School Districts Announce Back to School Plans

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•July 28, 2021•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Last week, Sullivan and Okaw Valley School districts sent letters to families regarding their back-to-school plans for 2021-2022. Superintendent Ted Walk announced in his letter that Sullivan Schools will operate in a very similar manner as 2019, with the primary exception that masks will be required only when on school buses. The letter continues to state that buildings and school buses will have enhanced cleaning schedules and that good hand hygiene will be encouraged at all grade levels.
Parents should keep their children home from school if they are sick or exhibiting COVID-19 related symptoms. Also, three feet of physical distancing will be maintained to the greatest extent feasible. The letter says that field trips will resume and that visitors will be allowed at the building principal’s discretion. Read More

Findlay Walleye Fest

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Findlay Walleye Fest 2021
The annual car show was part of the hugely successful 2021 Walleye Festival held last weekend in Findlay. For more photos, see page 8.

Red Cross Blood Drive At Post 68

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Red Cross Blood Drive At Post 68
Don Book donated blood during the drive at the Sullivan American Legion Post 68 held Tuesday, July 13. A total of 55 units of blood were collected. The next drive at the Sullivan American Legion will be on Saturday, September 18 from 8 am to 2 pm. That drive will be the River Faith American Red Cross Honor Drive.

Bethany Village Board Votes To Proceed With Water System Upgrades

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•July 21, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The Bethany Village Board voted to proceed with water system upgrades during a special meeting held last Tuesday. The project is being funded by the United States Department of Agriculture rural development program and will be part grant and part loan. The village received their award letter and it stated that $2.9 million would be loan and $722,000 would be grant. Read More

Qualls Announces Candidacy

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•July 21, 2021•
Linda Qualls recently announced her candidacy as a Republican candidate for Moultrie County Clerk.
Qualls, who has lived and raised her family in Sullivan for decades, brings a variety of skills and talents to one of the busiest offices in the courthouse. She joined the clerk’s staff in April of 2021 and is confident that her knowledge and work experiences have prepared her to become the next Moultrie County Clerk.
While working as a legal administrative assistant at Wood and Mayberry Law Office (now known as BRE Law), Linda earned her Associate’s degree, cum laude, in business administration from Lake Land College. Steve Wood, her employer for more than 20 years, describes Linda as “highly motivated to perform any task to a successful conclusion, and her outgoing personality results in an excellent relationship with the public.” Wood appreciated Qualls as a “very loyal, intelligent, resourceful, and reliable employee” and states that he “is more than happy to endorse her candidacy for Moultrie County Clerk. She would be a great one.” Read More

Sullivan Farmers Market

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Photo by R.R. Best
Sullivan Farmers Market
Paul Feist sells produce at the Sullivan Farmers Market in the pavilion on the southwest corner of the square. The Sullivan Farmers Market is every Wednesday until the end of October from 4 to 7 pm. It is free for vendors to setup and there are no reserved spaces so vendors setup tables where space is available.

Rena’s Rally Benefit to Be Held in Arthur

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•July 21, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

A benefit will be held for Rena Herschberger this Friday and Saturday at the fairgrounds in Arthur. All proceeds will benefit Herschberger’s fight against Hodgkins Lymphoma.
She is married to Nate Herschberger, and they have two children, Anissa (9) and Parker (6). Her journey for diagnosis started in March 2021. She saw her family doctor and was sent for an ultrasound on her head and neck due to a few lumps near her neck and collarbone.
The ultrasound led to a biopsy. On March 24, she got the call. “Rena, it turns out we do need you to come see us at the cancer center.” She said that she felt when the phone rang, she already knew the news was not good, but she had peace. It was then that she was told that the biopsy showed Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
She was to meet with the oncology team, and they would proceed. After meeting with the team, the next step was a PET scan. The results came back on May 4, stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a blood cancer that starts in the white blood cells and moves throughout the body. Read More

County Board Votes to Reestablish Voting Precinct Lines

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•July 21, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

After a long discussion at the June meeting, the Moultrie County Board voted 7-2 to reestablish voting precinct lines in Sullivan Township. After last month’s meeting, they returned to Bruce Harris and Associates and asked them to redraw the map. All the precincts are well under 800 voters each which leaves room for growth.
The new map was drawn for Sullivan Township only. Precinct lines have no bearing for whom a person votes, just the location at where a person votes.
Board members also voted 7-2 to allow the state’s attorney’s office to hire a part-time investigator for the remainder of the fiscal year for 14 hours a week at the rate of $14.00 to $15.50 an hour based on experience. State’s Attorney Tracy Weaver reported that this investigator would assist the state’s attorney’s office with things such as reviewing body camera footage and serving subpoenas. The office needs additional help in light of the criminal justice reforms that have come about from the state of Illinois. Read More

Local Author At 5 West Coffee and Wine Lounge

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Local Author At 5 West Coffee and Wine Lounge
Local author Jennifer Hobbs had a book signing and reading at 5 West Coffee and Wine Lounge on Thursday, July 15. Her book “CALMED. Growth After Trauma” was released on July 1. Jennifer is pictured with her husband Ryan.