Category Archives: Features

Singers Make Finals at Mt. Zion for First Time in Three Years

News Progress Posted on by

King wins men’s solo competition

by Kirk Whitaker
Arthur/Sullivan Reporter

18 points.

15 points last year, and three points two years ago were the slimmest of margins by which the Sullivan Singers didn’t make finals at Mt. Zion’s Midwest Classic show choir competition.

That all changed Saturday night as the Singers were awarded the fifth of six randomly selected spots—performing at 8:30—in finals along with Wheaton Warrenville South, Twinsburg (Ohio), Davenport West (Iowa), Chatham Glenwood, and Decatur Eisenhower.

On top of the excitement of earning a finals spot, it was also announced during awards that sophomore Grant King had won the men’s division of the solo competition and would perform at 6:50 p.m. before finals opened at 7.

Going into finals, the Singers were ranked third behind Wheaton and Chatham, but after the final performances, the Singers were placed fifth of the six groups.

The Singers missed holding onto third—which was taken by Twinsburg—by 1.5 points.

On top of the tight finish, Chatham pulled a large upset, dethroning Wheaton as grand champions of the competition. The Classics were looking to make a three-peat at Mt. Zion, but the goal didn’t come to fruition.

For Sullivan, there is a week off before traveling to Danville for their next chance to perform.

Small but Quality Turnout Saturday for Book Presentation

News Progress Posted on by

Guillory connects with local reader, homeowner, and subject

by Florence Hallford
Lovington Reporter

“Houses are museums…they are archives of our life.”

Or so Dan Guillory explained Saturday during a presentation of his book “House Poems: Structures and Their Inhabitants.”

The presentation, Historic Homes and Their Untold Stories, was held in the Lovington Public Library  with a purpose to awaken society on the importance of maintaining homes through restoration and preservation.

In the poem “Deconstructing an Old House”, Guillory’s thoughts on tearing down broken homes are clear.  Read More

Christmas Fun and Generosity Combine for Inaugural Event

News Progress Posted on by

Moultrie, Douglas businesses, individuals partner up for donations

by Jake Dilley
Reporting in Arcola

The Christmas spirit was in full steam at the Green Mill Village Holiday Walk in Arcola Saturday, December 14.

Businesses from Moultrie and Douglas counties participated by decorating and donating a Christmas tree or wreath to a silent auction with the proceeds going towards a non-profit charity of their choice in central Illinois.  Read More

After Increased Demand, New Gun Store Opens in Lovington

News Progress Posted on by

by Florence Hallford

Photo by Keith Stewart Ralph Zancha of Lovington has officially opened his new firearms store, Zancha’s Guns and Ammo, which also sells top of the line metal detectors and knives.

Photo by Keith Stewart
Ralph Zancha of Lovington has officially opened his new firearms store, Zancha’s Guns and Ammo, which also sells top of the line metal detectors and knives.


Lovington Reporter

After selling firearms part time from his private residence, Ralph Zancha had to make a move if he was going to keep up with the increasing demand.

“Business had gotten so good we had to expand,” he explained. “It was get bigger or get out.”

Zancha did just that Saturday when his new store Zancha’s Guns and Ammo held its grand opening in downtown Lovington.

A steady stream of visitors crowded the store throughout the day, browsing the firearm selection. In addition to firearms, the store sells Garrett metal detectors and accessories and is an authorized Case Knife dealer.

Currently, Zancha works as a manager at O.K. Jobbers during the day while his daughter operates the store. He runs the store in the evenings and on weekends. He hopes that sales will continue to increase so he can leave his job and become full-time at the new location. He plans to promote the store through advertising and is holding a New Year’s Eve drawing. Names are entered into the drawing for every $100 spent. The winner will receive a Marlin 336.  Read More

Quilting to Quell Unfortunate Times

News Progress Posted on by

Local church donates handmade items for children in need

by Barry Featheringill
Sullivan Reporter

When parents make bad decisions or other circumstances arise resulting in children suffering as they are taken from their homes with very few, if any, belongings, the scene is an unfortunate one.

But the First Christian Church of Sullivan Quilters Sunday school class has begun a project to try and counteract this set of very real circumstances here in Moultrie County.  Read More

Holiday Housewalk Reinvented to Benefit Relay for Life

News Progress Posted on by

One-day event raises over $800

by Florence Hallford
Lovington Reporter

The Lovington Housewalk, an event that has not been held for more than five years, took place on Sunday, December 8.

