Category Archives: News Briefs

Sue Yarnell and Theta Psi Receives Recognition

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Sue Yarnell, center, is holding a card from Psi Iota Xi National Secretary, Maureen Dix, congratulating her and the chapter for 45 years of commitment and dedication to the community and to Psi Iota Xi.Pictured left to right: Front row-Lucia Roney, Sue Yarnell, Rita Seelow. Back Row- Kala Cesar, Lisa Younger, Barb Oliver, Brandi Kesterson, Tara Underwood, Stephanie Barding, Bessie Kesterson, Carolyn Rawlings.

•July 14, 2021•
Sue Yarnell was recently presented with a card from Psi Iota Xi National Secretary, Maureen Dix, congratulating her and the chapter for 45 years of commitment and dedication to the community and to Psi Iota Xi.
Psi Iota Xi is a women’s philanthropic organization with chapters throughout the Midwestern United States and has chapters in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio. Psi Iota Xi chapters are focused on raising money and offering volunteer service to improve the quality of life in their communities, with special emphasis on speech and hearing-related causes. Read More

Mike McDaniel Retires From IDOT After 34 Years

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Mike McDaniel (center) receives a certificate from Chris Smith, Operations Engineer Region 4-District 7 (left) and Doug Rudolphi, Maintenance Field Engineer (right). The certificate recognized McDaniel for 34 years of service with the Illinois Department of Transportation as a highway maintainer.

•July 14, 2021•
On Wednesday, June 30, Mike McDaniel, who worked in highway maintenance for the Illinois Department of Transportation in District 7, retired. He spent 34 years with the department. At the time he retired McDaniel was the longest highway maintainer in District 7 which is made up of 16 counties. He will be missed by his bosses for his experience in knowing the county and during his time there he was only on two snow routes. McDaniel said that he will miss plowing snow and that it didn’t bother him when he was assigned to do so. His least favorite part of the job was washing the truck in a wash bay without enough ventilation and too much pressure on the wand in extremely cold weather. During retirement he plans to continue looking after his 89-year-old mother, mow yards and deer hunt.

Moultrie-Sullivan Fair 2021

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Rabbit Competition
Judge Rex Hall evaluates a rabbit entry while Poultry and Rabbits Superintendent Tammy Gingerich, Junior Miss Sullivan Katilyn Kirby and entrants watch during the Moultrie-Sullivan Fair June 25.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Arts and Crafts Entries
Pictured are the top three winners for the arts and crafts category under the subcategory of wreaths. The center wreath, created by Sarina Voegel, earned First Premium, the wreath on the right, created by Miah Voegel, received Second Premium and the wreath on the left, by J Moody, received Third Premium. Complete results from the Moultrie-Sullivan Fair will be printed in a future issue of the News Progress.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Goat Show Entrants
Gareth (left) and Anyssa Coffer (right) with their Nigerian Dwarf goats at the Moultrie-Sullivan Fair last Friday. The fair was held on June 25 and 26 with shows for livestock, baked goods, arts and crafts, floriculture, agricultural products and more.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Poultry Show
Superintendent of Poultry and Rabbits Tammy Gingerich evaluates a poultry entry from Matthew Horsman during the Moultrie-Sullivan Fair on Friday, June 25.

Summertime and Swarming Honeybees

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•July 14, 2021•
By Jerry L. Ginther
NP Guest Writer

What should you do if a swarm of honeybees should happen to land in your yard?
Let’s start with safety first. If you don’t want them, leave them alone. While it is true that honeybees are more docile and less likely to sting while they are swarmed, it does happen. However, if left undisturbed they will usually depart for their new home within a few hours, but may stay two or three days while scout bees search for a suitable location to start their new colony. The latter situation is rare.
It is amazing, though, how often they land on a bush or small tree close to the ground where they are easily accessible. That being the case, if you know a beekeeper and you feel the need to be rid of them sooner, rather than later, give that person a call. Beekeepers will often come to your aid whether they really want the bees or not. Some beekeepers may be reluctant to hive a swarm due to the possibility that they could be infected with foulbrood, a disease that destroys the larva stage of the developing brood. This possibility exists whether the bees have escaped from a local apiary or are a swarm of wild bees. Read More

Remember When? 7-14-2021

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25 Years Ago This Week

The Bethany Village Board backed an amendment to the ordinance banning the discharge of firearms in the village. The amended ordinance will specify that American Legion members may discharge firearms in the village for ceremonial purposes. Mayor Don Gibbons said the exception needs to be spelled out because someone had complained about the sound of gunfire during a Legion funeral service.

