Author Archives:

Can a con artist run the gambit?

News Progress Posted on by

•June 22, 2022•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer

Assistant Weekend Editor Susan Klovstad said she thought of me when she saw this in a recent news release:
“In the summer of 1978, two recent college graduates and their high school drama director founded the organization because they wanted to expand the scope of community theater in town by producing plays and musicals that run the gambit from important classics to completely new plays and musicals.”
“Obviously, he means ‘run the gamut,’” Susan told me.
If you’re a Netflix subscriber, you probably remember hearing of or breathlessly streaming “The Queen’s Gambit,” a series about a young female chess player who takes the boys club of players by storm in the 1950s and ’60s. Read More

Remember When? 6-22-2022

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25 Years Ago This Week

Sullivan native Griz England was selected as a finalist for the 1997 Marconi award in the category of Small Market Personality of the Year.
Lovington Hall of Fame and Citizen of the Year award winners were announced at Lovington’s Junefest. Charles G. Glancy (deceased) and Ellen Thomas were long-time Lovington residents who performed many services for the community. They won the Hall of Fame and Citizen of the Year awards respectively. Read More

Sullivan Native Checks Off His Bucket List

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Photo furnished
Steve Jenne sits in the co-pilot seat after taking a flight on a B-25. His father flew 50 bombing missions in a B-25.

•June 22, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Steve Jenne’s father, Loren E. Jenne, flew 50 bombing missions in a B-25. Steve recalls that after his father got home, he returned the plane to Chanute but not before buzzing the Moultrie County courthouse. This past Saturday, Steve had the opportunity to be a passenger in a B-25 which flew out of Champaign.
Loren was a well-known pilot and was a teacher in Jonathan Creek and at Sullivan Junior High. While he passed in 2016 at the age of 98, his son has donated his diary, uniform, medals and ribbons to the Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society Museum. One thing that wasn’t donated was his father’s original issue flight wings and a tie tack that is the profile of a B-25, both of which Steve wore on his flight this past Saturday. Read More

Organizations Team Up to Bring Blessing Box to Lovington

News Progress Posted on by

Photo furnished
Kelly Creek, Jamie Franklin, Stephanie Leinard, Jane Franklin and Pam Anklam in front of Lovington’s Blessing Box, which is an emergency food pantry. Items are free for those in need.

•June 22, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Hometown Love, University of Illinois Extension and Christ’s Pantry in Lovington have come together to make a Blessing Box possible. The box is located near the Lovington Community Garden and is stocked with boxed items, canned goods and produce from the Arthur Produce Auction, and eventually, they would like to stock hygienic items. Read More

Family Participates in 5k As Memorial

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Photo furnished
Friends and family gathered to walk and run in memory of Tami Belton-Rocke at the 5k at the St. Jude Dash and Bash on Saturday, June 11.

•June 22, 2022•
The Belton-Rocke family participated in a run and walk during the Sullivan St. Jude Dash and Bash on Saturday, June 11. Wearing matching t-shirts, family and friends ran and walked in memory of Tami Belton-Rocke, who passed from breast cancer.
Rocke was first diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer February 2020. She finished her chemo and radiation therapy just before Thanksgiving 2020. Tami loved running and had run numerous 5k races previously. Read More

LLC to Host After-Hours Open House

News Progress Posted on by

•June 22, 2022•

Lake Land College will be hosting an after-hours open house Thursday, June 30 from 4 to 7 p.m. to celebrate both the new Foundation & Alumni Center and the Workforce Development Center on campus.
Attendees will have the opportunity to network with the event’s co-hosts, the Effingham, Mattoon and Charleston Chambers of Commerce.
Other activities will include touring the state-of-the-art reception area at the Foundation & Alumni Center and experiencing real world demonstrations in the Manufacturing Skills Lab or driving the CDL truck simulator in the Workforce Development Center.
Those in attendance can also explore services and opportunities available in WIOA & Adult Education as well as enjoy food and beverages.
Attendees are encouraged to begin at the building of their choice and be certain to visit the other before leaving. While the distance between the buildings is only a short walk, there will be a complimentary shuttle available.
To learn more, contact Alumni Engagement & Special Events Coordinator Amanda Tucker at 217-234-5376 or atucker1563@lakelandcollege.edu for more information.

