Author Archives:

Buck Retires After Over 40 Years of Volunteer Fire and EMS Service

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Crystal Reed
Robert Buck, 78, of Findlay, celebrated his retirement after 40+ years of service as a firefighter at the Findlay American Legion. He is pictured with several plaques and a house resolution that was presented to him by State Representative Brad Halbrook.

•August 25 2021•
Robert Buck, 78, of Findlay celebrated his retirement from the fire service on Saturday at the Findlay American Legion. The day was made even more special with a visit from State Representative Brad Halbrook who presented a resolution from the Illinois House of Representatives in recognition of Buck’s years of service.
Buck began his service with the Shelby Fire District in 1980 and became in EMT in 1984 and worked on the Township Aid Ambulance for the Iroquois Memorial Hospital. He later became an EMT Intermediate and Firefighter 2. Buck served as the President of the Eastern Illinois Regional Fire Aid from 1988-1992. Read More

Menu 8-25-2021

News Progress Posted on by

Senior Peace Meal

For additional information or for reservations, please call 1-800-543-1770

Aug. 30 - Pork chop in Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Lima Beans, Roll, Cranberries
Aug. 31 - Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, Romaine Lettuce Salad, Seasoned Green Beans, Roll, Oatmeal Raisin Cookie
Sept. 1 - Saucy Ham Loaf, Sweet Potatoes, Seasoned Peas, Cornbread, Overnight Fruit Salad
Sept. 2 - BBQ Meatballs, Scalloped Potatoes, Spinach, Texas Toast, Chunky Applesauce
Sept. 3 - Baked Chicken, Vegetable Rice Pilaf, Harvard Beets, Whole Grain Wheat, Tropical Fruit

Arthur Mennonite Relief Sale

News Progress Posted on by

•August 18, 2021•

Come join in for the 59th Annual Arthur Mennonite Relief Sale held August 27 and 28 at the Otto Center, ½ mile south of Arthur, Illinois.
The activities will begin Friday at 4:30 p.m. with a pulled BBQ pork dinner and the auction starting at 6 p.m. On Saturday a pancake and sausage breakfast runs from 6-10 a.m., with the auction beginning at 8 a.m. The silent auction is from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The children’s activities begin Saturday at 9 a.m. and feature a train ride around the grounds. The children’s auction will begin at 10 a.m. A featured activity for the children will be a petting zoo.
Lunch items will begin to be served at 11 a.m. including a chicken dinner, butterfly pork chops, bacon burgers and river fries. Other food offerings include a full lunch stand, peadros (taco salad), hot homemade pretzels, lemon shake-ups, fried pies, ice cream, slushies, root beer floats and a variety of baked goods. Be sure to take home some of the homemade yeast donuts, tea rings and cinnamon rolls made fresh both days.
The auction features a variety of handmade quilts, locally crafted Amish wood furniture and many other items. The proceeds from the auction are distributed with 80% given to Mennonite Central Committee and 20% remaining in the local community.
For more information concerning the sale, please contact Richard Beachy (217-259-1427) or visit the website at http://www.arthurreliefsale.org/.

Moultrie Moment of the Week

News Progress Posted on by

Pictured are Alexander Lumber Co. employees in 1976. They are: Fred Willoughby, yard foreman, Richard DeVore, assistant manager, Bruce Binion, driver, George Auten, manager, and Luanne Rupert, bookkeeper. Not pictured is summer driver Dan Dolen. 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.

Chalk the Walk

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Crystal Reed
Chalk the Walk
Bo and Viola Neal stand near some of their chalk drawings that they drew at Okaw Valley Elementary School on Monday night.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Be Super This Year
Kala and Hank Cesar with Hank’s chalk drawing that he drew at Okaw Valley Elementary School. The Okaw Valley PTO sponsored the event that encouraged families to come chalk the walk prior to the first day of school.

WIN WIN WIN

News Progress Posted on by

•August 18, 2021•
Submitted by: Paul Stone, Dick Atchison, Todd Harris, David Bowers

The only reasons that the Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical (MCHGS) is asking for assistance from the City of Sullivan is to help METRO stay in Sullivan and add 40-60 new jobs. We can’t make that happen by ourselves.
METRO has outgrown their current building and needs additional office space in Sullivan if it is to maintain its home office in Sullivan. METRO asked the MCHGS if we would be willing to sell them our current buildings at 117 E. Harrison and S. Madison St. We told them we would be willing to do so if we could find a replacement building suitable to meet our needs. We would not be considering a move or requesting financial assistance from the City if METRO did not need our building site on which to erect a new two story office building, which could be connected to their current offices, and provide space for 40-80 new employees. Read More

Comments Get Heated About Mask Mandates at Special Public Meeting of the ALAH School Board

News Progress Posted on by

•August 18, 2021•
by Ariana Cherry
NP Writer

Concerned parents, guardians and members of the ALAH school district community filed into the high school gym Thursday, August 11, to voice their concerns about the recent mask mandate that Governor Pritzker has put into place. At the time of the public meeting, the school had voted on a safe return to school plan, citing that “masks were recommended for those who were not vaccinated,” but they wouldn’t be checking vaccination statuses, etc. The district wanted to focus more on being educators and not allowing the pandemic to get in the way. Although, with the rising cases of the new Delta variant, many of us are feeling “deja-vu”, and it seems as if we are on replay from last year as mandates and mitigations come back into our lives once again. Read More

Gospel Sing

News Progress Posted on by

•August 18, 2021•

There will be a gospel sing on Saturday, August 21 at 6 pm at the Allenville Christian Church. Rick Alan King will be performing, a gifted gospel singer from Goodlettsville, TN. Refreshments will follow. A love offering will be taken.