Photo by Erika Black
Sullivan Park and Rec
Willow Cody, Reagen McKinney and Aaliyah Osborn enjoy playing in Wyman Park during the Sullivan Park and Rec program last Friday.
Sullivan Park and Rec 2021
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Obituary 7-14-2021: Virginia Gillenwater
Virginia Gillenwater
Virginia Swango Gillenwater, 85, of Forsyth, formerly of Mattoon and Sullivan, passed away Thursday, July 8, 2021, at Hickory Point Christian Village.
Funeral services were held at 3 p.m., Monday, July 12, 2021, at Reed Funeral Home in Sullivan with Pastor Grant Wade officiating. Burial was in Greenhill Cemetery in Sullivan. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net Read More
Sue Yarnell and Theta Psi Receives Recognition
Photo provided
Sue Yarnell, center, is holding a card from Psi Iota Xi National Secretary, Maureen Dix, congratulating her and the chapter for 45 years of commitment and dedication to the community and to Psi Iota Xi.Pictured left to right: Front row-Lucia Roney, Sue Yarnell, Rita Seelow. Back Row- Kala Cesar, Lisa Younger, Barb Oliver, Brandi Kesterson, Tara Underwood, Stephanie Barding, Bessie Kesterson, Carolyn Rawlings.
•July 14, 2021•
Sue Yarnell was recently presented with a card from Psi Iota Xi National Secretary, Maureen Dix, congratulating her and the chapter for 45 years of commitment and dedication to the community and to Psi Iota Xi.
Psi Iota Xi is a women’s philanthropic organization with chapters throughout the Midwestern United States and has chapters in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio. Psi Iota Xi chapters are focused on raising money and offering volunteer service to improve the quality of life in their communities, with special emphasis on speech and hearing-related causes. Read More
Mike McDaniel Retires From IDOT After 34 Years
Photo by Crystal Reed
Mike McDaniel (center) receives a certificate from Chris Smith, Operations Engineer Region 4-District 7 (left) and Doug Rudolphi, Maintenance Field Engineer (right). The certificate recognized McDaniel for 34 years of service with the Illinois Department of Transportation as a highway maintainer.
•July 14, 2021•
On Wednesday, June 30, Mike McDaniel, who worked in highway maintenance for the Illinois Department of Transportation in District 7, retired. He spent 34 years with the department. At the time he retired McDaniel was the longest highway maintainer in District 7 which is made up of 16 counties. He will be missed by his bosses for his experience in knowing the county and during his time there he was only on two snow routes. McDaniel said that he will miss plowing snow and that it didn’t bother him when he was assigned to do so. His least favorite part of the job was washing the truck in a wash bay without enough ventilation and too much pressure on the wand in extremely cold weather. During retirement he plans to continue looking after his 89-year-old mother, mow yards and deer hunt.
Additions To LLC Fall Honors Lists
•July 14, 2021•
Students added to the Fall 2021 Honors Lists that are full time were: Talon Russell, Bethany, President’s List and Logan Stremming, Windsor, President’s List. Students added to the Fall 2021 Honors List that are part time were Macie Fleshner, Findlay, President’s List and Chloe Pantier, Sullivan, President’s List.
Moultrie-Sullivan Fair 2021
Photo by Crystal Reed
Rabbit Competition
Judge Rex Hall evaluates a rabbit entry while Poultry and Rabbits Superintendent Tammy Gingerich, Junior Miss Sullivan Katilyn Kirby and entrants watch during the Moultrie-Sullivan Fair June 25.
Photo by Crystal Reed
Arts and Crafts Entries
Pictured are the top three winners for the arts and crafts category under the subcategory of wreaths. The center wreath, created by Sarina Voegel, earned First Premium, the wreath on the right, created by Miah Voegel, received Second Premium and the wreath on the left, by J Moody, received Third Premium. Complete results from the Moultrie-Sullivan Fair will be printed in a future issue of the News Progress.
