Faith Lutheran Holds Benefit

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•August 30, 2017• Faith Lutheran Church in Sullivan will sponsor a benefit cookout 10 a.m.-2 p.m. September 9 and 16. All proceeds will directly benefit Pastor Paul McGhghy to make their home handicap accessible and help cover medical expenses. Funds to assist for the benefits will come from Thrivent Financial. Make check donations payable to Faith Lutheran Church. Also indicate McGhghy Benefit on the memo line. Donations may also be mailed to Faith Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 109, Sullivan, IL 61951. For questions or more information contact the church office at 217-728-7711. … Read More

ALAH’s Makenna Green Places Fourth

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•August 30, 2017• Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond’s lone female cross country runner Makenna Green placed fourth in a five-team meet in Sullivan Thursday and 17th in the Saber Kickoff Classic last Tuesday. At the Sullivan meet, she ran a 22:37, and at the Saber Kickoff Classic, she finished in 22.43. She is scheduled to enter the Chrisman Invite at 9 a.m. Saturday. … Read More

Area Artist Receives Top Award at Ill. State Fair

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•August 30, 2017• Kari Rajkumar, a portrait artist from Paris, Ill., was chosen as the recipient of the Governor’s Choice Award (aka Best in Show) in the Professional Art Exhibition held in conjunction with the 2017 Illinois State Fair, for her oil painting titled “Autumn Walk.”  Her award-winning piece measures 5 ft x 3 ft and features a young man in princely attire alongside a glossy black horse.  At only 28 years of age, Rajkumar is one of the youngest recipients of this award in the Professional Division. … Read More

Okaw Valley Volleyball Numbers Up for the Season

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•August 30, 2017• By Jason Brown NP Sports With a complete new coaching staff and a young team, Okaw Valley volleyball head coach Sarah McDowell has had to shuffle several new situations before her team even took the court. In her first year as head coach, McDowell has been joined with first-year junior varsity coach Kirsten Durflinger and first-year assistant coach Maggie Luckenbill. “We have three new coaches to the high school program,” said McDowell, “so it has taken time for our players to get comfortable with our style of coaching. We are…challenging the players every day in practice to … Read More

Health Screenings 

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•August 30, 2017• SBL Lincolnland Home Care and Lincolnland Hospice will conduct a free blood pressure clinic from 8:30 to 9 a.m. Thursday, September 21in the Senior Center in Sullivan. For more information, call Lincolnland Home Care at 1-800-879-3212. SBL Lincolnland Home Care, Lincolnland Hospice and Lincolnland Home Medical will sponsor bingo from 9–10 a.m. following the blood pressure clinic. … Read More

Lost Momentum Contributes to Knights’ First Loss

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•August 30, 2017• By Jason Brown NP Sports The Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond football team dropped its season opener 34-28 against Tri-County at home Friday night. In the first quarter, a fresh ALAH team executed well and took a 14 point lead in the first quarter. But in the second quarter, Tri-County scored 21 unanswered points to take the lead. “We lost momentum when we started turning the ball over,” said ALAH coach Dale Schuring. Tri-County added seven more in the third. “Second and third quarters, we played undisciplined football and turned the ball over repeatedly,” said Schuring. The Knights battled back with … Read More

Obituaries 8-23-2017: Joseph Abbott

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Joseph Abbott Joseph E. “Gary” Abbott, 69, of Decatur, formerly of Sullivan, passed away at 11 p.m. Thursday, August 17, 2017 in Decatur Memorial Hospital. A visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. today (Wednesday, August 23) in McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan. No services will be held. … Read More

Understanding Illinois: Is the Sun Setting on Rural Illinois? A Tough Row to Hoe

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•August 23, 2017• By Jim Nowlan NP Guest Columnist I gave a talk this past week about the future of rural Illinois to a gathering of presidents of Illinois community foundations. Never above getting a twofer out of a talk, I penned this column. I write because I believe rural communities have contributed much to the development of America and of Americans. I think presidents from Eisenhower to Reagan and Carter reached the pinnacle of public life in good part because they learned in their small towns that we’re all in this together, and that working together makes sense. After … Read More