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Obituaries 10-21-2020: Connie West

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Connie West

Connie S. West, 73, of Sullivan, passed away at 2:58 p.m. Tuesday, October 13, 2020, at St. Mary’s hospital in Decatur.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, October 17, 2020, at McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan. Burial was in Pea Cemetery in Sullivan. Memorials may be made to the Bethany Fire and Ambulance Service.
Connie was born February 26, 1947, in Decatur, a daughter of Hershel and Agnes (Myers) Weaver. She was a lifelong resident of Sullivan where she graduated from Sullivan High school. Read More

Moultrie Moments of the Week

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In June 1976, Sullivan hosted the Lake Festival. One of the programs was “Almost Anything Goes’ that was to mimic a popular TV show called “Anything Goes.” This photo is of the participants. Sitting on the two ladders are: Bob Lemler & Betty Wilson. Standing on the ladders are: unknown and Mimi Atchison. On the bicycle is our current mayor: Richard Glazebrook. Standing from L-R: 1) unknown man, 2). Charlie Bland 3). Marjorie Horn 4). unknown 5). Nellie Lehman 6). Rick Dunscomb 7). Mike Christie.. 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.

Menu 10-21-2020

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Senior Peace Meal
For info: 1-800-543-1770
Oct. 26 - Pork Chop in Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Seasoned Baby Carrots, Dinner Roll, Whole Grain Fruit Bar
Oct. 27 - Baked Ham, Candied Sweet Potatoes, Buttered Midori Vegetables, Whole Grain Wheat (1), Blushing Pears
Oct. 28 - Chili with Beans, Mixed Lettuce Salad w/Dressing Pkt., Crackers, Waldorf Salad
Oct. 29 - Sweet and Sour Chicken w/Vegetables, Over Brown Rice, Fruited Gelatin, Dinner Roll, Warm Fruit Crisp
Oct. 30 - Liver and Onions, Potatoes Au Gratin, Mixed Vegetables, Texas Toast, Pineapple Pistachio Dessert

Candidate Forum 2020

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•October 16, 2020•

The Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development and the News Progress are hosting a candidates forum on Wednesday, Oct 21 at 6 pm at the Little Theatre On The Square. Join us to hear from candidates running for office.

Recent Obituaries: Connie West

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Connie West

Connie S. West, 73, of Sullivan, passed away at 2:58 p.m. on Tuesday, October 13, 2020, at St. Mary’s hospital, Decatur IL.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, October 17, 2020, at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan. Visitation will be held an hour prior to the services Saturday at the funeral home. Face masks are suggested and please practice social distancing for the services. Burial will be in Pea Cemetery, Sullivan. Memorials may be made to the Bethany Fire and Ambulance Service.
Connie was born on February 26, 1947, in Decatur, daughter of Hershel and Agnes (Myers) Weaver. She was a lifelong resident of Sullivan, where she graduated from Sullivan High school.
Connie married Donald E. West on November 6, 1971. They turned overgrown timber ground into a small farm north of Sullivan where they moved an old farmhouse from down the road and converted it into their single-story homestead. They created many adventures for their 3 children and 12 grandchildren working and playing on the farm. For many years they enjoyed going to frontiersmen rendezvous until the kids got older. She loved to make holidays special for the family and fostered many family traditions and fond memories, showering her grandkids with gifts that often came with a bit of harassment just to be ornery. Connie enjoyed sharing her love of baking with her grandchildren and taught them to make cinnamon rolls and homemade beef and noodles.
Connie adored her husband and words cannot describe the impact of his passing on May 31, 2013. She continued to take care of the farm with just a little help from her sons and her grandchildren, but even with the love she had of her family, life was not the same for her.
Connie is survived sons, Michael (Melinda) West of Bethany and David (Jaime) West of Monticello; daughter, Debbie (Jake) Walker of Chillicothe; grandsons, Owen West, Elijah Walker, Canon West, Benjamin Walker; granddaughters, Suzanna West, Rebecca West, Karsyn West and Miryam Walker, great granddaughter, Miabella Walker; step-grandchildren, Noah Richards, Trevor Richards and Mackenzie Richards; brother, Carroll (Nancy) Weaver and Elmo (Chris) Weaver of Sullivan; sister, Betty (Charles) Bolin of Sullivan; sister-in-law, Betty Lou Weaver of Sullivan.
She is preceded in death by her husband, both parents and brother, Wayne Weaver.
Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mcmullinyoung.com