Photo by Crystal Reed
Goat Show Entrants
Gareth (left) and Anyssa Coffer (right) with their Nigerian Dwarf goats at the Moultrie-Sullivan Fair last Friday. The fair was held on June 25 and 26 with shows for livestock, baked goods, arts and crafts, floriculture, agricultural products and more.
Photo by Crystal Reed
Poultry Show
Superintendent of Poultry and Rabbits Tammy Gingerich evaluates a poultry entry from Matthew Horsman during the Moultrie-Sullivan Fair on Friday, June 25.
Summertime and Swarming Honeybees
•July 14, 2021•
By Jerry L. Ginther
NP Guest Writer
What should you do if a swarm of honeybees should happen to land in your yard?
Let’s start with safety first. If you don’t want them, leave them alone. While it is true that honeybees are more docile and less likely to sting while they are swarmed, it does happen. However, if left undisturbed they will usually depart for their new home within a few hours, but may stay two or three days while scout bees search for a suitable location to start their new colony. The latter situation is rare.
It is amazing, though, how often they land on a bush or small tree close to the ground where they are easily accessible. That being the case, if you know a beekeeper and you feel the need to be rid of them sooner, rather than later, give that person a call. Beekeepers will often come to your aid whether they really want the bees or not. Some beekeepers may be reluctant to hive a swarm due to the possibility that they could be infected with foulbrood, a disease that destroys the larva stage of the developing brood. This possibility exists whether the bees have escaped from a local apiary or are a swarm of wild bees. Read More
Remember When? 7-14-2021
25 Years Ago This Week
The Bethany Village Board backed an amendment to the ordinance banning the discharge of firearms in the village. The amended ordinance will specify that American Legion members may discharge firearms in the village for ceremonial purposes. Mayor Don Gibbons said the exception needs to be spelled out because someone had complained about the sound of gunfire during a Legion funeral service.
Lefty and Wilma Hollonbeck of rural Sullivan have always been proud of their grandson, but they probably never dreamed that bigger-than-life likenesses of this talented athlete would be appearing on more than 100 billboards around Atlanta, Ga. during the Olympic games. Scot Hollonbeck also was one of the final six bearers as the torch made its final leg of the journey to the Olympic stadium for the opening ceremonies of the 1996 summer Olympics. Read More
Sullivan Blue Dolphins I “Can” Swim Challenge
Photo furnished
Sullivan Blue Dolphins I "Can" Swim Challenge
Head Coach Jason Drury of the Sullivan Blue Dolphins set a challenge for the Blue Dolphins swim team to collect 3,000 cans of food for the local community food banks. The swimmers collect pledges of cans per laps and swim in an I “can” Swim Challenge. The challenge, swim for 20 minutes as many laps as you can. Then they had one week to hit the goal of 3,000 cans. Not only did they hit the goal this summer they broke the previous record of 4,018 cans in 2019. 6,891 cans were collected by the swimmers through lots of swimming and support of family and friends. Drury said, this was truly a team effort, and I am so proud of this group for stepping up to the challenge. SBD appreciates the community support we get, and this is our way of giving back. The Blue Dolphins have 100 swimmers on the roster, ranging in ages from 5 to 17. From beginning level swimmers to championship level swimmers.
MCH&G Society Asks City For Monetary Assistance
•July 14, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
David Bowers, a trustee of the Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society, spoke to the council concerning a proposal from Metro Communications to purchase the society’s building. The organization believes they have found a location to meet their needs. They are applying for a loan through the USDA; however, they also want some assistance from the city of Sullivan. “We understand that the council members may be unaware of our situation until now,” he said, “but we feel we have undertaken our move as a benefit for the city of Sullivan and its citizens in order to provide Zac Horn and Metro Communications the opportunity to have space adjacent to the business headquarters in order for them to grow in Sullivan.”
Bowers continued to say they are asking for assistance in the way of a $100,000 revolving loan and a grant of $100,000 from the city. They also plan to have a capital campaign and multiple events to take place at their new location if they can secure the funds to purchase it. “Our museum space will be more than doubled,” Bowers explained, “so we will have many displays that have often been rotated or not yet been seen.” Read More