Marsha Robbins
Marsha Louise Vice Robbins, 61, of Bismarck died at 9:35 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019 in her home.
A celebration of life memorial service was held at 6 p.m. Feb. 2 in Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Danville.
Marsha was born Dec. 25, 1957 in Decatur, the daughter of Thomas Vice and Mildred L. Alumbaugh Vice. Read More
•February 6, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor
The Okaw Valley boys’ basketball team picked up another Little Okaw Valley Conference Northwest Division win with a 73-34 win over Sangamon Valley Friday.
After a 12-8 lead in the first quarter, OV outscored Sangamon Valley 21-11 in the second quarter and 23-12 in the third quarter to blow the game open.
Two Timberwolves hit double-digit scoring. Read More
Senior Peace Meal
For additional information or for reservations, please call 1-800-543-1770
Monday, February 11 - Chili mac, tossed salad w/dressing, dinner roll, warm cinnamon peaches
Tuesday, February 12 - Turkey pot roast w/baby carrots & celery, broccoli cauliflower bake, dinner roll, tropical fruit
Wednesday, February 13 - Chicken casserole, peas and carrots, seasoned green beans w/pimentos, whole grain wheat (1), chunky applesauce
Thursday, February 14 - Roast beef in gravy, mashed potatoes, cabbage-tomato au gratin, dinner roll, overnight fruit salad
Friday, February 15 - Ham loaf, frosted sweet potatoes, Midori blend veggies, whole grain wheat (1), fresh fruit
•February 6, 2019•
By Ted Walk,
Supt. Sullivan CUSD #300
Over the past few years Sullivan Middle School has looked for innovative ways to encourage our middle school students to read. The Reading Redskins Program allows students to have a large amount of choice in the genre and level of books that students read, while providing incentives through various competitions. After completing a book, students fill out a form to answer questions about what they read, and the number of pages are recorded. Events are organized throughout the school year that include competitions between grade levels, genders, teachers, and parents. The top reader in each grade receives a copy of a book of choice, as well as has a copy of this book donated to the school library celebrating their accomplishment. Rewards for individuals who reach milestones such as 500 or 1000 pages per quarter vary from school dances, to ice cream parties, to putting slime on the middle school principal. For the past three years, the Reading Redskins Program has led to nearly a million pages read by Sullivan Middle School students annually. Another way that Sullivan Middle School strives to foster a love of reading is through encouragement of engagement in books from the Rebecca Caudill Young Readers’ Book Award List. Students who complete a specified number of books from this list get to vote in the statewide Rebecca Caudill competition as well as have their name entered into a schoolwide raffle for prizes such as a Kindle Fire, headphones, or candy at the end of the year. Additionally, Sullivan Middle School students are able to participate in a Book Club opportunity during which students discuss various novels over a pizza lunch. The value placed upon literacy at the middle school, and all levels, is one of the many reasons that I am proud to be a part of the Sullivan School District, where we strive to be Preparing Students for Successful Lives by Inspiring and Expecting Excellence in Ourselves, Our Community, and in Every Student, Every Day!
Photo furnished
OVHS Student Attends ILMEA State
OVHS senior Isabella Benning spent four days in Peoria at ILMEA All State as part of the Honors Choir which is the highest honor for a vocal student in the state. She was an eight time participant in District Choir and two time All State Honor Choir selection. Benning is pictured with OVHD Chorus Director Erin Bozek.
Helen and Eugene Rowe
•February 6, 2019•
By Jazzy Rowe
for the News Progress
Eugene Rowe is going to celebrate his 99th birthday with Ansar Shriners in Springfield.
Rowe joined the Shriners back in the 1940s with Free Masons friends, and although he hasn’t been active in the past few years, the 16th annual Ansar Shrine Chili Cookoff at Boondocks in Springfield is on his birthday Feb 17 so he figures he might go.
Gene and wife Helen lived in Sullivan since 1974 where he has enjoyed being a faithful St. Louis Cardinal and University of Illinois fan. Now Helen is gone and Jasmine, their cat of 18 years, keeps him company.
“I brought the cat home from John Carroll’s welding shop, but I made them agree to take it back if Helen didn’t approve,” Rowe says of the day he brought Jasmine home. “I took her inside and told Helen the deal I had made at the welding shop. She looked at the cat and looked at me and said ‘You’re not taking that cat back’ and Jazzy stayed.” Read More
Pictured above is what is thought to be a photo of the old Clore sawmill on the west side of Lovington. The year that this photo was taken is unknown. 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.
•February 6, 2019•
Dear Sir:
In the January 30, 2019 issue of the News Progress it was reported in the article regarding the Titus Home that “...the first resident, Anita Gritzmacher, was welcomed February 6, 1967 by first administrator Erma Ferguson.”
That statement is incorrect. The first administrator of the Titus Home was my mother, Mrs. H. 0. Dick, who was hired in 1965. Please see attached article from, I believe, your newspaper.
I wouldn’t take issue except that I remember how honored Mother was to be offered the position and the long, dedicated hours she spent getting the house ready for occupancy. As a daughter, I seek only her rightful place in Sullivan’s colorful history. Read More
•February 6, 2019•
By Evelyn Burtcheard
NP Guest Columnist
As soon as they could get the house livable to Mom’s standards we moved in. She painted walls and woodwork starting in the kitchen first, then she and Dad papered the bedrooms and living room of our home.
One weekend Mom’s brothers Uncle Buck, Uncle Charlie and Uncle George helped move the remainder of our belongings into our new home. Donny and I never tired of exploring and dreaming of all the animals we would have.
When Mom finished in the main house, she started on the big summer kitchen and porches. Dad worked at repairs on the outside while Mom worked inside. There was a lot of work to be done.
Two weeks after we moved to Christian 40, a large truck delivered two milk cows, and one had a baby calf. The truck left and returned bringing us a team of work horses Dad bought. A strawberry roan mare named Queen I claimed, and a bay mare named Molly Donny claimed (I think because she was acting silly).
A man Dad worked with said his father had to quit farming. Dad bought several things including the cows and the team. Oh how I wanted that truck to return with more horses. Read More
Photo by R.R. Best
Josie Orris shoots underneath the basket.
•February 6, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor
After a hiccup in the Central Illinois Conference Tournament in Decatur last week, the Sullivan girls’ basketball team clinched the regular CIC championship by defeating Tuscola on senior night Friday.
To avenge the upset loss in the semifinals of the CIC tournament to the Warriors, who eventually won the tournament, Sullivan had to wait an extra day because inclement weather Thursday postponed the game until Friday.
“We had such a fun and exciting night for, not only our seniors, but our entire team,” said Sullivan coach Sheri McCain. “We had such an amazing crowd and student section tonight. These girls played with such intensity. They were on a mission and that was to avenge the loss from the tournament and win the conference outright. I am so very proud of these young ladies.”
Sullivan took advantage of a 12-1 second-quarter run to squash any ideas of another upset.
After the 22-9 halftime lead, Sullivan tacked on four more points to its lead in the third.
In the fourth quarter the Redskins blew open the game with a 21-6 run and the 56-24 win.
“It was a great way to end our regular season on senior night,” McCain said. Read More