Pictured above are members of the 1927 Board of Education. Pictured are President H.C. Shirey, Secretary Homer W. Wright, David Cummins, Len Loveless, J.B. Tabor, Guy L. Kellar and Dr. J.F. Lawson. 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.
•September 23, 2015•
Saturday night had Sullivan police investigating a few incidents of a hold up, vehicle entry and one home burglary.
Sullivan Police Chief John Love reported all the incidents are under investigation although some of the stolen property has been recovered.
At 11:30 p.m. Sullivan police were notified of the hold up in the parking lot outside Lucky’s food and Spirits on Washington St.
Love indicated, according to the report, a six foot tall black man approached the couple demanding, “Give me all your stuff!”
The couple complied, but as the crime unfolded, the victims eventually persuaded the hold up man to give up things he didn’t need such as car keys and drivers’ licenses and other personal effects. Read More
•September 23, 2015•
Sullivan-Okaw Valley cross country team traveled to Tuscola Sept 19. The results from the Tuscola Invitational on Saturday were: the girls’ team placed 11th out of 16, Ashlynd Risley placed 23rd out of 155 female runners, earning her a trophy. Both Laine Cameron and Cadisen Nuzzo received medals for being in the top 75. Read More
Compiled by Bekki Ferguson-Stevens
25 Years Ago This Week
Sullivan’s Redskins racked up the points, played tough defense and provided plenty of excitement Friday night in their 27-8 win over the Villa Grove Blue Devils. The Redskins increased their undefeated streak to 3-0 last Friday by continuing their strong rushing attack from Schascle Yochim, Nate Hutchings and Troy Rogers. Yochim rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns while Hutchings and Rogers also contributed to the 215-yard total.
Sullivan resident George “Bill” Frazier was honored by the illinois Dept. of Public Health Monday in Springfield as one of 13 recipients of hero certificates signed by Gov. James R. Thompson and acting health department director John Lumpkin. Frazier, 30, received the award for his part in helping save nine year old Sullivan resident Dustin Jenkin’s leg following a boating accident June 16 at Lake Shelbyville near the Bo Wood access area.
Christopher Condill of Arthur was one of 88 Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy seniors who qualified as semifinalists or received letters of commendation in this year’s National Merit Scholarship Corp. competition.
Trent E. Doty of Lovington and Rodney W. Davis of Findlay have received scholarships to Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. Doty, the son of Bob and Rita Doty, has received a $600 Crows Hybrids Scholarship to continue his studies in agriculture. Davis, son of Amos and Gloria Davis, is a junior majoring in forestry. He is one of 13 ag students who have received tuition supplement scholarships rewarding academic excellence. Read More
Photo by Mike Brothers
Tyler Smith creates a path for quarterback Teddy Poe on an end run during the Sangamon Valley Storm ALAH Knight game Friday at Niantic.
•September 23, 2015•
By Mike Brothers
Sangamon Valley’s Storm was more than the Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond Knights could handle Friday in Niantic. In a game interrupted by a storm, the home team prevailed 40-6.
“We were not ready to play,” Knights’ coach Dale Schurling said. “We were not mentally prepared to execute the plan we had practiced. We made too many mistakes on assignments.”
Sangamon Valley took off running and was ahead 19-0 in the first quarter before a thunderstorm moved in with lightning. The game stopped at 1:18 in the first quarter and resumed shortly after 8 p.m.
By the end of the first half the Storm was leading 40-0.
ALAH stopped the first series of downs by the Storm in the third quarter.
Marcus Vanausdoll caught the Storm punt and returned it 60 yards for a touchdown. This ended as the final score 40-6.
The Knight defense continued to work the second half Sangamon Valley team with sacks behind the line from Isaac Kitchen, Kolby Rickman and Rick Davis toward the end of the game. Read More
Photo by Mike Brothers
ALAH Quarterback Teddy Poe worked on the ground Friday against an aggressive Oblong defense. Poe scrambled for 38 yards during the evening.
•September 16, 2015•
by Mike Brothers
The Oblong Panthers started strong, and the Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond Knights never quite recovered in Friday’s 40-8 loss in Oblong.
“We made too many mental mistakes and committed too many turnovers to give ourselves a chance at winning,” ALAH coach Dale Schuring said.
The Knights ignited periodically during the night. At the 5:04 mark in the second quarter Jordan Rettig intercepted a Panther pass at the 42 yard line.
Marcus Vanausdoll broke loose for a 25 yard touchdown run on the next play.
Knights wide receiver Will Cohan caught a Teddy Poe pass for the bonus, placing the ALAH team as close as they would get to the Panthers at 19-8.
The Oblong team scored again before the half, sending the Panthers to the locker room with a 26-8 lead.
