Category Archives: Top Stories

Alumni Wall of Fame inductee Tim Uphoff  

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•April 17, 2024•

Tim Uphoff, Findlay HS Class of 1981, has been chosen for the Alumni Wall of Fame. To be nominated the individual must have been a graduate of Bethany, Findlay, or Okaw Valley. Nominations were based on an individual’s contribution to society and community, the betterment of mankind or occupational/endeavor recognition. 

Tim will be recognized at the 2024 Okaw Valley Commencement. He joins prior inductees Mike Cohan, Ryan Fitzgerald, Sam Scott, Robert Disney Jr., Rita Florey, Sean Creviston and Brett Robinson.

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Habitat for Humanity awards homes

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Habitat for Humanity awards homes
Last Saturday, members of Habitat for Humanity gathered at the ReStore to present two houses in Sullivan to deserving families. The first house is a rehab house presented to Jamie Minor and her children. The second house is a new build to begin soon, presented to Dakoda and Cortney Lucas and their two children.
Habitat for Humanity representative Cheryl Thomas stated “We look forward to working with these two families.” She added “We are so fortunate to live in a community that supports the efforts of our local Habitat for Humanity affiliate.”
Applications for next years build will be available at the end of the year.
Pictured is Thomas informing the two families that were chosen.

2024 Fish Habitat Day

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2024 Fish Habitat Day
Many individual volunteers and several volunteer groups showed up Saturday, March 23 and made quick work of the donated Christmas trees, placing them in Lake Shelbyville to continue efforts of Fish Habitat Improvement. The trees were tied together in bundles and then dropped into the lake along with cubes and stumps that were built during recent Fish Habitat Build Events.

Sullivan Dance Studio’s Competition Team Attends 2024 Competitions

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•March 20, 2024•

Sullivan Dance Studio’s Competition Team has attended two competitions so far this year. Specialty routines and the one Teen level dance attended “Believe Dance Competition” at Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville, IL February 2-4. All thirty team members attended the Energy Dance Competition the weekend of February 16-18 at Kirkwood High School in Kirkwood, Missouri.   Read More

One Book One Sullivan Gathers to Discuss Book

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•March 13, 2024•

One Book, One Sullivan met Monday, March 4 at First United Methodist Church in Sullivan to discuss this years book choice “City Spies” by James Ponti. Sullivan Middle School students led all of the discussion tables on the night that saw over 100 people attend.

According to the author’s website, www.jamesponti.com, Sarah Martinez is a hacker facing years in juvenile detention, until she meets Mother, a spy who gets her out of jail and into MI6, British Secret Intelligence. Operating out of a castle in Scotland, the City Spies are five kids from around the world who’ve fallen through the cracks only to form a family like no other. When they’re not at the local boarding school, they’re mastering spy skills such as sleight of hand, breaking and entering, covert observation, and explosives. In order that they can go places in the world of espionage where adults can’t. Read More

Annual FFA Auction Held 2024

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Annual FFA Auction Held
The Annual Sullivan FFA and Alumni Auction was held at the high school on Saturday, March 2nd. They auctioned off over 100 items that had been donated from the community and surrounding areas. Students took what they learned in their agriculture classes and took to the community to work with companies to collect donations. Porky, the pig, traveled around the town to collect donations to be auctioned off that night. They would like to thank those who donated and to everyone who attended the auction and supported us this year.

City of Sullivan Receives Another Grant to be Used for Park Improvements

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A concept drawing of what the splash pad project will look like after it is built.

•February 28, 2024•

by Crystal Reed

The City of Sullivan was recently notified that they received another Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant from the State of Illinois. According to a press release from the State of Illinois, nearly $55 million in state grants are being awarded for 111 local park projects throughout Illinois to help communities acquire land and develop recreational opportunities. The grants also want the recipients to make sure that the facilities they develop are accessible.  

The first OSLAD project total is $763,000. It is considered a matching grant and the city contributes 50% of that amount through mileage and man hours. “I am aware that the park is not an income generating department,” City Commissioner Abbey Sherwood said “that’s why it’s important to find other resources like grants.” Read More

Assistant States Attorney Addresses Lawsuit from Zillow During Board Meeting

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•February 21, 2024•

by Crystal Reed

The Moultrie County Assistant States Attorney Elizabeth Dobson spoke during the regular meeting of the County Board on February 15 about a lawsuit that has been brought up against the Moultrie County Office of Assessments. Dobson said that the case is a public case and open file that anyone can look at. The case number in Piatt County is 2021-MR-37. She said it is a lawsuit under the Freedom of Information Act that started in August of 2021. “The Zillow company retained a law firm from Springfield, that specializes in FOIA lawsuits,” she said “Make no mistake that Moultrie County is being targeted here.” 

Dobson said that if anyone has questions about this lawsuit or the Assessment Office, Lori Barringer cannot answer questions at this time because the lawsuit is still pending. She said that she has seen many things on social media in regards to the case and questions regarding it. Dobson said the attorney’s filed the lawsuit against Moultrie County and the Assessment Office.  Read More

Multiple Departments Respond to Structure Fire in Bethany

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photo by R.R. Best
Bethany firefighters/first responders, John Smith and Dakota Briggs give medical attention to one of the two dogs that was found and rescued from the structure fire on Friday, February 9.

•February 14, 2024•

The Bethany Fire Department was dispatched for a structure fire at 11:53 am on Friday, February 9. They arrived within a few minutes to find fire coming out of one window. Crews did an initial attack from the yard while the scene was being sized up determining a room and contents on fire.  Read More