, Decatur, Arthur, Bethany and he just finished a class in Lovington.

“There are times I’ve had three classes going at one time,” he said, explaining one of the biggest challenges is finding people to staff volunteer operations such as Lovington. Read More

Early Morning Crash

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Photo by RR Best Early Morning Crash At about 1 a.m. Sunday morning the Moultrie County Sheriff’s Dept. was called to a rear end crash at the bridge construction site over Lake Shelbyville on Route 32, south of Sullivan. The Jeep pictured was driven by Sara Szachnitowski, who was charged with driving under the influence. A passenger in her vehicle was transported to a local hospital by Sullivan Ambulance Service.

Photo by RR Best
Early Morning Crash
At about 1 a.m. Sunday morning the Moultrie County Sheriff’s Dept. was called to a rear end crash at the bridge construction site over Lake Shelbyville on Route 32, south of Sullivan. The Jeep pictured was driven by Sara Szachnitowski, who was charged with driving under the influence. A passenger in her vehicle was transported to a local hospital by Sullivan Ambulance Service.

Sullivan Art Club

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Sullivan Art Club Photo Submitted Art by Sharon Slaughter The gallery area at Flourishes Gallery and Studios will host the Sullivan Art Club for the next two and a half months, with the opening of the exhibit 1-4 p.m. Sunday, October 18. A variety of art will include paintings in various mediums and subject matter and constructions using various materials by members of the club. At least three of the club’s members will be represented: Ron Bartanen, Sharon Slaughter and Sherry Harris. Studio D will also have a variety of art projects introduced at Art Talk Tuesday, including the pieces created with dryer lint to which many contributed. Flourishes is located at 140 ½ E. Main in downtown Shelbyville.

Sullivan Art Club
Photo Submitted
Art by Sharon Slaughter
The gallery area at Flourishes Gallery and Studios will host the Sullivan Art Club for the next two and a half months, with the opening of the exhibit 1-4 p.m. Sunday, October 18. A variety of art will include paintings in various mediums and subject matter and constructions using various materials by members of the club. At least three of the club’s members will be represented: Ron Bartanen, Sharon Slaughter and Sherry Harris.
Studio D will also have a variety of art projects introduced at Art Talk Tuesday, including the pieces created with dryer lint to which many contributed.
Flourishes is located at 140 ½ E. Main in downtown Shelbyville.

Remember When? 10-14-2015

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Compiled By Bekki Ferguson-Stevens

25 Years Ago This Week

Lovington High School’s 1990 homecoming court includes one male and female attendant from the freshmen and sophomore classes and two each from the junior class. They are freshmen Michelle Geiling and Jeremy Tarr; sophomores Joy Day and Matt Powell; juniors Chasity Smith, Paula Reser, Justin Mechling and Heath Wilson.

Lovington High School’s homecoming king and queen candidates are Kassandra Staples, Christy Mueller and April Markham, Greg McCoy, John Renfro and Chad Uphoff.

Kristy Sims of Sullivan, a freshman majoring in music business at Elmhurst College, has already been recognized for her musical talent in her first semester. Sims is one of 10 students chosen for the college’s vocal jazz ensemble, and when she tried out for the college production of Little Shop of Horrors, she won the role of Audrey. Sims is a 1990 graduate of Sullivan High School and is the daughter of Thomas and Kerrie Sims.

Richard Barker, son of Jesse and Nancy Barker of Sullivan, was among a number of undergraduate students from Illinois State University who were honored for scholastic achievement during the annual Scholarship Awards Ceremony Sept. 23. Barker, a 1990 Sullivan High School graduate and a pre-business-international business major, was recognized as a Deans’ Scholar.

Top Sullivan golfer Josh Haegen finished the regular season as medalist at the Monticello Invitational, shooting a 37 and a 38. The Redskins finished their 1990 season with a 13-6 record. Read More

Sullivan American Legion Auxiliary

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Photo Submitted Sullivan American Legion Auxiliary Officers from left to right: Marcia Roberts of Rantoul-Installing Chaplain from the 19th district (past District President); Samantha Berner-Vice President; Jane Wagner of Buckley-Installing Officer from the 18th district (past District President); Ilena Godwin-Chaplain; Darcel Vitzthum-President; Melanie Byers-Treasurer; Valerie Kalagian-Sergeant at Arms; Tina Bolsen-Historian; Ann Shaw-Secretary.

Photo Submitted
Sullivan American Legion Auxiliary
Officers from left to right: Marcia Roberts of Rantoul-Installing Chaplain from the 19th district (past District President); Samantha Berner-Vice President; Jane Wagner of Buckley-Installing Officer from the 18th district (past District President); Ilena Godwin-Chaplain; Darcel Vitzthum-President; Melanie Byers-Treasurer; Valerie Kalagian-Sergeant at Arms; Tina Bolsen-Historian; Ann Shaw-Secretary.

A Chill in the Air for the Chili Cook Off

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Oktoberfest Weekend

•October 14, 2015•

By Ariana Cherry
Reporting from Sullivan

Twelfth Annual Oktoberfest this weekend in Sullivan: October 17 and 18.

The tree leaves are turning a variety of beautiful shades and colors and the air has gotten cooler… It is that time of year again for warm comfort food, such as chili or instance, which has been a family favorite for years.

