Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development Presents Awards

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Photo by Crystal Reed
The Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development 2020 Citizen of the Year award was given to Margi Gaither and the Sullivan Stitchers by Sullivan Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Executive Director Laurrie Minor.

•March 10, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The Sullivan Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development has awarded its 2020 Citizen of the Year award to Margi Gaither and the Sullivan Stitchers.
Gaither saw a need for mask distribution after watching a news program about the pandemic and had an idea. Though she does not sew herself, she knew she could organize, and that’s what she did. She organized a group of 20 individuals in the community to create cloth masks, which were approved by Decatur Memorial Hospital, for those who needed them during the pandemic.
She found sewing machines for those who didn’t have them but had the skills to sew and put out a call for materials and even set up a safe distribution system to get the masks to those who needed them. The Sullivan Stitchers under her leadership gave away more than 8,000 masks to local hospitals, staff and students of local schools and citizens in this community. Read More

SHS Alumna Receives Going Above and Beyond Award

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•March 10, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

A Sullivan High School graduate was recently awarded with the San Francisco Going Above and Beyond Award for her support of the Alzheimer’s Association. Emilie Sanders Lee was born and raised in Sullivan and graduated from Sullivan High School.
After graduating from high school, she attended and graduated from Loyola University of Chicago. She and her husband spent a few years in Santa Monica, California and then six years in the San Francisco Bay area where they had their two daughters. They recently moved back to the central Illinois area in October. Read More

Habitat House

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Habitat House
Members of the Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity surprised their newest family that they will be partnering with to build a house. The house is anticipated to be built this fall on Faith Lane in Sullivan. They are partnering with Tammy Martin and her family. “We’re excited to partner with her to build a home for them,” Cheryl Thomas of Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity said.
Pictured are Gary Smith, Tim Schoenselder, Tammy Martin, Trey Schoenselder, Cheryl Thomas, Crissy Dycus, Roger Glazebrook.

Celebrating FFA Week

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Students Visit Animals
Elise Hagerman and Cheyanne Gourley pet a horse during the petting zoo at Okaw Valley High School last Friday.

Straw Bale Toss
At immediate left, students and staff participated in a straw bale toss at Windsor High School as part of the school’s FFA week activities. The school also had dress up days that included Dress Like A Windsor FFA Officer, Wear Your FFA Shirt, Dress Like A Farmer, Support Your Favorite Tractor and Wear Red or Green and Wear Your Favorite Ag based Hat Day. The group hosted an ag coloring contest at the grade school and two divisions of an ag photo contest for the junior high and high school students and staff.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Petting Zoo
Jack Grooms pets a pig that is being held by Mia Harris during the petting zoo at Okaw Valley High School last Friday. Due to the pandemic, Okaw Valley’s FFA is spreading out some of its activities to celebrate FFA week. This month they plan to have a tractor drive-in day, a pork burger cookout for the FFA students and an ag open house towards the end of the month.

Photo submitted
Tractor Day
Windsor High School students with one of the tractors brought to the school for Drive Your Tractor To School Day.

Dicks Pharmacy Opens At New Location

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Photo by R.R. Best
Cindi Reed, owner of Dicks Pharmacy, inside the new location of the pharmacy at 122 S. Walnut in Arthur. The pharmacy recently reopened after four months of being closed due to structural issues.

•March 3, 2021•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Dicks Pharmacy in Arthur has reopened after being closed for four months due to structural issues beyond their control. Last October, the ceiling caved in at their old location.
According to owner Cindi Reed, the pharmacy had been at that site for 100 years and had not been renovated since 1965. She said that after the ceiling collapsed, they chose to stay closed and relocate.
“It was the best option for what we wanted to do for the future,” Reed said. When it came to picking a new location, she chose a place to meet the needs of a modern pharmacy or health hub which includes a consultation room/private immunization office. Read More

Governor Signs the Criminal Justice Reform Legislation Bill

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•March 3, 2021•
Last week Governor JB Pritzker signed the criminal justice reform legislation omnibus bill (HB 3653 (Rep. Slaughter,Chicago/Sen. Sims,Chicago) into law. This was despite overwhelming express opposition by state’s attorneys, police chiefs, sheriffs, police officers, crime victims, and many citizens across Illinois. The opposition is not just to significant portions of contents of the bill but also the way the bill was passed. On January 13, 2021,the 764-page bill was presented to the Illinois Senate at 3:04 a.m. and was voted on that same morning at 4:49 a.m. Read More

COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Effects on Mental Health

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•March 3, 2021•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer

From wearing masks to social distancing, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused many changes to our lives in the past year. While some social distancing is good, don’t let that turn into complete isolation from others.
According to kff.org, during the pandemic, about four in 10 adults in the United States have reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder, a share that has been largely consistent, up from one in 10 adults who reported those symptoms from January to June 2019. A KFF Health Tracking Poll from July 2020 also found that many adults are reporting specific negative impacts on their mental health and well-being such as difficulty sleeping (36%) or eating (32%), increases in alcohol consumption or substance abuse (12%) and worsening chronic conditions (12%) due to worry and stress over the coronavirus.
Dave Cole, director of the Moultrie County Counseling Center, said that statistically there has been a rise in mental health concerns and substance abuse due to the coronavirus. “I feel that it is a very big concern that the longer COVID continues it becomes an ongoing issue,” he said. Read More

Pets Need Extra Care In Frigid Weather

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by Ellen Ferrara
NP Writer

Because cats and dogs are covered in fur, we tend to think they are protected from the cold, but such is not the case. Dogs and cats are as susceptible to frostbite as humans, especially on the former’s ears, tails and feet.
A good rule of thumb to remember is that if it’s too cold for you to be outdoors, it is probably too cold for your pets as well.
My cousin’s husband, Dr. Trent Fisher, is a graduate of Purdue University Veterinary School and is recently retired after many years at his veterinary clinic in Salem, Indiana. Dr. Fisher offers the following tips for pet care during the winter:
.  Make sure dogs and cats are microchipped or have a collar in case they get lost. More dogs are lost in winter storms than any time of the year.
.  Make sure they have shelter to keep them warm and dry. If sheltered outside, bed them with straw and blankets and turn their shelter away from the wind. Read More

Arthur Resident, Susan Bursa, Has Donated Eight Gallons of Blood

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•February 24, 2021•
by Ariana Cherry
NP Writer

The human body holds up to 1.2 to 1.5 gallons (or 10 units/pints) of blood. A person can begin giving blood at 16 years of age (with parental consent), must weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. You may donate once every 56 days. According to redcrossblood.org, every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood as it is important for surgeries, cancer treatment, chronic illnesses and traumatic injuries. One donation can save up to three lives. Read More

City Council Approves Agreement

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•February 24, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
The City Council entered into an intergovernmental agreement for the transfer of property from the Moultrie County Rural Public Water District to the city of Sullivan during Monday night’s meeting. The purchase price of the property which is adjacent to the water plant is $10,000. The acquirement of the property will allow for some space between the new water plant and the above-ground water storage tank. Read More