ALAH Looks to Return to “Pre-Covid Schedules” Next School Year

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Planning for all students to return to in-person learning

•May 5, 2021•
by Ariana Cherry
NP Writer

"I am pretty proud of where we are. We are in good shape. I feel pretty confident we will continue to move in that direction,” noted Superintendent Shannon Cheek when he presented COVID-19 updates to the board during his superintendent’s report. At the time of the meeting, there were 16 students who were in quarantine and only one student in quarantine due to a positive test. No staff was in quarantine. Since August 19, the district has had only 75 positive cases among students and 21 positive cases among staff.
The district is planning on a full return with pre-COVID schedules for the next school year. This means that all of the buildings are looking at a full school day with everyone returning to in-person learning. There will be guidelines that the district may have to follow, and if there are students with health conditions who have a note from their doctor that requires them to have remote learning, then the district will make plans for that. Read More

Eastlawn Block Party

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Photo by R.R. Best
Eastlawn Block Party
This past weekend there was an Eastlawn Block Party for the reuniting of the Villagettes. Pictured are: Peggy Reeder, Candy Monroe, Cindy Sanner, Dee Buker, John Weakly and Kathy Goetz.

Moultrie County Man Sentenced To 8 Years In Prison

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•May 5, 2021•
Charles Willis, Jr., 26, has been sentenced to 8 years of imprisonment in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
At a hearing on April 26, 2021, Judge Jeremy Richey accepted a plea in which Willis pled guilty to the offense of Arson, a Class 2 Felony, Moultrie County case 2020-CF-17. Read More

Lady Lakers Basketball Team Member Reflects On National Championship Victory

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Photo submitted
SHS alumni Josie Orris and Avery Still, members of the Lake Land College Lady Lakers basketball team with the NJCAA Division 2 National Championship trophy.

•May 5, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Recently the Lady Lakers Women’s Basketball team won the NJCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Championship. On the team are two students from Sullivan.
Avery Still, of Sullivan, is a freshman at Lake Land College and played basketball all four years she attended Sullivan High School. She is majoring in criminal justice with plans to become a law enforcement officer after she graduates.
Still also is employed at Mason Point where she has been working since age 15. She received a full ride scholarship to play basketball at Lake Land College.
Going into the national tournament, the Lady Lakers’ record was 21-2 with a 12-game win streak. They earned the No. 2 seed, which was the highest in the program’s history. Read More

Illini Prairie Trade Show to be Held May 12 at AHS Gym

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•April 28, 2021•
The Illini Prairie CEO Board of Directors will be hosting the Illini Prairie Trade Show on Wednesday, May 12 from 5 – 7 pm in the Arcola High School Gym located in Arcola. At this event, this year’s class of high school students that were part of the Illini Prairie CEO class will be displaying and presenting on the businesses they have developed as part of this course.
“CEO” stands for Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities. It is a year-long, experientially learning based course, designed to utilize partnerships in our community to provide an overview of business processes and development. Read More

RSVP Hosts 20th Awards Luncheon to Honor Volunteers

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Photo by Ellen Ferrara
Shirley Cochran with her 5 year service pin at the RSVP Awards Luncheon.

•April 28, 2021•
By Ellen Ferrara
NP Writer

Approximately 50 members of the Retired and Senior Volunteers Program (RSVP) gathered at First United Methodist Church on April 21 to celebrate their 20th year Awards Luncheon.
Last year’s luncheon was cancelled due to COVID so this was a most welcome celebration. Each attendee received a brightly colored thermos mug, and the tables were set with daffodil arrangements, candy bars and festive placemats.
Ladies from the church served a plated luncheon of salad, herbed chicken filet, mashed potatoes, green beans and an apple/nut brownie with hot caramel sauce and whipped cream. Read More

The Cicadas Are Coming – What You Need To Know

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•April 28, 2021•
By Sharon Barricklow
Correspondent

They’re loud, messy and everywhere in 2021. Periodical Cicadas are getting ready to emerge from their 17-year embryo sleep, molt, mate, spread their wings and wreak havoc with outdoor activities for a three to four-week period this summer.
Periodical Cicadas, known as the 17-year cicada, are the longest living insect known in the natural world. The eggs are buried in the ground and take almost two decades to reach maturity before emerging and wreaking havoc during their short lives. Also known as Brood X – for Roman numeral 10, the bugs are native to areas with large plains, largely in the eastern half of the United States. In Illinois, Shelby County sits almost on the dividing line between Brood X, more common to Northern Illinois and the 13-year Cicada, known for populating the southern part of the state. The Chicago Botanical Garden says Brood X are not found anywhere else in the world. Read More

State Scholars 2021

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Photo by Crystal Reed
ALAH State Scholars
Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond High School Illinois State Scholars are front (from left to right): Shalie Taylor, Cassidee Pantier, Erin Schrock. Back row (left to right): Jack Martin, Wyatt Romine,Layton Hall. Not pictured: Colton Middleton.

Photo by Crystal Reed
OVHS State Scholars
Okaw Valley High School’s Illinois State Scholars are Kalynn Teague and Carleigh Bobbett. Not pictured: Olivia Whitney.

Photo Submitted
SHS State Scholars
Sullivan High School’s Illinois State Scholars are Noah Bates, Zoe Walton, Emily White and Reagan Crouse.

Illinois Farm Bureau to Fund Illinois Press Foundation Grants

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•April 28, 2021•
Illinois Farm Bureau will be the financial sponsor of this year’s Illinois Press Foundation mini-grants program that assists existing media programs at public and private high schools throughout the state.
Selected schools receive grants of up to $1,500 from the Illinois Press Foundation to pay for a computer, software or other equipment needed for a high school’s student media program to produce print or online newspapers. School media programs will be receiving application information Monday, with requests due on or before May 14. Funds or equipment will be received in September. Read More