City of Sullivan Establishes A Revolving Loan Program

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•February 17, 2021• By Crystal Reed NP Writer During the Feb 8 City Council meeting, an ordinance establishing a revolving loan program for the city of Sullivan was approved. The council appropriated a sum of $400,000 for initial funding of the program. Prior to 1992, the US Department of Agriculture had a revolving loan program available to communities at low interest rates to push development and employment. That program had the amount of $250,000 appropriated to it. City Administrator Dan Flannell said that through that program the city of Sullivan made many loans to businesses, but as interest rates declined … Read More

Project H.E.L.P. Preschool Round Up

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•February 17, 2021• Each year, Project H.E.L.P. and the Okaw Valley School District offer free developmental screenings for two to five year olds to provide parents the opportunity to discover how their child is developing in the areas of speech, language, concepts and motor skills. Vision and hearing screenings will also be provided free of charge. This year the screenings will be held on Thursday, March 4 and Friday, March 5 at First Christian Church, 312 W. South Water in Bethany. For an appointment call Stacie Hill at 665-3541. … Read More

Demolition on Titus Home Expected to Take 3-4 Weeks Depending on Weather

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•February 17, 2021• By Crystal Reed NP Writer The demolition process began last week at the site of the Titus home. According to Sullivan City Administrator Dan Flannell, the demolition is expected to be completed within three-four weeks. The brick and concrete from the structure will be removed to the city of Sullivan’s storage lot where it will be ground up and repurposed. The property will not be for sale and will stay in the inventory of the city long term. Flannell said that the demolition crew is avoiding the disturbance of trees and plantings on the property, and a small metal … Read More

OV Girls Basketball Wins Against Argenta-Oreana

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•February 17, 2021• by Jason Brown NP Sports After defeating Argenta-Oreana for its first win of the season, the Okaw Valley girls’ basketball team dropped its next two games. The Timberwolves knocked off Argenta-Oreana 38-24 for its first overall win and first Lincoln Prairie Conference win. Okaw Valley took a 12-4 first quarter lead and 12-5 in the second quarter and never looked back. For the Timberwolves, sophomore Lexie Bartimus scored a game-high 13 points. Junior Mia Harris hit double digits with 11 points, and freshman Rissa Montgomery contributed six points. Sophomores Avery Bruns and Bailey Bennett each scored four … Read More

When Your Valentine is a Heart-Healthy Cereal

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•February 17, 2021• By Jim Baumann NP Guest Writer My wife walked into my ersatz office Tuesday morning while I was between meetings and proffered her spoon. Is this one I send shuddering down the garbage disposal, I thought? And then I saw it: a lone, misshapen Cheerio. “It was the last one in the bowl,” she said. “Look.” Pareidolia strikes again! On Wednesday morning, my wife shared with me a Cheerios ad on the TV that announced General Mills had begin adding heart-shaped Cheerios to its boxes to spice things up. So, it was not an example of pareidolia … Read More

Obituaries 2-17-2021: Larry McKown

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Larry McKown Larry Lee McKown, 74, passed away Saturday, February 13, 2021, at Beverly Farms in Godfrey, Illinois. Larry was born April 22, 1946, in Decatur, a son of Donald and Fern (Bolin) McKown. Larry grew up on the family farm north of Sullivan and attended Sullivan schools. He was the first client at the Moultrie County Beacon and for many years a resident in group homes in Sullivan. … Read More

Obituaries 2-17-2021: Don Matheson

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Don Matheson Don W. Matheson, 89, of Sullivan passed away at 6:40 a.m. Thursday, February 11, 2021, at his home in rural Sullivan. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, February 16 at McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan. Burial was in Greenhill Cemetery in Sullivan, with military rites by Sullivan American Legion Post #68. Memorials may be made to Southern Baptist Church in Sullivan. … Read More