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ALAH Knights Finished 1-3 in the Tri-County Tournament

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•January 4, 2017•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Knights defeated Martinsville but lost to Westville, Windsor/Stew-Stras and Paris.

Against Martinsville Thursday, the Bluestreaks scored seven of the first nine points to start the game.

ALAH used an 11-1 third-quarter run to come back from a 22-15 halftime deficit to take the 26-23 lead.

Marcus Vanausdoll tied the score in the middle of the third quarter, and the game was back-and-forth from there.

With 1:10 remaining in the fourth quarter, Will Cohan hit a 3-pointer to take a 37-35 lead.

Up one point with six seconds left in the game, Cohan made a free throw for the 39-36 final. Read More

Prairie Winds Perform

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Prairie Winds Perform
Prairie Winds musical ensemble opened its performance season at Mason Point in 2016. Pictured front: Debbie Seelhoefer, Donna Arendell, Barb Sampson, Kathy Camp, Shirley Rogers; second row: Nancy Craig, Lori Harbaugh, Patti Patient, Patty Bailey, Marlene Wirth, Marilyn Rogers, Vicki Osman; third row: Scot Light, Mike Lane, Victor Landers, Dave Horsman, Denny Hutchings, Don Rogers, Bob Vail.

New City Offices, Council Moves Meetings

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•January 4, 2017•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

Sullivan City Council meetings are moving to the Elizabeth Titus Library and new offices are replacing the city council chambers at city hall.

Discussions explored renovating the first and second floors with the council  settling on first floor office space.

A quote from Standerfer Bros. Gen. Contractors of Sullivan to renovate the present council room into two offices was solicited. Standerfer Bros bid includes installing new walls, floors, adding two new doors and repair the ceiling.

The quote to convert the council chambers into two offices was $9,547.

The cost of new flooring and new trim will be an additional $9,820.00.  Read More

Obituaries 1-4-2017: Vivian Jones

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Vivian Jones

Vivian L. Jones, of Lovington, passed away peacefully December 22, 2016 in Columbus, Ga. surrounded by family.

Visitation will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 7 in Lovington United Methodist Church, immediately followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m. Burial will be held in Keller Cemetery in Lovington. McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Lovington is in charge of arrangements.  Read More

Obituaries 1-4-2017: Harry Dugan

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Harry Dugan

Harry A. Dugan, 83, of Sullivan passed away at 10:28 p.m. Sunday, January 1, 2017 in Sullivan Rehabilitation and Health Care Center.

Friends will be received from 4-6 p.m. Thursday in Reed Funeral Home in Sullivan. Military rites will be conducted by Sullivan American Legion Post # 68 at 6 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be at a later date in Greenhill Cemetery in Sullivan.  Read More

Year End Review

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•January 4, 2017•

Photo by Mike Brothers
Bethany Fire District Leads Procession
Sullivan, Lovington, Mt. Zion and area first responders joined family and friends to honor the passing of Jerry L. Clark, Chief Engineer of the Bethany Fire District. Following the 11 a.m. January 12 services at McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan the Bethany Fire District led Clark’s procession to Marrowbone Cemetery in Bethany where Sullivan and Mt Zion Fire District ladder trucks displayed the American Flag at the entry. Bethany American Legion Post #507 performed military rites. Serving the fire district for more than two decades, Clark was also a member of the Okaw Fire Association and Bethany American Legion Post.

January 6, 2016

Moultrie County Sheriff’s Dept. responds to a 6 a.m. call New Year’s Eve to a car submerged in water off Joe Pound Road, east of Sullivan. The Sullivan Fire Department and Moultrie County Dive Team assisted in car removal; no injuries were received.

Sullivan Blue Dolphins locked up the new year competing in the Seth Dunscomb Opener in Decatur. Out of 14 teams the Dolphins brought home first with 1093 points.

ALAH Knights beat the Tri-County Titans 46-42 in a tournament hosted in Kansas.

January 13, 2016

Okaw Valley Timberwolves girls’ basketball team holds off the Windsor-Stew Stras Hatchets at home.

Georgia Patterson celebrated her 100th birthday with a reception at Sullivan VFW.

Moultrie County law enforcement began issuing eCitations, ending the days of courthouse personnel trying to decipher police officer’s handwritten tickets.

Sullivan police issued a warning that residents had been contacted in a telephone scam where the callers claimed to represent the IRS. Read More

Methodist Church hosts GriefShare

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•January 4, 2017•

A grief support group will be held each Wednesday Jan. 11 through March 29 at 5:45-7:15 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Sullivan.

