
Photo furnished
Jackpot Winner
Sullivan Economic Development and Chamber Executive Director Laurrie Minor presents Darrian Sparrow with the annual Fourth of July raffle grand prize of $4891.00. The winning ticket number was 14242.

Photo furnished
Jackpot Winner
Sullivan Economic Development and Chamber Executive Director Laurrie Minor presents Darrian Sparrow with the annual Fourth of July raffle grand prize of $4891.00. The winning ticket number was 14242.

Photo by R.R. Best
Fire Contained
Findlay Fire Chief Ed Voltenburg was returning home from a mutual aid call to Shelbyville at 4:20 a.m. Saturday, July 7 when he noticed a burning garage west of the Findlay Marina. He called out Findlay firefighters just getting home from the earlier call, and they responded quickly and were able to get the garage owned by Nancy Beam cooled down until help arrived from the Sullivan, Windsor and Bethany fire departments.

Photo by Mike Brothers
Art for Children
An art camp for children going into first grade through sixth grade was held at the Sullivan Masonic Lodge June 24-28. There were 39 students from Sullivan, Bethany, Lovington, Arthur, and even two from Texas. Camp ran Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. with young artists painting pottery, making collages, doing T-shirt designs, painting and hiding rocks, as well as creating a canvas painting. Eight high school and middle school volunteers helped make the camp possible. Molly Reeder-Foust, a local artist and high school art teacher in Decatur, conducted the class.

Photo by R.R. Best
Knee High Plus 35
Colleen Zenk is pictured with Boo and Little Theatre Executive Director John Stephens beside Tony Sager’s crop in this year’s annual News Progress Knee High by Fourth of July photo monitoring central Illinois corn yields. Zenk starred in “Hello, Dolly!” at the Little Theatre in 2018. In 1983 she was headlining “They’re Playing Our Song” along with Michael Crouch and was photographed by R. R. Best on Guy Little’s farm south of Sulilvan.

Photo by Mike Brothers
Summer Refreshment
These Sullivan entrepreneurs decided to take advantage of extra traffic created this week due to Sullivan Independence Celebration setup across the street at the Sullivan American Legion Post 68. Above Alaina Moore (left) and partner Kendall Penberthy create a special mixture of grape Kool-Aid and lemonade as a signature summer drink. Lemonade, grape Kool-Aid or any mixture of the two is only 75 cents this week on Main Street in Sullivan.

Photo by R. R. Best’
Muddy Good Time!
Cody Carlson right and Wesley Bone put forth the true spirit of mud volleyball competition at the Bethany Celebration held this past weekend. The Friday and Saturday events also included three on three basketball and ended with Saturday evening fireworks at Crowder Park.

Photo furnished
First Grade Visits Ballard Center
Sullivan Elementary School’s first grade recently went on a field trip to Ballard Nature Center in Altamont. They spent the day exploring and learning about Illinois habitats. This is all thanks to the Illinois Biodiversity Grant—Daniel and Ada Rice Foundation, The Independence Tube Corporation, D.F. and M.T. Grohne Foundation and others.

Photo by Darian Hayes
Lovington Junefest
If it’s June, it is time for the annual Lovington Junefest Fish Fry. Above crowds braved warm summer temperatures to enjoy fish, fellowship, and this year the event was topped off with the annual fireworks show after dark. Above Ralph Zancha and Steve Fleming fry fish for an appreciative Lovington crowd.

Photo furnished
Community Band Performs
The Sullivan Community Band will present a free concert at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 28 at the south end of Wyman Park in Sullivan. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs and enjoy some patriotic and popular tunes. This 40-member group comprised of both adult and student musicians sounds fantastic and is presenting only one concert this summer; don’t miss it! Rain plan venue is the Sullivan Middle School gym. See the Sullivan CUSD 300 Facebook page for rain plan announcement.

Photo by R.R. Best
Mainstreet Music and Market
Mainstreet Music and Market was held on the Sullivan square beginning at noon Saturday, June 16. Above Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development Executive Director Laurrie Minior and Cathrine Craig of Cathrine’s Gifts and More volunteer during the Market in the afternoon which let visitors look at a variety of local artisans’ creations. Entertainment came from the Northenders beginning at noon followed by Firebox, Scott Mast, Killbourne Alley and Wreckless Whiskey who closed the event with an 8:00 p.m. set.