Tommy Houser Memorial Golf Tournament

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Tommy Houser Memorial Golf Tournament
The Tommy Houser Memorial Golf Tournament was postponed to Saturday, July 3 due to rain and wet conditions at the golf course. However, the silent auction, steak dinner and music from Identity Crisis was still held on Saturday, June 26 as planned at the Sullivan VFW. Proceeds from the event go towards the Thomas Houser Memorial Scholarship Fund. To inquire if there is room to play during the golf tournament contact Elizabeth Houser at 217-962-0189. Pictured are Curt and Jackie Welch perusing the silent auction items at the Sullivan VFW during the event.

Moultrie County Board Election Committee Moves to Approve Resolution

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•June 30, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The Moultrie County Board election committee met last Wednesday to address revisions to the proposal for Sullivan Township election precinct adjustments. According to County Clerk Georgia England, this transpired because they have a couple of precincts that number over 800. “The first proposal we had last month was readjusting the precincts to level out the number of voters and to eliminate one precinct to reduce the cost to the county,” she said. “More machines will be needed, and this way we wouldn’t have purchased more machines, and it would be evenly distributed giving us 100 more voters growth over the next 10-15 years.”
England continued to say that after the county board meeting in June, they returned the proposal to Bruce Harris and had him do up another few examples, readjusting so the precincts would be down to 600. She indicated that they do not want to add cost to the county. England said, knowing the growths in the precincts, it shouldn’t increase that much in the next 10,15, 20 years. In the new proposed map, the majority of the precincts at their highest are around 590. Read More

Complaints About Drinking Water Addressed

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•June 30, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Commissioner Chuck Woodworth addressed complaints that the city of Sullivan has received about drinking water during Monday’s City Council meeting. “First thing I want to let everyone know is that the water is bacteriologically safe to drink. It has been tested for bacteria and passed each time, and we will continue to monitor for bacteria,” he said. “Your safety is our number one goal. The chlorine feed has been turned up to ensure it is safe.” Woodworth went on to say that first thing Tuesday morning another round of samples will be collected and sent to the lab to test for bacteria. Each month, several samples are collected and submitted to EPA for analysis for detection of chloroform or bacteria to confirm the water is safe. This is a monthly requirement of the IEPA. Read More

ALAH District Adopts Mystery Science and Open SciEd Curriculum for K-8

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by Ariana Cherry
NP Writer

At the opening of the June 17th ALAH school board meeting, parent Stephanie Madis requested that masks be made optional for the children in school. “ISBE is giving a recommendation, and it isn’t a law,” she stated. She also showed a photo published in a local newspaper where it pictured children in a library sitting around each other unmasked. The board thanked her for her statements.
“We received two donations this month. One was from Masonic Lodge ($3,000) and the other MasterBrand ($1,200) which totaled $4200. We are very grateful for that,” reported Superintendent Shannon Cheek. Read More

Bethany Fire Protection District Presented With Plaque

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Bethany Fire Protection District Presented With Plaque
Last Monday afternoon, June 21, Richie McCabe Jr. presented a plaque to members of the Bethany Fire Protection District. McCabe Jr. said that it took 3 to 4 days to construct the plaque as well as paint and stencil it. He presented the plaque as a thank you to the members of the department for being there for two of his family members when they needed the department’s assistance. “It’s a thankless job so when we get recognized it feels good,” Bethany Fire Chief Mike Jennings said “Realistically people call us on their worst day so when they come back and thank us it means it made a difference.” From left to right: James Burns, Willy Kastning, Richie McCabe Jr., Fire Chief Mike Jennings and Jim McMahan.

Knee High

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Photo by R.R. Best
Knee High
Harper and Hudson are this year’s knee high on the 4th of July gals. Harper recently competed in the National gymnastics tournament in Minneapolis.

Windsor Residents to Compete in Shelby County Pageants

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Submitted photo
The 2021 Miss and Junior Miss Shelby County Pageants will be taking place on June 27. The pageants are not open to the public. Pictured above are Windsor contestants with the outgoing Miss Shelby County, who is also from Windsor. From left to right: Junior Miss contestant Payton Shupe, 2019 Miss Shelby County Adilyn McCray and Trinity Shupe all of Windsor.

•June 23, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The Miss and Junior Miss Shelby County Pageants are making a comeback after taking a year’s hiatus due to COVID.
Trinity Shupe, 18, of Windsor is competing for the title of Miss Shelby County. She is a 2021 Windsor High School graduate and will attend Lake Land College this fall majoring in business. Shupe has been competing in pageants since the age of 15.
In 2019, she was crowned Miss Cowden Pioneer Days. Shupe won People’s Choice at the 2019 Miss Shelby County Fair pageant. She said, for her, pageants are about the experience, public speaking and making friends.
In her free time, she likes to take photos and be outdoors. “I took a CEO class and created a photo business so I’ve been taking photos for a year,” Shupe added.
Her sister Payton Shupe is also competing in the pageant, seeking the title of Junior Miss Shelby County. This will be her first pageant. “I had watched a few pageants because of my sister and thought it looked fun,” Payton said. Her favorite part of the pageant so far has been meeting all the girls and making new friends. Read More

Sullivan American Legion Post 68 Honors Flag Day With Ceremony

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Photo by Ellen Ferrara
The Sullivan American Legion Post 68 Honor Guard and Boy Scout Troop 39 retire worn flags during a Flag Day ceremony held the evening of June 14.

•June 23, 2021•
By Ellen Ferrara
NP Writer

Every year on June 14 Americans celebrate Flag Day. Not surprisingly, it is considered the most appropriate day to hold flag disposal ceremonies which are often held in the evening.
And so, on June 14 at 6 p.m., the Sullivan American Legion Honor Guard with assistance from local Boy Scout Troop 39 conducted a flag retirement ceremony in accordance with the United States Flag Code.
Just as there is etiquette for displaying Old Glory, there is also proper etiquette for the respectful disposal of torn, faded and worn-out flags no longer suitable for display. Read More

Blueberry Farm in Bethany Open for the Season

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Nichole Hendry and her three children in front of the general store at the Prairie Hill Blueberry Farm in Bethany. From left to right: Nichole, Addy, Amelia and Asher Hendry.

•June 23, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Craig and Nichole Hendry didn’t originally set out to be blueberry farmers. “We sort of fell into it,” Nichole said. “We wanted to live in the country.” Someone asked the couple if they would be interested in a blueberry farm.
“We came out to look at it and fell in love with it,” she said. That was in the fall of 2019. Nichole says their first winter here they went to seminars and called other blueberry farmers to ask for advice. The farm has 1,000 bushes on the three acres, and there are five varieties of blueberries. Read More

Fourth of July Celebrations in the Local Area

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•June 23, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The Sullivan 4th of July celebration will be held July 1 through 4 at Wyman Park and is sponsored by the Sullivan Area Merchants and Sullivan American Legion Post #68. The carnival will be Thursday through Sunday. Hours are Thursday, Friday and Saturday 5 p.m.-10 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m.- 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. On Sunday the carnival provided by Conner Family Amusements will open after the parade. Read More