SES Principal Introduction

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•July 10, 2019•

I am Heather Ethell and I am very humbled and honored to introduce myself as the new principal of Sullivan Elementary School.
Prior to working here in Sullivan, I have served as an assistant principal, instructional coach, and classroom teacher. I am not just an educator, however, I am also a mother and wife.
This coming school year, Lauren, my stepdaughter, will continue to study nursing at Richland Community College and work as a CNA at Concordia Village in Springfield.
Starting this school year, my 10-year-old daughter, Avelyn, will be starting 5th grade at Sullivan Middle School and my 8-year-old son, Jeret, will be joining me here at Sullivan Elementary School as a 3rd grader. Read More

Lovington Board Receives Dead Vehicle Complaint

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•July 10, 2019•
Lovington Village Board met June 10 with president Roger Walker recognizing visitors Pam Nottingham and Mike Carriger.
Nottingham read Ordinance 25 relating to inoperable vehicles. She pointed out her neighbor has vehicles in his yard, and she would appreciate if something could be done.
President Walker explained the existing ordinance needs to be rewritten before action can be taken in court. She was told a complaint with police needs to be filed first but was given no response to the outcome after making a complaint. Read More

SBL DAISY Award Honors Extraordinary Nurses

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Photo furnished
DAISY Award winner Debbie Murray, RN

•July 10, 2019•
Debbie Murray, RN, was honored with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses at Sarah Bush Lincoln on June 18.
Murray was nominated for making a big impression on a patient who was receiving ongoing care at SBL’s Advanced Wound Center. The patient’s daughter expressed her gratitude to Murray in the following letter:
“My mother has been receiving care at the Advanced Wound Center for the past year and a half. The wound center has been a tremendous asset to me as well as my mother. Debbie has been extremely knowledgeable and helpful, not only in her wound care but in coordinating my mother’s three doctors, pharmacies, home health and assisted living nursing staff. She is so timely and efficient in what she does. In one afternoon, she had everything organized and ready to go for my mother’s PICC line, pharmacy for the medication, and home health care set up. Read More

Remember When? 7-10-2019

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25 Years Ago This Week

Mabel Standerfer will celebrate her 80th birthday with an open house at the Westhall Center in Sullivan. The event is being hosted by her children, Pickle Standerfer and Karen Rodgers.
Fern Schwartz of Bethany celebrated her 98th birthday at Sullivan Living Center. She was able to enjoy the celebration with her great-great-granddaughter Lauren Harris, her daughter Jeanette Schwartz, granddaughter, Shirley Ford and her great-granddaughter Amy Ford Harris.
Justin Farris, son of Doug and Sherry Farris of Sullivan, is participating in Naval Basic Training at Great Lakes.
Brian McDowell, a vice-president at the First National Bank of Sullivan, had 15 visitors from Romania visit the bank. Sullivan was included on the route to introduce the Romanians to agriculture lending programs. After learning about the banking system, McDowell joined the group on a tour of an operating farm, the Prairie View Pork Farm owned by Jim Johnson of Macon County.
Results from the 4th of July events Read More

Mo. Do. County Fair Pageant Contestants

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Photo furnished
Villa Grove Candidates
Junior Miss Moultrie Douglas Fair queen candidates Maci Clodfelder and Addisyn Wilson of Villa Grove

Photo furnished
Little Miss Moultrie-Douglas County Fair Pageant Contestants
Front Row from left – Kinsley Eads, Arthur; Cadence Vandeventer, Tuscola; Chloe Monts, Arthur; Miley Rennels, Tuscola; Little Miss Moultrie-Douglas 2018 Bentley Parsons, Hammond; Ellie Shain, Sullivan; Bailey Dyer, Tuscola; Reagan McCumber, Villa Grove; and Mia Espinoza, Arcola Back Row – Avery Lake, Villa Grove; Michaela Blickensderfer, Kirksville; Kaja McCall, Tuscola; Sophia Wilson, Arcola; Julianne Steffens, Tuscola; Asah Williams, Tuscola; Ellie Wiley, Tuscola; Miah Voegel, Sullivan;  and Avery Cleland, Tuscola.

Photo submitted
2019 Miss Moultrie-Douglas County Fair Queen Contestants
The Moultrie Douglas Fair in Arthur is from Sunday, July 7 through Saturday, July 13. The Miss and Little Miss Fair Queen Pageants in the North Grandstand begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 9. Contestants pictured from left: Makenna Green, Arthur; Molly Mahannah, Arcola; Julia Kerkhoff, Tuscola; Claire Ring, Tuscola; Samantha Stevens, Camargo; 2018 Miss Moultrie-Douglas Ashley Mattingly; Sara Kremitzki,Tuscola; Kayla Hodge, Arthur; Faith Hardwick,Tuscola; and Kyla Carson, Arthur.  Not pictured is Moranda Matheson, Bethany.

