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OV Girls Win Over Martinsville

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•December 12, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Okaw Valley girls’ basketball team ended an eight game-losing streak with a 43-33 win over Martinsville Monday night.
OV took a one-point lead after one period and tacked on two more points for a 22-19 halftime lead.
The Timberwolves extended the lead with a 14-7 third-quarter run and held on the fourth for the win.
Okaw Valley’s individual stats were not available.
Thursday (Dec. 6), OV lost to Altamont 73-22.
Altamont outscored OV 24-5 and 22-5 in the first two quarters. Read More

Gray’s Legacy Leaves A Bridge To The Future For Southern Illinois

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•December 12, 2018•

By Holly Kee
Of the Southern Illinois
Local Media Group

In 1956, a little-known freshman congressman from Franklin County in southern Illinois gave his first major speech on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, receiving a standing ovation for his efforts.
In that speech, amateur magician Kenneth J. Gray from West Frankfort, used his skills to illustrate the “rosy” prospects of then-President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Interstate Highway Act.
Carrying a bouquet of red roses, Gray illustrated the interference of lobbyists and special interests that he said were “killing” the program by snapping flowers off the stems until all the blossoms were gone.
At the conclusion of the speech, Gray suggested the lobbyists would fail and all would be “rosy” again, holding up the bouquet with white roses blooming from the bare stems.
In a political career that spanned 24 years in Congress, Gray was responsible for bringing nearly $7 billion in public works projects to southern Illinois.
Using earmarks on bills often referred to as “pork barrel politics,” Gray’s ability to score for his district earned him the moniker “the Prince of Pork.” Read More

Indians’ Fourth Quarter Cost Redskins’ Chance at Win

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R.R. Best photo
Dom Kimberlin shoots a runner in the lane. He finished with 10 points and five rebounds.

•December 12, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Sullivan boys’ basketball team dropped three games this past week.
The Redskins lost to Villa Grove/Heritage Saturday, Neoga Friday and Okaw Valley last Tuesday.
Against Villa Grove/Heritage, Sullivan fell behind 26-7 in the first quarter and could not recover in the 67-30 loss.
Dominick Kimberlin scored a season-high 17 to go with three rebounds and two steals.
Ian Plank added seven points and two rebounds, and Dalton Rogers and Elder each had three points. Rogers also had two assists, and Elder collected with two rebounds.
Friday at home Sullivan stuck with Neoga until the fourth quarter when the Indians outscored the Redskins 15-8 for a 53-39 win.
Neoga outscored Sullivan by six in the first quarter, and Sullivan outscored Neoga by six in the second quarter for an 18-18 halftime tie.
Three Redskins hit double-digit scoring.
Layten Ellis recorded a team high 11 points and nine rebounds, and Kimberlin collected 10 points and five rebounds.
Gabe McGregor contributed 10 points and two rebounds, and Plank had six points, four rebounds, two assists and five steals.
For results from the Okaw Valley game, see the Timberwolves article.
The losses dropped Sullivan’s overall record to 1-5.
The Redskins are scheduled to host Lutheran School Association Friday (Dec. 14) and then travel to Pana Saturday to take on the Panthers.

Cookie Exchange Memories

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Photo by R.R. Best

•December 12, 2018•

Well, one of my favorite memories from growing up was holiday baking with my mom.
She was a great cook and baker. After her passing, I didn’t want to lose that tradition so I decided to do a cookie exchange with some friends.
We each bring several dozen of one type of cookie or candy, and I supply the containers, then we all share.
The first year I think we only had three or four. The next year we had a few more and decided to do enough for ourselves as well as the fire department and our city and county police.
This year was our sixth year of the cookie exchange, and Jennifer Voegel has done it with me each and every year.
While planning this year’s we decided that since the fire department and police get so many things brought to them, let’s do some for our local nursing homes instead. Read More

Annual Toys for Tots Collects

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•December 12, 2018•

The area Toys for Tots drive for 2018 has received tremendous support from the Piatt County area, Coordinator Eric Kenney pointed out.
Of the 280 toys collected for the annual program in Moultrie and Piatt counties Moultrie County collected some 96 toys from First National Bank in Sullivan plus Dollar General drop boxes in Sullivan and Bethany.
In Piatt County the Cerro Gordo led collection locations with the Dollar General collecting 134 toys at a single location,.
Toys for Tots is a program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve which distributes toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them gifts for Christmas. The program was founded in 1947 by reservist Major Bill Hendricks.

