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VFW Donates
Sullivan VFW #6410 Auxiliary recently donated $1000 to the local Peace Meal program coordinated by Sarah Bush Lincoln hospital. Pictured from left to right: Valerie Turnbow V.F.W. Aux. treasurer; Barbara Wylie of Sarah Bush Lincoln Hospital and Barbara Vail VFW #6410 Aux. president.
Photo by Mike Brothers
Grant for Lovington Fire District
Lovington Fire District received a $2000 grant from ExonMobil Pipeline Co. Above Adam Tedrick of the ExonMobil office in Shelbyville presents the check to Lovington fire chief Gary Smith.
Smith explained that part of the funds helped purchase a vehicle stabilizer (foreground) to assist in accident extrications. Tedrick noted ExonMobil has a pipeline pumping crude oil about three miles from Lovington and the Good Neighbor Grants help out smaller rural fire districts.
Tedrick coordinates Operations and Maintenance for ExonMobil in a five county area with the grants rotated annually.
“I meet with each of the fire departments in my service area one time a year,” Tedrick said. “I reached out to Gary and he pointed out Lovington Fire District could use equipment.”
One district in each of the ExonMobil counties in this are received $2000 grants. This is the first time Lovington Fire District has received an ExonMobile Good Neighbor Grant.
•December 13, 2017•
By Madison Ulrich
For The News Progress
It is true that the holiday season brings with it a flurry of memories and a tradition of reminiscence. No doubt that everyone has their own favorite experiences and moments.
But what makes Christmas perfect? Maybe it’s the gifts, the under-the-tree treasures, maybe it’s the family we get to see after such a long time apart, or maybe it’s just the excited energy in the air.
Maybe it’s all three, but it’s different for everyone. Read More
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OV Youth Advisors
Okaw Valley High School students Natalie Jeffers and Ethan Macklin along with Cullen Dyer and Spencer Johnson of Sullivan High School and Eusebio Briseno, Abbi Duzan and Kolby Rickman of Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond High School met recently with State Senator Chapin Rose at Richland Community College. Senator Rose has put together a Youth Advisory Council consisting of two outstanding students per high school in the 51st Senate District. Students discussed issues that are important to today’s youth. They will meet in Springfield in the spring so that the students may experience the legislative process firsthand and participate in a mock committee hearing. Pictured from left: Ethan Macklin, OV social studies teacher, Brad Ackers, and Natalie Jeffers.
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Secret Santa Sunday
Volunteers for Secret Santa met at the Moultrie County Beacon for a final wrap party. In a few hours packages were wrapped and packed away ready for delivery to more than 180 Secret Santa families who are awaiting the gifts it takes a year of fundraising to earn.
•December 13, 2017•
The Sullivan Education Association (SEA) and the Sullivan Board of Education came to a tentative contract agreement Wednesday, November 8.
The contract was ratified by the SEA November 16 and approved by the Board of Education in a special meeting held December 4.
The contract is a three-year agreement on salary which keeps the starting salary at $34,029 for 2018-2019 and increasing to $34,268 and $34,468 during the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years. Read More
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OV Honor Band
Eleven Okaw Valley High School Band Students participated in the EIU Honor Band Saturday, Dec. 9. They were front - Baylee Suarez, Haven Caulfield, Connor Powers, Elizabeth Herbord; back - Shelby Harding, Kyra Jackson, Caleb Hildebrandt, Ethan Macklin, Justin Oathout, Madeline Ray, TJ Williams
Okaw Valley had students placed in all three bands. Kyra Jackson, Connor Powers, and Elizabeth Herbord placed first chair. Ethan Macklin placed in the wind symphony.
To be a part of the EIU Honor Band students must apply online, and then the teacher must submit an evaluation. Fourteen OVHS students were chosen, and 11 were able to attend.
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Santa Visits Lovington
Santa Claus visited at the Lovington American Legion Sunday, Dec. 10, handing out treats and listening to children’s requests for favorite gifts. It was sponsored by the Ladies’ Auxiliary.
Photo by Darian Hays
Sparrows Wrap
Lovington based volunteers for Sparrows gathered at the East End Tavern in downtown Lovington Saturday morning to wrap gifts for delivery to 144 families. Above East End owner and Sparrow volunteer Annette Wood prepares a gift for wrapping.
Chief Jim Waggoner holds Axon body cam.
•December 6, 2017•
Sullivan Police Chief Jim Waggoner looks at technology as a friend so it makes sense when he jumped at a free trial for officer body cameras.
“When I found out Axon had a free body cam program for one year, I applied immediately,” Chief Waggoner said. “By September they had supplied every officer with a body camera plus the department with the software to handle the audio and video storage.”
Axon, formerly the Taser company, is offering any police department that applies the chance to try out body cam technology free of charge for one year. At the end of the year the departments may purchase the complete system for an annual fee or just return the equipment with no charge.
“I like what new technology brings, and body cameras have helped us do better jobs as officers,” Waggoner said, noting footage is also a good learning tool for officers as well as keeping an accurate record of what happens during a stop. Read More