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SHS alumni Josie Orris and Avery Still, members of the Lake Land College Lady Lakers basketball team with the NJCAA Division 2 National Championship trophy.

•May 5, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Recently the Lady Lakers Women’s Basketball team won the NJCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Championship. On the team are two students from Sullivan.
Avery Still, of Sullivan, is a freshman at Lake Land College and played basketball all four years she attended Sullivan High School. She is majoring in criminal justice with plans to become a law enforcement officer after she graduates.
Still also is employed at Mason Point where she has been working since age 15. She received a full ride scholarship to play basketball at Lake Land College.
Going into the national tournament, the Lady Lakers’ record was 21-2 with a 12-game win streak. They earned the No. 2 seed, which was the highest in the program’s history. Read More

Submitted Photo
Pat Thompson, Burl Jividen, Catherine Ray and Barry Golden at the Sullivan IGA.

•April 21, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Barry Golden is retiring from the Sullivan IGA after 53 years, 50 of those as meat manager. He began in 1967 at age 16 with Lehman/Jividen Foods for $1.40 an hour. At that time the store was located where McDonald’s is currently. When Golden graduated high school in 1969, he became a full-time meat cutter. In 1970 when he was 19, he transferred to the Arthur IGA, which was also owned by Lehman/Jividen, to become meat manager. In 1974, Burl Jividen, who was part owner and Barry’s mentor, stepped down as the meat manager, and Barry took over the Sullivan meat market at 19 and is still there today at age 70. In 1977, Lehman/ Jividen moved the store to its current location, and it was renamed Sullivan IGA. Golden has dedicated his career to providing the Sullivan community with outstanding customer service, the freshest meat possible and unheard-of-meat cutting experience for more than 50 years. He has had numerous achievements over his career but is especially proud of the Beef Stampede Promotion. Read More

•April 7, 2021•
by Elizabeth Houser
Guest Writer

On Saturday, March 6, I was unknowingly exposed to Covid at an event out of town, with close friends. No one appeared that they weren’t feeling well. By Tuesday, March 9,I just was not myself, not sick, but tired. By Wednesday, March 10 I had cold/allergy symptoms & some stomach issues, enough to take cold medicine to get thru the day. On Thursday, March 11th I felt bad enough that I stayed home from work, and slept all day. By Friday, I thought I was a little better and took cold medicine and went to work. I was out most of the day, by myself, taking pictures of homes I was insuring. On Friday I found out that someone I was with on the prior Saturday tested positive. Had I known of any possible exposure, I would have been home that week. I had planned to be around family the next day, Saturday, to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, so I decided to get tested at Carle in Mattoon Friday afternoon. I quarantined at home to be safe and waited for my results. By Saturday morning I had a Covid positive text on my phone. Read More

Photo by Crystal Reed
Bethany Fire Chief Mike Jennings was recently made a full time chief/paramedic with the Bethany Fire Department. This allows the fire department to offer paramedic level services during business hours.

•March 17, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Recently the decision was made to make Bethany Fire Chief Mike Jennings a full time chief/paramedic. This decision allows the fire department to offer paramedic level services during business hours.
“We saw a deficiency of coverage during the day and decided to make the position full time due to our aging community,” Jennings said. He continued to say that the department is on pace to have 300 calls this year, and they have already received 60.
According to Jennings, the national average for response to EMS calls is seven minutes. He reported they have had response numbers between one and three minutes. “We haven’t dropped a call in over 200 calls,” and added that as a department they have worked hard to get where they are with their money invested in training and equipment. “Taxpayers pay taxes to have an ambulance available, and they deserve to have one arrive quickly,” Jennings said. Read More

Photo by R.R. Best
Cindi Reed, owner of Dicks Pharmacy, inside the new location of the pharmacy at 122 S. Walnut in Arthur. The pharmacy recently reopened after four months of being closed due to structural issues.

•March 3, 2021•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Dicks Pharmacy in Arthur has reopened after being closed for four months due to structural issues beyond their control. Last October, the ceiling caved in at their old location.
According to owner Cindi Reed, the pharmacy had been at that site for 100 years and had not been renovated since 1965. She said that after the ceiling collapsed, they chose to stay closed and relocate.
“It was the best option for what we wanted to do for the future,” Reed said. When it came to picking a new location, she chose a place to meet the needs of a modern pharmacy or health hub which includes a consultation room/private immunization office. Read More