•April 11, 2018•
The Sullivan softball team split a pair of games this past week.
The Redskins defeated St. Teresa last Thursday but lost to Windsor-Stewardson Strasburg, Saturday, April 7.
Against St. Teresa, Sullivan took the lead early and did not look back.
The Redskins scored seven runs in the first inning, four runs in the second inning and four runs in the third inning. Read More
Photo furnished
Okaw Valley’s Austin Harshman rounds first base while ALAH’s Marcus Vanausdoll covers first base.
•April 11, 2018•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports
Despite the rain, high winds and snow, the Okaw Valley baseball team slipped in two games last week.
The Timberwolves toppled rival Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond 10-0 in Bethany and knocked off Greenfield 10-5 Saturday.
The two wins extended OV’s winning streak to 7-0 to start the season.
Against ALAH, OV scored three runs in the first inning and three in the fourth inning to take a 7-0 lead.
The Timberwolves tacked on two runs in the fifth inning and a run in the sixth to end the game.
Trey Yarnell and Austin Harshman each three hits, and Hutson Dickens had two hits for Okaw Valley.
Yarnell also had two RBIs as did Tanner Coleman. Read More
•April 11, 2018•
SBL AdvantAge 50 is offering a day trip to Evansville, Ind. visiting yesteryear on Thursday, April 26.
The trip begins with a tour of the USS LST 325 Ship Memorial, a World War II landing craft. Read More
•April 11, 2018•
By John Cash
for the News Progress
Sometimes your calling in life is not what you would expect.
When Scot England graduated from Sullivan High School in 1983, his ambition was to work for the Sullivan radio station.
England did and went from radio to television and even tried politics and sports writing at the News Progress before he moved to Nashville, Tenn. to find his calling.
A WAND TV newscaster for 10 years, England had always been attracted to the Country Music City and accepted an anchor position with RFD TV in Nashville but discovered four years ago he wanted to tell the stories of artists he admired.
England’s autobiographies with Ronnie McDowell, Johnny Lee and Moe Bandy have put him on speed dial with high profile country personalities wishing to publish their stories. Read More
Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Chris Tippit and Christmas shoe boxes for children.
Reflects Love of Children and Community
•April 11, 2018•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress
The Findlay High School Alumni Association bestowed its Distinguished Alumni Award to Chris Eadie Tippit for her work with children and in community service.
“I never wanted or expected recognition for my work. I have simply done what God called me to do,” Tippit said,
She was born and raised in Findlay and has always had a love of children and people. After graduating from Eastern Illinois University, she taught for 37 years in Beecher City/Shumway, Pana, Tower Hill and Findlay. She and her husband, Fred, have a blended family of nine children and are further blessed with 24 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
The story doesn’t end there, however. Chris started bringing home struggling children to tutor them individually. The Tippit family became foster parents to 42 children over a 20 year period. Read More
Photo by Jason Brown
Hannah Wallen laughs it up with teammate Hannah Rutledge of Unity on the bench.
•April 11, 2018•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports
The Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond’s basketball program was well represented at the News Gazette’s 7th Annual All-Area Game at Parkland College’s Dodds Athletic Center in Champaign Sunday afternoon.
Seniors Hannah Wallen and Colton Romine participated in the all-star game with a focus on having fun.
“I expected to come and have fun, and it’s obvious these are tough girls; they’re good, players to be invited to play here,” said Wallen. “It was a lot of fun.”
Wallen scored eight points in the game, including a last-second deep 3-pointer to end the third quarter to help her gold team defeat the black team 62-47.
“Somebody started counting down and the clock said 1.7, so I just chucked it, and it went in,” she said. Read More
•April 11, 2018•
SBL Lincolnland Home Care and Lincolnland Hospice will conduct a free blood pressure clinic from 8:30 to 9 a.m. Thursday, May 17 in the Senior Center in Sullivan. For more information, call Lincolnland Home Care at 1-800-879-3212.
SBL Lincolnland Home Care, Lincolnland Hospice and Lincolnland Home Medical will sponsor bingo from 9-10 a.m. following the blood pressure clinic.
Photo by R.R. Best
Hatchets Mackenzi Tabbert runs around second base with Gwen Diepholz behind her.
•April 11, 2018•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports
Unlike many of the area schools, the Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg softball team has been squeezing in games during the most improbable weather.
But why not? It’s working.
The Hatchets won four more games this past week to improve their record to 10-0 on the season.
“The weather has been a challenge that all teams are dealing with,” said coach Craig Moffett. “The players have been mentally tough in practice and games, even when it’s cold and windy. The parents are awesome and have brought blankets, hot chocolate and heaters for the dugout in some games.”
WSS defeated Neoga, Sullivan, Effingham, Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond and Pana. Read More
•April 11, 2018•
Do you love hand made items or have a favorite direct sales representative? Do you need a special something for you or your home?
Mark your calendars for Friday, April 27th from 4:00-8:00 pm and Saturday, April 28th from 9:00-3:00 pm. at the Blue Mound Civic Center located at 551 N. Lewis Street in Blue Mound.
There will be 30+ vendors featuring Wreaths, Grave Saddles, Candles, T-shirt Quilts, Embroidery, Wood Crafts, Local Honey, Homemade Fudge,and much more. Read More
•April 11, 2018•
English scholar Dr. Jad Smith will discuss how science fiction writer Alfred Bester combined elements of modernism and popular pulp fiction to transform the field of science fiction on Tuesday, April 10, 2018 at 9 am in the Coleman Hall Auditorium on the campus of Eastern Illinois University. The talk is free and open to the public. Read More