
Photo by RR Best
Egg Raid
Pictured is Jesse Russell along with his Easter Egg bounty Saturday afternoon.

Photo by RR Best
Egg Raid
Pictured is Jesse Russell along with his Easter Egg bounty Saturday afternoon.

Photo by RR Best
The Calm Before the Storm
Hundreds of kids and adults stand behind caution tape Sunday afternoon at Wyman Park just moments before being let loose to raid hundreds of Easter eggs of their goodies. The Easter egg hunt was sponsored by the Sullivan Fire District, which also gave the following children baskets after drawing their names: Charlie Conlin, Emma Clevenger, Aidan Coil, Elona Halili, Teagan Born, McKinlee Nunamaker, Lane Nowlin, Josie Herschberger, Trey Grimm, Autumn Shinn, Wyatt Miller, and Maelyn Gaithes. In addition, the following children were drawn to receive a bike: Jesse Russell, Addison Cole, Bryson Beckwith, Sophia Thomas, Nikolas Rubush, Tessla Ashbrooke, Jacob Collins, Kailen Scribner, Rhyland Brady, Kenadi Wyrozumski, Ethan Brinkman, and Kinley Hill.

Photo by Kent Stock
2015 Miss Lovington Pageant
The 2015 queens that were crowned March 28 were Jr. Miss Lovington Kenli Nettles (left), daughter of Ryan Nettles and Christi Yielding and 2015 Little Miss Lovington Morgan Casteel (right), daughter of Brock and Erica Casteel. Outgoing queens (back row) are 2014 Jr Miss Lovington, Natalie Lambdin (left) and 2014 Little Miss Lovington, Halle Wardrip (right).

Submitted by Emily Neuhauser
SHS Girls’ Basketball Banquet
The SHS girls’ basketball banquet was held March 10 at the VFW. Pictured, left to right: Chloe Riley (most improved award) Emily Neuhauser (most outstanding player award and offensive award) Brittin Boyer (rebound award and Lady Redskin award) Elisss Stewart (hustle and heart award) and Alyssa Marshall (defense award). Boyer also previously received First Team All-State honors from the Associated Press and the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association, while also being unanimously named to the all-Central Illinois Conference first team. Neuhauser received Third Team All-State from the IBCA and Honorable Mention from the AP as well as unanimous all CIC first team. Stewart earned second team all CIC honors.

Photo by RR Best
12th Annual Busterball Tourney
Fourth grader Wyatt Miller ducks while clutching two balls during the Sullivan Blue Dolphins 12th annual busterball tournament, Saturday March 28 at Sullivan High School. There, 56 teams played with more than 400 participants from ages kindergarten to adult. Teams came from Okaw Valley, Shelbyville, Lovington, and Sullivan. Trophies were given to first place team winners, medals to the second place team winners and a free snow cone was the prize for the team members that exhibited the best sportsmanship for each grade level. A lot of new activities were also available during the event as well, including games, face painting, and a raffle table with a wide variety of prizes. A full list of winners is posted at http://sbdbusterball.weebly.com/.

Submitted
Sparrow’s Easter Bike Giveaway
Sparrow’s Unlimited Inc. once again gave away bikes to children during the Lovington Easter egg hunt Saturday morning at Tom Conn Park. Those who received bikes were Griffin Hilton, Kamayah Parker, Cannon Doggett, Norma Mendoza, Daylin Doggett, Athena Helmuth, Devon Barron, Rylin Young, Robbie Le Cates, and McKenzie Erixon.

