U-Knight 305 Community Facilitating Team Forms Two Building Scenarios for the Future of ALAH

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•February 2, 2022•
By Ariana Cherry
NP Writer

The principals from the ALAH District were allowed to skip the most recent meeting of the school board held on Wednesday, January 19. “I appreciate the board’s understanding about giving our administrators an excuse for the evening. They have been really busy lately,” commented Superintendent Shannon Cheek. Recently, the district has been responsible for having to do their own contact tracing with COVID-19 cases since the health department is no longer doing them, and after returning from Christmas break, the schools experienced a surge in cases. Many of the district’s teachers, principals and other staff have been finding themselves doing multiple duties throughout the day as there have been absences either because of positive COVID-19 cases, quarantines, or other seasonal illnesses.
During the Treasurer’s Report, Cheek informed the board that nothing has changed concerning transportation funds. “One payment was received from last fiscal year, one from this year and one is in the queue. It could be in that queue for a long time. Nothing new on that front,” he said. Read More

Mirror Images to present ‘Invisible’

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Sullivan High School’s Mirror Images will present ‘Invisible’, an original play, on Friday, February 4 at 5:30 pm at the Little Theater on the Square.

•February 2, 2022•
Sullivan High School’s Mirror Images will present Invisible, an original play, on Friday, February 4, at 5:30 p.m. at the Little Theater on the Square.
The show, written by members of the prevention theater group and director Krista Houk, is about a high school student who goes missing and the search to find them.
Houk explained, “Students work together to find a missing classmate. They learn it’s safe to share their secrets with each other.”
She added that the basic message of the play is that “it’s okay to rely on others and to reach out if you need help.”
The show centers on Joan Doe, a quiet student who goes missing; Addison a chess and Dungeons and Dragons player who is accused of causing Joan to run away; Charlie, Addison’s sister who doesn’t go after her own passions to make her parents happy; and Tony the Detective Janitor who feels it’s his responsibility to find Joan and bring them home. Sullivan High School’s principal Mr. Daniel Allen will also appear as the principal of the show’s school. Read More

Miller Barn to be Disassembled, Moved

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Photo courtesy of Tom Vance
The east side of the Miller barn which was built in 1879. There are plans to disassemble the barn starting Monday, January 31. The barn will be raised in the fall on the site of the Illinois Amish Heritage Center.

•January 26, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

A local barn will be disassembled, moved to the Illinois Amish Heritage Center and reassembled later in the year. The Miller barn, built in 1879, is in its original condition including the threshing floor and grain bins; however, there is a concrete floor which was put in the south end of the barn in 1954.
The barn will be moved, fully repaired and restored. The plan is to start disassembling the barn Monday, January 31 and to have it down in four to five days. Read More

City Council Authorizes Issuance of Bonds for Water Plant

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•January 26, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The City Council authorized the issuance of water works and sewerage system revenue bonds of the city of Sullivan. The estimated cost of the project including legal fees and other costs of issuance of the bonds is $10,500,000.
Mike Kirk had questions about the bonds that were to be issued for water works and sewerage system bonds. Treasurer Sarah Golden explained that the payback time is 40 years. Kirk asked Commissioner Chuck Woodworth whether it would be possible to spend money to get the water plant to run for another 20 years. “It would be more in the long run to retrofit what we already have compared to building a new one,” he said. Woodworth said he originally was looking at taking what they have and upgrading it, but it would be more money to do that than build new.
Abbey Sherwood reminded everyone there is public swim at the Civic Center Thursday to Sunday. She and Golden had conversations in regard to TIF and TIF reimbursements. Sherwood added that she had talked with several people in regard to the IBEW contract. Read More

Red Cross Blood Crisis Occurring on National and Local Levels

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Rick Davis donates blood during a blood drive at the Sullivan American Legion on Tuesday, January 18.

•January 26, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The American Red Cross is facing a national blood crisis -- its worst blood shortage in more than a decade. The American Red Cross supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood which includes many local hospital partners. The organization has experienced a 10% decline nationally and locally in the number of people donating blood since the pandemic began and continues to confront relentless issues due to COVID-19, such as ongoing blood drive cancellations and staffing limitations.
According to a press release, in recent weeks the organization had less than a one-day supply of critical blood types and has had to limit blood product distributions to hospitals. At this time, as much as one-quarter of hospital blood needs are not being met. The low blood supply levels are also posing a concerning risk to patient care and forcing doctors to make difficult decisions about who receives blood transfusions and who will need to wait until more products become available.
An American Red Cross Blood Drive was held Tuesday, January 18, at Sullivan American Legion. According to event coordinator Jeri Davis, a total of 45 units was collected during the drive. This can help 135 patients. The Red Cross has also seen a 62% drop in blood drives at schools and colleges since the pandemic began. As a result, Gen Z, which accounted for nearly one-quarter of donors in 2019, made up just about 10% in 2021 due to the drop in on-campus opportunities. Read More

Retail and Residential Development to be Built

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•January 19, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

A residential and retail development has broken ground on the east side of Route 32 near the Red Apple. The whole development is 17 acres and will be a mix of multi-family and commercial or light industrial properties. Five acres will be multi-family rentals and 12 acres will be marketed for development.
The first phase of the development will be called Reserve Sullivan. This is two eight-unit high quality rental properties that will be two and three-bedroom. There are also plans for a three-unit commercial building which Tabeling Development will be breaking ground on next month. Read More

Sullivan Cheer Camp

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Photo by R.R. Best
Sullivan Cheer Camp
The Sullivan High School basketball cheerleaders held a Redskins-In-Training youth cheer camp last week for Sullivan Elementary School students. The Redskins-in-training learned cheers that they performed at the beginning of the varsity basketball game on Friday. All proceeds from camp will support new uniforms for SHS basketball cheer.

Planning and Zoning Duties Assigned to Assessor’s Office

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•January 19, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The County Board discussed the filling and/or assignment of planning and zoning duties and responsibilities. The Supervisor of Assessments office gave the board handouts last board meeting, and Chief County Assessment Officer Lori Barringer said they may take over these responsibilities without additional staff or salary. The other option is that the board could post a full-time job and get someone dedicated to doing the planning and zoning.
Lauren Sesko, the ESDA director, has been filling in as interim personnel in that office.
A motion was made to have Sesko continue in ESDA as well as do some GIS work for the county while planning and zoning responsibilities will be moved to the assessor’s office with the transition completed by or before February 14. The motion was approved with Tyler Graven voting no. Read More

Sullivan Residents Tie for First in Writing and Photography Contest

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Nate Hunter, Natalee Hunter and Rebecca Lawson stand near one of the trees in Wyman Park that inspired their writing contest entry “The Trees.”

•January 19, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Recently, a Sullivan High School student, her father and a retired Sullivan High School teacher received the news that they had tied for first place in the 2021 Rachel Carson Intergenerational Sense of Wonder/Sense of the Wild Contest. The team, which includes Natalee Hunter, Nate Hunter and Becky Lawson, won in the “essay with photograph” category in the Sense of Wonder theme.
The essay was written by Natalee and Lawson while the photograph was taken by Nate. The entry which is titled “The Trees” was written about the trees located near the Boy Scout cabin in Wyman Park. According to Lawson, the whole contest connects the love and sense for nature between generations.
Lawson said that the editing process was fascinating. “We discussed what we would write about and blended the two essays together,” she said. A proud moment for her was in the judges’ comments. A phrase that Natalee had written was used. “For them to select that phrase was magical,” Lawson said. Read More