Category Archives: News Section
Okaw Valley Homecoming is Under the Big Top
Photo by Jeni Yantis
Homecoming king and queen candidates at Okaw Valley High School are (front to back - left to right): Front row: Gretchen Macklin, Hannah Dicken, Charli Uhlrich, and Nicole Miller. Back Row: Alex Martin, Justin Johnson, Nick Tipsword, and Race Underwood.
•September 9, 2015•
Okaw Valley High School student council has announced their annual Homecoming Week activities September 14-19. The overall theme to this year’s festivities is “Under the Big Top”. Each day will highlight a special theme at OVHS, and students are encouraged to participate accordingly. The week kicks off with Monday as “Pajama Day” day and Tuesday as “Crazy Dress-Circus Side
Photo by Jeni Yantis
Homecoming attendants at Okaw Valley High School are: Front Row: Sydney Hagerman (junior), Grace Harlin (sophomore), Gracie Weybright (freshman) Back Row: Jon Gentry (junior), James Burnes (sophomore), Sam Hagerman (freshman).
Show” day. Wednesday’s theme is “Class Color Day” with the “Powder Puff” football games beginning at 11:30 am. The Marching Timberwolves will perform their competition show at halftime of the powder puff game. Thursday is “Clown Day”, where students are to dress as their favorite clown. Thursday evening will be the annual bonfire. The bonfire along with a pep rally will begin immediately following the Okaw Valley varsity girls’ volleyball game vs. Villa Grove. Friday is “SOV Spirit Day”.
The classes will compete with homecoming float building during the day along with a school wide cookout. Other events on Friday will include the annual homecoming parade at 3 pm (line up at 2:30 behind the high school). This year’s parade will use the same route as the Bethany Celebration. The varsity SOV football game will begin at 7 p.m. on the Sullivan High School football field. The SOV jr. varsity football team will play at 6 p.m. Monday on the Okaw Valley High School football field. Read More
Sullivan Cruise Night
Photo by Mike Brothers
Sullivan Cruise Night enjoyed one of the best turnouts ever with 110 cars gathering around the Sullivan square for the 35th annual event Saturday, Sept. 5. Bill Platzbecker’s rare Ford GT drew rave reviews during the show which featured a night cruise of Sullivan at 7 p.m. by members of the Sullivan Street Machine Association which cosponsored the event with AmBucs. Rick Montague of the Sullivan SMA noted the Cruise Night over Labor Day weekend and Car Show in Wyman Park over Memorial Day weekend are the club’s biggest events. Kids enjoyed a bounce house, adults listened to music by Shovelhead and everyone enjoyed free popcorn from the Sullivan Boy Scouts.
Farming Progresses
Drone photo by RR Best
Now that the Farm Progress show is a memory, real farm progress is starting in area fields. Gingerich Farms started to harvest acreage near Lovington. This drone photograph shows the Gingerich’s harvesting a field of short season early planted corn last Thursday. “With the hot weather coming this weekend, the corn harvest will be going full speed in the next two weeks,” Dannie Gingerich said. He explained the yield is less than last year’s record breaker but is still on the high end of the five year average.
Chain Reaction
Photo by RR Best
An Indiana couple was on their way home from Lake Shelbyville when the boat they were pulling went out of control; dragging the camper, the truck that was pulling it and the couple into a roadside ditch near the lake bridge on the Findlay Road. According to the Moultrie County Sheriff’s Department when Jason Burdge went over the bridge pulling the camper and boat, the truck bounced and the chain reaction led to the boat careening into the ditch while pulling everything else along. No one was injured and damage was limited to the Burdge vehicles. The driver was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident in the Monday afternoon accident.
Times are Changing for Secret Santa in Sullivan
•September 9, 2015•
With the closing of ShopKo Police Chief John Love explained shopping for children in need who are older than seven is a challenge.
“We try to shop locally, but we don’t have a way to buy clothes and boots for older kids,” Love said, noting that Dollar General in town has been great for children six to seven years old.
”We’re taking Secret Santa back to its roots,” he continued. “We will seek out those in need throughout the year and help the best way we can.”
For the past few years people receiving Secret Santa help around Christmas would start filing into the police department to sign up in September and October. He explained with the way Secret Santa has grown that has to change. Read More
Wildlife Park Goes to Rockome Gardens
•September 9, 2015•
A wildlife park rejected by Moultrie County in June found new life at the former Rockome Gardens site south of Arcola.
