Photo by Mike Brothers
Maurine and Don Sanders at Don’s produce stand located in front of Fashions 4-U in downtown Dunn on Highway 121.

•August 8, 2018•

By Tommy Stillfigure
for the News Progress

Fashions 4 U has been a thriving business in Dunn for the past 42 years, but business is starting to pass by like the traffic zooming by the store every day on Hwy 121.
Maurine Sanders was recently widowed from Henry Munch when she returned to Sullivan to raise her children and try to make a living more than four decades ago. After spending five years working at the courthouse, Maurine knew it would take more to feed and keep clothes on the backs of her kids and began looking into starting a business.
She took over an empty antique store in Dunn which is located between Bethany and Sullivan along highway 121.
“I took my little car to those outlets in the Carolinas, and I returned with it filled with clothes,” Maurine said of her first shopping trip for the Dunn store. “I had about $5000 worth of clothes in that car, came back and sold every stitch by the end of the weekend.”
That is when Maurine knew she was on to something.
Over the years she ran small display advertisements in all the area newspapers, and soon people were driving from all around to shop for her specialty sweatshirts and Alfred Dunner clothing for women which became one of her most popular lines. Read More

•June 6, 2018•

By Eden Martin
NP Guest Columnist

A combination of factors led Albert to develop his talent for public speaking:

First, he was blessed with a strong work ethic, a clear mind and outstanding memory, all of which contributed to his development as a fine speaker.

Second, that natural talent was nourished by hearing the Fourth of July and Memorial Day speeches that typified holiday celebrations in central Illinois.

Third, he was impressed by the Methodist church services. Allie wrote in his draft autobiography about those services: “The ‘mourner’s bench’ was a very genuine thing in those days. The churches of every denomination were always having revivals — at least they had revivals every winter. At these revivals the Methodists would shout in an ecstasy of religious exultation or groan in the depths of a real repentance. … Every winter there would be joint debates in the schoolhouses between some two farmers of prominence who were conspicuous bible readers about this, that and the other passages of the Scriptures.”

Fourth, he attended political as well as religious debates. “The political meetings were very lurid. No speaker was popular who did not abuse the other side. …. ‘Fellow Democrats: I do not say fellow citizens because there might be some black Republican here who thinks he is a citizen and I don’t want to speak to anybody but honest men. This black Republican administration is made up of scoundrels. Old Grant is a thief. John A. Logan is a horse thief.” “Of course, however, all of these people were really very good citizens and at heart wanted the very best things for their country.” Read More

Photo by Mike Brothers
Kate’s Kars, Inc. in Arthur prepares to welcomed everyone to open house from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 28. Open house included free lunch and a chance to win one of two trailers besides huge discounts on select Hustler and Spartan mowers. Kate’s crew pictured from left: Kirk Herschberger, Abby Foreman, Larry and Kate Miller, Harold Herschberger, Cami Herschberger and Eldon Herschberger.

•May 2, 2018•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

Kate’s Kars in Arthur celebrated their recent business expansion with an open house celebration April 28.

With a sales record of 1,450 trailers sold last year, the expansion was much needed. They have moved the business across the highway on Route 133.

From three acres of trailers on display to 10 acres, Kate’s Kars has much more to offer.

They are stocking between 600-700 trailers and 60-100 lawn mowers. The types of trailers stocked include flatbed trailers, gooseneck trailers, enclosed trailers and dump trailers. Read More

•April 11, 2018•

By John Cash
for the News Progress

Sometimes your calling in life is not what you would expect.

When Scot England graduated from Sullivan High School in 1983, his ambition was to work for the Sullivan radio station.

England did and went from radio to television and even tried politics and sports writing at the News Progress before he moved to Nashville, Tenn. to find his calling.

A WAND TV newscaster for 10 years, England had always been attracted to the Country Music City and accepted an anchor position with RFD TV in Nashville but discovered four years ago he wanted to tell the stories of artists he admired.

England’s autobiographies with Ronnie McDowell, Johnny Lee and Moe Bandy have put him on speed dial with high profile country personalities wishing to publish their stories. Read More

Photo by RR Best
Pictured are UIS Chancellor Susan Koch, Kathy Best, and UI President Timothy Killeen.

•March 28, 2018•

Editor’s Note: Kathy Best is a Sullivan High School alumna and daughter of the late Robert E. and Marion Best, founders of Best Newspapers, and brother of News Progress and The Fish Wrap publisher Robert R. Best.

Kathy Best was honored Feb. 23 at the University of Illinois Springfield Alumni Gala with the university’s 2017 Alumni Achievement Award.

Best earned her master’s degree from UIS in public affairs reporting in 1990.

The award recognized “outstanding success and national or international distinction in one’s business, profession or life’s work.’’ It was presented by UIS Chancellor Susan Koch and U of I President Timothy Killeen. Read More