Category Archives: News Section

Lovington’s Christmas in the Park 2022

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Singing Christmas Carols
This group of ladies came to the event and sang several Christmas carols. Other activities during the event included vendors, cookies and hot chocolate, a craft for children and visits with Santa.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Handmade Decorations
For this Christmas tree entry, the decorations were all handmade and included snowflakes, round plaid fabric ornaments and a large snowflake tree topper. In total there were ten trees decorated by schools, individuals and businesses that were auctioned off.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Tree Decorating Contest
During Christmas in the Park in Lovington there were ten trees that were decorated and auctioned off. Trees were decorated by residents, schools and businesses. The tree pictured was decorated by the Lovington Grade School Student Council and they were the school winner. Residential winner was a tree decorated by Tracy Garmon and Alexandria Poe. Winner in the business category was TGM. Themes included board games, Star Wars, angels, Willy Wonka, and others.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Santa Photo
Santa was at Christmas in the Park on Saturday, November 26 in Lovington posing for photos and hearing requests from children and adults. He arrived at the park in style on a Lovington Fire Department fire truck.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Listening to Christmas Wishes
Santa heard requests from children during Christmas in the Park in Lovington. Here he talks to one of the local children.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Creating a Snowman Ornament
A young child draws a carrot nose on her snowman ornament during Christmas in the Park in Lovington with assistance from her mother. This is one of several activities that was going on that day.

ALAH Illinois State Scholars

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ALAH Illinois State Scholars
Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond High School recently announced the Class of 2023 Illinois State Scholars. They are Josie Hale, Alisha Frederick, Kaylee Schrock, Emma Edwards, Connor Edmonds, Clay Seal, and Charley Condill (not pictured). Students are selected based on their outstanding academic achievement and SAT scores.

City Council Approves Memorandum of Understanding with Agri-Fab

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•November 30, 2022•
by Crystal Reed

The Sullivan City Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Sullivan and Agri-Fab. The memorandum involves an unused three-phase pad mount 1500 KVA transformer that was previously provided by the city. The city has requested possession of the transformer for use in another location. Agri-Fab has agreed to this on the condition that the city provide Agri-Fab with an equivalent replacement transformer. Commissioner Mike Fowler said they need permission from the company to move the transformer.
In attendance was Bob Ingram who asked whether the replacement transformer would be new or refurbished. According to Commissioner Abbey Sherwood there are two different copies of the agreement. One that was in the packet and one on which the lawyer changed the verbiage which said that it should be a new transformer given to Agri-Fab as a replacement. The transformer sits at Agri-Fab because they have vendors who require them to keep one in place should the one being used have a breakdown or malfunction. Read More

One Book, One Sullivan Announces Newest Book Selection

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Photo by Crystal Reed
One Book, One Sullivan announced this year’s book selection during an assembly on Tuesday, November 22. This year’s selection is The Blackbird Girls by Anne Blankman. One Book, One Sullivan members are (in no order): Adalyn Cruitt, Emma Drake, Alex Fultz, Ava Johnson (not pictured), Kent Lehman, Grant Martin, Vinnie McClellan, Daisy Richardson, Avery Renfro, Tenley Stollard, Mitchell Wesselman, Ronin Woods, North Dean, Isabel Donovan, Reading Interventionist Rikki Ray, Media Center Specialist Anna McClellan and Rotary member Susan Rauch.

•November 30, 2022•
by Crystal Reed

One Book, One Sullivan presented a book trailer to their middle school classmates Tuesday, November 22, in an assembly at the beginning of the school day. The group narrowed their top choices for this year’s selection by reading all 20 books from the Rebecca Caudill list. The group of 12 middle school students, two high school students and four staff members read the books from that list to pick one for the community reading program.
The committee meets weekly to discuss the books and debate to find the perfect one. They narrow it down to the top five and then down to the final selection. The top five books were Amari and the Night Brothers, Black Brother, Black Brother; The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez, When Stars are Scattered and this year’s selection Blackbird Girls by Anne Blankman. Members of the group distributed copies of the book to students during the assembly. Read More

The Little Theatre On The Square Preparing for White Christmas, Nominated for Broadway World Regional Awards

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•November 30, 2022•
by Crystal Reed

It may not look like it’s going to be a White Christmas outside, but inside The Little Theatre On The Square, it will be. Rehearsals for the theatre’s production of White Christmas began Saturday, November 26. The theatre’s last production of White Christmas was in 2017. The show will be onstage December 9-18, and some shows are already selling out.
This year’s production will be directed by Clint Hromsco with choreography by Kaitlyn Frank. The female lead Gretel Scarlett is back. She was also in the 2010 production of the show. Read More

Turkeys Donated to Moultrie County Food Pantry

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Turkeys Donated to Moultrie County Food Pantry
Sullivan IGA meat department delivered 50 turkey breasts and 25 turkeys to the Moultrie County Food Pantry on Monday, November 21. Those who delivered the donation were (in no order): Mason Harner, Meat manager Seth Cobb, Blake Eller, Cameron Eccles, Timothy VanDeursen and Judy Sumner.

October Students of the Month

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October Students of the Month
Windsor Jr./Sr. High School is pleased to announce their October Students of the Month Jasmine Rodriguez and Grace Mast. Jazmin Rodriguez is the daughter of Adrian and Ali Rodriguez. She is currently a junior and is involved in Dance, Spanish Club, Art Club, and Drama Club. She is interested in becoming a high school counselor or going into Graphic Design.
Grace Mast is the daughter of Mose and Hana Mast. She is currently an 8th grade student and is involved in Eco Team, FFA, and Volleyball. She enjoys working with her animals and helping her dad on the farm. Pictured (left to right) are Jazmin Rodriguez and Grace Mast.

Honor Drive Held for Shoni Anderson

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Honor Drive Held for Shoni Anderson
A blood drive was held on Tuesday, November 15 in honor of Shoni Anderson at the Sullivan American Legion. Organizer Jeri Davis said there were over 100 people that signed up and over 70 had already donated by 4 pm that day. Most were regular donors but a large number of first timers as well. Many were from Mt. Zion where Shoni lives. Pictured is Richard Johnson of Mt. Zion, who was a first time blood donor during the drive.

Shoot for a Turkey Held at Civic Center

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Shoot for a Turkey Held at Civic Center
Coach Craig Black and the Sullivan High School Basketball Team organized the Shoot for a Turkey event on Saturday, November 19 in the Sullivan Civic Center gym. Entrants competed in knock out to determine who would receive a certificate for a frozen turkey from Sullivan IGA. Pictured are the SHS Basketball team with the three winners kneeling in front. Winners were (in no order): Brayden Mesnard, Cooper Christensen and Coach Taylor.

Air Conditioning Systems to be Installed at AGS and Upgraded at LGS This Summer

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•November 23 2022•
by Ariana R. Cherry

The ALAH School Board of Education’s most recent meeting was held Wednesday, November 16, at Atwood-Hammond Grade School.
Superintendent Shannon Cheek discussed the HVAC Bids the district received for both Arthur and Lovington grade schools. The bids were for installing air conditioning at Arthur Grade School and upgrading the AC system at Lovington Grade School. There were seven bids total. The lowest bid was awarded to Davis Houk for an amount of $1,158,775.00. The project is to begin this summer and hopefully be completed by the end of summer. Read More