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Civic Center Open House

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Civic Center Open House
The Sullivan Civic Center held an open house on September 11. The event included vendor booths, games and activities. Pictured above is a safety demonstration that the Moultrie County Dive Rescue team did during the event.

Menu 9-15-2021

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Senior Peace Meal

For additional information or for reservations, please call 1-800-543-1770

Sept. 20 - Breakfast Casserole, Warm Fruit Compote, Fruit Juice, Cinnamon Roll, Breakfast Bar
Sept. 21 - Shepherd’s Pie, Rotini Vegetable Salad, Biscuits, Warm Cinnamon Buttered Apples
Sept. 22 - Sub Sandwich w/Lettuce, Spinach, Tomato and Mayo Pkt., 3-Bean Salad, Bun, Cantaloupe
Sept. 23 - Turkey Salad w/Grapes, Vegetable Soup, Cucumber Onion Salad, Assorted Crackers, Fresh Fruit
Sept. 24 - Fried Chicken, Mashed Potatoes w/Gravy, Corn, Texas Toast, Red, White and Blue Dessert

Recent Obituaries: Janet ‘Jan’ Coslow

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Janet ‘Jan’ Coslow

Janet S. ‘Jan’ Coslow, 80, of Sullivan, passed away at 11:41 p.m. Wednesday September 8, 2021 in Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Care Center.

Celebration of Life services will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday September 14, 2021 at the Southern Baptist Church, Sullivan with Pastor Don Lusk officiating. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Monday in the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan. Burial will be in the Keller Cemetery, Lovington. Memorials are suggested to the Southern Baptist Church, the Sullivan Fire and Ambulance Service or to the Moultrie County Food Pantry. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net. The family kindly requests that everyone wear a mask and practice social distancing for the visitation and funeral.
Jan was born March 27, 1941 in Norris City the daughter of James W. And Wilma L. Austin Pool  She moved with her family to Sullivan in 1952. She attended Jonathan Creek and Sullivan High School, then moved to Toleda and graduated from Cumberland High School in 1958. She worked as a bookkeeper at Neal Oil Company (Neal Tire) in Toledo, Bertsche and Berry Insurance in Pontiac, Tom West Chevrolet and Alexander Lumber in Sullivan. Jan was a member of the Southern Baptist Church. She was a charter and active member of the Sullivan Womens Civic Club, serving as an officer for several years. Jan was in charge of the SHS Homecoming Chili Supper for many years. She was an RSVP member, volunteering at the Moultrie County Food Pantry. Jan also had several part-time jobs, such as the Dairy Queen, Ham and Egg Restaurant, Sharon’s Family Restaurant, The Spot, TNT Pizzeria and Warren Catering all in Sullivan.
Jan married Charles Stewart in 1961 and he preceded her in death in 1973. She then married David Coslow in 1976 and he preceded her in death in 2002. She and David spent several winters in Florida, where she worked at The Barn Restaurant in Orange Lake.
Surviving are her nieces Crystal Sparkes of Mattoon and Leann Weber of Tower Hill; nephews Kurt Sparks of Lerna, Darren (Debbie) Pool and Jason (Lorie) Pool of Sullivan; twelve great nieces and nephews.

Jan was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, brother Jim Pool and sisters Joy Spelman, Gail Craycroft and Nancy Smith.

Recent Obituaries: Ricarda ‘Rickie’ Mosser

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Ricarda ‘Rickie’ Mosser

Ricarda ‘Rickie’ Mosser, 62, of Lovington, passed away at 11;37 a.m. Monday, September 6, 2021 at her home.

Graveside services will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, September 10th at the Greenhill Cemetery with Pastor Rodney Houser officiating. Memorials are suggested to Friendship Hill, Lovington. Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.
Mrs. Mosser was born on September 17, 1958 in Decatur, Illinois, the daughter of Richard Allen and Mary June Baucom Chambers. Rickie worked as a dietician at Friendship Hill in rural Lovington. She married Barry Wayne Mosser at Sullivan and he preceded her in death on February 21, 2008.
Survivors include her son Larry Wayne Mosser of Bethany; grandson J. B. Lynn Mosser of Bethany; sister Sheren (Duane) Bryan of Ft. Scott, Kansas; nephews Paul (Tamara) Chambers of Lovington, Kevin French of Louisville, Kentucky, Donald (Lora) Comer of Decatur; nieces Vonnie (Doug) Lee of Sullivan, Shannon (Ron) Durbin of Arcadia, Kansas and Linda (Greg) Grogg of Hudson, Indiana.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and a sister Veda Kay Chambers.

