•April 14, 2021•
7th Grade
High Honors – Cameron Carey, Alexis Gee, Leah Kasey, Landon Postlewait, Seth Rincker, Branson Tingley, Patton Voris
Honor Roll – None
8th Grade
High Honors – Luke Dispennett , Jorja Plummer, Seth Rakestraw, Avery Starwalt
Honor Roll – Coralee Whitney, Halle Wright
9th Grade Read More
NAMI Family to Family Class in Mattoon Starts May 4
Submitted photo
Sue Yarnell and Donna Mayer are trained by the National Alliance on Mental Illness to be facilitators of the NAMI Family-to-Family program.
•April 14, 2021•
NAMI Champaign is offering a free 8-session family class in Mattoon, facilitated by local community members. The classes will start May 4, 2021.
NAMI’s signature Family-to-Family education program is for family members, caregivers, and significant others of people with mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or depression. This program includes a crisis plan, information on various serious mental illnesses, discussions on communication with a loved one, and finding and using local support and services.Time is given for discussion and interactive exercises. Experience compassion and reinforcement from people who understand your situation. Read More
Because, Because, Because, Because, Because! Because of the Wonderful Things It Does
•April 7, 2021•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer
Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.
This is all about one of my favorite subordinating conjunctions: “because.”
“It seems that the word ‘because’ is disappearing from the landscape of writers and editors, being replaced by ‘since’ and ‘as,’” wrote reader Neal Lorenzi.
I’d add the empty-calorie mouthful “due to the fact that” to the list.
But Neal is not done making his point. Read More
Menu 4-7-2021
Senior Peace Meal
For additional information or for reservations, please call 1-800-543-1770
April 12 - Sausage in Gravy, Mini Potato Bakers, Fruit Juice, Biscuits, Warm Cinnamon Buttered Apples
April 13 - Chili w/Beans, Tossed Salad w/Dressing Pkt., Crackers, Mandarin Oranges
April 14 - Beef Pot Roast w/Potatoes, Onions & Carrots, Seasoned Greens, Roll, Pineapple
April 15 - Chicken and Noodles, Mashed Potatoes, 3-Bean Salad, Whole Grain Wheat, Warm Fruit Crisp
April 16 - Taco Salad w/Beans, Lettuce, Cheese, Tomatoes, Sour Cream & Taco Sauce, Diced Pears, Taco Chips, Brownie Bites
Letter to the Editor 4-7-2021
Dear Editor,
I appreciate that Sullivan City Council conceded 3 misconceptions regarding high utility rates. The concessions include the following: 1) that the homeowner is somehow responsible for the excessive rates charged in Sullivan, 2) that Sullivan’s utility rates are comparable to surrounding communities, and 3) Ameren add-ons make it difficult to compare Sullivan’s utility rates to those of surrounding communities.
Regardless how energy efficient the house, Sullivan residents paid $0.14/kWh in Feb. 2021. Residents in Lovington paid $0.07/kWh, and Arthur and Findlay residents paid $0.09/kWh. So, why fuss about pennies? Read More
Remember When? 4-7-2021
25 Years Ago This Week
Powers School was moving to a new block—the auction block. The Sullivan school board voted to put the 1920s era building and grounds up for sale. Sullivan School Superintendent Rich Voltz said that the district would advertise for sealed bids.
Sullivan students would be required to attend summer school if they failed to meet minimal state academic standards in basic skills, according to a proposed plan being considered by the Sullivan school board.
The Sullivan City Council received some welcome news from city treasurer Ann Short during a council meeting. The city’s health insurance premium was to decrease 5 percent. Read More
Facts for Families: Should I do My Own Tax Preparation?
•March 31, 2021•
By Cheri Burcham
Family Life Educator
Since we are well into tax preparation season, I thought it would be helpful to share this blog article from Extension Educator Kathy Sweedler. Kathy says: every year people gather up all their tax documents, organize them and then think about their options: do their income tax filing themselves, pay someone else do it, or find another option! Today, let’s explore these options.
Is it better to pay someone else or file your taxes by yourself? Read More
Remember When? 3-31-2021
25 Years Ago This Week
The Sullivan City Council approved an annexation agreement on subdivision property owned by Ron and Sharon White and Wayne Gillenwater. The owners of the property must now petition for annexation into the city.
The Sullivan Singers brought home the grand champion trophy from the New Orleans ShowChoir competition to close out a successful season. They also placed first in vocal sound, choreography and show.
The Sullivan school district was awarded a 1996 Bright Star award. Only 89 school districts out of 913 districts in the state have won this honor. The award criteria is based on objective factors in which all districts can be judged fairly. The criteria for school district serving elementary and high school students is based on those districts whose academic performance ranks in the upper one third of Illinois school districts, but whose expenditure per pupil ranks in the lower one-fourth of Illinois districts based on the 1994-95 school year report card data.
