50 Year Pins

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Submitted by Charles Steck 50 Year Pins Arthur Lodge # 825, A F & A M, recently presented 50 year pins and certificates during a dinner at Yoder’s Kitchen. Bros. James Jurgens and Ward McDonald were present to receive their pins; Bros. James Winningham and Calvin Coombes were unable to attend the presentation. Pins and certficates will be sent to Bros. Donald Knobloch who lives in Ohio, and Bro. Harold J. Curry in Arizona. Bro. Knobloch will be a 50 yr. member and Bro. Curry will be honored for being a member of the Fraternity for 75 years, which very few attain. Presentations were made by Bro. Barry D. Weer, currently Grand Master of the state of Illinois, and Bro. Noel C. Dicks, past Grand Master. Pictured left to right are: Bro. David Bowers, Worshipful Master of Arthur Lodge #825, Bro. James Jurgens, 50 yr. member, Bro. Barry D. Weer, Grand Master of the state of Illinois, Bro. Ward McDonald, 50 yr. member, and Bro. Noel C. Dicks, Past Grand Master of Illinois.

Submitted by Charles Steck
50 Year Pins
Arthur Lodge # 825, A F & A M, recently presented 50 year pins and certificates during a dinner at Yoder’s Kitchen. Bros. James Jurgens and Ward McDonald were present to receive their pins; Bros. James Winningham and Calvin Coombes were unable to attend the presentation. Pins and certficates will be sent to Bros. Donald Knobloch who lives in Ohio, and Bro. Harold J. Curry in Arizona. Bro. Knobloch will be a 50 yr. member and Bro. Curry will be honored for being a member of the Fraternity for 75 years, which very few attain. Presentations were made by Bro. Barry D. Weer, currently Grand Master of the state of Illinois, and Bro. Noel C. Dicks, past Grand Master. Pictured left to right are: Bro. David Bowers, Worshipful Master of Arthur Lodge #825, Bro. James Jurgens, 50 yr. member, Bro. Barry D. Weer, Grand Master of the state of Illinois, Bro. Ward McDonald, 50 yr. member, and Bro. Noel C. Dicks, Past Grand Master of Illinois.

The Last Time for Tea

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In final year of teaching, LGS instructor hosts last holiday tradition

Photo by RR Best Lovington Grade School teacher Debbie Long reads a story to her students during her annual Christmas Tea Sunday at her home in Sullivan. Since this year marks Long’s last teaching, so will it for her holiday tradition.

Photo by RR Best
Lovington Grade School teacher Debbie Long reads a story to her students during her annual Christmas Tea Sunday at her home in Sullivan. Since this year marks Long’s last teaching, so will it for her holiday tradition.

by Christina Whitford
Sullivan Reporter

Growing up as a little girl in Decatur, Debbie Long always knew she wanted to dedicate her life to teaching children. With the support of her family, she was able to create a very successful career out of teaching, one that will culminate this year, her 35th.

Long followed her dreams and graduated from Illinois State University in 1978. From there she began her career teaching in Lovington in 1979.

“Ever since I can remember I wanted to teach children,” Long recalled. “I would get all the neighborhood kids and teach them in my school room in my basement. My grandpa even got me a chalk board out of an old one room school house and hung it up for me.” Read More

Reindeer Run Winners

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Photo by Keith Stewart Reindeer Run Winners The Sullivan Singers’ Boosters Club hosted their second annual Reindeer Run 5k on a frigid Saturday morning in Wyman Park. Pictured are those who earned medals during the run: Brent King, overall male winner, 18:59; Laine Cameron, overall female winner, 21:29; 19 & under male-Josh O’Brien, first, 19:46; Travis Hanson, second, 24:03; Liam Bechtold, third, 27:25; Jed Wheeler, fourth, 28:49; Brayton Sparrow, fifth; and Ty Binnion, sixth, 41:07. 19 & under female–Jordan Bassett, first, 24:52; Madison Wall, second, 25:53; Kennedy Lucas, third, 25:41; Taylor Booker, fourth, 27:59; Ciara Anderson, fifth, 28:20; Lily Bales, sixth, 28:42; and Mackenzie Ruppert, seventh, 28:42. 30-39 male–Marc Dal Ponte, first, 22:25; Chris Ballinger, second, 28:31; 30-39 female–Jodie Carey, first, 30:55; Rachel Elzy, second, 34:01. 40-49 male–Brian Sparrow, first, 25:53; Rich Banning, second, 26:30. 40-49 female–Angie Cameron, first, 26:47; Lori Sparrow, second, 29:22; Cartha Foley, third, 29:33; and Connie Mulligan, fourth, 31:21. 50-59 male–James Ewing, first, 30:45. 60 + male–Larry Wilson, first, 21:35; Mike Faught, second, 25:30. 5k Walk–Abigail Chapman, first, 42:05; Chris Chapman, second, 42:05; and Angie Hayes, third, 42:05. 1 Mile Deer Dash–Marc Dal Ponte, first, 9:45; Sydni Mulligan, second, 13:02.

