Photo by Crystal Reed
Third Graders Board the Titanic
Jennifer Hostetler’s third grade class at Lovington Grade School boarded the Titanic on Monday, April 11. Students were assigned the name of a person who was aboard the Titanic and could dress in character. Students were also separated out by the social classes when boarding the ship to determine their seat. All of their school subjects for the day had a Titanic focus.
Photo by Crystal Reed
Easter Hams Donated to Food Pantry
As Easter dinner came around and the Moultrie County Food Pantry received a donation of hams from Sullivan IGA to give to families for Easter Sunday. The donation was made possible by one anonymous person whose spirit exemplifies the season. The IGA meat department made a special delivery on Wednesday, April 13 to make sure the hams arrived in time for Sunday dinner. Pictured are (in no order): Seth Cobb, Cameron Eccles, Timothy VanDeursen, Mason Harner and Judy Sumner.
•April 20, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
A new business to our area will be holding an after hours on Thursday, April 28 from 4 to 6 pm at 5 West Jefferson in Sullivan. There will be complimentary cocktails, light hors d’oeuvres and giveaways.
Shelby Realty started out in 1973 based out of Shelbyville. Owner Matt Forcum purchased the business in December 2020. He is a graduate of Lake Land College and Eastern Illinois University.
The realty company has 8 agents, “Any of our agents can handle any type of property,” Forcum said. Prior to purchasing Shelby Realty he was a realtor with Century 21 franchise in Effingham for 13 years. Read More
•April 20, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
The Moultrie County Board approved amendments to an amendment regarding the zoning ordinance concerning wind energy in the county. Marsha Kirby proposed an amendment regarding wind turbines to take the setback from 1.5 miles to 2 miles of the corporate limits and the setback between turbines from 1,500 feet to 3,000 feet.
After this was approved, Kirby added that she wanted the turbines from 1.5 to 2 miles and 1,500 feet to 3,000 from schools. Todd Maxedon proposed another amendment for zero tolerance for noise. This passed as well. A final vote on the ordinance will be taken at the Thursday, May 12, board meeting after the April 25 public hearing to be held at Sullivan High School.
Approved was a motion to fund all eight repeaters out of the county’s reserve fund for approximately $302,500 and for ARPA funds to be used to purchase the radios needed to get all departments on board in the county for approximately $233,810. There are repeaters that will reach out to fire departments in all towns as well as law enforcement. This will benefit all agencies in the county. Read More
Photo by Crystal Reed
Sullivan Singers Jr.
Sullivan Singers Jr. performing their competition show during the dinner theatre. That show included “Breakthrough”, “Grace Kelly”, “Come Together” and “Trying Too Hard”.
Photo by Crystal Reed
Sullivan Singers
The Sullivan Singers performed their competition show as part of the dinner theatre that was held on Saturday, April 9 and 10 at Sullivan High School. Sullivan Singers and Singers Jr. performed their fall shows and competition shows. There were also senior spotlight performances.
Photo by Crystal Reed
Hunting for Easter eggs
The egg hunt was held at 1 pm on Saturday, April 9. Pictured are two ladies running towards the eggs while carrying their children and containers to gather the eggs.
Photo by Crystal Reed
Enjoying the Egg Hunt
The Cummings family came to the Sullivan egg hunt and enjoyed getting a close up look at a tractor. Pictured are Lane, Kenzlee, Lydia, Luke and Lylah Cummings.
Photo by Crystal Reed
Antique Fire Truck
At Courtyard Estates of Sullivan’s egg hunt, children and their families were able to get a closer look at fire trucks and emergency vehicles from Sullivan Fire Department, IDOT plows, a tractor and an antique fire truck. Trying out the antique fire truck were Raelynn and Zander Dyer.
Photo by Crystal Reed
Petting Zoo
One of the activities at Courtyard Estates for the Easter Egg Hunt was a petting zoo. Children and their families could interact with chickens, goats, llamas and other animals. Pictured is Jasper Rhodes with one of the goats.
