Nostalgia Aside, Proposed Illinois Legislation Takes Aim at School’s Mascot

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•March 20, 2024• Sullivan CUSD #300 is finding itself embroiled in yet another attempt to have its team name and mascot changed. Mind you, the district has never been the one to initiate the talks. But if the 103rd General Assembly has its way, the Sullivan Redskins will have to become the Sullivan [insert new name here] by September 1, 2027. HB 5617 was introduced on February 9, 2024 by Rep. Maurice A. West, II (D-Rockford). The bill says “that a school board shall prohibit a school from using a native name, logo, or mascot that names, refers to, represents, … Read More

Findlay Farmers Win First-Place State and National Awards 

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•March 20, 2024• Finday farmer Troy Uphoff earned a first-place state award and second-place national award in the 2023 National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) National Corn Yield Contest with a yield of 362.49 bushels per acre. Troy won with DEKALB® DKC64-21RIB brand blend in the Conventional Non-Irrigated Class. Trent Uphoff earned a first-place state award and third-place national award in the 2023 NCGA National Corn Yield Contest with a yield of 324.84 bushels per acre. Trent won with DEKALB® DKC65-84RIB brand blend in the No-Till Non-Irrigated Class. … Read More

How to Watch a Solar Eclipse Safely

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•March 20, 2024• By Angela Hogan Wondering what’s the big deal about the April 8th solar eclipse? A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth. When this happens, the moon blocks (eclipses) the Sun’s light and casts a shadow on certain parts of the Earth.  According to NASA, solar eclipses occur “fairly often,” but they only shadow a specific geographic area about once every 100 years. This year, the total eclipse path will travel across southern Illinois. Parts of Illinois not in the total eclipse area may still experience a partial eclipse. For many, … Read More

A Look Back…3-20-2024

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2014 In the 20 years that the Sullivan Community Education Foundation has been awarding grand money to local organizations and groups, this year saw close too, if not the largest, payout. A total of $56,226.85 was awarded at last Thursday’s teacher appreciation dinner to various groups for eduction related to projects. Of that amount, more than $10,000 were donated. Thoughtful silence filled the room for a few moments during a discussion regarding Policy 8:30 during last Wednesday’s Arthur-Lovingotn school board meeting. According to the present handbook, Policy 8:30 states “Arthur-Lovington District 305 has established a policy that prohibits guns, ammunition, … Read More

Applications Available for Student Loans

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•March 20, 2024• Illinois Farm Bureau® (IFB) is accepting applications for its Illinois Veterinary Education and Training (IVET) loan program. Loans are available to second-year veterinary students attending any accredited college of veterinary medicine in the U.S. and who are focusing on Illinois food animal medicine. The IVET Program helps offset the high cost of veterinary education. The program loans up to $40,000 to as many as three veterinary students each year. Loans are made over a period of two to three years. IVET awards recipients a $1,500 stipend during their fourth year in school to help pay expenses associated … Read More

Dunn Construction to Complete Repair of the Lovington Grade School Parking Lot

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•March 20, 2024• Fees increasing for the 2024-2025 school year by Ariana R Cherry Superintendent Shannon Cheek presented the winning bid to repair the Lovington Grade School parking lot at the most recent school board meeting. The winning bid was from Dunn Construction with an amount of $437,801, which also includes a $35,000 allowance. Cheek informed the board that the bid came in about $5,000 less than what had originally been estimated. The work also includes the entire replacement of the sidewalks and curbs that lead up to the building. “It is really needed and long overdue. We hope that … Read More

Recent Obituaries: Stanley Martin “Stan” Rothenbuecher

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Stanley Martin “Stan” Rothenbuecher Stanley Martin “Stan” Rothenbuecher, 94, of Decatur, passed away Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at Decatur Memorial Hospital. He was born on April 20, 1929, in Edwardsville, IL, a son of Oliver and Lucille (Martin) Rothenbuecher. Stan was a smart, talented, fun loving man. He was an outdoorsman who loved camping, cooking, his family and Betty. He enjoyed his 27 year career in the Air Force, serving in both the Korean War and the Vietnam War and eventually retiring as a Senior Master Sargent. Surviving are his sister: Bobbie Collins, Jeanette Baine of OR, Denise Miller of Lovington, … Read More