Findlay’s Distinguished Alumni Award 

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Chris Tippit and Christmas shoe boxes for children.

Reflects Love of Children and Community 

•April 11, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

The Findlay High School Alumni Association bestowed its Distinguished Alumni Award to Chris Eadie Tippit for her work with children and in community service.

“I never wanted or expected recognition for my work. I have simply done what God called me to do,” Tippit said,

She was born and raised in Findlay and has always had a love of children and people. After graduating from Eastern Illinois University, she taught for 37 years in Beecher City/Shumway, Pana, Tower Hill and Findlay. She and her husband, Fred, have a blended family of nine children and are further blessed with 24 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

The story doesn’t end there, however. Chris started bringing home struggling children to tutor them individually. The Tippit family became foster parents to 42  children over a 20 year period. Read More

Quarter Auction to Raise Funds for Moultrie Co. Fair

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•April 4, 2018•

This month’s annual quarter auction at the Sullivan American Legion starts at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 11.

All ages are welcome to attend and this month’s charity is the Moultrie-Sullivan Fair. The fair board is raising funds for needed improvements to the fairgrounds. Check out Moultrie-Sullivan Fair on Facebook for more information about the fair.  Read More

“The Truth Will Set You Free” Wins NPR Contest

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera Sullivan High school English teacher Cami Badman and NPR Illinois essay winner Katie Webb with copy of her essay.

•April 4, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

If ever anyone has spun gold cloth from the frayed threads of their life, Katie Webb is that person.

Webb, a Sullivan High School student, was recently chosen one of 10 state winners in the Illinois National Public Radio essay contest. From 200 entries, 10 were selected, each receiving a $100 prize for their composition on the topic “This I Believe.”

Cami Badman, Webb’s high school English teacher, assigned her class the task of writing the 500-word essay for NPR. “ I told the class that, as long as they had written the essay, they should enter the contest.”

Webb’s story strikes close to home—her parents were drug addicts. Her mother was rarely home, and her weekends growing up were spent visiting her incarcerated father. She realized at a young age that this was the reality of her life, and she has never shied away from openly discussing these circumstances. Believing having a truthful and open approach to life is the best policy, she conveyed that in her essay. Read More

OV Art Students Design Vans

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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

Eager Easter Egg Hunters

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Photo by R.R. Best. Eager Easter Egg Hunters Cold damp weather did not deter these faithful seekers of the treasures contained in the sea of Easter Eggs Sunday, April 1. Mother Nature had the last laugh on April Fool’s Day, but the volunteers of the Sullivan Fire Protection District sponsored event prevailed as some 14,000 treasure-filled eggs awaited hundreds of diligent hunters at 3 p.m. in the field east of the Sullivan High School football field.

Student Art Displayed at Elizabeth Titus Library

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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.

National Library Week Kicks Off Sunday, Fines Forgiven 

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•April 4, 2018•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

National Library Week kicks off April 8 and runs through Monday, April 14. Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library in Sullivan has plenty of plans to celebrate and thank patrons.

Cookies and donuts will be served daily throughout the week, and fines on overdue books will be waived.

There will be a seed library that allows patrons to bring in seeds that they cannot use and check out seeds they would like to use- such as flowers, fruits and vegetables.

On Tuesday evening, April 10 at 6:30 pm, poet and author Ariana R Cherry presents, “Rhymes Climbing Through Time.” She will explain the history of poetry, its use for communication and tell about some of the poets who have inspired her such as Shel Silverstein, Robert Frost and Edgar Allen Poe.  Read More

Student Charged as Result of Sullivan School Bomb Threat

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•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

Sullivan Council Commends Action on School Incident

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•March 28, 2018•

During the March 26 Sullivan City Council meeting mayor Ann Short and commissioners Grant Wade, Mike Kirk, Jerry Risley and Mike Mossman expressed their appreciation to the Sullivan Police Department and the staff of the Civic Center for their excellent work in reacting to Friday’s emergency situation at the school campus.  Read More

Good Crowd, Good Fun at PTO Sponsored Donkey Basketball Fund-Raising Event

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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