Air Conditioning Systems to be Installed at AGS and Upgraded at LGS This Summer

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•November 23 2022•
by Ariana R. Cherry

The ALAH School Board of Education’s most recent meeting was held Wednesday, November 16, at Atwood-Hammond Grade School.
Superintendent Shannon Cheek discussed the HVAC Bids the district received for both Arthur and Lovington grade schools. The bids were for installing air conditioning at Arthur Grade School and upgrading the AC system at Lovington Grade School. There were seven bids total. The lowest bid was awarded to Davis Houk for an amount of $1,158,775.00. The project is to begin this summer and hopefully be completed by the end of summer. Read More

Virginia Weakley Celebrates 102nd Birthday

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Photo submitted
Virginia Weakley, formerly of Bethany celebrated her 102nd birthday with a gathering at Copper Creek in Mattoon on Thursday, November 17. Pictured in front is Virginia’s daughter Jan Stevens, Virginia Weakley and in back is her grandson and son John.

•November 23 2022•
by Ellen Ferrera

On Thursday, November 17 some 20 friends and family members gathered at Copper Creek in Mattoon to help Virginia Weakley, formerly of Bethany, celebrate her 102nd birthday.
Her daughter, Jan Stephens, and son, John Weakley, were in attendance along with a grandson and longtime friends. Guitarist Bobby Reynolds serenaded Virginia with songs and led everyone in singing “Happy Birthday”.
This interview was conducted Saturday the 19th in her apartment where the tops of two dressers were completely covered with bouquets and more than 100 birthday cards. She found a large envelope and pulled out a handful of colorful, crayon-decorated birthday cards – one from every kindergarten student at Okaw Valley Elementary School and all handmade. These cards were an obvious delight for the former kindergarten teacher as she brought them out several times to admire them. Read More

General Election Held

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Photo by Crystal Reed
General Election Held
The General Election was held on Tuesday, November 8. Unofficial results can be viewed by visiting il-moultrie.pollresults.net. Pictured is Karen Goss (right) helping Kaye Wagner (left) with obtaining a ballot on Election Day.

Veterans Day 2022 Observed at Schools with Ceremonies

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Photos by Crystal Reed Veterans Day Observed at Schools with Ceremonies Schools in the area observed Veterans Day on Friday, November 11. Ceremonies were held at Okaw Valley High School, Lovington Grade School, Sullivan Grade and Sullivan High Schools. Pictured are moments captured from the Sullivan Veterans Day ceremonies at the schools.

 

Meet Gauge, Windsor Elementary School’s Comfort Dog

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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

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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

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•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

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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

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•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

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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.