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Obituaries 4-3-2019: Courtney Morrison

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Courtney Morrison

Courtney Jill Morrison passed away March 21, 2019. She was born February 4, 1970, a dear daughter of TL Morrison and Gretchen Bailey Morrison (deceased). A native of Lovington, Illinois, Courtney graduated from St. Teresa High School in Decatur. She attended Eastern Illinois University obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management and later obtained a second degree in Surgical Technology. Having been raised on her family farm, animals were always an important part of her life and became her passion. She shared this love with her father and brother showing cattle and sheep in her younger years. Volunteering at nonprofit animal shelters and traveling across the country with her many four-legged companions proved her commitment. They all possessed personalized names to match Courtney’s hilarious and witty personality. Courtney is survived by her father TL Morrison, brother Mick Morrison and sister Brisyn Ritchie (Randy Ritchie). She leaves behind three nephews, Heston Eveland, Logan Hupp, Jaxsyn Ritchie, and a niece Evyn Ritchie, all whom she adored. Many aunts, uncles and cousins loved Courtney dearly and will miss her greatly. Read More

Dominican Bound

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Dominican Bound
Sullivan High School senior athlete Dalton Rogers signed a letter of intent March 27 to play baseball at Dominican University. Pictured are from left brother, Drew, mother Kari, Dalton and father Troy Rogers. Dominican is a Catholic University located in River Forest with an enrollment of 4000.

OVES Students Collect Above and Beyond

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Photo furnished
Okaw Valley Elementary students who collected $25 or more to help exceed the school’s goal.

•April 3, 2019•

Okaw Valley Elementary students went way above and beyond their goal in collecting donations for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
OVES students set a goal of $750 in the Pennies for Patients program. Students brought in donations throughout the month of March and were also able to create online donation pages to collect from out of town friends and family.
“It is so important for our students to know that no matter the amount they were able to give, they have made a difference in someone’s life.” Guidance Counselor Paula Coffer said. Read More

Benefit Auction For Beacon

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•April 3, 2019•

On Friday, April 12 the annual Moultrie County Beacon Benefit Auction begins at 5:30 p.m.at the Otto Center, half mile south of Arthur.
Proceeds go to benefit the Moultrie County Beacon and needs of the clients. Auction items include new furniture, bicycles, toys and games, quilts, tools, wagon, storage building and various certificates.
In addition to the auction an evening meal is served from 4:00-7:00 p.m. with carryouts available. All day bake sale, soft pretzels and much more.
The Moultrie County Beacon is a non-profit agency providing services to individuals with developmental disabilities and mental illness.
for more information contact David Kaufman at 217/543-2971 or Paul Cook at 217/620-0598.

First Sunday Services

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•April 3, 2019•

Members of the Sullivan Area Ministerial Association are initiating satellite afternoon services at four local care facilities.
Area churches will begin conducting 30-minute worship services the first Sunday of each month in the afternoon. The services will begin Sunday, April 7.
Times and locations:
1:30 p.m. at Aspen Creek conducted by Elim Springs Church of Jesus Christ
2 p.m. at Courtyard Estates conducted by Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Bethany
2:30 p.m. at Eastview Terrace conducted by Elim Springs Church of Jesus Christ
2:30 p.m. at Sullivan Health Care and Rehabilitation conducted by First Christian Church, Sullivan
Family, friends and residents are welcome to attend any of the services at the homes and stay after to visit. All services will start promptly.
Come together to worship in prayer, scripture, a brief message and song, followed by more Christian fellowship with loved ones.

