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Bratton Piano Concert Reflects on a Family History in Music

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Photo by Danielle Hill
Dave Bratton is pictured.

•February 20, 2019•

By Speck Rhoads
for the News Progress

Dave Bratton spent the past 56 years playing piano, and on Sunday, Feb. 17 he shared his musical history in a free concert at the First United Methodist Church in Sullivan.
Folks from Sullivan Methodist Church listen to Bratton play before and after the 10:30 a.m. service each Sunday, but few know the extent of his musical background.
Born in Shelby County Bratton was weaned on music. His mother Bertha Bratton was playing fiddle at 13 in her parents band J.L. Milby and the Okaw Valley Ridgerunners.
“They were a popular country band in the 1920s and 30s playing everywhere around,” Bratton said of the Ridgerunners.
His mother first picked up the fiddle, then taught her brothers to play at 15. Grandpa played the guitar, Uncle Walt the drums, G.B. the banjo and baby brother Jim played piano. Read More

Dove Offers Domestic Violence Education and Volunteer Training

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•February 20, 2019•

Training is available for individuals interested in educating themselves on the issues surrounding domestic violence. The training will take place 1-5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, April 29 through May 15 at Dove, 302 S. Union, Dean Simcox Conference Room in Decatur. This 44-hour training is approved by ICADV, Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The training is being facilitated by two Illinois Certified Domestic Violence Professionals, one of whom is also an Illinois Certified Partner Abuse Intervention Professional. There is a $200 fee for the training. Read More

Fighting Back Feels Like Being a Cork in the Middle of the Ocean

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•February 20, 2019•

Editor’s Note: Bill Zoetvelt retired in Sullivan but several decades ago was put in a position where people of power in a large corporation punished him for doing the right thing. Over the years he has suffered financial and personal loss over the events that led up to his early retirement from Ameritech’s Illinois Bell. The justice system has failed him, but his story holds lessons of life and the consequences of a well meaning act that threatens the balance of power in the corporate world.

Dear Editor,

Using hindsight and getting through unacceptable thoughts, I was working as an outside systems technician with a special truck and tools out of Chicago’s South Suburban Area.
What I did at the age of 49 was to threaten to report habitual alcoholism in the ranks of Ameritech’s Illinois Bell Telephone Co. management. After going through a second strike, some how, some way. Some union officials were promoted to management through cronyism for better benefits but mostly for better pay whose name’s are in my documents.
The Chief Steward whose now a level 1 supervisor will collect two checks when he retires, a strong motive to protect his illegal status. His best friend, a Level 2 supervisor, both being the masterminds in a designed dismissal plan focused on anyone who posed a threat to their criminal activity, where these people worked in tandem with their former official IBEW local 336 brothers, who will and did calculate personal attacks on chosen union dues paying brothers. They literally were the police, judge, jury and executioners in the personal lives of loyal blue collar workers without a care to man-made damage to the employee’s personal life. And it didn’t cost them a dime. Read More

Windsor Students of January

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Maranda Tarvin

•February 20, 2019•

Maranda Tarvin, daughter of Lori Pease, has been named the High School Student of the Month at Windsor High School. She is a senior and involved in Student Council, NHS, Academic Challenge, Scholastic Bowl, Spanish Club, and Physics Club. After graduation, Tarvin plans to attend Lake Land College.
Kierstin Wheeler, daughter of Chris and Kelly Wheeler, Jr. High Student of the Month, is an 8th grader and participates in F.C.A, plays piano, and is in band.

 

Kierstin Wheeler

Sullivan School District Holds Spelling Bee

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•February 20, 2019•

The 2019 Sullivan School District Spelling Bee was held at 4 p.m. February 6 in the Sullivan High School Commons.
Students in grades three-eight earned the privilege of representing their grade level at this spelling bee.
The six winners and two alternates who are moving on to the Moultrie County Spelling Bee are Mary Crist, fourth grade; Johnathan Iacobazzi, fifth grade;
Rowan Mast, fourth grade; Nevaeh Wilson, fifth grade; Alyssa Ray, fifth grade; Nicole Lofland, fifth grade.
Two alternates are Tanner Seelow, fourth grade and Drake Poe, eighth grade.
Judges for the bee were Rikki Ray, Eudora Drollinger, and Nichole Watkins. Anne Osthoff, an SES speech teacher, served as the pronouncer.
The following students were the grade level winners who qualified for the District Bee.
Third- Daisy Richardson, Wes Allen, David Eaton, River Polley, Cali Szabo, Nixon Dundee, Alternates-Bryar Cowger and Natalie Stinson.
Fourth- Mya Dyer, Claire Kursell, Margret Guarin, Ellie Lehman, Mary Crist, Tanner Seelow, Alternates-Jennifer Lofland and Rowan Mast.
Fifth-Johnathan Iacobazzi, Nevaeh Wilson, Carson Swinford, Mae Dawkins, Alyssa Ray, Aubrey Scott, Alternates-Kate Bushue and Danica Bell.
Sixth-DeMarkus Moore, Mitchell Bennett, William Smithberg-Fredrick, Kylee Freese, Jackson Lancaster, Sawyer Guynn, Alternates-Clare Welch and Tru Eckert.
Seventh-Daniel Downs, Nicole Lofland, Carlyn Fitzgerald, Marissa Fleshner, Anna Durdle, John Voegel, Alternates-Mallory Batman and Owen Hussong.
Eighth-Will Dawkins, Kaylee Ogle, Drake Poe, Ethan Schmohe, John Webb, Jack Woolen, Alternates-Shawn Eccles and Lara Herschberger.
The Moultrie County Spelling Bee is scheduled for 4 p.m. Wednesday, February 27 at The Little Theatre on the Square.

