Photo by Mike Brothers
Food Pantry Donation
Circuit Clerk Beth Pruitt of Sullivan won a processed and packaged half hog from the Sullivan VFW Post 6410 raffle recently and donated it to the Moultrie County Food Pantry. Pruitt pointed out the Food Pantry helps everyone in the county, and she and husband John knew they couldn’t eat all that meat so they donated the $600 worth of pork. Above Beth (left) presents a portion of the donation to Food Pantry volunteer Norma Piper.
•July 11, 2018•
General show champions from the Moultrie-Douglas 4-H fair are: Aerospace – Coady Kerner, Country Clovers, Tuscola; Animal Science Alexis Gee, Moultrie County Shining Stars, Allenville; Clothing & Textiles –- Hannah Carter, Awesome Arthur Clovers, Arthur; Food & Nutrition-Addison Stollard, Moultrie County Shining Stars, Sullivan.
Electricity - Ben Bushue, Moultrie County Shining Stars, Sullivan; Horticulture– Caleb Kerner, Country Clovers, Arcola; Geology - Brett Bushue, Moultrie County Shining Stars, Sullivan; Intercultural – Emma Harris, Atwood-Hammond Prairie Dogs, Atwood. Read More
Photo furnished
Dance Station at Disney
The Dance Station, located in Bethany, will be heading to Disney World this week to perform at Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Nine dancers and their families will be making the trip along with director Angie Neal. Pictured are: Back row: Rose Wade, Hannah Snow, Olivia Wilkinson, Elizabeth Rutan, Mileigh Brown. Front row: Judith Beery, Ruby Schorey, Katie Smith, and Lindsey Ozier.
Cowden Free Methodist Camp is July 13-21, and Dr. Bob and Jennifer Wilkerson will be the evangelists this year.
Services are daily at 10:30 a.m. and each evening at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday evening beginning at 6 p.m. Cowden Free Methodist Camp is located on 19.5 acres of ground across from the city park in Cowden.
The address is 174 N East Rd, Beecher City.
•July 11, 2018•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress
Summertime and America’s thoughts turn fondly to baseball. And there is no finer baseball musical than the sizzling production of “Damn Yankees” currently at The Little Theatre on the Square in Sullivan. Based on the old Faustian legend of a man selling his soul to the Devil, “Damn Yankees” opened in 1955 and made overnight stars of choreographer Bob Fosse and his future wife Gwen Verdon. It swept all the major Tony awards in 1956 and ran for nearly 2,000 performances.
It was revived in 1994, and this production is based on that 1994 shorter version.
It’s Washington in the 1950s, and Joe Boyd (Dick Borders) is sick and tired of his beloved Washington Senators getting beaten by those “damn Yankees”. If only the Senators had a young, strong, long ball hitter, they could tromp those Yankees.
Presto! The Devil appears in the guise of Mr. Applegate (Drew Stark) and offers Joe the chance to become “Joe Hardy”, the young, 22-year-old slugger the Senators need. The catch is Joe must give up his beloved wife Meg (Ann Borders). Joe accepts but the real estate agent in him makes him insist on an escape clause.
The Senators’ last game is Sept. 25, and if he plays in it, he must remain Joe Hardy forever. If not, he has until 9 the night before to walk away and resume his former life. Read More
Photo by Mike Brothers
Melon Eater
With seeds, juice and rinds flying Wren Winburg of Belleville concentrated on his watermelon slice as he competed in the 5 to 7 age group during the Fourth of July watermelon eating contest held at Wyman Park.
•July 11, 2018•
Following the 4th of July parade crowds moved to Wyman Park where the turtle races drew 61 entrants from every pond and creek in the area.
After several heats in the blistering sun, the masters of the turtle circle prevailed. In the finals: Elijah Peters, Ayden Peters, Rhett Colbertson, Olivia Matheson, Kaiden McKinny, Hunter Hackett, Gavin Helnuth, Madison Highland.
The Grand Champion turtle racer was Daisy Richardson of Sullivan.
The Watermelon Eating contest moved to the shade with volunteers from the American Legion, Post 68 Auxiliary and Sons of Legion cutting, preparing, serving and counting eaten rinds to determine the winners.
Ages 0-4: First place - Paisley Cole, Sullivan; second place- Alex VanArsdale, Decatur; third place- Hunter Farris- Sullivan. Read More
Doyle Arnold
Doyle K. Arnold, 59, of Sullivan passed away at 7:40 a.m. Wednesday July 4, 2018 in his residence.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday July 12 in Reed Funeral Home in Sullivan followed by Celebration of Life services at 7 p.m. with Bob Vail officiating.
Doyle was born October 24, 1958 in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, the son of Ollivene and Leoma Toliver Arnold. He worked in management with the Sullivan IGA before transferring to the Arthur IGA. Read More
Photo furnished
Division Champion
Rhett Lehman recently exhibited the Division 6 Champion with Southern Lexy D731 at the Illinois Junior Hereford Preview Show. Rhett is the son of Jamie and Erica Lehman of Sullivan.
Pictured left to right are Garrett Griffin, Maddie Keller and Marty Harbaugh.
•July 11, 2018•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress
Three hometown actors are having their hour upon the stage this summer at the Little Theatre and are enjoying the opportunity to come back and perform before the home audience.
Maddie Keller grew up in Sullivan and began performing at the Little Theatre at a very young age. She came up through their Future Stars Program and was in show choir during high school. She is a theatre minor at the University of Illinois and may be seen in the upcoming “Annie”.
Marty Harbaugh worked for the state of Illinois for many years before finally settling in Sullivan. He has always loved the theatre and as his wife Lori is business manager at the Little Theatre, he “decided to try and see if he was any good at acting.” Marty and Lori actually had a blind date to see “Into the Woods” at the Little Theatre, and the rest is history. He has since become a beloved fixture. He plays the Washington Senators’ owner in “Damn Yankees” currently playing. Read More
•July 11, 2018•
Vacation Bible School, is July 23 - 26 from 6-8:30 pm at the Dalton City United Methodist Church. A light supper will be served at 6 p.m., Bible School program, music, activities and crafts and refreshments for age-appropriate classes.
There is no charge, and it is open to all children and youth. No registration is necessary.