The Knights emerged from the second half with a new defensive focus. Within the first minute of the second half Knight Kyle Thomas hammered Avery Imboden of Oblong turning the tide of the game for awhile. Read More
•September 16, 2015•
First Responders honored
By Mike Brothers
Even though many of the Sullivan High School and Middle School students who assembled in the gym for Patriot’s Day were too young to remember the attack on America they went away Friday, Sept. 11, 2015 with a better understanding of what it means.
Rebecca Lawson’s high school Career English students made sure of that honoring first responders from Sullivan Police, Fire and Ambulance Service along with the Moutrie County Sheriff’s Dept. and National Guard in an afternoon of song and reflection.
Illinois National Guard recruiter and keynote speaker David Kiefer had been called up when 9/11 happened and recalled what it was like.”It was a time that changed my life forever,” he began. “Instead of that attack on our freedom breaking us, everyone pulled together to prove what a great nation we live in,” Kiefer told the assembly.
Career English student David Conklin worked with classmates since the beginning of school on this program. “What I didn’t realize is just how much that attack brought this country together then,” Conklin commented.
Jordan Tuttle explained that each of the individual first responders were presented with gift bags prepared by students and community members. A reception honoring attending Sullivan first responders and Illinois National Guard was held in the media center prior to the program.
Each basket contained treats from the Sullivan Baking Brigade, who baked for the Illinois National Guard training in Sullivan a few weeks ago, and notes from 150 high school and middle school students thanking the first responders for their service to the community.
Aryn Rousser is a14 year old freshman who performed the original song “Twenty-four/Seven” for the Patriot Day assembly.
“Miss Lawson wrote the lyrics to the song honoring the great service of first responders,” Rousser said, noting freshman Dylan Sanders wrote the music.
Additional music included “You Raise Me Up” by Grant King and Dani Boyer, accompanied by Kelly Sullivan and “Danny Boy” by Emilee Elder, accompanied by Dylan Sanders.
25 Years Ago This Week
Butler Heating, Plumbing and Hardware changed ownership last week when former Bethany residents Terry and Sharon Muzzy purchased it from longtime owners Francis and Gloria Butler. Muzzy, the son of Doris Muzzy of Bethany, returns to Bethany after many years in Florida, where he worked for 20 years in air conditioning and commercial refrigeration.
Three area students earned practical nursing pins during a recent ceremony at Lake Land College. They are Macia Ann Epperson and Susan S. Quick, both of Sullivan, and Olga Yaworski of Lovington.
Marsha Ward, daughter of Bill and Angie Ward of Sullivan, received her master of arts degree Aug. 10 during summer commencement at Northeast Missouri State University in Kirksville, Mo.
The Sullivan Redskins earned the right to keep their number 10 state ranking—thanks to some quick thinking and extra effort. The Redskins, lead by Schascle Yochim’s 126 yards rushing, defeated Macon 30-12 Friday on the Ironmen’s home field. Touchdowns by Yochim, quarterback, Billy Harris, Nate Hutchings and Josh Crowe highlighted the contest as Sullivan finished the evening with 257 running yards. Read More
Photos by RR Best
Patriots Day in Sullivan Schools
Sullivan High School and Middle School observed Patriot Day Sept. 11 with a program prepared by Rebecca Lawson’s Career English students. Upper left photo: first responders from the Sullivan area were honored during the assembly in the high school gym. Right upper photo: Jeff Waite was presented gift bag from Lawson. Waite helped prepare the first Patriot Day observation six years ago. Center left: School volunteer Scott Bales (left) and fireman Kaleb Randall demonstrate fire extinguisher use for students. Right center photo: all the first responders and helpers who made Patriots Day possible. Bottom photos left: Kaleb Randall sets up various fire extinguishers for student training session. Right: Lawson and students present Sullivan first responders Larry Edwards and Andy Pistorius with gift baskets prepared by the class.
•September 16, 2015•
By Jim Nowlan
NP Guest Columnist
A few days ago I turned 74. The milestone reminded me of the provocative article a year ago in the Atlantic Monthly by Ezekiel Emanuel (da’ mayor’s brother), who made the case for dying around age 75.
If I adopt Emanuel’s persuasive argument, my time is drawing nigh.
An oncologist and health economics professor, Emanuel observes that after 75 most people trundle down an often sharp decline, even as they live many more years. Creativity in most of us is shot by then, and many are among the walking wounded, either physically or mentally or both.
Emanuel, 58, doesn’t plan to pull the trigger, figuratively or literally, at 75, and he opposes assisted suicide and euthanasia, he says. Instead, he will simply at that point let life take its course, without the medical interventions that are standard, and ever more frequent, in our old age.
No more colonoscopies when he turns 65, for example (I’m having one next week; ugh), and no more prostate exams. At 75, no cancer treatments, should they become pertinent.
While death is a loss, Emanuel says that living too long is also a loss. It profoundly changes who we are, and for the worse. Read More