↓
 

News Progress

More news about the people of Moultrie County than any other newspaper in the world

  • Home
  • News
    • News Briefs
    • Jail Report
    • Mo. Co. Most Wanted
    • Obituaries
  • Feature Stories
  • Sports
  • Editorials
  • Social
    • Video Archive
    • Poll Archive
  • Links
    • News Progress Staff
    • History of the News Progress
    • RR's Portfolio
  • Email Us
  • General News Submissions
  • Subscription
    • Members Area
    • Current Issue
    • Manage Your Profile
  • Login

Submit a news item, obituary, or legal notice to advertise@newsprogress.com

March 17, 2026 Election Results

Author Archives: webmaster

Post navigation

← Older posts
Newer posts →

Laughter with the Pastor is Sullivan Author’s Seventh Book

News Progress Posted on October 9, 2019 by webmasterOctober 9, 2019

Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Nancy Burcham is pictured with her seventh published book.

A 40 year process

•October 9, 2019•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Noted Sullivan author, Nancy Burcham, has just published her seventh book. Entitled “Laughter with the Pastor 101” the book puts forth the theme of embracing the attitude of gratitude along with some very funny stories.
“ I actually started writing the book 40 years ago but presses kept going out of business and I couldn’t find a publisher,” Nancy said, noting hip surgery put the book away for a spell.
“Later I was watching a story about the Boston Marathon where one of the bomb victims spoke of embracing the attitude of gratitude and this inspired me to begin again,” she said.
Burcham wrote to ministers and pastors asking them to share some of the funny incidents that had happened in their ministries.
The result is a collection of wonderfully funny stories which Nancy has enhanced with her own spiritual philosophies on being happy and grateful. She also included appropriate quotations from scripture to underscore her points.
Some of the best stories from the book involve baptisms where ministers forgot to fill the baptistry with water. In one, a minister fell backwards into the baptistry located below the floor and in one case, the person being baptized in a river panicked, broke loose from the pastor and floated down the river before being rescued. Read More

Posted in Features

Twin Tourney Wins for OV Volleyball Team

News Progress Posted on October 9, 2019 by webmasterOctober 9, 2019

•October 9, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Okaw Valley girls’ volleyball team won its first ever Lincoln Prairie Conference Tournament match Monday night.
Then OV won the next one as well.
In pool play, the Timberwolves defeated Arcola 25-12, 25-9 in the first round of the LPC Tournament, and they knocked off Argenta-Oreana 25-15, 25-15 in the second match.
Kate Jeffers hit 11 kills to lead OV, and Paige Coleman collected five kills and six digs.
Grace Bunfill finished with 18 assists and four digs, and April Decesaro led the team with nine digs.
Macie Fleshner followed with four digs and three kills, and Avery Bruns added three kills. Read More

Posted in Sports

OV Cross Country Team Wins

News Progress Posted on October 9, 2019 by webmasterOctober 9, 2019

Photo submitted
OV Cross Country Team Wins
The Okaw Valley cross country boys’ team hold up the first place trophy from the Decatur Fest meet.The Okaw Valley cross country boys’ team made history by winning its first ever team championship trophy. OV boys’ took first place in the Decatur Fest out of 19 teams with a score of 65. The Timberwolves are set to enter the Cumberland Invitational Saturday.

Posted in Sports

ALAH Football Shuts Down Broncos

News Progress Posted on October 9, 2019 by webmasterOctober 9, 2019

•October 9, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

“We told ourselves last week that was going to be the start of a 5-0 run to end the season,” ALAH coach Ryan Anderson said. “We’re 2-0 in that stretch now.”
Last week, ALAH defeated Blue Ridge 51-0, and Friday, the Knights shut out Cerro Gordo-Bement 46-0.
The Knights scored early and often to combine for its 46 points.
Kaden Feagin ran the opening kickoff 82-yard for one of his two touchdowns, and the Knights did not look back. Read More

Posted in Sports

Letter to the Editor 10-9-2019

News Progress Posted on October 9, 2019 by webmasterOctober 9, 2019

Dear Editor,
This letter to to express my appreciation for the Customer Appreciation event sponsored by First Mid Bank and Trust in Sullivan.
It was a wonderful day and everyone worked so hard.
Thank you to everyone at the bank!
Hazel Fraker

Posted in News Briefs

Illinois Higher Education in Disarray; Can it be Saved?

