Photo by R. R. Best
Dreams Come True
Somewhere over the rainbow way up high, and the dreams that you dream of once in a lullaby. Photographer R.R. Best caught a photograph of this double rainbow over Sullivan last weekend. So if you believe dreams can come true it just might be true.
•May 20, 2020•
After much discussion with the levying bodies, the State’s Attorney, and county board members made the difficult decision to maintain the tax cycle and mailing of tax bills as we have always done in the past.
We know these times have been trying for many, but we also know we need to keep moving forward. We reviewed the Illinois State Statutes and the requirements by law for the tax due dates and levying body distributions. Read More
•May 20, 2020•
Moultrie Counseling Center in Sullivan deals with mental health issues on the front line every day. Now more than ever is a time for awareness.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and comes at an appropriate time, as we are all struggling on some level with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Like the virus, anxiety about the pandemic is contagious, so we need to work to maintain our own emotional equilibrium.
This is especially true for so many on the front lines of COVID, including behavioral health professionals. We are proud to recognize Mental Health Month and celebrate the behavioral health heroes on the front lines.
The Importance of Mental Health Awareness
According to a recent article written by Jean Holthaus, LISW, MSW, mental illnesses affect 19% of the adult population, 46% of teenagers and 13% of children each year. People struggling with their mental health may be in your family, live next door, teach your children, work in the next cubicle or sit in the same church pew. Read More
•May 20, 2020•
By Ellen Ferrera
For the News Progress
The May 14 agenda for the Bethany Board of Trustees was full with some 20 items for discussion but most were tabled or postponed due to the uncertainties and unknowns surrounding corona virus regulations.
The Board voted to extend shut-offs and penalties for utility bills to July 1. Many closed businesses are maintaining utilities even though they have no income and many people are still out of work prompting the extension of the original May 1 date. There has been a small uptick in unpaid utility bills. Read More
•May 13, 2020•
By Mike Brothers
Sullivan City Council authorized Milano and Grunloh to start Elizabeth Titus Home demolition procedures during the May 11 meeting.
Commissioner Peggy Hargis moved for the engineering company in Effingham to prepare a demolition plan with Commissioner Mike Fowler seconding the motion.
Commissioners Abbey Sherwood, Chuck Woodworth and Mayor Richard Glazebrook unanimously approved.
City administrator Dan Flannell explained the next step was for the RFP, Request for Proposal. Read More
•May 13, 2020•
By Tracy Weaver
Mo.Co. State’s Attorney
In light of the most recent executive order issued by the Governor, the Moultrie County State’s Attorney’s Office has received many questions regarding the reopening of local churches and businesses.
I, like other state’s attorneys and many of our citizens and government officials, have concerns about the constitutionality of the executive order and the authority for such order from laws previously passed.
When considering the issue of religious services, for instance, something we as citizens have a fundamental right in which to engage, I cannot agree that the current executive order is the least restrictive and most narrowly tailored option for addressing the COVID-19 outbreak. Read More
•May 13, 2020•
Instead of the community gathering for graduation the graduates of Sullivan High School have a parade of seniors.
The Sullivan High School graduation car parade kicks off at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 17 from the school parking lot.
With Pomp and Circumstance playing on the radio, live Honor guards Mallory Nichols and Reagan Crouse lead the seniors vehicles, arranged in order with police escort, south on Hamilton St. to Jefferson around the courthouse and exit on Main St. returning to the high school. Read More
Questions Still Remain
•May 6, 2020•
By Ellen Ferrera
for The News Progress
In a recent conversation a friend related the story of her German grandfather and the flu pandemic of 1918. His family sacrificed everything they had to send their 19-year-old son to America so he wouldn’t be conscripted into the Kaiser’s WWI army.
Her grandfather came full of promise and hope but died three years later at the age of 22 – one of the estimated 20-50 million victims, including 675,000 Americans, in one of the deadliest epidemics in human history. It infected 500 million people. It killed l00 million people or 5% of the world’s population in just over a year.
Over 100 years later researchers and scientists are still seeking answers to many questions such as where did the virus originate, why were the healthiest young people ages 20-45 the largest number of fatalities and how was it spread so quickly?
First of all, “Spanish Flu” was a misnomer. During WWI Spain was a neutral country and its newspapers were free to report on the epidemic’s effects in Spain. Read More
Photo by Jason Brown
Andrew Hagerman screams words of encouragement to his players during the super-sectional game against Ottawa Marquette in Bloomington’s Jack Horenberger Field on the campus of Illinois Wesleyan in May 2018. Timberwolves were two outs away from advancing to the Final Four for the second time.
•May 6, 2020•
By Jason Brown
News Progress Sports
When Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker implemented a stay-at-home order on March 21, Andrew Hagerman did not have to make many career adjustments.
Hagerman, who is Regional Sales Manager at Hagerman & Company, sells software in the tech industry and typically works from home during the high school baseball season.
“In reality, our entire company can function remotely at 100%,” he said. “So we are blessed with that fact. Nothing has changed from a standpoint of how I can do my job, and how busy I’ve been.”
What has changed for Hagerman this spring has been baseball. Or the absence of baseball.
Hagerman, who is coach of the Okaw Valley baseball team, misses the competition and day-to-day preparations.
“I miss seeing all of the players each day, working through the season and always focusing on how to get better,” he said. Read More
Photo furnished
At the SBL Clinic in Sullivan IL: Beth Cook and Brook Seaman receive donuts from Heather Dendy, Relay for Life Event Leadership Team. Thanks to the Vineyard Church, Sullivan Campus for purchasing donuts from the Traditional Sullivan Bakery.
•May 6, 2020•
The Relay for Life of Moultrie County will be having a DONUT DAY on May 26th. to raise money for the continued care of cancer patients, their housing during treatment, and cancer research.
Relay for Life Moultrie County Event lead Adam McReynolds explained that Cancer patients need your support more than ever. As COVID-19 spreads, cancer patients are more vulnerable than ever.
“We need your help to support them during this unprecedented crisis,” McReynolds said.
“While we may not be able to gather survivors and supporters together for public events to raise money, we can still do online fundraisers.”
Search in your internet browser for Relay for Life Moultrie County or on Facebook to follow our online information. Read More