•July 25, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

The great comic actor W.C. Fields had a rule of never performing with children or dogs. If you see “Annie’’ at The Little Theatre you will know why. They steal the show! The children (and dog) are such polished performers and just carry the show in ways you don’t expect.
If you have or know children who have never seen musical theater, please give them the gift of a ticket to “Annie”. You will open a whole new world of wonder and enchantment for them.
Those of a certain age first met Little Orphan Annie with her big zero eyes in the Sunday comic strips. In 1977 she got her own Broadway musical and endeared herself to new generations of fans.
In this episode she is in an orphanage with 12 other girls under the heavy hand of Miss Hannigan. Annie manages to escape but is caught and returned just as Oliver Warbucks’ secretary, Grace Farrell, arrives. She selects Annie to be the only girl invited to Warbucks’ annual Christmas party.
The brusque billionaire cannot resist Annie’s adorableness and soon wants to adopt her. But Annie only wants to find her parents who left her at the orphanage with a note and a locket – important clues later. Warbucks enlists the help of no less than President Roosevelt, Elliott Ness, J. Edgar Hoover and an offer of $50,000 to anyone proving they are Annie’s parents. Read More

Photo furnished
Local magician V-Roy in action.

•July 18, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Virgil Roy Hampton, V-Roy, was born in Lake City in 1906, but his family soon moved to a 42-acre farm in Bethany.
He became enchanted with magic at an early age and was earning such a good living from legerdemain that he quit high school just before graduating. He felt the diploma would not help him in his career.
By the end of that career he was considered the new Harry Houdini, but he actually patterned his act after Ed Reno whom he considered the best.
At just 20 years old, he hit the road in 1926 with the John Robinson Circus doing magic as a side show. He also played cornet in the circus band, and this sparked his interest in show business. A fine musician, he also played with the Bethany Concert Band and the Alfonzo Carnival Band.
In 1928 he made a parachute jump at the Moody airport in Dalton City. Such stunts were rare in those days, and it attracted a large crowd. He continued doing air stunts such as walking on the wings.
During the war he toured with the USO and also with bond rallies for the war. He was famous throughout Canada and central Illinois, and in the 1950s he did a 14-month tour of Europe. In 1943 V-Roy did over 200 shows in Illinois high schools. He did a lot of fairs in the U.S. and Canada, and his one regret was that he never played the Illinois State Fair. Read More

•July 11, 2018•

By Mike Brothers

The Sullivan Community District #300 school board learned that transportation reimbursements were improving along with student numbers.
Supt. Ted Walk reported operating funds were in the black in the tentative 2018-19 budget approved by the board.
The superintendent noted an increased enrollment trend could improve the state funding amount for the coming school year.
Anticipating future expenses he pointed out $150,000 was budgeted for capital improvements which could help with large expenses like track surfacing which is expected in five years.
Board member Zak Horn asked if the bond and interest income from bonds sold to the school for construction was included.
Supt. Walk noting that income was not yet included in the budget which was conservation on revenue while reflecting $250,000 in additional expenses. State aid formula figures have yet to be finalized to determine the amount of state funds expected for the coming year, the supt. added. Read More

Pictured left to right are Garrett Griffin, Maddie Keller and Marty Harbaugh.

•July 11, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Three hometown actors are having their hour upon the stage this summer at the Little Theatre and are enjoying the opportunity to come back and perform before the home audience.
Maddie Keller grew up in Sullivan and began performing at the Little Theatre at a very young age. She came up through their Future Stars Program and was in show choir during high school. She is a theatre minor at the University of Illinois and may be seen in the upcoming “Annie”.
Marty Harbaugh worked for the state of Illinois for many years before finally settling in Sullivan. He has always loved the theatre and as his wife Lori is business manager at the Little Theatre, he “decided to try and see if he was any good at acting.” Marty and Lori actually had a blind date to see “Into the Woods” at the Little Theatre, and the rest is history. He has since become a beloved fixture. He plays the Washington Senators’ owner in “Damn Yankees” currently playing. Read More

•July 4, 2018•

By Mike Brothers

Sullivan schools welcome back a couple of alumni as teachers, following a special District 300 board meeting Friday, June 29.
With Ann Wheeler replacing the absent president Jeff White, attending members unanimously approved Craig Black as high school head basketball coach and physical education teacher and SHS alumnus Jacob Haegen as full-time elementary school teacher.
Black, a 2007 SHS graduate, replaces Chester Reeder who accepted the Teutopolis head coaching job. Black has coached at Oakwood High School for the past four years with the team named 2018 Vermilion County Tournament Champions.
Haegen, who lives in Sullivan with his wife, son and daughter, has taught kindergarten for 16 years at Stewardson-Strasburg Elementary School. Haegen replaces Cheryl Kramer who submitted her notice of retirement as elementary school teacher. Read More