Author Archives:

Perimeter Defense Hurts Redskins in Back to Back Games

News Progress Posted on by
Photo by Darian Hays Sullivan Redskins Ricky Yang and Queintan Britton fight for a rebound during the home game against Neoga Dec. 9.

Photo by Darian Hays
Sullivan Redskins Ricky Yang and Queintan Britton fight for a rebound during the home game against Neoga Dec. 9.

•December 14, 2016•

By Matt Kracht
NP Sports

Sullivan men’s basketball took losses against Neoga 61-57 Friday and Heritage Villa Grove 70-45 Saturday.

Now 0-5 on the season the Redskin defense struggled with outside shooters in both contests. Head coach Chester Reeder noted that teams are too relaxed against the Redskins right now. “We let them be comfortable. Anytime, I don’t care how good or bad of a shooter you are, if you are comfortable, they go in. We never put them under duress.”

Sullivan fell behind 6-0 early against Neoga in a scoreless first four minutes of the contest. Bryce Farris ended the drought and poured six of the first seven Redskin points.

Sullivan trailed 15-7 at the end of the first quarter, but Farris’s strong play continued in the second quarter with two baskets in under two minutes. The scores kept Sullivan within six points at 17-11. Farris would finish with a team high 18 points.

Brett Tuttle canned a deep three pointer to make it a three point contest at 17-14 with 5:40 left in the first half. After another Farris score, Neoga got the last five points of the half to lead 22-16 at the break. A back and forth start to the second half saw Sullivan get within four points of Neoga’s lead at the two minute mark 34-30, thanks to consecutive baskets by Farris, Sowers, and Jacob White.

White, who finished with six points off the bench, gave the Redskins much needed energy and was complimented by Coach Reeder after the game. “Jacob had a pretty solid game tonight. Still some things we have to fix defensively with him. But it was probably his best game.”  Read More

Serving Those Who Served Program Assisted Veterans in Illinois

News Progress Posted on by

•December 14, 2016•

Throughout the month of November, now established as “Veterans Month,” hundreds of volunteers participated across the state of Illinois in the Serving Those Who Served (STWS) Program. Their goal was to make an impact in the lives of veterans throughout Illinois through a community service program designed by the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

“We wanted to offer more to our Illinois Heroes than one more Veterans Day program or parade. We knew we could count on our fellow Illinoisans to volunteer and assist our veterans,” IDVA Director Erica Jeffries said.

The STWS program brought in seven other partners to increase the success of the program. Serve Illinois, Chicago Cares, Boeing, Corporation for National & Community Service, Illinois Joining Forces, Student Veterans of America and Campus Compact. Each of these partners assisted the program with either volunteers, funding or community service projects. The program allowed organizations to register a project for volunteers to assist with during the month of November. The website created through Serve Illinois allowed Illinoisans to look for a project in their area and sign up to volunteer for that project. At the end of the month, there were 41 projects drawing in 570 volunteers. Collectively, the projects provided service, support, and assistance to over 3,730 Illinois veterans.  Read More

Drones to Offer New View on Transportation

News Progress Posted on by

Research will provide information to help improve safety, reduce costs

•December 14, 2016•

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has begun testing drone technology to potentially help improve the safety of workers and the public, reduce costs and introduce new strategies on everything from bridge inspections to determining the appropriate responses to emergency incidents.

“One of our main priorities has been to encourage staff to find opportunities to innovate and seek out new ways to use the latest technology that supports the important work we do,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn. “While we are still in the experimental stage, we know that drones can gather valuable data to support a wide variety of applications. We are excited to launch this initiative that puts us on the path to becoming the most innovative department of transportation in the country.” Read More

Investigation Yields Arrests for Crack Cocaine Distribution

News Progress Posted on by

•December 14, 2016•

Members of the East Central Illinois Task Force and the Coles County Crisis Response Team executed a search warrant at 808 S. 9th Street in Mattoon December 6.

