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Millikin’s 83rd Cookie Party

News Progress Posted on by

•November 30, 2016•

A long-standing tradition at Millikin University, the 83rd annual Cookie Party will be held for members of the University community on Wednesday, Dec. 7, from 2-4 p.m. in Lower Richards Treat University Center on Millikin’s campus.

The annual event is held every year as a highlight and celebration for the holiday season at Millikin, as well as give the students a “boost” before final exams are administered.

The party will showcase the baking talents of many in the university community, providing over 5,000 cookies for all to sample. The event also includes great holiday music provided by Millikin’s School of Music.

For more information contact Millikin’s Office of Inclusion and Student Engagement at 217-424-6335. or visit millikin.edu/ise.

Rupert Signs Letter with Parkland

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Photo by Mike Brothers Signs Letter with Parkland Sullivan Redskin softball stand out Makenzie Ruppert signed a letter of intent to play catcher in Parkland Community College softball program next season. Ruppert’s high school softball teammates attended the Nov. 22 signing ceremony at Sullivan High School gym. Pictured seated from left: sister Ema, mother Kari, Makenzie, father Shane, and brother Tristan. Standing are Sullivan coach Troy Waggoner and Parkland head coach Chuck Clutts.

Photo by Mike Brothers
Signs Letter with Parkland
Sullivan Redskin softball stand out Makenzie Ruppert signed a letter of intent to play catcher in Parkland Community College softball program next season. Ruppert’s high school softball teammates attended the Nov. 22 signing ceremony at Sullivan High School gym. Pictured seated from left: sister Ema, mother Kari, Makenzie, father Shane, and brother Tristan. Standing are Sullivan coach Troy Waggoner and Parkland head coach Chuck Clutts.

Understanding Illinois: The Center Is Not Holding and the Future is at Stake

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Nowlan•November 30, 2016•

By Jim Nowlan
NP Guest Columnist

I spoke post-election to the Current Events Class in Evanston, 30 or so mature and very successful professional and business couples who have been meeting for decades to assay the world around them.

Over coffee before my remarks, I learned that most couples had been unfavorable to Trump. I also sensed that their children and adult grandchildren were married and part of what I call the two-income “double professional” class, and doing very well.

In this election, Evanston and most of the suburbs in the once reliably GOP “golden crescent” around Chicago went for Hillary. In contrast, my rural county of Stark, like all of rural Downstate, was casting two of every three votes, or more, for Donald Trump, a much more GOP turnout than normal.

I pointed out to the worthies in Evanston that, sadly different from the situations of their offspring, many families in Stark, often headed by single white moms, are earning as little as 1/12th to 1/30th (this last for single moms) that of the double professionals.

When I was growing up in Stark in the 1950s, most families were intact and felt middle class. Read More

Deer Take Over 50,000 First Firearm Week

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•November 30, 2016•

Hunters in Illinois harvested a preliminary total of 54,452 deer during the first weekend of the Illinois Firearm Deer Season Nov. 18-20. Hunters took 57,870 deer during the first firearm weekend in 2015.

Illinois’ seven-day Firearm Deer Season will conclude Dec. 1-4.

Other deer hunting opportunities in the weeks ahead include:

• Muzzleloader-Only Deer Season Dec. 9-11; Read More

Mexican Doctoral Students Brought to U of I

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Research partnership on diabetes, obesity also approved

•November 30, 2016•

The University of Illinois System signed an agreement that will bring doctoral students funded by Mexico to U of I System universities and approved a partnership for diabetes and obesity research during a visit to Mexico last week by President Tim Killeen and a delegation of senior leaders.

Agreements also were signed that will provide a foundation for new academic and research partnerships with Mexico’s largest university and the country’s leading research institute.

The four-day trip, from Nov. 14-17, was arranged to explore new educational and research collaborations in Mexico, and included meetings with government agencies and two of the nation’s top universities.

Killeen said the outreach effort is rooted in a new strategic framework adopted earlier this year, a roadmap to the future that seeks to build on the U of I System’s service to students and the public good, and its global impact. Read More

Obituaries 11-30-2016: Cecil Burgess

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cecilburgessCecil Burgess

Cecil R. Burgess, 95, of Sullivan passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by family at 11:01 p.m. Saturday, November 26, 2016.

Celebration of Life services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in Reed Funeral Home in Sullivan with Pastor Don Lusk and Pastor Fred Hauck officiating. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. today  (Wednesday). Burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery in Sullivan with military rites conducted by Sullivan American Legion Post #68. The family suggests casual attire. Read More

Chamber Of Commerce Welcomes New Intern

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera Chamber of Commerce executive director Laurrie Minor pictured with new intern Melinda Calhoun-Hurt.

Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Chamber of Commerce executive director Laurrie Minor pictured with new intern Melinda Calhoun-Hurt.

•November 30, 2016•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Chamber of Commerce executive director Laurrie Minor welcomed me into her office and introduced me to her new intern, Melinda Calhoun-Hurt who was just completing her fifth day on the job.

Calhoun-Hurt is from Memphis, Tennessee and is a senior at Lake Land College majoring in administrative executive assistantship.

She learned about the position from her sister Amy who works at Moultrie County Counseling.

Minor said “I have had other interns from high school, but Melinda is the first one working on a degree in this job category so we are really happy to have her.” When asked her favorite part of the job, Calhoun-Hurt said, “Actually, working with Laurrie because she gives me a lot of confidence and allows me to work on a lot of different projects. I have done everything from helping with planning to getting soaked in the rain while delivering bags to members.” Read More

42nd Annual Barbershop Christmas Concert Sunday

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Photo furnished

Photo furnished

•November 30, 2016•

The Coles County Barbershop Chorus will present their 42nd Annual Christmas Benefit Concert(s) Sunday, Dec. 4.

The 3 p.m. concert will be held at Wesley United Methodist Church in Charleston, and the 7 p.m. program will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Mattoon. The concert lasts one hour and is free to the public. A free will offering is taken, and annually more than $5,000 is generated for area food pantry and homeless shelter programs.  Read More

Okaw Valley Falls Hard Against St. Anthony

News Progress Posted on by

•November 23, 2016•

In seasons past the Okaw Valley baseball team has beaten teams 18-0.

The same could be said for the softball team and SOV football.

But to start the 2016-17 boys’ basketball tenure, the ‘Wolves were on the wrong end of that margin after a quarter.

The first bucket of the season came with 5:09 to go in the first half when Garrett Fritz took to the lane and lifted up a floater that wasn’t sent back by one of the St. Anthony post players. Read More