Former Congressman Brings Non-Violent Message To Moultrie County

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Photo by R.R. Best.
Former Congressman Glenn Poshard leads a silent non-violent march around the Moultrie County Courthouse last Friday. In late September Poshard began visiting the courthouses in all 39 counties of the two congressional districts he represented in Congress carrying signs of non-violence and respect for people and our democracy.

•October 14, 2020•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

Former State Senator and U.S. Congressman Glenn Poshard visited Sullivan last Friday as part of his non-violent marches tour. Starting September 28, Poshard began visiting the courthouses in all 39 counties of the two congressional districts he represented in Congress carrying signs of non-violence and respect for people and our democracy.
Poshard’s march drew twenty people to the sidewalk around the Moultrie County Courthouse. Moultrie County was the 20th out of 39 counties that Poshard will be visiting.
Carrying signs that displayed messages of “United We Stand, Divided We Fall” and “Ask Not What Your Country Can Do For You, But What You Can Do For Your Country” Poshard and other made multiple trips marching around the courthouse quietly.
Paul Feist of Sullivan attended the march because he said Poshard is a good friend of his. “He is an outstanding person,” he said. Poshard spoke of the unbelievable anger and hatred that has people divided politically in this country.
He noted that violence isn’t just disturbing the peace by rioting and looting but also voices of disrespect and violence that can be seen on social media. “The voices of disrespect and violence completely cover even the smallest voice for respect and unity among our people,” Poshard said “The chasm has grown so wide among us, one must wonder if any bridge of reason or love can span the divide?” Read More

Sullivan Boys Golf Wins Regional

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Photo submitted by Coach Richter
Ben Richter, Brett Bushue, Will Haegen, Leyton Ellis, Logan Westjohn, Drew Rogers, and Camden Dwyer pose after winning Sullivan’s fourth-straight IHSA Class 1A golf regional champsionship.

•October 14, 2020•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports

In a year when the Sullivan boys’ golf team has an average team score to compete with nearly every Class 1A team in the state, the IHSA will not be holding a state golf tournament.
“It really is a shame that this group doesn’t get to fight for a state championship because when we play to our ability, we can score very low,” said Sullivan coach Ben Richter.
Despite no state tournament, Sullivan won its fourth-straight IHSA Class 1A golf regional Oct. 6 at the Moweaqua Golf Course.
The Redskins’ low score of 330 took the regional title, and Monticello’s team score of 334 earned second place. Read More

Letter to the Editor 10-14-2020

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Dear Editor,

Our beloved country is filled with hate and division. Not against the common enemies of democracy which dwell outside our borders, the autocratic and totalitarian regimes headed by dictators around the world sworn to our destruction, but hate against each other, our fellow citizens. One need look no further than a momentary glance at the social media which dominates our culture today. The voices of disrespect and violence completely cover even the smallest voice for respect and unity among our people. The chasm has grown so wide among us, one must wonder if any bridge of reason or love can span the divide? It is stunning that our country should come to this point of division. Read More

Fall Revue 2020

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Photo submitted by Heather Casteel
Fall Revue
The Sullivan Show Choirs held their 2020 Fall Revue on the high school football field this past weekend. About 425 people attended the shows.

True cleverness is timeless, so this is on newsprint

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•October 14, 2020•
True cleverness is timeless.
Take this from William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night,” written 419 years ago: “Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them.”
Does that not ooze contemporary sarcasm? That old saw remains in heavy circulation.
So I was not surprised while researching the origin of a pass-along email full of goodies that it has been shared and reshared in various forms on the internet at least as far back as 2001.
Even though I found a version of it in the Daily Parker blog, posted when the World Trade Center towers were still standing, the content was credited as a submission from “M.B.” Read More