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Special City Council Meeting

News Progress Posted on by

•July 31, 2019•

The Sullivan City Council will have a special meeting beginning at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 31 at the First United Methodist Church.
Purpose of the meeting is to discuss and take action, if any, on the manner of distribution of the assets of the Winnifred Titus-Sentel Trust, including farm real estate and Titus Manor property.
This is a change from the announcement at the July 22 meeting at Building 1225 stating at the regular August 12 city council meeting the tabled motion to request the courts sign the Titus Manor and 923 acres of farmland directly to the city would be acted upon.

Steam Threshing Days Offers Amish Appetite Pleasers

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Photo furnished
Horsepower doesn’t always require spending $3.00 a gallon to keep moving. Visitors to the Amish Heritage Center’s Steam Threshing event will find horsepower is good for lots of chores around the farm.

August 2-3

•July 31, 2019•

By Chic Friar
for the News Progress

The Steam Threshing days set for August 2-3 at the Illinois Amish Heritage Center near Arthur will feature a chicken supper 4:30-7:30 p.m. Friday, August 2.
The supper will feature chicken, mashed potatoes, noodles, green beans and drink and is being prepared by Terry Warren Catering of Sullivan. The show runs from 1-8 p.m. on Friday and from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, August 3.
New this year will be a horse treadmill and broom corn threshing. The horse treadmill is used to transfer horsepower to operate a variety of machinery via a power shaft coming direct from the treadmill. Also new this year will be broom corn threshing and broom making. Read More

Author Visits Lovington

News Progress Posted on by

•July 31, 2019•
Author Pam Saxelby will be at the Lovington Public Library from 2-3 p.m. Friday, August 9.
Saxelby is a children’s author and will do a reading and a project with the kids.
All ages are welcome to attend. Saxelby’s story hour will also coincide with National Book Lovers Day. The library will have refreshments and activities during the day. Read More

Magic Quilts are Given from the Heart

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Debbie Preston with the “Friendship” quilt she made for her husband.

•July 31, 2019•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Debbie Preston has made more than 300 quilts since 2005, and all of them have gone to charities such as Dove, the Fire and Police Departments, American Legion and the Health Department.
Some have traveled around the world to children in Africa and beyond but always only for charities.
It all began, she says, with her grandmother, “She made quilts, and I taught myself to knit and crochet. I began quilting seriously in 2005 and made a quilt for my mother-in-law, Thelma Preston,” Prestion recalled. “When she died, the quilt came back to us.”
She showed the lovely, time-worn quilt her grandmother made for her and continued, “I wrapped my young son in this when he was upset or afraid or sick and he told me it always made him feel better. I told him that was because Grammy sewed love into every stitch.”
Her grandmother’s quilt had the “wedding ring” pattern and reminded me of the treasured quilt I have from my grandmother who made it with such love even with crippled hands. Grandma’s pattern was called “flower garden” and was made from pieces of her chintz dresses. We then shared tearful memories of our grandmothers and their quilts. Read More

Menu 7-31-2019

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Senior Peace Meal

For additional information or for reservations, please call 1-800-543-1770

Monday, August 5 - Chicken enchiladas, baked beans, Harvard beets, whole grain wheat (1), apricots
Tuesday, August 6 - Pulled pork sandwich, baby baker potatoes, vegetable blend, bun, mandarin oranges
Wednesday, August 7 - Chili mac w/beans, spinach romaine salad w/dressing packet, dinner roll, overnight fruit salad
Thursday, August 8 - Roast beef in gravy, mashed potatoes, cauliflower/pea salad, dinner roll, warm fruit crisp
Friday, August 9 - Turkey/cheese sandwich w/mayo packet, lettuce and tomato slices, summer salad, bun, peaches

Good Stuff

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Photo by R.R. Best
Good Stuff
Sullivan Fire District created a water park at Wyman Park to close the eight week Sullivan Parks and Recreation program. Firefighters put on a cookout for the 155 participating kids. Above: Konyr Meador opens his chips, Aaliyah Osborn winks her approval and Alayja Jackson digs in to lunch at the Park Dist./Civic Center summer program.

Dr. Cecil Todd to Speak at New Life Church

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•July 31, 2019•
Dr. Cecil Todd of Branson West, Mo. will speak at New Life Church at 10 a.m. Sunday, August 25.
As the founder of Revival Fires, he has witnessed more than three million souls come to Christ all over the world. He is probably best known for his ministry as an evangelist, crusader, TV minister and revivalist, but he also served as pastor of four churches over the first dozen years of his life’s work for God. Read More

Remember When? 7-31-2019

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25 Years Ago This Week

Tom Foreman, a former Sullivan High School student, makes it big as an ABC News correspondent. In 1976 he was probably just another sophomore taking classes, learning to drive, and hanging out with his buddies. Now, 18 years later and leaps and bounds away from the halls of SHS, he is an ABC news correspondent who has worked with both Peter Jennings and Ted Koppel. Foreman attended Sullivan schools from his fifth grade year through his sophomore year. During the 10th grade he worked for WFWA, the local radio station, as a DJ and stand up comic.
Joe Shaw grew a 17-pound head of cabbage in his garden.
Lovington 7 and 8-year-old girls’ pinto league team took first place in the Mt. Zion Youth League with an amazing 12-1 record. Team members were Shelly Mott, Mallory Murphy, Chantell Hilton, Erin Deters, Christina Bolsen, Nikki Davis, Whitney Nelson, Monica Parrott, Brittany Clough, Jessica Crum, Melanie Phillips and Tera Newberry. The girls are coached by Gary Davis and Joe Nelson. Read More

Benefit for Mike Mathias

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•July 31, 2019•

A benefit for Mike Mathias is 4 p.m.-midnight Saturday, August 10 at Sullivan VFW.
Mathias is a Sullivan resident who has stage three Melanoma cancer. Melanoma is a skin cancer which he had four years ago. It has progressed and now is in his body.
Mathias is in a tough battle and has been off work for more than four weeks.The bills keep coming, and he has a wonderful family for whom to provide.
Food for a donation will be provided 4-7 p.m. by Papa’s Smoked Meats. There will be a 50/50 drawing.
Several musicians will provide music for the benefit, and any local musician who would like to play or sing has an open invitation.
Performing musicians include Tom Jewell and Royce Binion; The Northenders: Chris Eckel, Mike Harmison and Jan Courtright; Southern Cross: Paul Wright, Ed Webb and Mike Jesse.
Proceeds will go to Mike Mathias and his family.

Aquafest at Dam West Beach

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•July 31, 2019•

Aquafest at Dam West Beach at Lake Shelbyville is no ordinary day at the beach.
The event is scheduled for noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, August 3. Children and adults of all ages are welcome to attend.
There will be no fee for using the beach and facilities the entire day.
Activities include water safety carnival games, sand sculpture contest, inflatable water slide, and an appearance from Bobber the Water Safety Dog.
All activities will be carnival and circus themed.
For additional information, visit the Facebook page: @LakeShelbyvilleUSACE or call Lake Shelbyville Interpretive Services & Outreach at 217-774-3951, ext. 2.