Author Archives:

A Chance to Give a Little Change Can Mean a Lot

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Mike Brothers
Gerry Nolen gets ready to Round up as Sullivan IGA cashier Tony Feeler checks out.

•October 23, 2019•
By Turk Rounder
for The News Progress

Where else could giving so little mean so much?
It’s Round up time at Sullivan IGA from Nov. 3 to Nov. 9 giving every customer a chance to help buy turkeys for Moultrie County Food Pantry’s Thanksgiving.
“It’s amazing how quickly it adds up,” IGA manager Pat Stinson said of the eighth annual fund raising event for the food pantry.
“The most you can donate is 99 cents and even a penny makes a difference,” he continued, noting the week long event contributes some $1200 annually to the food pantry’s Thanksgiving meal giveaway. Read More

Redskins Volleyball Prepares for Senior Night

News Progress Posted on by

•October 23, 2019•
The Redskin volleyball team dropped two games this past week.
Sullivan lost to Windsor/Stewardson Strasburg last Tuesday and St. Teresa Thursday.
Thursday against St. Teresa, Sullivan lost in straight sets, 25-11, 25-17.
Avery Still had seven kills, while Zoe Walton added three.
Jerra Goad served two aces and had five digs, and Gwen Diepholz added five digs. Read More

OVMS at State

News Progress Posted on by

Photo furnished
OVMS at State
The Okaw Valley Middle School boys’ cross country team placed 11th overall at the IESA State Meet in Bloomington Saturday. Eighth grader Dominic Herold medaled by placing 18th out of 230 runners.

SOV Football Falls to Clinton

News Progress Posted on by

•October 23, 2019•
The Sullivan-Okaw Valley football team scored 38 points against Clinton High School High but lost 66-38 for its eighth-straight loss of the year.
Sullivan is set to end its season on Senior Night against Central A&M Friday at Victory Field.

Let’s Talk About Electronic Devices, Communication and Guns

News Progress Posted on by

•October 23, 2019•
By Jim Nowlan
NP Guest Columnist

I muse widely, yet my knowledge base in quite narrow. So, I could sure use help from thoughtful readers who know more than I about the topics below, which I am beginning to explore for possible essays. If you have informed thoughts and links to good sources, please email at jnowlan3@gmail.com.
First: There will be war-like conflicts in the future, and the U.S. won’t be spared, as we have been in the past. As drones and cyber conflict replace much of the boots-on-the-ground-warfare, the first thing to go down in any major future dust-up would likely be our electric power grid.
Would apocalyptic chaos ensue on the streets? Would a nation like ours be brought to its knees, just like big corporations that make huge ransomware payoffs to hackers, to get their systems back up and running?
Could Americans benefit from “civil defense” training, or would it be useless? How would you and your family fare if you were without electricity for several weeks? Should every family buy a small gas-powered generator to keep the lights on, and a supply of food and water? Read More

Remember When? 10-23-2019

News Progress Posted on by

25 Years Ago This Week

The Sullivan Sixth Grade Singers participated in a 50’s Sock Hop. With the girls in their poodle skirts and boys in their rolled up white t-shirts, a photo shows Dana Howell, Amanda Martin, Lindsey Hagan, Rachael Howard, Tyson Grooms, Ryan Crawford and Adam Yoder.
Sherry E Harris of Sullivan received an honorable mention ribbon for her art exhibit “The Lion Sleeps” at the 40th Annual Paris Art Exhibit. Maggie McClellan, an artist and teacher firm Miami Florida, presented the awards and gave a gallery talk.
Mr. and Mrs. W. Scott Blomeley were given a surprise 40th anniversary luncheon at The Inn at Eagle Creek. The luncheon was hosted by their children, Mrs. Betty Jane (BJ) Boyer, Mrs. Kathy Cantrall, Cyndi Selby and Scott H. Blomeley. Over 50 guests attended the luncheon including Mrs. Blomeley’s matron of honor and an usher from their wedding in 1954.
The Gingerbread House in Windsor (formerly Jimmy’s) is newly remodeled and serving “made from scratch” meals. They feature homemade bread, cinnamon rolls and pies. Read More

OV Schools Honor Veterans

News Progress Posted on by

•October 23, 2019•
Okaw Valley Community Unit School District invites all Veterans and their family members to a Veterans Day program at Okaw Valley High School in Bethany on Monday, November 11th. A breakfast will be provided to all who attend beginning at 8:15am in the cafeteria and a short assembly will follow at 9:15am. The assembly will feature the Okaw Valley School District band and chorus students, and keynote speakers.
The students and staff at Okaw Valley thank all Veterans for their acts of courage and devotion to the ideals that have served to guide our nation. We would be honored if you could join us to pay tribute to all the brave men and women who have admirably served our country.
If you will be able to attend, please call 665-3232 for a reservation.

Moultrie Moment of the Week

News Progress Posted on by

Pictured above is a photo post card of the west side of the Sullivan square which dates no later than December 1926 based on the history of the “Fair Store”. It filed bankruptcy in December 1926 and was sold in January 1927 to Levy Dickerson who opened his store there. Starting to the near left which is the corner of Jefferson and Main Streets is 1. Hughes Shoe Store formally Wyman Shoes 2. Citizens Abstracts 3. Fair Store 4. Overstreet Jewelry 5. Geo. Thompson Grocery, 6. Alumbaugh grocery 7. Mammoth Men’s Clothing Store 8. Haley & Carnine Meat Market and upstairs were offices for McClung & Harsh Real Estate & Insurance. 9. Hall’s Drug & Jewelry shared the 1st National Bank Bldg. The bank had the portion on the corner. Behind the bank on Harrison was the lobby and dining room for the Savoy Hotel. Rooms were in the upstairs of the bank building. 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.

Obituaries 10-23-2019: Pattie Wood

News Progress Posted on by

Pattie Wood

Pattie F. Wood, 85, of Lovington, passed away at 11:50 a.m. Wednesday, October 16, 2019 in Mason Point in Sullivan.
Celebration of Life services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday in Reed Funeral Home in Sullivan with Pastor Rodney Houser officiating. Burial was in Keller Cemetery in Lovington. Read More

Knight’s Volleyball Splits Lincoln Prairie Match Ups

News Progress Posted on by

•October 23, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Knights’ volleyball team split two Lincoln Prairie Conference match ups before entering the Champaign St. Thomas More Tournament Saturday.
In the STM Tournament, Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond went 1-4.
ALAH defeated Warrensburg but lost to host STM, Mt. Pulaski, Teutopolis and Monticello.
In the tournament, Mackenzi Bowles totaled 19 kills, and Alisha Frederick tallied nineteen assists and four digs. Read More