photo by Crystal Reed
Santa Bingo Held at Sullivan American Legion
Santa Bingo was held on Saturday, December 2 at the Sullivan American Legion. Children of all ages and those young at heart enjoyed breakfast and bingo and also had the opportunity to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Pictured are Sophie Foster, River Helmuth, Indie Harminson and Daniel Cisney with Santa and Mrs. Claus. All proceeds from the event benefit Down Syndrome Awareness.
•December 6, 2023•
by Ariana R Cherry
The ALAH Board of Education approved a tentative tax levy at their school board meeting Wednesday. November 15. The tax levy was figured at 5.6%. Since the levy is over 5%, it will require the board to have a Truth and Taxation hearing. While the levy is over 5%, it still is considerably lower than last year’s which was 9%. The formula to configure the levy is established by state code. Superintendent Shannon Cheek also looks at other counties when he tries to estimate the EAV (equalized assessed value). In his research, he found that Moultrie County had a 7% increase, Piatt County was at 8% and Coles County was 6%. There will be a hearing at the next school board meeting in December, and the tentative tax levy will be on file for the next 30 days.
The district received a matching maintenance grant from the ISBE (Illinois State Board of Education) of $50,000 to help cover the cost for the renovations of the bathrooms at Arthur Grade School and Lovington Grade School. Grunloh Construction’s bid of $537,000 was the one awarded to complete the project. Read More
•December 6, 2023•
by Crystal Reed
The Illinois State Board of Education recently released report cards for districts in the state, rating districts on a variety of categories from socioeconomic status and attendance rates to truancy and proficiency in math, science and other subjects.
Sullivan Superintendent Ted Walk stated that the report cards are an important piece of what is going on in a district, but the more important part is what is done in classrooms each day. He also noted that standardized testing reflects a one-day test. Overall he said he is pleased with this year’s results. Read More
photo by Crystal Reed
One Book, One Sullivan chose the 2023-2024 book and announced it during an assembly on Tuesday, November 21. Members of OBOS are Wes Allen, Madeline Anderson, Madeline Atteberry, Violet Cohan, Isabelle Donovan, Emma Drake, Alex Fultz, Aubrey Fultz, Kent Lehman, Clara Miller, Scarlett Perrott, Avery Renfro, Daisy Richardson, Ronin Woods, Emery Wade, Gideon Walk and Rikki Ray.
•November 29, 2023•
by Crystal Reed
One Book, One Sullivan is excited to present City Spies by James Ponti as the 2023-2024 book choice. Sullivan Middle School students worked diligently to choose the book which would best match interests of middle school through adult readers.
According to the author’s website, www.jamesponti.com, Sarah Martinez is a hacker facing years in juvenile detention, until she meets Mother, a spy who gets her out of jail and into MI6, British Secret Intelligence. Operating out of a castle in Scotland, the City Spies are five kids from around the world who’ve fallen through the cracks only to form a family like no other. When they’re not at the local boarding school, they’re mastering spy skills such as sleight of hand, breaking and entering, covert observation, and explosives. In order that they can go places in the world of espionage where adults can’t. Read More
photo furnished
Gabe Benning teaches students about space during one of his visits to a local school. He has developed a three day space unit designed for grade schools and has shared his knowledge in several local districts.
•November 29, 2023•
by Crystal Reed
Gabe Benning has loved space and astronomy since he was a child, whether it’s meteor showers, stars, black holes or planets he knows about it. Benning is a senior at Okaw Valley High School in Bethany and last semester this past April he was thinking about what he could do for the community and our area about his interest in space. He saw a Tik Tok that sparked an idea to create a three day space unit designed for grade schools.
The space unit is broken down in 30 minute sessions each day. Read More
photo by Crystal Reed
Olaf and the Grinch
Olaf and the Grinch embraced during the Lovington Christmas in the Park event on Saturday, November 25 at Tom Conn Park. Santa rode to the park on a firetruck.
photo by Crystal Reed
Visiting Santa
Aliyah Whitlow visited Tom Conn Park in Lovington to tell Santa what she wants for Christmas. Christmas in the Park gave children the opportunity to visit with Santa, Olaf and the Grinch. The Christmas light displays were also turned on for the season that afternoon.
photo furnished
OV Students Help Decorate Boxes for Fruit Baskets
Pictured are OV students who decorated boxes for Sparrows fruit baskets.
photo by Crystal Reed
Kirby Foods Donates Turkeys
Kirby Food Meat Department employees delivered a donation of 60 turkey breasts and 40 turkeys to the Moultrie County Food Pantry on Monday, November 20. Pictured (in no order) are: Cameron Eccles, Shawn Eccles, Sandra Hanke and Seth Cobb.
photo by Crystal Reed
Marrowbone Public Library Family Reading Night
Marrowbone Public Library held Family Reading Night on Thursday, November 16. The event included special guest readers: Mrs. Heidi Vander Burgh (pictured), Mrs. Angie Russell and Mrs. Kathy Doty. There was also a special paper cutting demonstration by Tammy Sims.
photo by Crystal Reed
Guest Reader
Mrs. Angie Russell reads to children who attended Marrowbone Public Library’s Family Reading Night.
photo by Crystal Reed
Reading Stories
Mrs. Kathy Doty reads to children as a guest reader during Family Reading Night.
photo furnished
Scot England, 59, formerly of Sullivan, will earn the title of oldest professional welterweight boxer in the world when he steps into the boxing ring in Nashville on December 5.
•November 22, 2023•
Hendersonville, Tennessee’s Scot England will earn a unique title when he steps into the boxing ring in Nashville on December 5th. The soon-to-be 59-year-old will become the oldest professional welterweight boxer in the world.
“My boxing dream began four decades ago when I became friends with my hero, Muhammad Ali,” says England. “The first time I walked into Ali’s living room, he asked, ‘Are you a boxer?’ I said, ‘No, Champ. I’m not tough enough for that.’ But now, almost 40 years later, I am tough enough.”
There are currently about 400 pro welterweight boxers in the U.S. and 2, 000 worldwide. Of those, official boxing rankings put Scot England as the number one oldest in the world.
“The oldest welterweight was 51 years old. But I’ll have about 8 years on him,” says England. “My opponent is just 28, so he’s about three decades younger than I am.”
For the past two years, England has been training with Army veteran Eric Draper, who has won over 20 professional fights. Draper says he respects England’s effort to gain his first victory. “Every day, somebody is telling somebody what they can’t do,” Draper says. “But Scot is proving that this can be done. I love to see an older guy like him in the ring, slugging it out with us young guys.” Read More