•July 21, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

A benefit will be held for Rena Herschberger this Friday and Saturday at the fairgrounds in Arthur. All proceeds will benefit Herschberger’s fight against Hodgkins Lymphoma.
She is married to Nate Herschberger, and they have two children, Anissa (9) and Parker (6). Her journey for diagnosis started in March 2021. She saw her family doctor and was sent for an ultrasound on her head and neck due to a few lumps near her neck and collarbone.
The ultrasound led to a biopsy. On March 24, she got the call. “Rena, it turns out we do need you to come see us at the cancer center.” She said that she felt when the phone rang, she already knew the news was not good, but she had peace. It was then that she was told that the biopsy showed Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
She was to meet with the oncology team, and they would proceed. After meeting with the team, the next step was a PET scan. The results came back on May 4, stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a blood cancer that starts in the white blood cells and moves throughout the body. Read More

Photo by Crystal Reed
Pictured is Nathan’s Little Neighborhood Library which was established by Roger and Michelle Campbell in his memory. The Free Little Library is located at 1450 E. Jackson in Sullivan.

•July 7, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

A Sullivan couple has recently placed a structure in their yard which they hope draws young and old to either take or bring books and encourage a love of reading. Roger and Michelle Campbell have built and stocked a Free Little Library in their yard in Sullivan. The concept of the library is that people may either bring or take books from it at no charge.
The library holds approximately 30 books now depending on how large the books are, and there are a variety of books from which to choose including titles for children, youth and adults. There are also books from a variety of genres, and the more people participate, the more variety there will be. The Moultrie County Habitat ReStore has offered to donate books to help keep the free library stocked. Read More

Photo by Crystal Reed
Nichole Hendry and her three children in front of the general store at the Prairie Hill Blueberry Farm in Bethany. From left to right: Nichole, Addy, Amelia and Asher Hendry.

•June 23, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Craig and Nichole Hendry didn’t originally set out to be blueberry farmers. “We sort of fell into it,” Nichole said. “We wanted to live in the country.” Someone asked the couple if they would be interested in a blueberry farm.
“We came out to look at it and fell in love with it,” she said. That was in the fall of 2019. Nichole says their first winter here they went to seminars and called other blueberry farmers to ask for advice. The farm has 1,000 bushes on the three acres, and there are five varieties of blueberries. Read More

Photo by Crystal Reed
Pomp and Circumstance
Arthur-Lovingtown-Atwood-Hammond High School held commencement for the Class of 2021 on Saturday, May 29. The graduating class of 2021 was 71 members. Pictured above are graduates marching into the ceremony.

•June 9, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond High School held commencement for the 71 members of the class of 2021, Saturday, May 29, on the football field. The motto for the class of 2021 is this quote by Vince Lombardi, “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.”
Senior Class President Jack Martin said that perfection is not the word to describe the last 15 months. “We are leaving this high school after an entire year of being fully masked and fully distanced, but we must be fully confident moving forward,” he said.
Layton Hall, salutatorian, addressed those in attendance. He said that sports is one of the areas in which the class succeeded. Hall noted that the school band played at Millikin University last year, and the senior class won grand champion at the Effingham marching competition both their freshman and junior years.
He noted that their class was also active in agriculture. Read More

•May 26, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The Sullivan City Council voted to raise water and sewer rates four percent during Monday night’s meeting. Agenda items for raising gas and electric rates were on the agenda as well, but the council voted to retain the current rates. The water and sewer rate is being raised in anticipation of paying on the new water plant.
“At this point in time I’m really not interested in raising electric rates for the simple fact all it would do is just increase the profit margin that the city is making,” Commissioner Mike Fowler said. “We don’t necessarily need an increase to pay our bills in the electric department.” He noted that what he would like to see is a discount for low-income individuals in Sullivan, and until they get that, he is not interested in raising rates at all. Read More