Bethany Celebration Schedule

News Progress Posted on by

•June 22, 2022•

Friday, June 24
5:00pm - Opening Ceremonies
Vendors, Inflatables, and Touch a Truck
5:30pm - Kids Car Show
6:00pm -Sullivan Dance Studio Showcase
Softball Tournament
6:30pm - Pedal Pulls with bonus Adult pedal pulls (Signups at 6:30)
7:00 pm - Teen dance with Nidal Entertainment
Beer Tent
9:00 pm - Silver Lake Band

Saturday June 25
8:00 am -Softball Tournament
Back the Blue 5K (Registration @ 7)
10:30am - Parade
11:00am - Vendors & Inflatables (Wristbands 1-5) Mud Volleyball Tournament
Shawn Dawson on main stage
12:00pm -Car Show (weather permitting)
1:00pm - Leighton Ewers on main stage
3:00 pm - Michael Lewis on main stage
4:00pm - Relay For Life Dinner
6:00pm - Sawyer Brothers Band
9:15pm - Fireworks
Beer Tent
3:00 pm - Opens
9:00 pm - 8Up

Fourth of July in Sullivan

News Progress Posted on by

•June 22, 2022•

The Sullivan American Legion is looking for parade entries for the Fourth of July parade. Those interested should line up behind the high school at 10 am on Monday, July 4. Parade will kick off at Noon. As part of activities for the holiday the carnival provided by Connor Family Amusements will be held from July 1-4. Armbands are $25 from 6 to 10 pm and can be purchased in the Sullivan American Legion for $22. The watermelon eating contest, sack races and turtle races will start at 2 pm that afternoon. Fireworks will be at dusk.

Early Deadlines

News Progress Posted on by

•June 22, 2022•

There will be early deadlines for the Fish Wrap and News Progress due to the Fourth of July holiday. Deadlines for classified and display advertising will be Thursday, June 30 at Noon.

Recent Obituaries: Marjorie (Hamblin) Sheridan

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Marjorie (Hamblin) Sheridan

Marjorie Joan (Hamblin) Sheridan was reunited with her beloved Charlie and all her loved ones in the light of Jesus on June 16, 2022. She bid farewell to her daughters, Cynthia (Robert) O’Connor and Patricia McCray, her three treasured grandchildren, Jeffrey McCray (Kelley), Laura Boillot (Paul), and Michael O’Connor, and her great grandchildren, Reece Charles McCray, Elowyn Boillot, and Baby McCray due in November.

Born March 28, 1923 at the family farm in Sullivan, Illinois to Edward Hamblin and Lena (Monroe) Hamblin, she was later joined by brother Donald (Kathleen), now deceased. From the rural one room school, she went on to high school in Sullivan, then to DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, graduating in Education with minors in Speech and Drama in 1944. It was there that she met the love of her life, Charles Henry Sheridan, and they married on September 23, 1945.
As a Navy wife, she had to find work in San Francisco where Charlie’s ship was based and was employed by American Airlines until they moved to Flint, Michigan in 1947. While raising their daughters, she taught Creative Dramatics K-6 for Mott Foundation, created parent workshops for P.T.A. and directed Ross Learning Center in Grand Blanc, tutoring area students. She was a member of P.E.O. Chapter BX, raising money for women furthering their education, and a ‘Flint Spark’ hospitality volunteer at Bishop Airport until her early 90’s, receiving their ‘Volunteer of the Year’ award in 1998.
Together with Charlie, she actively participated in many community organizations, serving as a deacon and elder at First Presbyterian Church Flint, supporting Young Life Genesee County, Flint Kiwanis, General Motors Institute Faculty Wives, and directing productions at Flint Community Players and First Presbyterian Church.
The family would like to express loving thanks to all the wonderful friends, neighbors and caregivers who helped Margie into her 100th year without Charlie. Marjorie’s life will be celebrated at a service of thanksgiving and joy at First Presbyterian Church, 746 S. Saginaw St., Flint, Michigan 48502 on Wednesday, June 29, 2022 with Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Novak officiating. Visitation begins at 10am with the service at 11am. The funeral service will be livestreamed and can be found on First Presbyterian Church Flint's YouTube channel at youtube.com/fpcflive. There will be refreshments immediately following the service. Marjorie will be laid to rest with Charlie on July 25, 2022 at 1:30pm at Great Lakes National Cemetery, 4200 Belford Road, Holly, Michigan 48442. Friends and family who wish to honor her memory may choose to send a gift to First Presbyterian Church Flint, Young Life of Genesee County, 5083 Miller Road, Suite C, Flint, Michigan 48507 or the Michigan P.E.O. Fund.