Compiled by Bekki Ferguson-Stevens

25 Years Ago This Week

All four Redskin harriers turned in personal bests during the St. Joseph-Ogden Invitational Cross Country meet last Saturday. Sophomore Katie Tice led Sullivan with a 13th place finish and a time of 12:30. Kristy Jesse completed the course with a time of 13:05. Her run was good enough for 33rd place. Also competing were freshmen Emily Patrick and Brandie Riley who finished 106th and 114th respectively.

This year’s recipient of the Who’s Who award at Sullivan High School has retired in his hometown after a career with the American Fly Ash Corp. which saw him rise from field engineer to chief operating officer of the company. Joseph H. “Joe” Pound is a 1955 graduate of SHS.

Donald L. Elzy of Greenwood, Ind. became the 22nd inductee into the Sullivan High School Hall of Fame Saturday night during the annual alumni banquet. Elzy, currently staff assistant purchasing engineer for the lison Gas Turbines Division of the General Motors Corp. (GMC) in Indianapolis, Ind., is a 1949 graduate of SHS.

After 25 years of owning Kaskia True Value Hardware on the square in Sullivan, Dick Isaacs has decided to close the business and has accepted a job with the State Bank of Sullivan. Isaacs said he tried unsuccessfully for several months to find a buyer, and there was some interest, but, apparently, economic conditions worried potential owners.

Denise Hortenstine of Sullivan recently passed Part A of the official court reporters proficiency examination which was given July 21 in East Peoria. She is a 1990 graduate of the court reporting course at Sparks College in Shelbyville. Read More

•October 7, 2015•

Sullivan’s Adult Scavenger Hunt is Oct. 10 with headquarters set up in Wyman Park.

Jeri Davis explained that the adult hunt is held on homecoming weekend, and the group will be part of the parade.

Because some of the prizes contain alcohol, adults only may participate, she explained. Some 40 prizes valued at more than $50 each will be awarded. First clue will be posted at 9 a.m.; second clue at noon, and the third and final clue is 1:30 p.m. Read More

•September 30, 2015•

By Derek Pope
Reporting from Bethany

During their September regular meeting, Okaw Valley’s board of education will vote on whether or not to confirm their 2015-2016 school year fiscal budget. Prior to the meeting, the board held a public hearing to notify the public and field discussion of the budget in its entirety, as well as matters related to the increase or decrease in its ending balance.

Previously the News Progress reported that Okaw Valley’s “final estimated ending budget” for the 2014-2015 would end with a roughly $145,000 deficit—this turned out to not be true. In fact, the district’s final budget ended up in the positive as of its closing date on June 30. Its four major operating funds totaled roughly $4,896,000 versus the approximately $4,528,000 it started with, entailing an actual surplus of almost $380,000. Okaw Valley’s previous tentative budget did not include revenue accrued as of June 30 for operating funds budgeted for but not used during the 2014-2015 school year. The entirety of the budget voted on this month will “not be the same” as the district’s ending budget though according to Okaw Valley superintendent Kent Stauder, “due to the rising cost of salary, insurance, and capital projects.” Following the board of education’s vote, the complete 2015-2016 budget will be made available to the public and posted on the district’s website. Read More