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Metro Communications Christmas tree

News Progress Posted on by

•November 27, 2024•

by Megan Russell  

Sullivan has officially started the festive season with the set-up and decorating of the very large Christmas tree on the square. The tree set-up, spanning over two to three days, is a hometown tradition of the season, marking a point of no return into the holiday. Groups of two to four people, two on the lift and two watching the ground, began day two of set-up for the tree. Filling the monstrous wire base with dark green leaves and a mixture of silver, red and green matte and glossy ornaments.  The set-up crew started to decorate from the top of the tree and had close to five plastic totes filled with decorations accompanied by two large bags filled with even more décor for the grandiose tree. While the weather warmed up for the decorating of the tree on Tuesday, November 19th, the workers tasked with setting the large tree rings up the day prior were subjected to chilling winds and rain while assembling the metal bits, securing the base for the heavy leaves and ornaments. The tree can be seen in full on the corner of East Harrison and South Washington, next to the Metro Communications building. The tree, now taller than the building stands to beautify the downtown area for the festive season as an opportunity to give back to the community of which Metro grew and gained support. 

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Letters to the Editor

News Progress Posted on by

Moultrie County elections

The November 5, 2024 election has come and gone, that is true. In the November 13, 2024 News Progress article Moultrie County Election Results, there is included some misinformation I would like to clear up.

There were quotes in the article purportedly made by a staff member who did not make such statements, nor would she; nor does she speak in the manner the quotes indicate. I’m curious from where those statements came.

Concerning the part wherein Moultrie saw about 200 new registered voters on election day alone: we don’t even know that number in the Clerk’s office, we have not attempted to confirm that information as we are finalizing other information for the election. Early voting in Moultrie County was not mostly senior citizens, it was all ages and all walks of life.

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Heart of Illinois Community Foundation grants boost fight against food insecurity in Moultrie County

News Progress Posted on by

•November 27, 2024•

Moultrie County residents facing food insecurity are getting much-needed support through recent grants from the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation. In an effort to address the growing need for food assistance in the area, the foundation has allocated funds to local organizations working to alleviate hunger and provide reliable access to nutritious meals.

The Heart of Illinois Community Foundation’s grants are directed toward local food programs that provide vital services to individuals and families in need. Among the beneficiaries are the SES Weekend Food Program, the Life Center of Sullivan, and Sullivan Area Ministerial Association, all of which serve those in need in Moultrie County.

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Lady Redskins open season 2-0; Looking forward to good things

News Progress Posted on by

•November 27, 2024•

by E. Scott England

Last year was a good year for the Lady Redskins basketball team. They were first in their conference after posting an 11-0 record against conference opponents. Overall, they were 20-12 and advanced to the Regional Championship where they lost a heartbreaker to Maroa-Forsyth. 

One of those 12 losses in the regular season came against the Rochester Rockets, a much larger school southeast of Springfield. It was a close game, made so by a late run in the fourth quarter. But time was not on the girls’ side as they lost by nine points. This year though, the Rockets reported to Sullivan for the rematch. And it went a little different.

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Remembering Who We Are…………..36

News Progress Posted on by

White Man’s Stuff

•November 27, 2024•

by Janet Roney

I learned at least two things from William Bigg’s account of his Indian captivity and trek across Illinois through Moultrie County to Indiana in 1788. I learned a new recipe for boiled duck a’ la feather and I learned that a person can be tied so tightly that he might wish he were dead.  

Why didn’t they kill him or burn him at the stake like countless other captives had been, including one of Bigg’s own brothers years before?

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Agriculture Job Fair

News Progress Posted on by

•November 27, 2024•

Lake Land College at the Foundation and Alumni Center will host a job fair on Wednesday, December 6th from 11am-1pm with booths upon booths for future students and current students to attend and see what a degree in Agriculture will look like for them.  To register to attend the job fair visit https://lnkd.in/d3U8jczE. For more information on the job fair contact Stephanie Anderson, Internship and Employment Coordinator at (217)234-5457 or email sfreeman41846@LakeLandCollege.edu.

Anything But Chili, soup cookoff

News Progress Posted on by

•November 27, 2024•

Hosted by the Sullivan American Legion post #68, will be a no chili, soup cookoff on Friday, November 29th at 5:30pm. With an entry fee of $5, a tasting fee of $5 which grants one sample of each soup and a $5 per bowl fee allowing guests to get a bowl of their favorite soup. The public is welcome to the event to taste test or even buy a bowl of soup, winner gets bragging rights and a prize.  For more information, any questions or to sign up for the cookoff, contact Tina Bolsen at (217) 620-8185.

New signage for Hamilton and Jackson

News Progress Posted on by

•November 27, 2024•

When searching for directions, the most often used method while driving long distances are the large green road signs, which indicate a location or exit and the distance between the location and the sign. Between Monday, November 18th and Tuesday, November 19th, there were lifts and a large construction crane, replacing the old location signs with new, clean and shiny upgrades. The signs wording hasn’t changed but the quality was massively upgraded with a few signs looking to have minor chipping or storm damage. These signs are mostly seen in very high traffic locations or on highways and interstates to tell the large numbers of traffic which way to go in the easiest way possible.

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First Community Bank of Moultrie Co. welcomes Andrea Wardrip

News Progress Posted on by

•November 27, 2024•

Evoto

Submitted

First Community Bank of Moultrie County is pleased to announce the addition of Andrea Wardrip, Loan Officer, to its team of financial professionals in April of 2024. Her primary location is at the FCB Lovington office. Wardrip brings 20 years of experience serving the communities of Lovington and Arthur in her prior roles as Branch Manager and Loan Officer at First National Bank of Arthur. 

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December programs at the Lovington Public Library

News Progress Posted on by

•November 27, 2024•

1st, 16th, 30th - Needle Night from 5-7 p.m. If you would like to learn to crochet, knit, needlepoint, or even how to sew we have people that can help teach you. If you already know how and just want to hang out come join us.  

3rd -  Story time from 10-10:30 a.m. We will be reading “The Reindeer Christmas” by Moe Price. We will also be singing some reindeer songs.

6th - Will be Teen Chess Time from 3:30-4:30 p.m. 

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