Category Archives: News Section

TLTOTS Wins Four Broadway World Regional Awards in Chicago Region

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•February 1, 2023•
by Crystal Reed

The Little Theatre On The Square has won four BroadwayWorld Regional awards in the Chicago Region. According to Executive Director John Stephens, this is the first time they have been nominated for these awards. They were nominated in nine categories and won four of them.
The awards won are Best Music for Always...Patsy Cline, Best Actor in a Musical for Brittany Ambler as Louise in Always...Patsy Cline, Best Director of a Musical for Clint Hromsco with La Cage Aux Folles and the biggest Best Neighborhood Theatre. They received runner up for Best Costume in La Cage Aux Folles, Best Ensemble for La Cage Aux Folles and Best Theatre for Young Audiences for Junie B. Jones Jr.
According to the awards website www.broadwayworld.com, the awards honor the best in regional productions, touring shows and more which had their first performance between October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022. While there is no awards ceremony or physical awards given out, the winners of each category receive online acknowledgement. Read More

Visit from the Magi

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Visit from the Magi
Recently St. Columcille was blessed with a visit from the Magi (Randy Murphy in Purple, Steve Deters in brown and gold and Lane Richardson in red and gold). Catholics bless their home on the Feast of the Epiphany by marking above the doorway with blessed chalk and pray for God’s blessing during the coming year. An Epiphany get together was enjoyed by all in the Parish hall.

City Council Approves Professional Services Agreement for Wyman Park Improvements

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•January 25, 2023•
by Crystal Reed

The Sullivan City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, January 23, with Commissioner Chuck Woodworth absent. They approved a professional service agreement with Chastain and Associates LLC for $83,850 for Wyman Park improvements, including a splash pad and tennis and basketball court improvements. This amount will be taken from the OSLAD grant the city was awarded.
Sullivan Fire Chief Larry Edwards requested TIF funds for the purchase of some engines to replace their aging fleet. Currently, they have a 26-year-old engine and a 20-year-old engine. The average life span of an engine is 20-25 years. Read More

ALAH School Board Approves to Seek Bids for High School Track Repair

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•January 25, 2023•
by Ariana R. Cherry

"The track is not in good shape. It is beyond repair and beyond “sticking band-aids on it,” Superintendent Shannon Cheek said at the most recent ALAH Board of Education meeting. Cheek informed the board that the district has two options in repairing the track. One option is to take down the track and do minor repair for the subsurface and then go back and resurface the track. That option would make the track last awhile. The most expensive option would be taking the subsection down and repouring the track which would cost double. A motion was passed to allow Cheek to seek bids for the repairing of the track.
Those in attendance at the meeting got to see a drone in flight. Agriculture teacher Megan Beckmier had a couple of her students (Brodey Lowden and Nova Shoemaker) give a drone demonstration. She stated that there are a lot of opportunities with drones for agriculture. Her class has been learning about drones through a program called 4H Drones in Agriculture through the University of Illinois. The class is allowed to use the drones for four weeks. At the end of the program, students will get to create an obstacle course and fly it. Read More

Local Fire Departments Report Call Counts for 2022

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•January 25, 2023•
Our local fire departments, ambulance services and police departments work hard to keep citizens safe, and in case of emergency, extinguish fires, respond to car accidents and other life happenings. They work long hours, and at times, their plans for the day will change at a moment’s notice. Fire departments in Windsor, Findlay, Bethany, Sullivan and Lovington were contacted for their call counts for 2022. They were also asked about new equipment, personnel and other aspects of their towns service. Read More

Shawnee Communications makes Donation to Habitat For Humanity

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Shawnee Communications presented a $5,750 donation to Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity on Tuesday, January 17.

•January 25, 2023•

On Tuesday, January 17th, Jamie Franklin, Customer Service Manager for Shawnee Communications, presented Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity with a jump start to the new year in the form of a $5,750 donation. The donation was collected through Shawnee employee contributions, which were matched individually by Shawnee’s four shareholders and that new amount was matched by the company. On hand to receive the donation were Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity board members Roger Glazebrook, Gene Meuller, Caran DeVore, Howard Sanders, Sandy Sanders, Dee Ann Daily, Cheryl Thomas, Gary Smith, Denise Smith, Bob Vail, and Mike Aikman. Read More

Sullivan Showchoirs Competition Preview

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Photos by Crystal Reed
Sullivan Showchoirs Competition Preview
The Sullivan Showchoirs held a competition preview on Wednesday, January 11 at Sullivan High School. Both groups had their first competition of the season this past weekend at Mt. Zion. Singers Jr. took third runner up, Best Costumes, Solo Competition Winner Daisy Richardson and Best Performer Avery Casteel. The next competition will be on Saturday, February 4 at Crete-Monee.

VFW District 11 Patriot’s Pen Essay Contest

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Photo furnished by Jennifer Hobbs
VFW District 11 Patriot’s Pen
Essay Contest
Sullivan Middle School 8th grader Avram Bates (left) placed second in the Veterans of Foreign Wars District 11 Patriot’s Pen Essay Contest. He was presented an award and cash prize by VFW representative Jennifer Hobbs (right) on Friday, January 13.

County Board Approves Resolution Opposing “Protect Illinois Communities” Act or Any Similar Bills

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•January 18, 2023•
by Crystal Reed

The Moultrie County Board passed a resolution during their regular meeting on Thursday, January 12, that makes Moultrie County a sanctuary county. The resolution was a response to the “Protect Illinois Communities” Act that was passed a few days before the board meeting. It also opposes any similar bill(s) that may come about in the future. The resolution passed with Billy Voyles being absent.
At the beginning of the meeting, board member Marsha Kirby presented Rick Matthews who served the county for 17 years. He retired at the end of last year. Read More

Hope House in Windsor to Hold Open House

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•January 18, 2023•
by Crystal Reed

A new place for teens to spend time after school in Windsor will be opening on Wednesday, February 1, but will have an open house on Saturday, January 28, for the community. According to Lara Owens, Hope House is a place to go after school for children entering seventh grade through their senior year. Owens and her husband Ken and Amy Greuel have teamed up to take the idea from a concept to reality.
Lara remembers moving to Windsor from Evansville, Indiana years back. Her daughter attended Windsor schools from sixth grade to high school and during that time realized there was nowhere in town for kids to go after school. “We just want them to have a place where they feel safe being,” she said. Lara noted that often times as a society we focus on athletes and straight A students and sometimes forget about other students. Read More