The walk formerly benefitted Lovington High School, but this year its proceeds went to support the Relay for Life, a fundraising event for the American Cancer Society.

Stephanie Eccles ran the event with help from Tracy Garmon and Norma Brust, and it proved successful by raising more than $800.  Read More

A Little Dancing Can Go a Long Way

News Progress Posted on by
Photo by Keith Stewart OVES third graders Abby Luckenbill (left) and Lexie Bartimus (right) enjoy the fruits of their labor during a school dance Friday after they organized a toy and canned food drive at their school last week.

Photo by Keith Stewart
OVES third graders Abby Luckenbill (left) and Lexie Bartimus (right) enjoy the fruits of their labor during a school dance Friday after they organized a toy and canned food drive at their school last week.

OV third graders create toy/food drive

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

During this time of year, it’s not uncommon to see or read about a coat, toy, or food drive. But typically, such events are organized by adults, not children, especially not elementary school children.

But for Okaw Valley third graders Abby Luckenbill and Lexie Bartimus, the idea of creating such a drive is one they’ve each harbored since the first grade but did not actually organize until last week, when they managed to rally the entire school to collect both toys and canned goods for local families. Read More

New Chiropractor Opens Shop in Sullivan

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

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

Secret Santa Shares Spirit Of Giving All Year Long

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Keith Stewart Sullivan High Schooler Beretta Phelps puts the finishing touches on the gift wrapping at Shopko last Thursday. She along with other high school students helped wrap gifts as they were purchased through Secret Santa, which this year has seen an increase in the need for assistance.

Photo by Keith Stewart
Sullivan High Schooler Beretta Phelps puts the finishing touches on the gift wrapping at Shopko last Thursday. She along with other high school students helped wrap gifts as they were purchased through Secret Santa, which this year has seen an increase in the need for assistance.

Program sees increase in need for assistance this year

by Ariana Cherry
Arthur/Sullivan Reporter

Fifteen years ago a young child had wished for a bicycle for Christmas. While it was one of the few things he had asked for, his parents were unable to afford it because of a financial hardship. The story soon found its way to John Love, chief of the Sullivan Police Department. He wanted nothing more than to make this dream come true for the young child. Love made arrangements to “accidentally” bump into the child at the former Pamida store in Sullivan.

While in the bicycle section, Love approached him and said, “I am buying a bike for someone about your age. If you could have a bicycle, what would it look like?” The young child described the colors and then pointed out a bicycle that had caught his eye. Love commented that the bicycle was very nice, and then replied, “Merry Christmas. The bike is yours.” Nothing at that point and time could explain the expression that came on the young child’s face. Read More

A Familiar Though Nonetheless Festive Showing

News Progress Posted on by
Photo by Keith Stewart A young Ralphie, played by 13-year-old Kyle Klein II, looks down at a pair of broken glasses, as his adult self, played by John McAvaney, looks on during the Little Theatre’s performance of “A Christmas Story.”

Photo by Keith Stewart
A young Ralphie, played by 13-year-old Kyle Klein II, looks down at a pair of broken glasses, as his adult self, played by John McAvaney, looks on during the Little Theatre’s performance of “A Christmas Story.”

LTOTS performs “A Christmas Story” through Dec. 22

By Dan Hagen
NP Theatre Critic

Given the demographic prominence of the baby boomers, it’s almost surprising that we don’t have more stories focusing on the joys peculiar to postwar, precocious-child Christmases.

But there are, at least, two, and they are now safely ensconced as holiday classics — Charlie Brown’s first animated special, and the play now on the boards at the Little Theatre — “A Christmas Story,” a faithful adaptation of the 1983 film.

I know, this Jean Shepherd material is really pre-baby boomer, dated by such references as the Little Orphan Annie radio serial that began in 1930, and the Red Ryder comic strip, which started in 1938. But I would argue that Shepherd, born in 1921, truly anticipated the baby boomer Christmas — the experience familiar to that increasingly affluent mid-century consumer-child who had been beguiled by advertising into obsession with some particular toy, in this case a “Red Ryder BB gun with a compass in the stock and this thing which tells time.” Read More