Category Archives: Standalone Photo

Annual Senior Expo 2015

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Photo Submitted Annual Senior Expo Mid-Illinois Senior Services held the annual Senior Expo and Health Fair at the Sullivan American Legion hall Sept 29. Mid-IL Senior Services Executive Director Deb Groendal welcomed the crowd of 175 local senior citizens to the morning event. She explained that the Expo is in its 11th year and that 31 vendors were on hand to offer free screenings and information on a variety of health and financial services available in the Sullivan area. Free breakfast sponsored by legislators Chapin Rose and Adam Brown was served to the crowd who enjoyed bingo sponsored by First Mid-Illinois Bank at the end of the event. Above Joyce Jenkins from Sullivan, who attended with husband Walt, gets a free blood pressure check from Kari Moody, RN from Sullivan Rehabilitation and Health Care Center.

Photo Submitted
Annual Senior Expo
Mid-Illinois Senior Services held the annual Senior Expo and Health Fair at the Sullivan American Legion hall Sept 29. Mid-IL Senior Services Executive Director Deb Groendal welcomed the crowd of 175 local senior citizens to the morning event. She explained that the Expo is in its 11th year and that 31 vendors were on hand to offer free screenings and information on a variety of health and financial services available in the Sullivan area. Free breakfast sponsored by legislators Chapin Rose and Adam Brown was served to the crowd who enjoyed bingo sponsored by First Mid-Illinois Bank at the end of the event. Above Joyce Jenkins from Sullivan, who attended with husband Walt, gets a free blood pressure check from Kari Moody, RN from Sullivan Rehabilitation and Health Care Center.

Celebrating 150 Years

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Photo by RR Best Celebrating 150 Years First Mid-Illinois Bank and Trust in Sullivan celebrated 150 years with a customer appreciation cookout Friday, September 25 from 11a.m. - 1 p.m. Above: caterer and cook Terry Warren flips pork burgers which were served bank customers free along with chips, cookies and drinks.

Photo by RR Best
Celebrating 150 Years
First Mid-Illinois Bank and Trust in Sullivan celebrated 150 years with a customer appreciation cookout Friday, September 25 from 11a.m. - 1 p.m. Above: caterer and cook Terry Warren flips pork burgers which were served bank customers free along with chips, cookies and drinks.

See You At the Pole

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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.

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.

Okaw Valley Royalty

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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.

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

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duck winner

ducks in the fountian

selfie from tower top

wrecking ball

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.

Patriots Day in Sullivan Schools

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kaleb more training

kaleb fire training after

Jeff Waite special gift

gift baskets

fire ems police mil

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.

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.

Truck Meets Tain

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Photo by RR Best Truck meets train 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 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.

Sullivan Cruise Night

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Photo by Mike Brothers Sullivan Cruise Night 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.

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.

Farming Progresses

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Drone photo by RR Best Farming Progresses 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.

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.