Category Archives: Features

Lake Land College at 50: A Path to Making the Most of Education

News Progress Posted on by

•September 27, 2017•

By Mike Brothers

Learning how to make the most of what you have is a life lesson Rudy Huber brought away from Lake Land College when he graduated in 1976.

And as Lake Land College grows into its second half century to serve the ever-changing needs of today’s students, the lesson is the same.

Huber and his wife Linda run CF&H Insurance Agencies in Sullivan and Monticello while he continues to farm in Tuscola.

His desire to work the family farm prompted him to go to Lake Land rather than nearby Parkland College after graduating from Tuscola High School. Read More

New Children’s Boutique Opens In Sullivan

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Pictured is Jessie Cait LLC owner Jessica Ekiss.

•September 20, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Jessica Ekiss opened her boutique, Jessie Cait LLC, in her home at 313 N. Hamilton. The shop fills two small rooms, but the racks are overflowing with the most fanciful and colorful children’ clothing you can imagine.

The sizes run from infants to XXs to plus sizes 3 xl. There are limited women’s items.

“I used to sell LuLaRoe clothing,” Ekiss began, “but I wanted to set my own rules and guidelines on running a shop. I did a lot of research on various labels and vendors to select just the ones I wanted and then obtained a license.”  Read More

WW I Army Foot Locker Reveals 99 Year Old Memories

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Pictured is Russell Bauman.

Bauman Dog Tags Included

•September 6, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

When Russell Bauman returned home from WW I in 1918, he put his Army footlocker in the attic of his home in Sullivan, and there it sat untouched for nearly 99 years.

Recently Russell’s 94-year old son Roy and his great-granddaughter Danielle opened it while doing some housecleaning.

It was like finding a buried treasure chest full of artifacts from a war in France long ago.

Among the items in the locker were a U.S. Army issue fork, two tin boxes, the tattered knapsack for all the items, a Star razor and blades, box of bandages, cardboard box with an unused tourniquet, metal token called the Big 500 which was good for five cents in trade at the bar, copy of the regimental newsletter Direct Fire dated Sept., 1918, and a golden Discharge button.  Read More

Two Sullivan Churches Share History of Stained Glass

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•August 9, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

When the Sunday morning sun streams through the stained- glass window on the east side of the First Baptist Church and then shimmers on the Swiss-made chandelier hanging from the ceiling, there is a golden aura that fills the sanctuary. It is even more beautiful when the evening sun illuminates the stained-glass window on the west side of the church.

The three large rose or wheel windows in the church have fascinated me for some time, and I was surprised to discover that these beautiful windows are shared by two churches. Read More

Big D’s Dogs On The Move

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Big D’s Dogs was serving hot dogs in Sullivan last Friday. Dennis and Judy Ozier prepare orders for Bill Hagen (left) and Cullen Dyer at the the corner of Hwy.121 and Rte. 32 in Sullivan.

•August 2, 2017•

Big D’s Dogs is on the move in Sullivan with owner Dennis Ozier at the helm of the portable hot dog stand.

You have to keep your eyes open to keep up with Big D’s Dogs. Ozier is serving all beef and regular hot dogs from his hot dog stand all over town.

“It’s a fun way to offer a good deal on a hot dog meal,” Ozier said, emphasizing, “Everybody loves a a good hot dog.”

Big D is serving all beef and regular bun length hot dogs, chips and a drink for just three bucks. Ozier is at the corner of Hwy. 121 and Rte. 32 in Sullivan (across from CVS) every Friday afternoon. Read More

A Place Where Sunflowers Bloom Year Round

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera

•July 26, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Traveling north through Lovington you can’t help noticing the giant, plastic sunflowers outside a vacant store.  Except, it isn’t empty.  Inside is the workshop of Gary Smith who has made quite a business of making whimsical garden decorations.

He won a large, plastic sunflower in a charity raffle, and the more he looked at it the more of a challenge it became. “I figured I could make one myself so I made a pattern and cut them out of white, 55 gal. plastic drums”, explained Smith. He then custom spray paints them and sells them for $55 ($65 with the post), and he will deliver and install them. “I started making them last fall and have sold 85 so far this spring”.

