Photo by Keith Stewart
Owner of Church House Treasures, Natalie Elliott, is prepared for her business to enjoy a full second year of operation in Bethany having reopened this month.

After difficulties, Church House Treasures looks to a new year

by Emily Scott
& Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

Natalie Elliott first opened her antique store, Church House Treasures, last May after reading about the property being for sale in a local publication. Elliott, a St. Joseph native, had never previously been to Bethany, let alone known where it was.

“It was something I wanted to do for a long time,” she said.

Located in the former Presbyterian Church in Bethany, the store featured hundreds of items from clothes to jewelry, to holiday decorations and dishware and anticipated more offerings throughout its first year of business.

But just a few weeks after opening, her husband Dave was involved in a motorcycle accident, putting a halt to the store’s ambitions.

“Everything changed that day,” said Elliott of her husband’s wreck. “Everything.”

Though it remained open off and on last year with the help of Elliott’s friends, the store re-emerged this month, a year old in reality, but truly just beginning. Read More

Photo by Keith Stewart
Erin and Shane Weybright are the owners of the Hired Hand Winery & Saloon in downtown Bethany, which officially opened last November.

Pizza also available to order

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

Shane Weybright is a carpenter by trade. As such, the Bethany native has become accustomed to tools and expanding his tool belt, both literally for his profession and in he and his wife Erin’s other endeavors as entrepreneurs.

Nearly two years ago, the couple opened Echoes Pottery Studio and then helped with the establishment of Howlin’ Dog Studios last year. But more recently, the Weybrights moved forward with opening Hired Hand Winery & Saloon, the third new business in downtown Bethany. Read More

New Italian restaurant to offer dishes unique to area

by Jake Dilley
Reporting in Sullivan

November 11 marked the opening of Sullivan’s newest restaurant, Rosati’s Pizza,  a family-run business whose first store was opened in downtown Chicago and featured “Italian Style Pizza” as well as pastas, sandwiches, and a whole menu full of other items from which to choose.  Read More

Photo by Keith Stewart
Pictured is Dr. Quintin Murray, who has taken over the chiropractic office formerly Dr. Kellerman’s in Sullivan.

by Christina Whitford
Sullivan Reporter

While dealing with medical issues during his eighth grade year, Quintin Murray was able to find assistance and relief through the chiropractic services of Dr. Jeffery Fishel in Arcola. After meeting Dr. Fishel, Murray knew that he too wanted to be a chiropractor and help people with relief of pain when he grew up. And now that he has, Murray is doing just that.

“Dr. Fishel sat with me and helped me,” Murray explained. “He really had an impact on me.”

Murray spent his early educational years in Arthur. After graduating, he attended Lake Land College where he also played baseball. He then moved on to continue his education at Millikin University. After getting his degree from Millikin, Murray moved to St. Louis to attend Logan College of Chiropractor where he earned his degree in 2012.  Read More

Photo by Keith Stewart
Tyler Mosier, Timmy Valentine, and John Stephens (L-R) recently opened the Astoria Company Store, which features homemade soy candles, lotions, soaps, and more. Astoria is located on the first floor of the Harrison Street Inn, in Sullivan.

Local soy leads to candle business

by Christina Whitford
Sullivan Reporter

It’s hard not to notice the aroma in the air when traveling through the Decatur area. But who would imagine that the source of that scent could produce such a beautifully fragrant soy candle. One Sullivan resident saw the potential and ran with it.

After his mother gave him a soy candle as a gift, John Stephens became impressed at the difference between the soy and regular candles. He found that the soy candles did not have the black smoke billowing out, they were much more fragrant, and they lasted longer. It was then that Stephens started putting together items from his own kitchen to create his own soy candle line.  Read More