Category Archives: News Section

Alumni Wall of Fame inductee Tim Uphoff  

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•April 17, 2024•

Tim Uphoff, Findlay HS Class of 1981, has been chosen for the Alumni Wall of Fame. To be nominated the individual must have been a graduate of Bethany, Findlay, or Okaw Valley. Nominations were based on an individual’s contribution to society and community, the betterment of mankind or occupational/endeavor recognition. 

Tim will be recognized at the 2024 Okaw Valley Commencement. He joins prior inductees Mike Cohan, Ryan Fitzgerald, Sam Scott, Robert Disney Jr., Rita Florey, Sean Creviston and Brett Robinson.

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Adult Prom 2024 a royal success

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Photo furnished
Adult Prom a royal success
Jake and Jerica Thrasher were named the King and Queen of the 2024 Sullivan Adult Prom held this past Saturday at the Sullivan American Legion. The Down Syndrome Awareness fundraiser, hosted by Ten-Seventy Entertainment and Josh Dinger with Northwestern Mutual, raised funds for the Down Syndrome Diagnosis Network. The event this year raised $2,100. The DSDN supports families with children diagnosed with Down Syndrome from birth thru all phases of life, including hospital stays, IEPS and more.

Retired teachers reminisce

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•April 10, 2024•

"Did a teacher ever leave a lasting impression on you?”. That was the question posed to the thirty-three Moultrie County retired teachers on April 3rd. Guest speaker Danny Powell, of Atwood, a retired teacher and principal, wanted the group to remember the power that some teachers have had in our lives. The question prompted several retired teachers to share stories from their own childhoods and careers. Read More

Ball field improvements, TIF expansions discussed by city council

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•April 10, 2024•

By Sharon Barricklow

Sullivan’s baseball fields will be getting an upgrade after the City Council approved accepting an Open Spaces Land Acquisition and Development Grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

The $576,000 grant must be matched by the city, either in cash or “in kind” work done by city laborers. The new project will upgrade baseball and softball facilities, something supporters told the council was  needed.  Read More

Habitat for Humanity awards homes

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Habitat for Humanity awards homes
Last Saturday, members of Habitat for Humanity gathered at the ReStore to present two houses in Sullivan to deserving families. The first house is a rehab house presented to Jamie Minor and her children. The second house is a new build to begin soon, presented to Dakoda and Cortney Lucas and their two children.
Habitat for Humanity representative Cheryl Thomas stated “We look forward to working with these two families.” She added “We are so fortunate to live in a community that supports the efforts of our local Habitat for Humanity affiliate.”
Applications for next years build will be available at the end of the year.
Pictured is Thomas informing the two families that were chosen.

Total Eclipse

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Total Eclipse
From April 5-8th the Marrowbone Public Library invites you to stop by and get your eclipse glasses, a Moon Pie and Sun Chips (while they last) to prepare for the solar eclipse to take place Monday, April 8th.
The total solar eclipse visits Illinois on April 8, 2024 beginning at 1:58 pm CDT with the final exit of the Moon’s shadow at 2:06 pm.
The library has eclipse glasses or cards available as long as they last.

Happy Easter

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Happy Easter
Children get lined up for the start of the Lovington Easter Egg Hunt held Palm Sunday afternoon at the park.

Eggstravaganza

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Eggstravaganza
Courtyard Estates, in Sullivan, held an Easter event Saturday for the little ones. The event included an Easter Egg Hunt for children up to age 11, a 50/50 raffle, bike giveaway for each age group, food trucks, bouncy houses, and characters meet and greets.

The Hunt Is On

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The Hunt Is On
Sullivan First United Methodist Church held an Easter Egg Hunt on Friday afternoon at Tabor Park. It was a really good turnout of children ages 0-12 on a beautiful day.

Nostalgia aside, proposed Illinois legislation takes aim at school’s mascot; Part III

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•April 3, 2024•

In a continuation of the discussion surrounding HB 5617, we take a look this week at the history of the name Sullivan uses for its identification: Redskins. Rep. Maurice West’s (D-Rockford) HB 5617 says “that a school board shall prohibit a school from using a native name, logo, or mascot that names, refers to, represents, or is associated with Native Americans, including aspects of Native American cultures and specific Native American tribes.” 

Ask almost anyone in Sullivan how long the school has been the Redskins and the most common answer will be, “We’ve been the Redskins forever.” While it has been a long time, it hasn’t quite been forever. Read More