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Sullivan Advances Athletes to State Track and Field Meet

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R.R. Best photo
Redskin Esther Miller triple jumps.

•May 16, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

Several area athletes advanced to the state track and field meet during the Sullivan Sectional last Thursday.

Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond placed third with a total of 63 points, Sullivan placed fifth with 45 points and Stewardson-Strasburg scored 22 points for 10th place.

For ALAH, sophomore Kenli Nettles qualified for state in four events.

She high jumped 5 feet 7 inches to win the sectional, and she ran the 300-meter low hurdles in 45.06 for second place.

She also placed second in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15.26 and was second in the triple jump with a leap of 35 feet 2 inches.

Senior Hannah Wallen ran the 400-meter in 1:01.07 to take the sectional championship, and she long jumped 16 feet 11.5 inches for third place. Read More

Sudden Storms Wreak Havoc

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•May 16, 2018•

Storms wreaked havoc in Moultrie County with a cell hitting Bethany around 3:45 Tuesday afternoon, breaking a utility pole causing traffic delays on Hwy 121 then moving on toward Sullivan with high wind and water damage reported.

A slow-moving cold front triggered widely scattered strong to severe thunderstorms across south-central Illinois during the afternoon of May 15th.  One of the most significant cells formed over southern Macon County at around 3:30pm...then tracked SE across portions of Moultire, Coles, and Clark counties.  This particular storm downed numerous trees, large tree branches, and powerlines in Sullivan and Mattoon...and overturned three semis on I-70 near Martinsville.

The Mattoon Airport measured a wind gust of 71mph as the storm blew through.  Other cells impacted portions of Christian, Sangamon, and Dewitt counties with strong winds and heavy rain.  Due to the very slow movement of the storms at only 10-20mph, copious amounts of rain fell in a short period of time, creating flash flooding in a few locations.

Three Wins Wind Down OVHS Baseball Season

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RR Best Photo
An intent Trey Yarnell pitches a knuckle ball to the plate.

•May 16, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

The Okaw Valley baseball team won three-straight games this past week before losing its final game of the season.

The Timberwolves topped North Clay, Meridian and Taylorville but lost to Monticello to finish the regular season with a 25-3 overall record and a 10-0 in the Little Okaw Valley.

Monday night against Monticello the Timberwolves dropped their last game of the season 7-4 to the Sages.

Monticello scored on a double in the first inning, but OV tied the game with a run in the top of the third.

The Sages scored three runs in the third inning and three more in the fourth to take a commanding 7-2 lead.

OV scored two in the fifth, including a home run by Garrett Fritz, but could not make a comeback. Read More

Wesleyan Graduates Student from Arthur

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•May 16, 2018•

Illinois Wesleyan University honored 389 candidates for graduation during Commencement on May 6, 2018. Kirk Schroeder ’84, the co-founder of two life science companies, delivered the Commencement address. The candidates include Zoe Bouras of Arthur, Summa Cum Laude, Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Beta Kappa and majored in international studies and political science with research honors.

Lovington WWII Veteran Pinned

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•May 16, 2018•

Charles Kinkade of Lovington was a teenager in World War II who was dumped into the Pacific Ocean after his ship sank during the Guadalcanal campaign and navigated a Higgins landing craft during the Allied invasion of Normandy June 6, 1944.

On Friday, May 11 the 98 year old received a surprise honor for his years of service. The Lovington American Legion Commander George Clark, Lanny Fleming and SAL Commander Dennis Fedie presented a salute of respect from the Honor Guard to Kinkade. Read More

Website Update and Special Liquor Licenses for Co. Board

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•May 16, 2018•

By Mike Brothers
For the News Progress

Moultrie County Board is looking into revising the county website with chairman Dave McCabe appointing an ad hoc committee to guide that revision at the May 10 meeting.

Neil Bryan was named chair with Georgia England, Lori Barringer, Mike Barringer, and Laurrie Minor serving. The board approved appointments unanimously. Special events T-1 liquor licenses were approved for a Wine Tasting by 5 West Coffee and Wine Lounge during the Crappie Tournament at the VFW May 12 and one for the Little Theatre on the Square for the annual Back Forty Market wine tasting at the Great Pumpkin Patch June 1. Read More

Sullivan Lions Club Seeks Used Eyeglasses And Hearing Aids

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Members of the Sullivan Lions Club at the reception they hosted for Mid-Illinois Senior Services.

•May 16, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for  the News Progress

Sullivan Lions Club hosted a cake reception at the Mid-Illinois Senior Services Monday, May 7. Lion Verna Tice introduced the 12 members and then made a presentation on the work of the Lions Club.

While their main focus is on vision and hearing assistance to low-income people, the club also sponsors several fund-raisers and programs throughout the year. Their Turkey Bingo at the American Legion in November is a popular event, and all proceeds go directly to the Lions Club.

They also make substantial contributions to Toys for Tots, Pinto League Baseball, the Moultrie County Food Pantry and the Boy Scouts to name a few.  Read More

WSS Softball Team Wins Back and Forth Game with ALAH

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•May 16, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

The Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg softball team split a pair of games this past week, losing to Cumberland last Tuesday then defeating Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond Friday.

Against the Knights at WSS, ALAH scored first with two runs in the top of the inning.

WSS answered with a run in each of the next three innings to take a 3-2 lead.

ALAH tied the game with a run in the sixth inning, but Hatchet Mackenzi Tabbert’s walk-off scored the winning run 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh. Read More

Sullivan Baseball Enjoys Three Game Sweep

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•May 16, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

The Sullivan baseball team swept three games this past week, defeating Pana twice and Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond.

Monday in the first round of the Class 2A Riverton Regional, the No. 8 seeded Redskins scored three runs in the sixth inning against the No.9 seeded Pana to take a late lead for the 3-1 win.

The Panthers plated a run in the fourth inning to take a 1-0 lead.

Each team recorded only three hits.

For Sullivan, Dalton Rogers, Gavin Sullivan and Zach Sowers each recorded a hit. Read More

Social Security Honors The Nation’s Heroes On Memorial Day 

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•May 16, 2018•

By Gerald Tilley
Social Security District Manager

On Memorial Day, we honor service members who have given their lives for our nation. Social Security acknowledges the heroism and courage of our military service members, and we remember those who have given their lives to protect our country. Part of how we honor these heroes is the way we provide Social Security benefits.

The loss of a family member is difficult for anyone. Social Security helps by providing benefits to protect service members’ dependents. Widows, widowers, and their dependent children may be eligible for Social Security survivors benefits. You can learn more about Social Security survivors benefits at www.socialsecurity.gov/survivors. Read More