•March 6, 2019•
Eastern Illinois University’s Bryan Murley, associate professor of journalism, was selected for a slot on the Illinois Road Scholars roster for 2019-20.
The Road Scholars speaker program is part of Illinois Humanities and seeks to provide a variety of humanities programming to local non-profit organizations around the state at reduced cost. Read More
Richard Neale
Richard Neale, 82, of Bethany, passed away at 11 p.m. Wednesday, February 27, 2019 in his residence surrounded by loved ones.
A reception will be held Saturday, March 9 from noon to 4 p.m. in his residence at 416 West South Street in Bethany with a Celebration of Life service beginning at 4 p.m. Richard’s final wish was to be scattered in Au Au Channel located between Maui and Lanai in Hawaii. Reed Funeral Home in Sullivan is in charge of arrangements. Read More
Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Bob Waelde taps maple and walnut trees from mid February to get enough sap to make maple and walnut syrup.
•March 6, 2019•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress
The bitter cold of February sends most of us scurrying to the warmth of our homes, but Bob Waelde ventures forth to collect buckets of sap from maple and walnut trees to make maple syrup.
Why does he do it?
“My grandfather used to make maple syrup and, as a child, I would follow him around as he collected his buckets,” Waelde recalled. “About five years ago I decided to try making my own.”
The process of making maple syrup today is the same as it was hundreds of years ago when Native Americans introduced it to early immigrants. Waelde took me through his particular process.
Collecting the sap usually begins in February and runs six weeks into March. The flow is best when below freezing nights are followed by above freezing, sunny days. When the nightly freezes end and the trees begin to bud, the season is over.
Maple and walnut trees are the best, Waelde explained. You may also use birch, but the sap flow isn’t as good. According to articles found on the internet the tree should be about 40 years old and 15” in diameter (not circumference). The larger the tree the more taps may be inserted but usually no more than three. A healthy tree can produce a gallon a day on a good day. Read More
•March 6, 2019•
Photo furnished
Pictured are members of the Sullivan Blue Dolphin Regional Team.
Fourteen swimmers represented the Sullivan Blue Dolphins at the Regional Championship Meet in Peoria.
Included are Madalyn Booker, Mason Booker, Calista Clark, Emily Crosier, Rylan Diener, Natalie Drury, Mackenzie Erixon, Brodie Goss, Alivia Melvin, Devon Richardson, Ethan Schmohe, Gabrielle Spain, Matthew Wesselman, Anna Wooters.
Top finishers for the Dolphins were Madalyn Booker, 6th in the 200 breaststroke
Emily Crosier, 1st place 200 IM, 2nd place in 50 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 100 freestyle 3rd place 200 freestyle, 100 IM Read More
Dennis Mechling
Dennis Mechling, 67, passed away February 13, 2019 in Nine Mile Falls, Washington.
He is survived by a daughter Courtney (Mark) Towery of Valley, Wash. and a grandson Kameron; brothers Steve Mechling of Logansport, Ind., Lester Mechling of Lovington and John Mechling of Texas. Read More
Jack Batman
Jack Batman, 90, of Sullivan, passed away at 1:50 a.m. Thursday, February 28, 2019 at Mason Point in Sullivan.
Private family graveside services will be held in Greenhill Cemetery in Sullivan. McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan is in care of the arrangements. Read More
Photo furnished
Spelling Bee Winners
The 2019 Moultrie County Spelling Bee champion is Johnathan Iacobazzi who spelled “Caribbean” correctly Feb. 27 at the Little Theatre on the Square.
The Sullivan fifth grader will compete in the Regional Spelling Bee Sat. March 16 at Eisenhower High School in Decatur.
Lovington fifth grader Alyssa Richards is the alternate.
Five students from Lovington and six students from Sullivan advanced from their school district spelling bees to participate in the county bee.
Participating from Lovington were Austin Bates-sixth grade; Garrett Casteel-seventh grade; Andrew Jeffers-eighth grade; Peyton Newberry-seventh grade and Alyssa Richards-fifth grade.
From Sullivan were Mary Crist-fourth grade; Johnathan Iacobazzi-fifth grade; Nicole Lofland-seventh grade; Rowan Mast-fourth grade; Alyssa Ray-fifth grade; Neveah Wilson-fifth grade.
Judges for the Moultrie County Spelling Bee include Tara Bates, Micah Heddins, and Danielle Lewis of Sullivan.
Pronouncer was Ashley Lehman of Lovington.
Photo furnished
Record Setting
OV Swimmer
Blue Dolphin swimmer Anna Wooters competed last weekend at the Illinois Senior State Championship meet, held in Lincolnshire, Illinois. She set a new Sullivan Blue Dolphins’ record in the 50 meter freestyle at Senior State this weekend with a time of 24.73 seconds. Old time was 25.09.
Hal Harshman
Hal R. Harshman, 85, of Sullivan died at 1:44 p.m. Monday, March 4, 2019 in Aspen Creek in Sullivan.
Arrangements are incomplete at Reed Funeral Home in Sullivan.
•March 6, 2019•
Lakeview College of Nursing recently honored one of their faculty members with a new award. Carolyn Rauch of St. Joseph received the Flame Award at the College’s recent White Coat Ceremony.
Rauch, who is an assistant professor at Lakeview College of Nursing, has been with the College since 2005. She is the first recipient of this new award.
Lanette Stuckey, who is the Dean of Lakeview’s nursing program, said the College’s administration wanted a way to honor and recognize a faculty member who has demonstrated a commitment to high-quality nursing care through their years of experience. The award itself was inspired by Lakeview’s logo. The logo is an evolution of three symbolic components, one of them being the flame, according to Stuckey. Read More