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A Look Back…5-7-2025

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2015

At the regular city council meeting, Streets and Public Improvements Commissioner Monty LeCrone announced that it would be his last time attending. “Thanks for all of your cooperation,” he said. “I hope we got everything in good shape in the last four years.”

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.

Sullivan senior and basketball player Emily Neuhauser signed her letter of intent committing to play basketball at Lake Land College in an April 8 ceremony. Those present were John Neuhauser, Emily, mother Barb, sister Paige, Sullivan girls’ head coach Sheri McCain, assistant coach Tiffinie Tucker, and Lake Land College girls’ head coach Dave Johnson.

Sullivan senior and softball player Elissa Stewart signed her letter of intent committing to play softball at Parkland. Those present were brother Blake, mother Amy, Elissa, father John, Sullivan head softball coach Ben Richter, and Parkland head softball coach Chuck Clutts.

Sullivan senior and baseball player Nick Frerichs signed his letter of intent committing to play baseball at Kaskaskia College. Those attending were mother Kerri, Nick, father Dan, Sullivan head baseball coach Troy Rogers, and Kaskaskia head baseball coach Mitch Koester.

A group of Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond High School students placed first overall at the annual Business and Computer Contest at Lake Land College. Those were Coach Amanda Romine, Samantha Landers, Christy Allen, Jeremy Plank, Avery Schrock, Beth Lambdin, Elyse Harris, and Brooke Tabb.

2005

The Moultrie County Board, in a special meeting, voted to hire Professional Building Solutions, a Springfield firm, to represent the county in all phases of the planning, bidding, and building of its proposed new jail.

The News-Progress won awards in Best Local News Coverage and Best Use of Photography in the Southern Illinois Editorial Association’s Better Newspaper Contest for 2005. In the large weekly newspaper category, the News-Progress won first place in Best Local News Coverage and second place in Best Use of Photography. Both awards were in the contest’s “pull” category, using newspapers from dates selected at random.

Nicole Ferguson, a senior at Sullivan High School, was one of 16 high school seniors from across the country who were named RR Donnelley scholars.

Melissa “Annie” Galindo (f/k/a McKinney) was selected for inclusion in the 9th edition of “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, 2005.”

Lovington Junior High basketball coach Michael Reedy was chosen as the Illinois Basketball Coaches Assn.’s Coach of the Year for District #15.

Wendy M. Mitchell of Bethany was awarded her MD degree in anesthesiology from the University of Illinois College of Medicine during convocation on April 23rd.

Blake Perry and Desiree Fleming were crowned the 2005 OVHS Prom King and Queen.

Take A Seat at the Depot in Bethany was recognized by the Illinois Department of Public Health as a Smoke-Free Restaurant. Presenting the Certificate of Recognition to owner Cheryl Martin were Kelly Bland, president, Moultrie County Board of Health, and Angela Hogan, administrator, Moultrie County Health Department. Eleven Moultrie County food establishments were also recognized as Smoke-Free Restaurants. These included: China King, Gasland Foodmart, Hardee’s, McDonald’s, Monical’s, Old School Essenhaus, and Subway, Sullivan; Farmer’s Cafe, Noble Roman’s, Arthur; and Take A Seat, Bethany.

Dustin Cole of Windsor was one of the state’s 52 recipients of a state proficiency award from the FFA Foundation. The son of Tom and Karen Cole of Windsor, he won the Diversified Crop Production- Entrepreneurship award. His ag advisor at Windsor High School was Julie Niemerg.

1995

The new Lovington Village Board consists of Village Clerk Don Bell, Trustee Alice Lawyer, Trustee Norma Brust, Village Board President Gary Smith, Trustee Steve Fleming, Trustee Ralph Zancha, and Trustee Douglas Thomas. Brust, Thomas, and Lawyer were newcomers to the board.

Residents of the Titus Home chose Casianne Bailey’s picture as the first-place winner in a Head Start Coloring Contest. Bailey is the daughter of Gena and Rodger Bailey of Sullivan. Second place went to Amber Coff of Lovington.

James Miller of Bethany was recognized as an outstanding student for the fourth quarter by the Decatur Area Vocational Center.

Troy David Rogers, son of Don and Shirley Rogers of Sullivan, was honored for his academic achievements by the Illinois State University Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation.

Hannah Shoemaker, a Sullivan third grader, was the first-place winner out of 110 entries in the national Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators awards contest. 

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FCCLA is a ‘Gold Level’ Chapter for 2024/2025

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•May 7, 2025•

Membership finding success in leadership journey

SHS’s FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) recently received word from National FCCLA, for which they earned recognition as a Gold Level chapter in the 2024-2025 “Go For The Red Membership” recruitment campaign. Chapters that demonstrate exceptional recruitment efforts and increase their membership by at least 20 members are eligible to apply for this yearly award. Sullivan High School FCCLA announced they are the only chapter in the state of Illinois to earn this “Gold” recognition for increasing membership from 22 members in 2023-2024 to 60 members for the 2024-2025 year.