Okaw Valley Boys Pick Up Win Over Sullivan

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•December 12, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Okaw Valley boys’ basketball team picked up its first win of the season against rival Sullivan last Tuesday but dropped a close Little Okaw Valley Conference game Friday.
Against Sullivan at Bethany, both teams struggled to put points on the board.
OV led 9-5 after the first quarter, and the second finished similarly at 8-5 for the 7-point halftime lead.
After each team scored eight points in the third quarter, the Timberwolves tacked on to the lead in the fourth for the 40-30 win.
For OV, Cole Nichols scored a game high 19 points and collected a team-high seven rebounds.
Eli Hagerman finished with seven points, and Tyson Montgomery had five. Read More

Moultrie Moment of the Week

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The year is either 1967, 68 or 69, and the event was Sullivan Day at Busch Stadium with the winning Little League team of the season honored on the field. Paul Mossman was the team manager, and 700 people from Sullivan traveled to the home of the Cardinals for the event. Photo provided by Leroy Fifer. Please submit photos to the News Progress for future consideration. Originals will be saved for return or forwarded to Moultrie County Historical Society. If you have any other information, please contact the Moultrie County Historical Society at 217-728- 4085.

When Trouble was Always Just One Step Away

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•December 12, 2018•

By Evelyn Burtcheard
for the News Progress

In our family the person who caused the excitement was my brother Donny. He caused all sorts of havoc by just being in the wrong place at the right time and made it appear reasonable.
One may have difficulty seeing the reasoning at the time the incident is happening, especially if you are part of the big plan; and Donny always had a plan.
Donny did not have to look for trouble; it was always just one step away, no matter which way he turned. That is not to say Donny looked for trouble, just that it was always so, oh, so available.
An uncle gave Donny a Billy goat. If Mom and Dad had been asked about this gift, I am pretty certain they would not have agreed. As it was, Uncle Frank arrived with the goat in the back of his truck, and Donny fell in love with it. Read More

Dos and Don’ts of Disaster Donations

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Unsolicited donations often become the “Second Disaster”

•December 12, 2018•

The tornadoes that struck Christian County on December 1 have tugged at the heartstrings of many local communities and interest groups. While there is no doubt that the affected communities will have a long road to recovery, state and local officials have an urgent warning for those who are currently collecting donations for tornado survivors.
“Words cannot express our gratitude for the generosity of our friends and neighbors in this time of need,” said Taylorville mayor, Bruce Barry. “But at this time, please refrain from sending unsolicited items such as toys, clothes or other materials.  The time will come when these items are needed, but at this time our critical need is for monetary donations.” Read More

IGA Gives to Secret Santa

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Photo by Mike Brothers
IGA Gives to Secret Santa
As the holiday season heads toward Christmas, volunteers for Secret Santa are on their way to Kohl’s in Forsyth to shop for 265 kids in need. Local coordinator Kassie Waggoner said 30 volunteers helped shop Friday, Dec. 7 with each Secret Santa sponsored child receiving two outfits and two gift items. Sullivan Chief of Police Jim Waggoner explained the number in need increased by more than 100 kids this year. “It’s a testimony to the support of the community,” Waggoner said. “Thanks to donations from businesses such as Sullivan IGA we continue to help those who need it most.” Pictured above Chief Waggoner and daughter Kassie accept the annual Sullivan IGA donation of $500 from store manage Pat Stinson.