Sandra Dolan
Sandra June Dolan, 83, of Arthur, passed away at 8:36 p.m., Thursday, June 23, 2022 at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, June 29, at Vine Street Christian Church in Arthur with Pastor Bob Silvanik officiating. Burial was in Arthur Cemetery. Edwards Funeral Home assisted with arrangements. Read More
Pictured here are the members of Loyal Daughters of the Vine St. Christian Church in Arthur around 1914. 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.
•June 29, 2022•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer
What I know about sports you could stick in my eye and I’d still be able to see.
But I can still turn just about anything into an entertaining sports analogy with the best of them. It’s how I’ve survived weekly meetings with sports editors for more than a decade.
I received an email from D.M. Cook, a dentist who wonders whether he is being too picky. Having a dentist ask me whether he’s too picky is like asking Anthony Rizzo whether he’d like me to lob him an 80 mph “fastball” around the knees.
See what I mean? Read More
25 Years Ago This Week
The Old School Market received a low-interest loan to develop a restaurant. The $250,000 loan, at 4 percent interest, covered almost half of the $580,000 estimated cost of the project. Market owner Larry Yoder planned a 140-seat restaurant with private banquet facilities in the gym area of the old Powers Elementary School, which at that time housed Yoder’s extensive set of antique and craft shops. Read More
•June 29, 2022•
by Doris Elmore
Guest Writer
Ninety-one incredible years of fun awaits you at the Moultrie-Douglas County Fair July 5-9 at the fairgrounds in Arthur. It is earlier this year, and follows on the tail of July 4 celebrations, but it just means the festivities just keep on coming.
With much excitement, the Moultrie-Douglas Fair Board is proud to welcome Diamond Rio in concert on Saturday, July 9. They will be on stage at 8:30 p.m. We have known of Diamond Rio for many years, and now we will see them in person, gracing our very own stage. Diamond Rio is an American country music band. They were founded in 1982 as an attraction for the Opryland USA theme park in Nashville, TN, and were originally known as the Grizzly River Boys, then the Tennessee River Boys. Read More
Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Moultrie Amateur Radio Klub President Mike Morris with a ham radio made in Ukraine.
•June 29, 2022•
by Ellen Ferrera
NP Writer
On Saturday, June 25 a group of ham radio operators from central Illinois gathered at the Boy Scout cabin in Wyman Park to celebrate their annual Field Day.
Since 1933, Field Day has been celebrated by amateur radio operators and clubs in the U.S. and throughout the world. The primary purpose of the Field Day is to practice and demonstrate emergency procedures; although, each club may determine their own activities.
So how did this very popular hobby of being a ham radio operator begin? In 1888 Heinrich Rudof proved that radio waves existed, and they were adapted into a communication system in the 1890s by the Italian inventor Gugliuelmo Marconi. People then began experimenting with this “wireless telegraphy” – the term “radio” was not yet in use- and it soon expanded worldwide.
By 1908 the students at Columbia University formed the Wireless Telegraph Club of Columbia University which is the earliest recorded formation of an amateur radio club. By 1910 there were thousands of transmitters set up in the U.S. The Radio Act of 1912 began U.S. federal licensing of amateur operators and stations. All amateur radio operators in the U.S. must be licensed by the FCC and pass a 3-tier test. Read More
Photo courtesy of ROE #11
Kevin Landrus, Director of Transportation and Maintenance for Sullivan Schools, recently received the Friend of Education Award from the Regional Office of Education #11. From left to right: Zakry Standerfer, Assistant Regional Superintendent: Kevin Landrus, Director of Transportation and Maintenance for Sullivan Schools; Katie O’Dell, Professional Development Coordinator and Transportation Director; and Regional Superintendent Kyle Thompson.
•June 29, 2022•
Kevin Landrus, Director of Transportation and Maintenance for Sullivan Schools, recently received the Friend of Education Award from the Regional Office of Education #11.
Regional Superintendent Kyle Thompson said, “Our Friends of Education Award recognizes individuals who make larger contributions to education, specifically to our region as a whole, and not just an individual school district.”
“Kevin is a great man. In all my years of working with him he has proven himself to be a caring, competent, reliable, individual who serves Sullivan Schools and ROE #11 well. I have no doubt anyone who has encountered Kevin personally or professionally is better off for it,” Thompson added.
The ROE’s formal announcement of the honor noted, “In addition to his responsibilities for the school district, he has served as a certified school bus instructor for ROE #11 for the past four years and has trained many of the bus drivers in our region. Kevin is a compassionate and dedicated individual who serves as a mentor for many new transportation directors. His hard work and willingness to go the extra mile to ensure safety for students sets him apart.”
Katie O’Dell, Professional Development Coordinator and Transportation Director for ROE #11, who nominated Landrus stated, “Kevin goes above and beyond to assist other transportation directors in our region. His experience, knowledge and willingness to go above and beyond in his position made me certain he was worthy of this award.” Read More
Photo furnished
2022 Junior Miss Moultrie-Douglas Fair Queen Contestants
Competing for the title of 2022 Junior Miss Moultrie-Douglas on Wednesday, July 6 beginning at 7:00 pm are (front row) Alyssa Adkins, Villa Grove; Emmalee Nall, Arthur; Wren Wall, Sullivan; and Kimberly Krutsinger, Arthur. (Middle row) Paislee Lorenzen, Paris; Ava Whitson, Tuscola; Shelbey Grimsley, Arthur; and Aymara Leal, Arcola. (Back row) Bekka Bloom, Villa Grove; 2021 Junior Miss Moultrie-Douglas Molly Appleby, Atwood; Jorga Ledbeter, Arthur; and Lily-Lynn Davis, Villa Grove.
Photo furnished
2022 Little Miss Moultrie-Douglas County Fair Queen Contestants
Front row Zamara Leal, Arcola; Maelee Stirrett, Atwood; Logan McCumber, Villa Grove; Charlotte Duzan, Sullivan; Paisley Yoder, Arthur; Charlee Lenz, Gays; Emery Hill, Sullivan; and Brynley Liles-French, Bethany. Middle row Rylan Lake, Villa Grove; Isla Harriss, Tuscola; Whitley Fryman, Sullivan; 2021 Little Miss Moultrie-Douglas Quinn Chapman, Villa Grove; Nataleigh Doty, Bethany; Hope Whitlow, Lovington; and Paisley Milleer, Villa Grove. Back row Madison Dunn, Arcola; Harper Riley, Newman; Charlotte Franklin, Tuscola; Ember Ely, Atwood; and Tatum Faust, Pesotum. Not pictured is Evelyn Kenton, Villa Grove. The Miss and Little Miss Queen pageant will be held on Tuesday, July 5 at 7:00 pm at the North Grandstand.
Photo furnished
2022 Miss Moultrie-Douglas County Fair Queen Contestants
Vying for the title of 2022 Miss Moultrie-Douglas County Fair Queen to be held on Tuesday, July 5 at 7:00 pm are (front row) Andrea Dehart, Atwood; Logan Streible, Atwood; reigning 2021 Miss Moultrie-Douglas Karis Hortin, Tuscola; and Mikayla Dunn, Tuscola. (Middle row) Kendall Burdick, Arthur; Layna Kapp, Lovington; Reggan Smith, Tuscola; Meadow Picazo, Tuscola; and Julia Kerkhoff, Tuscola. (Back row) Ella Chupp, Arcola; Regann Bowles, Atwood; Claire Meyer, Tuscola; and Jade Garza, Arcola. Not pictured is Addisyn Wilson, Villa Grove.