•January 13, 20201•
Courtyard Estates of Sullivan, Supportive Living, has had to get creative during COVID-19. Many things have had to be modified for safety and not only has the staff come up with new ideas, the families have been creative as well, specifically one family that has made it possible for tenants to actually “hug” their loved one.
The Welsh family generously gifted Courtyard Estates of Sullivan with a “hugging booth.” They came up with the idea, along with the materials and the construction of the whole booth. It sits against an outer door that gives families safe entrance into a booth and it’s fit with plastic arms and gloves on both sides of the booth, for both the tenant and family member to hug. Read More

•December 30, 2020•
January 1
An area pilot has now given more than 1,500 young people a free demonstration airplane ride as part of the EAA “Young Eagles” program which is introducing a new generation to the world of flight. Among the more than 50,000 volunteers around the world that have donated their time and aircraft to the effort is John Durbin of Lovington, Illinois.
Twice over the past two months, the Sullivan High School Spanish Club has collected food to be given to five different families in the surrounding Sullivan area. Each member of the club was assigned a group and everyone signed up for one or more food items to be gathered and delivered.
Sullivan Spark had a vision for a new baseball complex. The Park and Recreation group of the community action group Spark is proposing a four diamond baseball/softball complex with a concession stand for Sullivan.
The Sullivan Girls Basketball team finished 3-1 in the Knights Classic Holiday Tournament and Emily White was named all tournament MVP.
The Sullivan Boys Basketball team placed fourth with a 2-2 record in the Dieterich Holiday Tournament.
The Okaw Valley girls’ basketball team finished runner-up to Warrensburg-Latham and Kate Jeffers and Mia Harris earned all-tournament team honors.
The Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond girls’ basketball team placed third in its own Knights Classic Holiday Tournament in Arthur. The Knights finished 3-1 with wins over Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg, Chrisman and Shelbyville. ALAH’s one loss was to eventual tournament champion Mt. Zion. To earn third place, ALAH ran over the Rams 49-36. Read More

Photo submitted
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

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

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.