Dolly Parton Imagination Library Launches in Moultrie County

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photo by Crystal Reed
Sullivan mayor Mike Mossman reads “The Gruffalo” to children as part of the launch of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Moultrie County at the Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library on Wednesday, December 6.

•December 13, 2023•

by Crystal Reed

The United Way of Decatur and Mid-Illinois in partnership with Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library had a kickoff event for the debut of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in Moultrie County. Each child who attended the kickoff event of the debut of the program and signed up from the program received “The Little Engine That Could,” to start their collection.

Sullivan mayor Mike Mossman was in attendance at the event and read the story “The Gruffalo” to children and their parents. Following the story, children and their parents could do a craft related to the book and enjoy refreshments. Besides Moultrie County the following counties have access to the program currently: McLean, DeWitt, Macon, Piatt, Champaign, Vermillion, Edgar, Logan, Menard and Sangamon. Shelby County will launch this week on Wednesday. The goal with the state partnership is to have all the counties covered. Read More

Santa’s Little Helper Workshop 2023

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photo by Crystal Reed
Santa’s Little Helper Workshop
Calvin Lawler works on a craft during the Santa’s Little Helper Workshop activities held at the Masonic Temple in Sullivan. Activities included Christmas crafts, cookie decorating, writing letters to Santa and refreshments. The event was free and offered by Dove, Inc.

photo by Crystal Reed
Christmas Fun
Alexis Rosine and Han Warren enjoy the activities in Santa’s Little Helper Workshop.

photo by Crystal Reed
Santa Letter Writing
Employees at Moultrie County Counseling volunteered at Santa’s Little Helper Workshop offering children the opportunity to write letters to Santa and coloring pages. Pictured are Mary Stutzman, Alexa Matthies and Alejandra Huerta.

photo by Crystal Reed
Helping Out at Santa Workshop
Molly Tenuto with Dove and her daughter Maddy helped out in Santa’s Little Helper Workshop prior to the Sullivan Christmas parade the evening of Friday, December 1.

photo by Crystal Reed
Visiting with Santa
Sawyer and Patsy Woodworth visit with Santa during the Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development’s Christmas activities on Friday, December 1.

Santa at the Bethany Depot 2023

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photo by Crystal Reed
Santa at the Bethany Depot
Aria Lane visited with Santa when he visited the Depot in Bethany on Sunday, December 3. Santa rode into town in an antique fire truck and the Okaw Valley band played as he rode up to the Depot.

photo by Crystal Reed
BASO Volunteers
Pictured are some of the volunteers that made Santa’s arrival in Bethany possible in front of the village’s Christmas tree.

photo by Crystal Reed
Bethany Royalty Help Santa
Bethany royalty helped Santa at the Bethany Depot. Pictured are Young Miss Bethany Archer McPheeters, Little Miss Bethany Davanee Lenover, Miss Bethany Julia Hildebrandt and Junior Miss Bethany Falynn Irvin.

photo by Crystal Reed
Reindeer Games
Evie Law plays a ring toss game with Bethany Free Methodist Church Pastor Chris Benton. Santa came to Bethany on Sunday, December 3 and activities were held in the library’s community room, Santa photos at Bethany Depot and a tree lighting at the village hall.

Santa Bingo Held at Sullivan American Legion 2023

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photo by Crystal Reed
Santa Bingo Held at Sullivan American Legion
Santa Bingo was held on Saturday, December 2 at the Sullivan American Legion. Children of all ages and those young at heart enjoyed breakfast and bingo and also had the opportunity to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Pictured are Sophie Foster, River Helmuth, Indie Harminson and Daniel Cisney with Santa and Mrs. Claus. All proceeds from the event benefit Down Syndrome Awareness.

