Methodist Church Easter eggs nearing completion
Made-to-order delights a community tradition
•April 9, 2025•
Sullivan First United Methodist Church’s group of 30 volunteers are still hard at work completing their yearly Easter Egg orders. This year, over a thousand eggs will be crafted for those who placed their advance orders and who will be called as soon as they are ready for pick up.
Read More“One Book, One Sullivan” holds community book discussion
Local youth lead book discussions and showcase program’s value
•April 2, 2025•
by DM Williamee
On Monday, March 24th, One Book, One Sullivan met at Sullivan’s First United Methodist Church for their reading of the book, “The Lost Year” by author Katherine Marsh. The event was very well attended, with nearly one hundred participants and an atmosphere alternating between lively and serious.
Rikki Ray and Rebecca Powell greeted the community while also moving from table to table as the discussions took place. Ms. Ray shared, “I loved the conversations between the adults and the students about listening to your grandparents’ stories and learning about your family history. One table was discussing what people learned from the book. Ann Wheeler talked to the kids about not wasting food, as she firmly believes in eating what is on your plate and not throwing food out. When we think about people starving around the world, this thought becomes very important.” Ms. Ray continued, “Some of the adults debated whether or not they liked the character Matthew in the story. We learned earlier that day in the live-stream reading with the author that Mat-thew was not even in Katherine Marsh’s original writing of the book, which she began in 2019. Then Covid happened. At that point she added in the character, Matthew, to help kids connect the story to their real-life experiences. For me, the relationship that blooms between Matthew and (his?) Grandma is so touching. I feel the unpacking of Grandma’s belongings is a metaphor for unpacking Grandma’s life story. I overheard Dr. Walk telling kids that doing the right thing…even when it is hard, was a theme he took away.”
Read MoreFeature documentary coming to The Roxy Theater for free showing
•March 19, 2025•
After two years in production, the feature documentary, “The Farmer’s Daughter” is now ready to touch the hearts of all who see it.
“The Farmer’s Daughter” follows the life of former television news anchor Tara Barrett-Duzan as she carries on her father’s farming legacy in east central Illinois. When tragedy hit her family, Tara made the decision to move from the anchor seat to the tractor seat.
“It was a little strange,” smiles Tara Barrett-Duzan. “They told me a camera crew was going to follow me for an entire year. I have to be honest and say that I really dreaded it. But I trusted Scot and I knew if he was involved that it was going to be something special.”
The film is directed by Barrett’s former co-anchor, Scot England. Kylie Daniel, who owns Half Moon Digital in Shelbyville, was in charge of the documentary’s filming and editing.
Read MorePrairieland Frontiersman share history
1840’s re-enacting club holds arms and crafts show at the Sullivan American Legion
•March 19, 2025•
by D.M. Williamee
The Prairieland Frontiersman held their annual “Historic Arms and Craft Show” Saturday, March 7 and 8 in Sullivan at American Legion Post 68. There was much to see, from weaving and gunsmithing to jewelry and period clothing at the event. It was well attended; the American Legion Hall was packed with vendor tables selling their wares and sharing history.
Prairieland Frontiersmen, Inc., an 1840’s re-enacting club, is an Illinois not-for-profit corporation organized almost 50 years ago. The Club is not strictly a primitive Club, as buckskinners and “blue-jean” shooters are about equally represented. Only black powder muzzleloading or cartridge firearms are permitted to be fired on the range.
Read MoreShuttle service takes off at Lake Shelbyville
Photo furnished
Derek Hayden one of the owners of Lake Shelbyville Shuttle Service waits for a group outside an area winery.
•June 19, 2024•
by Sharon Barricklow
A new business offering tours of local wineries and breweries is reaching area residents and tourists this summer with personalized trips.
Lake Shelbyville Shuttle plans five hour trips that take visitors to wineries and breweries. One of the owners, Derek Hayden, said the trips can be used for specialty parties and as a way for campers and other visitors to see what is available in the Lake Shelbyville area.
“We’ve had bachelorette parties, end of school year teacher parties and campers wanting to see more of the area,” he said. Read More
New thrift store Second Act opens in Arthur
Photo courtesy of Timmy Valentine
•June 12, 2024•
by Ariana R Cherry
Thrifting is a great way to save money on gently used items. In today’s economy, second hand shopping is an ideal way to find the clothing brands and products for your home at a fraction of its original price. At least 93% of Americans shop online for second-hand items and in 2023, the U.S. second-hand market generated an estimated amount of $53 billion according to Capital One’s thrifting statistics.
