Donald Bickers
Donald N. Bickers, 79, of Marshall, Ill. passed away at 4:23 p.m., Friday, Sept. 9, 2022, in the Gibson Family Center for Hospice Care at Terre Haute, Ind. He retired as a dispatcher for the Sullivan, Ill. Read More
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Moultrie Moment of the Week
Pictured above is the 1954 homecoming Sullivan High School marching band. 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.
Yeet! They’re Adding New Words to my Dictionary
•September 14, 2022•
By Jim Baumann
Just when I think I might be afflicted with writer’s block, this manna from Merriam-Webster floats over the e-transom.
Yes, folks, it’s time for M-W to add new words to its dictionary.
For those of you who bristle at the acceptance of new words into reference books, this might be hard to swallow.
Their inclusion in a dictionary, however, doesn’t require you to use them.
I, for one, use only 25,000 or so words, I reckon, of the 470,000 in M-W’s unabridged dictionary.
Not because I’m finicky, mind you, but because I just can’t keep many more in my head or would ever find occasion to use them.
Here are my reactions to some of the additions: Read More
Remember When? 9-14-2022
25 Years Ago This Week
The Lovington Civic Center was to close at the end of September. The center, which was established in 1968, was closing because of a lack of funds.
All seven of the pedal pullers who entered the state competition in Springfield came home with first second and third place awards. Although three-year-old Andy Cole of Windsor won first place in his age group, he is the only one of the seven who will not compete as a finalist or alternate in national competition because the national competition has no 3 year old division. Bringing home second places in their age divisions, which automatically qualified them for nationals were Jake McIwain of Windsor, 6; Jason Boyer of Bethany, 9; and Dusty Cole of Windsor, 11. Named as alternates by finishing third place were Aaron Wood of Sullivan, 4; Nathan Nielson of Sullivan, 11 and G.K. Boyer of Bethany, 11. Read More
Blood Drive in Honor of River Helmuth
Photo courtesy of Stephanie Helmuth
Blood Drive in Honor of River Helmuth
On Saturday, September 10, a Red Cross Blood Drive was held at the Sullivan American Legion in honor of River Helmuth. During the drive Mike McDaniel (left) donated his 13th gallon of blood. He is pictured with River (center) and her mother Stephanie (right). During Saturday’s drive 76 units of blood were collected.
Sullivan City Council Approves Resolution of Funding Support for ITEP Grant Project
•September 14, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
Monday’s City Council meeting began with a public meeting for federally funded Phase 4 Streetscape Improvements. Later in the meeting, a resolution of funding support for the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program Cycle was passed. Lee Beckman of Milano and Grunloh said the goal of the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) is to allocate resources to well-planned projects that provide and support alternate modes of transportation through preservation of visual and cultural resources and improve the quality of life for members of the communities. Read More
Habitat Care-A-Vanners Travel to Build Homes
Photo by Crystal Reed
Habitat for Humanity care-a-vanners recently visited Lovington Grade to visit with students and talk about volunteering and building homes. Standing (left to right): Marla Graham (Principal), Joelyn Kempf, Bill Kempf (Milan, Illinois), Jennifer Franklin (Homeowner), Gary Smith (Lovington), Ramona Conques (Woodworth, LA), Joe DeLosa, Debbie DeLosa (Celebration, FL), Gene Mueller (Bethany), Judy Fox, Tom Fox (Davenport, IA). Kneeling (left to right): Bob Gillespie (Stevensville, MI) Richard Conques (Woodworth, LA), Chuck Ostrander (Battle Creek, MI)
•September 14, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
Recently, construction began on the latest home for Habitat for Humanity in Lovington. A large portion of the labor used to build these homes year after year are care-a-vanners. Care-a-vanners are people who, in some cases, travel all over the country to build homes for the organization. The group that is working on the newest home recently visited Lovington Grade School, ate lunch and answered questions from students about volunteering and building houses. Read More
Mudd Named to Dean’s List
•September 14, 2022•
Christopher Mudd of Mattoon has been named to Southern New Hampshire University’s Summer 2022 Dean’s List. Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.500 to 3.699 for the reporting term are named to the Dean’s List. Full-time status is achieved by earning 12 credits over each 16-week term or paired 8-week terms grouped in fall, winter/spring, and summer.
SNHU Summer President’s List
•September 14, 2022•
Southern New Hampshire University has announced their Summer 2022 President’s List. Those named from the area are Donald Munro, Elizabeth Morrow and Lisa Blackwell, all of Mattoon and Samantha Berner of Sullivan. Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.700 and above for the reporting term are named to the President’s List. Full-time status is achieved by earning 12 credits over each 16-week term or paired 8-week terms grouped in fall, winter/spring, and summer.
Lake Shelbyville Fish Habitat Banquet
•September 14, 2022•
The Lake Shelbyville Fish Habitat Alliance third annual banquet will be held on Saturday, October 1 at 4 pm at the Sullivan VFW, 1132 IL 32 in Sullivan. Doors open at 5:30 pm with dinner served at 6:30 pm. The menu is steak or chicken dinners. Cost is $40 for single, $60 for a couple, $10 for minnow (age 16 and under), $150 for sponsor, $170 for sponsor couple and $1,000 for table sponsor. $10 price increase at the door. There will be raffles, silent auction and live auction. This event is limited to 250 seats. Tickets can be purchased online at https://LSFHABanquet.eventbrite.com. For more information contact Bob Kerans at 217-414-0093 or robert_kerans_559@comcast.net or April Stephens at 217-728-2610 or chipsmarine2@yahoo.com.