People from Des Plaines, St. Louis, Springfield and all over have interrupted their journeys to stop and purchase his sunflowers. He has shipped them to Arkansas, Texas and Minnesota – all this without a website! One of his sunflowers sits in the community garden at Mason Point where I live. He hasn’t even had time to name his business. Read More

Now This is a Horse of a Different Color

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Pictured is Judy Brown with Bailey the miniature horse.

•July 12, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Whoa, Nelly! There was a lot of horsing around and unbridled fun when the Heartland Mini Hoofs cantered into the Mid-Illinois Senior Services for a morning of horseplay with the miniature equine certified therapy horses.

With diapers around their rumps, the little horses totally captivated their audience as they ambled among the 40 seniors in attendance.

There was no reigning in the senior citizens as they jockeyed for turns petting, hugging, kissing and posing for pictures with Jasper and Bailey. Suffice to say, there wasn’t a “neigh- sayer” in the crowd. Read More

Smokey Joe’s Café Serves Up Great Entertainment

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A Toe Tapping Good Time!

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Did someone hold you close as you slow danced to “Stand By Me” or did you rock out to “Young Blood”? Remember “Charlie Brown” and ‘Love Potion #9”?

Smokey Joe’s Cafe plays June 5 through June 16 at the Little Theatre on the Square in Sullivan. Show times are 8 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday with 2 p.m. matinees on Saturday and Sunday.

If you loved these songs ( and even if you didn’t), this is the musical for you. I guarantee that you will be tapping your toes, clapping and singing to all these old favorites. Don’t miss this stunning revue as presented by a talented cast who just has a romp and sings their hearts out. Read More

Guy Little, Jr. – A Final Bow to the Little Theatre on the Square

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Photo furnished
Pictured is Guy Little, Jr.

•July 5, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

As the Little Theatre on the Square continues its glorious 60th season there is a front row seat that will be forever vacant in our hearts. It was my honor and pleasure to conduct the last interview with Guy Little, Jr. on February 8 and almost a month later on March 3 he was gone. Following is his final story.

February 8, 2017 was one of those winter days where the snow piles gently on the branches creating a magical winter wonderland when I set out to interview the Sullivan legend, Guy Little, Jr.

Mr. Little, elegantly attired in a smart tweed suit, met me at the door and ushered me through the lovely living room (so reminiscent of a 20’s or 30’s Paris salon) to the beautifully appointed den with its walls covered with framed pictures of the famous stars who had strutted and fretted their hours upon his stage. Here in the den were a stunning antique writing desk, a white classic phone and a doll of Margaret Hamilton as the witch in “The Wizard of Oz”. Read More

Another Habitat for Humanity Home for Moultrie County

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Photo furnished
Habitat for Humanity House Blessing participants from third build team: Kneeling (L to R) Bob Gillespie, Stevensville, Mich.; Chance Schoonover (homeowner); Skip Shane, Bella Vista, Ark.; and Joe Spanier, Mendota.
Standing (L to R) Chuck Ostrander, Battle Creek, Mich.; Jeff Gillespie, (Bob’s brother), Clay City, Ind.; Lowell McGregor, Lovington; Paige Schoonover, homeowner; Sandi Przybysz and Mike Pzybysz, Fenton, Mich.; Diane Spanier, Mendota and Toni Shane, Bella Vista, Ark.

•June 28, 2017•

Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity handed the keys to 604 Hope Lane to Paige and Chance Schoonover June 9.

With a great deal of help from the community and Habitat Care-A-Vanners the build was completed in a record time of 30 days with 20 minutes to spare, according to Habitat build coordinator Bob Gillespie.

Before a crowd of 50 people who gathered for the Key ceremony, Gillespie explained that three different Care-A-Van teams joined local volunteers and subcontractors to accomplish the build in a month. Previous builds were completed in six weeks.

During the Key ceremony Moultrie County Habitat President Gary Smith thanked everyone for their role in the build and turned the ceremony to Cheryl Thomas, Family Support, who presented Schoonover with the customary Bible from HFH.

Habitat board member Gene Mueller then presented Paige and Chance with the keys to their new home.

Deacon John O’Brien of St. Columcille and Pastor Gene Godfrey of First Baptist Church were also in attendance with O’Brien conducting the Blessing of the House. Read More