James Aikman’s dream of a drive through wildlife park, a walk through petting zoo and aviary got a second wind with a $506,794 loan from the city of Arcola to help get things rolling.
“The Sullivan Chamber & Economic Development is thrilled to hear that Aikman Wildlife Park will be located within our region and that the Rockome site will be repurposed,” said Stepheny McMahon of the Sullivan Chamber. “We wish the Aikman’s much success.” Read More
Remember When? 9-9-2015
Compiled by Bekki Ferguson-Stevens
25 Years Ago This Week
Cameron Parrott and Susan Ozier of Moultrie County were each named a recipient of a CEFS Economic Opportunity Corp. Community Services Block Grant scholarship Aug. 2 at the agency’s annual board of directors meeting. Parrott is the son of Robert and Suzanne Parrott of Lovington and is attending Eastern Illinois University. Ozier is the daughter of Bobby and Linda Book of Bethany and is enrolled in the pre-law program at the University of Illinois.
With seven of ten letter winners returning, a little more hard work and a lot of dedication may prove to be an unbeatable combination for the Lady Redskins’ volleyball team. All seven of the letter winners were in starting positions at one time or another last season. Topping the list are third year varsity players Becky Clayton and Amanda Glazebrook.
For more than 20 years, Sharon Emel has served countless area residents food as a waitress in several Sullivan eating establishments, including her former restaurant, the Ham ’n’ Egg. A former employee of Hezzy’s, Little Richard’s and the former Red Fox, Sharon is popular among local residents—many who have dubbed her “the best waitress in town.” Popularity aside, Sharon said she loves waitressing, which is one of the reasons she is opening Sharon’s Family Restaurant in Sullivan this Saturday morning.
“It really feels good to win!” was the consensus of the Bethany Mustangs followng their 20-0 victory over the Lovington-Arthur football team Friday night in the season opener for both teams. “Hungry was the first word first year head coach Kris Wheeler used to describe the Mustangs and specifically the quarterback Burl Coclasure. Read More
A Little Trim Now Helps Keep the Lights on Later
News•Progress Archives
•September 2, 2015•
By Mike Brothers
“I love my trees so I understand why people get upset,” Mayor Ann Short said of recent tree trimming in the city. “But when there is a bad storm and trees take down power lines, everyone suffers.”
In order to gain some control over the branches hanging over power lines the city is trying to be proactive and Short explained the existing crew in the electric dept. can’t keep up.
That led the city to contract with Nelson Tree Service, arborists that trim for Ameren, for the project.
Shannon Risley is in charge of the electric plant and making sure Sullivan residents can depend on their electric service.
On July 19, 2010 one of the worst storms to ever hit Sullivan brought that home with 21 poles downed as the result of falling limbs and wind, putting pressure on power lines.
“That week from Monday until most service was restored by Wednesday we worked 40 hours overtime in the sweltering heat,” Risley recalled. He explained the damage was beyond the ability of Sullivan’s six man crew to handle. Read More
A Good Day For a Walk in Wyman Park
Photo by Mike Brothers
Walking in the park is the same today as it was 100 years ago except the lake is a little bigger and the trees are mature. Sisters Martina Emrick and Teresa Ingram are taking a morning stroll around the lake on Wyman Park’s 100th birthday.
A century old gift to the city
•September 2, 2015•
By Mike Brothers
It’s a good day to take a walk in the park. And for the people of Sullivan Wyman Park is the best place to take that stroll.
On Sept 1, 2015 the 45 acre Wyman Park at the north edge of the city turned 100 years old.
It was the vision of German immigrant and shoemaker Albert Wyman, a frugal man who took five mile walks every day.
Local resident and Wyman historian Joe Pound got interested in the shoemaker’s life after he and wife Joan returned to Sullivan to retire.
“What intrigued me at first was how a man who came from Germany in his twenties ended up in Sullivan,” Joe said, noting wife Joan, who passed away in July, was his researcher who traced Wyman’s journey along with help from local historian Janet Roney.
Pound, who is also of German ancestry, discovered that Wyman came to Sullivan from Effingham County in 1870 with 65 cents in his pocket.
By the time he gifted the city of Sullivan with $33,000 to establish a park, he was worth more than a million dollars in present day currency value. Read More