Lefty and Wilma Hollonbeck of rural Sullivan have always been proud of their grandson, but they probably never dreamed that bigger-than-life likenesses of this talented athlete would be appearing on more than 100 billboards around Atlanta, Ga. during the Olympic games. Scot Hollonbeck also was one of the final six bearers as the torch made its final leg of the journey to the Olympic stadium for the opening ceremonies of the 1996 summer Olympics. Read More

Meditation Class With Becca from RLF

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•July 7, 2021•
Becca Dickens will conduct an introduction to meditation on Thursday, July 15 from 6-7 pm at the Shelbyville Senior Center. Learn some of the benefits of meditation and do a few short, guided meditations that you can do at home. This focus will be on how meditation can help with problems such as stress, anxiety, depression, overwhelm, self doubt. Meditation is surprisingly practical and helps with everyday problems small and large. It improves the way you react to struggles and challenges, making you better able to help yourself, your family, your friends and community. Suggested $10 class fee at the door. To register fill out the form on the contact page subject line Meditate at regenerativelifefarm.com or contact Becca Dickens at 505-433-0664.

Remember When? 7-7-2021

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25 Years Ago This Week

Zak Horn, son of Chester and Marjorie Horn of Sullivan, won the Agri-Entrepreneurship Award from the Sullivan FFA Chapter in recognition of his achievement in entrepreneurship. The award, earned through Horn’s operation of a commercial mowing business, is part of a program designed to increase the amount of entrepreneurship information being taught in agricultural education programs. The award is sponsored locally be Agri-Fab and consists of a certificate and $75. Read More

Sullivan 4th of July 2021

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Tractors
In addition to lots of floats, business vehicles and classic cars, this year’s Sullivan Fourth of July parade featured several tractors.

Photo by Crystal Reed
60th Anniversary
Roger and Jeri Wenberg were celebrating on the Sullivan Fourth of July parade route this year.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Sullivan Blue Dolphins
Swimmers with the Sullivan Blue Dolphins throw candy and ride down the parade route in Sullivan on July 4.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Fourth of July Parade Grand Marshall
Becky Lawson, Grand Marshal of Sullivan’s parade, is all smiles on the route.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Mayor and City Council Thank You
This sign, with the names of the mayor and city commissioners, thanked residents for their resiliency during this past year.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Dunk Tank Fun
Adyn Fowler gets advice about dunking City Commissioner Mike Fowler during Pack The Park on July 4.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Dunk the Police Chief
Sullivan Police Chief Andrew Pistorius gets dunked at Pack the Park on July 4.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Turtle Races
Easton Wickline, with his turtle, was a winner in multiple races.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Patriotic Jeep
This Jeep decorated with flags and signs with patriotic messages was part of Sullivan’s Fourth of July parade.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Patriotic Kid
Vera Black, 11 months, was wearing her patriotic best for the Fourth of July.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Corn Hole Tournament
Ayden Matheson (left) and Megan Ray (right) play in the Corn Hole Tournament during Pack the Park on Sunday.

Photo by Crystal Reed
In Honor Of Our Veterans
Veterans ride along the parade route on a float during the Fourth of July in Sullivan.

Marrowbone Library Petting Zoo

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Marrowbone Library Petting Zoo
Marrowbone Library in Bethany held a petting zoo on Thursday, July 1. Children were able to interact with goats, rabbits, chickens, a dog and a frog. For more information on their adult and children’s summer reading programs call the library at 217-665-3014. Pictured is Gus Crowder with a rabbit during the petting zoo.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Chicken
Brayden Kennedy holds his chicken during the Marrowbone Library Petting Zoo on Thursday, July 1.

Photo by Crystal Reed
Frog Surprise
Prior to the start of the petting zoo at Marrowbone Library on Thursday, July 1, a few children found a frog behind the library. It was decided to incorporate the frog into the petting zoo that day just for fun. Pictured balancing the frog on her wrist is Emily Mowry.