Sparrows receives grant

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Sparrows receives grant
Sparrows Unlimited Inc. was one of the recipients of an Orange Krush Foundation Grant this year. Orange Krush is a branch of the registered student organization (RSO), Illini Pride, at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. In its current form, the Organization has two faces. First, the Orange Krush is the student cheering section for the University of Illinois men’s basketball team. Second, the Orange Krush exists as a charitable organization known as the Orange Krush Foundation. Kelly Creek and Pam Anklam attended their awards ceremony on April 23 representing Sparrows.

Benefit held

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Benefit held
A pancake and sausage benefit was held Saturday at the Lovington Firehouse to help a fellow resident acquire some specialized equipment. Jason Brown has been quadriplegic for over 20 years and needs this equipment to help him move more freely around his house. Pictured is Jason, center, speaking with a couple of the supporters.

Under The Sea 1

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Photo courtesy of Grant Wade Photography
Under The Sea
Sullivan High School hosted their 2024 Prom at Building 1225 on Saturday, April 27th with the theme, Under the Sea. The Prom Court was: Davis Diepholz, Marissa Fleshner, Kaden Guest, Taylor Lingafelter, Owen Hussong, Triniti Preyer, Raymond Yang, and Emily Ray.

Retirement celebration

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Retirement celebration
Well-wishers gathered at the Church of God Community Building Saturday to celebrate Pastor Rodney and is wife, Charlene, Houser on retirement. Pastor Houser and his wife have dedicated 35 years to the Lovington Church of God and community. Pictured is Pastor Houser speaking with a couple of the attendees.

Tick Season: What you need to know 

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   It’s tick season in Illinois—Protect yourself and your loved ones from tick bites.

•May 1, 2024•

by Angela Hogan

What are ticks, and why are they a health concern?

Ticks are small parasitic arachnids that belong to the same family as spiders. Due to their small size and eight legs, ticks are often difficult to see and can be mistaken for spiders. 

Ticks thrive in environments with tall grass, shrubs, and leaf litter. They can also live in your yard and on your pets. Tick exposure can occur year-round, but is most likely during warmer months when ticks are active (April – September.)

Ticks carry a variety of illnesses that can be transmitted to humans through their bite. Fortunately, there are proactive measures you can take to mitigate your risk of tick-borne illness. Read More

Remembering Who We Are… 7     

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Considering the Lilies

•May 1, 2024•

by Janet Roney

“That’s a clump of big bluestem grass over there in the road ditch by the goldenrod,” said Jennie Collier, who was on our county history tour in the late 1960s.   

“What? Bluestem! I thought it all was plowed up long ago!”  

“Oh, no,” she said. “It’s still here if you know where to look. It still grows in the un-mown road side ditches, along railroads, and in the dredge ditches in Eagle Pond. You can find it everywhere.” 

Jennie’s comment opened a whole new world to me. I knew that many of our prairie wild flowers, the “lilies of the field”, were still here, but big bluestem? Once I knew what it looked like, I began seeing it everywhere. Big bluestem was the dominant grass that grew in the native prairie that covered central Illinois.   Read More

A Look Back…5-1-2024

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2014

Thanks to IGA customers during a two week fundraiser campaign, the Sullivan American Legion has emerged $600 closer to their final $6,000 payment for this coming Fourth of July fireworks celebration.

As a child, Tiffany Hammer didn’t receive clothes from consignment stores or garage sales. “I was spoiled growing up. I always had new name brand clothes. It wasn’t until I grew up and had a family of my own, that I realized how expensive things are and how fast my daughter goes through clothes. But now my mother and I both love to go garage sale shopping together.” she explained. And since finding out this reality, Hammer says it is, in fact, her daughter that has been her inspiration for opening up Sullivan’s newest consignment store, The Clothesline. Read More

Girl Scout Troop 3641 gives back

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Girl Scout Troop 3641 gives back
Every year, you see these smiling faces out and about selling boxes of delicious Girl Scout cookies. To you, it may just be a snack, a special treat for a friend, or a kind gesture of support, but to the girls in Troop 3641 it is so much more. The cookies sold each year allow the girls to raise funds to help pay for uniforms, badges and supplies needed for activities, as well as to participate in council sponsored events and special outings. More importantly, our girls take a portion of their funds each cookie season to give back to the community. Each troop member has a chance to brainstorm ideas and contribute to the list that they then vote on. Due to overwhelming community support this year, the girls were able to vote and make two donations, instead of one. Their first donation was to help The Haven, which is a homeless shelter, kitchen, and advocacy center in Mattoon. The troop collected and purchased items from The Haven’s needs wishlist (which can be found on their Facebook page) at the last meeting and supplies were delivered this week. Thank you for supporting our Girl Scout Troop so generously and encouraging our girls in all of their endeavors. We are incredibly grateful to live in a community that offers so much support to the various programs available to enrich our youth

Remembering Who We Are… 6

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Seeing the Beauty

•April 24, 2024•

by Janet Roney

What do you think is the most beautiful spot in Moultrie County?  

I have several favorites. There’s nothing quite like the sight, smell, and sound of a field of freshly tasseled corn on a summer evening in July, especially on the high ground north of Bethany near St. Isadore’s Church. It’s the highest spot in the county and you can see lights from five towns in the county plus Decatur from there. The fresh, clean smell of corn pollen fills the air, and, I swear, you can hear the popping sound of corn growing! For farmers, that sight, smell and sound brings great joy.     Read More