Photo furnished
2019 Jr. Miss Moultrie-Douglas County Fair Queen Contestants
The Miss and Little Miss Fair Queen Pageants in the North Grandstand begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 9. Junior Miss contestants are Katilyn Kirby, Sullivan; Chloe Alexander, Arthur; Lauren Woods, Tuscola; Reggan Smith, Tuscola; Andrea Dehart, 2018 Jr Miss Moultrie-Douglas; Regann Bowles, Tuscola; Mikayla Dunn, Tuscola; Jonika Nickles, Hindsboro; Ella Chupp, Arcola; and Kate Foltz, Tuscola.  Not pictured is Addisyn Wilson and Maci Clodfelder both from Villa Grove.The Moultrie Douglas Fair in Arthur is from Sunday, July 7 through Saturday, July 13.

New Vehicle Title Fees Start July 1

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•July 3, 2019•
Jesse White Alerts Motorists of Vehicle Title Fee Changes Effective July 1 Due to Action by Illinois General Assembly
Money collected will fund statewide transportation and road improvement projects.
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White is alerting the public of motor vehicle title fee changes, effective July 1, 2019, due to action by the Illinois General Assembly.
These fee changes were a part of a capital bill that was recently signed into law and will fund statewide transportation and road improvement projects. The Secretary of State’s Office collects the fees set by the legislature. Read More

Quarter Madness

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•July 3, 2019•

The next quarter madness will be at the Sullivan American Legion on July 10 benefiting Sullivan/Okaw Valley JFL.
Doors open at 6:00 p.m. for early shopping. Madness begins at 6:30. Vendors include J Bloom, Scentsy, Avon, Norwex, Pampered Chef, Revere Consign, Fun with Dips and various crafters.

Helping Heroes Donates to Sullivan Police Dept.

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Photo by Mike Brothers Donation received-(from left) Sullivan Police officer Adam Collins, Assistant Police Chief Josh Qualls, officers Andrew Smith, and Jared Hayes. Country Financial agent Elizabeth Houser, SPD office manager Janet Dirks and Sullivan Police Chief Andy Pistorius during check presentation at the Sullivan Police Department.

•July 3, 2019•
Country Financial Representative Elizabeth Houser has announced the Sullivan Police Department as the 2019 recipient of a $1500 Country Financial Operation Helping Heroes Donation. Houser presented the donation to Sullivan Police Chief Andy Pistorius, Assistant Chief Josh Qualls along with Officers Adam Collins, Jared Hayes, Andrew Smith and office manager Janet Dirks to assist with the purchase of EMS First Responder bags. The bags are now in each squad car, and one is located in the police department for immediate use.
“Our police officers go above and beyond every day, serving selflessly and providing an invaluable service to our community,” said Houser. “Country Financial recognizes the work of our police officers who put others lives before their own every day to keep our community safe. These bags are equipped with the supplies they need to stop bleeding, tourniquets, bandages, CPR face masks and much more,” said Houser. Read More

More Rain and Lower Temps than Average in June

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•July 3, 2019•
Above average rainfall continued in June, along with an elevated risk of flooding in some areas of Illinois, according to Brian Kerschner, spokesperson for the Illinois State Climatologist Office at the University of Illinois’ Illinois State Water Survey.
The preliminary average statewide precipitation for June was 5.39 inches, or 1.18 inches above the long-term average. A gage near Cobden in Union County reported the highest official precipitation total for June with a reading of 10.73 inches.
June rainfall in Illinois was not evenly distributed. Several regions in the northern half of the state reported precipitation totals slightly below to near average for the month, with localized regions of above average precipitation. Most of the southern half of the state experienced more uniform above average precipitation departures, with numerous localities receiving 200 to 300 percent of normal. Read More

Thompson Sworn in as Regional Superintendent

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•July 3, 2019•
Nearly nine months after his unopposed general election victory, Dr. Kyle Thompson was sworn in as Regional Superintendent on July 1, 2019. Surrounded by Regional Office of Education #11 staff, Thompson repeated the oath of office at the Coles County Courthouse as directed by County Clerk Julie Coe.
At 36, Thompson becomes the youngest Regional Superintendent in Illinois. “People often ask me how the new position is going and they’re stunned when I let them know I haven’t actually started yet,” Thompson said. “The Illinois School Code specifies the start date for the Regional Superintendent, but it boils down to not changing leadership in the middle of a school year and a fiscal year.” Read More