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Games, Rides, Fireworks and Fun at Sullivan Fourth Celebration

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Repeat Grand Champion turtle Mr. Incredible and owner Daisy Richardson. To view more photos, click here.

•July 10, 2019•
By Mike Brothers

Daisy Richardson’s Mr. Incredible was grand champion of the 100th annual Sullivan Fourth of July turtle races held on a warm afternoon in Wyman Park.
Volunteers from the Sullivan American Legion Post 68 Auxiliary, and Sons of American Legion herded some 70 turtles and their owners into 10 heats in the first event of an afternoon of classic Fourth competitions.
Mr. Incredible won the Turtle Race last year with Daisy, and her dad Sam kept the champion in the family pond in Sullivan. Daisy indicated the special diet of gold fish, crawdads and leftover pizza were the key to his championship performance.
Turtle racing was the first event following the annual Fourth of July parade and luncheon hosted at the legion hall. Parade entries filed from the school south and around the Sullivan square for more than an hour serving viewers water, ice pops and plenty of candy to take their minds off the traditional July heat.
The watermelon eating contest and sack races completed the afternoon of games as clouds moved in along with a brief thunderstorm.
Central States Fireworks of Athens set off a spectacular ground and air fireworks show over the lake before a packed Wyman Park. As a special addition, ground fireworks commemorating the 100th anniversary of the founding of Sullivan American Legion Post 68 were displayed. Read More

Hope Chest Free Supplies

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•July 10, 2019•

The grand opening of The Hope Chest at Sullivan Southern Baptist Church is from 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, July 13.
In an effort to help students of Sullivan Community School District #300 buy school supplies they are offering free basic school supplies to those who need help.
The Hope Chest is located in the house east of the church at 615 E. Jackson St. and will be open each Saturday from July 13. Call 217-728-8471 or 217-232-8881 with any questions

Obituaries 7-10-2019: Emmie Young

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Emmie Young

Emmie Joleen Young, 5 weeks 6 days old, passed away July 1, 2019 in her home. Private family services will be held at McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan. Burial will be in Hewitt Cemetery in Lovington.
Emmie was born May 14, 2019 in Centralia, the daughter of Shelby Futch of Salem and Braedan Young of Sullivan. Read More

Winemaking Like Life, Shouldn’t Be Rushed

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
To your health-(from left) Mr and Mrs Ryan Whitten, Kurt Van Deursen, John Durbin and Bob Waelde.

•July 10, 2019•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

It all began when John Durbin and his wife Sue bought their farm in Lovington some years ago. There were Concord grapes on the property and John, not one to let anything go to waste, decided the grapes needed to be made into wine.
“Sue gave me the book, “The Art of Making Wine” by Stanley F. Anderson and said this is all you need to learn the process,” Durbin began. “The book tells you how to do it, includes recipes and information on how to get out of trouble if the process has gone awry.”
Since then, John has mentored several other aspiring winemakers – Ryan Whitten, Kurt Van Deursen and Bob Waelde. On a recent balmy summer evening we all gathered at Durbin’s house where they shared their vinification experiences as well as samples of their very fine wines.
As to the process, wine is usually made from grapes, but you can use anything that has liquid such as fruits and plants. Home brewing is completely legal, but individuals are limited to 100 gallons per year. It is, however, illegal to sell any home brew. You must either consume it or give it away. Read More

Lovington Board Receives Dead Vehicle Complaint

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•July 10, 2019•
Lovington Village Board met June 10 with president Roger Walker recognizing visitors Pam Nottingham and Mike Carriger.
Nottingham read Ordinance 25 relating to inoperable vehicles. She pointed out her neighbor has vehicles in his yard, and she would appreciate if something could be done.
President Walker explained the existing ordinance needs to be rewritten before action can be taken in court. She was told a complaint with police needs to be filed first but was given no response to the outcome after making a complaint. Read More

SBL DAISY Award Honors Extraordinary Nurses

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Photo furnished
DAISY Award winner Debbie Murray, RN

