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Life Was Different After the Move to Christian 40

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•January 23, 2019•

By Evelyn Burtcheard
NP Guest Columnist

One year and one week after the twins were born, the smaller of the two babies passed away in his sleep. His condition with his heart was called a “blue baby”, and he was not as active as Jerry. He had a quick smile and seldom cried unless he was picked up. Dad put a bed in the living room so he could be with the rest of the family. Carold wanted to be left alone on the bed and watch the other boys.
Jerry on the other hand loved life rough and with Donny. Jerry was happiest when he was in his stroller, handles removed, being pushed around the living room or the kitchen table by Donny.
I went too slowly to suit him, and Jerry loved speed. Carold enjoyed being talked to or read to, and I loved to read to him.
Our home was a very sad place after the baby died. There were no more fast rides for Jerry. The laughter had gone from our home. I remember the day Dad picked us up at school and stopped at our mailbox on the way home. Aunt Dora was waiting to talk to Dad.
At this time Dad worked the day shift at Allis Chalmers and got home in time to drive on south to our school and pick us up in bad weather. Now Mom wanted us picked up every day, and she would worry until we got home. We walked most of the time because of the gasoline shortage, but we rode to school with the neighbor kids’ mom if she took her kids. But that was usually when they were late, and we were already at school. Read More

Obituaries 1-23-2019: Jerry Spicer

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Jerry Spicer

Jerry Lee Spicer, 82, of Bethany, passed away at 6:20 a.m. Wednesday, January 16, 2019 in Eastview Terrace in Sullivan.
Graveside services were held at 11 a.m. Friday, January 18 in Marrowbone Township Cemetery in Bethany. McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Bethany handled arrangements. Read More

Obituaries 1-23-2019: Michael Morton

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Michael Morton

Michael Floyd Morton, 66, of Decatur, formerly of Sullivan, passed away at 9:15 p.m. Friday, January 18, 2019 in Mason Point in Sullivan.
Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, January 25 at McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan. Visitation will be an hour prior to the service Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery in Sullivan at a later date. Read More

Performance Recognized

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Photo furnished
Performance Recognized
Sgt. John Mauck has been awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for “superior performance of his duties” as a non-commissioned officer in Marine Wing Communications Squadron 18, First Marine Aircraft Wing, Camp Foster, Okinawa, from January 2016 through December 2018.  His commendation further reads: “Sergeant Mauck’s initiative, perseverance and total devotion to duty reflected credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.”  Mauck was nominated for his commendation by Commanding Officer Lt. Col. T. E. Richards.  Sergeant Mauck, a SHS graduate, is now stationed at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twenty-Nine Palms, California.

Obituaries 1-23-2019: Charles Kinkade

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Charles Kinkade

Charles Newton Kinkade, 98, of Lovington, passed away at 4 a.m. Monday, January 21, 2019 in his home surrounded by his family.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, January 24 at McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Lovington. Visitation will be held an hour prior to the service Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Keller Cemetery in Lovington with military rites by the Lovington American Legion Post #429. Read More

Understanding Illinois: Dot Foods—Good Place, Good People, Good Pay

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•January 23, 2019•

By Jim Nowlan
NP Guest Columnist

I have written about how rural Illinois seems to be dying. Not everywhere.
Approaching Mt. Sterling IL (pop. 1,900) from the east, one sees the typical football field bleachers and church steeples.
But my eyes are compelled to the south edge of town. A massive, pure white complex rises six stories or more, sprawling from additions over the years—like a modern-day castle, protecting its town and the rolling countryside, which it does, in its way. This has to be Dot Foods.
Only recently had I heard about this colossus in rural western Illinois. I wanted to learn more.
Early for my 10 a.m. tour of Dot, I stretched my legs on the short main street, stopping into the public library.
I chatted up the librarian, an older fellow.
“Dot Foods? I worked there once—good place, good people, good pay and benefits.”
At Dot’s state-of-the-art headquarters, under expansion, I meet Frank Moore.
A one-time local farmer, Frank worked his way up over 34 years from the warehouse floor to head a 550-employee warehouse, one of three in Mt. Sterling. Read More

Zancha’s Guns & Ammo Becomes U-Haul Dealer

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•January 23, 2019•

U-Haul Company of Illinois, Inc.has announced that Zancha’s Guns & Ammo has signed on as a U-Haul® neighborhood dealer to serve the Lovington community.
Zancha’s Guns & Ammo at 108 E. State St. Lovington will offer U-Haul trucks, trailers, towing equipment, moving supplies and in-store pick-up for boxes.
Normal business hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Reserve U-Haul products at this dealer location by calling (217) 873-6963 or visiting https://www.uhaul.com/Locations/Truck-Rentals-near-Lovington-IL-61937/049248/ today.
Zancha’s Guns & Ammo partners Ralph Zancha and Tracy Bettinger have teamed with the industry leader in do-it-yourself moving and self-storage to better meet the demands of Moultrie County.
U-Haul and Zancha’s Guns & Ammo are striving to benefit the environment through sustainability initiatives. Truck sharing is a core U-Haul sustainability business practice that allows individuals to access a fleet of trucks that is larger than what they could access on an individual basis.
Take your picture in front of a U-Haul product, send it in and your face could land on the side of a U-Haul truck. Upload your photo through Instagram using #uhaulfamous, or go to www.uhaulfamous.com to submit photos and learn more.

Headon in Bethany

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Photo by R.R. Best
Headon in Bethany
A head on collision in Bethany Friday afternoon severely injured a Decatur woman and held up traffic for more than an hour. Moultrie County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Gary Carroll reported the accident call on Highway 121 was received at 3:22 p.m. Jan. 18. According to the accident report Shirley J. Quinlan of Decatur was westbound at the Bethany curve west of town when her car crossed the center line into the path of the eastbound vehicle driven by Camden Coleman of Shelbyville. Bethany and Sullivan Fire and Rescue squads responded transporting Quinlan and Coleman to area hospitals.

A Busy Year For SFPD

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•January 23, 2019•

Emergency Medical Services continue to be most in demand as Sullivan Fire Protection District closes 2018.
Ambulance calls and transports totaled 1290 in 2018 up from 1214 in 2017. Since 2000 the most ambulance calls reported were in 2002 with 1332. The fewest calls were 967 in 2012.
Rescue calls were the second busiest in 2018 with SFPD responding to 770 calls. In 2017 SFPD responded to 792 calls. During the past decade 833 calls were made in 2011 for the high and 416 calls in 2000 for the low. Rescue calls includes non-transport EMS services where treatment or evaluation of the patient is performed but the patient is not transported.
SFPD third service is fire calls with the district responding to 163 calls in 2018. That was up two from 161 in 2017. In 2001 the district made 175 fire calls for a high and in 2002 achieved a decade low of 122 fire calls in a year.

ALAH District Staff Completes Training

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•January 23, 2019•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

Members of the ALAH School District faculty completed ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) training.
Police officers from three nearby towns (Arthur, Lovington and Atwood) and assistant principal Jared Vanausdoll helped lead the training. ALICE is a nationwide program that is used to help civilians handle possible violent threats. “I want my teachers to feel empowered and know they are doing the right thing,” remarked Vanausdoll. Within the next mont, the district will have information available for both students and parents. Read More