Photo by R.R. Best
Hang On!
Greenhill Cemetery was well covered with snow over the weekend and well travelled. So well traveled this young sledder closed his eyes as he went airborne during his flight down the hill.
Hang On!
Okaw Valley Schools Facility Revitalization Advances
•January 16, 2019•
The Okaw Valley CUSD #302 Board of Education approved a resolution to put the question to voters on the April 2 ballot to issue $6.5 million in school building bonds.
If approved by voters on April 2, the bonds will fund the construction of a new gymnasium to attach to the current gym at the high school, a new entryway into the front of the middle school and new playground equipment at the elementary school.
The current OVHS gymnasium was built in 1937 and no longer fits the school’s needs. The new project will provide significantly more gym space for practices, games and physical education classes. Read More
Second Chance Gym Opens in Sullivan
•January 16, 2019•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress
Ben Booker opened his original Second Chance Gym in Arthur and has now opened a Second Chance Gym in Sullivan.
With some parts still under construction inside the former Pamida location on Hamilton Street, the gym has a huge weight training room with weights and training equipment with personal strength sessions available from Booker.
He is a well-known strength trainer, but the journey has not been as easy as it might appear.
In 1999 just before the start of his senior year in high school he broke his back in a car accident, was bedridden for two months and had to learn how to walk again.
He could no longer play his favorite sports of football and basketball, but he found the weight room. While his classmates played sports, he lifted weights.
Booker entered college but dropped out the same summer he met his wife. He was 20 years old and fighting a demon – alcoholism. He found work in his father’s business where he could focus on the work and building his own home. He continued his weight training on and off between benders but knew he always felt better when he was training. Read More
Ag Center Moves Along
Photo furnished
Ag Center Moves Along
Okaw Valley students continued to move into the ag building this past week. They built chairs and tables and moved materials from the old classroom. Two new animals joined the farm this week as well with Ethan Macklin bringing in two of his sheep who will be having babies in the next few days.
Col. Bryan K. Sizemore, Commander of the St. Louis District for the Corps of Engineers, visited OVHS to take a look at the ag facility and discuss the Corps project.
Bakery Open House
The Traditional Sullivan Bakery open house ribbon cutting ceremony was held January 11, 2019. Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development coordinated the 10:00 a.m. event with owners Dorrie Donnals and Steve Jankowski initiating the grand opening cut while local dignitaries and friends gathered in front of the Harrison Street bakery.
Sullivan Bakery Set for Grand Reopening
Photo by Mike Brothers
Jim Sides (right) stopped by the Traditional Sullivan Bakery to pick up some donuts for his wife, Sue, last week. Owners Dorrie Donnals and Steve Jankowski explain to Sides he will need to arrive earlier during Grand Opening Friday, Jan. 11 because the glazed donuts and maple squares are usually the first to go.
•January 9, 2019•
By Doz Baker
for the News Progress
The aroma of freshly baked goods wafted onto the Sullivan square again.
The Traditional Sullivan Bakery Grand Opening is 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Friday, January 11, and those wanting maple squares should arrive early.
“The maple squares and glazed donuts were gone by 7:30 this morning,” new owner Dorrie Donnals said after the pre-opening Jan 4.
Donnals and partner Steve Jankowski have acquired the 112 E Harrison St. bakery from Jo Beth and Jerry Risley and plan to continue serving the same bakery delights offered before.
“The Risleys have been wonderful support throughout the process,” Jankowski emphasized, noting their encouragement along with support from the community has helped.
“We haven’t changed anything on the menu,” Donnals emphasized, noting that two trays of the bakery’s signature maple squares were gone in an hour along with the fresh glazed donuts.
Although it has taken a few months to accomplish the reopening, Jankowski and Donnals had a desire to keep the bakery going as soon as the Riselys announced it was closing in 2018. Read More
Moultrie County Board
Photo by Mike Brothers
Moultrie County Board
Moultrie County Board 2018-2020 was reorganized following the Nov. 2018 election. Pictured are seated from left: County Clerk and Recorder Georgia England, Vice-chair Kevin McReynolds, Chairman Dave McCabe, Todd Maxedon, and Arlene Aschermann; standing Mike Barringer, Billy Voyles, Neil Bryan, Tim Rose and Tyler Graven.
Year End Review…Continued from our Jan. 2, 2019 Edition
September 2018
September 5
The Sullivan girls golf team split a pair of matches snapping an undefeated streak. The Redskins defeated St. Teresa at Red Tail Run in Decatur then lost to Teutopolis.
Addison Darush was the medalist and Alexis Britton, Erin Wallace and Esther Miller rounded out the team score in the St Teresa match.
In the Teutopolis match Darush shot a 48, Irie Dulin a 52, Esther Miller 57 and Erin Wallace 58.
Okaw Valley boys golf placed second in a triangular meet at Eagle Creek with Shelbyville the winner and Mt. Pulaski third. Case Crawford placed second shooting a 40, Beau Atchison was fifth with a 49. Addison Webner shot a 51, Miles Harlin 55, Seth Webner 56 and Hayden Carlson 62.
Sullivan golfer Gary Herschberger playing in the junior varsity match scored his first ever hole in one on the fourth hole.
The SHS golf team won 10 in a row. At Richland Country Club in Olney the team finished with a low score of 330. Caden Ellis was medalist with two over par, 73. Drew Rogers shot an 82 for fifth with Leighton Burcham shooting an 85 and Leyton Ellis a 90.
Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development has a new home at 101 W. Jefferson St. Coinciding with the new offices is a new approach to growth assessment. Sullivan Spark under direction of the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs at Western University is organizing and will involve local citizens to create a long range plan for the community. Read More
Nativity Hangs On
Photo by Mike Brothers
Nativity Hangs On
Holiday decorations and lights were removed from the Moultrie County courthouse lawn by Sullivan Park District personnel this week with the Nativity scene remaining as the last remnant of the decorating season.
Eagles Fly in February at Lake Shelbyville
Photo by RR Best
•January 9, 2019•
Eagle Day at Lake Shelbyville is scheduled for Saturday, February 2, 2019 at the Lake Shelbyville Visitor Center.
The center will be open from 9:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. with three different opportunities for event participants to view birds up close.
First, a 30 minute bald eagle program for kids is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. At 11:00 a.m., there will be a 1 hour “talk and gawk” session where a live bald eagle and presenter will be available for visitors to photograph and ask questions to the Illinois Raptor Center staff. Read More