Photos by RR Best
SCEF Awards
The Sullivan Community Education Foundation held its annual District Staff Appreciation Dinner funded by the SCEDF on March 19 where $26,897 in grants were awarded to the Sullivan community and school district. Pictured, above, (from left to right) are the major grant award winners which included the Moultrie County Counseling Center represented by David Cole and Katrina Shain ($1,250 for basic self-defense and personal safety classes); SHS science teacher John Bertetto ($2,000 for human anatomical models) and the SES second grade teachers represented by Leslie Auten, Melissa Haegen, Ashley Christensen, and Danielle Braiding ($14,969 for 30 iPad air tablets with cases and charging cabinets). Pictured, below, are the minor grant award winners, which included student Wesley Standerfer and SES teacher Lynette Rotramel ($650 for a Nikon camera, tripod, and replacement insurance for school newspaper); Elizabeth Titus Library represented by Michelle Nolan ($500 Summer Reading Program); SMS teacher Marissa Wright ($900 for Canon T3i for SMS yearbook); SES social worker Poppy Graham ($800 for iPad and apps); SES second grade teachers represented by Haegen, Braiding, Christenson and Auten ($990 for Lexia Core 5 software for second graders); the Moultrie County Beacon represented by Kari Ruppert ($998 for two Wi-Fi iPad tablets); SHS athletic department represented by Chester Reeder ($501.38 for upgrade of SHS weight room); SES speech and language teachers represented by Jessica Reeder and Ann Osthoff ($930 for two iPad Air Tablets); Central Illinois Public Transit represented by Jennifer Moore ($960 for one day bus trips for senior citizens); SES special education teacher Christine Grohler ($950 for Hand in Hand Kids Summer Autism Camp); and the Sullivan preschool represented by Tonya Rose ($500 for two iPad minis). The Sullivan Community Education Foundation was formed in 1995. The mission statement of the Foundation is “to promote lifelong learning opportunities in its community and schools”. The board is comprised of community and school district men and women who oversee the awarding of major and mini grants each year. Since the formation, the SCEF has awarded more than $450,000 in grants. This money is not tax money but funds obtained by donations and fund-raising.


Submitted
WHS Student of March
Windsor High School has named senior Melanie Adams, daughter of Robert and Ruth Adams, as March student of the month. She is involved in volleyball, dance, art club, Spanish club, physics club, scholastic bowl, student council, WYSE, national honor society, band, and 4-H and was named a State Scholar. She plans to attend Lake Land College and then transfer to a four year university majoring in psychology.

Photo by RR Best
Trying to Hold On
Sullivan Elementary teacher Scott England tries to hold on to the reins Monday, March 23 during donkey basketball hosted by the Sullivan Elementary School PTO.

Submitted
Seth Dunscomb 14th Annual Opener
The Sullivan Blue Dophins entered 58 swimmers in the 14th annual Seth Dunscomb New Year’s Opener in January. Pictured left to right are Connie Dunscomb, Dalace Ray, Brodie Goss, Dylan Sanders, McKenna Kull, Brynna Sentel, Calista Clark, Charlie Goss, Anna Wooter, and coach Jason Drury (not pictured is Noah Spain). Seth Dunscomb began his swimming career with the Sullivan Blue Dophins when he was just a boy. Each year, the dolphins remember him when they attend the Seth Dunscomb New Year’s Opener in Decatur. Dunscomb was a record-setting swimmer who died suddenly of a heart ailment in 1997 during a practice for the University of Kansas swim team. Dunscomb was a state champion in the 200-yard individual medley while at Sullivan High School and still holds 16 records with the Sullivan Blue Dolphins that have not been broken in more than 15 years. This year marked the 14th year the meet has been held at Millikin University’s Griswold Center. With ages ranging from 5 to 18 years old in a total of 506 races, the Dolphins brought home a hefty amount of hardware, with the following swimmers receiving overall trophies: Open Division - Brynna Sentel 1st place; Charlie Goss 2nd place; Dalace Ray 3rd place.13-14 age group - McKenna Kull 1st place; Anna Wooters 2nd place; Brodie Goss 2nd place; Dylan Sanders 3rd place. 11 - 12 age group - Calista Clark 3rd place. 9 -10 age group - Noah Spain 3rd place.