Photo by RR Best
Sullivan Christmas Parade
Kylee Ragsdale stays wrapped up for the cool ride in the Sullivan Hometown Christmas Parade last Saturday. Kylee encouraged the parade goers to brave the cold as she tossed candy to the crowd.
Photo By RR Best
Santa Arrives
It was a frosty arrival by horse drawn carriage for Santa Claus to the annual Sullivan Hometown Christmas Parade on December 5. Sponsored by Petersen Health Care the parade kicked off from the high school parking lot at noon and ended with Santa taking children’s Christmas requests at the Sullivan American Legion Post 68 . Faith Lutheran Church/ Thrivent Financial sold dog and cat treats in front of Little Theatre to raise money for Homeward Bound Animal Shelter. First Christian Church gave away hot chocolate and coffee on the south side of the square.
Jobs Program Grows
•December 9, 2015•
by Mike Brothers
Moultrie County’s board is putting money on the success of No Job Left Behind.
Members of the county board budget and finance committee voted to recommend increasing the contribution to Sullivan Chamber & Economic Development from $5000 to $7500.
County board chairman Dave McCabe recommended the increase explaining No Job Left Behind has grown expanding into Okaw Valley schools to make it a countywide program.
“The money we invest is earmarked for No Job Left Behind,” Chairman McCabe told the committee, who voted unanimously to recommend the increase in the budget for Economic Development to the full county board.
“I’m very grateful Moultrie County is investing in the No Job Left Behind initiative,” Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development Director Stepheny McMahon said.
Over 150 businesses, educators,community members and workforce development professionals are working together to address the growing shortage of skilled workers in east central Illinois.
“We just completed our 2016 Skills Gap Survey,” McMahon said of the continued progress. Read More
Photo Submitted
Boy Scout Troop 39 and Cub Scout Pack 39 held their annual scouting for food event. More than 3,560 pounds of food were collected.
•December 2, 2015•
By Ariana Cherry
For the News Progress
There are quite a few unpaid cemetery plots and the Sullivan City Council took action at the regular meeting.
“There are about $15,000 worth of unpaid cemetery lots,” informed mayor Ann Short. The city is taking action by mailing out letters to all of those who still have lots but have yet to pay. “Action will be taken. If they do not respond in two weeks, plots will be resold,” said Short. One plot has already been presumably “filled” and is not paid for. Further action will be taken on the outstanding bill if it isn’t paid though, according to Short.
Other news that was discussed or acted upon:
- -Commissioner Bill Hagen reported that on the last days of the recycling program that so much trash was left on the ground that another dumpster had to be brought in.
“It was pretty bad,” he noted. “We are still waiting on the paperwork from those who still would like to have a recycling program. It will be presented at the next meeting he stated.
- -Commissioner Mike Kirk reported the city was selling a 1970 Toyota gasoline FG20. “It is old, but it still works,” he said. The city received five bids with the highest one at $1,030. Read More
Pictured above is the corner of Main St. and Harrison St. in Sullivan. This photo was possibly taken around WWII era. Please submit photos to the News Progress for future consideration. Originals will be saved for return or forwarded to Moultrie County Historical Society. If you have any other information, please contact the Moultrie County Historical Society at 217-728- 4085.
Mattie Schlabach
Magdalena “Mattie” Mast Schlabach, 84, of Sullivan entered into rest at 4:55 p.m. Saturday Nov. 21, 2015 in her residence in rural Sullivan.
Funeral services were held at 9 a.m. Tuesday Nov. 24 in the pallet shop in the Willard Schlabach residence in Sullivan with Bishop William Otto officiating. Burial was in Gingerich Cemetery in rural Sullivan. Edwards Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements. Read More
Shirley McRill
Shirley Elaine McRill, 77, of Sullivan passed away Tuesday, December 1, 2015, in Sullivan Rehabilitation and Health Care Center.
Memorial services will be held at 11a.m. Friday, December 4 in McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan. Visitation will be held after 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery in Sullivan.
Shirley was born June 21, 1938 in Sullivan, a daughter of Hobart “Hub” and Diamond Bailey Woolen. She married Ronald Eugene Kincade May 11, 1958, and he preceded her in death May 24, 1974. She later married Bennie McRill October 28, 1977, and he preceded her in death October 4, 2011. She was a member of the Kaskaskia Country Club in Arcola. She was an avid reader and enjoyed crafting, golfing and fishing. Read More
Photo Submitted
•December 2, 2015•
Millikin University will present the 57th annual Vespers at Millikin at 3 and 7 p.m. both Saturday, Dec. 5 and Sunday, Dec. 6. Performances will be held at Kirkland Fine Arts Center on the campus of Millikin University.
For more than 50 years Vespers (which means “evening prayer”) has signaled the beginning of the holiday season with a sumptuous evening of carols, choirs and candlelight. Two hundred and fifty musicians join together for this joyous musical feast presented annually on the Millikin campus. Songs from past centuries combine with familiar carols and arrangements to create an evening of seasonal warmth for the whole family.
The theme for this year’s Vespers is “Peace.” Read More
•December 2, 2015•
It was a good night for the Lady Knights who beat Oakwood 55-41 on their home court November 30 .
The first two quarters found the teams evenly matched with each scoring ten, sending the game into the half tied 20-20.
Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond scored 23 points in the third quarter to six points for Oakwood as the the Lady Knight defense pressure increased. By the end of the third it was 43-26 ALAH. Read More