Category Archives: News Section

ALAH Americanism Essay Winners

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Photo by Crystal Reed
ALAH 9th and 10th grade Americanism Essay Winners
Left to right: Alek Stutzman, Class II (9th & 10th grades) Americanism Essay winner, 3rd Place; Brayden Leech, Class II (9th & 10th grades) Americanism Essay winner, 2nd Place; Christa Davis, Class II (9th & 10th grades) Americanism Essay winner, 1st Place

Photo by Crystal Reed
ALAH 11th and 12th grade Americanism Essay Winners
Left to right: Lillian Daily, Class III (11th & 12th grades) Americanism Essay winner, 3rd Place; Lucy Wilber, Class III (11th & 12th grades) Americanism Essay winner, 2nd Place; Noah Shoemaker, Class III (11th & 12th grades) Americanism Essay winner, 1st Place.

Photo by Crystal Reed
ALAH American Legion Auxiliary Poppy Poster Winners
Left to right: Cambree Brown, 12th grade Poppy Poster winner, 3rd Place; Charley Condill, 12th grade Poppy Poster winner, 1st Place; Alisha Frederick, 12th grade Poppy Poster winner, 2nd Place.

Photo by Crystal Reed
ALAH 9th Grade and 10th Grade Poppy Poster Winners
Left to right: Blanca Briseno, 9th grade Poppy Poster winner, 1st Place; Mackenzie Condill, 10th grade Poppy Poster winner, 1st Place; Emmalee Nall, 10 grade Poppy Poster winner, 2nd Place.

City Council Discusses Ordinance Regarding Living Spaces on the Square

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•May 24, 2023•
by Crystal Reed

The Sullivan City Council discussed the ordinance regarding living spaces on the square during their meeting Monday night. Commissioner Chuck Woodworth was absent.
Changes have been made to the ordinance regarding living spaces on the square. Commissioner Abbey Sherwood reported that a public meeting had been held with all parties represented, and they worked to adjust the ordinance to what the majority of the group agreed to send to Planning and Zoning. Under uses permitted, they need to add banks, and there needs to be verbiage controlling the density of the amount of people in each residence.
Sherwood noted that nothing had changed since the approval of planning and zoning, but when changes are made, it will be sent to the various parties before it comes back to the council. According to Planning and Zoning Director Kristi Hart, a letter would be attached, and properties grandfathered in would be recorded in the minutes. Sherwood said it would be possible to amend the ordinance in the future should someone want to be grandfathered. Read More

Moultrie County Child Care Efforts Continue

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The first round of Moultrie County Childcare grant funding is being distributed to current eligible providers in Moultrie County. Rita Florey (right) presents a check to Linda Featherling, a childcare provider in Sullivan (left).

•May 24, 2023•
Submitted by Rita Florey

A community group spearheaded by the Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development organization to explore new ways to support and grow child care options in Moultrie County, Illinois, is continuing efforts forward to support child care in the local community.
The group formally kicked off its initial efforts in January of this year, contracting with Business of Child Care, which helps communities nationwide identify child care needs and develop plans to address them. Through those efforts, Moultrie County Kids set a goal of creating 100 new child care spaces, as well as supporting and retaining 205 existing spaces already in the county. Read More

Windsor High School Graduating Class of 2023

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Photo submitted by Lesley Baker
Windsor High School Graduating Class of 2023
Windsor High School held their graduation for the Class of 2023 on Sunday, May 21. This year’s valedictorian was Kiersten Wheeler and salutatorian was Dylan Curry. During the ceremony the Myrtle Jones Scholarship and Sharon Keck Scholarship were presented. Myrtle Jones Scholarship Recipients were Karlie Bean, Kaylynn Carey, Ella Gilbert, Cameron Hughes, Graham Kasey, Madison Pfeiffer, Jessica Rauch, Rhett Rincker, Donta Virgil and Kiersten Wheeler. The Sharon Keck scholarship was presented to Gracie Brownlee.
Front Row (left to right):  Donta Virgil, Kaylynn Carey, Caleb Dison, Nate Ashe, Reese Bennett. Middle Row (left to right):  Abby Carey, Jennifer Armer, Andrew Mason, Daylen Kircher, Gracie Brownlee, Kiersten Wheeler. Back Row (left to right):  Dylan Curry, Rhett Rincker, Joe Dispennett, Alex Kidwell, Robbie McDaniel.