Okaw Valley Celebrates Seniors

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•February 20, 2019•

On Tuesday Feb. 12 Okaw Valley High School celebrated senior night for boys’ basketball, cheerleaders, and band members.
The seniors who were recognized are pictured. Photos by Jeni Yantis.

OVHS Band: Bailey Suarez, Shelby Harding, Bella Benning, Kailey Taylor, Shelby Hagerman, Madison Vogel, Riley Kesterson, Colten Lash and Connor Powers.

OV Senior Cheerleaders: Bella Benning, Sadie Zimmerman, Kailey George, Angela Robinson and Riley Kesterson.

Boys basketball seniors: Sam Hagerman, Parker Perrine, Talon Russell, Case Crawford and Beau Atchison.

Wooden Shoes Derail Redskins Post Season

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Photo by Jason Brown
Zoe Walton deflects the ball against T-Town Thursday night at the Tuscola sectional championship.

•February 20, 2019•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

For the second straight year, the Sullivan girls’ basketball team could not break through the Teutopolis Wooden Shoes for a trip to the Elite Eight.
“Although I do not think we played well in the first half, I am happy that we finished strong in the second half,” Coach Sheri McLain began.
T-Town (31-4) took advantage of a strong second quarter to pull away and then maintained its lead the rest of the game for the 53-31 win.
“Teutopolis only outscored us by 3 points in the second half,” she continued. “You have to take care of the ball and own the boards against a talented team like Teutopolis.”
With 1:07 left in the first quarter, Josie Orris hit a 3-pointer to cut the Shoe’s lead to 14-7.
Sullivan hit an 8-minute cold streak from the field and did not score a point until Esther Miller hit a free throw with 1:07 left in the second quarter. Read More

Traveling Trophy for Blue Dolphins

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Traveling Trophy for Blue Dolphins
The Sullivan Blue Dolphins Swim Team participated in the first dual meet with the Heartland Hurricanes. Blue Dolphins had 63 swimmers and took home the first place traveling trophy. The Sullivan Blue Dolphins also competed in the Terre Haute Artic Blast Meet. The team took home a second place trophy out of the 12 teams that participated. Gabrielle Spain earned first place, and Anna Wooters earned second place in the girls’ open division. Johnathan Iacobazzi earned first place for 10 and under boys. Aidan Melvin earned first place for eight and under boys.

Wins for the Timberwolves

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Photo by R.R. Best
Okaw Valley’s Case Crawford gets an opening for a drive to the basket against the ALAH Knights.

•February 20, 2019•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

After losing to Arcola, the Okaw Valley boys’ basketball team bounced back to defeat Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond Friday night, then knocked off Ramsey in the Class 1A Edinburg Regional Monday night.
Against Arcola last Tuesday, the Purple Riders gradually pulled away from the Timberwolves to cruise to a 52-28 win.
Arcola pushed a six-point halftime lead to 11 after the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, the Riders outscored OV 20-8 for the win.
Cameron Sharp and Sam Hagerman each hit double-digit scoring with 10 points.
Case Crawford and Cole Nichols each collected three points.
Luke Vander Burgh rounded out OV scoring with two points.
Friday at Arthur, Okaw Valley spoiled A-L-A-H’s senior night 38-33 in a back-and-forth game at Arthur.
No other results were available.
OV finished the LOVC with a 5-2 record. Read More

Understanding Illinois: “The Chicago Way” Casts Shadow on Mayor’s Race

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•February 20, 2019•

By Jim Nowlan
NP Guest Columnist

A culture of corruption known as “The Chicago Way” has cast a shadow over at least four of the leading candidates in a field of 14 vying to occupy that city’s top job.
As I have written in this space, I think the job of Chicago mayor is arguably more important than that of Illinois governor. The three-state metropolis of 11 million gathered around Chicago is one of the world’s great megacity regions. Much of Illinois is heavily dependent upon Chicago. For example, the future of Peoria and its local Caterpillar employees are heavily affected at CAT headquarters, now located in the megacity.
I define the Chicago Way of corruption as unearned personal gain at public expense. The Chicago Way came to the fore recently when the U.S. Department of Justice complained that powerful Chicago alderman Ed Burke attempted to extort property tax appeal business for his law firm. He allegedly did this by offering to help a fast food business get its necessary permits from the city, which indeed he had been holding up.
For maybe a century, leading Cook County (Chicago) Democratic politicians have operated a scam: Read More