Sullivan Show Choirs Preview For Food

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•November 27, 2019•

Sullivan Show Choirs preview night is coming at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18.
It is held in conjunction with a community food drive for the Moultrie County Food Pantry.
Two nonperishable food items are the price of admission.
For that you receive season preview performances by Sullivan’s show choirs at Sullivan High School.
Proceeds benefit the Sullivan Food Bank.
The Show Choir Preview/Community Food Drive is hosted by the Sullivan Singers Booster Club and Sullivan CUSD #300.

Coach Ruscin’s Long History With Lions Turkey Bingo

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
John and Anna Ruscin started seeing each other when John started helping with Turkey Bingo.

And the Beginning of Life with Anna

•November 20, 2019•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

John Ruscin has probably never undertaken any assignment for the short haul. He was a teacher/coach at Sullivan Elementary School for 37 years, then an IGA employee for 19 years and on November 8 he announced that he would be retiring after 68 years of volunteer service to the Lion Club’s Turkey Bingo.
“I came to Sullivan as a geography teacher and coach in 1951,” John recalled. ”Then Principal, Russell Ashbrook, actively recruited every male teacher to membership in the Lion’s Club. I have been there ever since.”
“I’ve been told that the turkeys were tossed off the roof of the Court House and the participants had to chase down their turkey,” He said it was an early story of how Thanksgiving Turkeys were distributed. Turkeys can fly can’t they?
“This practice was discontinued due to complaints about cruelty to the turkeys,” he continued.
Turkey Bingo was first held at Shasteen Motors, then moved to the Armory and finally to the American Legion Hall, John said, emphasizing more than 300 people have participated in the annual fundraiser each of the past two years.
The Lion’s Club helps those with vision issues and supports community programs including school scholarships. Read More

Titus-Sentel Sale: Big Crowd; Bigger Money

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•November 20, 2019•
By Mike Brothers

The crowd packed into the Sullivan American Legion Friday, Nov. 15 saw the Winifred Titus Sentel Trust farms sell for $10,971,883.
Busey Farm Brokerage managed the sale of seven tracts totaling 928.1 acres of land north of Sullivan city limits.
The city of Sullivan did not bid on any of the tracts of farm land, although the city council did purchase the Titus Home located at the south end of Wyman Park earlier.
“An unbelievable crowd attended the sale,” Mayor Richard Glazebrook said of the event which drew some 150 people. “This is a tremendous blessing for the city of Sullivan. Winifred Titus Sentel demonstrated extraordinary vision when she made her decision in 1960.” Read More

Saturday Crash Claims Sullivan Couple’s Lives

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•November 20, 2019•
Longtime Sullivan residents Bill and Jackie Protz were traveling home with granddaughter Jenna and her best friend Holly after watching the Vandalia football team in the state playoffs when tragedy struck.
According to the Illinois State Police District 18 report at 6:21 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16 Jackolyn C. Protz, 72, of Sullivan was driving a 2010 Toyota Sienna east on Hwy. 185 near Coffeen when a 2016 Ford F-150 driven by a 17 year old male of Harvel crossed into Protz’s lane hitting the Toyota head on. Read More

OV Elementary Students Focus on Kindness

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Okaw Valley Elementary School celebrated National Bullying Prevention Month and Red Ribbon Week

Photo furnished
Okaw Valley Elementary School students Choose to Be Nice.


•November 20, 2019•
Through the application of their new SEL curriculum, Choose to Be Nice, OVES teachers concentrate on one character trait a month teaching students they have a choice on how to act and react.
Throughout the month of October, students and staff focused on their monthly word, KINDNESS.
In conjunction with Red Ribbon week, the last week of October, students also learned to be a buddy not a bully.
Students realized being kind is a choice they can make every day. Classroom lessons can be applied across the school curricula and locations, at home and in the community. Read More

Sullivan School Board Learns About Students’ Community Activities

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•November 20, 2019•
By Ariana Cherry
for The News Progress

