Santa’s Helpers Make a Merry Christmas for Head Start Students

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Photo by Ellen Ferrara
Volunteers for Santa’s Helpers helped wrap presents for Head Start students. L-R Mike Keown, Ruth Keown, Becky Bragg, Jeri Davis, Matthew Todd, Kathy Camp.

•December 22, 2021•
by Ellen Ferrara
NP Writer

On a recent chilly December evening six Santa’s Helpers met at the American Legion Hall to wrap presents for Sullivan’s 24 Head Start students and their teachers.
Jeri Davis founded Santa’s Helpers four years ago when a friend in Head Start told her there was no Christmas party for the children. “The children are so very appreciative of everything they receive, and they just love the party,” Davis said. She continued, “It is a full year of fundraising and hard work, but watching Santa come in and seeing the children joyfully opening their presents makes it all so worthwhile.” Read More

Karen Golden Retiring from Sullivan IGA

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Karen Golden (center) will be retiring from the Sullivan IGA on December 31. Jake Golden (left) will be the new assistant manager at the store. Also pictured is Manager Pat Stinson (right).

•December 22, 2021•
Karen Golden will retire from Sullivan IGA December 31. She began at IGA in March of 1979 when Ellsworth Lehman and Burl Jividen owned the store. She started out as a cashier, ordered health and beauty items and stocked shelves. She was the office manager for 20+ years before being promoted to administrative assistant in 2003. In 2013 she became assistant manager which is the position she currently holds.
Golden’s 42 years of experience, knowledge of the grocery business, and personal customer service have been invaluable over the years and will be missed by the store. She is looking forward to spending time with Barry Golden, her husband, who recently retired from the store, as well as spending time with her 11 grandchildren. Read More

City Council Discusses Chief of Staff Position at Monday’s Meeting

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Mayor Richard Glazebrook recognized members of the Sullivan Middle School 8th grade girls basketball team during Monday’s council meeting. The team won regionals by beating Pana then went to sectionals and defeated Marshall. This past Saturday they played Washington Middle School and lost.

•December 15, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The Sullivan City Council approved the tax levy totaling $811,329.
The council voted to accept a bid from Wallace Excavating in the amount of $34,350 for the Wyman Lake Island Project. This was budgeted for the fiscal year using TIF funds.
Mayor Richard Glazebrook introduced an ordinance eliminating the position of city administrator and establishing the position of chief of staff for the city of Sullivan. Commissioner Abbey Sherwood suggested the council look at changing some things with the ordinance before approving it. A few of the changes are taking out a residency guideline, having the termination be by majority of vote rather than by the mayor, assisting with the budget and other items.
“As it’s written, I think it needs to be cleaned up,” she said. Sherwood said that the chief of staff is proposed to be over employees but she thinks that is the commissioner’s responsibility. “I think the goal of this position shouldn’t be directed to the positions running smoothly,” Sherwood said. Glazebrook postponed the ordinance. Read More

Former Bethany Resident Releases First Book

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•December 15, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

A former Bethany resident has recently published her first children’s book and will have an event at Cathrine’s in Sullivan on Thursday, December 23. Anitra Rowe Schulte, a 1998 graduate of Bethany High School, has written Dancing with Daddy which was released December 1. Read More

EF2 Tornado Touches Down Near Gays

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•December 15, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

View the photos here

A tornado touched down south of Windsor Friday, December 10, at about 9:50 p.m. According to the National Weather Service in Lincoln, when the tornado touched down, it caused a loss of roof panels to a farm outbuilding. At that point the tornado strengthened, causing total destruction of a farm outbuilding and breaking wood power poles southeast of Windsor. South Central FS saw significant damage west of Gays with numerous buildings damaged or destroyed and three large tanker trucks flipped.
The tornado continued into Coles County, causing more damage. It finally lifted at 10:04 p.m., four miles north-northeast of Mattoon. The National Weather Service has issued a rating of EF2 for the tornado. Read More

SHS Presented with plaque

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Photo by Sonya Best
SHS Presented with plaque
Sullivan High School principal Daniel Allen with a plaque that was presented to the school for their support of the National Guard and military over the past several years.

Wits Fitness Program at Senior Center Focuses on Brain Health

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•December 8, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

A program from the University of Illinois Extension held at Mid-Illinois Senior Services and Community Center is helping to keep brains active with fun activities. According to Cheri Burcham, University of Illinois Extension Family Life Educator, brain health is a hot topic because there is a huge population that is aging. The program called Wit Fit meets monthly at the center. Read More

Brad Halbrook Announces Bid for State Representative in Newly Drawn 107th District

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Brad Halbrook

•December 8, 2021•
Citing the need for meaningful tax, pension, ethics, and spending reforms, State Representative Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) announced today he is running for re-election in the newly drawn 107th District.
“There are many challenges facing our state right now,” Halbrook said. “We have not addressed pensions. We have done nothing to provide Illinois residents with any kind of meaningful tax relief. Spending is out of control, and we have failed to root out the culture of corruption in Illinois. We need a new approach and that can only happen if reform-minded candidates run for the statehouse and win. I am running to continue to keep fighting to turn our state around.” Read More