Blake Caspary
Blake Richard Caspary 56, of Sullivan passed away peacefully at 11:35 p.m. Saturday, August 17, 2019 in his sister’s home with his brother Jay by his side.
Graveside services were held at 10:30 a.m. today (Wednesday, August 21) in Greenhill Cemetery in Sullivan. Read More
•August 21, 2019•
By Ellen Ferrera
for The News Progress
If you didn’t know the authorship you would swear this cheerful musical was right out of a Garrison Keillor Lake Wobegon story.
The main characters are four staunch, Lutheran, Norwegian women who spend the entire play in the basement of the East Cornucopia Lutheran Church where they orchestrate the food for various church events.
They are a celebration of all the church basement ladies all over the world.
The scene opens in a classic 1965 church basement perfectly recreated from the vintage doors, fridge, stove and freezer, down to the wooden cross above one of the doors.
This is the domain of Mavis, Vivian, Karin and her daughter, Signe. Read More
Elizabeth Houser
•August 21, 2019•
By Mike Brothers
The Moultrie County Board welcomed a new member at the Thursday, August 15 meeting. Sullivan Country Financial agent Elizabeth Houser was sworn in by County Clerk Georgia England as the newest member of the Moultrie County Board.
County Board Chairman Dave McCabe noted the appointment was effective immediately. Houser will run in 2020 as she completes the term of Republican county board member Tim Rose who recently resigned.
Upon recommendation by Chairman McCabe a resolution to cancel the property tax sale for 720 W. Prairie in Sullivan was approved. He explained the owners had resolved back tax issues. Attending board members Kevin McReynolds, Mike Barringer, Arlene Aschermann, Elizabeth Houser, Todd Maxedon and Tyler Graven voted for the resolution. Members Neil Bryan and Bill Voyles were absent. Read More
•August 21, 2019•
By Jim Nowlan
Capital News Service
Gov. J. B. Pritzker has proposed a graduated income tax for Illinois (higher rates for higher incomes), which prompts these fundamental questions: How should society allocate wealth? How should government redistribute it? And, of course, should we vote for or against the graduated tax at the 2020 election? (Whew, talk about big topics for 800 words!)
Life is, at the core, about the struggle for wealth and power. I tell my students that political science is the study of who gets what, why, and how?
Kings and rulers used to allocate wealth by taking as much of it as they could for themselves without fomenting peasant revolts. Uprisings in the medieval centuries by charismatic peasant leaders like Wat Tyler in England usually ended with guys like Wat and his followers dangling from gibbets. Those with the wealth (known otherwise as power) generally prevailed.
Plagues in the same period wiped big chunks of the peasantry off the countryside, which increased demand for the remaining workers — and thus wages. So, the market plays a role, though imperfectly.
Enlightenment thinkers of the 17th Century proposed that people other than royalty should have a say in budgeting and taxation; the idea took hold in England and here. Read More
File photo
Sullivan’s golf team was sectional champs last season. Team leader Caden Ellis and Leighton Burcham graduated. Coach Ben Richter has several returning golfers expecting a strong season. From last year from left: Drew Rogers, Logan Westjohn, Aiden Short, Ellis, Burcham, Tim Lawyer, Leyton Ellis and Coach Richter.
•August 21, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor
The Sullivan boys’ golf team returns several top performers from last season but will missing its top player.
Last year, with Cade Ellis leading the way, the Redskins achieved nearly every season accomplishes they had set out.
In the Class 1A state golf meet at Prairie Vista Golf Course in Bloomington, Sullivan placed fifth with a score of 337, and Ellis earned all-state honors with a tie for third place with a score of 76.
“We started the season at the practice green at the country club,” said Sullivan coach Ben Richter, “and we said what were our goals. It was, ‘We need to go undefeated.’ It was, ‘We need to win the conference.’ And then it was, ‘Win the regional, win sectional and go to state.’ They achieved all of their goals so I am really proud of them.”
This year he hopes for more of the same. Read More
•August 21, 2019•
Have you ever imagined living in a different time and culture where life depended on hunting and gathering skills?
Learn more about what life was like for the Native Americans who inhabited Illinois and about how they used natural resources native to this region when Rock Springs Nature Center presents “Native American Life-Ways” at the Arthur Public Library at 1 p.m. Saturday, September 7.
