Photo furnished
Arianna, Alex and Luthor Peck with Rocksy the beagle. The three siblings have been raising money for their dog’s heart surgery and so far have raised $11,000.

•August 5, 2020•
by Ellen Ferrara
for the News Progress

A year ago, in April Fish Wrap included a story about 10-year-old Alex Peck and his sister, Arianna, who had rescued a little Beagle dog from an abusive environment.
Sadly, a subsequent check-up revealed that Rocksy, the Beagle, had a serious heart valve defect that would require medication and monitoring for her life. Alex was heartbroken but determined to give his dog the very best care he could.
Alex’s first love is collecting and tumbling rocks and gem stones which he sells. His sister, Arianna (The Button Girl) designs and makes pinback buttons. Together they set out to raise the $20,000 for Rocksy’s heart surgery that they discovered had been perfected in Japan.
Last year the main venues for selling their wares were craft shows, fairs, yard sales and trade shows. Last year they exhibited at 40 different shows but it all came to a screeching halt with the advent of the Coronavirus. Rocksy’s food and medical care cost Alex about $250/month so the little entrepreneurs needed another way to raise funds. Read More

Photo by Mike Brothers
Herb Flannell in his signature cowboy hat chews on a cigar while directing his tuck pointing crew at the Clayton building in Decatur.

•June 24, 2020•

Herb Flannell chews on his unlit cigar, gives directions to tuck pointers and stops traffic on Eldorado street in Decatur-just another day on the job.
Flannell’s Tuckpointing and Masonary is rescuing the former turn of the 20th century factory that houses Clayton Sales, Inc. fireplace and wood burner experts on Route 36 in downtown Decatur.
The roof was ripped from the building in an early spring storm and the brick wall facing Eldorado St. was in peril when Clayton called Flannell.
“His building was about to fall in, so we stopped our job in Monticello and came here,” Flannell said, explaining they reinforced the brick and have most of the structure tuck pointed and ready for a new roof. Read More

Photo furnished
Giving each other a break and maintaining a safe distance led to staggering breaks and maintaining six feet of personal safety in the Hydro Gear break room.

Working Together for Safety of All

•April 29, 2020•
Like nearly all families and businesses in the United States (and around the world), the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on Hydro-Gear.
“Our employees have remained positive and have continued to work together through this difficult time – and we must remain optimistic about the future, while taking critical actions daily” says Mike Todd, Vice President Operations.
Hydro-Gear’s customers, such as John Deere, have been deemed essential businesses and have required the company to support them by continuing production operations. All three main U.S. Hydro-Gear facilities (Sullivan-IL, Princeton-KY, and Indianapolis-IN) have remained open to meet their customers’ needs.
The company has taken many important steps to safeguard the health of employees. These actions are being coordinated through a COVID-19 Planning Team that is staying up-to-date with current events. Read More

•March 4, 2020•
By Ellen Ferrera
for The News Progress

Growing up in Sullivan Earl Jeffers had a rare opportunity to apprentice to his father who had an automotive repair business.
In addition to learning about automotive repairs, maintaining tools, welding, and brake repairing he watched his father teach himself woodworking.
Wayne Jeffers, Earl’s father, made violins for all of his children and they are cherished family possessions today.
Earl earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Eastern Illinois University and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Southern Illinois University. He taught in elementary schools, worked for some years in industry and then returned to be Superintendent at an Area Vocational School near Mt. Vernon.
He lost his wife to pancreatic cancer when she was 51.
Some twenty years ago he and his second wife, a professional portrait artist, retired near Ashville, North Carolina. There he joined a local wood-turner club and eventually became a founder and President of the Western North Carolina Wood-turners club. Read More

Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Pictured is Rev. Mark Bjornbak with wife Lucy.

•November 13, 2019•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Reverend Mark Bjornbak has been selected to serve the congregation of Sullivan’s First Baptist Church where he delivered his first sermon on October 3.
He grew up in Michigan and has been a church member his entire life. Of his early life he recalls, “My family had a business I could have entered but I knew from the age of 14 that the Lord had called me to the ministry.”
Bjornbak received his BA in Human Relations and Fine Arts from Judson University in Elgin, IL. It was there that he met his future wife, Lucy Lane, from Sullivan. He majored in human relations because he wanted to know about working with people before entering seminary.
After completing his Masters in Divinity at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY Pastor Bjornbak began his service at Calvary Baptist Church in Elgin as the Sunday School Director and Youth Leader. Read More