Recent Obituaries: Gregory Dean Brown

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Gregory Dean Brown
Gregory Dean Brown, 58, of Bethany passed away on September 7, 2021, as a result of an automobile accident in Rural Bethany.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, September 10, 2021 at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Bethany. Visitation will be held an hour prior to the service, Friday at the funeral home in Bethany. The family request casual attire.
Face masks are suggested and please practice social distancing for the services. Burial will be in Marrowbone Township Cemetery, Bethany. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: 501 St. Jude Place • Memphis, TN 38105.
Greg was born June 2, 1963, in Champaign; the son of Howard E. and Lila L. (Scott) Brown. He enjoyed the outdoors and loved spending time with his nieces and nephews.
He is survived by his mother, Lila Brown of Bethany; son, Bill Brown of Sullivan; brother, Doug (Joan) Brown of Bethany. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father and 1 brother, Scott Brown.
Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mcmullinyoung.com

Moultrie Moment of the Week

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Blaisdell’s Hardware store was located on the east side of Sullivan square where the Thrift shop is now. It was one of Sullivan’s oldest retail shops on the square. The owners at the time of the photo were Dick Isaacs and John Gragg. This photo was taken in 1976 for the local paper. Pictured are Dick Isaacs, Peggy Fish, Beulah Lacy, John Gragg and Bob Hatley. 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.

‘Troops’ is the Word of the Day

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•September 8, 2021•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer

I heard from two readers in the past week regarding the word “troops.”
That kind of coincidence simply requires some navel-gazing.
“As I read the Aug. 17 Daily Herald headline stating ‘13 U.S. troops killed amid evacuations,’” wrote Terry Valentino, “I am wondering how it means 13 soldiers? A terrible story, but I thought perhaps it would be better saying ‘13 U.S. soldiers killed ...’ To me, the word or term ‘soldier’ makes it more human and even a bit sadder. Maybe that is why using the word ‘troops’ was used by editors — to makes it less tragic.” Read More

OV Sports Briefs

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•September 8, 2021•
Golf

The Okaw Valley boys’ golf team continued their strong season by defeating Shelbyville and Windsor Stewardson-Strasburg in dual matches last week.
The Timberwolves scored a 201-221 victory against Shelbyville Aug. 31.
Miles Harlin shot a 46 to lead Okaw Valley.
Tyson Montgomery and Trey Hall each shot a 48, and Rase Bennett carded a 65.
Chase Creviston and Aiden Williams round out the scoring with a 62 and 59, in that order. Read More

LLC Summer Graduates

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•September 8, 2021•

Lake Land College recently announced the 2021 summer graduates. The following students completed their degrees and certificates this summer: Jessica Drake, Certificate, Practical Nursing; Shelby Harding, Certificate, Practical Nursing; Destiny Underwood, Certificate, Practical Nursing; all of Bethany. Sayne Schultz, Findlay, Associate in Arts-Business. Rachel Miller, Gays, Certificate- Cosmetology. Sabrina Bettinger, Associate in Arts- Special Education and Daniel Reedy, Associate in Arts-Agriculture Transfer, both of Lovington. Madison Atchison, Associate in Arts-Elementary Education; Alison Beard, Certificate, Practical Nursing; Hutson Dickens, Associate in Arts-Business; Kayla Dowds, Associate in Arts-Pre-Veterinary Medicine and Associate in Science-Pre-Medicine; Sharon Hayse, Certificate-Medical Assistant Bridge; Kaitlynn McClure, Associate in Applied Science- Dental Hygiene; Mindy McPheeters, Certificate, Auto Mechanic I and Associate in Applied Science-Automotive Technology; Addison Orris, Associate in Applied Science-Early Childhood Care and Education; Josie Orris, Associate in Arts-Communication Studies; Nik Patel, Associate in Arts-Business; Tenton Polley, Associate in Arts-Business; Haley Rose, Certificate-Practical Nursing; Maelona Sims, Certificate, Medical Assistant and Associate in Applies Science-Medical Assistant; Michelle Williams, Certificate, Medical Assistant; all of Sullivan.