Photo by Mike Brothers
Last week 36 Lunch Buddies from Okaw Valley elementary school in Bethany and the middle school in Findlay gathered at OVES to celebrate the year of companionships developed during lunchtime mentoring. Students presented their Lunch Buddies certificates following the celebration.

•May 17, 2017•

By Mike Brothers

Okaw Valley District schools realize it takes a village to raise a child, and the villages served get it.

Last week 36 Lunch Buddies gathered at the elementary school in Bethany honoring the adult and student mentors for these young students.

“At Okaw Valley we are a family” Lunch Buddy and Supt. Kent Stauder said. “We strive to help our students succeed in and out of the classroom.”

“What I have discovered is that we get as much from the time with our lunch buddies as we give,” he continued.

How the district got people outside the classroom involved began five years ago with an idea developed by two district staff members and a community member.

Middle and elementary school counselor Paula Coffer explained she, high school counselor Jena Atchison, and parent Vanessa Patient were brainstorming ways to collaborate with the community to help the kids. Read More

•May 3, 2017•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

A possible new online payment option (Payment Service Network) offer to the residents of Sullivan was discussed at the most recent council meeting. This new online option would have paperless billing and send email notifications to customers when their utility bill is due or late. Treasurer Sarah Golden advised that the city processed 3,000 bills per month. Going paperless would cut back on work for the clerks, and it would automate payments for the customers. In addition to saving paper, this could also save the city money on postage. The city would also be able to accept credit cards with the new payment option. The city would pay any additional credit card fees. Council members discussed this possible option and stated they would research it more before a decision was made to move forward.  Read More

•April 19, 2017•

By Mike Brothers

A budget that is $179,565 in the red and a state $380,420 behind in categorical payments faces the new Sullivan Community District #300 school board when it organizes April 25.

Supt. Brad Tuttle explained the situation to the outgoing school board as well as new members Zak Horn, Tyson Grooms and Erik Stollard who attended the regular April 17 board meeting.

During the full funding agreement reached by the state legislature last year the four categorical payments were guaranteed school districts this year.

“We have only received one categorical payment, which was the fourth one due last year,” Tuttle began. Read More

Photo by Mike Brothers
National Excellence in Partnership award winner Okaw Valley High School was honored with the first place national U.S. Corp of Engineers recognition during ceremonies March 31. Pictured accepting the award are OVHS ag instructor Wes Wise, OVMS principal Ross Forlines, OV dist. supt. Kent Stauder, U. S. Corp Maj. General Michael Wehr, OVHS principal Matt Schoaff, and Lake Shelbyville director of operations Jon Summers.

•April 5, 2017•

By Mike Brothers

Okaw Valley Community #300 received the National Excellence in Partnership Award from the U.S. Corp of Engineers last week.

Chief of National Resources Management at the Corps Mary Coulombe made the announcement at a school wide assembly held in the Bethany High School gymnasium on March 29.

Coulombe, who travelled from Washington, DC, explained the joint partnership with the U.S. Corp of Engineers and Okaw Valley Schools at Lake Shelbyville placed the project in the top 10 nationwide.

She went on to note the total school participation, creativity of the project and the accomplishments made the Okaw Valley School/U.S. Corp project the top choice in the nation. Read More

Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Memorial for Guy Little Jr. is 11:00 a.m. March 25 at the First Christian Church of Sullivan.

•March 8, 2017•

By Mike Brothers

When The Little Theatre on the Square opened its season Friday, founder Guy Little’s seat on the front row was empty except for a rose.

Guy Little Jr, the founder the The Little Theatre on the Square in 1957 passed away earlier in the day. He was 82.

On opening night Little Theatre Executive Director John Stephens announced the 60th anniversary season will be dedicated to Little. The show  must go on.

And in spite of the fact that Guy was not seated on the front row as usual, handing out notes to crew and cast, the curtain went up on the Square in Sullivan although Guy has gone on to a grander stage.

The city of Sullivan remained a supporter of the Little Theatre of the Square, and the Theatre has in return put the city on the map.

Mayor Ann Short explained that Guy Little actually put Sullivan on the world map.  Read More