Photo by Crystal Reed
Bethany Legion and Auxiliary Deliver Donations
The Bethany American Legion and Auxiliary took donations to the Danville Veterans Home recently. They delivered 20 winter jackets and 30 pairs of pajama pants as well as gift cards for local restaurants in the Danville area. The organizations deliver items to the VA Home in Danville every year in December. They collect donations based on a list of needs they are given. Pictured are Sam Scott, Terry Muzzy and Terry Gaither.
Photo by Crystal Reed
Roger and Donna Walker donated blood at the drive held at Lovington Christian Church on Wednesday, January 4.
•January 11, 2023•
by Crystal Reed
There is a currently a blood shortage, and reasons being given for it are the holiday season, seasonal illness and weather causing drives to be cancelled. “This time of the year is challenging for collecting blood,” said Brian Williamsen, Communications Manager for the Illinois Regional American Red Cross. The American Red Cross supplies 40% of the nation’s blood.
January is National Blood Donor Month. Tina Fleenor, Territory Coordinator for ImpactLife said they try to have good promo vouchers for their donors to encourage them to come out to the blood drives in their areas as well as their donor centers across the four states they service. “The winter storms right before Christmas hit our region pretty hard with donors not able to get out due to the frigid temperatures,” she said. “Quite a few places we had drives set up closed the day of their drive so that left a lot of “promised” donations by the wayside.” Read More
•January 11, 2023•
by Crystal Reed
The Sullivan City Council awarded a bid for alley improvement project during Monday’s meeting. Lee Beckman of Milano and Grunloh felt they should move forward on it as concrete will go up in price. He said they should take the bid they have and either do some of the work themselves or remove some of the work.
A motion was made to accept the bid from Fultz Contractors Company of Paris in the amount of $151,556.25 for an alley improvement project. Two bids were received for this project. The alley this will affect is behind G3, Sullivan Dance Studio and the pavilion on the square. Read More
Photo courtesy of Guy Cravatta
Guy Cravatta of Sullivan competed at the CrossFit Legends Championship in the 55-59 age group in Cookeville, Tennessee in December. He took first place in his age group.
•January 11, 2023•
by Crystal Reed
Guy Cravatta of Sullivan earned first place at the CrossFit Legends Championship in the 55-59 age group in early December. The competition was held in Cookeville, Tennessee. He entered the Legends Championship online, qualified in mid-August to qualify for the championship and had to finish in the top 10 worldwide. He had to perform six workouts over a three-week period.
“I told myself if I did not place in the top three, I would not go to the championship,” Cravatta said “I would only go if I had a chance to win.” Once the scores were posted, the leaderboard showed him with a second place finish and qualifying for the Legend Championship. He said he and the remaining top nine qualifiers, joined 14 other regional champions to compete for the Legends Championship in Cookeville, Tennessee. Read More
•January 4, 2023•
June
Memorial Day services were held in Sullivan, Bethany, Findlay and Windsor. At the ceremony in Greenhill Cemetery in Sullivan, Mayor Richard Glazebrook spoke. In Bethany the service was held at Marrowbone Township Cemetery and the speaker was Pastor Rob Roy.
Kristi Hart was appointed as Planning and Zoning Director at the May meeting of the Moultrie County Board. Hart was born in Bethany and has four daughters.
ALAH held their commencement on the football field. Valedictorian was Jacob Duzan and salutatorian Max Allen.
Seth Webner built a bus shelter to keep students waiting for the school bus out of the elements on inclement weather day. The community service project was part of the process towards earning his Eagle Scout rank. The bus shelter is located near Vander Burgh Financial Service in Bethany. Read More
Photo by Crystal Reed
Water Plant Construction Progressing
The new water plant out on Route 32 South is starting to take shape. The plant is anticipated to be online by June.
•January 4, 2023•
by Crystal Reed
The Sullivan City Council held their last meeting of 2022 Wednesday, December 28. The only item of new business was waiving the bidding and approving the purchase of a 2023 Ford Explorer for the Police Department. Commissioners Abbey Sherwood and Doug Booker were absent.
Bob Ingram addressed the council in regard to why they did not go out for bid on the purchase.
They previously ordered the car, but it was nixed because there were not enough of the vehicles available.
The car they approved was the original one they voted to buy. Ingram asked about other dealers in the area. Police Chief Andy Pistorius said this was the lowest bid. Read More
•December 28, 2022•
January
Sullivan Fire Chief Mike Piper was honored during a walk out ceremony on Friday, December 31, 2021 after 30 years of service. Piper volunteered at the department for a year before joining October 18,1991. The new fire chief is Larry Edwards and his assistant chief is Chris Wright.
Dr. Gregory Mauck retired from Kaskaskia Valley Animal Hospital on December 30, 2021. He founded the animal hospital in Sullivan in May 1987. In retirement he planned to pursue a master’s degree in Medieval History and Historical Linguistics.
Jim Warren retired at the end of 2021 after 32+ years in the car business. His retirement plans included traveling and enjoying time with his eight grandchildren.
Julie Delpino retired from Sullivan IGA after working in the meat department for 14 years on December 31, 2021.
Bethany Fire Protection District recognized three of their members who retired from the department: Jim McMahan, Tom Rucker and Troy Yokley. Read More
Photo by Crystal Reed
Moultrie County Baby Talk Carolers
Staff at Moultrie County Baby Talk sang Christmas carols at the Marathon gas station on Friday, December 23. This is the second year that they have done this. It is their way of bringing holiday cheer to those in the community.
Photo by Crystal Reed
Olivia Cordes is the first place winner in the Voice of Democracy Essay contest for 9th to 12th graders for VFW Post 6410.
•December 28, 2022•
Photo by Crystal Reed
Patriot’s Pen essay contest winners for VFW Post 6410 are first place Avram Bates and 2nd place Hannah Taylor. The Patriot’s Pen contest is for 6th-8th graders.
Each year the Veterans of Foreign Wars hosts an essay contest for middle schoolers and high schoolers. The Patriots Pen contest for 6th-8th graders offers the opportunity to win up to $5000 in scholarships. This year’s VFW Post 6410’s first place winner is Avram Bates; 2nd place is Hannah Taylor. The Voice of Democracy essay contest for 9th to 12th graders can win up to $30,000 in scholarships this year’s VFW Post 6410 first place winner is Olivia Cordes. Both Olivia and Avram’s essays have moved on to the District 11 judging. Winners will be announced in January.
Photo by Crystal Reed
Santa’s Helpers Visit Head Start
Santa’s Helpers visited Head Start in Sullivan on Tuesday, December 20. Jeri Davis is an organizer and donor. Members of the community and past community members help support this project with the purchase of toys and other needed items. Members can also donate cash and she will do the shopping. They try to have toys, personal care items, candy and cookies for the children. She encourages those who want to help to buy when items are drastically reduced after Christmas. They use coloring books, Christmas stockings, blankets and Christmas easy reading books. They usually plan for 20 kids each year.