Cause Undetermined in Vehicle Fire Investigation

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Photo by RR Best Sullivan fire captain Chris Wright looks at the remains of a vehicle fire that spread to a garage Wednesday afternoon.

Photo by RR Best
Sullivan fire captain Chris Wright looks at the remains of a vehicle fire that spread to a garage Wednesday afternoon.

Fire spreads to garage of triplex

April 15, 2015

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

A garage belonging to a three-apartment structure suffered damage Wednesday, April 8 from a parked vehicle that previously caught fire.
According to Sullivan Fire Captain Chris Wright, a vehicle belonging to Cynthia Fleming caught fire Wednesday afternoon after being parked and idle for approximately an hour. The vehicle was in close proximity to a garage door belonging to a triplex, which caught fire but did not spread beyond the garage.
Fleming added that she only discovered the fire after a neighbor notified her. A phone call was received by the Sullivan Fire Department at 3:23 p.m., but according to Wright, on-duty personnel were out on two simultaneous ambulance calls, requiring duty crew to come from home. Read More

Foster Takes Seventh

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Submitted Foster Takes Seventh Brady Foster of Lovington competed at the 15th annual Midgetstate IKWF championship March 21 and 22 in Danville. Competing in the 66 lb, 9-10 year olds division, Foster came away with seventh place. He is the son of Chastity and Chad Foster.

Submitted
Foster Takes Seventh
Brady Foster of Lovington competed at the 15th annual Midgetstate IKWF championship March 21 and 22 in Danville. Competing in the 66 lb, 9-10 year olds division, Foster came away with seventh place. He is the son of Chastity and Chad Foster.

An Incumbent Kind of Night

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Nearly every race re-elects candidates

April 8, 2015

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

In all but one of the five contested races Tuesday incumbents were all re-elected according to unofficial final tallies. Moultrie county clerk Georgia England says that final results will not be available until a canvass is completed on April 21, which will include any provisional and absentee votes remaining. However, England said she does not imagine the canvass to result in any change in the unofficial results. Overall voter turnout came in at just 15.76 percent, which the clerk described as low compared to previous consolidated elections. ElectionTABLE Read More

Aiming High for Food for Golf Day

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Fundraiser for the Moultrie County Food Pantry April 24

April 8, 2015

by Ariana Cherry
Arthur/Sullivan Reporter

Golfers at the Sullivan Country Club won’t be “puttering around” when it comes to donating food for the Moultrie County Food Pantry later this month. In fact, they will be having their own kind of drive–one that will be aiming for more than just a hole-in-one or under-par as the community will have a chance to enjoy a few rounds of golf while helping donate to a good cause.
“This has been something I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” said the Sullivan Country Club golf pro Andy Wagner. “I know from personal experiences that there are a lot of unexpected things in life and things get tough so I thought what a great opportunity to help the food pantry so they can help others who are in need. Our community really stands together and helps when called upon. Both the Country Club and I feel this is a way for us to contribute.” Read More

The Calm Before the Storm

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Photo by RR Best The Calm Before the Storm Hundreds of kids and adults stand behind caution tape Sunday afternoon at Wyman Park just moments before being let loose to raid hundreds of Easter eggs of their goodies. The Easter egg hunt was sponsored by the Sullivan Fire District, which also gave the following children baskets after drawing their names: Charlie Conlin, Emma Clevenger, Aidan Coil, Elona Halili, Teagan Born, McKinlee Nunamaker, Lane Nowlin, Josie Herschberger, Trey Grimm, Autumn Shinn, Wyatt Miller, and Maelyn Gaithes. In addition, the following children were drawn to receive a bike: Jesse Russell, Addison Cole, Bryson Beckwith, Sophia Thomas, Nikolas Rubush, Tessla Ashbrooke, Jacob Collins, Kailen Scribner, Rhyland Brady, Kenadi Wyrozumski, Ethan Brinkman, and Kinley Hill.

Photo by RR Best
The Calm Before the Storm
Hundreds of kids and adults stand behind caution tape Sunday afternoon at Wyman Park just moments before being let loose to raid hundreds of Easter eggs of their goodies. The Easter egg hunt was sponsored by the Sullivan Fire District, which also gave the following children baskets after drawing their names: Charlie Conlin, Emma Clevenger, Aidan Coil, Elona Halili, Teagan Born, McKinlee Nunamaker, Lane Nowlin, Josie Herschberger, Trey Grimm, Autumn Shinn, Wyatt Miller, and Maelyn Gaithes. In addition, the following children were drawn to receive a bike: Jesse Russell, Addison Cole, Bryson Beckwith, Sophia Thomas, Nikolas Rubush, Tessla Ashbrooke, Jacob Collins, Kailen Scribner, Rhyland Brady, Kenadi Wyrozumski, Ethan Brinkman, and Kinley Hill.

