Meet Gauge, Windsor Elementary School’s Comfort Dog

News Progress Posted on by

Photo courtesy of Denise Sentel
Gauge, the comfort dog’s first day of school photo from early this fall.

•November 16, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Windsor Elementary School has a furry, friendly student that has been attending the school for the past three years. That student is Gauge, a six-year-old goldendoodle breed dog who is an official comfort dog at the school. This is his third year serving the school in this capacity.
When Denise Sentel decided to adopt Gauge, her son had just turned 16 and wanted an active, energetic dog. They already had a rescue pit at home. She wanted a younger dog to ride around with her, and from the beginning, he has traveled everywhere with her.
It started with her bringing Gauge in every once in a while to visit students. Sentel knew about therapy dogs and how they were a benefit to those who have experienced tragedies and traumas. After the tragedy in the Sullivan School District a few years ago, her interest was renewed in training Gauge to help others. Read More

Rick Matthews Retires from Moultrie County

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by R.R. Best
Rick Matthews Retires from Moultrie County
Rick Matthews (right) retired as Maintenance Director for Moultrie County on Monday, October 31 after almost 18 years of service. As part of his send off he rang the bell at the Moultrie County Courthouse. Jef Liddiard (left) was hired on September 1 to work as maintenance director upon Matthew’s retirement.

Sullivan High School Class of 1968 Honors Class Veterans

News Progress Posted on by

•November 9, 2022•
Submitted by Lou Ann Soper
Guest Writer

SHS Class of 1968 has proudly honored its Class Veterans with two benches located at Wyman Park near Lane Memorial Field. The idea was sparked when Class Veteran, Richard “Huck” Huckstep, was honored with a bench located near Wyman Lake by family and friends. Donations by SHS 1968 Classmates provided the benches and plaques attached to the benches. Class members Dale Hale, Charles Landers and Bill Standerfer are responsible for installation at the site location. Read More

Third Annual Anglers Tribute to Veterans Held

News Progress Posted on by

Photo courtesy of Travis Hughes
Veterans were celebrate during the Anglers Tribute to Veterans this past weekend. On Friday night was a steak dinner and on Saturday afternoon was a fish fry. Normally veterans are taken on a fishing trip on Saturday morning but that was cancelled due to a high wind advisory. More photos are on page 8.

•November 9, 2022•
The Third Annual Anglers Tribute to Veterans was held this past weekend. Usually the event involves taking veterans fishing on Lake Shelbyville along with other events but due to a wind advisory on Saturday the fishing trip on Saturday was not held this year. However there was a steak dinner and veteran and boater introductions on Friday night and a fish fry for veterans and their families on Saturday afternoon with a guest speaker. Read More

Honor Drive for Shoni Anderson Nov. 15

News Progress Posted on by

•November 9, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Shoni Anderson, 7, is the daughter of Jeff and Becky Clayton-Anderson, and on Tuesday, November 15, there will be an honor drive for her at the Sullivan American Legion from noon to 6 p.m. Shoni was diagnosed with leukemia in February 2021. According to her mother Becky, this will be the third blood drive held in her daughter’s honor.
The first indication that something was amiss was when she started having severe foot and leg pain. It got to the point where the pain was waking her up at night. Becky said in November 2020 she took her daughter to an orthopedic doctor for lab work and x-rays. The next month they saw a pediatric orthopedic doctor and ruled out osteosarcoma which is a bone cancer. Read More

Moultrie County Sheriff Retires

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Crystal Reed
Moultrie County Sheriff Retires
Moultrie County Sheriff Chris Sims was recognized for 28 years with the department last Friday during a retirement party at the sheriff’s office. Sims plans to spend his retirement spending time with his wife and grandchildren, as well as fishing and traveling. During the retirement party, Chief Deputy Gary Carroll (left) presented Sims (right) with a plaque.

Area Fire Chiefs Recognized for Years of Service

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Crystal Reed
Area Fire Chiefs Recognized for Years of Service
Four area fire chiefs from Moultrie County were recently recognized for years of service as chief officers by the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association at their annual conference held in Peoria. Fire Chief Larry Edwards of the Sullivan Fire Protection District, Fire Chief Michael Jennings and Assistant Fire Chief Phil Ozier of the Bethany Fire Protection District were recognized for five years of service. Fire Chief Gary Smith was recognized for 25 years of service as the Lovington Fire Chief.

Sullivan Celebrates Halloween

News Progress Posted on by

•November 2, 2022•
Children celebrated Halloween in Sullivan on Monday, October 31, with safe trick or treat, AMBUCS Halloween Parade and traditional trick or treat later that evening. During safe trick or treat local businesses and organizations gave out candy and glow sticks to all the ghosts, goblins, princesses and other characters that were walking around the downtown area. AMBUCS also held their Halloween parade where children were able to march around the square with the high school band providing music while judges decided the top ten costumes. Winning costumes were worn by Colton Conner, Hope Conner, Gabrial Spencer, Zoey Fagin, Hannah Taylor and Macie Rodgers, Koda Polley, Whittan “Noodles” Hill, Amanda Hill, Adelyn Hill and Liberty Hill, Lyndsay Ray and Adah Ray-Allen, Barbara Siewert and Zach Kenworthy.

Sullivan Dance Studio’s Competition Team Members Attend Convention

News Progress Posted on by

Photo Submitted
Sullivan Dance Studio’s Competition Team Members
Attend Convention
Sullivan Dance Studio had 10 Competition Dance team members attend Revel—The Dance Convention Revelation Radiate You Tour in St. Louis, Missouri on October 21, 22 & 23, 2022. Mini Level dancers were Natalia Beals and Fionn Lynch. The mini level dancers all got to perform in the final showcase and even had a fun Dance Party during one of their sessions. Junior level dancers from SDS Competition Team were Gabrielle Carpenter, Avery Florey, Adalee Foster, Lillian Hood, Aleena Ingram, and Miah Voegel. Special shout out to Lillian Hood for being chosen to perform from her level in the final showcase. Zoe Lynch and Sarina Voegel were teen level dancers who attended the convention. Zoe was able to attend bonus classes on Friday night at the convention as well. Revel Dance Convention gave dancers a chance to work diligently with a diverse faculty that included educators and choreographers from all facets of the dance world. Those who attended had a chance to attend ballet, contemporary, hip hop, jazz, jazz funk and tap classes.

Sullivan High School Team IMPACT Accepting Donations of Personal Care Items

News Progress Posted on by

•November 2, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

A newly formed student action group at Sullivan High School is helping their peers with acquiring necessary personal care items, clothing and food. Team IMPACT’s mission is to create a safe, inclusive space that provides District #300 students the opportunity to make anonymous requests for personal care items and necessary resources. The group’s aims are to develop youth leadership, provide peer-led support and create sustainable community partnerships.
According to Darby Poe of Moultrie County Counseling, they received a grant from the Regional Office of Education #3 to help fund the effort. Poe and SHS teacher Kali Taylor recently had a conversation at a cross country meet. Taylor indicated that students are lacking basic necessities, and they don’t have any programs in the area that are youth based.
As a teacher, Taylor said, that in the course of a day she sees 75-80% of the student body. “There’s this need of kids that are hungry or lacking supplies.” Poe added that kids often don’t admit they are in need. Read More