Sullivan & Lovington Hold District Spelling Bees

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On to County

•February 3, 2016•

The 2016 Sullivan School District Spelling Bee was held Wednesday January 27 in the Sullivan High School Commons. Students in grades 4-8 earned the privilege of representing their grade level at this spelling bee.

The six winners and two alternates who are moving on to the Moultrie County bee are Lara Herschberger (5th), Zachary Kursell (5th), Aastha Patel (6th), Alyssa Thompson (6th), Reagan Crouse (7th) and Brett Johnson (7th)

The alternates are Maggie McLaughlin (8th) and Zoe Walton (7th). Read More

Selected for National Music Education Conference

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•February 3, 2016•

Christina Farley of Sullivan was selected to present Body Consciousness: The Effects of Posture on Musicians at the 2016 National Music Education Conference at the University of North Carolina in Asheville.

Farley, a senior in music education at Eastern Illinois University, is one of three EIU students invited to give presentations at the April conference.

She gave Body Consciousness at the Illinois Music Education conference in Peoria January 29.

Farley is a Sullivan High School graduate and daughter of Roger and Amanda Farley.

Remember When? 2-3-2016

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Compiled by Bekki Ferguson-Stevens

25 Years Ago This Week

The fall semester and second quarter honor rolls have been released by the Bethany Junior-Senior High School. Four seniors, one junior, one sophomore and three freshmen earned straight A’s during the second quarter. They are seniors Stephanie Brewer, Allison Ferguson,Brandi Shutter and Nanette Carter; junior Tina Perry; sophomore Tami Yowell; and freshmen Angie Duncan, Jamie Scott and Shannon Wilderman.

Two juniors and two sophomores earned the highest honors during the second quarter at Lovington High School. They are juniors Gary Click and Brian McGregor and sophomores Doug Creviston and Leslie Seelow.

Sandy Chaney and Jamie Buttry of Sullivan have been elected to the Lake Land College Student Activity Board. Chaney, who will be serving her second year on the board, is a sophomore studying data processing. Buttry, the son of Gary and Sue Buttry of Sullivan, graduated from Sullivan High School in 1990.

Shari Shackles of Sullivan has been elected to the Lake Land College Student Senate for the second term and will serve as secretary. Shackles, daughter of Jim and Carolyn Shackles of Sullivan, is a sophomore.

Lindsay Ayn Ray, daughter of Chris and Cheryl Ray of Sullivan, will be competing April 5-7 in Springfield for the title of Tiny Miss of Illinois. At the competition, Lindsay Ayn will be competing in several categories including photogenic, overall beauty, talent and Super Model of the Year. Read More

Dance to Support Healthcare Education

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Photo Submitted Members of the 2016 La Grande Soirée committee are: (front row, left to right) Amanda Yost, Jerri Pine and Tricia Dye; (back row, left to right) Beth Preston, Lissa Skocy, Karen Littleford, 2016 Committee Chair; Debra Sandercock, Kim Lockart, special event coordinator, and Colleen Stoner, volunteer coordinator. Committee members not present are Beth Catt, Eva Higgins, Jodi Hildebrandt and Cathy Ols.

Photo Submitted
Members of the 2016 La Grande Soirée committee are: (front row, left to right) Amanda Yost, Jerri Pine and Tricia Dye; (back row, left to right) Beth Preston, Lissa Skocy, Karen Littleford, 2016 Committee Chair; Debra Sandercock, Kim Lockart, special event coordinator, and Colleen Stoner, volunteer coordinator. Committee members not present are Beth Catt, Eva Higgins, Jodi Hildebrandt and Cathy Ols.

•January 27, 2016•

University of Illinois medical student Andy Bays of Charleston is one of many who have benefited from Sarah Bush Lincoln’s Volunteer Guild scholarship program.

Bays is very appreciative of the support the Guild scholarship has provided. “As a new dad and first year medical student studying for exams, life is a little hectic, but the Guild has helped put me one step closer to achieving my ultimate goal of practicing rural medicine in my hometown.”

Bays said his eyes were opened to the wonder of the human body while studying kinesiology and human physiology during his undergraduate years at Eastern Illinois University. “After that I was hooked,” he said. “It’s fascinating to see the coursework and real life come together.” Andy worked for nearly a year at Sarah Bush Lincoln’s Center for Healthy Living where he enjoyed helping people improve their health through exercise. Read More

All State Music Selections Include Local Talent

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AllState•January 27, 2016•

Four area high school musicians will participate in the Illinois Music Education Conference (ILMEA) to be held Jan. 27-30 in the Peoria Civic Center. Students were selected via an audition process from the district IMEA festival held last fall at Eastern Illinois University.

