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Area Athletes Compete

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Photo submitted
Sullivan’s Jadon Nuzzo (center) is pictured.

•May 30, 2018•

Four area athletes competed in the Class 1A Boys’ State Track and Field meet at Eastern Illinois University’s O’Brien Field in Charleston Saturday.

The Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond boys’ track and field team placed eighth in state with 26 points, and Sullivan tied for 49th with five points.

ALAH’s Logan Hall, who is to run at the University of Illinois next school year, was state champion in the 1,600-meter run with a time of 4:22.45, and he was runner-up in the 3,200-meter with a time of 9:25.14.

Freshman Layton Hall placed 18th in the 3,200-meter at 10:13.93.

Senior Knight high jumper Kobe Wells cleared 6 feet 6 inches for second place.

For Sullivan, junior Jadon Nuzzo pole vaulted 14 feet for fifth place and five points.

Letter to the Editor: Who’s trying to buy the election of Coles-Moultrie Electric Cooperative directors?

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•May 30, 2018•

Letter to the editor,

What is going on with the upcoming Coles-Moultrie Electric Cooperative board of directors election?

I have been a cooperative member since the 1970s. I’m seeing more money spent on campaigning for three of the seven candidates in this election than all previous directors’ elections combined. Read More

O’Hare Airport: For Many, The Place To Reunite With The Ones You Love Best

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•May 30, 2018•

By Marni Pyke
Of the Daily Herald

It took just seven years for O’Hare International Airport to rise from an unassuming, former aircraft factory to the world’s busiest airport in 1962.

Since then, the Midwest aviation hub has witnessed history and sparked an economic boom in the region; but for many across Illinois, it’s the place to reunite with the ones you love best.

“Creating O’Hare was a marvelously foresighted decision by the city of Chicago,” aviation expert Joseph Schwieterman said.

Chicago leaders chose Orchard Field, where the Douglas Aircraft Co. was building fighter planes, as the site for a second airport to relieve busy Midway International Airport in 1945. Read More

Albert Beveridge: Sullivan’s Most Successful Public Figure

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•May 30, 2018•

The most successful public figure ever to grow up in Sullivan and graduate from its schools was Albert J. Beveridge. He served two terms in the United States Senate and became a leading national figure in the Republican Party and in the American “progressive” movement in the early 20th century.

After his career in politics came to an end, he wrote highly-regarded biographies of two of the great men in American history: Chief Justice John Marshall, and Abraham Lincoln.

Beveridge achieved this success only after overcoming youthful poverty and years of unremitting physical labor comparable to the experiences of young Abe Lincoln. Yet Lincoln was and remains a subject of public veneration while Beveridge is barely remembered in his original hometown. Then again — Albert didn’t write some of the greatest prose in the English language, didn’t win a war or save the union, and didn’t die a martyr. Also, he didn’t have Lincoln’s sense of humor. And he never won a popular election. Perhaps the two are related.

Albert Jeremiah Beveridge was born October 6, 1862, near Sugar Tree Ridge in Highland County, Ohio. His father, Thomas Henry Beveridge, was in the Ohio Volunteers at the time, fighting Confederates. Thomas’ first wife had died, leaving him eight children, and in early January 1862 he had married a 37-year old widow, Frances Doyle. Albert was the only child of that second marriage. Read More

Airplane Rides Offered At Benefit Cookout

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•May 30, 2018•

Anyone donating $25 or more at the June 2 Cookout Benefit for Pastor Brandon Zoll will be offered an airplane ride by John William Durbin. The ride will be over Mason Point and the lake.

The cookout is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 2 in the Sullivan IGA parking lot.

Pastor Zoll is recovering from an aggressive form of brain cancer, and all proceeds will be given to the Zoll family to help defray mounting medical expenses. The event is sponsored by the Sullivan Ministerial Association.

The rides will be available after June 2, and contact/scheduling information will be given to the donors at the cookout.

Featured at the cookout will be the usual rib eyes, brats and pork chop sandwiches along with soft drinks.

Understanding Illinois: Voter Dilemma Haunts Illinois Christian Conservatives

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•May 30, 2018•

By Jim Nowlan
NP Guest Columnist

Christian conservative voters in Illinois must be haunted by their dilemma: Hold their noses and vote for incumbent governor Bruce Rauner in November, or stay at home and let even-more-distasteful (to them) challenger J. B. Pritzker win.

Based on an informal poll of my insider political friends, these Christian conservatives will not only have to vote for Rauner, but do so “enthusiastically,” that is, in big numbers, or his bid for re-election is almost assuredly doomed.

To review: A little known challenger to Rauner in the March GOP primary captured almost half (48.5 percent) of the vote in that race.

State Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) rallied Christian conservatives to her/their cause over Rauner’s signature on an abortion bill that provides taxpayer funding for abortion.

His signature came after publicly promising to them and even to the Catholic cardinal of Chicago that he would veto the bill. Read More

Lovington Ready for Junefest

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•May 30, 2018•

The Lovington Junefest Fish Fry is from 4:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. Saturday, June 16 in Tom Conn Park.

Sponsored by the Lovington Community Club with support from the village of Lovington and fireworks committee, events run from 4-8 p.m. including Collage of Faith, Steve Fleming, Dennis Garmon, Angie Krapf, Keith Wood’s group and Young at Heart.

Bounce houses are provided by Okaw Farmer’s Coop. Shopping is available in the park including cotton candy, Kim’s Craftiness, Lularoe, Lipsense, Saving Grace Signs, Shawnee Communications, Three French Hens and Tupperware.

Fireworks begin at dusk at the old football field. The Walkers will sell kettle corn and lemonade shake-ups. Veterans eat free. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy the show.

Remember When? 5-30-2018

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25 Years Ago This Week

Members of Sullivan High School’s Project Graduation program washed cars Saturday at Gasland. They raised $220 towards the graduation party that will be held at the Sullivan County Club. Car washers included Rhonda Schlernitzauer, Jennifer Young, Melissa Wheeler, Stephanie Moran and Krystal Horsman.

Harold White of Lovington was elected president of the newly formed Tri-County EMT Association. Other officers elected by the 23 members are Curt Vulgamott of Cerro Gordo vice president, and Karen Good of Arthur will be secretary. The purpose of the association is to organize volunteer ambulance services in Moultrie, Douglas and Piatt counties into a coordinated, efficient mutual aid response system.

Seven year old Mike Waseen, a first grade student of Julie Russell at Bethany Elementaty School, has been selected to represent Bethany in the Illinois 19th Statewide Young Author’s Conference. At the conference Waseen will share his award winning manuscript, “Mike-in-ator Drains the Earth’s Pollution” and will be treated to lunch. Read More

A Time to Honor and Remember Those Who Gave All

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
March to Greenhill Cemetery
American Legion Post #68, Honor Guard, Sons of American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary members led the Memorial Day parade from the Sullivan square to Greenhill Cemetery ceremonies on Memorial Day.

•May 30, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for The News Progress

We watched them approach in the distance with flags unfurled taking measured steps as they marched down Water Street towards Greenhill Cemetery.

The American Legion Honor Guard and a Boy Scout troop entered the cemetery to the intermittent command of “hut, hut” and took their positions for the solemn memorial services.

After a prayer, Marine Corps Major Lynn Lowder addressed the crowd of some 100 people. A graduate of Sullivan High School and a frequent speaker there, he noted that both his parents and grandparents are buried in Greenhill.

Major Lowder recalled that his first military ceremony was here, and he knew it was important because of all the flags and the music. Read More