Category Archives: Features

Despite Several Snow Days, Students Collect for Souper Bowl

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Photo by Micah Heddins Sullivan fifth grader Brett Johnson organizes canned goods at the Moultrie County food pantry Friday.

Photo by Micah Heddins
Sullivan fifth grader Brett Johnson organizes canned goods at the Moultrie County food pantry Friday.

Final push on last day collects over 800 items for food pantry

by Christina Whitford
Sullivan Reporter

For most people the Super bowl is a time to dawn your football jersey and root for your favorite team. For the students in Ms. Heddins’ fifth grade class it’s also an opportunity to give back to the community.

After attending Sullivan schools, Micah Heddins returned to the town she grew up in to join the staff of Sullivan elementary school. With her she brought a passion for teaching and giving back to the community. However, it was during her student teaching experience in Palmero that she and her cooperating teacher developed the idea to use the Super Bowl as an opportunity for the children in their class to give back to the community by collecting for the local pantry in what they dubbed the Souper Bowl. Read More

Remembering George

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Submitted

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Former students still recall Casleton’s intrigue as teacher

by Christina Whitford
Sullivan Reporter

For many people, the late and former area teacher George Casleton is remembered for his dynamic teaching style, but few people are aware of the chance encounter that actually brought him to our community.

George Casleton was born in 1925 in the southern Illinois town of West Frankfort. He, along with his parents and two siblings, remained a part of this town throughout his adolescent years. While growing up, Casleton enjoyed banging on the drums and continued this passion for nine years as a member of the Ted Paschedag Band and Orchestra. After graduating from West Frankfort High School in 1943, Casleton went on to serve his country by joining the armed forces. Casleton was stationed in Italy during World War II and earned a Bronze Star.  Read More

Singers Look to Improve Off 16th Place National Finish Last Season

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by Kirk Whitaker
Arthur/Sullivan Reporter

The Sullivan Singers are returning the majority of last year’s group that finished 16th at the FAME National Finals in Chicago and with 23 boys and 28 girls in the mix. Although the Singers will not compete in a FAME event in 2014, Sullivan is still looking to contend as one of the nation’s best. Read More

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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