Photo furnished
OV Youth Advisors
Okaw Valley High School students Natalie Jeffers and Ethan Macklin along with Cullen Dyer and Spencer Johnson of Sullivan High School and Eusebio Briseno, Abbi Duzan and Kolby Rickman of Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond High School met recently with State Senator Chapin Rose at Richland Community College. Senator Rose has put together a Youth Advisory Council consisting of two outstanding students per high school in the 51st Senate District. Students discussed issues that are important to today’s youth. They will meet in Springfield in the spring so that the students may experience the legislative process firsthand and participate in a mock committee hearing. Pictured from left: Ethan Macklin, OV social studies teacher, Brad Ackers, and Natalie Jeffers.

Photo furnished
OV Honor Band
Eleven Okaw Valley High School Band Students participated in the EIU Honor Band Saturday, Dec. 9. They were front - Baylee Suarez, Haven Caulfield, Connor Powers, Elizabeth Herbord; back - Shelby Harding, Kyra Jackson, Caleb Hildebrandt, Ethan Macklin, Justin Oathout, Madeline Ray, TJ Williams
Okaw Valley had students placed in all three bands. Kyra Jackson, Connor Powers, and Elizabeth Herbord placed first chair. Ethan Macklin placed in the wind symphony.
To be a part of the EIU Honor Band students must apply online, and then the teacher must submit an evaluation. Fourteen OVHS students were chosen, and 11 were able to attend.

Photo by Darian Hays
Sparrows Wrap
Lovington based volunteers for Sparrows gathered at the East End Tavern in downtown Lovington Saturday morning to wrap gifts for delivery to 144 families. Above East End owner and Sparrow volunteer Annette Wood prepares a gift for wrapping.

Photo by R.R. Best
Bethany Tree Lighting
Bethany Mayor Bill Ashley Jr. exclaimed, “Let there be light” and threw the switch lighting the village Christmas Tree. Lighting the tree was the finale of the BASO sponsored Bethany Country Christmas held from 3-4:30 p.m. Sunday, December 3 at the Bethany Depot. A dedication by the Bethany Ministerial Alliance and carols with the Bethany Community Choir wrapped up festivities which featured a visit from Santa along with hot cocoa and cookies for the crowd.

Photo by Mike Brothers
Sweet Gift for Food Pantry
Flesor’s Candies partnership with Cathrine’s Gallery for the Moultrie County Food Pantry raised needed holiday funds Nov. 18 while giving Sullivan customers great gifts from Flesor’s candy kitchen. Above Devon Flesor offers Cindy Clore (left) some sweet gift giving choices for stockings. Clore had heard of the annual event and traveled from Rosiclare, Ill. for some Flesor’s chocolates and a chance to donate to the local food pantry.