Photo by Mike Brothers
Musical Night
Members of the Sullivan Communnity Band gave their inaugural performance Thursday, June 28. Organized by SHS band director Shaun Schaefers the 40 piece band blended the talents of various local musicians for this free concert. In spite of threatening weather that forced the concerts’ move from Wyman Park, the event was well-attended in the Sulliven Middle School gymnasium. It was worth it for the Pink Panther theme, alone!
•June 27, 2018•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress
Acclaimed actress and Emmy award winner, Colleen Zenk, commands the stage as that scheming matchmaker and compulsive meddler, Dolly Gallagher Levi, in “Hello Dolly” currently playing at the Little Theatre.
The musical is replete with colorful costumes, gorgeous sets and some of the most memorable music in American Theatre. This is a polished and well-chosen cast who will sing and dance their way into your heart.
The plot for “Hello Dolly” originated in an 1835 play, and Thornton Wilder adapted it into a play entitled “The Merchant of Yonkers”, a flop which he revised to “The Matchmaker”. David Merrick turned it into the musical with the late great Carol Channing who made it her signature role. It is one of the longest-running musicals on Broadway and currently in its fifth revival.
The time is late 1900s, and the brassy Dolly Gallagher Levi is in town. She is a meddler – making her living as a matchmaker, dance instructor, mandolin teacher and numerous other sidelines. She is looking for a wife for the grumpy Horace Vandergelder (Gus Gordon), but she makes it clear that she intends to snag Horace for herself. Ambrose Kemper (Luke Rose) wants to marry Horace’s niece Ermengarde (Shannon McEldowney) but Horace opposes the union so Ambrose has enlisted Dolly’s help. Read More
•June 20, 2018•
Eagle Creek Resort has been closed for nearly a decade, with the state still asking for ideas for the decaying resort along Lake Shelbyville
IDNR officials rejected the one proposal it recently received for the Eagle Creek facility according to IDNR’s Ed Cross. He said the state was still hoping to find a private developer for the facility in Eagle Creek State Park.
He said the department uses a scoring system to determine whether a development plan is viable. The one proposal received last time, from John Fayhee at Sullivan Marina on Lake Shelbyville, didn’t meet the needed score. Read More
Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Pictured is Dan Moschenrose.
•June 20, 2018•
By Ellen Ferrera
for The News Progress
Dan Moschenrose is a 21-year veteran whose passion is his love of the history surrounding the birth of our great nation.
He has been concerned, however, that children are not being taught early American history in schools. “ They watch the fireworks and the parades, collect the candy and enjoy the cookouts, but they don’t know why we celebrate the day,” Moschenrose said of Independence Day.
To illustrate his point Moschenrose once promised money to a student trying to fund a school trip if the student could answer a history question. The question was, “In what year did Elvis and John Wilkes Booth declare independence from China?” The student thought for a moment and then gave the year he thought was correct - 1783.
Moschenrose was stunned that the student didn’t even know this was a ridiculous question and is still puzzled by how little kids know about the Revolutionary War. Read More
•June 20, 2018•
By Mike Brothers
A Moultrie County Board motion attempting to reimburse the Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development $17,295 in expenses failed for lack of a second at the June 14 meeting.
Chairman Dave McCabe explained the county had previously approved $50,000 earmarked for SCED expenses relating to tourism in the county budget.
McCabe had presented the bill at the previous county board meeting with members delaying action until Executive Director Laurrie Minor updated the county on tourism efforts.
Minor appeared before the board explaining the SCED/Corp of Engineers Lake Shelbyville partnership had worked well at the Chicago Trade Show, and she had recently attended the Midwest Bloggers Convention to learn how to promote area tourism through traveling blogs.
Minor explained that since the county had increased its financial involvement, the chamber is expanding its reach to include Northlake Community Development which allows the promotion of all villages and businesses of Moultrie County.
Most recently SCED coordinated the Lake Shelbyville Crappie Classic and promoted area tourism at the Back 40 event held at the Great Pumpkin Patch. Read More
Photo furnished. Pictured are Carol Elder, Simon Parri and John Durbin.
•June 20, 2018•
By Ellen Ferrera
for The News Progress
Some 42 people donated $25 or more for a free plane ride as part of the recent charity cookout for Pastor Brandon Zoll. John Durbin’s Super Hawk 180 is the plane.
John Durbin, a flying enthusiast since the mid-70s, supplied the plane and fuel for the outings on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, June 5 and 6. The flights were about 20 minutes and gave the flyers breathtaking views of Sullivan, Bethany and Lake Shelbyville. In response to the thanks for his charity, John simply said, “It was the right thing to do.”
Besides his recreational flying John works with young people in the Young Eagles program which has taught some 1500 kids about aviation safety and provided the first airplane ride for many of them.
•June 20, 2018•
By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress
City council members returned to their discussion on health insurance coverage for the retired city employees during the June 11 meeting.
This topic had been discussed some months ago with several of the retirees in attendance, but during that time, no definite decisions had been made. With the time to renew health insurance approaching, the council approved increasing retirees contribution level.
Presently, full time employees of the city are paying 40% of their contributions toward insurance and retirees are paying 15%. Rising health insurance costs prompted the city to look into equalizing the level. Read More
•June 13, 2018•
By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress
Sullivan City Council at their last meeting decided to move forward with the construction of the square pavilion.
Up to $25,000 has been confirmed in donations with the council matching up to $25,000 with city TIF funds.
City Administrator Dan Flannell is reaching out to local contractors in an effort to decide whether the city could wave the bidding process. He emphasized this would get the project underway within a reasonable timeframe. Read More
•June 13, 2018•
By Ellen Ferrera
for The News Progress
If you happen to be standing outside the Little Theatre when this musical is playing, you may see the theatre’s foundation shift and the roof rattle. There is a whole lot of shakin’ goin’ on inside because Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins are setting the stage on fire.
More than a few have said that this is the best musical they have ever seen here so don’t be that person standing outside. Get your tickets now because this will be a sellout.
This jukebox musical recounts that historic day of December 4, 1956 when Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins happened by chance to all visit Sun Records studio for the one and only time they would all play together. Fortunately, the jam session was recorded and is considered a seminal moment to rock and roll. Read More
•June 6, 2018•
Moultrie County Pest Control is showing its appreciation to Moultrie County and their customers for all their support in the last 15 years with a celebration.
Owners Rob and Michelle Young will host a customer appreciation open house on Saturday, June 9 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Sullivan VFW. Food will be served and prizes awarded; a DJ and balloon animals for the kids will provide entertainment.
Rob Young grew up in Lovington and after high school, moved to Mattoon. While living in Mattoon he worked for several years with other pest control companies. He moved back to Moultrie County to Sullivan in 2003 to help with his family’s funeral home part-time, and that is when he started to think about starting his own business. Read More