Photo furnished
Best of OVHS Class
Kailynn Bobbett and Bella Benning were recognized on Saturday at the Best of the Class Event. WCIA 3 has recognized area high school seniors through this unique community project since 1983. This long running program honors students who have achieved academic excellence by featuring them in a series of television announcements. Bobbett and Benning are co-valedictorians at Okaw Valley High School.
Valedictorian Spencer Johnson
•May 22, 2019•
Sullivan High School held the 141st commencement exercises Sunday in weather that was as unpredictable as the 66 seniors’ futures.
Intermittent storms forced the 2:30 p.m. graduation into a packed high school gymnasium where principal Erik Young presented his final high school class to the board of education.
Young will start the 2019-20 school year as superintendent of Ridgeview CUSD #19, near his hometown of Fairbury. Young has been high school principal for the past six years, previously serving as middle school and high school assistant principal the prior four years.
Valedictorian Spencer Johnson’s opening remarks included being thankful he could count on his fingers, and his legs would stand up for him.
He went on to point out the lessons learned in high school were preparation for those graduating to live their own lives out in the world.
“Do your own thing, don’t just survive,” Spencer encouraged his classmates.
Class salutatorian Broderick Goss reeled off favorite quotes noting, “I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them.” Read More
Photo by Darian Hays
Sparrows Silver
Cars, trucks, motorcycles, tractors and more gathered on a sunny Saturday in Lovington to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Sparrows Unlimited, Inc. Saturday was filled with sunshine and kids playing on the inflatable playground. By Sunday afternoon storms and wind blew through the village, taking hundred year old trees down and limiting access to Route 133. A combined volunteer effort led to a four hour storm clean up May 19.
•May 22, 2019•
By Mike Brothers
The Moultrie County Board approved a liquor license for Fairway Family Restaurant, funded a bridge replacement and learned when tax bills are due.
A Class B liquor license ($750) was approved for Panther Property 58 located at Fairways Family Restaurant at the Sullivan Country Club. The annual Special Events liquor license ($100) was granted The Little Theatre on the Square for May 17-18 at the Great Pumpkin Patch Back 40 Market.
Road and Bridge Committee chair Kevin McReynolds moved to approve $150,000 in Special Bridge Funds to aid Sullivan Road District replace the bridge at TR145, CR1125N. The motion was approved unanimously. Read More
Photo furnished
First step in spinning wool into thread is getting the wool. Sheep shearing provides the wool that spins into thread that turns into cloth.
•May 22, 2019•
As the spinning wheel turns, the history of Illinois Amish heritage is revealed in a Sheep to Clothing event Saturday, June 1, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The fascinating process behind spinning wool fibers into thread will be demonstrated live that day. A spinning wheel made by E.J. Miller in 1864, traveled from Somerset Co., Pa. with the founding three families of the Amish settlement in the Arthur area. It was recovered from the attic of the Moses Yoder home and will be on display during the Sheep to Clothing event.
That spinning wheel spent many years in the attic of the oldest home in the community, the Moses Yoder home, and will be on display.
“It’s a wonder it’s together at all,” Ervin Yoder, grandson of Moses said. “When we were kids, we used to play with it all the time.”
A Nine Patch on Point quilt believed to be made by Moses’ niece, Barbara Yoder Otto, was the inspiration for the Illinois Amish Heritage Center quilt logo and will be among the display quilts. Read More
•May 22, 2019•
By Mike Brothers
Judge Hugh Finson ruled there was no conflict in Michael Yost’s defense, denying a new trial request for the 2015 murder of Sheri Randall of Sullivan.
Judge Finson explained public defender Brad Rau’s representation of Randall seven years prior to his representation of Yost on murder charges did not represent a per se conflict as argued by Shelby County public defender Walter Lookofsy on Yost’s behalf.
Moultrie County States Attorney Tracy Weaver cited a Supreme Court case denying a per se conflict on unrelated past representation.
“In analysis of the facts of the case, fundamental is the thread of knowledge,” Weaver told the court.”He (Rau) does not recall representing Ms. Randall.”
Lookofsy argued the defendant does not have to demonstrate anything except the victim and Yost were both represented by public defender Rau. Read More
Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Spark Housing Committee representative Bill Burger told Senior Center visitors about a goal of the committee to revitalize houses utilizing local talent.
•May 22, 2019•
Maintenance Initiative
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress
Seniors, veterans, the disabled and widows will be the primary beneficiaries of the new housing initiative proposed by the Spark Housing Committee to a large group of seniors gathered in Sullivan.
The Sullivan citizen action group spokesperson, Bill Burger, told the crowd at the Senior Center the goal of the committee is “to revitalize houses in Sullivan utilizing local talent and volunteers to improve the quality and sustainability of our community.”
These volunteers will undertake home improvement projects needed by seniors, veterans, the disabled, and widows - projects that they are unable to do themselves. Tasks could include trimming shrubs, mowing lawns, cleaning gutters, painting, building ramps, repairing porches/steps and other small home repairs.
Burger emphasized that projects such as electrical or plumbing repairs would require professionals and are not within the scope of the initiative. Read More
Photo by Mike Brothers
Big D’s Back
Big D’s Dogs is serving all beef hot dogs and Johnsonville brats across from CVS Pharmacy in Sullivan on Fridays. The food cart will be at the intersection of Hamilton and Jackson streets every Friday when weather permits. Owners Dennis and Judy Ozier are introducing three new items in addition to the Moultrie Monster and Cluckburger. New this season is the Sullivan Burger, Kitchen Sink Nachos and The Elvis “Dog”. Big D’s Dogs is also available for birthdays, anniversaries, reunions and more.
Photo furnished
Walt Disney, a.k.a. SES fourth grader Chance Schoonover, explains how Disney grew from the success of Mickey Mouse.
•May 22, 2019•
Sullivan Elementary School students turned to wax Thursday, May 16.
Fourth grade students became famous people from history during the annual wax museum held in the elementary school gym.
The Wax Museum included four fourth grade classes of Drew Campbell, Kurt Friese, Nichole Hendry and Kay Lehman. Two classes presented in the morning and two in the afternoon.
“The students first selected their characters three to four weeks ago,” Lehman began. “They had to research and prepare a report of the person.”
The work was just beginning as students then developed a slide show on iPads to incorporate into the wax museum display. A presentation board was created along with an authentic costume and a speech.
The weeks of speech writing and practice, costume making and research paid off as the gymnasium filled with wax figures was activated for students, parents and the general public.
“Each student is to stand still like a wax figure until the star in front of their display is stepped on,” Lehman said. Read More
Photo by Barry Morgan
This truckload of rock was among the first Sparrows’ grand prizes.
Cars, Trucks, Bikes, Tractors and More
•May 15, 2019•
A quarter of a century ago, a group of people got together at Jerry’s East End in Lovington to hold a live auction and just have a good time.
A good time was had, and Sparrows Unlimited Inc. was born.
Incredible items were up for bid including a truckload of rock and a brand new weed eater… and only after the bidding did the winners find out what they won. The truckload of rock, a toy truck with a handful of rocks. The weed eater, a live rabbit. And who can forget the door prize, an actual outhouse door.
“We raised approximately $500 from the auction and sold memberships for a dollar. In six months time we sold about 2,000 memberships,” Tom Brown, one of the originals said, noting they had to figure out what to do with the money.
“It was decided at our second meeting to use the money for needy children in the Lovington community and keep enough back for a free dinner for the members. The meal would consist of fried bologna, fried potatoes, green beans and pork and beans.”
And every auction since has included that fried bologna. Read More