Photo by Mike Brothers
See You At the Pole
Pictured above senior Blake Stewart reads scripture prior to the group prayer. Sullivan school students, staff and community members gathered around the flag pole at Sullivan Middle School for the annual “See You At the Pole” prayer at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept 23. The event was coordinated by parent Amy Diener. Senior Adam White gave some background on the event. Scripture and prayers were given for the faculty, administration and students.
Photos by RR Best Scenes from last week’s OV Homecoming
Photo courtesy Jeni Yantis
Okaw Valley Royalty
Nick Tipsword and Gretchen Macklin were crowned as the 2015 Okaw Valley High School Homecoming King and Queen at the homecoming dance Saturday, September 19.
Great Weather Makes For a Great Hullabaloo Photos by RR Best Hullabaloo on the square in Sullivan enjoyed a sunny afternoon Sunday, Sept 20 as some 1800 visitors from all over the area came to town. With the help of 28 sponsors and 85 volunteers New Life Church coordinated the three hour event with a host of inflatables and family oriented entertainment. “What we like to think is that Hullabaloo offers something for everyone,” volunteer Cheri Wood said. “It’s a totally free event that is safe for all ages,” she continued. She pointed out this is the fifth year for Hullabaloo. “The first couple of years we held it in October, and the first year we had snow flurries, and our hands were freezing to the duck pond.” Since moving to September, Hullabaloo has grown every year with folks coming from Springfield, Champaign, Neoga, Shelbyville and other surrounding communities this year. Wood noted the inflatables were very popular as was laser tag and the rock climbing wall. “There were lines at all the events during the three hours,” Wood said noting the beautiful weather and sense of community made this year’s Hullabaloo another great success.
Photos by RR Best
Patriots Day in Sullivan Schools
Sullivan High School and Middle School observed Patriot Day Sept. 11 with a program prepared by Rebecca Lawson’s Career English students. Upper left photo: first responders from the Sullivan area were honored during the assembly in the high school gym. Right upper photo: Jeff Waite was presented gift bag from Lawson. Waite helped prepare the first Patriot Day observation six years ago. Center left: School volunteer Scott Bales (left) and fireman Kaleb Randall demonstrate fire extinguisher use for students. Right center photo: all the first responders and helpers who made Patriots Day possible. Bottom photos left: Kaleb Randall sets up various fire extinguishers for student training session. Right: Lawson and students present Sullivan first responders Larry Edwards and Andy Pistorius with gift baskets prepared by the class.
Photo by RR Best
Truck Meets Tain
When a truck meets a train, usually the truck loses. On Saturday, September 12 at about 1:44 pm. the truck and driver lost. Sullivan police were called to the train crossing at Jackson and Fuller streets. There they discovered a GMC pickup against the front of a Union Pacific train locomotive. Following impact the truck was relocated 250 feet south of Jackson Street. The driver, a 69 year old male, was transported to a area hospital by Sullivan Ambulance Service.
Photo by Mike Brothers
Sullivan Cruise Night enjoyed one of the best turnouts ever with 110 cars gathering around the Sullivan square for the 35th annual event Saturday, Sept. 5. Bill Platzbecker’s rare Ford GT drew rave reviews during the show which featured a night cruise of Sullivan at 7 p.m. by members of the Sullivan Street Machine Association which cosponsored the event with AmBucs. Rick Montague of the Sullivan SMA noted the Cruise Night over Labor Day weekend and Car Show in Wyman Park over Memorial Day weekend are the club’s biggest events. Kids enjoyed a bounce house, adults listened to music by Shovelhead and everyone enjoyed free popcorn from the Sullivan Boy Scouts.
Drone photo by RR Best
Now that the Farm Progress show is a memory, real farm progress is starting in area fields. Gingerich Farms started to harvest acreage near Lovington. This drone photograph shows the Gingerich’s harvesting a field of short season early planted corn last Thursday. “With the hot weather coming this weekend, the corn harvest will be going full speed in the next two weeks,” Dannie Gingerich said. He explained the yield is less than last year’s record breaker but is still on the high end of the five year average.
Photo by RR Best
An Indiana couple was on their way home from Lake Shelbyville when the boat they were pulling went out of control; dragging the camper, the truck that was pulling it and the couple into a roadside ditch near the lake bridge on the Findlay Road. According to the Moultrie County Sheriff’s Department when Jason Burdge went over the bridge pulling the camper and boat, the truck bounced and the chain reaction led to the boat careening into the ditch while pulling everything else along. No one was injured and damage was limited to the Burdge vehicles. The driver was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident in the Monday afternoon accident.
Photo by Mike Brothers
Knights Face Georgetown-Ridge Farm
On Tuesday, Aug 25 the Arthur-Lovington Atwood-Hammond Knights hosted Georgetown-Ridge Farm at Lovington for their first match. Above Knight Eusebio Briseno maneuvers through Georgetown traffic on his way to the goal. Georgetown-Ridge Farm came out on top three goals to one in this first match for the Knights.