The search warrant was a result of a month long investigation into the distribution  of crack cocaine in Mattoon. Located in the residence were Ron R. Cole,  43, and Justin J. Sargent, 28, both of Peoria and Monica L. Bailey, 28, of Mattoon.  Read More

Letter to the Editor 12-14-2016

News Progress Posted on by

A Star Shines Above Bethany

Dear Editor,

The happiest of anniversaries is here again. In the jubilation of family gatherings and the exchange of gifts let us not forget the bigger thoughts and blessings which Christmas should bring.

Here on the banks of the Marrowbone in the Valley of the West Okaw our spirits and thoughts are lifted as we view the myriad displays of lights and decorations that proclaim the birth of the Son of God. Read More

Communications and Security Proposals Discussed

News Progress Posted on by

•December 14, 2016•

Moultrie County Building and Grounds committee was updated on some communication needs and interior building restoration.

Rick Matthews reported that the judge’s office was continuing to finance restoration of the courthouse columns to the natural original oak finish, and that project should be completed before Judge Flannell retires in January.

Matthews reported phone service issues had plagued the courthouse, and he had been looking into possible upgrades that could include voice activated internet, utilizing fiber optics for the phone service.  Read More

Oh Brother…Almost Taking a Stand at Standing Rock

News Progress Posted on by

•December 14, 2016•

Some of you may have noticed a story about the Standing Rock in the News Progress recently and wondered what the heck was going on.

As it turns out this is a typical Oh Brother story; it just took a thousand miles to unfold.

I am not an activist as a general rule, but following the recent presidential election, I became interested in the stand off between the Native Americans and Big Oil in North Dakota.

In the course of learning about the Dakota Pipeline construction near the Sioux reservation, I learned favorite musicians Jackson Browne and Bonnie Raitt had scheduled a concert to benefit the Water Protectors.

Noticing that the concert was on my birthday, I mentioned it to fiancé Cindy Clore, who promptly purchased tickets online.

Did I mention that the designated location of said concert was at the Prairie Knights Casino and Pavilion in Fort Yates, N.D. some 992 miles from Sullivan. Read More

Lady Redskins Team up on Cardinals for Win

News Progress Posted on by

•December 14, 2016•

Sullivan’s Lady Redskins’ team came together for a 51-35 win over Warrensburg-Latham Cardinals, Dec 8.

“First time this year we played as a team both offensively and defensively,” coach Sheri McCain said of Sullivan’s consistency.

“Everyone who came off the bench contributed in one way or another,” McCain continued, emphasizing Tatum Ellis had a great all around game.

Ellis led the Redskins with three steals, making four field goals and four from the free throw line for 12 points. Read More

Deer Harvest Numbers Low First Firearm Week

News Progress Posted on by

•December 14, 2016•

Hunters harvested a preliminary total of 79,429 deer during the seven-day Illinois Firearm Deer Season that closed Sunday, Dec. 4. That figure compares to the final total of 86,847 deer harvested during the seven days of the firearm season in 2015.

The preliminary harvest for the second segment of the firearm season Dec. 1-4 totaled 24,977, compared with 28,977 during the second season in 2015. The preliminary harvest total for the first segment of firearm season Nov. 18-20 was 54,452 deer, compared with the 57,870 deer taken by hunters during the first season in 2015.

Deer hunting opportunities remain available in Illinois this late fall/early winter:  Read More

Obituaries 12-14-2016: James Smith

News Progress Posted on by

smith-james-001James Smith

James William Smith, 89, of Lovington passed away at 7:08 p.m. Thursday, December 8, 2016 in Sullivan Rehabilitation and Health Care Center.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 15 in St. Isidore Catholic Church in Bethany. Burial with military rites by Lovington American Legion Post #429 will be in St. Isidore Cemetery. Visitation will be held 5-7 p.m. today (Wednesday) in McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Lovington with prayer services at 7 p.m. Read More