•March 20, 2019•
Starting the week of March 24 the city of Sullivan is requesting anyone with wreathes or grave blankets at Greenhill Cemetery to please remove them if you would like them saved.
Starting that week city employees will be clearing the cemetery of grave blankets, wreaths and other obstruction in preparation for the mowing season.
•March 20, 2019•
The Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond boys’ track and field team placed 29th out of 33 teams in the Charleston Indoor Invitational at Eastern Illinois University Saturday.
The Knights had three top 20 finishers and two top 15 relay teams. Read More
•March 20, 2019•
The Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond boys’ basketball team will have two representatives in the 26th annual Central Illinois All-Star boys’ basketball game in Waldrip Gym at Cumberland March 23. Read More
•March 20, 2019•
Okaw Valley CUSD #302 is hosting an open house for the public to view the newly constructed agricultural complex, science labs and sports complex.
The event is 4:00-7:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 27 at the facilities on the Okaw Valley High School campus.
Testing After Spring Break
By Mike Brothers
Sullivan Community Unit District #300 school board met March 11 voting to continue existing sports cooperative programs.
The football coop between Okaw Valley and Sullivan and the swimming coop between Shelbyville, Okaw Valley and Sullivan were approved for two years.
Supt. Ted Walk recommended changes to the kindergarten screening tool and report card. He explained kindergarten teachers had collaborated with first grade teachers to improve the transition by giving teachers a better gauge of progress.
Ali Elzy, senior in Cami Badman’s AP language and composition class, read her NPR radio “This I Believe” contest winning essay to the board. Read More
Sullivan, Village of Bethany, Lovington and Windsor plus School Board elections are Tuesday, April 2, 2019
•March 20, 2019•
City Mayor
Ann Short
I am Ann Short and I am running for re-election as Mayor of Sullivan. I am married to my husband Bob. We have two children, Scott and Tracy, and two grandchildren.
I grew up in Arthur, attended Millikin University, and came to Sullivan when we married.
I started working in the City Treasurer’s office in 1961. I was appointed City Treasurer in 1975 and served there until I retired in 1999.
My term as Mayor started in 2003. Sullivan is a unique community because of our $27M budget, owning our own utilities, and offering the many services that we all enjoy.
I am qualified to provide the leadership needed to advance our community based on my understanding of municipal finances, Tax Increment Financing and the many rules and regulations imposed upon municipalities. Read More
Sophie Woolen
Sophie Woolen, 82, of Shelbyville passed away Thursday, March 14, 2019 in Decatur Memorial Hospital.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. today (Wednesday, March 20) at McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan. Burial was in Greenhill Cemetery in Sullivan.
Sophie was born February 6, 1937 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, a daughter of Wasyl and Anastasia Haveskewicz Yaworski. She married H.C. “Chuck” Woolen, Jr. February 15, 1985, in Mattoon, and he survives. Read More
•March 20, 2019•
By Ariana Cherry
For the News Progress
The Sullivan City Council approved the use of TIF funds to help Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library purchase new LED sign
“We need to inform the people in Sullivan what the library does,” library director Michelle Nolen explained to the members of the council. “We have more than just books.”
Along with members from the library board sitting in support, Director Nolen presented a quote and information about a new LED sign for Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library.
She noted the sign was not the “whole puzzle” but was a way to tell people in Sullivan what the library has scheduled on specific days. The library board decided on a double-sided LED sign with a quote of $24,700 which includes installation. It also has wifi capabilities which allows it to be controlled wirelessly. There was also some discussion about renting the sign to organizations or businesses that could go towards paying for the sign maintenance. Read More
Sophie Woolen
Sophie Woolen, 82, of Shelbyville passed away Thursday, March 14, 2019, at Decatur Memorial Hospital.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 20, 2019, at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan. Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery, Sullivan. Memorials may be made in memory of Sophie to the Lake Land College Foundation: 5001 Lake Land Boulevard, Mattoon, IL 61938.
Sophie was born February 6, 1937, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; the daughter of Wasyl and Anastasia (Haveskewicz) Yaworski. She married H.C. “Chuck” Woolen, Jr. on February 15, 1985, in Mattoon; he survives. She was a lifelong L.A. Dodgers fan. Sophie was proud of her long career at Lake Land College, where she began one year before the Campus was built.
Sophie is survived by her husband, H.C. “Chuck” Woolen, Jr. of Shelbyville; daughters, Pam (Curt) Rincker of Shelbyville, and Linda (John) Yurkovich of Mt. Olive; step-children, Hobie Woolen of Decatur, Kim Henderson of Evington, VA, and Everett Woolen of Fort Valley, GA. She is also survived by four grandchildren, one great-grandchild and five step-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, two sisters and one step-grandchild.
Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mcmullinyoung.com
Battle of the Badges 2019
Photo by R.R. Best
The Battle of the Badges basketball game took place March 14 at the Sullivan High School with law enforcement winning the game. More photos can be viewed at www.sullfire.org