Photo by Keith Stewart
Reindeer Run Winners
The Sullivan Singers’ Boosters Club hosted their second annual Reindeer Run 5k on a frigid Saturday morning in Wyman Park. Pictured are those who earned medals during the run: Brent King, overall male winner, 18:59; Laine Cameron, overall female winner, 21:29; 19 & under male-Josh O’Brien, first, 19:46; Travis Hanson, second, 24:03; Liam Bechtold, third, 27:25; Jed Wheeler, fourth, 28:49; Brayton Sparrow, fifth; and Ty Binnion, sixth, 41:07. 19 & under female–Jordan Bassett, first, 24:52; Madison Wall, second, 25:53; Kennedy Lucas, third, 25:41; Taylor Booker, fourth, 27:59; Ciara Anderson, fifth, 28:20; Lily Bales, sixth, 28:42; and Mackenzie Ruppert, seventh, 28:42. 30-39 male–Marc Dal Ponte, first, 22:25; Chris Ballinger, second, 28:31; 30-39 female–Jodie Carey, first, 30:55; Rachel Elzy, second, 34:01. 40-49 male–Brian Sparrow, first, 25:53; Rich Banning, second, 26:30. 40-49 female–Angie Cameron, first, 26:47; Lori Sparrow, second, 29:22; Cartha Foley, third, 29:33; and Connie Mulligan, fourth, 31:21. 50-59 male–James Ewing, first, 30:45. 60 + male–Larry Wilson, first, 21:35; Mike Faught, second, 25:30. 5k Walk–Abigail Chapman, first, 42:05; Chris Chapman, second, 42:05; and Angie Hayes, third, 42:05. 1 Mile Deer Dash–Marc Dal Ponte, first, 9:45; Sydni Mulligan, second, 13:02.

Kicking Off the Christmas Season

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Photo by RR Best Kicking off the Christmas Season Bethany Mayor Bill Ashley addresses a packed room of children and village residents Saturday evening during their annual Christmas tree lighting at the former depot. Be sure to look in next week’s paper to see how the rest of Moultrie County kicked off the holiday season.

Photo by RR Best
Kicking off the Christmas Season
Bethany Mayor Bill Ashley addresses a packed room of children and village residents Saturday evening during their annual Christmas tree lighting at the former depot. Be sure to look in next week’s paper to see how the rest of Moultrie County kicked off the holiday season.

Tax Increase Approved Monday Night for Sullivan Schools

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Head football coach resignation also accepted

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

The Sullivan school district approved their tax levy Monday night, representing a tentative net increase of $342,129 in tax dollars, an 8.78 percent increase over last year’s amount. Because the increase was more than five percent, the district held a truth-in-taxation meeting prior to the regularly scheduled meeting, giving members of the public an opportunity to voice either support for or opposition to the levy. Read More

Little Theatre Reports Cost Reductions

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Further outlines plan to repay debt to Sullivan

by Barry Featheringill
Sullivan Reporter

John Stephens of The Little Theatre On The Square once again brought to the council a proposal on how the theatre plans to stay up-to-date with its repayment of debt to the city, which includes an extra $100 a week “to show good faith.” Read More

Windsor Donates

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Submitted Windsor Donates Recently, the Windsor Jr/Sr High School student council held a fundraising drive to collect money for donations to be sent to those impacted by last month’s tornadoes in Washington. Students sold links for a Giving Chain for $1 per link. Anyone who donated had their name added to a link that was then put onto the chain. The chain then was hung up in the school so that students could watch as it grew each day. Thanks to the generous donations of the community and the school the WHS student council was able to buy $466 in donations for Secret Santa gifts that were sent to families in Washington.

Submitted
Windsor Donates
Recently, the Windsor Jr/Sr High School student council held a fundraising drive to collect money for donations to be sent to those impacted by last month’s tornadoes in Washington. Students sold links for a Giving Chain for $1 per link. Anyone who donated had their name added to a link that was then put onto the chain. The chain then was hung up in the school so that students could watch as it grew each day. Thanks to the generous donations of the community and the school the WHS student council was able to buy $466 in donations for Secret Santa gifts that were sent to families in Washington.