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Remember When? 8-21-2019

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25 Years Ago This Week

Seven Sullivan sisters have written a book, and it is selling like hotcakes or any one of the nearly 700 recipes found within it. The culinary sisters are Dorothy Craig, Ruth Lash, Emogene Burrows, Audrey Morris, Helen Eccles, Joan Hughes and Margaret Koehnke. Over the past half-century, the sisters from Cornbread Bottom Farm have continued to collect, sample and swap hundreds of recipes. Burrows decided it was time to gather them together and share the family culinary wealth.
Joyce Shellabarger has had the best of both worlds. “I got to play mommy, I got to have a career, and I got to retire early” said Shellabarger who retired spring 1994 after teaching sixth, seventh, and eighth grade social studies in Sullivan for 14 years. During her teaching career, she coached middle school girls’ basketball, JV high school girls’ basketball, and middle school girls’ track while raising six children, Sherry, Sondie, Samantha, Stan, Susan and Seth. Her plans are to now spend time with her family and give “some extra TLC” to her husband.
Joe and Cindy Tabor of rural Sullivan are the parents of a daughter born August 14 in Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center. She has been named Kami Danielle and joins a brother, Hank,4. Read More

ADM/BLDD Grants Support to Okaw Valley High School Ag. Project

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Okaw Valley Ag instructor Wes Wise and student inoculate calf at Friday open house

Okaw Valley Has A Farm E-I-E-I-O

•August 21, 2019•

By Ellen Ferrera
for The News Progress

The Okaw Valley High School erg program held an open house and media opportunity on August 16 to showcase their new one million dollar ag building and state-of-the-art ag educational program Friday, August 16.
The ag building’s color compliments the school colors. It is located behind the high school and looks somewhat like a fire station until an earthy aroma tells you that farm animals are inside.
Housed within is a large classroom, a lab, four large holding pens and another large work area. Future plans call for the addition of four pens to house more animals.
Ag instructor and farm owner, Wes Wise, welcomed the visitors and outlined the morning’s activities which included a tour of the facilities, animal viewing, equipment demonstrations and animal care.
Wise explained the provenance of the program.
‘We are extremely grateful to ADM Cares and BLDD for the grants to initiate this unique educational opportunity. ADM recognizes the importance of farm crops which fuel their industry, and they invest in their own future by creating programs like these to introduce students to a farming career at the high school level.’
“We have 160 students in the high school and 95 are enrolled in the erg program. Only one of the 95 students comes from a farm family so it has been an eye-opener for many of the students,” he continued. “Many of them are now planning careers in the agri-business field as a direct result of this program.” Read More

Obituaries 8-21-2019: Golden Hubbart

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Golden Hubbart

Golden Leon Hubbart, 84, of Fountain, Florida passed away on August 3, 2019 surrounded by his family.
He leaves his wife of 26 years, Ana Mendoza Hubbart, and 13 children: Albert, Sandra, John, Brenda, Linda, Jesse, James, Duane, Golden, Angel, Christopher, Patrick and Lane; 23 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Ethel Myers and brother Buddy Hubbart. Read More

Mobile Mammography Available Locally

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•August 21, 2019•
The Sarah Bush LIncoln Mobile Mammography Services van will be at SBL Sullivan Clinic September 4 and Hydro Gear in Sullivan on September 16.
The Mobile Mammography van helps provide mammograms to women who may not otherwise have access to, or be able to afford these life-saving preventive screens. Women who qualify will receive their mammogram free. Read More

Area Facilities Receive Rural Energy Grants

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•August 21, 2019•
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Illinois State Director, Douglas Wilson today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is awarding grants for projects in all states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to reduce energy costs for farmers, ag producers and rural-based businesses and institutions.
“From renewable energy systems such as geothermal and solar arrays, to energy efficiency improvements including lighting upgrades and grain dryers, businesses and farms are saving energy and money through USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program”, Wilson said. “These investments in rural businesses help improve the rural economy, and when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”
Under today’s announcement, USDA is investing $9.3 million through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects across the nation. Congress appropriated $50 million for REAP grants and loan guarantees in fiscal year 2019. USDA will make additional funding announcements in the REAP program in coming weeks. Read More

Secretary of State Offices

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•August 21, 2019•

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced that all offices and facilities open Monday to Friday will be closed Monday, September 2, while facilities open Tuesday to Saturday will be closed Saturday, August 31, in observance of Labor Day.
All Driver Services facilities will be open for business Tuesday, September 3.
Individuals can visit the Secretary of State’s website, www.cyberdriveillinois.com, to locate the nearest Driver Services facility and the hours of operation. In addition, drivers can change an address, register to become an organ and tissue donor or renew license plate stickers online.

Obituaries 8-21-2019: Blake Caspary

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Blake Caspary

Blake Richard Caspary 56, of Sullivan passed away peacefully at 11:35 p.m. Saturday, August 17, 2019 in his sister’s home with his brother Jay by his side.
Graveside services were held at 10:30 a.m. today (Wednesday, August 21) in Greenhill Cemetery in Sullivan.     Read More

Delightful Comedy, “Church Basement Ladies” Closes Little Theatre Season

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•August 21, 2019•
By Ellen Ferrera
for The News Progress

If you didn’t know the authorship you would swear this cheerful musical was right out of a Garrison Keillor Lake Wobegon story.
The main characters are four staunch, Lutheran, Norwegian women who spend the entire play in the basement of the East Cornucopia Lutheran Church where they orchestrate the food for various church events.
They are a celebration of all the church basement ladies all over the world.
The scene opens in a classic 1965 church basement perfectly recreated from the vintage doors, fridge, stove and freezer, down to the wooden cross above one of the doors.
This is the domain of Mavis, Vivian, Karin and her daughter, Signe. Read More

Moultrie County Seats New Board Member from Sullivan

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Elizabeth Houser

•August 21, 2019•
By Mike Brothers

The Moultrie County Board welcomed a new member at the Thursday, August 15 meeting. Sullivan Country Financial agent Elizabeth Houser was sworn in by County Clerk Georgia England as the newest member of the Moultrie County Board.
County Board Chairman Dave McCabe noted the appointment was effective immediately. Houser will run in 2020 as she completes the term of Republican county board member Tim Rose who recently resigned.
Upon recommendation by Chairman McCabe a resolution to cancel the property tax sale for 720 W. Prairie in Sullivan was approved. He explained the owners had resolved back tax issues. Attending board members Kevin McReynolds, Mike Barringer, Arlene Aschermann, Elizabeth Houser, Todd Maxedon and Tyler Graven voted for the resolution. Members Neil Bryan and Bill Voyles were absent. Read More