•May 25, 2016•

By Mike Brothers

John Ruscin of Sullivan thought his training days were over after joining the Navy in May 1945 during World War II.

Ruscin just returned from the Land of Lincoln Honor Flight of Springfield, where 80 veterans toured various historic and veterans’ sites in Washington, D.C.

A retired junior high school teacher and coach from Sullivan, Ruscin knew the Flight would require some walking around Washington so he went into training weeks before.

“I had surgery and some heart problems, but I didn’t want to use a wheelchair,” he said. “So I started walking up and down the street to hopefully be in good enough shape to walk to the sites.”

Ruscin explained that 14 of the 80 veterans of the free Honor Flight were wheelchair bound. “It put a big burden on the guardians who were responsible for getting the veterans off and on the bus at every stop.”

Impressed by the changing of the guard in Arlington Cemetery and the tours of the memorials, Ruscin explained one thing that got to him were the letters of appreciation sent to veterans on the flight.

Ruscin received 113 letters thanking him for his service during World War II. Read More

Photo furnished
Pie in the Face was done for Box Top Collection at Sullivan Elementary School.  The students are Rhyder Pierce on the left and Liam Donovan on the right.  The teachers are Melissa Haegen on the left, Micah Heddins in the middle, and Kurt Friese on the right.  Students got to play the “Pie in the Face” game as a reward for collecting box tops in December.

•May 4, 2016•

The continued underfunding of schools in Illinois is no secret. For years now, the state of Illinois has balked on fully funding its schools as promised. As a result of these difficult times caused by budgetary constraint, schools have been forced to turn to outside sources to help fund activities. Fortunately, the Sullivan PTO has stepped up its efforts to provide opportunities for the students of Sullivan Elementary School.

PTO is an integral part of the elementary school. They help fund varying activities, including but not limited, to assemblies, field trips, and tickets for all students to see a play at the Little Theatre on the Square. The PTO also gives teachers money to spend in the classroom for supplies, as well as different apps for use with iPads and other technological resources that are used to supplement instruction. Numerous fundraising activities take place throughout the year, such as “Art to Remember” and Box Top collection. The PTO provides great incentives for students to bring in box tops (which may be exchanged for money to be spent in the classroom). One example occurred earlier in the year when students who turned in box tops got a chance to hit their teachers or the principal in the face with a pie. Read More

Photos Submitted One of the hand-stitched quilts that will be auctioned off at this year’s event.

•March 2, 2016•

The Illinois Mennonite Relief Sale Board is working diligently in preparation for the annual two day relief sale that attracts people of all faiths and denominations for a common cause: Providing relief for the needy.

For Peoria and all surrounding communities March signals the traditional Illinois Mennonite Relief Sale.    This year marks the 58th Annual Illinois Sale to be held at Interstate Center in Bloomington on March 18-19.

This family festival is not only a special event filled with food, fun, and fellowship, but also a time for achieving the purpose of helping the needy at home and abroad.

Twenty percent of the net proceeds of the sale help local charities by providing food for the less fortunate.  Some of these agencies are the Peoria Salvation Army, Peoria Rescue Mission,  Midwest Food Bank, Bloomington Home Sweet Home Mission, and other local food pantries.

Eighty percent of the net proceeds are channeled through Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), a worldwide ministry of Anabaptist churches.  Its purpose is to share God’s love and compassion by providing food assistance, clothing, medicine, material resources, and financial to the needy in 60 countries of the world, including America.   Read More

Photo Submitted
Curtin Call For Invisible cast: Addy Diener delivered a special message last Friday night thanking Rebecca Lawson, on the far right, for helping them with this year’s Mirror Images production of Invisible.

•February 3, 2016•

By Kennedy D. Nolen
For the News Progress

Students who are part of ‘Mirror Images’ of Sullivan High School performed the much awaited show ‘Invisible’ at the Little Theatre January 29.

Vernon, played by Jona Workman, is the new kid in school. Frequently moving makes him feel more invisible with each new school.

Mitch has terrible anxiety and panic attacks so badly he cannot even talk to the girl on whom he has a crush.

Alex is the school bully. His home life is rough so he takes his anger out on others. Also, there is the athletic and pretty girl Nicole. She is dating a guy, Gavin, who is somewhat controlling. Sybil, the sweet, smart girl, is best friends with the school’s party girl Avery. Avery has a terrible habit of drinking, driving and using her phone in the process.

Cyrus has voices in his head, and Sapphire has an eating disorder.

He learns everyone in the school has invisible or not-so-invisible problems.

After a couple days go by, Vernon makes friends with Gavin, and they begin to hang out frequently. As Gavin is driving Vernon, Avery is also out driving drunk and talking on the phone with Sybil. She blows a stop sign and hits the car occupied by Gavin and Vernon.

A cameo appearance at the crash by Larry Edwards of the Sullivan Fire Department helped reality hit home for the audience. Vernon was pronounced dead, and Gavin and Avery both had injuries.  Read More

Photo Submitted
Laurrie Minor (left) and Stepheny McMahon (right) are happy to share new ideas for the town of Sullivan in 2016.

•January 27, 2016•

By Kennedy D. Nolen
For the News Progress

As the New Year is upon us, the Sullivan Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development shares their new plans and dreams for the town of Sullivan. Laurrie Minor, chamber administrator, and Stepheny McMahon, director, said they will not only continue their usual events and work from the previous years but will be happy to present fresh ideas to the community throughout 2016.

The Chamber’s annual dinner will be held to discuss an important concept: ‘One Town, One Million Dreams’ Jan. 29 at First United Methodist Church in Sullivan.

McMahon says this idea was given to her by a friend in Marshall who went to eighth grade classrooms, engaging students in workshops where their dreams  and goals were discussed.

The Chamber hopes to encourage the kids as well as the rest of the community to share their dreams with each other as a form of support and connecting people.

“Once someone shares an idea, others may relate to it, and the support can motivate one to meet the goal,” McMahon said.

Both Minor and McMahon have started creating their own dream lists and sharing ideas with each other. Read More