ALAH BOE Approves Tentative Tax Levy

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•December 6, 2023•

by Ariana R Cherry

The ALAH Board of Education approved a tentative tax levy at their school board meeting Wednesday. November 15. The tax levy was figured at 5.6%. Since the levy is over 5%, it will require the board to have a Truth and Taxation hearing. While the levy is over 5%, it still is considerably lower than last year’s which was 9%. The formula to configure the levy is established by state code. Superintendent Shannon Cheek also looks at other counties when he tries to estimate the EAV (equalized assessed value). In his research, he found that Moultrie County had a 7% increase, Piatt County was at 8% and Coles County was 6%.  There will be a hearing at the next school board meeting in December, and the tentative tax levy will be on file for the next 30 days.

The district received a matching maintenance grant from the ISBE (Illinois State Board of Education) of $50,000 to help cover the cost for the renovations of the bathrooms at Arthur Grade School and Lovington Grade School. Grunloh Construction’s bid of $537,000 was the one awarded to complete the project. Read More

Sullivan Superintendent Reflects on School Report Card Results for District

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•December 6, 2023•

by Crystal Reed

The Illinois State Board of Education recently released report cards for districts in the state, rating districts on a variety of categories from socioeconomic status and attendance rates to truancy and proficiency in math, science and other subjects.

Sullivan Superintendent Ted Walk stated that the report cards are an important piece of what is going on in a district, but the more important part is what is done in classrooms each day. He also noted that standardized testing reflects a one-day test. Overall he said he is pleased with this year’s results. Read More

One Book One Sullivan Reveals This Book Choice During Assembly

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photo by Crystal Reed
One Book, One Sullivan chose the 2023-2024 book and announced it during an assembly on Tuesday, November 21. Members of OBOS are Wes Allen, Madeline Anderson, Madeline Atteberry, Violet Cohan, Isabelle Donovan, Emma Drake, Alex Fultz, Aubrey Fultz, Kent Lehman, Clara Miller, Scarlett Perrott, Avery Renfro, Daisy Richardson, Ronin Woods, Emery Wade, Gideon Walk and Rikki Ray.

•November 29, 2023•

by Crystal Reed

One Book, One Sullivan is excited to present City Spies by James Ponti as the 2023-2024 book choice. Sullivan Middle School students worked diligently to choose the book which would best match interests of middle school through adult readers.

According to the author’s website, www.jamesponti.com, Sarah Martinez is a hacker facing years in juvenile detention, until she meets Mother, a spy who gets her out of jail and into MI6, British Secret Intelligence. Operating out of a castle in Scotland, the City Spies are five kids from around the world who’ve fallen through the cracks only to form a family like no other. When they’re not at the local boarding school, they’re mastering spy skills such as sleight of hand, breaking and entering, covert observation, and explosives. In order that they can go places in the world of espionage where adults can’t. Read More

OV Student Sharing Love of Space with Grade Schoolers

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Gabe Benning teaches students about space during one of his visits to a local school. He has developed a three day space unit designed for grade schools and has shared his knowledge in several local districts.

•November 29, 2023•

by Crystal Reed

Gabe Benning has loved space and astronomy since he was a child, whether it’s meteor showers, stars, black holes or planets he knows about it. Benning is a senior at Okaw Valley High School in Bethany and last semester this past April he was thinking about what he could do for the community and our area about his interest in space. He saw a Tik Tok that sparked an idea to create a three day space unit designed for grade schools.

The space unit is broken down in 30 minute sessions each day. Read More

Christmas in the Park 2023

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photo by Crystal Reed
Olaf and the Grinch
Olaf and the Grinch embraced during the Lovington Christmas in the Park event on Saturday, November 25 at Tom Conn Park. Santa rode to the park on a firetruck.

photo by Crystal Reed
Visiting Santa
Aliyah Whitlow visited Tom Conn Park in Lovington to tell Santa what she wants for Christmas. Christmas in the Park gave children the opportunity to visit with Santa, Olaf and the Grinch. The Christmas light displays were also turned on for the season that afternoon.