If you are a regular thrifter, you will notice that not all thrift stores are the same. The creative minds behind Second Act are the dynamic trio of Timmy Valentine, John Stevens, and Ty Mosier. These Theatre enthusiasts and artists have poured their hearts and souls into creating a thrift store that is as unique and creative as the plays that the Little Theatre produces.
“We wanted to create an experience, not just a thrift store,” Valentine noted. “We have everything displayed beautifully and theatrically. It’s not like walking into your average store,” he added. When you walk into Second Act, you might even notice the retro music lightly playing in the background which creates the perfect atmosphere when shopping for second-hand items. Read More
Moultrie County History Center Hosts Holocaust Survivor
Photo by Crystal Reed
Holocaust survivor William Gingold spoke at the Moultrie County History Center on Thursday, May 18. Pictured left to right are Gingold, Robin Goettel of the Holocaust Education Center of Champaign-Urbana Jewish Federation, Brian Kahn, Holocaust Education Center Co-Director and Becky Lawson.
•May 31, 2023•
by Crystal Reed
Holocaust survivor William Gingold gave a presentation Thursday, May 18 as part of the Center’s monthlong hosting of the “The Auschwitz Experience In the Art of Prisoners.” He began by introducing members of his family and noted that he is the only immediate survivor of the Gingold family. Gingold’s mother was about 5 ft 1 or 2 inches tall, and his father was approximately 6 ft 2 inches. His mom never went to school, and his father had education up to fourth grade.
His mother worked as a baker both before and after the war. Gingold’s father worked at a seltzer making company before the war and a steel mill after the war. He noted that in the Jewish culture they believe in one god and have a commitment to social equality and equity. Gingold said cultural traditions, history and heritage are important as well.
“Even though my parents lacked formal education, they prompted their children to learn as much as they could under circumstances so as to pass it on to others,” he said.
Gingold noted that all the persons he mentioned were born in Warsaw, Poland. On September 20, 1939, he was born and given the Hebrew name Baruch. One day after he was born, the hospital in which he was born was bombed and destroyed by the Nazis. His father, anticipating something bad happening in Warsaw, took him and his mother out of the hospital.
Families were fleeing trying to reach the Russian encampments, and he noted that those traveling on the roads took a direct hit and were killed. Gingold said they traveled in areas that were not targeted. The Russians put them on German trucks and took them back to Warsaw. Read More
Moultrie County History Center to Host Holocaust Art Exhibition
•April 19, 2023•
“The Auschwitz Experience in the Art of Prisoners” art exhibit will be on display at the Moultrie County History Center in Sullivan from May 2 through 29. A Grand Opening for the exhibit will be held on Thursday, May 4, from 7 to 9 p.m.
“The Moultrie County Historical & Genealogical Society is honored to be partnering with the Champaign – Urbana Jewish Federation to bring this special exhibit to our county,” said History Center Museum Director Pam Wood.
“We hope seeing this exhibit will start important conversations about the Holocaust, antisemitism, the Moultrie County veterans who served during World War II and their experiences, and what was happening here during World War II and the Holocaust,” Wood added. Read More
Remembering Krista Lewin: a Friend and Mentor
Photo by Scott Lockwood
Former News-Progress Sports Editor Scott Lockwood (left) and former News-Progress Managing Editor Krista Lewin (right) share a moment in the spotlight at Legends Day at the 2019 Indianapolis 500. Lewin, 52, passed away after a brief illness on August 6.
•August 17, 2022•
By Scott Lockwood
Special to the News-Progress
Back in the fall of 2008, I was longing for an opportunity to show what I could do as a full-time sportswriter.
After putting in applications all over the country, I was digging a hole to install a new irrigation system at my job near the beach when my phone rang with a 217 area code. It was a welcome break from the searing Sarasota, Florida heat.
On the other end of the call was a warm, jovial personality that was drawn to some of the auto-racing related stories that I had sent in as samples for what I was hoping for a new career path. Read More
Tabeling Project on Route 32 South Progressing
Photo by Crystal Reed
Representatives for the Tabeling Project, Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development, City of Sullivan and a local business owner visited the Tabeling Project on Route 32 South last Tuesday morning. Front (from left to right): Laurrie Minor, Director of Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development; Susie Inman, owner of Susie’s Sweets, Brooks Inman. Back Row (from left to right): Sullivan Mayor Richard Glazebrook, Austin Tabeling, Operations Manager for the Tabeling Development and Storm Joop, Project Manager for Tabeling Development.
•August 3, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
Last week representatives for the Tabeling Development, Sullivan Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development and a business owner gathered at the site of the project to check on its progress. According to Austin Tabeling operations manager for the Tabeling Development, they are currently accepting rental applications for 2 and 3-bedroom units for January 2023. The units are listed on Zillow and apartments.com. Read More