Sullivan High School Sends Off Class of 2023

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Co-valedictorians of the Sullivan Class of 2023 were Paul Bates (left) and Cassidy Short (right). They spoke on how the class can live their lives for others.

•May 24, 2023•
by Crystal Reed

The 78 members of Sullivan High School Class of 2023 were sent off into the world Sunday, May 21, with a ceremony on the football field. After the staff, administration, teachers and graduates had entered, the high school band played the “Star Spangled Banner” as the flag was raised.
The senior class president Sydni Waidelich gave a welcome address in which she focused on opportunities. Waidelich was adopted from Guatamala at nine months old and moved to Sullivan in January, 2021.
“The past four years have been filled with opportunities that we have all been blessed to have,” Waidelich said. She thanked many people at the school for giving the class various opportunities. Waidelich recognized her class and said they have become such a huge part of her life. Read More

Sheep to Yarn to Quilts event 2023

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Washing and Dying Wool
Tyler, Ellie and Vonna Neethling learned about washing and dyeing wool by getting hands on experience during the Sheep to Yarn to Quilts event at the Illinois Amish Heritage Center on May 13.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Creating a Yarn Doll
Vera Yoder helps Noah Sulwer make a yarn doll during the Sheep to Yarn to Quilts event at the Illinois Amish Heritage Center.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Petting Zoo
Waylon Yoder enjoyed seeing the animals at the petting zoo during the Sheep to Yarn to Quilts event at the Illinois Amish Heritage Center.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Making a Quilting Block
Gloria Yoder watches as Sarah Hasib and Molly Yunyongying sew together a quilt block at the Illinois Amish Heritage Center on Saturday.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Grace Morris shears a sheep while Roger Otto watches during an event at the Illinois Amish Heritage Center on May 13.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Learning About Honeybees
Karen Bickers had a display on the life cycle of honeybees and information on beekeeping at a booth at the Illinois Amish Heritage Center on May 13. There is a club for those who are beekeepers or those interested in becoming a beekeeper held at the Arthur United Methodist Church on the first Monday of each month at 6:30 pm.

Arthur Residents Looking to Form a Local Arts Council

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•May 17, 2023•
Nearby area and residents of Arthur are coming together to form an arts council group in an effort to promote and support local art and help benefit community outreach at the same time.
The idea for the group came about after artist and poet, Ariana R Cherry realized that there wasn’t a lot of support for the arts in town. She feels that there is a need for this type of organization to help bring together artists, musicians, writers and other creatives within the community. Read More

Okaw Valley High School Holds Commencement for Class of 2023

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•May 17, 2023•
by Crystal Reed

The Okaw Valley Class of 2023 had commencement Saturday, May 13 in the high school gymnasium. Superintendent Kent Stauder was honored for 10 years of service to the district. Okaw Valley School Board President Brooke Bartimus presented him with an award. Stauder noted that the best thing that his family ever did was move to this area and become a part of Okaw Valley.
Stauder presented awards for the Volunteer Hall of Fame and Alumni Wall of Fame.

Dru Bennett, volunteer recipient, received a lifelong extracurricular pass and his name on a plaque placed in the gym lobby.
The Alumni Wall of Fame recipient was awarded to Brett Robinson. Robinson thanked the nominating committee and others responsible for his receiving the honor. He also thanked his parents and wife and daughters for always loving and supporting him.
Class president Hudson Ruppert said he realized that many of the class memories revolve around that gymnasium and noted they value each and every member of the class. Ruppert said his confidence in walking into the unknown comes from knowing that God does know. Read More

Collins Retires from Sullivan Fire

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Collins Retires from Sullivan Fire
Adam Collins (center) was recently recognized for dedicating over 21 years to being a member of the Sullivan Fire Protection District. He started with SFPD on November 5, 2001 and served until he retired on December 1, 2022. Adam has dedicated most of his adult life to serving the citizens of Sullivan. He also works for the Sullivan Police Department. Pictured from left to right are: Jackie Collins, Boddie Collins, Adam Collins and Sullivan Fire Chief Larry Edwards.