•March 9, 2022•
Truck drivers are critical for transporting farm commodities, inputs and food throughout Illinois and the nation. The Driving Agriculture Forward Scholarship helps offset the cost of needed commercial truck driver training and ensures more well-trained, safe drivers are available.
“We are pleased to diversify the types of scholarships available through our program,” said Jennifer Smith, Development Manager, IAA Foundation. “We are encouraged by the insightfulness of donors who choose to support all facets of agriculture.” Read More
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Moultrie Moment of the Week
Pictured above are gypsies in Bethany around 1917. 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.
Recent Obituaries: Jon French
Jon D. French, of Forsyth, passed away peacefully in his home in the early morning hours of March 7, 2022.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Monday, March 14, 2022, at Central Christian Church in Decatur, IL. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. at the church. Burial will be in French Cemetery, Allenville, IL, at 2:30 p.m. on Monday. Memorials may be made to Central Christian Church: 650 W. William St. Decatur, IL, 62522 or to Decatur Family YMCA: 220 W. McKinley Ave. Decatur, IL 62526 McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan, is in care of the arrangements.
Jon was born in a farmhouse near Sullivan on October 13, 1939, to his parents, Otis and Thelma French. He was the second of four brothers, his older brother Donald, and younger brothers Jerry and Barry. When Jon was 13, he contracted tuberculosis of the spine and spent 15 months in a body cast in a sanitarium near Springfield, IL. After receiving experimental medicine, Jon was cured and returned to high school in Sullivan, IL. After graduating high school in 1956, Jon attended the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana graduating with a degree in Accountancy in 1960. Jon married the love of his life, Jane Wagner in 1961. Jon became a CPA in 1962 and subsequently found work in Chicago at Haskens & Sells. During this time, Jon and Jane had two children, Karen and Nancy. After 7 years in Chicago, Jon wanted to move his family away from the big city and back to a smaller town in Central Illinois.
Jon moved to Decatur, IL, where he worked for Gaugher & Diehl for a couple of years before eventually striking out on his own and building his CPA practice of accounting and tax work. Jon received his Masters in Financial Service from American College in 1982. Jon truly loved serving his clients accounting and tax needs. He enjoyed seeing them and catching up on their lives during tax time. Both daughters followed in his footsteps becoming CPAs themselves. His daughter, Nancy, worked with him for over twenty years until they both retired on October 31, 2021.
Jon was a member of Jaycees and later a member of Rotary International. He had perfect attendance at Rotary for over 50 years, and served as President of Rotary, taking a trip to England for the International Conference. Jon served faithfully on many boards in the Decatur Community including United Way, Symphony Orchestra Guild, Webster Cantrell Hall, and the Finance Committee for the YMCA.
Jon was an active member of Central Christian Church, serving as a trustee, a deacon, a Sunday School teacher, an usher and a member of the stewardship committee. He was recently honored as a Deacon Emeritus.
Jon was predeceased by his parents, Otis French and Thelma French Marlow, his brother Jerry French and sister-in-law, Deirdre French.
Jon is survived by his wife, Jane and daughters, Karen French (Darren) Neuman of Palo Alto, CA, and Nancy (Jay Emrich) French of Forsyth, IL, his brothers, Don French of Lovington and Barry (Sherry) French of Mt. Zion, IL, and two grandchildren, Jules and Eric Neuman of Palo Alto, CA, and many nieces and nephews.
Jon loved his family dearly and will be missed by us all.
Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mcmullinyoung.com
Recent Obituaries: Shirley Park
Shirley Park
Shirley J. Park, 87, of Sullivan, passed away 9:55 p.m., Wednesday March 2, 2022, at Mason Point, Sullivan.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Sunday, March 6, 2022, at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Monday, March 7, 2022, at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan. Burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery, Sullivan. Memorials may be made to the Moultrie County Food Pantry.
Shirley was born on October 10, 1934, in Bruce; the daughter of John and Beulah (Sutton) Waite. She retired from General Electric in Mattoon. Shirley was a long-time active member of the First United Methodist Church in Sullivan. She loved volunteering at the Moultrie County Food Pantry. She was an avid Cardinals Baseball Fan. Shirley enjoyed working in flower beds, attending baseball games and auctions.
