•March 4, 2020•
Jadon Nuzzo from Sullivan is a member of the Monmouth College men’s track and field team.
The Fighting Scots are set to compete in the Midwest Conference Indoor Track and Field Championship on Feb. 28-29 in Grinnell, Iowa, and select athletes will compete in early March for the right to compete at the NCAA indoor meet March 13-14 in Winston-Salem, N.C.
The Scots’ outdoor season will begin April 3-4 at Washington University in St. Louis.
•March 4, 2020•
In the Wednesday, Feb 26, 2020 edition of the Moultrie County News Progress a couple of errors were made.
In the list of candidates running for Moultrie County Board Neil Bryan, Republican incumbent, is running along with fellow incumbent Elizabeth Houser and Kevin McReynolds. Democrats running for open county board seats are Gary Smith and Rita Florey.
In the general primary election sample ballot a date was incorrect in the Notice of General Primary Election. The first line of the body copy should read: NOTICE IN HEREBY GIVEN that on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 in the County of Moultrie…and not March 27.
•March 4, 2020•
Voters may prefer to cast their ballots early rather than risk health issues related to concerns over COVID-19.
“With the big “C” virus we want to encourage early voting,” Moultrie County Clerk Georgia England urged.
“Many people want to avoid large crowds or places where a lot of people pass through…the answer: Early Vote!” she emphasized. Read More
•March 4, 2020•
By Ellen Ferrera
for The News Progress
Growing up in Sullivan Earl Jeffers had a rare opportunity to apprentice to his father who had an automotive repair business.
In addition to learning about automotive repairs, maintaining tools, welding, and brake repairing he watched his father teach himself woodworking.
Wayne Jeffers, Earl’s father, made violins for all of his children and they are cherished family possessions today.
Earl earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Eastern Illinois University and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Southern Illinois University. He taught in elementary schools, worked for some years in industry and then returned to be Superintendent at an Area Vocational School near Mt. Vernon.
He lost his wife to pancreatic cancer when she was 51.
Some twenty years ago he and his second wife, a professional portrait artist, retired near Ashville, North Carolina. There he joined a local wood-turner club and eventually became a founder and President of the Western North Carolina Wood-turners club. Read More
Pictured above is Morgan school. It was located south of Sullivan on route 32. The first school was wood frame and later replaced with a brick one that still stands today as a private home. This photo was taken in fall 1934. Front row: Wanda Lee Sheets, Joan Murphy, Maxine Shaw Turner, Owen Brosam. Middle row: Bill Binion, Josephine Shaw Webb, Clyde Patterson, Hattie Brosam Hortenstine, May Binion, Darrel Davis. Back row: Dorothy Risk, Ethel Brosam Wilson, Mable Bennett, Russell Davis, Lulu Davis White, Elsie Risk, Miss Bridert, Billy Murphy. 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.
•March 4, 2020•
The Sullivan Art Club will kick off its 2020 season with a workshop on Saturday, March 21 at the St. Columcille Church hall located on the east end of the church at the corner of West Jackson and McClellan Streets.
There is a dedicated entrance to the hall adjacent to the parking lot. The workshop will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. with an hour break for lunch. Participants may bring a sack lunch or dine at one of the area restaurants. Read More
•March 4, 2020•
The 8th annual Sullivan FFA / Sullivan FFA Alumni Auction is Saturday, March 7th at the Sullivan High School Gym.
A complimentary meal provided by the FFA Alumni and Terry Warren Catering starts at 4:30 p.m.
The Raffle auction begins at 4:30 p.m. and live auction starts at 6:00 with the auction conducted by Rudy Huber.
•March 4, 2020•
By Ted Walk,
Supt. Sullivan CUSD #300
Sophomores at Sullivan High School recently had the opportunity to sign up for the free Rotary Athletic Heart Screening Program.
This event, sponsored by Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center, will take place on Saturday, March 28.
The screening is intended to detect undiagnosed heart problems. The program includes collecting health history and performing a physical specifically targeted to detect at-risk athletes, as well as an electrocardiogram. Read More
Photo furnished
Kathy Best and R.R. Best at University of Illinois (Springfield) Alumni Achievement Award presentation to Kathy. The Best family operated the newspaper since 1961 and recently sold to Paddock Publications.
•March 4, 2020•
After 59 years, the News-Progress has New Owners.
Bob and Kathy Best last week sold the paper their family has owned since 1961 to Paddock Publications, an employee-owned newspaper company based in Arlington Heights, Ill. Paddock will continue to publish the News-Progress.
“As we have in other communities, our goal is to continue to honor the legacy of the former longtime owners by doing what we do best: local coverage of the people and institutions that call Sullivan and Moultrie County home,” said Stefanie Anderson, senior vice president/general manager of the community newspapers division for Paddock.
The News-Progress, which can trace its roots back to 1857, will continue doing business out of its offices at 100 W. Monroe in Sullivan. Mike Brothers, Barry Morgan and Rachael Van Dyke are staying with the new ownership.
Bob Best, who has managed the operations of the paper since his father’s death, will help with the transition for a few weeks, but then head off for new ventures. Read More
Photo by R. R. Best
Okaw Valley coach Brooks Inman screams words of encouragement to his players during the regional championship Friday.
•March 4, 2020•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor
The Okaw Valley boys’ basketball team won two games to reach the Class 1A Bethany Regional championship, but came up short against Casey-Westfield.
In the championship game, OV fell behind by double digits in the first half but kept the score within striking distance.
In the fourth quarter, the Timberwolves made their move.
Down by 16 in the fourth quarter, OV battled back to cut the lead to six with seven minutes remaining.
But the Warriors’ defense, which helped OV to 14-of-44 (.318) shooting from the field, including 1-of-11 (.090) from three-point range, stifled OV the rest of the game to go on a 19-1 run and pull away for the eventual 57-37 win. Read More