The Illinois Dept. of Corrections has given good marks to the Moultrie County Jail in a recent inspection report. The only noncompliance referred to the fact that cells do not include the 50 square feet of floor space which state standards require.
The Bethany baseball team defeated Findlay 7-3.
After dropping a pair of games to open the season, the Bethany softball team bounced back to beat St. Teresa 25-18.
Travis Florey picked up his second straight victory and the Sullivan baseball team stayed undefeated as they shut out Arcola 10-0.
Both Sullivan girls’ and boys’ track teams opened the season at the Arthur Invitational. The Redskins placed second overall with 57 points in their first meet of the campaign. Oakland won the 13 team meet with 89 points. The Lady Reds finished fifth overall with 45. Argenta-Oreana won the event with 104 followed by Meridian with 97.
50 Years Ago This Week
Six Sullivan High School musicians have been selected to go on tour with the school band and Chorus of America. Concerts were presented at Zion National Park, Grand Canyon, Los Angeles, Cal, Disneyland, Hollywood Hills, San Francisco, Cal, Oakland, Cal and Salt Lake City. Musicians that made the tour were Doug Elder, Mark Hamblin, Gale Fowler, Joel Maurer, Ann Elder and Ann Mobley.
Seven Sullivan Junior High musicians were selected to go on tour with the Junior High School Band of America. The 100 piece band was made up of Junior High students from throughout the United States. Concerts were given in Fort Wayne, Ind., Pittsburg, Pa., Wheeling, W. Va. and Indianapolis, Ind. Those making the tour were Marsha Vice, Sue Florini, Kim Hickman, Dale Crawford, Roger Peadro, Jim Coil and Dan Dunphy.
Lake Shelbyville Assn., a new organization devoted exclusively to promoting Lake Shelbyville and its supporting businesses was founded by a Findlay couple. Managers of the new group are Mr. and Mrs. George Rollins of Findlay, where a central information office for the association will be maintained. The staffed office distributed information about Lake Shelbyville and Association member-businesses to lake visitors, tourists and sportsmen as well as area news services.
Sophomore Steve Wall was honored as Lovington High School’s most improved basketball player and winner of the Glancy Brothers free throw award with a shooting percentage of 62.3. Senior quarterback Lloyd Johnson was named Lovington’s most valuable football player.
Jeff Lambert, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Lambert of Brainerd, Minn. and former Sullivan resident was a member of a two man team that set a world endurance record and distance record for snowmobiles. Teamed with Jeff Brick of Brainerd, the 19 year olds covered 984 miles during 24 hours of continuous running, averaging 41 miles per hour. Two teams of boys set out to establish a new record under U.S. Snowmobile Assn. Sanction at the Donnybrooke Speedway.
A new retail auto parts store made its debut in Sullivan. The American Parts System store on East Jefferson Street owned and operated by Lee (Jack) Reno Jr. formerly of Carbondale.
The appointment of Mrs. Blanche H. Sutton to be postmaster at Gays was announced. Prior to her appointment she served as acting postmaster. She has four years of postal service.[/s2If]
When Including That Extra Comma is Essential
•March 31, 2021•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer
I view Oxford comma afficionados as belt-and-suspenders people.
They’ll tell you how adding a comma after the penultimate item in a list is how it’s done in literature and how it provides clarity (using it even when it doesn’t add clarity).
It’s there, you know, just in case.
Perhaps I just like to live dangerously. After all, I haven’t worn a belt or suspenders in more than a year now, because the elastic waistband on my business casual sweatpants fulfills the mission.
Newspapers generally eschew the Oxford comma as vestigial, but we’re not above using it when it adds clarity to a sentence. What kind of clarity? When it creates an undeniable separation between the final two items.
There are probably as many arcane justifications for the Oxford comma’s use as for its omission. Read More
Arthur Grade Third Quarter Honor Rolls
•March 31, 2021•
6th Grade High Honors: Ally Abercrombie, Kody Burdick, Kylie Burke, Allen Collins, Adyson Cusick, Kaley Herschberger, Cameron McGill, Sophia Monts, Marcus Otto, Reece Oye, Leighton Poulos, Nathan Rafferty, Nicholas Rafferty.
6th grade Honors:McKenna Blaudow, Ashby Coblentz, Esmerelda Diaz, Hadden Fabert, Enos Gingerich, Coye Grant, Emeline Greathouse, Shelbey Grimsley, Dustin Hodge, Brennon Hutson, Elliott Norfleet, Maleyna Vanausdoll, Katheryn Wiley. Read More