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
Photo courtesy of Kent Harris
This undated photo shows the Moultrie County Courthouse dome from years ago.
•May 4, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
It is visually apparent that work is being done on the roof of the Moultrie County Courthouse. The project is expected to be finished by the end of July and will take care of leaks in the roof. The cost for the project is $239,000.
According to records that Maintenance Dept. head Rick Matthews was able to access, the construction of the courthouse began in 1904, and a ceremony celebrating its completion was held November 12, 1906. He continued to say that the courthouse was initially funded by a $25,000 tax levy in 1904, 1905 and 1906. Matthews said that he will be donating the old clock motor and wood clock hands from the courthouse clock to the Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society.
Read More
•May 4, 2022•
On Friday & Saturday, May 20 & 21, 2022, New Illinois will hold the first session of a constitutional convention for the proposed new state. The event will be held at the Eastland Suites Hotel & Conference Center in Urbana. The Friday evening and Saturday morning presentations will be open to the public.
Speakers will include:
· KrisAnne Hall, nationally known constitutional lawyer
· Illinois Rep. Brad Halbrook, chief sponsor of the resolution to create a new state
· Illinois Rep. Dan Caulkins, co-sponsor of the resolution to create a new state
KrisAnne Hall is the country’s most sought-after speaker on the Constitution. She has written six books on American history and the U.S. Constitution and is a regular consultant on the Constitution for numerous radio, podcast, and television programs. She has been interviewed by CSPAN InDepth and her books and classes have been featured on CSPAN Book-tv.
The United States Constitution gives us the RIGHT to representative state government. But Illinois gives power to favored people, groups, and municipalities—notably Chicago and Cook County—which means it’s not fulfilling its responsibilities to the rest of its citizens.
State of Illinois has violated both the U.S. and the Illinois Constitutions, infringed on our rights, and deprived the People of representative government. For these reasons, it has lost its legitimacy. Illinois has broken the compact that bound us together.
The United States Constitution also gives us the RIGHT to pursue the formation of a new state separate from the State of Illinois. Article IV, Section 3 provides us with the process.
For more information, contact info@NewIllinoisState.org, or call (847) 845-9293. Tickets will be available for purchase through Eventbrite.
About New Illinois
New Illinois is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit active throughout the state. Its mission is to educate Illinoisans about their right, under the U.S. Constitution, to pursue the formation of a new state. New Illinois envisions a NEW State where all residents will experience representative government, not just those living in the one county (Cook) where power is concentrated. The Declaration of Independence declares that “People are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights and can alter or abolish a government destructive of those rights.” New Illinois believes the situation in Illinois has reached this point.
•May 4, 2022•
There are two opportunities for local residents to donate blood in the next week. The first opportunity is Tuesday, May 10 from noon to 6 pm at the Sullivan American Legion, 8 East Strain Street. The second opportunity is on Thursday, May 12 at the Methodist Church in Arthur, 128 E. Illinois Street from 1 to 6 pm. For more information or to sign up for a time visit www.redcrossblood.org or 1-800-733-2767.
•May 4, 2022•
The Bethany American Legion will have a fish fry on Friday, May 6 from 5 to 7 pm. It is AYCE fish or shrimp dinner.