Teachers Appreciated

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Teachers Appreciated
Teacher Appreciation Day was extra special for three Sullivan school teachers last week. High school English teacher Rebecca Lawson received $1000 and a gift basket for being named Teacher of the Year by RV Horizons Property Management Co., owners of Sullivan Mobile Homes. With more than 300 communities participating Lawson received the most social media votes with the Denver, Colorado based company sending representatives to make the surprise presentations at Sullivan schools. Science teacher Troy Rogers was recognized in the middle school and fifth grade teacher Allison Wright received elementary gift basket honors. Pictured above is Wright’s fifth grade class along with (front from left) Ms. Wright and Lauren Brown and Kim Metz from RV Horizons. Sullivan Mobile Homes manager Brenda Watkins and district manager for RV Brad Peck attended with Supt. Ted Walk leading the surprise presentations.

OV Student Council Attends State Conference

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Photo furnished. OV Student Council Attends State Conference The Okaw Valley Student Council attended the State Conference in Springfield. The members were able to go to seminars, participated in team building activities, and networked with other schools. Pictured from right) Paige Robinson, Hannah Landreth, Chloe Ryherd, Kami Landreth, Kate Jeffers, Sydney Hagerman, Bella Benning, and Natalie Jeffers.

Rain Forest at SES

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Rain Forest at SES
Sullivan’s first grade has been learning about different habitats and the animals that live in them. We focused on the tropical rain forest and each student made four different plants or animals to create their own model of the rain forest.

Sullivan Council Approves City Clean up Days

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•May 9, 2018•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

The city of Sullivan has received positive responses from donors for the new pavilion to be built on the square which has been widely discussed at recent city council meetings. The pavilion was first brought up when an anonymous donor offered a monetary donation to build a structure that would “house” farmers’ markets and other sales during the warmer seasons of the year.

From there, the council has discussed a variety of building possibilities.

Since then, different individuals have stepped forward offering donations to help fund the new pavilion. City administrator, Dan Flannell has met with two possible donors noting the Lions Club has shown interest in the project.  Read More

Community Comes Together for Pastor and Family

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Pastor Brandon Zoll and wife Jeanette with Lucas, Phoebe and five-month old Obediah.

•May 9, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

The Sullivan Ministerial Association is holding a benefit cookout for Pastor Brandon Zoll and his family from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, June 2 in the Sullivan IGA parking lot.

It was a cool November day when Pastor Brandon Zoll of the Church of God went for a run in preparation for an upcoming marathon.

In his mid-thirties and a longtime runner, he had always enjoyed good health and the day’s run had gone well. A short stop at the IGA and then he would return home.

When he came to, he was lying on the floor in the IGA break room surrounded by concerned people. He tried to stand up but lost consciousness again. He thought he hadn’t eaten enough breakfast.

An ambulance was called, and he was taken to the hospital where a CAT SCAN showed a tangerine-size mass in his brain. An MRI and a biopsy confirmed a grade II astrocytoma- a very aggressive, malignant brain tumor or, as his surgeon said, “a time bomb ticking in your head.” Read More

Schools Prepare for Graduation

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•May 9, 2018•

Graduation time approaches for area high school seniors.

Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond schools observe baccalaureate service  at 5 p.m. Sunday, May 20 with 63 high school seniors scheduled to graduate outdoors at 7 p.m. Friday, May 25.

Okaw Valley High School has 47 senior candidates for graduation. The commencement ceremony is 2 p.m. Sunday, May 27 in the OVHS gymnasium. Quinn Michael Brooks is valedictorian. Grace Catherine Harlin, Hannah Beth Landreth, and Ethan Johannes Macklin are salutatorians. Read More

ALAH Changes to PE Uniforms, Starts Dance Club Next Year

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•May 9, 2018•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond School students will be changing their style in physical education starting next school year (2018-2019). It will be required that students wear uniforms in class.

“It will make the program more inclusive, and everyone will look the same. We won’t have to worry about students wearing shorts that are too short or other clothing malfunctions,” stated high school principal Steffanie Seegmiller.

Students will have a chance to order uniforms each semester. They may purchase multiple ones if needed.

Principal Seegmiller also spoke about a new form that will be made available for students who might be questionably under the influence. The school nurse will be responsible for analyzing students and filling out the form. If it is found that a student is under the influence, parents will be called and shown the data on the form.  Read More

WHS 2018 Prom Royalty

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WHS 2018 Prom Royalty
Windsor High School crowned their Prom royalty on Saturday, May 5th. Pictured Front row (L to R): Crown bearer Addisyn Clark, 2018 Prom Queen Kasey Bean, 2018 Prom King Gavin Bennett, and Crown bearer Toby Bennett. Back row: Queen Candidates Mackenzee Hooten and Morgan Lesko, and King Candidates Dalton Armes and Gage Sattler.

Sheep to Clothing Event Spins at Illinois Amish Heritage Center

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154 year old Spinning Wheel Displayed

Photo by Mike Brothers
Bernadine Yoder displays the spinning wheel made by E.J Miller in 1864 and found in the attic of the Moses Yoder home. The oldest home in the Amish community is on display at the Illinois Amish Heritage Center near Arthur. Inset photo shows spinning wheel parts that will also be on display June 2.

•May 9, 2018•

By Shag Wooley
for the News Progress

As the spinning wheel turns the history of Illinois Amish Heritage is revealed in a Sheep to Clothing event Saturday, June 2 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

There is no charge for the event, but donations will be accepted at the Illinois Amish Heritage Center on Route 133, east of Arthur.

The fascinating process behind spinning wool fibers into thread will be demonstrated live that day as the Amish family histories revealed in the patchwork of the quilts.

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 he 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.”

Ervin’s father Abraham was one of nine children in the Moses Yoder family and his wife Bernadine has joined Wilmer Otto, Brian Karrick, Troye Kauffman, Beth Elgelbrecht Wiggans, Karen Miller, Myrna Madigan, Merle Gingerich and Marie Kuhns to make the spinning event possible at the Illinois Amish Heritage Center. Read More