Category Archives: News Section

Habitat Care-A-Vanners Travel to Build Homes

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Habitat for Humanity care-a-vanners recently visited Lovington Grade to visit with students and talk about volunteering and building homes. Standing (left to right): Marla Graham (Principal), Joelyn Kempf, Bill Kempf (Milan, Illinois), Jennifer Franklin (Homeowner), Gary Smith (Lovington), Ramona Conques (Woodworth, LA), Joe DeLosa, Debbie DeLosa (Celebration, FL), Gene Mueller (Bethany), Judy Fox, Tom Fox (Davenport, IA). Kneeling (left to right): Bob Gillespie (Stevensville, MI) Richard Conques (Woodworth, LA), Chuck Ostrander (Battle Creek, MI)

•September 14, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Recently, construction began on the latest home for Habitat for Humanity in Lovington. A large portion of the labor used to build these homes year after year are care-a-vanners. Care-a-vanners are people who, in some cases, travel all over the country to build homes for the organization. The group that is working on the newest home recently visited Lovington Grade School, ate lunch and answered questions from students about volunteering and building houses. Read More

Cruise Night on the Square

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•September 7, 2022•
The Sullivan Street Machine Association held Cruise Night on the Square in Sullivan on Saturday, September 3. There was live music and dash plaques for the first 100 registered. There was also a power wheels demo derby for ages 3 to 9. More photos are on page 10.

Moultrie County Dive Team Receives Donation

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Moultrie County Dive Team Receives Donation
Members of the Moultrie County Dive Team met with the Harbor Light Yacht Club at the North End Bar and Grill in Sullivan on Friday, September 2 for a check presentation. The Harbor Light Yacht Club donated $4,500 to the dive team. According to Steve Taylor, who was the commodore of the yacht club, the group disbanded right before COVID. When the club was still active they raised money to make donations to various causes. Over the years the money raised just sat in the bank until the decision was made to donate the money to the Moultrie County Dive Team. Joash Tiarks, Commander of the Dive Team said the donation would be going towards purchasing a new boat for rescues. From left to right: Roger Farley, Amanda Farley, Joash Tiarks, Gina Koenig, former treasurer of the Harbor Light Yacht Club; Steve Taylor, former commander of the Harbor Light Yacht Club.

Bethany Man Finishes Rookie Racing Season

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•September 7, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Eric Boomer of Bethany, known at the race track as E21, recently finished his rookie season of street stock car racing with a race at Jacksonville Speedway. His ranking before Friday’s race was fifth place in the Midwest Big Ten Street Stock standings, tenth place in points at Macon Speedway, eighth in points at Lincoln Speedway and 23rd in national points in DIRTcar Series. Before he started racing this year, he spent five-seven years racing go carts at Piatt County Speedway. Read More

Illinois Amish Heritage Center Announces Herschberger-Miller Barn Raising Event for October

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•September 7, 2022•
The Herschberger-Miller barn, that was originally constructed three miles west of Arthur, Illinois in 1879, was dismantled by Firmitas, formerly Trillium Dell Timber Works, in spring of 2022. The intricate process raised massive media coverage in the region because the barn was not only being removed from its original site, but, the 143-year structure was tagged, labeled, dismantled piece by piece, and will be relocated, refurbished, and rebuilt at its new home, Illinois Amish Heritage Center (IAHC), located between Arcola and Arthur, on Illinois Route 133.
On Friday, September 23rd at 4 p.m., the IAHC will be hosting a public groundbreaking for site prep of this historical barn. The unique event will feature a horse drawn slip scraper for breaking the ground which was very common during the era of the original barn usage. Read More

Blood Drive in Honor of River Helmuth on September 10

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•August 31, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

A blood drive in honor of River Helmuth will be held on Saturday, September 10 from 8 am to 2 pm at the Sullivan American Legion Post 68. River is the daughter of Tony and Stephanie Helmuth of Sullivan. River was born in December 2015 and shortly after diagnosed with Down Syndrome and a heart condition that would require surgery. Read More

Law Enforcement Officers Train to Meet Requirements

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Law enforcement officers from Lovington, Sullivan and the Moultrie County Sheriff’s Office participated in scenario based trained behind Mason Point last week during a three day training designed to meet training requirements set forth in the SAFT-T act implement in July of this year.

•August 31, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

For three days last week law enforcement officers from police departments throughout Moultrie County went through training to meet the training requirements set forth in the SAFE-T act implemented in July. The act requires 32 hours of scenario based training in a three-year period. Read More

Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity Breaks Ground for New Home

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Ground was broken for the newest Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity home in Lovington on Sunday, August 28. Pictured are Moultrie County Habitat Board of Directors President Gary Smith, Pastor Rodney Houser, Senior Pastor at Lovington First Church of God; new homeowner Jennifer Franklin and her children Abbie and Maddox.

•August 31, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity broke ground for their newest home Sunday in Lovington. Jennifer Franklin and her children Abbie and Maddox were selected for the home.
The groundbreaking ceremony began with a greeting from Gary Smith, president of the Moultrie County Habitat Board of Directors, followed by an invocation by Pastor Rodney Houser, senior pastor at Lovington First Church of God. The family, Habitat Board members and some of the Care-a-vanner builders in attendance were introduced. Read More

Shelby County Royalty

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Shelby County Royalty
Junior Miss Shelby County Kinley Chaney and Miss Shelby County Maggie Kelly wave at parade goers during the Windsor Harvest Picnic on Saturday, August 20. More photos are on page 9 and 10.

ALAH School Board Passes Tentative FY 2023 Budget

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•August 24, 2022•
by Ariana R. Cherry
NP Writer

The ALAH School Board met Wednesday August 17, a few hours after some had just had their first day back at school after summer break. Principals and staff were excited and still giddy from the day’s activities. Principal Seegmiller and Nathan Seal had spent the day grilling out and playing games for the students’ first day. “It was the best first day of school I’ve ever had. It was awesome!” Seal said happily.
After sharing some of the day’s activities, the board got down to business and spoke about the tentative FY 2023 budget. Read More