Category Archives: Top Stories

Sullivan Community Education Foundation Makes Pedal Desks Possible In Classroom

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Kaden Huber utilizes one of the pedal desks in Mrs. Kuhn’s resource room. Kuhn was a recipient of a Sullivan Community Education Foundation grant this year.

•December 16, 2020•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Students in Susan Kuhn’s special education classes at Sullivan Middle School have a unique option for seating that wouldn’t be possible if not for grants from the Sullivan Community Education Foundation.
The classroom has several pedal desks which allow students, who may have trouble sitting still, to work seated while pedaling.
Kuhn has now received a $540.00 grant to buy additional pedal desks for her classroom.  Prior grants have purchased a dry erase table, fidget stools, fidget desks, balance boards and white pedal desks. This year’s grant was used for more adult size pedal desks.
Having fidget items in her classroom has had an unexpected affect. “When I first got the fidget items for my classroom, the noise level dropped,” she noted. “It gives students the opportunity to move without being disruptive.” Kuhn said that she has a goal to get more pedal desks if possible but plans to keep at least four traditional desks in her classroom. Read More

Food Pantry Receives New Storage Shed

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•December 9, 2020•

by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The Moultrie County Food Pantry received a gift the day before Thanksgiving, a brand new 6x8 storage shed that is secure. The previous shed that the food pantry had was small and there was no place to put anything but they now have tripled their storage area. The shed was given to the organization by Zak Horn.
The donation couldn’t have come at a better time according to Michelle Hooks, CEFS Outreach Coordinator for the Moultrie County said. “We just added two new offices so we didn’t have as much room to store items for the food pantry,” she said. Read More

Lovington Grade School Students Receive Free Shoes

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Photo by R.R. Best
Lovington Grade School fifth grade teacher Mrs. Seal gives a new pair of shoes to student Gabriel Devenbaugh last week. All 160 students at the school received a brand new pair of shoes through the efforts of several faith based organizations and the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 68 in Sullivan.

•December 2, 2020•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Last Tuesday, students at Lovington Grade School received an early Thanksgiving surprise, a brand new pair of shoes. All 160 students at the school received a new pair of shoes.
The Sons of the American Legion Squadron 68 of Sullivan purchased shoes for preschool students and several faith based charitable organization purchased the rest of the shoes for the students. According to Lovington Grade School secretary Jennifer Voegel, this is not the first time students have been gifted. She said that last year a major corporation donated socks and school supplies to every student at the school.
“This is a blessing that I’ve been asking for a long time,” Voegel said. Read More

One Book, One Sullivan Presents The Only Road

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•November 25, 2020•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

One Book, One Sullivan revealed this year’s book in a slightly different way last Friday morning. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic they were not able to have an all school assembly to announce the book. Instead the One Book, One Sullivan group gathered in the gym and through technology broadcasted the announcement to classrooms in the building.
The list of books that was chosen from for this year was narrowed down slowly until the group settled on three titles. Prior to the announcement of the chosen book students presented the other two books that were also being considered. Runners up included ‘Nowhere Boy’ by Katherine Marsh and ‘Resistance’ by Jennifer Nielsen.
During the presentation the One Book, One Sullivan group showed a trailer of the winning book, which featured students reading selections from the book and explaining some of the plot points. Students from One Book, One Sullivan were also sent out to each classroom to deliver a copy of the book to them. Read More

Schools Celebrate Veteran’s Day

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Photo by Crystal Reed

Photo by R.R. Best

•November 18, 2020•

Sullivan High School’s Career English Class arranged an event called the “Road of Valor” in front of Sullivan High School and Sullivan Middle School on Veterans Day. The road was lined with 1,300 American flags representing all 1,151 students in the district and all full-time employees. Okaw Valley hosted a Veterans Day Parade through downtown Bethany. The parade was presented by the Okaw Valley Marching Band and High School Chorus. Students from the schools lined the streets holding flags, signs and banners that showed appreciation for our veterans.

