Author Archives:

Sullivan Resident Jennifer Hobbs Releases First Book

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Ashley Rincker Photography
Sullivan resident Jennifer Hobbs released her first book “CALMED. Growth After Trauma” on July 1. She will be at the Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library on Tuesday, July 13 from 6 to 7 pm for a meet and greet and book signing. She will also be at 5 West Coffee and Wine Lounge on Thursday, July 15 from 5pm to 7 pm where she will be doing a reading from her book.

•July 7, 2021•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Jennifer Hobbs spends her days during the school year teaching third grade at Sullivan Elementary School, but in December 2003, life was very different. Hobbs and her husband are Army National Guard veterans and were deployed December 7, 2003 with the 1544th Transportation Company out of Paris. The book titled CALMED, Growth After Trauma, is told from the perspective of Jennifer, along with Ryan Hobbs, who is now her husband.
The book contains background on how they both ended up joining the military and serving in the same unit. The 1544th Transportation Company of Paris lost five people during that deployment which is indicated by five sets of combat boots in the book’s cover design.
Jennifer’s husband was hit by a roadside bomb on October 6, 2004. She says her husband went through a lot after being hit by the bomb, and she was hoping he would co-author the book, but his perspective is still contained in the text. “He spoke and I tried to write his perspective and tone as best I could,” she said. The book was available for pre-order during the month of June and had an online launch July 1. Read More

Sullivan and Dora Township Fire Protection Districts Receive Small Equipment Grants

News Progress Posted on by

•July 7, 2021•
The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) announced the recipients of the 2021 Small Equipment Grant Program. Dora Township Fire Protection District received a grant in the amount of $24,830 and Sullivan Fire Protection District received a grant in the amount of $26,000. A total of $3.3 million was awarded to 149 fire departments/districts and EMS providers across the state. The OSFM received 448 applications, requesting around $10.5 million in funding for this grant period.
“First responders put their lives on the line every single day to do the critical work of protecting Illinois’ communities. I am pleased to award $3.3 million in small equipment grants to 149 fire departments and EMS providers throughout the state, providing critical funding that will enable the purchase of new firefighting and ambulance equipment,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “On behalf of all Illinois residents, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to first responders for the work they do and their ongoing efforts to maintain the safety of our families and communities.” Read More

Recent Obituaries: LuAnn Richardson

News Progress Posted on by

LuAnn Richardson

LuAnn Richardson, 64, of Arthur, IL passed away at 5:38 P.M. on Thursday, December 24, 2020, at Sarah Bush Lincoln Heath Center in Mattoon.
Celebration of LuAnn’s life will be held at 6:00 P.M. on Friday, July 9, 2021, at Penn Station in Arthur. The Edwards Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.
LuAnn was born on September 14, 1956 in Decatur. She was a daughter of Maxie and Joan Anita (Vaughn) Warf. She married Mark Richardson in 2011 in Charleston, IL.
Survivors include her husband, Mark; two daughters, Lisa and Kerrie both of Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK; her father, Max Warf of Arthur, two siblings, Teresa Miller and her husband Ken of Sullivan, and Steve Warf and his wife Gwyn of Arthur, nieces and nephews, Stephany Barnes of Sullivan, Doniella Warf-Snyder and her boyfriend Allan Middendorf of Columbia, IL, Christopher Warf of Arthur, Drew Miller and his wife Heather of Sullivan and Morgan Schum and her husband Jason of Sullivan, a very special friend, Cheryl Godden of Mattoon, and a close family friend, Wayne Pedigo and his wife Julie of Cave City, KY.
She is preceded in death by her mother, Joanie Warf.
LuAnn worked at the Powers School in Sullivan, as a custodian, for several years and later she managed the Citgo-Gasland gas station in Arthur for several years.
She was a big University of Kentucky fan and a Fighting Illini fan.
She enjoyed fishing and spending time with family and friends.

Recent Obituaries: Linda Armer

News Progress Posted on by
Linda Armer
Linda S. Armer, 75, of Sullivan passed away at 2:49 p.m. Saturday July 3, 2021 in Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana.

