Norman Staggs
Norman W. Staggs, 85, of Hammond, passed away April 26, 2022, in his home.
Norman was born April 5,1937, in Goddard, Ky., a son of Delbert and Lela (Cooper) Staggs.
Norman was father to children Gary Staggs and Debbie (Staggs) Chandler. He was also a grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather. Read More
Kenneth Snyder
Kenneth ‘Ken’ Wayne Snyder, 66, of Decatur, passed away at 7:21 a.m., Saturday, April 16, 2022.
Private family Celebration of Life services will be in Reed Funeral Home in Sullivan with Pastor Grant Wade officiating. Memorials are suggested to Meals on Wheels of Macon County. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net Read More
Larry Sims
Larry Eugene Sims, 81, of Sun City, Arizona, passed away April 26, 2022. Larry was born August 18, 1940, in Bethany to Charles and Edith (Moon) Sims. He was proceeded in death by his parents and sisters Dorothy Christy and Betty Jones. Read More
•May 4, 2022•
Lake Land College will honor graduates at the annual Commencement Ceremony Friday, May 13 at 6 p.m. in the Field House.
More than 750 students will receive degrees and certificates this spring, with more than 280 graduates expected to participate in the ceremony.
Alumnus Achievement Award recipients Todd and Ali Rauch will be recognized at the event for their continued efforts to make a difference in their professions and community. This same enthusiasm, commitment and desire to make a difference led Todd Rauch and then Ali Vice to succeed as student leaders at Lake Land College have propelled them to success in their careers.
The Rauchs met at Lake Land in 2006 when they served on the Student Government Association and were instrumental in the building of the Lake Land College Fitness Center. Ali, a first-generation college student, was also a member of Phi Theta Kappa, and Todd served as the 2006-2007 Student Trustee. They are the only couple to have married on campus. Read More
Pictured above is the Bethany Grain Elevator in 1910. 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.
•May 4, 2022•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer
Take a look at this spirited description of the film “Dual” from The Washington Post:
“Set in the near future, this sci-fi drama is a horrific cautionary tale about the meaning of life. Karen Gillan stars as a young woman who contracts an incurable disease; has a clone made of herself; then goes into remission and must fight her clone in a televised duel to the death. Did we mention it’s a comedy?”
First, that is a movie I just have to see. But that’s not why it’s mentioned in this column.
Clearly, the title of this film plays off the notion that there are “dual” versions of the young woman — her original self and her clone. Because she and her clone must “duel” to the death, perhaps those of you who have trouble remembering which spelling pairs with which meaning could use this as a mnemonic. Read More
25 Years Ago This Week
Lucia Roney of Bethany became a US citizen. She could have become a citizen automatically when she and her husband Paul Roney were married in 1975. However in 1996, she received a letter from the Brazilian consulate that she no longer had to give up her Brazilian citizenship to become a citizen of another country.
The previous summer Sullivan made regional headlines with its innovative downtown skating program for teens. Because of a $4,900 grant that year, the teen recreation program was expanded year round with activities such as a volleyball league, roller hockey, fresh air dances, movies in the park, teen nights, a card club and a chess club. Read More
Photo by Crystal Reed
CEO Trade Show
Dakota Freese, a student at Sullivan High School, promoted his student business DSF Hauling during the Illini Prairie CEO trade show on Tuesday, April 26.
•May 4, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
The Illini Prairie CEO class held a trade show Tuesday, April 26, in Tuscola. This year’s class was made up of nine students from Sullivan, Tuscola, Arcola and Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond.
Three students in this year’s group were from our local schools--two students from Sullivan and one student from ALAH. Read More
Photo by Crystal Reed
10 Bones on the Marrowbone Barbecue Cookoff
The Second Annual 10 Bones on the Marrowbone Barbecue Cookoff was held in downtown Bethany on Saturday, April 30. This year’s winners in the steak category were: first place-2 Big Fellas Getting Sauced, second place-Team Willie, third place-Grumpy Old Ham. In the chicken category winners were: first place-2 Big Fellas Getting Sauced, second place-TB’s Pork and Smoke and third place-Smoking Oma and Papa. In the ribs category first place went to TB’s Pork and Smoke, second place-Grumpy Old Ham and third place-Team Willie. In the pork category first place went to 2 Big Fellas Getting Sauced, second place to Smoking Oma and Papa and third place was Grumpy Old Ham. The three meat overall winner was grand champion 2 Big Fellas Getting Sauced, second place was TB’s Pork and Smoke and third place was Grumpy Old Ham. Pictured is Tyler Blickensderfer of TB’s Pork and Smoke preparing one of his entries for the grill.
•May 4, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
A public hearing regarding Wind Energy Conversion Systems in Moultrie County was held Monday, April 25, in the commons room at Sullivan High School with a total of 75 people in attendance. The public hearing allowed those who wanted to speak on the wind energy topic to do so. Individual comments were restricted to three minutes, and after everyone on the list had spoken, those who chose were allowed to speak again.
The public hearing was scheduled for a three-hour time frame, but after one hour and thirty minutes, the hearing was adjourned due to no one else wanting to speak. Those who were unable to attend that meeting may email lori.barringer@co.moultrie.il.us with their written responses. Read More