OV’s Fritz Plans to Play for Rend Lake College

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•July 19, 2017• By Jason Brown NP Sports Saturday, Okaw Valley baseball catcher Garrett Fritz made a verbal commitment to play at Rend Lake College in Ina, Ill. “It was a good offer so I couldn’t really turn it down,” said Fritz. “And I talked to all my coaches and parents, and it just turned out to be the right fit for me.” “He is one of the most competitive young men I have been around,” said OV coach Andrew Hagerman, “and I can tell you Rend Lake, as much as they may think they know about him now, landed … Read More

Sullivan School Board Selects Middle School Principal

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•July 19, 2017• By Mike Brothers Among Sullivan Supt. Ted Walk’s duties at his first Community #300 School District board meeting was to fill his old job. During the regular school board meeting July 10, President Jeff White and members: Tyson Grooms, Zak Horn, Steve Poland, Eric Stollard, Ann Wheeler, and Norm Wood unanimously approved Walk’s recommendation of Nathan Ogle as new Sullivan Middle School principal. Ogle started education as an English teacher and coach and has spent the past two years as assistant principal in the Sullivan school district. … Read More

One Book Sullivan gofundme Site Aimed to Continue Flow of Free Books

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•July 19, 2017• The Sullivan Rotary Club has been a long time supporter of the One Book One Sullivan program and a new gofundme site has now been created to help raise funds. Since 2007 a group of Sullivan middle school volunteer readers have spent summers reading from the Rebecca Caudill Young Reader’s List to select that One Book that students and the community may share during the year. Meeting on Thursdays throughout the summer with Sullivan Schools One Book coordinator Rikki Ray, the One Book selection is made and that’s when the Sullivan Rotary comes to the rescue. … Read More

Football 7 on 7 Tournaments Help Progress

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•July 19, 2017• By Jason Brown NP Sports New Sullivan-Okaw Valley football coach Andy Kerley has had to use this summer as a crash course in familiarizing himself with his team and assistant coaches. “It’s going well, I think,” he said. “It’s been a process both for the players and me. Me getting used to them and the new situation, and them adjusting to new things and me. I think in the past two-three weeks we’ve been gelling well.” The summer has given Kerley a good idea of what strengths and weaknesses the team might have. … Read More

CIPT Offering Rides to The Illinois State Fair

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•July 19, 2017• Central Illinois Public Transit (CIPT) would like to help the residents of Effingham County enjoy some of the attractions at the Illinois State Fair. They are offering transportation to and from Springfield on Monday, August 14 for Senior Citizen Day. Fairgoers age 60 and over may ride the bus for free and are also admitted to the fairgrounds free of charge. Those under the age of 60 can ride for only $10 round-trip. … Read More

Volunteers Needed for Deer Blind Construction

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•July 19, 2017• U.S Army Corps of Engineers, Lake Shelbyville, is looking for volunteers to assist with the construction and installation of hunting blinds that are used for their annual deer hunt for wounded veterans and people with disabilities. With generous monetary donations from Ameren, Scheels, CC Fire Equipment Co., and the Whitetails Unlimited Land of Lincoln Chapter, materials were purchased to completely remodel 11 hunting blinds. These improvements will provide greater accessibility for participants.  … Read More

Understanding Illinois: We May be at the End of the Beginning

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•July 19, 2017• By Jim Nowlan NP Guest Columnist I had a dream during the recent turmoil over enactment of a state budget. The statuary on the Capitol campus in Springfield had tears running off their bronze cheeks onto the manicured lawn. The box score for the recent enactment of a full-year yet incomplete budget would read: Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, 1; Gov. Bruce Rauner, 0, though indeed nobody in Illinois came out a winner. Madigan won the box score because he prevailed in his quest to enact a budget without any of the business-friendly reforms demanded by Rauner. … Read More