Red Cross Blood Drive 

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•January 10, 2018• The American Red Cross, Sullivan Church of God and Sullivan American Legion are hosting a Red Cross Blood Drive noon to 6 p.m. January 16 at Sullivan American Legion Post #68. Blood supplies are critically low at this time, and the Red Cross has an urgent need for blood supplies to be replenished. Call Jeri Davis, drive coordinator, at 273-9456 to schedule an appointment or go to redcrossblood.org.  Walk-ins are welcome, but having an appointment ensures adequate red cross staffing and decreases donor wait time. … Read More

Obituaries 1-10-18: Iona Shreffler 

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Iona Shreffler  Iona Faye Shreffler, 94, of Mesa, Ariz. died at noon Jan. 3, 2018 in Mesa. Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Jan. 7 in Mountain View Funeral Home & Cemetery, LLC in Mesa. She was born March 26, 1923 in Lovington, the daughter of Amos and Gladys Hout. … Read More

Obituaries 1-10-2018: Viola McCain 

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Viola McCain  Viola R. McCain, 94, of Decatur, formerly of Bethany, passed away at 10:10 a.m. Friday, January 5, 2018 in Decatur Memorial Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 13 in McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Bethany. Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m-11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home in Bethany. Burial will be in Marrowbone Township Cemetery in Bethany.  … Read More

Menus 1-10-18

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Senior Peace Meal For additional information or for reservations, please call 1-800-543-1770 Monday, January 15 – Saucy stuffed peppers, corn, lima beans, whole grain wheat (1), Frudel bar Tuesday, January 16 – Baked ham, mixed vegetables, frosted sweet potatoes, rye bread (2), overnight fruit salad Wednesday, January 17 – Turkey pot roast w/carrots & celery, mac and cheese, Italian green beans, melon chunks, whole grain wheat (1), cookie Thursday, January 18 – Meatloaf, mashed potatoes w/gravy, peas, dinner roll, peaches Friday, January 19 – Hamburger, buttered baby baker potatoes, creamy coleslaw, bun, warm baked apple Sullivan Pre-School Breakfast Monday, January 15 … Read More

Tuscola Takes ALAH Girls’ Basketball 

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•January 10, 2018• The Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond girls’ basketball team lost on the road to Tuscola 50-29 Monday night. The Warriors jumped out early with a 16-5 lead and added on to that lead at half to make it 29-14. Tuscola added on five more points to its lead in the third and held on for the win. … Read More

Recent Obituaries: Marsha Lynn Keeling

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Marsha Lynn Keeling Marsha Lynn Keeling, 60, of Tuscola, formerly of Arthur, died at 12:51 a.m. Wednesday, January 3, 2018 at Carle Hospital, Urbana. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Sunday, January 7, 2018 at Shrader Funeral Home, 431 S. Vine Street, Arthur, with Rev. James Dona officiating.  Burial will follow in the Windsor Cemetery.  Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Marsha was born December 28, 1957 in Decatur, the daughter of Kenneth Harold  and Cora Jane Gentry Riggs. She is survived by her mother and stepfather, Jane and Clinton Camic of … Read More

Coal Mining Has a Deep History in Southern Illinois

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•January 3, 2018• By Casey Bischel Of the Belleville News-Democrat Louis Joliet and Pere Marquette, returning from an expedition on the Mississippi River in 1673, were the first explorers to notice the combustible material that would shape the Illinois economy. The coal just sat there on the surface like low-hanging fruit near Utica along the Illinois River. The first mine appeared near Peoria not long after, but it wasn’t until 1830, when coal from Belleville found a market in nearby St. Louis, that the industry took off, according to Keith Weil and Alvin K. Grandys, who wrote the 1976 Illinois Coal … Read More

OVHS Girls Win Holiday Tournament

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•January 3, 2018• By Jason Brown NP Sports The Okaw Valley girls’ basketball team gave the fans a great Christmas gift by winning the 17th annual Okaw Valley Holiday Tournament Friday. OV won two games Friday, defeating Decatur LSA and Martinsville. In the championship game OV defeated Martinsville 59-24 to finish the tournament with a 5-0 record. Paige Robinson scored a game-high 23 points including 15 points in the first quarter. … Read More