Author Archives:

Coach Dale Schuring’s Career Guided Hundreds of Athletes

News Progress Posted on by

Furnished photo
ALAH Basketball season with youngest son Tyler Schuring and Coach Dale Schuring (2014-2015 season).

•June 13, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

This summer not only marks the end of the school year but also the end of a long and prestigious coaching career at Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond High School.

In March the ALAH school board did not renew Dale Schuring’s coaching positions in football or basketball.

For more than three decades, Schuring has been a staple in the area and leaves behind a long history of coaching that spans several sports.

Currently, he has been taking things slowly and trying to adjust to the newfound downtime.

“I am taking things slowly to see what is out there and figure out where I want to go with my life since I am close to retirement, three years,” said Schuring, who is a math teacher. “I am struggling mightily with all the downtime I now have available because I am accustomed to going 100 miles per hour all year round.”

This transition is understandable after years of conditioning.

Schuring first coached for Arthur as a volunteer as an assistant football coach in the fall of 1988.

He took his first paid coaching job at Arthur as an assistant baseball coach in the winter of 1988-89. Read More

Blue Dolphins at Summer Steam

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Kim Drury
Johnathan Iacobazzi is pictured.

•June 13, 2018•

Sullivan Blue Dolphins competed in the Summer Steam meet in Terre Haute Indiana June 1-3. Thirty-two swimmers represented the Dolphins. Johnathan Iacobazzi brought home the second place 9-10 High Point award. Iacobazzi also made two Age Group Championship meet cuts in the 50 backstroke and 100 backstroke.

SBD next competes in Quincy at the Firecracker meet. To date 14 Dolphins have qualified for the Regional Championship Meet including Isaac Chambers, Calista Clark, Emily Crosier, Natalie Drury, Mackenzie Erixon, Brodie Goss, Johnathan Iacobazzi, Miles Kersten, McKenna Kull, Sofia Nuzzo, Allison Oligschlaeger, Ethan Schmohe, Gabrielle Spain and Anna Wooters.  Submitted by J.D. Graham

Okaw Valley High School Spring Semester Honor Roll 

News Progress Posted on by

•June 13, 2018•

12th Grade:

Straight A: Evan Baumbarger, Tanner Coleman, Garrett Fritz, Grace Harlin, Dylan Holt, Kyra Jackson, Natalie Jeffers, Hannah Landreth, Paige Robinson, Trey Yarnell.

High Honors- 3.5 (no C’s): Quinn Brooks, Hayden Francisco, Austin Hill, Kaytlyn Hinton, Danielle Lochbaum, Ethan Macklin, Kelly McGill, Cameron Nickerson, Jessica Stiner, Evan Tipsword.

Honors - 3.0: Seth Bartimus, Jared Bunfill, Grace Brown, Cohen Collins, Hutson Dickens, Austin Harshman, Anthony Jones, Jackson Masters, Justin Norris, Lexi Roe, Connor Sheehan.  Read More

Million Dollar Quartet Worth A Million To See!

News Progress Posted on by

•June 13, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for The News Progress

If you happen to be standing outside the Little Theatre when this musical is playing, you may see the theatre’s foundation shift and the roof rattle. There is a whole lot of shakin’ goin’ on inside because Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins are setting the stage on fire.

More than a few have said that this is the best musical they have ever seen here so don’t be that person standing outside. Get your tickets now because this will be a sellout.

This jukebox musical recounts that historic day of December 4, 1956 when Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins happened by chance to all visit Sun Records studio for the one and only time they would all play together. Fortunately, the jam session was recorded and is considered a seminal moment to rock and roll. Read More

Remember When? 6-13-2018

News Progress Posted on by

25 Years Ago This Week

Sid Long and his wife Evelyn are entertaining two of Sid’s friends he met during WWII. Long and friends Nick Bausano and Carl Vanek were fellow combat MP’s in WW II. The three men and their wives have had several reunions over the years, one as far away as Australia, but this is the first time the men have visited Long at his farm in Lovington.

After a 14 year reign, Miss Lovington 1979 Penny Nicol Hood will relinquish her crown. Hood of Mt. Zion will bestow her crown on the new Miss Lovington 1993 during the JuneFest Celebration coming up June 25.

Former Sullivan resident Curt Handley graduated cum laude from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Mich. Handley is a 1982 graduate of SHS and the son of William and Fran Handley of Sullivan. He is currently employed as a patent attorney in Lansing.

Three Sullivan area students have been named to the Dean’s List at Illinois State University for the spring semester. They include Megan E. Cooper, Deborah A. Florini and Susan K. Grose. Read More

ALAH Softball Awards Announced

News Progress Posted on by

•June 13, 2018•

The Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond softball team announced its 2018 award winners last week.

Junior Taylor Powell won the MVP, and junior Maria Garza won the most improved award.

Junior Reagan Miller won the offensive player award while sophomore Kirsten Corum won the defensive player award.

Freshman Makenzie Brown won the rookie of the year award, and Maddie Snyder took home the Knights award. Read More

Smyser Christian Church Offers VBS 

News Progress Posted on by

•June 13, 2018•

Smyser Christian Church will offer Vacation Bible School Monday, 6-8:30 p.m. July 23 through Thurs., July 26 at 1521 Whitley Point Road in Gays. There is no fee.

Children ages K through fifth grade may enjoy music, games, snacks and stories centered on the theme “Incredible Faith”. (Sixth-eighth grades meet at the same time but do out-of-house activities.) Participants must preregister at www.smysercc.org or contact 217-752-6896.

There will be a cook out, short VBS program and a family puppet show from Holy Hands Puppet Ministry 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday night.

Come Join the Fight for Huck

News Progress Posted on by

•June 13, 2018•

Join the fight at 4 p.m.-? Saturday, June 23 at the American Legion Post 68 in Sullivan.

A benefit in honor of Richard “Huck” Huckstep is being held to aid him in his fight against throat cancer.

Huckstep has entered this battle the with same determination and courage that he did fighting for our country in Vietnam as an infantryman serving in the Marine Corp.

A meal by donation will be served beginning at 5 p.m. Also included at the benefit will be a cash bar, live auction at 6:30, silent auction with winners announced at 8:30 p.m., bake sale, meat board, pull tabs, 50/50 drawing and a raffle at 9 p.m. for a Henry Golden Boy .22 Magnum rifle.

Entertainment will also be included.

Proceeds will go to help Huckstep with medical and personal expenses as he fights this battle.

Obituary 6-13-2018: Bob Livergood

News Progress Posted on by

Bob Livergood

Robert ‘Bob’ Livergood, 89, of Sullivan, passed away at 10:30 p.m. Tuesday June 5, 2018 in Sullivan Rehabilitation and Health Care Center.

Celebration of Life services were at 2 p.m. Sunday June 10 in Reed Funeral Home in Sullivan with Pastor Pam Bradford officiating. Burial was in Marrowbone Township Cemetery in Bethany.  Read More