News Progress Posted on October 9, 2019 by webmasterOctober 9, 2019

•October 9, 2019•
By Jim Nowlan
NP guest columnist

Illinois higher education is in disarray as a result of an exodus of students from our state, uncertain state funding, declining high school graduation numbers, excess capacity, and the seeming implosion of several state universities.
Background. Three-quarters of a million of our citizens enroll each year at the state’s 12 public university campuses, 48 community college districts (with many campuses) and 110 private non-profit and for-profit institutions of post-secondary learning. In addition, our major research universities such at the University of Illinois in Urbana and Chicago pump out top engineers and scientists, who generate patents and startups. Strong higher education is critical to our state’s future.
In 2000, a national group that knows about such things declared Illinois to have the best higher education offerings among the states for quality and affordability. No longer.
Because of reduced state spending for higher ed in recent years, Illinois’ public universities and colleges jacked up their tuition, making our in-state student costs among the highest in the nation. Read More

Posted in Editorials

All-Conference Honors for Sullivan Golfer

News Progress Posted on October 9, 2019 by webmasterOctober 9, 2019

Photo submitted

•October 9, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

Sullivan girls’ golfer Erin Wallace shot a 108 for fifth place to earn all-conference honors at Moweaqua Golf Course last Tuesday.
The Redskins shot a team score of 473 for third place.
Alyssa Shriver shot a 111 for eight place, and Morgan Moll scored a 126 for 15th place.
Miriah Booker scored a 128 for 16th place, and Abby Kirkwood-Ray and Lara Herschberger shot a 135 and 139, respectively.
Sullivan is scheduled to enter the regional action host by Okaw Valley Thursday (10th) at Eagle Creek Golf Course in Findlay.

Pictured are All-Conference players Erin Wallace, Logan Westjohn, Leyton Ellis and Camden Dwyer pose with their medals.

Posted in Sports

Sullivan Volleyball Team Knocks off Neoga

News Progress Posted on October 9, 2019 by webmasterOctober 9, 2019

Photo by R. R. Best
Raegen Sims (#6) watches as Lilly Null bumps the ball against Clinton at home Thursday.

•October 9, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Sullivan volleyball team split a pair of matches this past week.
The Redskins defeated Neoga but lost to Clinton.
Monday night in a nonconference matchup at home, the Redskins knocked off the Indians in three sets, 24-26, 25-19, and 25-22.
Avery Still led the team with 14 kills and three blocks, and senior Gwen Diepholz had nine kills and seven digs.
Raegen Sims and Zoe Walton each had five kills and junior, Jerra Goad had eight digs.
Lilly Null led the team with 12 digs, and Emily White had 32 assists.
At home Thursday (3rd), Sullivan lost to Clinton in straight sets 25-21 and 25-11.
Avery Still had three kills and a block, and Diepholz tallied six kills and six digs.
White dished out 10 assists, while Null had five digs.
Sullivan is scheduled to host Central A&M Thursday (10th), then host Stewardson-Strasburg Tuesday.

Posted in Sports

Superintendent-Y Stuff: A Walk with Mr. Walk

News Progress Posted on October 9, 2019 by webmasterOctober 9, 2019

•October 9, 2019•
By Ted Walk,
Supt. Sullivan CUSD #300

On Monday, teachers from Sullivan Schools attended the Small and Rural Teachers Networking Night at Eastern Illinois University.
This event was designed to foster interactions between area schools and college students preparing to enter the field of education.
On Wednesday, a number of Sullivan staff and community members who are interested in obtaining teacher licensure in Illinois, attended the ROE #11 Future Teacher Night. Read More

Posted in News Briefs

Suicide Prevention Helped by Hydro-Gear Raffle

News Progress Posted on October 9, 2019 by webmasterOctober 9, 2019

•October 9, 2019•
Recently a Raffle Extravaganza was held at Hydro-Gear, Sullivan. This raffle was organized as a fundraiser for Team: Karry-on-for-Kass, Kankakee Out of the Darkness Walk, sponsored by, The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).
Cindy Wieferich works for Hydro-Gear and was grateful for the Sullivan plant’s support by raising $2,260 toward suicide prevention.
“My daughter Kassie, lost her battle with mental illness and ended her life, she was just 21,” Weiferch said.
“When I moved to the Sullivan area two years ago I was hesitant to talk about Kassie, I was afraid I would be judged as a mother, and I took a backseat to advocating suicide awareness.” Read More

Posted in News Briefs

Post navigation

← Older posts
Newer posts →

 

Sullivan Royalty



News Progress


Screenshot

Photo courtesy Sullivan High School

Kaylee Smith and Christian Bennett were named Sullivan High School Homecoming Queen and King during halftime of the October 2 football game against Tri-County.


© 2024 - News Progress
Privacy Policy and Terms of Use

100 W. Monroe St., Sullivan, IL 61951 Phone: 217-728-7381 | Open: Hours Vary

↑