Sullivan Community Education Foundation Awards Annual Grants

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•April 3, 2019•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

At the Sullivan Community Education Foundation’s annual Staff Appreciation Dinner March 28 the group awarded some $16,000 in grants to 11 individuals and two organizations.
Held at the 1225 Building in Sullivan more that 170 people attended.
Sullivan Community Education Foundation Chair, Betty Jo Emel, welcomed the attendees and introduced the board of trustees as well as the superintendent of schools and the three school principals. Grant Wade gave the invocation.
The high school students were represented by both the jazz band which provided the entertainment and the National Honor Society members who assisted in serving the dinner.
Music director Shaun Shaefers conducted the jazz band during the buffet dinner which was catered by Griffith Catering.
Following dinner, the 2018 Major Grant recipients each gave a report of how their grants had been used throughout the previous year.
Wade awarded the 2019 Mini Grants as follows: Read More

Recent Obituaries: Michael J. Wildman

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Michael J. Wildman
Michael J. Wildman, 58, of Monticello, passed away Monday evening, April 1, 2019 at Kirby Medical Center, Monticello.

Mike was born June 17, 1960 in Decatur, IL the son of Roger L. and Phyllis (Huffmaster) Wildman. He married Dawn Vannice in August of 1982 and she passed away in November of 1988. He married Ann Power on June 16, 1990 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Champaign, IL.

Mike is survived by his wife, Ann Power Wildman of Monticello, formerly of Franklin Grove; children, Patrick of Springfield, Katherine and Brandon both of Monticello; mother, Phyllis Wildman of Sullivan; and brother, Chris Wildman of Dalton City. He was preceded in death by his father and grandparents.

Mike was a 1978 graduate of Sullivan High School where he participated in golf, baseball, football, and basketball. His senior year he participated in the IHSA State basketball tournament in Champaign. He is a 1982 graduate of Purdue University. Mike was a department head for The Home Depot and was elected Monticello Township Supervisor. He was a member of the NRA, Purdue Alumni Association, Piatt County Republican Party, and a parishioner at St. Philomena Catholic Church of Monticello. He enjoyed golfing, building models, watching old Westerns, and was an Illini Fan along with being a sports fan and a history buff. He coached all his children in youth sports and enjoyed watching them grow in whatever they did. Mike was a wonderful and loyal person, husband, father, son, brother, boss, and friend.

A visitation will be held from 9:00-11:00 a.m., Friday, April 5, 2019 at the Mackey-Wright Funeral Home, Monticello. Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, April 5, 2019 at the Mackey-Wright Funeral Home with Fr. Bruce Lopez officiating. Interment with cremation rites will be held in Monticello Township Cemetery at a later date.

Memorials may be made to the Monticello Area Education Foundation.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.mackey-wrightfuneralhome.com

 

ALAH Track Teams Compete at Meet

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•March 27, 2019•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond boys’ and girls’ track teams competed in the Illinois Top Times meet at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington March 22-23.
For the girls’ team, Kenli Nettles placed in four events, including three first places.
She won the 400-meter run in 58.74 and the 6-meter hurdles in 8.94.
She high jumped 5 feet 6 inches for first place and ran the 60-meter dash in 8.01 for fourth place.
For the boys’ team, Layton Hall ran the 3,200 in 9:52.95 for ninth place. Read More

Dr. Dust Speaks Dine with a Doc

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•March 27, 2019•

Senior Education Ministries, Inc. in partnership with the Sullivan community has scheduled Dine with a Doc ® -Sullivan on the first Tuesday of every month from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Max J. Knight Community Building Banquet Hall Mason Point) located at One Masonic Way in Sullivan.
This month Dr. Glen Dust MD with Sullivan Family Care is the presenter.
Dr. Dust was born in Rockford and raised in Effingham. He attended St Anthony schools and graduated in 1974. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology at Eastern Illinois University in 1977 and his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Illinois in 1981. He completed his Family Medicine Residency in Grand Rapids, Michigan and became Board Certified in 1984. He became a Fellow in the American Academy of Family Practice in 1988.
Dr. Dust has been a medical director at nursing homes and a home for the developmentally disabled. He was a clinical associate professor at SIU Decatur Family Practice Residency Program for more than 15 years and was twice awarded ‘Teacher of the Year’. He has enjoyed helping to train nurse practitioners, physician assistants, medical students and family physicians. He has been a physician for Physician’s Choice Wellness, a medically monitored weight loss program. He is currently President of the Board of the Moultrie County Health Department.