Celebration of Life services will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday in the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan with Pastor Bob Vail officiating. Visitation will be Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until service time. Burial will be in the Greenhill Cemetry, Sullivan. Memorials are suggested to the St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.
Linda was born November 3, 1945 in Decatur the daughter of George J. Hughes, Jr. and Violet R. Fulk. She had worked at Brach Candy Company in Sullivan. She married Benton C. Armer on May 3, 1961 in Sullivan.
Surviving are her husband Benton of Sullivan; daughter Rhonda (Keith) Newberry of Sullivan; sister Shirley Fultz of Sullivan, grandchildren Samantha (Adrian) Tello of Georgia, Ryan (Breanna) Newberry of Sullivan and Nick Newberry of Sullivan and great grandchildren Keegan Newberry, Leah Newberry and Jackson Newberry.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sons Frank and Rick, brother Tom Hughes and sister Judy Armer.

Moultrie Moment of the Week

News Progress Posted on by

Pictured above is Hezzy’s in Sullivan circa 1963. 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.

Tommy Houser Memorial Golf Tournament

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Crystal Reed
Tommy Houser Memorial Golf Tournament
The Tommy Houser Memorial Golf Tournament was postponed to Saturday, July 3 due to rain and wet conditions at the golf course. However, the silent auction, steak dinner and music from Identity Crisis was still held on Saturday, June 26 as planned at the Sullivan VFW. Proceeds from the event go towards the Thomas Houser Memorial Scholarship Fund. To inquire if there is room to play during the golf tournament contact Elizabeth Houser at 217-962-0189. Pictured are Curt and Jackie Welch perusing the silent auction items at the Sullivan VFW during the event.

Walton Nominated For Award

News Progress Posted on by

•June 30, 2021•

Zoe Walton, a 2021 graduate of Sullivan High School, was nominated by Sullivan High School Principal Daniel Allen for a leadership award. She graduated salutatorian, as an Illinois State Scholar, National Honors Society member, National English Honors Society member, along with many other extra curricular activities and sports. She qualified this year for state in track, for the fourth time in five years. The only year not making it was last year due to COVID. Zoe plans to start at Lake Land and then continue on in the physical therapy field. Each year, the Illinois Principals Association-Abe Lincoln Region hosts a Student Recognition Breakfast to honor students in the region. Area principals are able to nominate one student from the exiting class of their school to celebrate and recognize for outstanding leadership. They usually celebrate with a speaker and catered breakfast in Springfield. Due to COVID, things were different this year and the breakfast was not held.

Register To Win Free Workshop

News Progress Posted on by

•June 30, 2021•

Lake Land College has partnered with Monyok Leadership to provide an opportunity to win a free half-day “Playing for Keeps” workshop for up to 20 participants in July 2021. If you have interest in a “minute-to-win-it” style competitive workshop, join their mailing list by signing up at www.monyokleadership.com.

City of Sullivan Clean Up Days

News Progress Posted on by

•June 30, 2021•

The City of Sullivan will have clean up days on Saturday, July 17 and Saturday, July 24. All residents who live north of Harrison Street will be picked up on July 17. All residents on Pifers Lane are picked up on the 17th as well. All residents who live south of Harrison Street will be picked up on July 24. If you do not live in corporate city limits, you are not eligible to participate in the City Wide Clean Up Day and your items will not be picked up. Items must be on the curb by 7 a.m. Items not accepted for City Wide Clean Up pickup include but are not limited to: tires of any kind or size, car parts or components of any kind, solvents such as paints, oils, fuels and thinners, yard waste such as clippings, trimmings, leaves, limbs and branches, batteries, fluorescent light tubes, concrete, bricks and rocks, burnt material/ashes of any kind, appliances (stoves, refrigerators, dishwashers, water heaters, dryers, freezers and air conditioning units), E-Waste Electronic equipment such as computers, monitors and televisions, asbestos materials/hazardous waste, petroleum-contaminated soil, industrial waste, chemicals, herbicides and pesticides, radioactive materials, flammable liquids, propane tanks or equipment, motor oil, transmission oil, lubricants/hydraulic oil/oil filters/contaminated oils (mixed with solvents &/or gasoline, antifreeze, lead paint chips, railroad ties, medical waste, animals, liquids.