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Sullivan Basketball Coach Opening Came at Opportune Moment

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Photo furnished
Coach Craig Black is pictured with fiancée Erika Tomczewski.

•July 18, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

Sometimes, life is about timing.
That was the case for Craig Black.
Black, who has been the head coach for Oakwood for the last four seasons, was not looking for a new coaching job.
But when Black had heard that the Sullivan coaching position became available after former coach Chester Reeder had taken the head coaching position at Teutopolis, he had to apply.
Black, like Reeder, is a Sullivan alumnus and has continued his ties to the area.
Black, a 2007 graduate, was hired at a special Sullivan board meeting June 29 and will teach physical education.
“I wasn’t really looking or applying for any other jobs, but when this came open, I had to apply,” said Black. “And where I am at in my personal life with getting engaged, being from Sullivan, and having family here, it made the most since for my fiancée and me.”
He was surprised that the job became open.
“I was really surprised to be honest,” said Black. “I know Chet has done a really good job the last five years and built the program up, and with him being from Sullivan too, I didn’t think it would be open.”
But it was an opportunity he could not pass. Read More

Coach Reeder Moves to Wooden Shoe Country

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•July 18, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

As part of the rotating of area coaches, Chester Reeder resigned as Sullivan boys’ basketball coach and took the head coaching position for the Teutopolis boys’ basketball team.
Reeder coached Sullivan for five years and had been at Sullivan for 10 years.
Reeder, a 2000 Sullivan graduate, compiled a 62-70 record as Sullivan’ s head coach.
He started with three winning seasons and had a record of 50-30 to start his tenure at Sullivan. Read More

Public Hearing Of The Sullivan City Council

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•July 18, 2018•

A public hearing of the Sullivan City Council will be held Monday, July 23 at 6:45 p.m. in Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library, 2 West Water Street, in Sullivan.
The purpose of this public hearing is to hear comments from the public on the adoption of the proposed Appropriation Ordinance for the fiscal year 2018-2019. Read More

Moultrie Moment of the Week

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Pictured above is Ansbacher Men’s Clothing Store. It was founded in 1875 by Moses Ansbacher, a former Civil War vet from NY. He started his business on the east side of the square and then moved to the north side where this photo was taken. He closed the business in 1908.The date of the photo is unknown but believed to have been taken between 1899-1908. 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.

Remember When? 7-18-2018

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25 Years Ago This Week

Lake Shelbyville was full of boaters trying to cool off during the 4th of July weekend. Local law enforcement reported only a few incidents during the busy weekend.
Heading this year’s 4th of July parade were Korean War Veterans who served as parade marshals. Among them were Don Carnes, Bill Doris, Bill Graven, Mac Graven, Bill Harris, Bob Hess, Gene Himes, Sam Kenton, Dick Johnson, Herbert Maycroft, Robert Merriman, Red Proffitt, Richard Purdeu, Bill Rauch, Glenn Ryherd, Bill Shasteen, Dave Stone, Hubert Walton, Dale Weaver and John Nagy, all of the National Guard unit and Charles Hausman, Darrell Betzler and Jim Williams. Jason Probus won first place in the kiddie tractor pull in the 0-5 age group, Matthew Utlser got second place and Jeff Probus got third. In the 6-7 age group Dustin Cole got first, Dustin Salmons got second, Tenille Waggoner, third. Katie Fombelle won the 8-9 category, Amber Cole took second, and third place went to Ashly Thompson. Read More

Menus 7-18-2018

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Senior Peace Meal

For additional information or for reservations, please call 1-800-543-1770

Monday, July 23 - Chicken sandwich, scalloped corn, red cabbage w/sour sauce, bun, applesauce
Tuesday, July 24 - salmon boat, macaroni and cheese w/peas, midair blend vegetables, whole grain wheat, pineapple
Wednesday, July 25 - Taco salad w/meat, cheese and beans, lettuce, tomato, sour cream and taco sauce, cantaloupe, taco chips, pudding
Thursday, July 26 - Turkey salad w/grapes on lettuce leaf, creamy potato soup, crackers, gelatin salad w/1/2 cup fruit
Friday, July 27 - Pork chop in gravy, mashed potatoes, breaded tomatoes, whole grain wheat, fruit salad

Warmer Soils Continue Into July

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•July 18, 2018•

Soils continue to be warmer than normal in mid-July, according to Jennie Atkins, Water and Atmospheric Resources Monitoring (WARM) Program manager at the Illinois State Water Survey, University of Illinois.
Soil temperatures at 4 inches under sod averaged 81 degrees in the first half of July, an increase of 6 degrees from June and 4 degrees above the long-term average. Daily highs in the mid-90s were reported for most of the state, with temperatures reaching into the 100s for locations with sandy soils. Lows were in the high 60s and low 70s.
Under bare soil, temperatures were warmer at 4 inches, averaging 84 degrees or 6 degrees higher than the long-term average. Temperatures above 100 degrees were common, particularly in central and southern Illinois.   Read More

Obituaries 7-18-2018: Sharon McMahan

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Sharon McMahan

Sharon Kay McMahan, 75, of Sullivan and Willcox, Ariz. died at 4:45 a.m. Saturday, July 14, 2018 in Mattoon Rehabilitation and Health Care Center.
A reception will be held 3:30-5:30 p.m. Thursday at Titus Manor at Wyman Park with a memorial service to follow at 5:30 p.m. Arrangements are by Reed Funeral Home in Sullivan. Read More

Bethany Village Board Increases Utility Rates

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•July 18, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for The News Progress

In a regular meeting on July 12 the Bethany Village Board voted unanimously to raise the rates 4% each for water, sewer, electric and gas services.
The board also approved a minimum wage ordinance and an ordinance adding 50 cents to utility bills for recycling.
In other business, Police Chief Chris Nichols reported that a $13,000 grant had been received toward the purchase of a new Ford SUV police car. The village, however, will have to pay for equipping the car with items such as a computer and video camera. Read More

Lake Land College Honors Lists

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•July 18, 2018•

The part time spring semester honors lists at Lake Land College include the following area residents.
Those on the President’s List are Tristen Gingerich, Sydnie Hanscel, Logan Hall, Hannah Cook and Kara Yoder, all of Arthur; Race Underwood, Kaytlyn Hinton, Hannah Landreth, Michael Yarnell and Destiny Underwood, all of Bethany; Morgan Lesko and Amber Newell of Gays; Holly Cole, Abby Cravatta, Whitney Miller, Caitlin Howard, Deanna Braden, Ciara Anderson, Bailey Clark, Shelby Hagerman, Jordan Bassett, Madison Wall and Laine Cameron, all of Sullivan and Kelly Wheeler of Windsor. Read More