Okaw Valley Softball Tallies 20 Runs in Home Win

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•April 13, 2016• By Matt Kracht NP Sports Reporter Grace Harlin’s first varsity start of the year was pretty remarkable. The Okaw Valley sophomore scattered four walks, four hits, and four strikeouts over five innings to earn the 20-0 shutout against Martinsville. Freshman Madison Vogel’s bases loaded triple in the first inning started the merry-go-round for most runs scored by OVs 2016 squad. Head coach Dave Benning praised the team effort after the win, “It was good to get a lot of kids in the lineup today contributing. I am very proud of the team not taking Martinsville lightly. Regardless … Read More

Policy Change Reduces Employment Barriers for Ex-Offenders

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•April 13, 2016• The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) and the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) are pleased to announce a new initiative that streamlines the professional licensing process for men and women who are being released from prison. Starting immediately, offenders who’ve completed the required coursework for Barbering and Cosmetology will be able to apply for their professional license and meet with the licensing board via video conference up to six months before their release or parole date. This common sense policy change reverses the previous approach, which prohibited offenders from starting the application process until … Read More

Findlay ALA Blood Drive Exceeds Goal

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•April 13, 2016• An American Red Cross blood drive sponsored by the Findlay American Legion Auxiliary was held in Findlay at the Findlay American Legion Monday, April 11.  The theme of the drive was ‘Celebrating Spring”. Twenty-three people answered the call to donate blood with 21 pints actually collected surpassing the goal of 19. Milestones were reached by Bob Hubbartt who received his pin for donating a total of six gallons, and Michael Bear who received a pin for donating a total of 12 gallons. Paige Tippit and April Brown were first time donors. The next blood drive will be 2-6 p.m. … Read More

Shuman Memorial Scholarship Winner

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•April 13, 2016• Avery Schrock, of Arthur, has been named recipient of the 2016 Charles B. Shuman Memorial Scholarship sponsored by the Moultrie County Farm Bureau. Schrock is the son of Roger and Jeannette Schrock and is a freshman at Parkland College and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign through the Pathways Program. He is pursuing a career in agribusiness management with a minor in crop sciences.  … Read More

Lovington Plans Summer Celebration

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•April 13, 2016• The Lovington Village Board met March 14 agreeing to participate in a village celebration. Carol Smith of the Lovington Community Club, Alumni Association and Revitalization organizations requested the village celebration for June 17 and 18. Smith presented planned activities for the event and asked the village to provide two porta potties, police supervision during the parade, blocking streets downtown for vendors and electricity for those vendors. Board members present expressed no problems with those requests. … Read More

Mobile Unit At Library

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•April 13, 2016• Secretary of State Jesse White, in cooperation with Sullivan Library, is offering drivers a chance to renew their driver’s license or vehicle registration renewal sticker, obtain a duplicate or corrected license, or obtain an Illinois identification card. White’s mobile unit will be available at the Sullivan Library, located at 2 W. Water in Sullivan, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 21. An applicant renewing a current Illinois driver’s license or identification card need only present a current valid driver’s license or identification card. To find out what documents are considered acceptable identification, call 217-782-7044 or visit the Illinois Secretary … Read More

Remember When? 4-13-2016

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Compiled by Bekki Ferguson-Stevens 25 Years Ago This Week Bil Reedy of Sullivan was recently honored by the Illinois Secretary of State Office’s Drivers Service Department for having completed more than 15 years of service. Reedy, a public service representative for the Sullivan and Mattoon offices, has been employed by the state agency for 16-1/2 years. A steady stream of rain in cold, miserable conditions didn’t hamper the performance of Lady Redskin Melissa Crouse and the rest of the Sullivan girls’ track team Friday as they easily dominated Warrensburg-Latham and Clinton in a meet at home. Crows led the point-scorers on … Read More

Sullivan Holds Meridian to One Run for a Big Win

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•April 13, 2016• Sullivan Redskin varsity baseball traveled to Meridian to get a 10-1 win April 5. Zach Hrvol pitched six shutout innings for Sullivan, allowing two hits and a base on balls. Brett Tuttle came in for one inning of relief with the Hawks getting two hits and one run. Hrvol got the win, throwing 52 strikes in 81 pitches; Tuttle threw 14 strikes in 19 pitches. Alec Ballinger got two hits in four trips to the plate and scored twice; Brett Tuttle had three hits off five at bats scoring twice and driving in three RBIs. Hrvol helped … Read More

Tenth Warmest March on Record

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•April 13, 2016• March 2016 was the 10th warmest March on record with an average temperature of 46.5 degrees, 5.2 degrees above normal. Illinois was not alone; essentially the entire US was warmer than normal in March, according to Illinois state climatologist Jim Angel, Illinois State Water Survey, University of Illinois. March is the latest in a string of above-normal months in Illinois going all the way back to September 2015. In fact, the September-March 2016 average temperature of 45.6 degrees is 3.9 degrees above normal and the third warmest September-March combo on record since 1895. … Read More

Okaw Valley Timberwolves 9-3 Over Lions

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•April 13, 2016• The Okaw Valley baseball team enjoyed a 9-3 win over Decatur LSA  April 8. The Timberwolves opened the first inning 2-0 over the Lions, who scored one in the second. Lutheran Schools Association’s Lions scored one in the third and one run in the sixth on eight hits. Okaw Valley’s team scored two in the third inning, three in the fifth and one in the sixth on nine hits. … Read More