Doris Elzy
Everett Elzy
Doris Elzy, 84, of Sullivan, passed away at 12:50 a.m., Thursday January 13, 2022, in Sullivan Rehabilitation and Health Care Center. Read More
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Obituaries 1-19-2022: Neil Cox
Neil Cox
Neil Anthony Cox, 62, of Monticello, formerly of Sullivan, passed away at 6:30 a.m., January 14, 2022, in his residence.
Neil was born February 6, 1959, in Decatur, a son of Neil Ray and Patricia Ann (Cripe) Cox. Read More
MCHD Announces Changes in Contact Tracing
•January 19, 2022•
Beginning Thursday, January 13, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) became responsible for contacting ALL newly diagnosed Covid-19 cases in Illinois.
If you have recently tested for Covid-19 at a testing site and you receive a text message from IDPH, please review the message and follow the guidance. These text messages are sent to individuals who have tested POSITIVE for Covid-19.
It is important that you follow the guidance provided in the message. In order to increase your ability to receive this message, please turn off any spam blockers you may have on your cell phone. Read More
Letters to the Editor: 1-19-2022
Dear Editor,
The notion that Sullivan electric utilities are comparable to surrounding communities has been dispelled. Beginning in March of 2021, Sullivan City Council (the Council) has been presented with indisputable evidence that Sullivan residents and businesses pay twice the rate of Lovington, Arthur, and Findlay. It is estimated that electric rates in Sullivan and Bethany are the highest in five (5) surrounding counties.
Although Ameren has received permission to increase rates beginning in January 2022, the Citizen’s Utility Board (CUB) has estimated that the rate increase will be less than $2.75 to Ameren customers’ monthly bill. Which means that even with Ameren’s rate increase, Sullivan is “still” not competitive. Read More
Moultrie Moment of the Week
These three brothers were all Civil War veterans from Sullivan. Left to right are L. T. Hagerman, Ben Hagerman, and Hiram Hagerman. This photo appeared in a local paper in 1907. 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.
Does Entomology Bug You, Too?
•January 19, 2022•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer
How is it that two nearly identical words can describe something I love so much that I write about it almost every week and something that makes me recoil in terror?
No, I’m not talking about “dessert” and “desert,” but there probably is something to that.
I’m talking, of course, about “entomology” and “etymology.”
“Etymology” is the study of the origin of words and how they’ve changed throughout history.
“Entomology” is the study of insects. Cut to the scene in “The Silence of the Lambs” in which Agent Starling consults the two concupiscent bug freaks who identify the death’s head moth, complete with scalpel and oozing pupa juice. Yech. Read More
Remember When? 1-19-2022
25 Years Ago This Week
The downtown location was the same but that was all at Bethany’s new and one-and-only restaurant the Brass Lantern. Owner Mike Moody, a veteran restauranteur had gutted the old Korner Korrall, which had closed earlier in the fall, to create a shiny-new dining establishment. The Brass Lantern offered an extensive, reasonably priced menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as a daily salad bar, daily specials, a banquet room and catering.
Rick Hector, formerly of Sullivan, was promoted to the rank of sergeant. He served in the Illinois State Police Division of Operations.
The Lovington Panthers visited LOVC rival Arcola and won 55-36 over the Purple Riders. Read More
Retail and Residential Development to be Built
•January 19, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
A residential and retail development has broken ground on the east side of Route 32 near the Red Apple. The whole development is 17 acres and will be a mix of multi-family and commercial or light industrial properties. Five acres will be multi-family rentals and 12 acres will be marketed for development.
The first phase of the development will be called Reserve Sullivan. This is two eight-unit high quality rental properties that will be two and three-bedroom. There are also plans for a three-unit commercial building which Tabeling Development will be breaking ground on next month. Read More
Sullivan Cheer Camp
Photo by R.R. Best
Sullivan Cheer Camp
The Sullivan High School basketball cheerleaders held a Redskins-In-Training youth cheer camp last week for Sullivan Elementary School students. The Redskins-in-training learned cheers that they performed at the beginning of the varsity basketball game on Friday. All proceeds from camp will support new uniforms for SHS basketball cheer.
Planning and Zoning Duties Assigned to Assessor’s Office
•January 19, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
The County Board discussed the filling and/or assignment of planning and zoning duties and responsibilities. The Supervisor of Assessments office gave the board handouts last board meeting, and Chief County Assessment Officer Lori Barringer said they may take over these responsibilities without additional staff or salary. The other option is that the board could post a full-time job and get someone dedicated to doing the planning and zoning.
Lauren Sesko, the ESDA director, has been filling in as interim personnel in that office.
A motion was made to have Sesko continue in ESDA as well as do some GIS work for the county while planning and zoning responsibilities will be moved to the assessor’s office with the transition completed by or before February 14. The motion was approved with Tyler Graven voting no. Read More