Author Archives:

Sullivan Show Choirs Preview For Food

News Progress Posted on by

•November 27, 2019•

Sullivan Show Choirs preview night is coming at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18.
It is held in conjunction with a community food drive for the Moultrie County Food Pantry.
Two nonperishable food items are the price of admission.
For that you receive season preview performances by Sullivan’s show choirs at Sullivan High School.
Proceeds benefit the Sullivan Food Bank.
The Show Choir Preview/Community Food Drive is hosted by the Sullivan Singers Booster Club and Sullivan CUSD #300.

OVHS Boy’s Basketball Team Returns with Experience

News Progress Posted on by

•November 27, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

For the Okaw Valley boys’ basketball team to be successful this season, the Timberwolves will have to take advantage of its energy and game plans to over its lack of height.
OV returns five letter winners and quite a bit of experience.
“We don’t have much height, but we make up for that with effort and execution,” said coach Brooks Inman. “We will have to be fundamentally sound on defense and on the glass.” Read More

ALAH Girls Basketball Wins Opener

News Progress Posted on by

•November 27, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond girls’ basketball team won its season opener at home last Monday.
The Knights dismantled Meridian 52-18 with help from a defense that held the Hawks to six points or less in each quarter. Read More

Lovington Church Live Nativity

News Progress Posted on by

•November 27, 2019•
The Lovington First Church of God will be presenting their annual live nativity event, “O Come Let Us Adore Him” on Saturday, December 7th ,2019 from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 pm at the Family Life Center located at 305 West State Street in Lovington, IL.
Everyone is invited to come share the nativity experience featuring character portrayals, angels, and a stable full of live animals. Hot chocolate and cookies will be served and kids can make a Christmas keepsake stocking to take home.
New this year will be a closing candlelight service at 7:00 p.m. which will feature the sharing of the nativity message and Christmas carols. This event is presented as a free gift from the Lovington Church of God.

Recent Obituaries: Theresa Davis

News Progress Posted on by

Theresa Davis

Theresa Ann Davis, 62, of Lovington, passed away at 8:55 p.m. Tuesday, November 19, 2019, at Eastview Terrace, Sullivan.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, November 23, 2019, at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Lovington. Visitation will be held an hour prior to the services Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Keller Cemetery, Lovington. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America: 322 Eighth Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10001
Theresa was born September 20, 1957, in Decatur; the daughter of Joe and Joan (Wood) Davis. She loved music, singing and playing her guitar. She sold AVON for many years.
Theresa is survived by her sons, Matthew Leach of Plattsburgh, NY, and Tyler (Miranda) Davis of Goldsboro, NC; daughter, Shanna (Ben) Berg of Peru, IL; brothers, Gary Davis of Mt. Zion, and Bob Davis of Sullivan; sister, Brenda Griffin of Royse City, TX. She is also survived by 6 grandchildren.
Theresa was preceded in death by her parents and 2 grandsons.
Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mcmullinyoung.com

Obituaries 11-20-2019: Mildred Smith

News Progress Posted on by

Mildred Smith

Mildred (Millie) Durchholz Smith, 98, a longtime resident of Lovington and Hammond, IL, and Mt. Dora, FL, died Friday, October 4, 2019, at Mason Point Nursing Home in Sullivan, IL.
Born January 18, 1921, in Latham, IL, she lived on a farm until graduating from Latham High School at the age of 16. Her dream was to become a nurse, but because she could not start nurses training until the age of 18, she went to Millikin University for two years. Read More

Coach Ruscin’s Long History With Lions Turkey Bingo

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Ellen Ferrera
John and Anna Ruscin started seeing each other when John started helping with Turkey Bingo.

And the Beginning of Life with Anna

•November 20, 2019•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

John Ruscin has probably never undertaken any assignment for the short haul. He was a teacher/coach at Sullivan Elementary School for 37 years, then an IGA employee for 19 years and on November 8 he announced that he would be retiring after 68 years of volunteer service to the Lion Club’s Turkey Bingo.
“I came to Sullivan as a geography teacher and coach in 1951,” John recalled. ”Then Principal, Russell Ashbrook, actively recruited every male teacher to membership in the Lion’s Club. I have been there ever since.”
“I’ve been told that the turkeys were tossed off the roof of the Court House and the participants had to chase down their turkey,” He said it was an early story of how Thanksgiving Turkeys were distributed. Turkeys can fly can’t they?
“This practice was discontinued due to complaints about cruelty to the turkeys,” he continued.
Turkey Bingo was first held at Shasteen Motors, then moved to the Armory and finally to the American Legion Hall, John said, emphasizing more than 300 people have participated in the annual fundraiser each of the past two years.
The Lion’s Club helps those with vision issues and supports community programs including school scholarships. Read More

Estate Planning

News Progress Posted on by

•November 20, 2019•

A free estate planning seminar will be offered from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12 at the First United methodist Church on Jefferson St. Sullivan.
Sponsored by BRE LAW (Bolin Robinson & Ellis LLP) of Sulivan with Steven K. Wood, Steven W. Mayberry, Jon D.Robinson and Shane M. Mendenhall presenting.
Those interested in attending should call (217) 728-7369 or email kalexander@bredlaw.com, no later than noon December 10.

Shelby Craft Fair

News Progress Posted on by

•November 20, 2019•

Shelby Christian Church is holding a Christmas Vendor and Craft Fair in Shelbyville from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14. Over 25 vendors will be at the Hickory Street Church along with a Silent Auction with many items, a bake sale with a lot of goodies.
Rork’s Pork Barbecue will start serving lunch at 11 a.m.
The proceeds from entry fees, bake sale, & silent auction will go to Shelby Christian Church Mission Trip.