The Sullivan School Board’s most recent meeting was Monday, November 11, 2019. The bills were accepted as presented. The balance from the Treasurer’s report was $11,977,818.84. The Education Fund is at $335,169.88.
Board members adopted a resolution for the Superintendent to begin preparing a tentative budget for the 2020-2021 school year so that it can be presented to the Board of Education on July 13, 2020. Afterward, it will be placed for public inspection on July 14, 2020 for at least 30 days. There will be a budget hearing at the following September meeting before its final adoption.
The board also discussed the district’s revenues to support expenses for a projected tentative 2019 Tax Levy payable 2020. The final levy will be obtained and approved at the regular December 2019 board meeting. Read More

Sullivan Community Comes Together Once Again

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Once again, the Sullivan community comes together to show their support for a family that has suffered a tragic loss. Long time Sullivan residents, Bill and Jackie Protz were traveling home with granddaughter, Jenna and her best friend, Holly, after watching the Vandalia football team in the state playoffs when tragedy struck. A pickup driven by a 17 year old boy crossed over the center line and hit the Protz’s vehicle head on, killing all four of them. Randy Protz, formerly of Sullivan and Principal at Vandalia schools, is the son of Bill and Jackie and the father of Jenna. A prayer vigil is being held at 4:00 pm this afternoon in Vandalia. The Illinois State Police are still investigating the accident. The driver of the truck was air lifted to an area trauma center with life threatening injuries.

Sullivan Planning Session Draws People Planning Projects

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•November 13, 2019•

By Mike Brothers

With the public sale of Winifred Titus Sentel farmland promising a cash windfall for the city of Sullivan a variety of groups offered to help the city spend it.
During the special meeting held for the purpose of a study session regarding strategic planning at 6 p.m. Tuesday, November 5 the city council heard proposals from the public and learned that conditions at city hall and the Civic Center are priorities.
Following the public portion of the meeting, city administrator Dan Flannell reported the recently purchased Titus home is being evaluated for possible office space. He explained architects have warned the cost to convert the home into office space could be twice the cost to build new.
Treasurer Sarah Golden reported that conditions at city hall have not improved, and the recent addition of an IT person is crowding space to aggravate the situation. Read More

Food Pantry Chocolate Fundraiser Offers Sweet Chance to Help

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Flesor’s Candy Kitchen crew is working day and night getting special gifts ready for the pre Thanksgiving Flesor’s Candy Sale in Sullivan to benefit the Moultrie County Food Pantry.

•November 13, 2019•
By Cara Melapple
for the News Progress

Flesor’s Candy Kitchen hand dipped Chocolate Fund Raiser returns to Cathrine’s Gallery in Sullivan for the eighth year Saturday, Nov. 23 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
“This year the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is tight,” Devon Flesor said, explaining Christmas orders can be placed during the fundraising event for the Moultrie County Food Pantry in Sullivan.
The Tuscola candy kitchen is celebrating its 15th anniversary, offering more of their hand made gifts for Moultrie County visitors. Everyone at the candy kitchen is putting in a special effort for the 15th anniversary of sisters Devon and Anne reopening the candy kitchen started by their grandfather Gus in 1901. Read More

SHS Careers Class Honors Veterans 100th Anniversary

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Veterans representing all branches of the military gathered at Sullivan High School for the annual Careers English Class sponsored Veterans Day observation

•November 13, 2019•

The Sullivan High School Career English Class Veterans Day assembly featured Navy Lieutenant Andrew Sparrow and presentation of the Charter Member Project to the American Legion.
Lt. Junior Grade Sparrow just returned home from the Middle East and noted in 2005 he was among the students assembled for Veterans Day. His 18 months serving the Navy in the Middle East changed his perspective.
Sparrow explained the courage of the veterans seated before him was not only displayed on the battlefields, but also by the support of the mothers, fathers, grandfathers, grandmothers, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters at home.
“We are thankful to those who made the ultimate sacrifices by putting everyone before themselves,” Sparrow emphasized.
Some 100 students of Rebecca Lawson, Cami Badman and Marsha Kirby volunteered to find information on 79 charter members of the American Legion Post 68 for their 100th anniversary. Read More