•February 2, 2022•
An upcoming Prairie’s Edge Master Naturalists event will give attendees the opportunity to learn about early Native American cultures in Illinois through archeological information.
The Master Naturalists have arranged for Fred Christensen, president of the East Central Illinois Archeological Society, to present “Illinois Archeology, An Overview” at 6 p.m. Feb. 8 at the Douglas-Hart Nature Center in Mattoon. The Master Naturalists program is part of University of Illinois Extension.
People have lived in Illinois for 12,000 years, and archaeology provides most of the information about them for all but the last four centuries. Christensen’s talk will provide a survey of those millennia before written history. Read More
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Moultrie Moment of the Week
Dr. Eli Bushart and wife Effie purchased this home from Lawrence Purvis in January of 1909 for $5,250. It is assumed this photo was probably taken not long after that. The home is located on the corner of Madison St. and Harrison St. in Sullivan. In modern times it is often thought of as the former bed and breakfast for the stars and guests of the Little Theatre. Please submit photos to the News Progress for future consideration. Originals will be saved for return or forwarded to Moultrie County Historical Society. If you have any other information, please contact the Moultrie County Historical Society at 217-728- 4085.
A Lass, I Knew Her Well
•February 2, 2022•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer
Mark Ludwig is a Daily Herald (this newspaper’s mother ship) alumnus who now is a journalism professor at Cal State-Sacramento.
He posts on Facebook more than I could ever find time to, but those posts often remind me why I stuck with putting out a newspaper instead of teaching others to do it.
Mark’s posts are often very funny — as are the responses he gets.
“Here’s one I haven’t seen before,” he wrote, “‘a lass’ instead of ‘alas.’”
Ah, he speaketh my language.
Here is a look at some of the responses he received:
“Don’t be too hard on them,” Dave Zuckerman replied. “After all, it’s a doggy dog world.”
Michael Althouse responded: “For all intensive purposes.” Read More
Remember When? 2-2-2022
25 Years Ago This Week
Amanda Norris, an eighth grade student in the Lovington Grade School, won the school-level competition in the National Geography Bee when she answered oral questions on geography. The win gave her the opportunity to compete for a $25,000 scholarship. Ashley Hoh, a seventh grader, finished second, Michael Clark, a sixth grader, was third and B.K. Buxton, a seventh grader, came in fourth.
Sullivan officials welcomed Dr. Craig Bretz, a chiropractor, to his new practice at 3 W. Jefferson in downtown Sullivan. Read More
Fish Habitat Alliance schedules Spring events
•February 2, 2022•
By Sharon Barricklow
Correspondent
The Lake Shelbyville Fish Habitat Alliance and the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers have announced their spring schedule of building and placing fish habitats for the 2022 fishing season.
Events will kick off on February 12 with a “cube build” at the Corps Shelbyville Maintenance Buildings. Volunteers use PVC pipe and drainage tubes to construct structures that can be placed in shallow water around the lake. Read More
U-Knight 305 Community Facilitating Team Forms Two Building Scenarios for the Future of ALAH
•February 2, 2022•
By Ariana Cherry
NP Writer
The principals from the ALAH District were allowed to skip the most recent meeting of the school board held on Wednesday, January 19. “I appreciate the board’s understanding about giving our administrators an excuse for the evening. They have been really busy lately,” commented Superintendent Shannon Cheek. Recently, the district has been responsible for having to do their own contact tracing with COVID-19 cases since the health department is no longer doing them, and after returning from Christmas break, the schools experienced a surge in cases. Many of the district’s teachers, principals and other staff have been finding themselves doing multiple duties throughout the day as there have been absences either because of positive COVID-19 cases, quarantines, or other seasonal illnesses.
During the Treasurer’s Report, Cheek informed the board that nothing has changed concerning transportation funds. “One payment was received from last fiscal year, one from this year and one is in the queue. It could be in that queue for a long time. Nothing new on that front,” he said. Read More
Mirror Images to present ‘Invisible’
Photo by Crystal Reed
Sullivan High School’s Mirror Images will present ‘Invisible’, an original play, on Friday, February 4 at 5:30 pm at the Little Theater on the Square.