Sullivan City Council Passes Ordinance That Modifies the Liquor Code

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•November 11, 2020•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The Sullivan City Council passed an ordinance on Monday night, which allows workers between the ages of 18 and 21 to scan or sell liquor at conventional and package liquor stores. At a previous meeting IGA manager Pat Stinson had approached the board about making a change to the ordinance due to a shortage of workers 21 and over at his store.
“We appreciate the city council approving the ordinance change for us,” he said “this opens up a lot of flexibility for us.”
The council also approved the sale of surplus public real estate, a total of 17.3 acres of undeveloped farm ground owned by the city at a price of $242,000. There was also the first reading of an ordinance for levy and assessment of taxes for the fiscal year beginning May 1, 2020 and ending April 30, 2021. This will be passed at the next meeting. The total appropriation is $30,613,600. Read More

Mid-Illinois Senior Services Inc. Hosts Drive-Thru Senior Expo October 23

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Mid-Illinois Senior Services, Inc. held their annual senior expo on Oct 23. This year’s event was a drive-thru expo and they served 160 people. From left to right: Kiley Rodrick, Kathi Garvey, director of Mid-Illinois Senior Services Inc., Tawnya Marshall and Kathy Hawbaker of Green Gardens.

•November 4, 2020•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The Mid-Illinois Senior Services Inc. held their annual senior expo on Oct 23 but it was a little different due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s event was a drive thru experience where those who had registered drove down the alley between the Senior Center and Thrifty Boutique. Read More

Food Pantry Candy Fundraiser Makes Changes

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Devon Flesor Story and Ann Flesor Beck pictured with some of the baskets that can be purchased as part of the candy sale to benefit the Moultrie County Food Pantry.

•October 28, 2020•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Flesor’s Candy Kitchen will be accepting Christmas candy orders from Sullivan, Moultrie County, and surrounding county residents this year from now through November 16. Usually the fundraiser is held at Cathrine’s Gallery but due to COVID-19 they are taking mail orders instead of holding an in-person event. All Christmas candy orders will be delivered to Cathrine’s Gallery for pick up on December 16th. Read More

City of Sullivan Designated A P.O.W.-M.I.A City

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Mayor Richard Glazebrook holds a proclamation and sign that the City of Sullivan received for earning the designation of being a P.O.W.-M.I.A. City.

•October 21, 2020•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The city of Sullivan was awarded a special designation by Jefferson Barracks during the most recent City Council meeting. Pat Freesh, co-chair of the P.O.W./M.I.A. Cities, Counties and Campus Program of Jefferson Barracks, declared Sullivan a P.O.W./M.I.A. City.
Freesh said that P.O.W. means prisoners of war and M.I.A. stands for missing in action and that there are currently still more than 80,000 prisoners of war and those missing in action. He presented Mayor Richard Glazebrook with a proclamation and signs that will eventually be placed at the entrances to Sullivan depicting the city as a P.O.W./M.I.A. City. Read More

Former Congressman Brings Non-Violent Message To Moultrie County

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Photo by R.R. Best.
Former Congressman Glenn Poshard leads a silent non-violent march around the Moultrie County Courthouse last Friday. In late September Poshard began visiting the courthouses in all 39 counties of the two congressional districts he represented in Congress carrying signs of non-violence and respect for people and our democracy.

•October 14, 2020•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Former State Senator and U.S. Congressman Glenn Poshard visited Sullivan last Friday as part of his non-violent marches tour. Starting September 28, Poshard began visiting the courthouses in all 39 counties of the two congressional districts he represented in Congress carrying signs of non-violence and respect for people and our democracy.
Poshard’s march drew twenty people to the sidewalk around the Moultrie County Courthouse. Moultrie County was the 20th out of 39 counties that Poshard will be visiting.
Carrying signs that displayed messages of “United We Stand, Divided We Fall” and “Ask Not What Your Country Can Do For You, But What You Can Do For Your Country” Poshard and other made multiple trips marching around the courthouse quietly.
Paul Feist of Sullivan attended the march because he said Poshard is a good friend of his. “He is an outstanding person,” he said. Poshard spoke of the unbelievable anger and hatred that has people divided politically in this country.
He noted that violence isn’t just disturbing the peace by rioting and looting but also voices of disrespect and violence that can be seen on social media. “The voices of disrespect and violence completely cover even the smallest voice for respect and unity among our people,” Poshard said “The chasm has grown so wide among us, one must wonder if any bridge of reason or love can span the divide?” Read More