Where is Brandon Stone going? 

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ALAH Principals Present School Improvement Plans
Superintendent Cheek shares COVID19 update

•November 11, 2020•
by Ariana Cherry
NP Writer

Superintendent Shannon Cheek opened the ALAH school board meeting Oct. 21 with the treasurer’s report, noting that all funds are on track. Cheek mentioned that the district received four very generous donations in the past month. The one of which he is most proud came from Jack Martin, a senior, who donated his time and materials to power wash the front of the school building.  A total of $3,400 was collected in donations from Edward Jones for the FFA and Ag programs and Aikman’s Wildlife Adventures. Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Care Center also reimbursed $700 to the athletic program.
The district obtained a grant which allows them to purchase and provide all students in the district with water bottles. The grant covers half of the expense. The ALAH district also applied for a grant through ADM in the amount of $14,000 which will assist in paying for a tractor and seed cleaner for the district’s popcorn field as well as purchase a camera for documentation. After some popcorn has been harvested, the district will donate some to ADM as a thank you. Read More

Sullivan Native Offering His E-Books for Free

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Jan Munch

•November 11, 2020•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Jan Munch, who was born and raised in Sullivan, is offering his e-books for free. Munch, who writes under the pen name Jon Truman has written five books, which are available as e-books and paperbacks online.
Munch graduated from Sullivan High School in 1959. He attended the University of Illinois. He married Linda Patient from Bethany. After graduation, he worked as a recreation therapist at Alton State Hospital for two years. Read More

Moultrie County Has High Turnout for General Election

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Photo by Crystal Reed.
Andrew Fultz of Bethany casts his vote on Election day at the Bethany Firehouse.

•November 11, 2020•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The elections were held last Tuesday and the county saw one of the highest turnouts ever.
In the 2020 Moultrie County election Moultrie County Clerk Georgia England reported that there were over 3,000 people that went to the polls. There were 1,809 people that voted during early voting and 1,163 that voted by mail.
When it came to voting on the State of Illinois Constitutional amendment there were 1,477 votes for yes and 5,089 votes for no. There was also a referendum question for Illinois separation that received 4,610 yes votes and 1,969 no votes.
There were six candidates that ran for four County Board seats. Totals for the county board race were Elizabeth Houser 4,769; J. John Fayhee 3,854; Larry R. Baker 3,799; Neil Bryan 3,623; Rita Florey 2,549 and Gary P. Smith 2,417. Read More

SCED Holding Annual Holiday Elf Hunt

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•November 11, 2020•
The Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development is having its annual Holiday Elf Hunt. There will be an elf hiding in 16 local businesses and shoppers are tasked with visiting at least six of those business and finding the elf so that they can fill out a card.
According to Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development Director Laurrie Minor, the promotion is a way to get people to visit local businesses. “There are families that do this promotion with their kids every year,” she said. Read More

Sullivan City Council Passes Ordinance That Modifies the Liquor Code

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•November 11, 2020•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The Sullivan City Council passed an ordinance on Monday night, which allows workers between the ages of 18 and 21 to scan or sell liquor at conventional and package liquor stores. At a previous meeting IGA manager Pat Stinson had approached the board about making a change to the ordinance due to a shortage of workers 21 and over at his store.
“We appreciate the city council approving the ordinance change for us,” he said “this opens up a lot of flexibility for us.”
The council also approved the sale of surplus public real estate, a total of 17.3 acres of undeveloped farm ground owned by the city at a price of $242,000. There was also the first reading of an ordinance for levy and assessment of taxes for the fiscal year beginning May 1, 2020 and ending April 30, 2021. This will be passed at the next meeting. The total appropriation is $30,613,600. Read More

Teachers Sorority Donates Supplies

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Teachers Sorority Donates Supplies
Members of the Moultrie County Alpha Delta Kappa, a teacher’s sorority collected masks, hand sanitizer and wipes to be distributed among the three elementary schools in Moultrie County for their October altruistic project.

Roundup

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Roundup
The ninth annual IGA Roundup was held last week to benefit the Moultrie County Food Pantry’s Thanksgiving. The total amount raised this year during the event was $1,200. Sullivan IGA manager Pat Stinson would like to thank the community for their donations during the event. Above: Customer Kathy Minor (left) rounds up her purchase last week at the register being worked by Cindy Love (right).

Open House

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Open House
Tera Pedro and granddaughter Emery browse at The Flower Pot Floral and Boutique last Friday during the business’s Christmas Open House.

Shed Fire

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Photo by R.R. Best
Shed Fire
Sullivan Assistant Fire Chief Larry Edwards runs the deck gun atop the Sullivan engine while responding to a shed fire on Tuesday night east of Jonathan Creek Church. The call came in about 6 p.m. Bethany Fire Department was called in for mutual aid and water shuttle.