by Joash Tiarks
Bethany Reporter
The Okaw Valley school board voted to accept the resignations of two staff members, effective at the end of this 2013-14 school year; that of cheer coach Jennifer Crowder and that of long time school librarian Sharon Lowry as she retires. Read More
Submitted by Nichole Hendry
Moultrie County Spelling Bee Winner
The 2014 Moultrie County Spelling Bee was February 12 at the Little Theatre on the Square. Six students from Lovington and six students from Sullivan advanced from their school district spelling bees to participate in the county competition.
The Moultrie County Spelling Bee champion is Dylan Sanders (pictured right). The alternate is Spencer Johnson (pictured left).
Judges for the county spelling bee were Karen Smith-Cox of Lovington, Eudora Drollinger and Jonathan Harwood, both of Sullivan. Nicole Garrett, a Sullivan Middle School teacher, served as the pronouncer.
The regional spelling bee is scheduled for Saturday March 22, at Eisenhower High School in Decatur.
Photo by RR Best
Lines Down
An employee with Coles-Moultrie is seen in the middle of Route 32 between Sullivan and Lovington Monday afternoon after several power lines were downed due to ice.
Photo by Keith Stewart
SHS student volunteer Cadisen Nuzzo helps Avery Florey balance on an exercise ball last Thursday during the third annual Family Fit Night.
PTO organized event enjoys third year in promoting healthy living
by Christina Whitford
Sullivan Reporter
The obesity rate in children is an issue that is on the minds of many. In response, Sullivan Elementary School PTO found a way to promote both healthy living and families spending time together with a family event aimed at healthy activities.
“It’s a great opportunity for families to get out and burn off some cabin fever from the weather,” volunteer Jennifer Voegel said.
This was the third year for the Family Fit Night event at the school. A variety of organizations were on hand to teach students and their families about healthy activities they can enjoy. Read More
Submitted by Britney Cowan
Section 16 Proficiency Awards
The following members of Windsor’s FFA competed in proficiency awards February 10:
Autumn Bennett - 4th place Beef Production Entrepreneurship; Katie Cline - 4th place Goat Production; Sarah Hostetter - 3rd place Agriculture Sales Placement; Spencer Blackburn - 2nd place Turf Grass Management; Tristan Warner - 1st place Diversified Crops Placement; Allie Bridges - 1st place Nursery Operations; Sydney Boehm - 1st place Equine Science Entrepreneurship; Hayden Cole - 1st place Agriculture Mechanics Repair & Maintenance Placement.
Warner, Bridges, and Boehm will compete at the district competition March 12 at Sullivan.
Pictured left to right are Allie Bridges, Tristan Warner, Autumn Bennett, Mitchell Haddock, Sarah Hostetter, Spencer Blackburn, Sydney Boehm, Hayden Cole, Katie Cline
Submitted
Pictured is the Sullivan WYSE team: Row 1, from left: Ross Metzger, Jacob Cameron, Shawn Cody, Alex Davison, Tori Floyd and Rachel Stutzman. Row 2, from left: Ryan Baker, Alex Harvey, Emily Stutzman, Travis Hanson, Chandler Weber, Adam Davis and Brent Mauck. Row 3, from left: Keegan Kruckeberg, Charlie Emel, Zane Uphoff, Sean Johnson, Nicholas Kelsey, Patrick Hogan and Reagan Miller.
Arthur-Lovington takes fourth
Submitted by Jennifer Forneris
What happens when you take some of the most brilliant minds from area high schools and put them under one roof? Nothing other than an academic face off, where teams are pitted against each other in eight subject areas in order to take home the regional Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering (WYSE) championship title.
The regional WYSE Academic Challenge was recently held at Lake Land College and 24 schools, registering 401 students came together to battle in biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering graphics, English, mathematics and physics. Read More
by Joash Tiarks
Reporting in Sullivan
The topic of sandwich boards was resurrected earlier this month when local business owners came before the Sullivan city council to ask for help in promoting their businesses.
Cathrine Craig, owner of Cathrine’s Custom Framing, was one such entrepreneur to appeal to the council for “some type of cooperation to make our businesses more appealing.” Read More
Hatfield’s resignation formally accepted
by Ariana Cherry
Arthur/Sullivan Reporter
The Arthur-Lovington School Board issued $2.1 million in General Obligation Bonds at a 2.962 percent tax rate last Wednesday.
The bonds will be used for construction of the new Arthur Junior High addition, asbestos removal at Lovington Grade School, a new roof for Arthur-Lovington High School and other maintenance and repairs as needed for the district. Sales tax revenue will be used to pay back the bonds. Last year, Douglas County passed a 1% sales tax increase which went into effect this past January. The district will start receiving the revenue in April, and it is estimated that they will receive $239,000 annually. The bonds must be paid off by December 2023, although the board has an early payment option for December 2022. Read More
Raises also given to three employees
by Florence Hallford
Lovington Reporter
After dissolving the position of police chief in 2010 due to what the village found was an unnecessary position, Lovington reinstated the title February 10 at their monthly meeting and gave said title to officer Christian Swisher.
Depending instead on a “head police officer” since 2010, the village decided to reassign the position due to realizing an inherent liability issue. With no police chief, the head police officer was required to come to the village board each time he or she wished to sign off on any item of business, thereby making the board ultimately responsible for any action the head officer took. Read More
Submitted by
Hollie Atchison
Employment Specialist
Several local and state officials attended a kick-off event for Moultrie Counseling’s Individual Placement and Support program Feb 7. Leaders from the Division of Mental Health, Division of Rehabilitation Services and Department of Human Services travelled from all across the state to help launch the new initiative at the mental health agency. Moultrie Counseling staff, community leaders and consumers were in attendance to learn the benefits of the new supported employment program and to show their support for the already successful service. David Cole, Executive Director of Moultrie Counseling, welcomed those in attendance and shared the early successes of the program with the crowd. The Individual Placement and Support (IPS) program officially began December 1, 2013 with great momentum. Penny Arthur, IPS Supervisor, and Hollie Atchison, Employment Specialist, have been preparing for the launch of this evidence-based service for several months. Read More