•July 3, 2024•
The News Progress office will be closed Thursday, July 4 and reopen Friday, July 5.
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Knee high by the 4th of July 2024
Photo by R.R. Best
Knee high by the 4th of July
Seen here in a cornfield belonging to Phil and Laura Martin of rural Sullivan is Anna Selby, Avvi Whitten, and Presley Van Loon showing that the corn is above knee high. There are fields in the county that are only a foot high as well as fields that are 8 foot high and starting to tassel.
Bake sale encourages peace with worldwide sweets
•June 26, 2024•
Submitted by Rebecca Lawson
Advisor of the East Central Illinois Red Cross Club
When people are hurting and going through tough times, other people often bring them food to show that they care and to bring comfort. Since the Red Cross helps people in tough times, our club thought that we could do something to help people around the world that would involve selling something most people really like - food,” said Rebecca Lawson, advisor of the East Central Illinois Red Cross Club.
“The kids took it from there,” she added.
Originally the club thought about having a dinner with a bake sale and presentations, displays, games, music, dancing, and language lessons about different countries at an event on World Peace Day in September. However, that seemed like a lot to do in the very short time between the start of school and the special day. Read More
Lovington Public Library July programs and new books
•June 26, 2024•
July 1st, 15th, and 29th will be 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.
July 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th is Summer Reading from 10-11 a.m. We have all kinds of activities planned.
We will be closed on July 4th for Independence Day.
July 5th is Recipe Swap all day. Bring in your favorite sloppy joe recipes and we will swap ours for yours.
July 11th is Adult B.Y.O.C. (Bring Your Own Craft) time from 10-11 a.m. Stop in and grab the supplies list and we will teach you how to make a home decor craft. Read More
Remembering Who We Are……..14
Jonathan Creek Gold
•June 26, 2024•
by Janet Roney
In my last visit with you, I finally told you the location of the ancient sunken road at Nelson Ford on the Kaskaskia River. I also said that mastodons, mammoths, and bison may have made it. It is so worn down that it would have taken ages of erosion and trampling feet to create it.
We know that mastodons once roamed Moultrie County for they found a skeleton of one west of Lake City, according to Ernie Winnings. A mammoth tooth was found in Welsh’s Gravel Pit and bison bones were all over the prairie when pioneers first arrived.
If ancient animals and man used this old trail leading out of the center of the Old Bend towards the river on the south, there had to be a way to get into it from the north. However, steep bluffs lined the north side of Old Bend, and I knew of no roads coming down the bluffs. Read More
Reserve Grand Champion
Photo Photo by Next Level Images
Reserve Grand Champion
Dameron C-5 Nellie 2145 won reserve grand champion owned female at the 2024 Eastern Regional Junior Angus Show, June 7-9 in Harrisburg, Pa. Quentin Day, Lovington, Ill., owns the September 2022 daughter of PVF Marvel 9185. She earlier won senior champion. Britney Creamer, Montrose, Colo., judged the females, bulls, cow-calf pairs and steers; and David Dal Porto, Anselmo, Neb., judged the phenotype and genotype females..There was a total of 239 entries.
Power plant renovations planned
•June 26, 2024•
by Sharon Barricklow
The Sullivan City Council moved forward last week with plans to renovate equipment at the City Electrical Plant.
“We need to get on the stick here to get this done,” Commissioner Mike Kirk said.
At issue is a Colt-Pielstick engine necessary for the operation of the electric plant. The engine, originally put in service in 1973, was last overhauled in 1989. With only one company in the country, Fairbanks-Morse, doing the work, the council agreed to waive the bidding process and accept the estimate of just over $500,000 to do a complete engine overhaul.
Kirk said the engine will be off line for six to eight weeks during the process and that Fairbanks-Morse is estimating a 12 to 18 month time frame before they can begin work. Read More
Road construction causes confusion among many drivers
•June 26, 2024•
by Megan Russell
Summer in the midwest is unlike any other, hot long days with humidity so bad you almost need a pool or splash pad locally to stay cool. One thing that many start to see pop up in the summer in the midwest is city renewal or construction projects. On a recent trip of mine, I got slightly lost in the Indianapolis downtown area. After missing an exit and taking two wrong exits, me and a friend ended up in a student driver’s nightmare, all but one lane of traffic closed for construction. Read More
Another great celebration hosted by Bethany
•June 26, 2024•
Submitted by Kathy Doty
Bethany held their annual Bethany Celebration this past weekend. Activities started on Thursday evening with the Miss Bethany pageants. The new Royalty for 2024 includes Miss Deanna Clark, Junior Miss Adi O’Dell, Young Miss Abbie Flood, and Little Miss Brynley Liles-French. The queens were available during the weekend to hostess and help with other activities. Friday night included Opening Ceremonies with the singing of the National Anthem by Annie Flood and presentation of Marge Overlot as this year’s Grand Marshall. Other events Friday night included Tot-Rod pedal pulls, Touch a Truck, Sullivan Dance Studio Showcase, and DJ Nidal. Saturdays events featured a parade, softball tournament, bags tournament and mud volleyball. Kid events included Sally the Clown, inflatables and a free water station to cool off. BASO held a car show that awarded Top 5 and Best of Show. Main Stage events on Saturday were Shawn Dawson and hometown boy, Ed Webb and Night Moves. Entertainment in the beer tent was provided by Large Marge, Tyson Schulte and Country Sky. Organizers Kaytie Orris and Cassandra Lambdin were pleased with the turnout this year and have already begun thinking ahead to next year’s event. They thank all the volunteers for helping put on the Celebration as it takes a village to put on an event of this size. More information and photos can be found on the Bethany Celebration Facebook page.
Sullivan High School construction update
•June 26, 2024•
Submitted by Ted Walk
If you have driven down Main Street over the past few months, the vertical construction of the new Sullivan High School probably has you thinking about the educational opportunities that await our students. Construction at Sullivan High School continues to progress on-schedule and on-budget.
As of June, several key milestones have been achieved. The foundation has been laid, and the initial structure is taking shape. First floor classroom interior framing and rough in has started, and masons are currently working on gymnasium shell enclosure and locker rooms spaces. This gym will support both physical education classes and the school’s athletic programs. It will include a second floor walking track, as well as a weight room that will double as a storm shelter in the event of severe weather. Read More