Photo by R.R. Best
Costume Winners
The Sullivan Halloween parade winners from Oct. 31 include Caidon Hill-Scary Clown, Ivan Moxley-Lego, Natalie Stinson-Peacock, Ashley and Madelyn Stinson-Cruella and Dalmatian, Synthea Doss-Dinosaur, Kinsley Eads-Ice Cream Truck, Gunyr Fitzgerald-Richard Simmons, Jeff and James Feldkamp-Wizard of Oz and Hilary Booker, Oliver Florey-Chicken, Audrey and Marissa Lake-Cops and Robbers.
Photo furnished
Learning About Insects
First graders at Sullivan ElementarySchool have been learning all about insects. SES Students learning about insects from left bottom: Charlie Guyot, Laynie Zbinden, Kiley Grooms, Erica Lehman (teaching), and Julianna Lind. The students learned how to eat and see like an insect; they made their own insects and recreated the insect life cycle with pasta thanks to Erica Lehman, Verna Tice, and Sue Yarnell from Ag in the Classroom. Then, with the help of Jim Palmer and Dave VanDeursen, the students were able to explore and look at insects in their natural habitat.
Photo furnished
OVHS Band is First
OVHS Band competed at the Pinckneyville Competition on Saturday, Oct. 28. They swept all of the 1A awards by earning first place finishes in class, drum major, color guard and percussion.
Photo furnished
Occupational Health
Okaw Valley students have taken advantage of the Lake Land College Health Occupations program this semester. Okaw Valley has four students participating, three of whom are at the Shelbyville Manor and one at Sarah Bush. The students are all going into the medical field. Pictured (left to right): Angela Robinson, Destiny Underwood, Savannah Gibbons (Health Occupations students at Shelbyville Manor) Not pictured - Justin Oathout - Sarah Bush.
Photo by RR Best
Engulfed in Flames
Fire had engulfed the front porch and two rooms of a house at the corner of Hunter and Graham streets when Sullivan firefighters arrived at 12:28 a.m. Wednesday. Fire Chief Mike Piper noted Matt and Nikki Nohren, their two kids and dog were alerted by smoke detector and were safely outside at that time. The house owned by Corey Davis received heavy fire, heat and smoke damage. Lovington and Bethany fire depts. assisted until 4:00 a.m. The Red Cross was called to assist the family.
Photo furnished
Marshmallows Roasting on an Open Fire
Okaw Valley High School students participated in the annual ECO meet Thursday at Camp Camfield and at the end of the meet enjoyed roasting hot dogs and marshmallows over an open fire. Team members left to right are Trey Yarnell, Quinn Brooks, Natalie Jeffers, and Sarah Weber.
Photo furnished
OVHS Band Excels
The OVHS Marching Timberwolves had a great Saturday at the Effingham band competition. They were awarded first place in General Effects, second in class, right behind Sangamon Valley who has much larger numbers and tied for second in visual with Sangamon Valley. They were third in music and percussion. They travel to the University of Illinois Saturday, Oct 21 for another competition.
Photo by R.R. Best
Pancake and Sausage Breakfast
Hundreds of hungry people were able to get up early Saturday morning following the first night of Oktoberfest in Sullivan and enjoy breakfast at the firehouse. Above Josh Qualls and Heide Burgess serve up sausage links to go along with Sullivan Fire Department’s pancakes during the seventh annual event held at the Harrison Street fire station.
ILMEA Audition for OV Junior
Bella Benning, Okaw Valley junior, auditioned for ILMEA (Illinois Music Educators Association) District 5 choir, which is a step toward ILMEA All-state. This is the third year in a row that Benning has been selected. Students are given five musical selections and are required to prepare all five but will be judged on only two pieces. The first All-State selection is announced, but students do not know until the day of auditions what the second selection will be. ILMEA uses a blind audition format with judges only knowing students by an ID number rather than name and school. Benning also had to perform tonal skills consisting of two scales and three triads. She will perform with the District 5 choir November 18 at Eastern Illinois University.
Photo by RR Best
Busy Sullivan Fire Dept.
Fire Prevention Week was Oct. 8-12 with Sullivan firefighters visiting Sullivan schools. In the above photo students learned about special rescue equipment such as the “Jaws of Life” during the Sullivan Fire Dept. elementary school visit. This Saturday the firefighters will be serving pancakes and sausage at the seventh annual event. Children under five get free pancakes and sausage while adults can make donations during the 6-10 a.m. event at the Harrison Street fire station.