Author Archives:

Judge Flannell to Speak at Historical Society Meeting

News Progress Posted on by
May 20, 2015

The Moultrie County Historical and Genalogical Society will hold their monthly general meeting on at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 21 in the Heritage Center located in Sullivan.
There the speaker for the evening will be Sixth Judicial Circuit Judge Dan Flannell.
Flannell first joined the court in 1988 and was retained in 2012 for a term that expires in 2018. He was elected by his fellow circuit judges as Chief Judge, effective August 1, 2012.
The Heritage Center will be closed on Monday, May 25 for Memorial Day.

Diving Catch Robs Knights in 3-2 Regional Loss

News Progress Posted on by

ALAH’s season ends early

May 20, 2015

By Matt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter

Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond baseball had their season come to an end Monday at home versus the Purple Riders from Arcola. The first round regional hosts got an absolute gem from Tyler Schuring who relieved Ross Ryan after the first inning, but it was not enough. Schuring pitched six innings without allowing an earned run while striking out nine.
Coach Craig Moffett thought the Purple Riders simply had more energy.
“They hit the ball okay, but they were ready to go,” he said. “They were the aggressor today.” Read More

Understanding Illinois: Stop Kicking the Can Down the Road

News Progress Posted on by
NowlanMay 20, 2015

By Jim Nowlan
NP Guest
Columnist

There is no way to sugarcoat the bitter pill that Illinois taxpayers will have to swallow this summer if we are to put the state onto a path of long-term fiscal stability and predictability, characteristics that are critical to persuading business to locate and expand here.
As you have read, the Illinois Supreme Court recently ruled that policymakers cannot wiggle out of responsibilities to meet state pension obligations that are underfunded to the tune of $100+ billion.
Illinois has started to fill that pension hole by appropriating $8 billion a year for that purpose, which is about $7 billion more than would be the annual cost if the state had a fully-funded pension system (on a $32 billion general funds budget). Read More

Obituaries 5-20-2015: Mark Stadler

News Progress Posted on by

StadlerMark Stadler

Celebration of Life services for Mark A. Stadler, 56, of Sullivan were held at 1 p.m. Sunday in Reed Funeral Home in Sullivan. Burial was in Greenhill Cemetery in Sullivan.

He passed away from cancer while surrounded by his family at 2:25 a.m. Tuesday May 12, 2015 in Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo.

Read More

Obituaries 5-20-2015: Helen Randol

News Progress Posted on by

Randol PIC_0001Helen Randol

Funeral services for Helen E. Randol, 87, of Sullivan were held at 11 a.m. Friday in the Lockart-Green Funeral Home in Shelbyville. Burial was in Glenwood Cemetery in Shelbyville.

She passed away at 3:58 a.m. Tuesday May 12, 2015 in Decatur Memorial Hospital.

Read More

Local Memorial Day Services 2015

News Progress Posted on by
May 20, 2015

• The Sullivan American Legion will hold a service at 8 a.m. Monday in Greenhill Cemetery.
• The Honor Guard and the Sullivan American Legion will host a service at 10 a.m. Monday at the Moultrie County Memorial Park located between Sullivan and Bethany.
• The American Legion Post #429 will host a Memorial Day Service Sunday at 1 p.m. at Tom Conn Park in Lovington.

Bethany Celebration Seeking Pageant and Talent Contestants

News Progress Posted on by
May 20, 2015

The Bethany Celebration Committee is seeking contestants for its annual pageants and talent contests.
The pageants include Miss Bethany, Jr. Miss Bethany, Young Miss Bethany, and Little Miss and Mr. Firecracker.
The Celebration will also host its annual Bethany’s Got Talent contest. Both it and the pageants will be held the evening of Friday, June 19.
The deadline to enter is June 1. Applications may be found at  Bethany village hall or by contacting Angie Neal at 217-737-7755.

Students Participate in Junior High Honors Band

News Progress Posted on by
May 20, 2015

Students from Okaw Valley Middle School and Windsor Junior High are among more than 130 students from 18 area junior high schools who participated in the Frances Watts Johnston Junior High Honors Band and Chorus Festival recently at Lake Land College. Those from Okaw Valley are Shelby Hagerman, trumpet; Shelby Harding, flute and Madison Vogel and Connor Powers both on baritone. Choir students include sopranos Sadie Zimmerman and Isabella Benning and alto Kaylee Taylor. Attending from Windsor are Miranda Hayward, flute, Logan Greuel, tenor saxophone, Michael McCoy, trombone and Brandon Newell, percussion. Read More

Shimkus Votes to End Uncertainty Over WOTUS

News Progress Posted on by
May 20, 2015

Congressman John Shimkus (R, Illinois-15) voted recently for H.R. 1732, the Regulatory Integrity Protection Act. The legislation would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers to withdraw their controversial proposed rule to regulate Waters of the United States (WOTUS). Read More

Growing Up in Sullivan: The Mulberry Tree and the Day of the Bumblebees

News Progress Posted on by
GintherMay 20, 2015

by Jerry Ginther
NP Columnist

Until recently I had never seen a mulberry bush, but just because I’d never seen one I hadn’t ruled out the possibility that they may exist. Having reasoned that they must truly exist, because a couple of children’s nursery rhymes specifically say “bush” instead of “tree”, I ventured to the internet to settle the conflict. There I found that in fact there is a variety called a bush. As a matter of fact, I found several varieties of mulberry trees and bushes. That said, I had one particular tree in mind. For several summer seasons in my early childhood, I spent quite a few days under a mulberry tree eating the berries. As I recall, they had to be fully, drop dead, ripe or they were a little sour to the taste. So, once one found a fully ripe one nothing else would do and you passed over any that were not fat and dark purple. Read More