2015 Miss Lovington Pageant

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Photo by Kent Stock 2015 Miss Lovington Pageant The 2015 queens that were crowned March 28 were Jr. Miss Lovington Kenli Nettles (left), daughter of Ryan Nettles and Christi Yielding and 2015 Little Miss Lovington Morgan Casteel (right), daughter of Brock and Erica Casteel. Outgoing queens (back row) are 2014 Jr Miss Lovington, Natalie Lambdin (left) and 2014 Little Miss Lovington, Halle Wardrip (right).

Photo by Kent Stock
2015 Miss Lovington Pageant
The 2015 queens that were crowned March 28 were Jr. Miss Lovington Kenli Nettles (left), daughter of Ryan Nettles and Christi Yielding and 2015 Little Miss Lovington Morgan Casteel (right), daughter of Brock and Erica Casteel. Outgoing queens (back row) are 2014 Jr Miss Lovington, Natalie Lambdin (left) and 2014 Little Miss Lovington, Halle Wardrip (right).

2015 SHS Girls’ Basketball Banquet

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Submitted by Emily Neuhauser SHS Girls’ Basketball Banquet The SHS girls’ basketball banquet was held March 10 at the VFW. Pictured, left to right: Chloe Riley (most improved award) Emily Neuhauser (most outstanding player award and offensive award) Brittin Boyer (rebound award and Lady Redskin award) Elisss Stewart (hustle and heart award) and Alyssa Marshall (defense award). Boyer also previously received First Team All-State honors from the Associated Press and the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association, while also being unanimously named to the all-Central Illinois Conference first team. Neuhauser received Third Team All-State from the IBCA and Honorable Mention from the AP as well as unanimous all CIC first team. Stewart earned second team all CIC honors.

Submitted by Emily Neuhauser
SHS Girls’ Basketball Banquet
The SHS girls’ basketball banquet was held March 10 at the VFW. Pictured, left to right: Chloe Riley (most improved award) Emily Neuhauser (most outstanding player award and offensive award) Brittin Boyer (rebound award and Lady Redskin award) Elisss Stewart (hustle and heart award) and Alyssa Marshall (defense award). Boyer also previously received First Team All-State honors from the Associated Press and the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association, while also being unanimously named to the all-Central Illinois Conference first team. Neuhauser received Third Team All-State from the IBCA and Honorable Mention from the AP as well as unanimous all CIC first team. Stewart earned second team all CIC honors.

12th Annual Busterball Tourney

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Photo by RR Best 12th Annual Busterball Tourney Fourth grader Wyatt Miller ducks while clutching two balls during the Sullivan Blue Dolphins 12th annual busterball tournament, Saturday March 28 at Sullivan High School. There, 56 teams played with more than 400 participants from ages kindergarten to adult. Teams came from Okaw Valley, Shelbyville, Lovington, and Sullivan. Trophies were given to first place team winners, medals to the second place team winners and a free snow cone was the prize for the team members that exhibited the best sportsmanship for each grade level. A lot of new activities were also available during the event as well, including games, face painting, and a raffle table with a wide variety of prizes.  A full list of winners is posted at http://sbdbusterball.weebly.com/.

Photo by RR Best
12th Annual Busterball Tourney
Fourth grader Wyatt Miller ducks while clutching two balls during the Sullivan Blue Dolphins 12th annual busterball tournament, Saturday March 28 at Sullivan High School. There, 56 teams played with more than 400 participants from ages kindergarten to adult. Teams came from Okaw Valley, Shelbyville, Lovington, and Sullivan. Trophies were given to first place team winners, medals to the second place team winners and a free snow cone was the prize for the team members that exhibited the best sportsmanship for each grade level. A lot of new activities were also available during the event as well, including games, face painting, and a raffle table with a wide variety of prizes.  A full list of winners is posted at http://sbdbusterball.weebly.com/.

2015 Sparrow’s Easter Bike Giveaway

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Submitted Sparrow’s Easter Bike Giveaway Sparrow’s Unlimited Inc. once again gave away bikes to children during the Lovington Easter egg hunt Saturday morning at Tom Conn Park. Those who received bikes were Griffin Hilton, Kamayah Parker, Cannon Doggett, Norma Mendoza, Daylin Doggett, Athena Helmuth, Devon Barron, Rylin Young, Robbie Le Cates, and McKenzie Erixon.

Submitted
Sparrow’s Easter Bike Giveaway
Sparrow’s Unlimited Inc. once again gave away bikes to children during the Lovington Easter egg hunt Saturday morning at Tom Conn Park. Those who received bikes were Griffin Hilton, Kamayah Parker, Cannon Doggett, Norma Mendoza, Daylin Doggett, Athena Helmuth, Devon Barron, Rylin Young, Robbie Le Cates, and McKenzie Erixon.