Photo by Ariana Cherry
The introduction of the sewing machine improved quilting and clothes making, as demonstrated inside the Mose Yoder home during the Sheep to Sew event at the Illinois Amish Heritage Center.

•June 6, 2018•

By Ariana Cherry
For the News Progress

The first weekend in June brought a variety of events for both tourist and local residents to enjoy in Arthur. From sheep shearing to browsing, a variety of crafts and antiques at the Back 40 Market to getting refreshed from the heat while drinking a strawberry shake-up at the Strawberry Jam, the possibilities for everyone were endless.

Along Route 133 at the new site of the Illinois Amish Heritage Center near Chesterville, the Sheep to Clothing event took place Saturday, June 2. Folks were able to get a chance to watch and even try their hand at shearing wool from sheep, watch wool be strung into yarn, quilting and even some weaving.

The Moses Yoder farmhouse was open for a walk back in time.  Read More

•June 6, 2018•

Budget hearing scheduled June 20

By Ariana Cherry
for The News Progress

Superintendent Kenny Schwengel noted that the balance of all funds is $5,091,708.56 at the last meeting of the Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond School Board.

“All funds are in good shape aside from the transportation fund,” he said. “We are still waiting on a $144,000 transportation payment from the state,”

There was an abatement of the working cash fund, and $52,000 were moved from the education fund to the transportation fund. A tentative 2018 budget was approved and a budget hearing will be held at 6 p.m. June 20.

Other items that were discussed or voted upon: Read More

•June 6, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

The trees in Tabor Park are alive with the sounds of four pairs of nesting bluebirds.  They are there because Bill Burger saw one while running one day and set about to attract more. To date, he has built and installed 14 bluebird boxes in the park and Greenhill Cemetery.

A retired speech pathologist from Mattoon High School, Burger has always been an avid outdoorsman and does a lot of woodworking. It was natural to combine his two interests to benefit the park where he runs almost every day.

In the process he has learned a lot about bluebirds. He notes, “They are fun to watch. The male will show the female several boxes, but she makes the selection of which box to use. The male gathers the preferred pine needles or prairie grasses, but the female weaves the most exquisite little nest with every strand perfectly in place.” Read More

•May 30, 2018•

By Ariana Cherry
for The News Progress

School is out, summer is here and the kids are home for the next couple of months.

Before the summer “boredom” kicks in make sure they pick up a book and join in the reading fun at the Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library in Sullivan.

The summer reading kick off is 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, June 1. There will be no cost to the public-everything is free!

The kids will have plenty of fun with kid carnival type games, two inflatables, a life-sized Candyland game, a book walk, crafts, cotton candy and snow cones. During the reading kick-off, the public is invited to join in all the activities and sign up their children for the summer reading program. This will be a wonderful way to make reading fun and build up excitement for the kids. Read More

Photo by RR Best
Devoted St. Jude Runner training at 3 below zero.

•May 23, 2018•

By Mike Brothers

St. Jude Dash n Bash in Sullivan kicks off its fourth year Saturday, June 2 in Wyman Park with more than 90 percent of everything raised going to the St. Jude, Memphis and Midwest Affiliate in Peoria.

Over the past three years the event has given $32,000 to St. Jude Hospital Stephanie Helmuth, Sullivan event founder, said of the success.

St. Jude’s no cost treatment for children with the most serious health issues is offered regardless of race, religion or a family’s ability to pay.

Helmuth’s realization of what that meant came after the birth of her youngest child River who required infant heart surgery at the St. Jude Midwest affiliate in Peoria.

“Sitting in that hospital room let me understand what others faced,” said Helmuth of her incentive to start the run in Sullivan to help St. Jude.

She and other Sullivan area runners had participated in the St. Jude Mattoon/Peoria run so eight volunteers got together the first St. Jude Dash n Bash. Read More