Photo by R.R. Best
Gingerichs’ Harvest Parade
Gingerich Farms of Lovington used a parade of combines to make big progress on the soybean harvest over the weekend. In South Central Illinois soybeans price ranged from $8.80 to $9.08 a bushel while corn was $3.65 to $3.87 with the average soybean price $8.94 and corn $3.78 on October 21. Corn was three cents lower and soybeans down a penny.
Jim Wheeler
Jim Wheeler, 85, Sullivan, IL, died Tuesday, October 22, 2019, at St. Mary’s Hospital.
Jim was born April 11, 1934, in Decatur, the son of James E. and Nona (Sanders) Wheeler. While living in Greenville, Il., his mother died and Jim moved to Bethany to live with his grandparents, Otis and Clara Wheeler. He married Donna Shank in 1956 and had three sons, Brad, Kris and Derk. Donna died in 1991, after a long illness. Jim married Ann Poland in June 1994.
While a young man, Jim, like his father and grandfather, started a commercial and residential construction company. He, along with his friend attorney Robert M. White, was responsible for the first retail IGA complex and the Quick Plastics commercial building in Sullivan. He also built the education building for the Sullivan First United Methodist Church.
In 1963 Jim joined his father-in-law, Owen Shank, in the road maintenance business in Mattoon. Later he and his sons operated Earl Walker, Inc., a road maintenance business in Sullivan.
Jim was a member of the Moultrie County Merit Commission for 33 years and served on many First United Methodist Church boards. He was appointed to the Sullivan City Council and served as a member of the Vocational Board at the Sullivan High School. He also served on the board of the Sullivan Country Club.
He is survived by his wife Ann, sons Brad (Tammie), Kris (Shelly), and Derk (Nicole Atchison) and grandchildren Ben, Hannah, Jed and Gus. Other survivors include his sister and brother-in-law, Phyllis and George Stall of Summerville, SC, and their daughters Jennifer (Harold) Albo and Janene (Cliff) Keefe; sister-in-law Georgia (Rex) Ashbrook and niece Missa (Michael) Cook. Jim shared a close relationship with Gene Compton of Mattoon.
A memorial service will be 2:00 p.m.,Sunday, October 27, 2019, in the Sullivan First United Methodist Church sanctuary followed by a private family burial.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Sullivan Food Bank, Mary’s Weekend Food Bags, or to the Sullivan First United Methodist Church.
William Crum
William Paul “Bill” Crum, 81, passed from his earthly life to his heavenly home, 12:50 a.m. Thursday, October 17, 2019 at the Mattoon Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center. He had been a resident there for the past three years.
Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. Monday, October 21, 2019, at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Sunday at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan. Burial will be in the Oakland Cemetery, Oakland. Memorials may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation: 200 SE 1st Street, Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131 or to Mattoon Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center: 2121 S. 9th Street, Mattoon, IL 61938
Bill was born on August 7th, 1938 on a farm in rural Oakland, to Paul and Edith (Hawkins) Crum. Bill was the oldest of four children to this union. Doris Crum Reinhart of Mattoon, Donald (Monica) Crum of La Grange, IN, and Patricia Cozad of Sunrise Lakes, FL. Also surviving are four nephews and a niece.
Bill graduated from BHS in May 1957. He started as a mechanic at Red Hanna’s Garage in Brocton. He then worked for Roger Bridges as a mechanic for about 47 years. He retired following an automotive accident. He continued working in his own shop in Windsor as a small engine repairman. He worked at this until Parkinson’s Disease made it impossible for him to continue.
He spent the last years of his life in an assisted living home and a nursing home in Mattoon.
Bill was a family person, loved his work, both as a hobby and an occupation. He was a faithful member of Smyser Christian Church in rural Gays.
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 will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday in the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan with Pastor Rodney Houser officiating. Visitation will be from 9 - 11 a.m. Saturday. Burial will be in the Keller Cemetery, Lovington. Memorials are suggested the Lovington Ambulance Service, the Moultrie County Relay for Life or to the Lovington Church of God. Please send online condolences to the family atreedfuneralhome.net.
Pattie was born March 15, 1934 in Lovington the daughter of Herschel and Nannie Harlin Carter. She had worked at the Moultrie Independent Telephone Company and was a member of the Lovington Church of God. Pattie married Edward ‘Ed’ E. Wood on January 13, 1951 in Pochahontas, Arkansas and he preceded her in death on November 2, 2005.
