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OVHS Awarded Check
Okaw Valley High School was awarded a $2500 dollar check from the Monsanto Fund which donates money to high school ag departments in 40 states. The grant must be initiated by a local farmer. Mark and Andrew Bennett of rural Moultrie County nominated Okaw Valley. The money will be used for curriculum and the mission of making Okaw Valley the best ag program in the area. Pictured (center) are Mark Bennett (local farmer) and Wes Wise (ag instructor) flanked by Monsanto representatives.

Photos by RR Best
Fire Destroys Rural Sullivan Home
Findlay fire chief Ed Voltenburg presents burned strong box to Jim Binion following a blaze that totally destroyed his home on 850 E County Road outside Sullivan. Windsor, Bethany and Sullivan fire departments joined to fight the 12:16 p.m. January 20 fire. Sullivan Fire Department reports indicated the Binions saw flames in the center of the house and were able to escape to their daughter’s home next door. They watched the family home destroyed by fire while sitting at son-in-law and Findlay fire chief Voltenburg’s home. Red Cross also lent assistance at the fire scene. Firefighters remained at the Binion home using a backhoe to help expose hot spots until 4 p.m.

Photo by RR Best
Roads Turn Slick Causing Several Crashes
The roads around Sullivan turned treacherous early Thursday, January 14 with a rollover at Bethany and several cars left spinning due to the suddenly very slick surfaces.
Moultrie Chief Deputy Gary Carroll was on traffic patrol at 7 a.m. when he noticed the wet roadway surface had become glazed with frost, limiting traction.
For the next hour cars were turning over and flying from the roadway as drivers found that driving highway speed was a good way to skate from the pavement.
Carroll noted that within an hour the sheriff’s department received a dozen accident calls related to the suddenly slick roadway.
In Allenville a car careened off highway 121, ending up on Zach Helton’s front porch. The driver was uninjured but Helton’s porch lost a corner post.
At least two vehicles slid far enough from the roadway to land on the Illinois Central Railroad tracks, prompting the county to call railroad officials to delay train traffic until the vehicles could be removed.
The Bethany curve was the site where a Chevrolet Trailblazer encountered the frosty surface, resulting in the vehicle overturning.
Driver Marquita Thomas, 32, of Decatur and a passenger were transported to a Decatur hospital for observation.
“It was nuts for awhile,” Carroll said, noting he had to call in an officer to help with the accidents.
Illinois Department of Transportation spread salt immediately with the hopes that salt residue will reduce the frost issue risk during future mornings of unpredictable road surfaces.

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Windsor Schools Students of the Month
Windsor Jr./Sr. High School have announced the November/December students of the month. The high school student of the month is Kristen Morlen, daughter of Robert and Misty Reed. She is a senior and involved with Scholastic Bowl, Drama Club, Art Club, WYSE, Physics Club, ECO Team, Team Quest, DARE Role Model, Pep Club, NHS, and drum line. She plans to attend Lake Land College to obtain an associate’s degree and become an administrative assistant. The junior high student of the month is Max Carr, son of Wally and Jennifer Carr. He participates in band, Scholastic Bowl, and Team Quest. He plans to be a missionary after high school.
Pictured L to R: Max Carr and Kristen Morlen

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Windsor Homecoming Royalty
Windsor High School held its 2015 homecoming dance December 12.
The theme this year was Adventures in Wonderland. Homecoming Royalty: Front Row: Crown Bearer Ellyn Boyer, 2015 Homecoming Queen Kristen Morlen, 2015 Homecoming King Mitchell Haddock, and Crown Bearer Evan Pfeiffer. Back Row: Queen Candidates Mercedez Austin and Breana Wiltermood, Junior Class Attendant Kaitlyn Armes, Sophomore Class Attendant Mikayla Haddock, Freshmen Class Attendant Carson Cole, 2014 Homecoming Queen Taylor Higgins, 2014 Homecoming Attendant Uriah Jones, Freshman Class Attendant Beau Bennett, Sophomore Class Attendant Charles Farmer, Junior Class Attendant Travis Fox, King Candidates Todd Elliott and Tyler Kemper.