News Progress

Photo furnished
Original OVHS Art student designs on Vans shoes.

•April 4, 2018•

Okaw Valley art students designed Vans for the Custom Culture Contest.

The design team of seniors Hannah Landreth, Natalie Jeffers, Danielle Lochbaum, sophomores Isaac Tipsword, Jeramiah Wood, Emileah Drake and freshman Caiden Hansen developed a custom shoe design for the 2018 Vans Custom Culture Contest.

OVHS artists including seniors Kaytlyn Hinton and Kyra Jackson, junior Jewel Smith and freshman Olivia Whitney painted the shoes. The art classes are taught by Jeni Yantis.  Read More

Photo furnished. Blowing Bubbles by Macelyn Boddy, Lovington.

•April 4, 2018•

Seventy pieces of art created by area school-aged children were entered in the Sullivan Area Arts second Youth Art Show which was held in conjunction with Youth Art Month. Art works were displayed at the Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library.

Ribbons and prizes were awarded for Best in Show and Merit in the following age categories: K-2, 3-5, middle school, and high school. Laney Banta, Tuscola, 10th grade, took Best in Show honors with Blooming Beauty. Merit awards were given for Blowing Bubbles, Macelyn Boddy, Lovington, 1st grade; Isabella Manna, Polar Bears,Lovington, 2nd grade; Cat in the Hat, Zoey Crothers, Sullivan, K; Moving Art, Addisyn Ploski, Lovington, 5th grade; Flowers, Austin Bates, Lovington, 5th grade; Sloth and Cactus, Elise Fleming, Sullivan, 5th grade; Magazine Bowl, Connor Edmonds, Lovington, 7th grade; Star Gazer, Janae Hopper, Sullivan, 11th grade; Frida in Cardboard, Karsyn West, Sullivan, 10th grade; and, Stipples Heart, Jessica Voyles, Sullivan, 11th grade.

•March 28, 2018•

By Mike Brothers

Jalon A. Warren, 18, of Sullivan appeared in Moultrie County Circuit Court Tuesday, March 27 and was charged with making a terrorist threat.

The Honorable Judge Hugh Finson presided with Moultrie County Assistant State’s Attorney Tracy Weaver charging that Warren allegedly was responsible for two notes hanging in a Sullivan High School restroom which threatened a bombing at the school on March 23.

Judge Finson explained the charge was a Class X Felony carrying a 6-30 year Illinois Department of Correction sentence plus three years’ supervised mandatory release if convicted.  Read More

Photo by R. R. Best
Sullivan Supt. of Schools Ted Walk drags his less than cooperative donkey downcourt while SHS classroom aide Craig Toler hangs on to his ride during last week’s P.T.O. sponsored Donkey Basketball fund raiser.

•March 28, 2018•

Sullivan Elementary School held Donkey Basketball at Sullivan High School Thursday, March 22. Four teams participated in the fund-raising event with Sullivan Elementary School Team 1 giving a big HeeHaw to the other teams.

Volunteer support staff of  SES teachers and PTO members participated in the event by announcing, keeping score, scooping poop, selling spirit merchandise and 50/50 tickets and working admission games.

More than 500 tickets were sold for the event. Kids in attendance received donkey ears to wear and could participate in free donkey rides during intermission. Buckeye Donkey Ball from Ohio provided donkeys for the event.

The winning team: SES team #1 - Cassie Becker, Drew Campbell, Kurt Friese, Sara Boyer, Kelli Rarick, Don Typer, Erik Young, and Amber Saul. Read More

Photo by R.R. Best
Sullivan Chief of Police Jim Waggoner directs students a safe distance from Sullivan schools with city administrator Dan Flannell in background joining teachers, additional city employees and first responders to help keep the situation under control last Friday afternoon.

•March 28, 2018•

A threatening note led to early dismissal of Sullivan Schools for Easter break Friday. No credible threat was discovered with the responsible student taken into custody.

According to a press release from Supt. Ted Walk a note was discovered Friday, March 23, indicating a possible bomb threat to Sullivan High School. The credibility of the threat could not be immediately determined, and Sullivan schools dismissed students starting at 1:15 p.m.

Students were relocated to the American Legion and Sullivan Civic Center for parent reunification.

Law enforcement and school administration conducted a search of the buildings and grounds, and no evidence of a bomb was found.   Read More