Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Geoffrey Auten is pictured here with a wooden American flag he created.

•May 31, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Those acquainted with Geoffrey Auten know what a hidden talent Sullivan has in this quiet, unassuming artist who never saw a piece of wood he didn’t like.

Growing up he worked for many years with his father in a lumber yard where he probably developed his love of wood.

When Auten began duck hunting, he was fascinated by the wooden decoys. “Decoys,” he explained, “are a kind of folk art - each decoy is unique to the artist with no two ever being the same. You usually can’t buy them online.”

Supposedly, former Illinois governor James Thompson, a noted antique collector, paid Read More

Photo furnished
Pictured are Mike and Nancy Craig.

•May 10, 2017•

Mike Craig has a heart for helping others, but what he loves most is connecting people with life-changing mission opportunities.

After leading kids on mission trips throughout the United States for years as former youth leaders at the Methodist Church in Sullivan, Craig and his wife Nancy decided to expand internationally. However, the couple was determined do more than organize short-term mission trips that often provide band-aid solutions to poverty stricken areas. “We really wanted to establish an ongoing relationship in an area of great need so we could make a greater impact,” he said.

After extensive research, the couple decided to adopt the impoverished village of La Ceibita, located in a remote area in Honduras, and they gathered a core group of volunteers to form “Hearts and Hands for Honduras.” The group partners with United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UNVIM), which helps facilitate the work in the village. Read More

Photo by Ellen Fererra
Kiki’s Boutique owner Nikki Jacobazzi is pictured.

•April 19, 2017•

By Ellen Fererra

The exquisite Venetian chandelier catches your eye as you enter the very stylish new Kiki’s Boutique and the owner, Nikki Jacobazzi says, “ Yes, I had to have it, and it was the first item installed - everything was built around it. We had to wrap it in plastic for over a month while we remodeled.”

And what a charming space it is with racks of really beautiful and colorful blouses, dresses, jeans, t-shirts, shoes and must-have jewelry. So much temptation in such a small space but all artfully arranged. The sizes here run from small to 3x, and I was surprised to find almost all of the gorgeous blouses priced at $26 as they look much more expensive.

“We wanted a place to shop in Sullivan with high fashion and reasonable prices as so many shops like Penney’s and Kohl’s are closing.  Plus, you don’t have to drive to shop - we are right here,” she said.

Jacobazzi, who has the gamin looks of an Audrey Hepburn, grew up in Sullivan, went off to the big city and returned about five years ago. That’s when she began going to vendor fairs and selling online where she has shipped her line all over the U.S. and to a growing market in Europe.  Read More

Photo Furnished
It all changed in 1948 when Earl Walker of Walker Road Oilers decided to sponsor a women’s softball team and, for the first time, they had uniforms and a name - “The Walkerettes”! and lost only one game that year to Charleston.

•April 5, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Were you in Wyman Park during the hot summers of the 40s, 50s, 60s munching on popcorn, washing back hot dogs with some cold brewskies and watching Sullivan’s Walkerettes knock a few out of the ball park?

For over 30 years Genny Sutton, who just turned 100 this year, coached, managed and coddled women, their children and even their grandchildren in Sullivan’s only women’s softball league. Sutton founded the league around 1940 and was helped by her husband, son, grandson and countless others to provide summer entertainment to thousands as more than 75 women played on her teams over the years. Read More

Photo by Mike Brothers
Assembly line action from volunteers such as Mike Fallert made quick work of the habitat construction process at Chip’s Marine south of Sullivan Saturday, March 4.

Volunteers Make Difference

•March 8, 2017•

By Wally Bass
for the News Progress

Fishing habitat is serious business so it was no surprise to Chip Christensen when so many fishermen showed up for a habitat build March 4.

Chip’s Marine service bays south of Sullivan were converted into an assembly line for building some 50 fish habitats for Lake Shelbyville.

In this joint venture with the Illinois Department of Conservation and Army Corp of Engineers volunteers from a variety of clubs joined individual sport fishermen to build and place the artificial habitats in the lake. Read More