Karaoke Success

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Karaoke Success
Celebrity Karaoke Night was held for the founding 78 members of Sullivan American Legion Post 68 raising funds to purchase bricks for each member which will be included in the 100th anniversary Post 68 Walk of Honor. Pictured from left Karaoke coordinators Becky Lawson, Tina Bolsen and Post Commander Bob Sims with Karake finalists Greg Gadberry, first place; Christina Baker and Monty LeCrone.

Sun for Easter

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R.R. Best photo
Sun for Easter
The Sullivan Fire Protection District’s annual Easter Egg Hunt held at Courtyard Estates drew a huge crowd of eager young egg hunters and adults. Basking in the warm afternoon sunshine the hunt crowd charge began at 3 p.m. with every child blessed with plenty of colorful plastic filled Easter eggs containing a variety of prizes.

The End of an Era in Sullivan Government

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•April 24, 2019•
By Mike Brothers

It was the end of an era in Sullivan city government.
The April 22 meeting was the last one for City Clerk Monte Johnson, Mayor Ann Short, as well as commissioners Mike Mossman, Mike Kirk, Grant Wade and Jerry Risley.
City Administrator Dan Flannell remarked on the importance of Monte Johnson’s 22 years of service to the city.
“Each and every citizen will feel the loss of Monte for years to come,” Flannell said of the person who brought Sullivan into the 21st century with his IT knowledge. “The citizens of Sullivan should prepare for a lack of efficiency for a while.”
Flannell continued addressing the existing council, which is being replaced as result of the last city elections. Read More

19th District Quarter Auction

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•April 24, 2019•

The 19th District American Legion Auxiliary is holding a quarter auction Sunday, April 28 at Sullivan American Legion Post 68.
Doors will open at 1:15 p.m. with the auction starting at 2 p.m. Items range from $0 to $50 retail. One quarter bid - item value $0-$15; two quarter bid-item valued $16-$30; three quarter bid $31 and up. Read More

NASA Rover Competition for SHS Graduate

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Rover Builder Lake Atchison

•April 24, 2019•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Lake Atchison from a young age was always curious about how things worked. “He was always taking things apart and putting them back together,” mother Nicole recalled.
A 2017 graduate of Sullivan High School, Atchison, a sophomore in mechanical engineering at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, has taken his youthful curiosity to outer space.
He was a member of Southern’s Moon Buggy Design team which competed in the NASA Human Exploration Rover Competition in Huntsville, Alabama.
“The most difficult part is deciding what you think you can accomplish in the given time,” Atchison explained his team’s strategy. “You are forced to make real-time decisions so we elected to do only three tasks.”
Each team, comprised of one female and one male, is given two excursions over the course, and the higher score is taken as the final score.
The competition is more than a race. The teams have seven minutes of available oxygen in which to complete a ¾ mile, 16 obstacle course. They must also perform tasks such as gathering soil and liquid samples, planting a flag or taking solar panel pictures. Read More

Easter Hams Donated

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Easter Hams Donated
As Easter dinner came around the Moultrie County Food Pantry received 100 hams from Sullivan IGA to give to families for Easter Sunday. The donation was made by one anonymous person whose spirit exemplifies the season. The IGA meat department also made a special delivery April 17 to make sure the hams arrived in time for Sunday dinner. Pictured are front: Emmalee Hortenstine; back from left: IGA Meat Dept. manager Barry Golden, Seth Cobb and Mason Harner. In the United States ham is a traditional Easter food. In the early days, meat was slaughtered in the fall. There was no refrigeration, and the fresh pork that wasn’t consumed during the winter months before Lent was cured for spring. The curing process took a long time, and the first hams were ready around Easter. Thus, ham was a natural choice for the celebratory Easter dinner.

Little Shop of Horrors at OVHS

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Photo by Jeni Yantis
Place the plant in the window.

•April 17, 2019•
Okaw Valley High School will present the musical “Little Shop of Horrors” at 7 p.m. April 18, 19 and 20 in the OVHS gym. Little Shop of Horrors is a horror-comedy rock musical by composer Alan Menken and writer Howard Ashman.
The story revolves around Seymour, a hapless florist shop worker, who unintentionally raises a plant that feeds on human blood and flesh. The musical is based on the low-budget 1960 black comedy film The Little Shop of Horrors. Read More

A 70 Year Honor for Harry Woolen who Survived Two Wars

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Photo by Mike Brothers
70 year Sullivan American Post 68 veteran Harry Woolen and wife Bette with Post Commander Bob Sims (background) who presented the displayed certificate. Woolen was joined by family and friends who waited patiently for him to cut the cake.

•April 17, 2019•
By Mike Brothers

Harry Woolen is a veteran’s Veteran and American Legion Post #68 presented him with his 70 year membership pin on Wednesday, April 3.
A good crowd joined wife Bette, family and friends at the Sullivan American Legion to celebrate the event. Post 68 Commander Bob Sims made the official presentation which included a certificate commemorating Woolen’s service.
What’s a celebration without a cake, which was baked by his daughter. While operating a busy television repair business and volunteering at the American Legion and VFW, Harry and Betty (who passed way in 2008) raised five children: Charles Michael, Cynthia Diane, Harry Wayne, Vicki Jo and Lori Louise in Sullivan.
Children and grandchildren filled the Legion with stories, food and celebration of a man who not only served Sullivan but also served in two wars. Read More