•July 10, 2019•
Debbie Murray, RN, was honored with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses at Sarah Bush Lincoln on June 18.
Murray was nominated for making a big impression on a patient who was receiving ongoing care at SBL’s Advanced Wound Center. The patient’s daughter expressed her gratitude to Murray in the following letter:
“My mother has been receiving care at the Advanced Wound Center for the past year and a half. The wound center has been a tremendous asset to me as well as my mother. Debbie has been extremely knowledgeable and helpful, not only in her wound care but in coordinating my mother’s three doctors, pharmacies, home health and assisted living nursing staff. She is so timely and efficient in what she does. In one afternoon, she had everything organized and ready to go for my mother’s PICC line, pharmacy for the medication, and home health care set up. Read More

Sullivan Council Wrestles With Winnie’s Wishes

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•July 10, 2019•
By Mike Brothers

What would Winnie do?
Sullivan stands to inherit the Winnifred Titus home and 923 acres of farmland, but her intentions 59 years ago weighed against a flurry of social media buzz, again postponed hiring legal counsel at the July 8 meeting.
Commissioner Peggy Hargis moved the city hire legal counsel requesting the circuit court to direct the First National Bank of Decatur trust to sign the Titus Manor and property directly over to the city.
Commissioner Chuck Woodworth seconded the motion with Commissioner Mike Fowler the first to voice dissent.
“I don’t feel comfortable until after I hear from citizens,” Fowler said, referring to a planned public hearing on the future of the Titus property at the July 22 city council meeting.
After commissioner Abbey Sherwood noted she would like to hear from citizens, mayor Richard Glazebrook said the motion gives the perception a decision has already been made on its future. Read More

The Prairie Then and Now Was a Calling

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Dan Guillory’s Tenth Book

•July 10, 2019•
By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

Before there were tall buildings, before there were cities and before the hustle and bustle of life took over our everyday world, there was.... the prairie.
Author Dan Guillory has published his 10th book, “The Prairie: Then and Now,” which also includes artwork by his wife, Leslie Guillory. His book was released by Mayhaven Publishing, an award-winning small press located in Mahomet. The company has published several books on the history of Illinois as well as those about former president, Abraham Lincoln. Mayhaven Publishing has nearly 150 works in print to its name. Read More

The Villa Grove Car Show

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•July 10, 2019•

The Villa Grove car show is Saturday, August 3 at Harrison Park.
Registration is from 9 a.m. to noon with the show from 12-4 p.m.
A 50/50 and grill raffle will held to benefit Mission 22.
Free t-shirts for the first 25 who registered and a free BBQ lunch for all entrants are included.
Specialty awards ace for best paint, best interior, veterans choice, farthest traveled, sponsor’s choice, club participation and Best of Show.
For more information contact Stephen Akers at 217-621-5569 or Kim Akers at 217-832-9778. Go to villagrovecarshow@gmail.com or facebook.com/villagrovecarshow.

Remember When? 7-10-2019

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25 Years Ago This Week

Mabel Standerfer will celebrate her 80th birthday with an open house at the Westhall Center in Sullivan. The event is being hosted by her children, Pickle Standerfer and Karen Rodgers.
Fern Schwartz of Bethany celebrated her 98th birthday at Sullivan Living Center. She was able to enjoy the celebration with her great-great-granddaughter Lauren Harris, her daughter Jeanette Schwartz, granddaughter, Shirley Ford and her great-granddaughter Amy Ford Harris.
Justin Farris, son of Doug and Sherry Farris of Sullivan, is participating in Naval Basic Training at Great Lakes.
Brian McDowell, a vice-president at the First National Bank of Sullivan, had 15 visitors from Romania visit the bank. Sullivan was included on the route to introduce the Romanians to agriculture lending programs. After learning about the banking system, McDowell joined the group on a tour of an operating farm, the Prairie View Pork Farm owned by Jim Johnson of Macon County.
Results from the 4th of July events Read More