•February 2, 2022•
Sullivan High School’s Mirror Images will present Invisible, an original play, on Friday, February 4, at 5:30 p.m. at the Little Theater on the Square.
The show, written by members of the prevention theater group and director Krista Houk, is about a high school student who goes missing and the search to find them.
Houk explained, “Students work together to find a missing classmate. They learn it’s safe to share their secrets with each other.”
She added that the basic message of the play is that “it’s okay to rely on others and to reach out if you need help.”
The show centers on Joan Doe, a quiet student who goes missing; Addison a chess and Dungeons and Dragons player who is accused of causing Joan to run away; Charlie, Addison’s sister who doesn’t go after her own passions to make her parents happy; and Tony the Detective Janitor who feels it’s his responsibility to find Joan and bring them home. Sullivan High School’s principal Mr. Daniel Allen will also appear as the principal of the show’s school. Read More
Post Prom Seeking Donations
•February 2, 2022•
Sullivan High School Post Prom is Saturday, April 23, at the Sullivan Elementary School from 11:00pm-4:00am and parents of Class of 2023 are in the process of organizing activities. Post Prom is open to all eligible Prom students whether they attend or not. Post Prom committee is asking for monetary donations, gift cards or gift certificates or products from local businesses to be used for activities and prizes at the event. Monetary donations can be mailed to:
Sullivan High School
Attn: Class of 2023 Post Prom
725 N Main St, Sullivan, IL 61951.
Make checks payable to Class of 2023-Becky Ogle
If you have any questions, please email Heather Dendy, heatherdendy00@gmail.com
Lake Land College Fall 2021 Graduates
•February 2, 2022•
Lake Land College recently released the names of their Fall 2021 graduates. Hannah Diener, Associate in Applied Science-Associates Degree Nurse of Arthur; Cohen Collins, Associate in Applied Science- Horticulture Production and Landscape of Bethany; Garrett Tippit, Associate in Applied Science-Agriculture Production and Management; Paige Tippit, Associate in Applied Science-Associate Degree Nurse and Sophie Zimmerman, Associate in Arts-Elementary Education, all of Findlay. Layni Boyer, Certificate-Cosmetology;Colin Ernst, Associates in Applied Science-Management, Certificate-Management, Certificate-Marketing, Certificate-Business Development, Certificate-Professional Sales; Michael Gingerich, Associate in Applied Science, Mechanical-Electrical Technology and Certificate-Programmable Logic Controllers; Caleb Lane, Certificate-IT Programming; John Sentel, Associate in Science-Liberal Arts; Madison Wall, Associate in Applied Science-Associate Degree Nurse; Tiffany Wallis, Associate in Science-Bioscience Non-Teaching, all from Sullivan. Chelsea Coleman-Scott, Associate in Arts-Sociology/Social Work and Mesa Cruz, Associate in Liberal Studies, both of Windsor.
Scholarship Applications being Accepted
•February 2, 2022•
The Moultrie County Farm Bureau has announced that applications are available for the Charles B. Shuman Memorial Scholarship. The $500 scholarship will be awarded to a resident of Moultrie County who is a graduating high school senior or currently enrolled in a University or Community College. The successful applicant should be of good moral character and exhibit potential for successful completion of a course of study in agriculture or related fields. In addition to academic performance, extra curricular and community involvement will also be considered in the selection process.
Applications for the scholarship may be obtained from the Moultrie County Farm Bureau office at 1102 W. Jackson St. in Sullivan or by calling the office at 217-728-4214. The application deadline is March 18, 2022.
The Charles B. Shuman Memorial Scholarship was established in 2000 by the Moultrie County Farm Bureau to honor the achievements and life of a Moultrie County farmer and Farm Bureau leader. Mr. Shuman served as President of the Moultrie County Farm Bureau from 1936-1945, and President of the Illinois Farm Bureau from 1945-1954. In 1954, he was elected as President of the two million members American Farm Bureau Federation and served in that capacity until his retirement in 1970. He passed away in October 1999 at the age of 92.