The chili will be steaming hot at Oktoberfest this weekend in downtown Sullivan. Five teams will be cooking up their best recipes for a chance to win the annual chili cook-off. Local celebrity judges who will taste the creations will be Jim Standerfer, Gaby Uphoff and Therese Kincade. The official judging begins at 4:30 p.m. Saturday and then opens to the public for the people’s choice at 5 p.m.

Not only will there be the scents of spices from chili lingering in the air, but there will also be about 15 other food vendors from which festival goers may choose. Some of those vendors are regulars from surrounding towns, while others will be making a first time appearance.

A sausage and pancake breakfast will be served 6-10 a.m. Saturday at the Sullivan Fire Department. Read More

Life Chain of Sullivan 2015

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Photo by RR Best Life Chain of Sullivan Life Chain of Sullivan gathered at the corner of Harrison and Jackson streets for a prayer vigil from 2-3 p.m. Sunday, October 4. Participating in National Life Chain Sunday, local residents displayed Right to Life signs during the peaceful prayer vigil.

Photo by RR Best
Life Chain of Sullivan
Life Chain of Sullivan gathered at the corner of Harrison and Jackson streets for a prayer vigil from 2-3 p.m. Sunday, October 4. Participating in National Life Chain Sunday, local residents displayed Right to Life signs during the peaceful prayer vigil.

Habitat Volunteers get Royal Treatment

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Photos by Mike Brothers Faith Resort was home for Care-A-Vanners while Habitat volunteers worked on the Sullivan home which is scheduled for completion October 16. Volunteers: (lower left) Sandy Mathewson from Washington and Skip Shane from Arkansas; (upper left) Ty Jones from Maryville, Ill.; (upper center) Richard and Ramona Conquers from Louisiana; (upper right) Chuck Osterander from Michigan and Lowell McGregor of Lovington.

Photos by Mike Brothers
Faith Resort was home for Care-A-Vanners while Habitat volunteers worked on the Sullivan home which is scheduled for completion October 16. Pictured here is volunteer Ty Jones from Maryville, Ill.

Area Churches Feed Care-A-Vanners

•October 7, 2015•

By Mike Brothers

There is more to Habitat for Humanity in Sullivan than building homes, even though they are nearing completion of the 26th house in Moultrie County.

While Habitat Care-A-Vanners from all over the country spend two week stints volunteering labor on the latest home, Sullivan has gone above and beyond most communities by providing a place for volunteers to park their campers and daily meals coordinated by the Sullivan area Ministerial Alliance.

“This doesn’t just happen,” Care-A-Vanner team leader Bob Gillespie said of the treatment his group has received since it arrived here. “We’re talking about full meals. We had pork, mashed potatoes and gravy for lunch yesterday.”

Local Habitat board chairman Gary Smith explained the noon meals are provided through the generosity of area churches.

“We will take them out for an evening meal on Friday,” Smith said, commending the local churches and organizations for pitching in to make the volunteers feel welcome.

Pastor Paul McGhghy came up with the idea and presented it to members of the Ministerial Alliance. “We talked about it at our meeting, and I sent emails to schedule the churches,” Pastor McGhghy said, noting the Alliance is very close and has worked together on other projects. Read More

Windsor Man Grows Huge Watermelon

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Photo Submitted

Photo Submitted

•October 7, 2015•

Shawn Mowry of Windsor is the watermelon man.

When he showed the folks at church the 127 pound watermelon he grew in his garden this year, Marlene Brotherton had to take a picture.

”We were all really impressed that Shawn had grown a larger watermelon than before ,” she said.

Two years ago Mowry harvested a 109  pound watermelon. “It started out as a personal goal to grow a bigger one,” he said of the effort which came up short last year when his vines died.

“I had two seeds from the 109 pounder come up this year,” he continued, pointing out that the vine containing the monster melon produced two at first, but one was damaged by mice and died.

By the end of July the fruit of the prize winner was as big as Mowry’s thumb, then he started seriously watering.

I placed a flag at the end of the plant and watered every day. “I’d go out, turn the sprinkler on, go inside and set the oven timer for an hour and let it soak,” he said, noting the water from his well made the watermelon grow noticeably every day.

“I set the flag a quarter inch from the watermelon, and it grew to meet it each day,” he continued. “It was fun to watch it grow.” Read More

EIU AD Impacting Student Athletes with Integrity

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Photo by Nick Fiala Eastern Illinois University Athletic Director Tom Michael explains his leadership style to Sullivan Rotarians during a recent meeting at TNT Pizzeria.

Photo by Nick Fiala
Eastern Illinois University Athletic Director Tom Michael explains his leadership style to Sullivan Rotarians during a recent meeting at TNT Pizzeria.

•October 7, 2015•

By Nick Fiala
Reporting in Sullivan

The Sullivan Rotary Club, located at TNT’s, was recently visited by Eastern Illinois University’s sophomore athletic director Tom Michael.

Michael explained how he has approached his new responsibilities based on his roots and personal values.

“I grew up in southern Illinois, 12 miles east of Carlyle.” Michael said. “Those small town values I think are important.The work ethic and the dedication, the respect, the trust, the integrity, and loyalty were certainly formed back then. It’s been an extremely rewarding first year.”

As a former student athlete and now a father of them, Michael’s relatively new position has not only challenged him but allowed him to work at an occupation that fuels his own personal passions and concerns.

“Being able to lead a group of individuals with energy and enthusiasm and passion: that’s what I really enjoy coming to work everyday and doing. I love what I’m doing because I know I’m making an impact on those student athletes.”

At the center of Michael’s leadership style is consistent integrity. Read More