Gary Donnell
Funeral services for Gary E. Donnell, 76, of Waterloo, Ill. were held at 10 a.m. today (Wednesday) in First Baptist Church in Waterloo with Pastor Steve Neill officiating. Burial was in Deer Hill Cemetery in Waterloo. Quernheim Funeral Home in Waterloo handled arrangements.
Cherry Picking Scripture
There are a few scriptures in the Bible on homosexuality and hundreds on heterosexual relationships, marriage and behavior, yet some local churches strangely choose to cherry pick those scriptures that focus on homosexuals instead of the broader community of relationships within their own church. Why is that?
It seems bizarre that Jesus died on the cross so that a few people could turn that cross into a weapon against a few. Instead of using his life and sacrifice as a guide, they’ve turned their Bible into a sword. Instead of focusing on lending a helping hand to those in need, they choose to use divisive and destructive rhetoric that perpetuates hatred and animosity. Why is that? Read More
Woody Willoughby
Carl Woodrow “Woody” Willoughby, 92, of Lovington, died at 2:27 a.m. Friday, May 22, 2015 in the Arthur Home.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 30 in Shrader Funeral Home, 431 S. Vine Street in Arthur, with the Rev. Ron Bartanen officiating. Burial will follow in the Arthur Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. Friday at the funeral Home.
Photo by Keith Stewart
Pictured is the Okaw Valley softball team with their regional championship. The Lady Timberwolves defeated Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond 12-2 Friday in Windsor.
Big fifth inning propels T-Wolves past Knights
May 27, 2015
by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com
Some will call it a regional championship.
But for those close to the Okaw Valley softball program, including head coach Dave Benning, it’s more like unfinished business.
The Lady Timberwolves, who entered the Windsor/Stew-Stras regional as the no. 1 seed and faced off against two-seed Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond Friday afternoon, gritted their teeth through four innings before taking advantage of a three-error fifth that would prove pivotal in their 12-2 win.
After the Knights’ Macy Hollingsworth started the bottom of the fifth by striking out Maddie Perrine, the ALAH freshman gave up back-to-back hits to Amanda McClain and Paige Robinson. Then back-to-back errors allowed OV two runs. After the first pitch on Paige Harlin’s at-bat, the Knights attempted a throwout at second, during which Natalie Jeffers stole home. Harlin would soon after lay down a bunt, and the ensuing throw to first was high, allowing yet another run to score, putting OV up 6-2. Jesse Robinson then singled to shortstop, the hard shot ricocheting off the glove to score the last run of the inning. Read More
Ruth Massey
“She was clothed with strength and dignity; she laughed at the days to come. She spoke with wisdom and faithful instruction was on her tongue. Her children arise and call her blessed.” Proverbs 31.
Our beloved mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Betty Ruth Reider Massey, went to Heaven May 20, 2015. Surrounded by her family, she was loved into the arms of Jesus.
Larry Cuttill
Larry Leon Cuttill, 75, of Decatur died May 24, 2015 in Heartland Manor Care in Decatur.
At $116,000, demolition to be completed by August
by Derek Pope
Bethany Reporter
Demolition of Findlay’s old elementary school, which saw a brief stint as Okaw Valley Intermediate School following the consolidation of Bethany and Findlay school systems, began earlier this month after members of the board of education voted to dismantle the building during their April meeting. The old schoolhouse became disused back in 2010 when the decision was made to send elementary aged children living in Findlay to Bethany’s more modern and robust elementary school.
The vote to demolish the building was unanimous despite several members of the board having themselves attended the Findlay school in their youth. The decision marked what many regarded as an expected end to the declining building. Read More
Photo by Keith Stewart
Pictured, from left to right, are members of the SOV girls’ track and field team with their third place team trophy at the IHSA state track meet Saturday in Charleston: Head coach Kali Taylor, Ashlynd Risley, Amanda McClain, Emily Neuhauser, Carlin Nuzzo, Bailey Turnbaugh, and Abby Cravatta.
Three individual crowns propel SOV to third place team trophy
May 27, 2015
by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com
Sure. The 400m dash and the long jump are both events in which SOV senior Amanda McClain was at the top of her class. But the 200m dash too?
Saturday’s answer was “apparently so,” as she exploded down the big blue track at O’Brien Stadium in Charleston taking first in the 200m event and thus marking her third individual championship on the day. That coupled with Emily Neuhauser’s fourth place finish and an earlier sixth place in the 4x200 earned SOV a third place team trophy for the second straight year.
“To bring that trophy back to the communities of Sullivan, Findlay, and Bethany, it’s just a phenomenal feeling as the SOV coach to be a part of that,” said head coach Kali Taylor. “It’s something these girls are going to remember for the rest of their lives.” Read More
Pana’s pitching keeps Sullivan at bay
By Matt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter
Sullivan baseball lost to Pana in their opening game of the Shelbyville Regional on Thursday. Jacob Piper had a shut out through five innings before a two-out solo home run in the top of the sixth breathed new life into the opposition. Pana would then rally for two more runs in the top of the seventh to steal the victory.
Both pitchers dominated early as the score remained 0-0 until the bottom of the fifth inning. Dakota Clayton earned a leadoff walk before Drew Harris doubled Clayton’s pinch runner home from the nine spot to give Sullivan the 1-0 lead. Harris then stole third and scored on a throwing error sporting Piper his first lead at 2-0. Read More
Yeakley returns in two events
by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com
The Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond boys’ track and field team will be sending three athletes to O’Brien Stadium in Charleston Thursday to compete in four events.
“Obviously it’s great for all three to have qualified,” said head coach Ryan Whelan. “Going in to the sectional meet, that was the hope with things.”
Leading the small pack is junior Colton Yeakley who advanced, again, in the discus, with a throw of 165 feet, 10 inches and taking second at the Pana sectional. But the junior also qualified for the shot put with a fifth place throw of 48-3. Read More