Author Archives:

Author Kevin Corley Speaks at MCH&G Society Dinner

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Ellen Ferrara
Kevin Corley, a retired teacher and school administrator from Shelbyville, spoke at the Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society annual dinner on Thursday, November 18.

•November 24, 2021•
By Ellen Ferrara
NP Writer

Members and friends of the Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society gathered November 18 for the annual dinner meeting at the Sullivan American Legion Hall. The guest speaker was author and historian Kevin Corley.
Corley taught history and coached several sports for many years in local high schools. Since retiring, he has pursued his real love of writing about the history he had shared with his students. His particular focus has been on some of the darker historical events in central and southern Illinois.
His first novel, “Sixteen Tons”, tells the incredible, violent story of central Illinois coal mining from 1898-1933. Corley used a power-point presentation with photographs for each of his five novels. Read More

City Council Approves TIF District Redevelopment Agreement

News Progress Posted on by

•November 24, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The Sullivan City Council met Monday and approved a TIF District Redevelopment Agreement by and between the city of Sullivan and Main Street Capital Partners, LLC. Mayor Richard Glazebrook said this would be developed in phases. The 80% being asked falls within somewhat of the same range that the city has priorly done. Glazebrook reported that a large subdivision has not been done for some time. There will be 40 houses developed. When the vote was taken, Commissioner Mike Fowler abstained. Read More

Bradbury Initiated

News Progress Posted on by

•November 24, 2021•

Mary Bradbury, a native of Dalton City, was recently initiated into the Indiana State University Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society. The Society welcomed 350 new initiates from 17 universities during October 2021.
Students initiated into the Society must be sophomores, juniors, seniors, or graduate/professional students in the top 35% of their class, demonstrate leadership experience in at least one of the five pillars, and embrace the ODK ideals. Fewer than five percent of students on a campus are invited to join each year.
Omicron Delta Kappa Society, the National Leadership Honor Society, was founded in Lexington, Virginia, on December 3, 1914. A group of 15 students and faculty members established the Society to recognize and encourage leadership at the collegiate level. The founders established the ODK Idea-the concept that individuals representing all phases of collegiate life should collaborate with faculty and others to support the campus and community. ODK’s mission is to honor and develop leaders; encourage collaboration among students, faculty, staff, and alumni; and promote ODK’s leadership values of collaboration, inclusivity, integrity, scholarship, and service on college and university campuses throughout North America. The Society’s national headquarters are located in Lexington, Virginia.

Christmas Parade

News Progress Posted on by

•November 24, 2021•

The Sullivan Lighted Christmas Parade will be held on Friday, December 3 at 6 pm. There is no sign up. Lineup will start at 5 pm at Sullivan High School. This year’s theme is “We Need A Little Christmas”. The parade will be following the usual route. There will be s’mores roasting near the downtown pavilion from 4:30 to 7:00 pm. Santa will be at his house starting at 4:30 pm. Sullivan Singers Jr. will be singing Christmas carols at the pavilion at 5:45 pm.

Mayor John Diss Benefit

News Progress Posted on by

•November 24, 2021•

A benefit for Findlay mayor John Diss will be held on Saturday, November 27 from 2 to 8 pm. This is a family friendly event to help John and Sondra Diss with medical and living expenses while John recovers from extensive injuries he suffered in an accident on October 29. The event will be held in downtown Findlay at Tailwinds, Niemerg Family Winery and Findlay American Legion. Food will be available by donation. Food provided by Tailwinds and will be pulled pork, smoked sausages, baked beans, potato salad and chips. There will be a DJ and live music from 2 to 8 pm, silent auction, kids caterpillar train rides, face painting and balloon animals from 2 to 4 pm and bags tournament from 4 to 6 pm. There will also be a live auction and baked goods throughout the event.

Santa in Bethany

News Progress Posted on by

•November 24, 2021•

Santa Claus will be coming to the Bethany Village Hall on Sunday, December 5 from 3 to 4:30 pm in the parking lot. BASO will be collecting non-perishable food items for the Bethany Food Pantry. This event is sponsored by the Village of Bethany, BASO and Bethany businesses.

Community Blood Drive

News Progress Posted on by

•November 24, 2021•

A community blood drive will be held on Tuesday, December 7 from 3 to 7 pm at 1533 CR 1900N inside a donor bus that will be parked by M&E Woodcrafts in Cadwell. To donate please contact ImpactLife Urbana at (800) 747-5401 or visit www.bloodcenter.org and use 70636 to locate the drive. Masks and appointments are required.

Command Sergeant Major Richard Carroll Speaks at Sullivan VFW

News Progress Posted on by

Photo furnished
Command Sergeant Major Richard Carroll from the Illinois National Guard speaking to a crowd at Sullivan VFW on Veterans Day.

•November 17, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Sullivan VFW welcomed Command Sergeant Major Richard Carroll of Mattoon to speak about what it means to him to be a veteran on Veterans Day.
In June 1987, he was 17 years old and stepped off the bus at Fort McClellan in Alabama. He revealed that he joined the National Guard for the discipline and focus. In the summer of 1990, he was working security at the State Fair in the National Guard tent.
The next thing he knew, a few months later, he found himself in the middle of the desert during Operation Desert Storm and Desert Shield. Carroll exited the Army in 1995 to pursue a family and his career in law enforcement. “It just never left me, and I think a lot of people who have served feel the same way,” he said. Read More

Application Packets for ARPA Funds

News Progress Posted on by

•November 17, 2021•
Moultrie County, along with counties and municipalities all over the country, is a recipient of funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. Moultrie County to date has received $1.4 million from the US Treasury and anticipates an additional distribution to Moultrie County of another $1.4 million around May of 2022. The Moultrie County board assembled a bi-partisan ad hoc committee made up of members representing the villages and towns around the county. This five member committee recommended the Moultrie County Board focus the first waive of funds on mental health needs and economic recovery of non-profits in Moultrie County who serve the people of Moultrie County. The board is happy to announce the application packets are now available and ready for pickup in the County Treasurer’s office on the second floor of the courthouse in Sullivan. All applications must be picked up in person and may be returned the same or by mail. Applications for the first waive of funding are due back to the County Treasurer’s office by the end of business on December 10, 2021. The counties efforts are to focus on getting recovery funds to entities that support the county and have suffered losses without the ability to receive previously offered COVID funding.

Country Financial Office Welcomes New Agent

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Crystal Reed
The Houser Agency
Production Assistant Jorjia Clements, Insurance Agent Kyler Houser and Financial Representative Elizabeth Houser.

•November 17, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Elizabeth Houser has added a new agent to her office, her son Kyler. A meet and greet was held at Country Financial at the end of October. With the addition of Kyler, the agency has become the Houser Agency.
Elizabeth started with Country Companies on March 28,2011. She has made six All Americans in a row. Recently there had been discussion about bringing in an associate agent but after another Country Companies agent retired recently Kyler was brought in as an agent.
Kyler graduated from Sullivan High School in 2016 and from Eastern Illinois University in 2020 with a degree in broadcast meteorology and earth science. Prior to going into insurance he worked for Marvin Keller. In his spare time he enjoys flying drones, ping pong and solving Rubik’s cubes.
He is fully licensed in auto, home, life, health, farm and commercial insurance as well as brokerage policies and medicare supplement.
According to Elizabeth their clients have 24/7 access to them whether it be by text, calling or e-mail. The Houser Agency is located at 1102 W. Jackson in Sullivan and can be reached by phone at 217-728-2591.