Surviving are her children, Vickie (Steve) Mechling of Logansport, Indiana, Keith (Brenda) Wood of Lovington, Steve (Potae) Wood of Chicago, Judy (Larry) Austin of Mt. Zion; fourteen grandchildren; twenty three great grandchildren and a great great granddaughter and special friend Dorthea Wood of Decatur.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sister, brother, grandson and great granddaughter.
•October 16, 2019•
At ADM in Sullivan prices on Oct. 11, 2019.
Cash price for corn is $3.95. Soybeans $9.00.
Okaw Farmers Coop in Sullivan and Lovington.
Oct corn $3.88; January $3.98. Soybeans Oct. $8.86; Jan $9.00.
•October 16, 2019•
By Mike Brothers
During the Moultrie County Board discussion on salary and bonus recommendations Oct. 10 prior to the vote on a tentative budget, the county’s pay policy was tested.
Treasurer Stephanie Helmuth requested a $1000 bonus for first deputy Michelle Liddiard. Helmuth is the newly elected Republican treasurer and explained Liddiard was instrumental in the transition.
Circuit Clerk Christa Helmuth explained that the circuit clerk’s office, county clerk’s office and supervisor of assessments were all called on to donate staff to the Treasurer’s office.
Retired Democrat treasurer Marci Thompson had agreed to help with the office transition and the board had budgeted for that, but the new treasurer elected to use her a limited amount, saving the line item in her budget.
The circuit clerk explained it was not fair for the other offices to donate services in order to allow the treasurer to give bonuses.
Supervisor of assessments Lori Barringer reminded the board that her request for bonuses for office staff during her transition was turned down by the board, demonstrating inconsistency in the policy. Read More
•October 16, 2019•
Sullivan Art Club’s final art workshop for it’s 2019 season will be held on Saturday, October 19 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 am to 3:00 pm with an hour break for lunch. Participants may bring a sack lunch or dine at one of the area restaurants. Read More
•October 16, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor
The Sullivan-Okaw Valley football team missed its first win of the season in a 56-6 lost to St. Teresa in Decatur Friday night.
The Bulldogs scored early and often in the blowout.
St. Teresa totaled 35 first quarter points and took a 49-0 lead into the half. Read More
Photo furnished
Katherine Kite runs her last regular season home cross country meet for Sullivan on senior day at Tabor Park last Tuesday.
•October 16, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor
The Sullivan cross country teams competed in its last home meet of the year at Tabor Park last Tuesday and then entered the Cumberland Invitational Saturday.
The boys team took third, and though the girls did not field a full team, two runners placed in the top three.
For the girls, Katherine Kite was honored on senior night and placed third with a time of 20:57, and Tori Turnbaugh won the meet with a time of 20:48.
For the boys’ team, two runners finished in the top ten. Read More
File photo
Major Lynn Lowder was awarded Silver Star for Valor in Vietnam. He knows a little about what it is like to return home after serving in a foreign conflict, now he is committed to helping others.
•October 16, 2019•
By Barry Sadler
For the News Progress
If you have never heard of V-Harmony, you should.
According to founder, Sullivan High School 1964 graduate and retired Marine Corp Maj. Lynn Lowder, V-Harmony matches veterans with business opportunities.
“When WWII veterans returned, 49 percent helped rebuild America by owning or operating a business,” Lowder, a special operations US Marine veteran, said.
“Less than seven percent of all returning Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans are in business for themselves; although 25 percent would like to be.”
Lowder explained that the provisions of the GI bill that helped create the great American middle class are no longer available to returning veterans.
Credit scores and collateral drive business loans which are a detriment to today’s veterans who return to civilian life with no FICO and little collateral.
That’s where V-Harmony comes in. Lowder and partner Dale Eisenburg have established a 501c3 which entitles the Veterans Business Project to help bridge the ownership gap.
Special operations and National Guard have had to return repeatedly since 9/11, stretching the few to their physical and mental limits. Lowder explained the suicide rate among returning veterans continues to escalate.
“Our country trains us to be warriors,” Lowder said, explaining that when a warrior returns from the battlefield, the transition is not easy, and for some, almost impossible due to post traumatic stress from repeated exposure to conflicts overseas. Read More