Photo by RR Best
Fire Destroys Woodworking Business
Sullivan Fire Department joined other first responders from Bethany, Lovington, Findlay, Arthur and Windsor to a 1:45 p.m fire Tuesday, March 8 south of Sullivan and west of Highway 121. Ivan’s Woodworking at 1421Cr 1275N, Sullivan was engulfed in smoke when firefighters arrived. Fire that started at the west end of the manufacturing/office complex quickly engulfed the building as area departments scrambled to get adequate water supplies to the location. Owned by Ivan Schrock, the company has manufactured custom wood chairs, hardwood floors and interior wood products since 1993. Click for more photos.

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Blue Dolphins Host Busterball
Sullivan Blue Dolphins hosted their 13th Anniversary Busterball tournament fundraiser Saturday March 5 at Sullivan High School. Sixty-two teams played with more than 400 participants from kindergarten to adult. Teams from Okaw Valley, Mattoon, Lovington and Sullivan participated, and spectators were welcome to watch the action free all day long.
Trophies were given to first place team winners, medals to the second place team winners and free snow cones for the team members who exhibited the best sportsmanship for each grade level. Many new fun activities were available during the event as well such as games, face painting and a raffle table with a wide variety of prizes.

Photo by RR Best
Snow Geese Migration
A sign that spring is on its way is when the snowbirds start to return north on the central flyway. Soon area “snowbirds” will be returning from warmer climates in the south, just as these snow geese are traveling north. Caught outside Sullivan this flock is on its way from the marshlands of the south to northern Alaska and Canada breeding grounds. Weather changes and abundant feeding from grain left on the prairie has allowed the goose population to increase over the past decade.

Photo by RR Best
What a Difference a Week Makes
White out conditions hit the area last week, with travel slow when traffic was moving at all. Moultrie County sheriff’s deputies kept busy with roadside assists while Sullivan police handled calls concerning road conditions February 24 and 25 which kept first responders busy. Interstates 57, 72 and 74 were closed at various times with District 10 Illinois State Troopers assisted by various federal, state, county and city agencies.

Photo by Mike Brothers
SHS Senior Night
Held between the junior varsity and varsity basketball games on February 19, seniors from the SHS pep band, cheerleading squad, basketball team and their parents lined the gymnasium end to end. Prior to the senior recognition Ty Molzen (second from right) was recognized for scoring 1000 points by head coach Chester Reeder.