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IAHC holds groundbreaking

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New Visitor Center and Museum expected to open in 2026

On Friday, April 25th, the Illinois Amish Heritage Society held a groundbreaking event for their new Visitor Center and Museum, which drew a sizable crowd. The mission is to respect the heritage, preserve the culture, and promote the understanding of the Illinois Amish. The vision is to be the gateway for experiencing Amish history and culture. Pictured are a horse and plough team at work, and the IAHC board, shovels in hand, performing the groundbreaking ceremony.

SAIL holding career event

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•May 7, 2025•

Soyland Access to Independent Living, SAIL, will hold a Personal Assistant Training for people interested in working as a Personal Assistant on Thursday, May 15th, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Shelbyville SAIL office, located at 1604 West Main Street, Suite 100 in Shelbyville. 

Assistants are employed by people with disabilities to perform household chores and personal care tasks in their homes. Personal Assistants are paid for their work by the State of Illinois through the Department of Rehabilitation (DORS) program. A reservation is needed to attend the training. 

For more information about the Personal Assistant training or to make a reservation, contact Emily Dobson at 217-876-8888 or 800-358-8080 or email edobson@decatursail.com. 

Church to host Rick King

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•May 7, 2025•

On Saturday, May 10th, at 6:00 p.m., renowned Gospel singer Rick Allen King will be performing at the Allenville Christian Church, 201 S. Allen Street in Allenville. Rick began his musical journey singing with his mother at age six. Still a young boy of twelve, he started singing professionally and has shared the stage with many leading artists in Gospel Music. Even now, Rick sings his songs for concerts, churches, banquets- any event where good Gospel Music is appreciated. For more information, visit his website at http://rickalanking.com. 

Fellowship and light refreshments will follow after the concert, with love offerings welcomed. 

Recent Obituaries: Dennis ‘Denny’ Ferguson

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Dennis ‘Denny’ Ferguson

Dennis M. ‘Denny’ Ferguson, 76 of Bethany, passed away at 3:30 a.m. Thursday, May 1, 2025 in his home.
Celebration of Life services will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan with Tom Hoskins officiating. Burial with military rites conducted by the Bethany American Legion Post #507 will be in the Marrowbone Twp. Cemetery, Bethany. Visitation will be one hour before the service. Memorials are suggested to the Moultrie - Douglas 4-H or the Bethany Peace Meal. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.
Denny was born on January 26, 1949 in Decatur, Illinois, the son of Warren G. and Luzetta J. Gaston Ferguson. Denny graduated from Bethany High School in the class of 1967. He took agricultural courses through Lake Land College. He enlisted in the Army Reserves in 1969.  Denny was a lifelong grain and livestock farmer his entire life in the Bethany area.  He spent a lot of hours on the road hauling livestock for Two Mile Commission company. He was a member of the Lincolnland Carriage Club and the Illinois Draft Horse and Mule Association.
Denny showed mules along side of his father which became a family highlight for his kids and grandchildren. He appreciated a good team of mules. He raised, handled and showed several grand champion mules in state and county fairs. He also judged several state and county mule shows over the years. He enjoyed driving mules in parades and taking rides throughout the countryside.
He looked forward in going to the livestock sales at Shelbyville Sale Barn and Two Mile Commission each week. It was a highlight to eat at the Bethany Diner visiting the guys at the liar’s table. He also enjoyed spending time with his high school friends eating lunch out monthly.
Survivors include his children Michael ‘Mick” Ferguson of Findlay, Dawn Redfern of Bethany and Alison Freeland of Hot Springs, Arkansas; grandchildren Janette (Canon) West of Japan and Garrett Ferguson of Bethany; brother in law Dean Craig of Sullivan and a niece and a nephew.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Janet and a son-in-law T.G. Redfern.

Prairieland Frontiersmen “Spring Rendezvous”

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Claire Mihlbachler, 10, throws a tomahawk at her target, with dead-center results. This past weekend, beginning April 25th and wrapping up on the 27th, the Prairieland Frontiersmen held their 49th annual “Spring Rendezvous”. A number of matches were held, including hike and knife woods walk, pistol match, ladies’ woods walk, novelty shoot, and traditional bow shoot. At least 100 people set up camp, dressed in the period and competed in this 3-day event.

Heritage Woods “Easter Eggstravaganza”

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Pictured is Avery Matheson, 2, as she races from the start line with her peers to fill her Easter basket at the “Easter Eggstravaganza”, held on Saturday, April 26th, hosted by Heritage Woods. Originally scheduled for the prior weekend but moved due to poor weather, there was still a large turnout for not only the egg hunt, but also the animals (including “Humphry”, a camel), pony and horse rides, bouncy houses and inflatables, food trucks, bike and adult basket giveaways, local first responder presence as well as other attractions.

Windsor’s Prom Court: A night in Paradise

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Windsor’s Class of 2026 will be hosting Prom at the Event Center in Gays on Saturday, May 3rd at 8:00 p.m. The theme for the evening will be “A Night in Paradise.” Windsor Jr./Sr. High School Prom Court Pictured: Back Row: (L to R) King Candidates Blayke Brownlee, Anthony Harris, and Tyler Pearcy. Front Row: (L to R) Queen Candidates Avery Starwalt, Chiara Campanelli, and Aubrey Carter.