Leslie Kevin Brownlee
Leslie (Kevin) Brownlee, 58, of Princeton, KY died Friday October 4, 2019 at his home. He was self employed as a garage door installer and was a member of First Baptist Church of Sullivan, IL. Read More
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Titus Sentel Trust Auction
•October 9, 2019•
The Winifred Titus Sentel Trust farm auction is 10:00 a.m. Friday, November 15 at American Legion Post 68 in Sullivan.
The 923.54 acres of farmland in Sullivan Township is divided into seven tracts with Busey Bank, farm brokerage handing details.
For more information go to Busey.com or call 217/425-8245.
Remember When? 10-9-2019
25 Years Ago This Week
Dennis Fayhee of Paris purchased the stairway at Fox Harbor for $50 during their bankruptcy auction. Fayhee was rumored to be interested in leasing the facility. Included in the list of Fayhee’s other purchases were six related boat slips, the restaurant and equipment for $8,500, street lights and Fox Harbor signs, the gas dock and more boat slips and more.
Artist Janet Louise Shuman Roney and nurse Mary Lou “Cupie” Risley Ozier were the winners of the Hall of Fame and Who’s Who awards at the 1994 Sullivan High School Homecoming. Maxine Yaw Davis of Sullivan was surprised when she was presented with a commemorative plaque in recognition for her 25 years of dedicated service to the Sullivan Alumni Assn. The oldest alumni member attending was Merle Myers Martin (Class of 1916) and the youngest was Cynthia Roney (Class of 1991).
The Sullivan High School and Middle School Choral Departments presented “At The Hop” featuring Sullivan Singers, Sullivan Singers Jr., New Generation and the 6th, 7th and 8th grade chorus. A 50’s Sock Hop will follow the show. Read More
Laughter with the Pastor is Sullivan Author’s Seventh Book
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
Twin Tourney Wins for OV Volleyball Team
•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
OV Cross Country Team Wins
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.
ALAH Football Shuts Down Broncos
•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
Letter to the Editor 10-9-2019
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
Illinois Higher Education in Disarray; Can it be Saved?
•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
All-Conference Honors for Sullivan Golfer
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.