•October 11, 2023•
The Bethany Senior Citizen Potluck will be held on Wednesday, October 18 at Bethany library. The meal will be at 11 am and a variety of soups will be furnished. All are welcome.
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Blood Drive in Lovington
•October 11, 2023•
The Lovington First Christian Church is hosting an American Red Cross Blood Drive on Tuesday, October 17 from 12:30-5:30pm. Donors are being asked to enter the north basement door to the Fellowship Hall.
Pre-registration is suggested for donors to get a reserved time. However, walk-ins are also welcome. To pre-register online visit redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code Lovington. Contact Darlene Barlow at 217-873-4984 with any questions.
Recent Obituaries: Ward Casteel
Ward Casteel
Ward Casteel, 71, of Lovington, passed away Friday October 6, 2023 in his residence.
Celebration of Life services will be 10:00 a.m. Thursday, October 12, 2023 in the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Wednesday and from 9 a.m. until service time on Thursday. Burial will be in the Keller Cemetery, Lovington with military honors by the Lovington American Legion. Memorials are suggested to the Lovington Ambulance Service or to the Arthur Ambulance Service. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.
Ward was born August 15, 1952 in Decatur, the son of John Foster and Veda Marie Bolsen Casteel. Ward graduated from Lovington High School in 1970. He had been a livestock and grain farmer, a corrections officer for Moultrie and Douglas County and served as a Moultrie County Auxiliary Deputy. Ward retired from Firestone in Decatur. Ward was a lifetime member of the Texas Longhorn Breeders Association of America, the Lovington American Legion, the Lake Fork Sportsman Club and was a Moultrie County Republican Precinct Committeeman. Ward was a veteran of the U. S. Army Reserves in Decatur. He married Carolyn Elliott on September 29, 1973 in Lovington, and they had been married 50 years and one week.
Surviving are his wife Carolyn of Lovington; daughters Rachel (Dr. Paul) Marx of Sullivan, Ryan (Brent) Wildman of Mattoon and Ranee (Robert) Kidd of Sullivan; grandsons Brycen Wildman and Kolten Kidd; brother Berle (Linda) Casteel of Lovington; nephews Luke, Brock and Derk Casteel; mother-in-law Aileen Elliott of Arthur and brother-in-law David (Natalie) Elliott of Lovington and niece Bailey Peadro.
He was preceded in death by his parents, father-in-law Willie B. Elliott and sister-in-law Patti Elliott.
Temporary Recreation Area Closings
•October 4, 2023•
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will hold a youth deer hunt at Lake Shelbyville on October 7 & 8, 2023. The hunt will be conducted in portions of recreation areas previously closed for the season. As a safety precaution, Sullivan Beach, Whitley Creek Recreation Area, Coon Creek & Opossum Creek campgrounds, and the entire Wilborn Creek park will be closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic from 2:00 p.m. October 6, 2023, until 8:00 p.m. October 8, 2023.
These closings include boat ramps located within Opossum Creek, Coon Creek, and Wilborn Creek Recreation Areas. Ramps remaining open during this period include those in Dam West, Lone Point, Lithia Springs, Whitley Creek and Bo Wood Recreation Areas, Wolf Creek and Eagle Creek State Parks and all secondary ramps.
For more information contact the Lake Shelbyville Environmental Stewardship Department at (217) 774-3951 ext. 7049.
Lake Land College to Host Laker Visit Day
•October 4, 2023•
Lake Land College will host Laker Visit Day from 9 a.m. to noon on Monday, Oct. 9 in the Luther Student Center. This event provides students and parents with the opportunity to learn about The Laker Advantage and how it can guide them on the path to success.
Attendees will tour campus with a student ambassador, who will share information from a student perspective. Participants can learn more about Lake Land’s wide range of academic programs, ranging from short-term certificates to two-year degrees. Students can choose among career, university transfer, trade and technical programs to link their interests with a matching profession. Read More
Up Your Taco Ante with Homemade Tortillas
•October 4, 2023•
Tacos are a beloved comfort food. While the true origins of tacos are unknown, they are believed to have originated in Mexico long before the Spanish arrived. Ancient Mexicans made soft, flat corn tortillas and filled them with various ingredients, including cooked organ meats and fish. Read More
Brush Pile Fire
•October 4, 2023•
Commissioner Doug Shook is asking that residents not set fire to brush piles on the property where residents are allowed to bring tree limbs and brush for the city to eventually turn into mulch. On the afternoon of Tuesday, September 26, someone set a brush pile on fire and that spread to a mulch pile setting it on fire as well. Shook wants to let residents know that they should not be doing that. He noted that the city cannot put a gate on the property or close it because the right of way becomes blocked on the weekends by people bringing their brush there when that action had been taken previously.
B. Bushue Advances to Sectionals as Individual, Team Concludes Season
•October 4, 2023•
by E. Scott England
The boys golf season came to an end in regional play last Tuesday. With the top three teams advancing to sectionals, the Redskins placed sixth out of 13 teams. Brett Bushue was the regional champion and advanced to the sectionals as an individual. Drew Woolen ended up in a three-way playoff but came up one shot short.
The boys also played a round against Teutopolis on Monday. Bushue shot a team low of 40 with Woolen, Caden Saul, and Camden Watkins all tying with a 49. The solid effort fell short though against a strong Teutopolis team. The team finished 8-9 on the year.
Bushue competed Monday at the Edgewood Golf Club in Auburn. Results will be provided in next week’s News Progress.
Lady Redskins Win Golf Regionals, First Time Since 1986
•October 4, 2023•
by E. Scott England
There was no need to be alarmed when the fire truck rolled through town last Thursday with sirens blaring. They were just escorting the Sullivan High School Lady Redskins golf team back to SHS. In just the second time in school history, the Lady Reskins golf team are regional champions. Read More
Redskins Volleyball Drop Three on the Week
•October 4, 2023•
by E. Scott England
The Redskin volleyball team had three matches last week. The week began with two conference matchups, first on the road against Argenta-Oreana and then at home against Cerro Gordo/Bement. They finished the week with a matchup against Chrisman in non-conference play.
The matchup with the Bombers saw two close sets, with the Redskins falling 19-25, 21-25. Aeralyn Thrasher recorded five of the 14 team kills for the evening. The sophomore would also lead the team in serving with three aces. Senior Paige Connor had four kills with one ace. Senior Tessa Seeley and junior Mayci Strauf combined for five kills. Read More