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Building a Total Loss in Sunday Afternoon Fire

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Photo by RR Best Local firefighters work to extinguish a blaze that fully engulfed a building and two vehicles at the Kaskaskia Biological Station west of Allenville Sunday afternoon.

Photo by RR Best
Local firefighters work to extinguish a blaze that fully engulfed a building and two vehicles at the Kaskaskia Biological Station west of Allenville Sunday afternoon.

Biological station near Allenville suffers damage

May 6, 2015

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

A fire that occurred Sunday afternoon resulted in the total loss of a garage-type structure, a camper, and two vehicles parked nearby.
According to Sullivan fire captain Larry Edwards, his department received an emergency call at around 2:02 p.m. Sunday of a fire located at the Kaskaskia Biological Station west of Allenville, also more commonly known locally as Fish Hook. Sullivan personnel arrived at approximately 2:18 p.m. and observed a garage-type structure that had been converted into a conference/break room fully engulfed, in addition to two parked vehicles and a camper. Read More

Above-Average Temperatures for April in Illinois

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May 6, 2015

Although April had a few cold stretches, the statewide average temperature for the month was 54.1 degrees, 1.7 degrees above average, according to Illinois State Climatologist Jim Angel, Illinois State Water Survey, University of Illinois.Precipitation in Illinois for April was more complicated. April precipitation ranged from 2 to 4 inches in northern and central Illinois to 4 to 7 inches in southern Illinois. As a result, the northern two-thirds of the state was slightly below average, while the southern third was up to 2 inches above average.Fort Massac State Park reported the highest monthly precipitation total of 7.80 inches.The Midwest had alternating bands of dryness and wetness for April. The above-average precipitation in southern Illinois extended into Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and the rest of the Ohio River Valley.Just to the north was a band of slightly below-average precipitation across Missouri, northern Illinois, northern Indiana, and parts of Michigan.

Frerichs to Field for Kaskaskia in the Fall

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Photo by RR Best Sullivan senior and baseball player Nick Frerichs signs his letter of intent committing to play baseball at Kaskaskia college in a January 22 ceremony. Pictured, front row, left to right: Mother Kerri, Nick, and father Dan. Back row: Sullivan head baseball coach Troy Rogers and Kaskaskia head baseball coach Mitch Koester.

Photo by RR Best
Sullivan senior and baseball player Nick Frerichs signs his letter of intent committing to play baseball at Kaskaskia college in a January 22 ceremony. Pictured, front row, left to right: Mother Kerri, Nick, and father Dan. Back row: Sullivan head baseball coach Troy Rogers and Kaskaskia head baseball coach Mitch Koester.

Receives baseball scholarship

May 6, 2015

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

Not Tyler, not Chad, but Nick.
The youngest of three, the current Sullivan senior is following in his older brothers’ footsteps–sort of.
Earlier this year Nick Frerichs signed papers committing to play baseball at Kaskaskia College come this fall. His two older brothers also went on to play baseball collegiately; however they each went to Lincoln Land College.
“I really like their campus, and I know a couple of the guys going already,” said Nick. “Kaskaskia has all been pretty successful the past couple years so I figured it was the right fit for me.”
And though choosing a different college at which to play ball, Frerichs is quick to recall the impact his brothers and family have had on his development as one of the area’s top players. Read More

OV Blood Drive May 15

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May 6, 2015

A blood drive will be held Friday, May 15 in the Okaw Valley High School gym in Bethany.  Any healthy individual, age 16 through 75, who meets weight requirements may donate blood.  Donors should eat a moderate meal before donating and must bring identification showing a picture and a signature.  All blood types are needed, especially Types 0- and 0+. The drive will be from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and is sponsored by the Okaw Valley High School Student Council.
For more information regarding the blood drive or to make an appointment, please contact the Okaw Valley High School at 665-3631.