She is survived by her daughter, Keri Pool of Sullivan; brother, Jeff (Linda) Waite of Sullivan; sister, Judith Norman of Houston, TX; grandchildren, Nick Pool of Sullivan, Peyton Pool of Sullivan, Aaron (Becca) Wilhelm of Sullivan and Brandon Wilhelm of Sullivan; great-grandchildren, Maddie and Emersyn Wilhelm.
She was preceded in death by her parents, son, Mark Wilhelm, former husbands, Leonard Wilhelm and Tom Park.
Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mcmullinyoung.com
SHS Senior Night 2022
Photo furnished
SHS Senior Night
The Sullivan Boys Basketball team recently had their senior night. Front row (left to right): Mikaela Moore, Maelyn Gaither. Back row (left to right): Dakota Freese, Jadon Troxell, Ryan Villalobos, Alec Keller, Kahlil Walker, and Ben Bushue
Photo furnished
Sullivan Boys Basketball Senior Night
Sullivan boys basketball played their final home game Friday, Feb. 18 against Tuscola. They came up short but the 2022 seniors in boys basketball and cheer were recognized. The student section was in full force cheering them on.
Candidate Petition Filing Period
•March 2, 2022•
The candidate filing period for the upcoming General Primary Election is March 7 through March 14 at the County Clerk’s office from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except for March 14 when the office will remain open until 5:00 p.m. Candidate’s filing at 8:30 a.m. on March 7 and those filing between 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. of March 14, will be placed in the respective date/time lottery to determine candidate position on the ballot. Read More
SOV Football Players Compete at Weightlifting Meet
•March 2, 2022•
A group of SOV Football players competed at the Taylorville Weightlifting Meet on Saturday. The team competed in the Bench Press, Back Squat, and Power Clean, with the group finishing in 2nd place in the team competition. These athletes also placed individually in their divisions:
Aian Fryman 1st Place (Bench-215, Squat-315, Clean-205)
Elijah Beeler 1st (Bench-210, Squat-315, Clean-200)
Hayden Moody 2nd (Bench-150, Squat-230, Clean 140) Read More
Election Date Change
•March 2, 2022•
Moultrie County Clerk Georgia England would like to remind voters the General Primary Election date was changed from March 15, 2022 to June 28, 2022 by passage of Senate Bill 825 in June 2021. The change was due to lawmakers awaiting release of population and demographic data from the 2020 Census, which was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, in order to redraw district maps. Read More
Operation Enduring Support
•March 2, 2022•
Operation Enduring Support is now accepting donations for Easter Care Packages for our deployed Military that will be mailed on March 28th. This is our 19th year of sending care packages to our deployed military Our young men and women in foreign countries do not have access to Post Exchanges and can really use the items they receive, along with a reminder that people back home have not forgotten them. Suggested donations include Girl Scout cookies, Beanie Babies, protein bars, cheese and cracker packs, Beef Slim Jims/ Jerky, individual instant coffee, powdered drink packages, puzzle books and playing cards, personal care items, deodorant, toothbrushes/paste, eye drops, lip balm, 5 blade razors. Other items needed are letters from school and Sunday school children, individually wrapped hard candy, gum, Gorilla Tape, hanging car deodorizers, cotton swabs, and wet wipes, 2022 calendars and new Birthday cards. We also want to send packages to your loved ones so please submit your APO/FPO addresses to Ann Irwin at ann4dar@att.net or by calling (217) 428-5936. You may also contact Grace United Methodist Church at(217) 429-5374. Donations may be delivered to Grace UMC at 901 N Main St, Decatur, IL 62521 between 9:00 and 4:00 pm Monday thru Thursday until March 17th.
Monetary donations are always welcome as our postage is now $20.00 per package. These packages are a morale boost for our Military, and they appreciate your support.
Sullivan Singers Preview Shows
Photo by Crystal Reed
Sullivan Singers
Sullivan Singers and Singers Jr. had two preview shows on Saturday, February 26 in the Sullivan High School gym. During the program both groups performed their competition shows. At the two showtimes there were also students that were spotlighted by singing their solo competition solos.
Photo by Crystal Reed
Sullivan Singers Jr.
Sullivan Singers Jr. performing their competition show at the preview night held last Saturday, February 26. Both groups will compete next at Glenwood High School in Chatham on March 4 and 5.