Understanding Illinois: Are Illinoisans Leaving by the Droves?

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•April 27, 2016• By Jim Nowlan NP Guest Columnist More than a couple of my acquaintances have told me in recent months they plan to leave our state as soon as they can. And now a Chicago Tribune story reports that 3,000 “millionaires” (net worth not including primary residence) left that city last year on a net basis, more than any city in the nation. What’s going on? As your faithful inquiring columnist, I looked into matters. In the latter half of the 19th Century, Chicago and Illinois were for a while the fastest growing jurisdictions in the world. Great … Read More

Obituaries 4-27-2016: Brian Hart

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Brian Hart Brian P. Hart, 56, of Sullivan, passed away at 1:55 p.m. Tuesday, April 19, 2016 in Decatur Memorial Hospital following a courageous battle with cancer. Celebration of Life services were held at 7 p.m. Friday in Reed Funeral Home in Sullivan with Pastor Marge Overlot officiating.  … Read More

SOV Football Camp Times Announced

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•April 27, 2016• Gerald Temples, Sullivan Okaw Valley head football coach, announced that football camps will be held this summer for Sullivan and Okaw Valley students. The high school camp is scheduled from 7-9:15 a.m. June 6-9 and July 18-21. … Read More

Double Wins for ALAH Knights Baseball

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•April 27, 2016• The Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond Knight baseball team put together double wins over the Cerro Gordo-Bement team Friday, April 22 in Arthur. In the first game Cerro Gordo-Bement got a three run lead in the first  inning, then making it 5-3 in the third inning. That is when the Knight’s batting order went to work, scoring six runs. ALAH scored another run in the six to finish 10-5. Tyler Emberton pitched two innings, allowing three hits and three runs; Cory Griffin came in for three innings, allowing two hits and two runs; Bradley R. Miller and Marcus Vanausdoll  pitched one … Read More

SOV Boys Second in Tri County Invitational

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•April 27, 2016• Tri County Invitational Track action in Sullivan on April 19 finished with Sullivan Okaw Valley boys in second with 95 points, behind first place Shelbyville scoring 206 points. Pana finished third with 90; Arcola fourth with 65; Arthur-Lovington/Atwood- Hammond was fifth with 50; Central A&M sixth scoring 26; Stewardson-Strasburg eighth with 10 and Cowden-Herrick ninth with four points. Individual event scoring highlights: 100 meter dash – Blake Stewart SOV first 11.80; Grant Sims SHEL second 11.84; Zane Uphoff SOV third 11.92; Luke Bowman SOV seventh 12.14. 200 meter dash – Jordan Smith SHEL first 23.59; Zane Uphoff … Read More

Local Financial Representative Honored By COUNTRY Financial

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•April 27, 2016• Country Financial Representative Elizabeth Houser of Sullivan has earned a position on the insurance group’s distinguished All American team. Houser is among a select group of top Country Financial agency managers and financial representatives who qualified for the award. Country Financial has more than 2,000 agency managers and financial representatives in 17 states; Houser was ranked number 58 in her category.  … Read More

Obituaries 4-27-2016: Coleen Miller

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Coleen Miller Coleen Miller, 100, of Sullivan, died at 9:06 p.m. Saturday, April 23, 2016 in Mason Point in Sullivan. Graveside services were held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in Marrowbone Twp. Cemetery in Bethany. Reed Funeral Home in Sullivan assisted with arrangements.  … Read More

Moultrie Counseling Center Cuts Keep Coming

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•April 27, 2016• The current state of Illinois budget impasse is being felt locally in many ways. Moultrie County Counseling has suffered significant reductions according to Executive Director David Cole. The National Alliance of Mental Health reported that from 2009-2012 Illinois cut funding for community mental health programs by 30% or $187,000,000. With the exception of three other states, Illinois had the highest cuts in the nation. To have the current budget impasse on top of these previous reductions creates significant difficulties. … Read More