Bradley Miller, a senior at Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond High School and son of Ed and Ruth Miller of Arthur, will participate in the honors chorus.

Nick Tipsword of Okaw Valley High School will pay French horn with the orchestra. A senior, he is the son of Stan and Kathy Tipsword of Bethany.

Grant and Bryce King, sons of Mike and Patricia King of Sullivan, will perform with the all-state chorus. Grant is a senior and Bryce a junior. Read More

Lovington Preschool Roundup and Kindergarten Pre-registration

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•January 27, 2016•

Each year the Lovington Elementary School and the Department of Early  Childhood conduct Preschool Round Up and Kindergarten Pre-Registration for children birth to five years old.

The free developmental screening gives parents information on how their child is developing in areas of concepts, motor, speech and language skills.

A vision and hearing screening is also provided.  Read More

Remember When? 1-27-2016

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Compiled by Bekki Ferguson-Stevens

25 Years Ago This Week

Mike Bryant, a senior at Bethany High School, has been selected to participate in the Illinois All-State Jazz Choir for the second year in a row. Bryant is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Phil Bryant of Bethany. He will be accompanied by Judy Patrick, choral director at Bethany High School.

Jennifer Bailey, a student at Patricia Stevens College in St. Louis, has been named to the college’s president’s list for the fall quarter. Bailey is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Bailey of Sullivan.

Dale Crawford of Sullivan was re-elected president of the Moultrie-Sullivan Fair Board at the board’s Jan. 19 annual meeting in Arthur.

The Sullivan Lady Reds downed conference rival Monticello, 84-55 Monday night during an away contest. Becky Clayton led in scoring with 19, followed by Amanda Glazebrook, who had 18; Sheri Adams, who had 17; and Tiffinie French, who had 16. Clayton also grabbed 15 rebounds.

Several area students have been named to the Lake Land College Academic President’s List for full time students during the fall semester. They include Peggy McCain, Sharon Sowers and Teresa Sweeney, all of Bethany; Sandra Chaney, Lana Havens, Lisa Mosier, Kathryn Sleeth and Linda Spencer, all of Sullivan; Sue Buesking of Gays; Rachel Snyder and Linda Turnbaugh, both of Arthur and Tamara Cox and Jennifer Moon, both of Findlay.

Navy Fireman Apprentice Jason T. Drury, son of William E. and Nancy S. Drury, both of Sullivan, recently reported for duty aboard the aircraft carrier USS Constellation, home-ported in San Diego, Cal. A 1990 graduate of Sullivan High School, he joined the the Navy in July 1990. Read More

Bethany Woman’s Vision Leads to Birth of DMH

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Bethany DMH•January 27, 2016•

Thomas Duke Seldomridge was the first baby born at Decatur Memorial Hospital. Born Jan.19, 1916, he weighed 10 pounds.

He was born at DMH because of the vision that Sue Hagaman had in 1896 on her front porch in Bethany. She dreamed of a hospital in Decatur where babies could be born.

This dream spurred her driving passion for the next two decades. Hagaman worked tirelessly until the day her dream became a reality.

On Jan. 1, 1916, Decatur Memorial Hospital opened its doors. Within a week, 17 patients had been admitted, and on Jan. 19, the first baby— Thomas Duke Seldomridge was born.  Read More

Public Invited to Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper

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Photo furnished A Shrove Tuesday meal is being served 4:30-6 p.m. Fat Tuesday, Feb. 9 at First United Methodist Church in Sullivan. Elaine Daniels (left) and Fern Patton served Norm Buckner a plate of pancakes and sausage during the first Shrove Tuesday meal in 2015.

Photo furnished
A Shrove Tuesday meal is being served 4:30-6 p.m. Fat Tuesday, Feb. 9 at First United Methodist Church in Sullivan. Elaine Daniels (left) and Fern Patton served Norm Buckner a plate of pancakes and sausage during the first Shrove Tuesday meal in 2015.

•January 27, 2016•

Plans are underway for the second annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper at First United Methodist Church in Sullivan. This February 9 event marks the end of Mardi Gras and the anticipation of Lent, which begins the next day on Ash Wednesday.

The community is invited to the celebration, which will include pancakes with toppings, sausage, and drinks. Since it’s a party, all who come will eat free of charge.

Fellowship Hall will be decorated to reflect the colors of Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday. Purple, green, and gold decorations, along with strings of beads, trivia questions, and festive music will add to the party atmosphere. Read More