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First Sectional Championship Earned by Sullivan Golf Team

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Sectional Meet Champions: (Left to right) Drew Rogers, Logan Westjohn, Aiden Short, Caden Ellis, Leighton Burcham, Tim Lawyer, Leyton Ellis and coach Ben Richter.

•October 10, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Sullivan sports program had not celebrated a sectional title in any sport since an Amanda Glazebrook led team won a basketball sectional in 2002.
Earlier in the year, the boys’ team won the Little Okaw Valley Conference for the fourth time in five years, then finished the regular season a perfect 21-0.
Last Tuesday, the boys’ golf team won its third golf Class 1A Regional championship in the last four years.
And Monday at the Danville Country Club, the Sullivan boys’ golf team won its first sectional championship in school history and qualified for the state meet for the first time since 1979.
“They are really proud of their accopmlishment,” Coach Ben Richter said. “It was a tough day in tough conditions and with the added pressure of being the number 1 seed in the sectional they played a little above their average but still hung on for the win.”
The boys’ team shot a combined low of 339 to win the Danville (Schlarman) Sectional title Monday. Read More

OVHS Boys’ Golf Qualifies for Sectionals

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•October 10, 2018•

For the second straight year, the Okaw Valley boys’ golf team qualified for the sectional meet.
To qualify, the Timberwolves scored a combined 374 for third place in the Windsor Regional at Fox Prairie Golf Course last Tuesday.
Sullivan won the meet with a score of 319, followed by Farmer City’s 364. All three teams advanced.
OV defeated fourth-place Leroy by one stroke. Read More

Understanding Illinois: Take a Look at Giving Power Back to the People

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•October 10, 2018•

By Jim Nowlan
NP Guest Columnist

Illinois Democratic House Speaker Mike Madigan is not the evil Darth Vader trumpeted by opponents’ ads—but he has shut down democracy in Illinois, and must go.
Mike Madigan is simply an old-fashioned Chicago pol who has had half a century in office to hone his skills and thus accrue unprecedented power.
In the Illinois legislature, absolutely no bill—not one—introduced by representatives of the people will ever be heard and voted upon without the express approval of Mike Madigan. Every bill, indeed every amendment to every bill, must first be approved by the small Madigan-controlled House Rules Committee.
Even if a back-bench lawmaker wanted to overrule the Rules Committee so as to afford a bill a hearing, such is impossible, as it takes unanimous consent(!) to break a bill loose from the Rules Committee.
Democracies also offer opportunities for voter participation through referendums on issues of major importance, such as on wildly popular matters such as term limits and independent redistricting of legislative boundaries.
Yet Madigan has blocked repeated efforts to give the people a vote on these issues. Read More

Cake for Doughnut Lady Peggy Booker at IGA Party

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Happy Retirement. Left to right: Asst. IGA Manager Karen Golden, Donut Lady Peggy Booker, IGA Manager Pat Stinson and Bakery Manager Angela Cuttill.

•October 10, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

After 35 years, Peggy Booker, “the doughnut lady of IGA” will be retiring. The public is cordially invited to her retirement party 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, October 12 at Sulllivan IGA. Cake and punch will be served.
Peggy grew up in Sullivan and rode a pony to school. She had one brother 17 years older and another five years older to spoil her and take her places girls of her age seldom got to visit.
She graduated high school in 1952 and married William Booker the same year. Because she married she had to forfeit a scholarship she had won to Eastern Illinois University as was the custom in those days.
She and Bill raised five children including one set of twins. Read More

Obituaries 10-10-2018: Margaret Reed

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Margaret Reed

Margaret J. Reed, 76, of Mt. Vernon, formerly of Sullivan, has peacefully fallen asleep in death at 12:30 p.m. Friday, October 5, 2018 in her home.
Memorial services will be at 7 p.m. Friday in Reed Funeral Home in Sullivan. Visitation will be one hour before the service. Read More

Obituaries 10-10-2018: Richard Bolin

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Richard Bolin

Richard David Bolin 79, of Mt. Zion passed away at 8:40 a.m., Tuesday, October 2, 2018 in his residence.
A service to celebrate Richard’s life was held at 11 a.m., Saturday, October 6 at Dawson & Wikoff Funeral Home in Mt. Zion. Burial was in Greenhill Cemetery in Sullivan with military honors provided by the Macon County Honor Guard and the US Army Honors Team.
Richard was born November 13, 1938 in Decatur, a son of Rex W. and Mabel Mardelle McCain Bolin. Richard obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois. He went on to serve in the US Army and obtained the rank of Captain. Read More

Scams, Fraud and ID Theft Workshop at SAIL

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•October 10, 2018•

SAIL, Soyland Access to Independent Living, will host a free workshop about Scams, Fraud and ID Theft 2-3:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 24 at the Lovington Public Library,
The speaker is Shari Rowe, Postal Inspector with United States Postal Inspection Service. The workshop is free; reservations are not required. For more information call Betty Watkins, Rural Outreach Coordinator, at 774-4322.

MCRT Elect Officers

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MCRT Elect Officers
The Moultrie County Retired Teachers met October 3 at First Christian Church in Lovington. Senator Chapin Rose and Representative Brad Halbrook spoke to the members on legislation in Springfield. Kevin Gaither also addressed the group as well as Pat Cribbet who shared Captured Moments, the book published by the Moultrie County Historical Society.
Pictured are newly elected officers for 2019-20. They are Laura Elder, secretary; Sue Yarnell, president; Jane McKown, vice-president; and Jim Luedke, treasurer.

Obituaries 10-10-2018: Richard Martin, Jr.

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Richard Martin, Jr.

Richard Dale Martin Jr, 48, of Columbia, Missouri, formerly of Bethany, passed away Monday, October 1, 2018 in Harry S. Truman VA Hospital in Columbia, Missouri.
Rick was born December 11, 1969, in Decatur to the late Richard Dale Martin Sr. and Nancy L. Risley Ozee. He grew up and attended Bethany High School where he graduated in 1988. Rick enlisted in the United States Marine Corps straight out of high school. He honorably served his country four years as a military policeman including serving during Desert Storm. After the service, he resided in the San Diego, Calif. area before moving to Columbia, Mo. Read More