Blood Drive May 12 at Legion

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May 6, 2015

Sullivan American Legion Post #68 and The American Red Cross will be hosting a blood drive at the American Legion at 8 West Strain in Sullivan May 12 from noon to 6 pm.   Blood collection is very critical during the summer vacation months.  For every unit of blood collected, up to three people can be helped.  Every type of blood is needed.  If you have tried before and were unable to donate, please come back and try again.  Many of the rules for donating have changed.  For an appointment, please call Jeri Davis at 273-9456.  Walk ins are more than welcome, but having an appointment decreases your wait time and helps ensure adequate staffing by the Red Cross.

Obituaries 5-6-2015: Cletus Hudson

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HudsonObitCletus Hudson

A graveside service for Cletus Hudson, 91, of Centralia, Mo. was held at 1 p.m. Saturday in Walnut Grove Cemetery in Paris, Mo. Agnew Funeral Home in Paris handled arrangements.

He passed away Wednesday April 28, 205 in Boone County Hospital in Columbia, Mo. with his family by his side.

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Miss Arthur 2015

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BeccaGreathouse GraciePlank

Submitted Miss Arthur Above are the three young ladies who will be competing for the crown of Miss Arthur at the Miss Arthur Pageant Saturday, May 9 beginning at 7 p.m. From top to bottom: Becca Greathouse, a college freshman who is sponsored by AAEDC Arthur Area Economic Development Corporation and whose parents are Jay Martin & Tracey Greathouse; Gracie Plank, a 10th grader who is sponsored by CHI and whose parents are Mike & Lashelle Plank; and Hannah Leal, an 11th grader who is also sponsored by CHI and whose mother is Liz Garza.

Submitted
Miss Arthur
Above are the three young ladies who will be competing for the crown of Miss Arthur at the Miss Arthur Pageant Saturday, May 9 beginning at 7 p.m. From top to bottom: Becca Greathouse, a college freshman who is sponsored by AAEDC Arthur Area Economic Development Corporation and whose parents are Jay Martin & Tracey Greathouse; Gracie Plank, a 10th grader who is sponsored by CHI and whose parents are Mike & Lashelle Plank; and Hannah Leal, an 11th grader who is also sponsored by CHI and whose mother is Liz Garza.

Obituaries 5-6-2015: Jean Frantz

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Jean Frantz

Jean Ellen Frantz, 87, of Lovington passed away Saturday May 2, 2015, in Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana.

A private funeral service will be held for her children and grandchildren at McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Lovington. Public graveside services were held at 2:30 p.m. today (Wednesday) in Keller Cemetery in Lovington.

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May is Here and So Are Hopes for a Great Gardening Year

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KimForColumnMay 6, 2015

by Kim Riedel
N•P Columnist

At my annual plant exchange that took place this past weekend was a fellow garden enthusiast from Neoga who was full of gardening experience and information that was so interesting to me. I could have sat there for hours and just listened with thoughts going through my head of what I would love to accomplish in my own garden. Another fellow master gardener (from Coles) was also a participant and heard from one of her friends (an MG from Douglas) that there was a master gardener in Sullivan who dealt with raising worms. I was surprised to hear that because…that was me! I took her around and showed her the worm art on the walls and the buckets I had used to raise the worms. It was really exciting actually getting to know others that have the same interests that I have and swapping stories back and forth of experiences that we have had. Read More

LTE: Re: Mr Nowlan’s April 22, 2015, item about “Is America Becoming a Dependent Society?”

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May 6, 2015

I have observed over the years that when one political party wants to curb these kinds of abuses by getting a handle on this out-of-control spending and trying effect legislation to help in this area, we see something happen. This political party gets severely demonized not only by the opposing political party, but by the media, Hollywood, and academia, all jumping in to call those trying to bring about positive change as heartless and haters of the poor and minorities, and on and on the heated rhetoric goes. Many people and families do need necessary help, and it’s great America can afford this as they most certainly should be helped. Read More