•February 3, 20201•
By Ellen Ferrara
NP Guest Writer
When America’s founding fathers envisioned this new nation, they were united in the pledge that it would be a democracy governed by the will of the people and never by a king, dictator or autocrat.
To ensure that government of the people, by the people and for the people would long endure they created an election process whereby every citizen should have a free and equal vote to decide who would govern them. Over 200 years later, we still struggle with ensuring equality in our voting system.
In the most recent 2020 election there was an unprecedented assault on the validity of our election process – the very cornerstone of our democracy. Even the integrity of our United States Postal Service was compromised. This happened in part, I believe, because people do not know or understand completely how our election process works. There is so much more to it than just completing a ballot and inserting it into a machine. Read More
Bates Takes Third in District Contest
•February 3, 20201•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer
Sullivan High School sophomore Paul Bates took third in the district contest for the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ Voice of Democracy competition. Bates said that the district competition included entrants from the five surrounding counties.
His essay won at the high school level which advanced him to the district level. This year’s essay theme was “Is This The Country That The Founders Envisioned?”
Bates said that his essay focused on how the founder of our country set out to make us a free and properous nation and how he thinks that has come to friution. In addition to writing the actual essay he had to record himself reading the essay and place the file on a flash drive to be submitted.
“I thought it was a good way to get my opinion out there and good practice to learn to write better,” Bates said.
2021 Windsor High School Homecoming Court
Photo Submitted
2021 Windsor High School Homecoming Court
Friday, January 22nd Windsor High School held a Covid style Homecoming coronation. Pictured is this years’ homecoming court.
Left to right: Freshmen Attendants Talon Bridges and Claire Sims, Sophomore Attendants Dylan Curry and Abby Carey, Junior Attendants Jack Welsh and Maddy Pfeiffer, 2021 Homecoming Queen Marylee Orman, 2021 Homecoming King Morgan Greuel, King and Queen Candidates Toby Kemper and Jessica Rauch and Jacob McQueen and Trinity Shupe.
Sullivan HS Student Saves Baby’s Life
•February 3, 20201•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer
Chase Eller, 16, of Sullivan is being called a hero after he stepped in while a baby was choking and saved the baby’s life. Last Friday evening, Eller while at dinner in Decatur with his girlfriend heard a baby coughing and then choking.
He saw the mom of the baby trying to help her choking baby but doing so incorrectly. He remembered from his health class that sticking your fingers down a choking baby’s mouth will only make the situation worse. Instead, Eller knew the right thing to do was turn the baby upside down and try to dislodge whatever was stuck in the baby’s throat; so Eller jumped into action. He said that he approached the mother and immediately turned the baby upside down and whatever was dislodged in the baby’s throat came loose. Read More
Snow Day
Fuel Plant Fire
Photo by R.R. Best
Fuel Plant Fire
Windsor Fire Department was paged at 8:50 pm Monday night to respond to the FS Bulk Fuel Plant, west of Gays. When the department arrived, the fire was fully involved and they called for mutual aid for extra water. They used water for extinguishing part of the fire and the rest of the fire was put out using foam. Departments that responded to the fire were Sullivan, Lincoln, Wabash, Neoga, Mattoon, Findlay and Strasburg. The cause of the fire is currently unknown. Crews were on scene until 2 am.
Sullivan City Council Hears Needs and Options Review for City Building
•January 27, 20201•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer
The Sullivan City Council heard a needs and options review for the city building from Colton Davis of Utz and Associates during their meeting Monday evening. The firm was contacted in November by City Administrator Dan Flannell to do an inspection of the city building.
Davis said the air quality issues with the building were evident to them when they entered the building for the inspection and that the existing HVAC system is not enough to handle the amount of water intrusion coming into the basement.
“In the basement the existing brick foundation has been eroded over the years; there are temporary steel supports that are supporting the first floor in that area,” he said. Davis went on to speak of the roof structural system saying that it is too weak for what could support an HVAC system. Read More
Teachers Receive Grants from Illinois Retired Teachers Assn.
•January 27, 20201•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer
Teachers from Lovington and Okaw Valley have received grants from the Illinois Retired Teachers Association. The Association had 247 applications in 2020, and these projects were two of the recipients.
Jennifer Hostetler, a third-grade teacher at Lovington Grade, was one of two recipients from this area. She will use the $250 grant she received to purchase coding robotics Dash and Dot. According to Hostetler, Dash is the most powerful robot companion that kids can use to apply and extend their coding knowledge. Packed with sensors and capabilities, kids may program the robot to move, light up, make sounds, avoid obstacles and even respond to their voices. Read More
Fuel Plant Fire
Photo by R.R. Best
Fuel Plant Fire
Windsor Fire Department was paged at 8:50 pm Monday night to respond to the FS Bulk Fuel Plant, west of Gays. When the department arrived, the fire was fully involved and they called for mutual aid for extra water. They used water for extinguishing part of the fire and the rest of the fire was put out using foam. Departments that responded to the fire were Sullivan, Lincoln, Wabash, Neoga, Mattoon, Findlay and Strasburg. The cause of the fire is currently unknown. Crews were on scene until 2 am.
Moultrie County State’s Attorney Office Welcomes New Victim/Witness Coordinator
Photo by Crystal Reed
Melanie Long is the new part-time Victim/Witness Coordinator for the Moultrie County State’s Attorney’s office. She retired in December from the Macon County State’s Attorney’s Office after 21 ½ years of service as the Victim Services Coordinator.
•January 27, 20201•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer
Melanie Long has been hired as a part-time victim/witness coordinator in the office of the Moultrie County State’s Attorney.
She retired in December from the Macon County State’s Attorney’s office after 21-½ years as their Victim Services Coordinator. She began working with Moultrie County earlier this month.
Long said the purpose of a victim/witness coordinator is to serve victims of any type of crime as a guide to the criminal justice system. “I help them understand what their rights are and if damages can be repaid through restitution,” Long said. She added that part of her role is explaining what’s next and what could happen during a case. Read More