Photo by Crystal Reed
Easter Eggstravaganza
Courtyard Estates of Sullivan hosted an Easter egg hunt and bicycle raffle on Saturday, April 9. Pictured with the Easter bunny are Keely Warren and Haleigh Nation.
Photo by Crystal Reed
Balloon Artist
Patti Woods (right), of Paddi’s Air Filled Fun, was making balloon creations for children at the Easter Egg Hunt in Sullivan. Pictured with Patti are Kyle and Elijah Gabbard.
Photo by Crystal Reed
Angi Carter,Vice President, Lending of Farm Credit Illinois (left), presents a check to Wilmer Otto, President of the Illinois Amish Heritage Center (right). Also pictured in back is local farmer Levi Yoder and Jim Fleming.
•April 13, 2022•
The 2022 season for the Illinois Amish Heritage Center (IAHC) began with a celebration lunch on April 5, during which Farm Credit Illinois presented a $25,000 check toward its $50,000 commitment. In recognition of their generosity, the Gathering Pavilion will soon have installed the Center’s first donor plaque on which Farm Credit Illinois will be honored. Read More
•April 13, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
The Sullivan City Council approved an ordinance amendment for net metering of the revised code of ordinances of the city of Sullivan during their meeting on Monday. The ordinance affects those who are producing solar energy in the city. There is currently one customer who does so, but they have had inquiries from other residents.
Mayor Richard Glazebrook noted that the ordinance has the city allowing solar with no caps. The intent is to put this in place. Commissioner Mike Fowler added that there are other parts of the ordinance which need to be cleaned up.
Commissioner Abbey Sherwood said the new ordinance is replacing the old ordinance. “There’s more to the solar than just the ordinance,” Fowler replied.
Glazebrook said they are going to net metering. Read More
•April 13, 2022•
Submitted by Ted Walk
Superintendent of Sullivan CUSD #300
Sullivan Schools recently hosted three facility forums that culminated in Board action on Monday, April 11, to place a referendum on the ballot at the upcoming June 28th election for the replacement of the aging Sullivan Middle School. Formal discussions regarding possible facility improvements have occurred over the past few years. The discussion moved forward with rapidity after recommended architect estimates for repairs to Sullivan Middle School totaled just over $10 million. The Board engaged in a Facility Planning Session in November, and Facility Forums open to the community occurred throughout February and March. These three community meetings allowed for 188 people to give feedback on needs and wants of the future of Sullivan Schools. Read More
•April 13, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
The Sullivan Community Education Foundation held a Staff Appreciation Banquet Thursday, April 7, at Building 1225. During that event, mini and major grants were presented, and staff and retirees were recognized for years of service. Grant Wade, chair of SCEF, presented the grants as well as announced donations that were integral to funding those grants this year.
Wade said last year the foundation received one of its largest donations in the amount of $86,000 from Lloyd and Helen Maurer. A memorial in honor of Gary Emel given by the Emel family made an extra $10,000 in grants possible. This year there were seven mini and eight major grants awarded.
Mini grants this year totaled approximately $4,764.00 while major grants totaled $25,504.45. Mini grants in the amount of $450.00 were awarded to Erin Van Deursen and Nichole Watkins for hands-on learning activities for kindergarten students; Courtney Leach/ Leslie Guyot for a portable public address system for SES staff and students in the amount of $499.00; John Bertetto for 10 licenses for cadaver dissection program for SHS students in Anatomy/Physiology courses in the amount of $510.00; Valerie Kalagian/Lauren Fultz/Rikki Ray for 13 document cameras/microphones for elementary school students in the amount of $742.50; Sarah Camp for a sensory table and materials for early childhood students in the amount of $755.00; Kelsey Elliott for flexible seating for fifth grade students in the amount of $839.00 and Sheri McCain for 21 keyboards for third grade students in the amount of $965.79. Read More