This presentation is free to attend but seating is limited. Call the library at 217-543-2037 to reserve a spot.
•August 21, 2019•
By Rebecca Anzel
Capitol News Illinois
Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a law giving voters in one Illinois county an option to more easily dissolve township governments. It is an initiative of two state lawmakers to ease residents’ property taxes by reducing levels of government.
Barrington Hills Representative David McSweeney said it is the first step to providing that choice to voters throughout the state. Consolidation must first work well in McHenry County, the sixth most populous county in Illinois, before the experiment can expand.
“We need to show that it works, but in the future I plan to use this as a way to promote other types of consolidation — we need to look at school districts, park districts, municipalities,” McSweeney, the law’s House sponsor, said. “I am going to continue to focus on this.”
There are more than 8,500 local government units in Illinois, according to the comptroller’s website — 1,428 of those are townships. These are essentially the closest level of government to residents, required to provide general assistance to the poor, administer property assessments and maintain roads. Read More
Robert J. ‘Bob’ Hatley
Robert J. ‘Bob’ Hatley, 92, of Destin, Florida formerly of Sullivan passed away at 8:00 p.m. Thursday August 15, 2019 in Destin, Florida.
Celebration of Life services will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday in the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan with Pastor Grant Wade officiating. Visitation will be one hour before services. Burial will be in the Greenhill Cemetery, Sullivan with military rites conducted by the Sullivan American Legion Post#68. Memorials are suggested to Meals on Wheels. View complete obituary and send online condolences at reedfuneralhome.net.
Bob was born June 13, 1927 in Waupun, Wisconsin, the son of Walter and Lillian Ruth Honeywell Hatley. He had worked for Sears in Decatur, had been a Sullivan Police Officer and then later worked for the Arizona Department of Corrections. Prior to moving to Sullivan he was a barber in Phoenix for many years. He attended the Sullivan First Baptist Church and the Gospel Assembly of Decatur. Bob served as a paratrooper for the U.S. Army from 1945 to 1948. He married Nora V. Stewart on October 3, 1955 in Phoenix, Arizona and she preceded him in death on December 5, 2008.
Surviving are his children Robert C. (Jean) Hatley of Plainfield, Melissa Hatley of Sullivan, Michael (Michelle) Hatley of Destin, Florida; brother William Hatley of Phoenix, Arizona; grandchildren Christina Whitford, Nick Trussell, Michele (Charlie) August, Amanda Hatley, Kevin Hatley, Aric Dama, Adam Dama, Justin (Lindsey) Eckart, Aric Eckart and Ashley Eckart and six great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, two brothers and two sisters.
Blake Richard Caspary
Blake Richard Caspary, 56, of Sullivan passed away peacefully at 11:35 p.m. Saturday, August 17, 2019 in his sister’s home with his brother Jay by his side.
Graveside services will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, August 21, 2019 at Greenhill Cemetery, Sullivan. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Moultrie County Counseling Center, 12 West Harrison St., Sullivan.
Blake was born December 17, 1962 in Shelbyville, the son of Bert Richard Caspary, Shirley Ann (Weber) Caspary and birth mother Elaine (Millikin) Caspary. He enjoyed reading and writing, spending time with family and friends and spending time outdoors.
Blake is survived by his brother Jay (Barbara) Caspary of Maumelle, AR; sisters, Gay (Ronald) Schulte of Centreville, VA, Jan (Paul) Behm of Grapevine, TX and Amy Jo (Tom) Pope of Sullivan.
He was preceded in death by his father, mother and birth mother.
Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mcmullinyoung.com
•August 14, 2019•
Secretary of State Jesse White hosted the National Minority Donor Awareness Week event “Wave Away the Waiting” to promote organ/tissue donation for multicultural communities. White was joined by donor recipients and families.
“We are working together to end the wait for those in need of organ donation,” said White. “Unfortunately, minorities are in great need of organ transplants, yet they donate at a lower rate. I encourage everyone to register to become an organ/tissue donor to help give the gift of life to someone in need.”
Nationally, people of color comprise 59 percent of the waiting list for organ transplants; however, this year they accounted for only 33 percent of those who donated organs, according to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network.
According to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network: Read More