OVMS Baseball Advances to Semifinals Saturday

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First inning grand slam helps propel team to 6-1 win by Keith Stewart keith@newsprogress.com The Okaw Valley middle school baseball team wasted no time this morning in letting fans and their opponent know they weren’t messing around. Competing in the quarterfinals of the state tournament at the EastSide Centre in East Peoria, the Timberwolves posted four runs in the first inning after Cody Drake hit a grand slam. “We told them all year long, get on base early, and we did,” said head coach Chris Nichols. “Their pitcher had no choice but to throw Cody strikes and a fast ball, … Read More

Lions Program to Combat Deafness

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Deafness has no respect of age, wealth or rank it strikes people of all economic, social and age categories with equal frequency. To help protect the hearing of the public through an early alert system, to increase public awareness not only of the problems of the deaf, but also the capabilities of the hearing impaired. The Lions Clubs of Illinois every year sponsor free hearing screenings for persons 18 and older and 10 17 years with written parental consent, in communities all over the state. As part of that program, the Sullivan Lions Club is sponsoring a screening from 9 … Read More

Lone Goal Enough for Bulldogs’ Win Over Knights

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Despite second half possession, Knights unable to score by Keith Stewart keith@newsprogress.com St. Anthony head soccer coach Scott Demers wasn’t happy with how his upper classmen were playing Tuesday afternoon so he benched them. In their place went freshmen and sophomores. Whether you agree with the move or not, it paid off for the Bulldogs when freshman Donovan Hammer scored on a cleanup after a loose ball found its way in the Knights’ box with 5:29 remaining in the first half. “We had an issue with going for the ball so I took out our starters and put in freshman,” … Read More

Bethany Hears New Howl with Music Studio

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New record studio grand opening during block party by Emily Scott Bethany Reporter Mike Harmison of Sullivan has loved music ever since he learned to play the guitar at the age of five years old. In his teenage years he went on to play both the guitar and drums. “That’s how I identify myself,” he said. “I’m a musician.” Harmison has been recording local bands on his own since 1979 with his own recording equipment. While he admits the recording processes he once used were not the most high-tech, he enjoyed helping bands record and considers the time recording on his … Read More

Lady T-Wolves Come Back to Win in Three against Blue Streaks

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Without Decesaro, changes made by Emily Scott Bethany Reporter As the Okaw Valley volleyball team soared above the Martinsville Blue Streaks to win their 12-25, 25-23, 25-17 match on Tuesday, they learned that the willingness to change is always beneficial. In the absence of setter Mollee Decesaro, the Lady T-Wolves were shaken up for the first game trying to fill her shoes and get comfortable fulfilling different roles.  … Read More

Understanding Illinois: GOP Going All Out for Governorship

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By Jim Nowlan Outside Columnist Illinois Republican leaders see the 2014, non-presidential year elections as their opportunity to recapture the governor’s mansion (not that anyone lives there anymore) and claw back a few seats in Congress. Their chances are good. By all visible indications, Democrats are the 220-pound bullies to the GOP weaklings. The state legislature is dominated by the Dems, who hold big majorities in both chambers, and the party holds a 12-6 majority in the state’s congressional delegation, including three seats in the once impregnable GOP suburbs. … Read More

Unable to Sustain a Productive Series, SOV Gets Blanked by Rockets

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Unity run game prevails by Keith Stewart keith@newsprogress.com Friday’s game is so far, and likely to be, SOV’s worst game of the season, at least when looking at the score, a whopping 0-50 loss at the hands of perennial football powerhouse Tolono-Unity, who was ranked No. 7 in class 3A heading into the contest. But if there was ever a score that was misleading, it was in fact Friday’s, for the game was not complete dominance as the scoreboard suggested. After stopping Unity on fourth-and-one on their opening drive, the Redskins put together what would be their longest series of … Read More

Seniors Account for Six Scores as Knights shutout Martinsville

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by Kirk Whitaker Arthur/Sullivan Reporter For the second and final time as a co-op before Atwood-Hammond joins next year, it was Arthur-Lovington high school’s homecoming; and for the second and final time, the Knights won on their homecoming. “We had a great atmosphere for homecoming,” Knights head coach Dale Schuring said. “We had a lot of people here, and our seniors definitely fed off that.” For the fourth time this season the Knights dropped more than 40 points on their opponent. The Knights (4-1 1-1 LOVC) stand in second in the LOVC behind Cerro Gordo-Bement, who handed AL their only … Read More

Clean up the Garden, Ready it for Winter

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by Kim Riedel Master Gardner Another year is drawing to a close and looking back over the past several months, there has been a lot of effort, hard work, and joy put into the many aspects of my life. My first grandchild was born earlier this year, my high school graduate went off to college, though I’m putting off an empty nest for a few more years, and I have a new position at work that I am enjoying more since it has been cooling down.  … Read More