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OVHS Driver Education Students Attend Safety Program

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OVHS Driver Education Students Attend Safety Program
Okaw Valley driver education students traveled to McLeod Trucking in Decatur to learn about traffic safety. “Teens, Trucks, & Traffic”, a division of the Illinois Trucking Foundation, is a program that further educates teen drivers on traffic safety. The program not only reinforces what teens already learn in driver’s education class but also educates teens about the NO-Zone areas around a commercial motor vehicle and brings about a hands-on experience regarding traffic safety.

Circuit Clerk Takes Oath

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Circuit Clerk Takes Oath
Moultrie County Circuit Clerk Beth Pruitt was officially sworn in by Moultrie County Sixth Judicial Circuit Judge Hugh Finson at 8:30 Tuesday, May 1. Circuit Clerk Pruitt will run for the unexpired term vacated by Democrat Cindy Braden, who accepted a position in the Adminstrative Office of the Illinois Court in Springfield. Attending were: Left to right Pam Jesse, Court Bailiff; John Pruitt; Marci Thompson - Treasurer; Beth Pruitt - Circuit Clerk; Georgia England - County Clerk; Jeff Waite - Administrative Assistant; Dan Flannell - City Administrator and former Chief Judge; Hon. Hugh Finson - Circuit Judge; and Leroy Seelhoffer - Court Bailiff.

Recent Obituaries: John R. Lambdin

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John R. Lambdin

John R. Lambdin, Jr. 96 years young, of Sullivan, formerly of Lovington, went home to be with the Lord on April 26, 2018.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Monday, April 30, 2018 at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Lovington. Visitation will be held an hour prior to the service at the funeral home in Lovington. Burial will be in Odd Fellow Cemetery, Moweaqua, with Military Rites by the Lovington American Legion Post #429.Memorials may be made to the Lovington Christian Church or to the First Baptist Church in Sullivan.
John was the first of five children born to John R. and Beulah (Linder) Lambdin on February 11, 1922. John married Mary Anna Becker in October 1942 and had 6 children. H. Byron (Linda) Lambdin of Sullivan, the late Carl Eugene Lambdin, Rita (Roy) Edenfield of San Diego, CA, Clyde (Shirley) Lambdin of Sullivan, Stella (Roger) Gilmore of Sullivan and the late Bonnie Rhodes of Hesperia, CA. Mary Anna preceded him in death on April 28, 1988. He married Nancy Mills in September of 1988 and she preceded him in death in January of 2008. He remarried a third time to Betty Coventry in May of 2010; she survives. John was drafted into WWII and served his country for 3 years. He worked for and retired from USI of Tuscola in 1986. His nickname at work was “Honest John” and was known for his pranks. He was a part of the Masonic Lodge and Eastern Star for over 50 years. He served as Grand Patron for 2 separate terms. John also did mission work with SOWERS (Servants on Wheels Ever Ready) during the winter months until 2002 and worked with Habitat. John was a member of the First Christian Church of Lovington since the early 1990’s.   

John is also survived by 8 step-children, 15 grandchildren, 42 great-grandchildren, 5 great-great-grandchildren, 14 step-grandchildren and 1 sister, Zelma Sybert of Lockport.

John was preceded in death by his parents, 1 brother, 2 sisters, 3 children, 2 wives, 1 grandchild and 3 great-grandchildren.

Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mcmullinyoung.com

Letter to the Editor: 4-25-2018

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Thank you Moultrie County

You may be aware by now that I have accepted a position with the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, Court Services Division, and my resignation as Circuit Clerk is effective April 30.  It will be very hard for me to leave my office and the county that I have dedicated over 34 years of service to.  Read More

Understanding Illinois: If Elites Flee Higher Education Will Illinois Matter Anymore?

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•April 25, 2018•

By Jim Nowlan
NP Guest Columnist

When I was a kid politician in the 1960s, titans of commerce and industry often served on appointed boards in Illinois, especially those for higher education. No longer, it seems.

Instead, the elites of commerce, technology, industry, law, and financial services focus their influential efforts on Chicagoland. They serve through the likes of the Chicago Economic Club, the Commercial Club of Chicago, Chicago Ideas Week, World Business Chicago, the Chicago Club, and 1871 (a Chicago incubator). You see “Illinois” anywhere in that list?

Elites tend to focus on matters of direct concern to them, like business, family, social circles. Illinois as a state and its government aren’t on their radar screens.

The State of Illinois is basically responsible for education, higher education, transportation, social services and health care.

Yet, elites in Chicagoland send their kids to private schools or good suburban public, which don’t rely on state dollars.

Later, elites send their youngsters East and to other, well, elite private colleges. Read More

Obituaries 4-25-2018: Mark Trower 

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Mark Trower 

Mark H. Trower, 56, of Lake City passed away at 8:40 a.m. Tuesday, April 17, 2018 in Decatur Memorial Hospital.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 21 in McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Lovington. Inurnment will be at a later date. Read More

Obituaries 4-25-2018: Mary Fulton 

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Mary Fulton 

Mary Belle Fulton, 82, of Sullivan, formerly of Arcola, passed away at 10:13 p.m. Sunday, April 22, 2018 in Mason Point in Sullivan.

Celebration of Life services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in Reed Funeral Home in Sullivan with Pastor Kenny Cripe officiating. Visitation will be from 9:30-11 a.m. Thursday in the funeral home. Burial will be in Pleasant Grove Cemetery in rural St. Peter, Illinois.  Read More

Moultrie Moment of the Week

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Pictured above is an aerial view of Sullivan taken about 1975 looking west. Greenhill Cemetery is seen in the bottom foreground. 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.

Illinois Rivers Helped Feed Economic Growth In State

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•April 25, 2018•

By Joseph Bustos
Of the Belleville News-Democrat

During the first century of the state’s history, the natural habitats along the Illinois River helped spur fishing industries and had places for hunting.

The Illinois River was a habitat for bottom-feeding fish such as catfish, common carp and smallmouth buffalo as well as mussels. The abundance of fish led to a commercial fishing industry between Havana and Meredosia, according to the state museum. Towns had their own markets that processed and shipped fish to large Midwestern and Eastern cities from the 1890s to the 1950s.

Sport hunters formed clubs and bought land along the Illinois River to start duck hunting resorts managed by locals, according to the state museum.

However, there also was a demand to be able to transport goods, which changed life along the river. Read More