GriefShare is a network of more than 12,000 churches worldwide equipped to offer grief support. The program is nondenominational and features biblical concepts for healing from grief. There are three key parts to the GriefShare experience including a video seminar featuring leading grief recovery experts, small group discussions and a personal workbook with personal study exercises.

A freewill offering dinner will be served at 5:15 p.m. each week for participants and their families. There is a one time material fee; however scholarships are available. Childcare will be provided for children ages nursery through fifth grade.

To register contact Connie Dunscomb at 217-433-0581 or Karen Goss at 217-273-8903.

Learn more about GriefShare at www.griefshare.org.

Obituaries 1-4-2017: Donald Apke

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Donald Apke

Donald Lee Apke, 80, of Sullivan, passed away at 9:31 a.m. Friday, December 30, 2016 at in Mary’s Hospital in Decatur.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at10 a.m. today (Wednesday, January 4) in St. Columcille Catholic Church in Sullivan. Burial will be in Keller Cemetery in Lovington. Visitation and a prayer service were held Tuesday in McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan. Donald was born September 8, 1936 in Effingham County, the son of John and Lorraine Vahling Apke. He married Mary Catherine Durbin April 7, 1956, and she preceded him in death. He married Margaret Clayton August 17, 2002, and she survives. Donald was a member of St. Columcille Catholic Church and the Sullivan Kiwanis. Donald worked at Firestone/Bridgestone for 30 years from where he retired. Before working at Firestone he was in the construction business. He loved his horses and his dog Deputy, but his biggest love was spending time with all of his grandchildren and family. Read More

Menus 1-4-2017

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Sullivan Pre-School Breakfast
Monday, Jan. 9 - Cereal, berry juice, milk.
Tuesday, Jan. 10 - Donuts, berry juice, milk.
Wednesday, Jan. 11 - Pop tarts, berry juice, milk.
Thursday, Jan. 12  - Biscuits & gravy, berry juice, milk.
Friday, Jan. 13 - Granola bars, berry juice, milk.

Sullivan Pre-School Lunch
Monday, Jan. 9 - Baked ravioli, lettuce salad, Mandarin oranges, garlic bread, milk.
Tuesday, Jan. 10 - Chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, peaches, dinner roll, milk.
Wednesday, Jan. 11 - Chili, carrots & celery sticks, crackers, cheese stick, banana, milk.
Thursday, Jan. 12  - Fish on bun, green beans, pears, milk.
Friday, Jan. 13 - Pork fritters, mixed vegetables, mixed fruit, bread & butter, milk.

Senior Peace Meal
For additional information or for reservations, please call 1-800-543-1770
Monday, Jan. 9 - Cabbage rolls, mashed potatoes, Italian green beans, whole grain wheat, pineapple tidbits.
Tuesday, Jan. 10 - Chicken pot pie w/vegetables, mixed lettuce salad w/dressing, biscuits, warm cinnamon apples.
Wednesday, Jan. 11 - Chili Mac with beans, carrots, texas toast, warm peach crisp.
Thursday, Jan. 12  - Pork chop in gravy, mashed potatoes, winter mixed vegetables, texas toast, frosted pumpkin bar.
Friday, Jan. 13 - Ham or cheese salad, potato soup, creamy cole slaw, whole grain wheat, crackers, fruit salad.

Remember When? 1-4-2017

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Compiled by Bekki Ferguson-Stevens

25 Years Ago This Week

Moultrie County’s involvement in the Persian Gulf War, the Sullivan High School girls’ state basketball championship, Sullivan’s first Festival of Stars and the prospect of a bedsheets ballot for next year’s state primary election head the News-Progress’ list of top stories for 1991.

Having to delay college graduation by a semester is glorious news to Scot Hollonbeck, the grandson of Lefty and Wilma Hollonbeck of rural Sullivan. The 21-year-old accomplished wheelchair racer from Rochelle is postponing his summer 1992 graduation from the University of Illinois because he is qualified for the 1992 Olympic trials next June in New York.

Jeffrey White, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert White of Sullivan, was selected as a student marshal for the recent commencement ceremony at Eastern Illinois University. A 1989 graduate of Sullivan High School, he is a junior majoring in botany/zoology.

Blake Bartimus, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Bartimus of Bethany, has been initiated into Kappa Delta Pi at Eastern Illinois University. Bartimus, an 1989 graduate of Bethany High School, is a junior elementary education major. Read More