Lillis Hickenbottom
Lillis Maurine Hickenbottom, 93, of Bethany passed away at 6:25 a.m. Friday, March 31, 2017 in Eastview Terrace in Sullivan. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, April 7 in Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Bethany. Visitation will be held one hour before the services in the church. McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Bethany is in charge of arrangements. Burial will be in Marrowbone Township Cemetery in Bethany. Read More
•April 5, 2017•
Okaw Valley 2013 graduate Eldon Yeakel will be entering the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum on June 5.
Not as a player, of course, but instead as an intern.
Yeakel is the recipient of the 2017 Frank and Peggy Steele Internship Program for Youth Leadership Development that last from June 5 to Aug. 11.
“I always enjoyed playing and watching sports growing up and once my love for history started to expand then it was a perfect combination of my two interests,” Yeakel said. “I was really intrigued with the internship given that the family that funds the internship was an avid baseball card collector and a Pittsburgh Pirates fan and I have been a huge Pirates fan since I was young and have collected a large sum of baseball cards.”
To be selected, Yeakel’s application that included a cover letter, resume, and three recommendations warranted an interview about why he applies, what he wanted to do at the museum and what he planned to do as a career. Read More
25 Years Ago This Week
Passersby Lee Campbell of Windsor and Ryan Campbell of Canton noticed smoke coming from the Richard Hochdaffer home south of the Sullivan Country Club. They alerted Carol Hochdaffer who was inside with her grandson, and they escaped uninjured. Richard Hollonbeck of the Sullivan Fire Protection Dist. noted the fire that started in the garage spread through the crawl space, totally destroying the home.
Joe and Joan Pound visited Dunk Island in Australia as they continue reports to the News Progress on their 70 day around the world adventure.
Publisher Robert Best B B’s deals with the Redskin mascot issue. “The Politically Correct folks are at it again,” Best begins his column. “The Illinois State Board of Education slapped the wrists of the Naperville school district for allowing the mascot of the high school to be termed a “Redskin”.
Best goes on to reflect on the American history of politically incorrect references to groups of people. Read More
Photo furnished
SES Gold Slip Awards
Students who go above and beyond expectations at Sullivan Elementary School are awarded a Gold Slip. The Gold Slip recipients for the month of March are: (left to right) Alex Fultz took it upon himself to take care of several classroom tasks each day. After watching Mrs. Drollinger greet students at the door each morning, he asked if he could do it. He greets each student by name as they come to class and has been reliable and responsible every day this school year. Peyton Swarthout helped pick up a kindergarten student’s school books and papers when they fell from her backpack after school. Elira Halili noticed a first grade student’s backpack was too heavy for the student as it was falling off her shoulder so she took the student’s backpack and carried it down to her classroom for her. Jennifer Lofland (not pictured) and Kaylee Smith have helped other students complete challenging work in a patient, helpful, and kind manner in class. Landon Willoughby and Natalie Stinson helped with the weekend food bags; they pick up and pass out the bags which help children in our community.
Photo by RR Best
Circuit Judge Sworn In
Bradford A. Rau, Sr. of Sullivan was officially sworn is as a resident judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Moultrie County Friday, March 31. Pictured during the ceremony: From left to right: the Honorable Judge Gary A. Webber, the Hon. A. G. Webber, the Hon. Richard L. Broch, the Hon. Hugh Finson, and the Hon. Bradford A. Rau.
•April 5, 2017•
Sullivan Okaw Valley junior football league sign ups for boys and girls entering the 4th-8th grades in the 2017-2018 school year are Sunday, April 9 from 3:30 - 5:30 p.m.
They are held at the Bethany Firehouse where a board meeting will follow. For more information www.sovjfl.com
•April 5, 2017•
News Progress March 29, 2017- mistake page 4 school board candidate forum story.
Candidate Brandon Stone was referencing Illinois Vision 20/20 where statewide organizations are partnering to help equalize educational opportunities. He was not referring to local district coops. We apologize for the error.
Virginia A. Butler
Virginia A. Butler, 90, of Sullivan passed away 4:00 a.m. Friday, March 31, 2017 at Mason Point, Sullivan.
Graveside services will be held 11:00 a.m. Monday, April 3, 2017 at Penn Township, Moweaqua. No visitation will be held. Arrangements were made by McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan. Memorials may be made to the Moultrie County Senior Center.
Virginia was born November 12, 1926 in Moweaqua, the daughter of Ray and Florence (Hemer) Lindley. She married Hank Butler in 1944 and he preceded her in death in 2001. Virginia was retired from the Titus Presbyterian Memorial Home, Sullivan. She was a member of the First Baptist Church, Sullivan.
She is survived by her sons, Mike (Linda) Butler of Hammond and Doug Butler of Sullivan; sisters, Patsy Lindley of Sullivan and Wilma England of St. Charles, MO; 2 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her parents, 1 brother and 1 sister.
Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mcmullinyoung.com
Franklin Hiram Neal
Franklin Hiram Neal, 91, of Urbana, passed away at 8:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Danville.
Funeral services will be held 3:00 P.M. Saturday, April 1, 2017, at the McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan, with Masonic Rites by the George A. Sentel Lodge #764 . Visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will be at Greenhill Cemetery, Sullivan, with Military Rites by the Sullivan American Legion Post #68. Memorials may be made to Disabled American Veterans.
Frank was born September 10, 1925 in Shelbyville, Illinois the son of Franklin and Rosa Pearl (Groves) Neal. He married Nona Ethyl Cochran on June 23, 1950 in Sullivan; she preceded him in death on November 10, 2006. Frank served in the United States Navy during World War II. He was a member of the Grace United Methodist Church in Urbana and he was a member of the Western Star Masonic Lodge #240 in Champaign.
Frank is survived by his sons, Phillip Grant Neal of Chicago, Wayne Oliver (Kathleen Ann) Neal of River Forest, and Jeffery Leon Neal of Chicago; grandchildren, Matthew Conrad Neal, Samuel Colin Neal and Larkin Ann Neal.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife and sister K. Nancy Bible.
Condolences may be left for the family online at www.mcmullinyoung.com