Jerry Friesner
Jerry W. Friesner of Decatur, formerly of Bethany and Newton, passed away at 5:45 a.m., Tuesday December 8, 2020, in his residence with his family. Read More
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Evacuate, Everyone! But Don’t All Flush At Once
•August 11, 2021•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer
The headline read “Seventy employees evacuated, three hospitalized after ammonia leak at Wheeling pizza factory.”
All of you anal-retentive types probably shuddered at the thought.
One of them was staff writer Russell Lissau.
“When people evacuate, they’re emptying their bowels,” he wrote to me. “When buildings evacuate, it means all the people have left. I learned that one on ‘The Wire,’ Season 5.”
For the unindoctrinated, “The Wire” was a gritty HBO cop show set in Baltimore. It spent some of its final season in a fictionalized Baltimore Sun newsroom. (The show’s creator some years earlier had been a reporter in the real version.)
I have yet to watch a full episode of “The Wire,” even though several friends with a knowledge of my cinematic and small-screen leanings have recommended it. Read More
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to Auction off Impounded Deer Stands
•August 11, 2021•
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will hold a silent auction for impounded deer stands and climbing sticks on Saturday, August 21st from 8:30 –11:00 a.m. at the government vehicle compound south of the Lake Shelbyville Administration Building. Approximately 80 climbing sticks and tree stands to include climbing stands, single and buddy ladder stands, portable lock-ons and climbing sticks will be auctioned. Read More
Utilities More Affordable for Illinois’ Households with Low Incomes
•August 11, 2021•
On Thursday, July 29, Governor Pritzker signed SB265 into law expanding the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and increasing access to the Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP). The PIPP is a companion program to LIHEAP which addresses utility affordability by allowing qualified participants to pay no more than 6% of their monthly income for electric and gas utility services as well as receive forgiveness of 1/12 of their total utility debt for each on time monthly payment. Read More
Reunion Band to Perform Benefit
Photo by Ellen Ferrara
The former Villagettes, now Reunion, rehearse for their August 20 benefit for the Bethany American Legion.
•August 11, 2021•
By Ellen Ferrara
NP Writer
Do you miss that great, ol’ time rock and roll music? Then pull up a lawn chair at the Bethany American Legion on Friday, August 20 from 6-8 p.m. and rock out with the former Villagettes to the great songs of the 60’s and 70’s.
The event is a fundraiser for the American Legion with pork burgers or a hot dog, chips and a cookie for $5.00. Beverages are also available, and all proceeds from the food sales go directly to the Bethany American Legion.
If you grew up in Bethany around 1967, you probably remember the Villagettes – an all-girl band of high school friends who played almost every weekend in Bethany, Sullivan, Lovington, Illiopolis, Decatur and other small towns in the area from 1967-1969 for sock hops and special events.
It all started when Dee Buker was the only girl in an all-male band. On one rare occasion the band got paid, and the guys divvied up the money but gave none to Dee. When she complained to her father, he said, “Why don’t you start your own band?”
She rounded up her best buds – Peggy Reeder (sax), Candy Monroe (bass), Cindy Sanner (drums), and one other friend to form an all-girl band. They called themselves the Villagettes because they came from a small village and to emphasize that they were a unique all-girl band. Read More
Moultrie Moment of the Week
Pictured above are guests of the Allenville Christian Church being recognized in April 1961. In the photo are (back row L to R) J. W. Hoskins, Cliff Goodwin and Ray Dolan. From row (L to R): Mrs. Della Hoskins, Mrs. Edith French and Mrs. Lula Snyder. 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.
City Council Amends Personnel Policy for City Employees
•August 11, 2021•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer
During Monday’s meeting, the City Council unanimously approved an amendment to the personnel policy for city of Sullivan employees. The amendment says that an employee shall receive 40 hours of vacation on his first day of employment for use in the following year. The resolution took effect immediately and applies retroactively to any active full-time employee who is currently in his first year of employment.
In addition, the resolution says that an employee shall be allowed to carry any unused vacation hours credited to him on his first day of employment for his second year of employment. Thereafter, any vacation time credited to an employee may not be carried over year to year, a year being defined as an employee’s anniversary date to anniversary date.
Upon termination or resignation, employees shall receive compensation for all earned but unused vacation at the employee’s regular straight-time hourly rate as of the employee’s date of termination. The final compensation of a separated employee shall be paid in full on his next regularly scheduled payday. Upon retirement any unused accrued vacation days, as of an employee’s last physical day of work, will be used to extend out his date of retirement. The balance of unused vacation hours will be treated as a salary/hourly payment to the employee, which simply pushes back his retirement and final paycheck to a later date. Read More
Sullivan Sports Schedules
•August 11, 2021•
Sullivan-Okaw Valley Football
Boys Varsity
All games start at 7:00 pm
8/27 vs Nokomis High School (JFL Recognition Night)
9/3 @ Newton High School
9/10 @ Tuscola High School Read More
String Art
Photo by Crystal Reed
String Art
The Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library had summer reading classes last week for kids in grades K-2 and grades 3-5. Classes were mandala sand art, mosaic tiles art, quill a rainbow and string art. Pictured is Hannah Taylor working on her string art project.
Sullivan Blue Dolphins Swimmers Qualify For Regionals
Photo furnished
Sullivan Blue Dolphins Swimmers Qualify For Regionals
Sullivan Blue Dolphins had 14 swimmers qualify for Regionals this summer. Unfortunately, they were not able to compete but their qualification deserves the accolades. Ethan Schmohe qualified in 4 events and participated in the Senior State Championship. Front row: Emerson Risley, Johnathan Iacobazzi, Logan Booker, Cadence Schmohe, Emily Crosier, Lian Donovan. Back row: Ethan Schmohe, Miles Keseten, Madalyn Booker, Matthew Wesselman, Mackenzie Erixon, Isaac Chambers, Mason Booker.