Photo by Mike Brothers
One Book One Sullivan announcement at a middle school assembly Nov. 21: Ryan Villalobos addresses the school along with One Book One Sullivan director Rikki Ray and committee members. Back row left to right: Clayton Schmohe and Sammantha Montague; front row left to right: Lane Richardson, Lilly Graham,  Carlyn Fitzgerald, Elora Mast and high school media specialist Annie McClellan.

•November 29, 2017•

From five selections came one, and the reveal was made by One Book One Sullivan committee members to a Sullivan Middle School student assembly Nov. 21.

Members of the Sullivan Rotary Club, primary financial sponsors of the community reading program, attended to make a surprise announcement and present an award.

Rotary Club President Dan Fultz pointed out one person has remained dedicated to One Book, One Sullivan for the past 11 years, and that devotion has been instrumental in making the community reading program successful.

Fultz then announced that One Book, One Sullivan founding coordinator Rikki Ray was being honored by the Rotary Club for those years of devotion to duty and made the award presentation before the assembled middle school students. Read More

Photo by Mike Brothers
Sullivan American Legion Post 68 Honor Guard presented the colors while the crowd stood at the annual Sullivan High School Veterans observance in the high school gym Nov. 10.

•November 15, 2017•

Following taps by John Mathias the gymnasium filled with Sullivan High and Middle School students observed a moment of silence out of respect for veterans.

The Friday, Nov. 10 observation of Veterans Day was prepared by Rebecca Lawson’s SHS Careers English Class.

The program included a mix of music, dance, testimony and honors for those who served in the various military branches.

Serena Spencer, a 2001 SHS graduate who served in Iraq in 2004 as combat support with the 1544th Paris National Guard unit, recalled her time overseas.

“Life is short,” she told the crowd of students and veterans being honored during the 10 a.m. assembly. “Those were the best and worst days of my life, and what I learned is that the people who care about you are what matters.” Read More

Photo by Mike Brothers
Habitat for Humanity volunteers Gene Mueller of Sullivan, Bob Gillespie CAV Leader from Michigan, and Lowell McGregor of Lovington replaced Pastor Paul McGghghy’s roof in the off season.

•November 1, 2017•

By Mike Brothers

Habitat for Humanity volunteers are going above and beyond the call of duty replacing the roof of one of their greatest supporters.

Pastor Paul McGhghy stepped down from the pulpit at Faith Lutheran Church earlier this year due to health reasons. When Moultrie County Habitat volunteers and Habitat Care-A-Vanners learned he needed a roof at his Eastlawn home, they stepped up to help the man who had helped so many.

“This is not a Habitat official function,” Bob Gillespie, Care-A-Vanner team leader, said. “We’re just doing this for a friend who has made a huge impact on all of us and been a great supporter of Habitat for Humanity.”

Gillespie and his brother Jeff traveled from Michigan a week ago Sunday to join Moultrie County Habitat volunteers Gene Mueller of Sullivan and Lowell McGregor of Lovington on Pastor McGhghy’s roof replacement. Read More

•October 18, 2017•

By Mike Brothers

A crash that sent a busload of Teutopolis students skating down Rte 32 in February resulted in a two year prison sentence for Scarlett A. McKinzie in Moultrie County Circuit Court Tuesday.

McKinzie, 37, appeared before Judge Hugh Finson Tuesday afternoon for sentencing following her Sept. 12 guilty plea to a Class 4 felony aggravated driving under the influence charge.

Charges stemmed from a Feb. 10 crash at the intersection of Rte 32 and CR 800 (Findlay Road) when the van McKinzie was driving hit the side of the bus traveling north. The bus containing the Teutopolis basketball team, cheerleaders and coaches went out of control on Rte 32 and flipped on its side. Read More

Photo by Mike Brothers
Good sport Sullivan Elementary School Principal Daniel Allen allowed SHS graduate and Magician Daniel Lusk to have a little fun as he strapped on this goofy mask which also gave him a helium like voice. The crowd of parents and students were kept in stitches throughout the evening performance.

•October 4, 2017•

By Harry Houdini
for the News Progress

If laughter can help build a better world, Sullivan schools was on the way to utopia with magician Daniel Lusk last week.

Lusk and his rabbit in the hat, Twinkie, entertained a seat-filled high school gymnasium Sept. 19 with magic and homespun witticisms from his life.

The Indianapolis based magician and funny man performed his Family Night Magic Show involving students and adults with humor laced magic along with an important message about how to treat one another.

Lusk, a 1997 Sullivan High School graduate, had elementary school children engaged in his Leggo My Magic show earlier in the day. Leggo building exercises with the students helped Lusk point out how respect, being a friend and achieving your personal best can help build a better world. Read More