End Season on High Note

•November 11, 2015•

The Okaw Valley Marching Timberwolves ended their 2015 season Saturday Oct. 31 with third place in the Class 1A field competition and second place in the Class 1A parade competition in the Pinckneyville Mardi Gras Field Show and Parade.

In addition, the OV percussion tied for first place in the parade, and Nick Tipsword was awarded best soloist in Class 1A field. The competition is a popular one for OV as it adds the fun of an overnight trip and a nighttime parade with Halloween costumes substituted for uniforms.

It was a successful season for the small but determined band of 29 members. There were five field competitions in September and October, with the Timberwolves taking home two firsts, one second, and two third place rankings in overall band score.

Although outscored by five schools, they defeated a total of 15, most of which have a much larger student enrollment and band membership. In addition, their drum majors, percussion, and color guard received Best in Class one time each in field competitions this season.

The band’s show this year had a New Orleans theme, and judging by the cheers from the stands, it was popular with the crowds in addition to the judges. A major goal of the Marching Timberwolves is audience entertainment. The reaction during the performances and the compliments afterwards, often from complete strangers, indicate the band’s success at being fun to watch and hear.

The Marching Timberwolves are directed by Theresa Colclasure and assisted by Kathy Doty and Cami Brown, color guard coaches, David Hagerman, drill design/instruction and Taylor Colclasure, marching coach.  Read More

Photo by RR Best
The cast of The Wedding Singer is in costume and ready for a weekend of performances at The Little Theatre On The Square in Sullivan.

Four Weekend Performances

•November 4, 2015•

Sullivan High School is presenting “The Wedding Singer” starting Friday, Nov. 6 at the Little Theatre On The Square.

This production by the Sullivan Singers is a first for show choir director Jeff Thomas this season and promises to be a good time for audiences.

The musical was created following the popularity of “The Wedding Singer” movie starring Adam Sandler.

“It’s a comedy that pokes fun at the 80s era, with all the glitter and big hair of the time,” Thomas said of the story of a guy performing as a wedding singer during the 80s glam rock era.

“There are some great 80s rock songs and some iconic characters like Hulk Hogan and Cindy Lauper blending into a really funny show.”

Thomas explained the musical is a lot of fun for audiences.

“For high schoolers it is important to keep it light,” he said of the musical. “Everyone likes a good laugh, and it is very entertaining.”

All the 51 Sullivan Singers and stage crew are involved in the production with the Sullivan Singers combo providing musical back up.

Thomas noted that the Little Theatre is building the sets and providing sound and lighting for the performances.

It is an ambitious production that began only five weeks ago. He explained that some characters have as many as 200 lines, and the lead has six to seven songs to learn in less than a month. Read More

In Eagle Creek Resort Revival 

•October 21, 2015•

By Mike Brothers

Moultrie County took steps to kick start attempts to revive Eagle Creek Resort at the regular meeting Thursday, October 15.

Finance and budget chair Ron White proposed that an additional $50,000 be placed in the current budget’s contingency fund, which was approved unanimously.

County board chairman Dave McCabe explained the purpose of the transfer.

Moultrie and Shelby county governments working with the Illinois Department of Nature Resources have an engineering study under way to determine feasibility of reopening Eagle Creek.

McCabe explained that the $138,000 study stopped when the state’s budget expired.

With the IDNR grant suspended, progress gained by the group is threatened, according to the board chairman.

“We have developers interested in the project, but we can’t move forward until the engineering study is completed,” McCabe said.

He went on to point out the consensus of the Shelby/Moultrie county committee, which includes city government representatives, was to share the cost of completing the study with hopes when the state gets a budget, the local loan will be reimbursed.

McCabe said $92,000 is needed for the 20 weeks to complete the IDNR study. Read More

Photos by Mike Brothers
Faith Resort was home for Care-A-Vanners while Habitat volunteers worked on the Sullivan home which is scheduled for completion October 16. Pictured here is volunteer Ty Jones from Maryville, Ill.

Area Churches Feed Care-A-Vanners

•October 7, 2015•

By Mike Brothers

There is more to Habitat for Humanity in Sullivan than building homes, even though they are nearing completion of the 26th house in Moultrie County.

While Habitat Care-A-Vanners from all over the country spend two week stints volunteering labor on the latest home, Sullivan has gone above and beyond most communities by providing a place for volunteers to park their campers and daily meals coordinated by the Sullivan area Ministerial Alliance.

“This doesn’t just happen,” Care-A-Vanner team leader Bob Gillespie said of the treatment his group has received since it arrived here. “We’re talking about full meals. We had pork, mashed potatoes and gravy for lunch yesterday.”

Local Habitat board chairman Gary Smith explained the noon meals are provided through the generosity of area churches.

“We will take them out for an evening meal on Friday,” Smith said, commending the local churches and organizations for pitching in to make the volunteers feel welcome.

Pastor Paul McGhghy came up with the idea and presented it to members of the Ministerial Alliance. “We talked about it at our meeting, and I sent emails to schedule the churches,” Pastor McGhghy said, noting the Alliance is very close and has worked together on other projects. Read More

Photo by Mike Brothers
This inspirational stone was selected by Don Lockwood to help connect Sullivan teachers during the course of the school year. Lockwood chose “Inspire” for the rock he keeps on his classroom desk. Each teacher was given a stone and asked to write one word that represents a school year goal as part of the “ Morale Matters” program which started districtwide at the beginning of the school year.

Teachers Learn to Rock

•September 30, 2015•

By Mike Brothers

In a world of cut school budgets, unpredictable evaluations and a questionable pension plan it isn’t easy being a school teacher these days.

Sullivan Unit 300 administration and teachers are trying a proactive approach at improving morale.

Morale Matters was implemented by the Sullivan Education Association at the beginning of the school year.

“So many of the causes for lack of morale are simply out of our control,” SEA president Don Lockwood said of education. Teachers don’t control the state budget; they cannot control the changing times of how students are evaluated and they have no control over the mismanagement of their pensions by state government.

“It’s an excellent concept,” superintendent Brad Tuttle said of the Morale Matters program.

He explained the uncertainty teachers face these days has led to fewer people choosing education and even fewer wanting to get into public school administration.

“This is the third year the state has cut our budget by a quarter million dollars,” he continued, noting there is a negativity surrounding public education. “Schools aren’t getting the funding the way they were five years ago, yet the costs of operations continue to rise, and it forces cutbacks,” he continued

All things that contribute to lowering the morale in the schools. Read More