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POW/MIA Honor Chair

News Progress Posted on by


•June 3, 2026•

by DM Williamee

On Saturday, June 6th at 1:00 p.m., Rolling Thunder Chapter 3 will be placing a POW/MIA Chair of Honor at the Sullivan American Legion Post 68, located at 8 East Strain Street in Sullivan. POW/MIA Chairs of Honor are perpetually empty seats placed in public spaces to solemnly commemorate the tens of thousands of American service members who are Prisoners of War (POW) or Missing in Action (MIA) and have not yet returned home. The empty space is designed to remind the public that even though missing soldiers are absent, there is always a reserved space waiting for them upon their return, and these chairs symbolize a steadfast vow that America will never stop searching for those who have not returned. Rolling Thunder, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness of U.S. Prisoners of War (POWs) and Missing in Action (MIA), and supporting veterans and their families. Rolling Thunder is not a motorcycle gang; rather, they are a veterans’ advocacy group. Membership does not require you to own a motorcycle or be a veteran.

Agri Fab Inc. to host blood drive 

News Progress Posted on by


•June 3, 2026•

Agri Fab Inc. will host a Community Blood Drive with ImpactLife, the provider of blood components for local hospitals. The blood drive will be from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16th, at 809 S Hamilton Street, inside the Gold Classroom. To donate, contact ImpactLife Urbana at (800) 747 5401 or visit www.bloodcenter.org and use code 71025 to locate the drive. Appointments are requested. Potential donors must be at least 17 years of age (16 with a parental permission form available through www.bloodcenter.org) and weigh more than 110 pounds. A photo I.D. is required to donate. For questions about eligibility, call ImpactLife at (800) 747 5401. Donors who last gave blood on or before 4/21/26 are eligible to give at this drive. 

ETML to host TOPS 

News Progress Posted on by


•June 3, 2026•

Cheryl Avitts, the Facilitator for the TOPS Club Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), has announced that the public is invited to attend their meetings in Sullivan, to be held at the Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library, 2 W. Water Street, in Sullivan, in the Conference Room. TOPS generates positive awareness for weight loss by encouraging a healthy lifestyle through support, education, and accountability. 

Cadwell to host blood drive

News Progress Posted on by


•June 3, 2026•

Cadwell will host a Community Blood Drive with ImpactLife, the provider of blood components for local hospitals. The blood drive will be from 3:15 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16th, at 1533 CR 1900N, inside the Donor Bus at M & E WoodCrafts. To donate, contact ImpactLife Urbana at (800) 747-5401 or visit www.bloodcenter.org and use code 70636 to locate the drive. Appointments are requested.

Potential donors must be at least 17 years of age (16 with a parental permission form available through www.bloodcenter.org) and weigh more than 110 pounds. A photo I.D. is required to donate. For questions about eligibility, please call ImpactLife at (800) 747-5401. Donors who last gave blood on or before 4/21/26 are eligible to give at this drive.

New deadlines

News Progress Posted on by


•June 3, 2026•

Beginning with the June 10 issue of NewsProgress, deadlines have been changed. All legal notices, classifieds (Rummage Sales, Help Wanted, etc.), display advertising and news submissions are due by noon on Friday.

ETML summer reading kickoff 

News Progress Posted on by


•June 3, 2026•

Photo by DM Williamee
Lilah Wiltse with her colorful butterfly enjoys her snow cone in the shade.

On May 29th, the Elizabeth Memorial Library kicked off its annual Summer Reading Program, and it was the place to be, where droves of community members, both large and small, were eager to sign up and partake of the opening festivities. On offer were free snow cones and cotton candy, bounce houses, a croquet match-up game with prizes, the ever-popular face painting, and the actual sign-up, which will reward readers with prizes for their summer reading accomplishments. The event was high-energy and filled with kiddos, from tots to teens, enjoying all of the sweet treats and activities, with many leaving with armfuls of books to get their reading off to a stellar start. Inside, many were taking advantage of the computers, games, and play area, with clusters of youngsters passing through all genres and reading sections, especially the new releases.

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Recent Obituaries: Terry J. Phillips

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Terry J. Phillips, 69, of Mattoon, passed away 10:01 a.m. Monday, June 1, 2026, at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center, Mattoon.

          Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Thursday, June 4, 2026, at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, June 5, 2026, at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan. Burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery, Sullivan. Memorials may be made to the Scholarship for Cole Burrell.

          Terry was born June 15, 1956, in Decatur, the son of Joe and Betty Jean (Chapman) Phillips. He married Terry Joanne Davisson on December 30, 1989, in Sullivan; she survives. Terry was an advertising account executive for the Cromwell Radio Group for many years. Terry also broadcasted various sporting events throughout the years. He was a member of the Lovington First Church of God. Terry was a super St. Louis Cardinals fan and an avid bingo player. He loved to organize family get togethers and going to cookouts. Terry had a beautiful singing voice and enjoyed sharing his talent. He also liked to organize Gospel sings. Terry was a man who liked to be in the know of what was going on around the area and loved to stop in at new restaurants when they would open up.

          He is survived by his wife, Terry Joanne Phillips of Mattoon; sister, Jenny of Assumption; brother, Lance Bryant of Cowden; special cousin, Theresa (Brad) Miller of Centralia; siblings-in-law, Vickie (Jim) Hayes of Charleston, James “Jimmy” Davisson of Mattoon and Jane (Doug) Culver of Altamont; nieces and nephews, Charlie Hayes, Tiffany (Chris) Markham, Lucas (Kayla) Hayes, Jen (Matthew) Westerhof and Cole Burrell; special extended family, Becky (Kyle) Strait, Joshua (Walter Combs) Davis and Kenny (Leta) Davis. Terry is also survived by several cousins.

          He was preceded in death by his parents, father and mother-in-law, Rev. James C. and Virginia Davisson; brother-in-law, Mark Burrell; niece, Kristina Marie Burrell; cousin, Dale Chapman and 1 infant sibling.

          Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mcmullinyoung.com

Recent Obituaries: Colleen Brewer

News Progress Posted on by

Colleen Brewer, age 69, passed away peacefully on May 24, 2026, at DMH, with her loving sister and brother-in-law by her side.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, May 29, 2026, at McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Bethany. Visitation will be held an hour prior to the service Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Todd’s Point Cemetery, rural Findlay. Memorials may be made to Moultrie County PAWS: PO Box 961 Mattoon, IL 61938

American Legion Memorial Day ceremony

News Progress Posted on by


•May 27, 2026•

by DM Williamee 

In the early morning hours of Monday, May 25th, the Sullivan American Legion Post 68 held a Memorial Day ceremony at Greenhill Cemetery in Sullivan, as well as at their Legion Hall, available for all to attend. The Legion’s Color Guard, Firing Squad, Chaplain, as well as Scouting America Troop number 39, somberly marched down East Water Street toward the cemetery, with police escort. The ceremony was solemn and reverent, which brought to the forefront that Memorial Day is a tribute; that it represents national unity, and the ceremony, as well as the day itself, is a tribute to the over one million U.S. service members who have died in the line of duty since the Revolutionary War. 

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