Photo by Mike Brothers
One Book One Sullivan middle school students coordinated the community discussion of Bitter Side of Sweet at First United Methodist Church last Thursday.

•March 7, 2018•

The Bitter Side of Sweet brought 130 people of all ages together at the First Methodist Church March 1 to discuss the One Book One Sullivan annual read.

“We are always nervous about how many will turn out for the community discussion,” Rikki Ray, OBOS coordinator said. “This is the best crowd we have had.”

One Book One Sullivan volunteers were bringing out additional tables and chairs to facilitate the growing crowd.

The community/school annual novel read sponsored by Sullivan Rotary began 12 years ago and has grown from the initial group of middle school reading students to include high school as well as elementary students along with community participants.

Sullivan Rotary financing made The Bitter Side of Sweet by Tara Sullivan available throughout the community. The announcement was made in November with the discussion on March 1 concluding the OBOS reading event. Read More

•February 28, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

When the settlers began arriving to the vast prairies of central Illinois in the early 1800’s, they found a land of bountiful opportunity for their entrepreneurial spirits.

By 1850 Sullivan was an incorporated village and already bustling with such tradesmen as millers, bakers, lawyers, carriage makers, blacksmiths, a dentist and Joel Earp’s saloon among others.

Added to these were other businesses in Moultrie County with a coal mine in Lovington, a sorghum mill in Bruce and a bottle making plant in Sullivan.

There was a very rich vein of coal running lengthwise through Illinois, and a number of small mines sprang up in central Illinois. Chief among those in what was called the Lovington Triangle, was the Lovington Coal Mining Co. which started operation June 24, 1901. Read More

•February 28, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Sullivan had J. B Titus, who built an opera house, and his talented daughter, Winifred. Bethany had the brilliant Dr. James H. Vadakin who also built an opera house and his equally talented daughter Diamond.

Dr. Vadakin was born March 30, 1861 in Sullivan. His grandfather Philip was one of the earliest settlers in Moultrie County, and he laid out a town in East Nelson. By the time he died, Dr. Vadakin had owned an entire block of stores in Bethany, built an opera house, invented “Casterole”, “Vadakin’s Instant Relief” and “Sticking Fly Paper”. He received his medical degree with highest honors and was a skilled surgeon. For many years he ran a drug store and ice cream parlor. He was an accomplished pianist and often sang solos for high school graduations. Read More

•February 21, 2018•

By Eden Martin
NP Guest Columnist

Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series of articles dealing with the lynching on the Moultrie County courthouse lawn researched and written by Sullivan historian, native and retired attorney Robert Eden Martin.

On November 23, 1891, in Shelby County just south of Sullivan, Ulysses Grant Atteberry and his brother Ed killed their father David Atteberry, blowing off part of his head with a shotgun.

But that isn’t why five years later a lynch mob of Sullivan residents hanged Grant Atteberry from a tree in the Court House yard.

I. The Players

In 1891 David J. Atteberry was a 62 year-old farmer living in Shelby County. His wife Cynthia Jane had died one year earlier leaving him with nine grown children.

The second son — Ulysses Grant Atteberry, whom the family called “Grant” — was 32 in 1891. Grant was married to the former Annice Louisa Stoltz. They had three children: Myrtle, Emma Jane, and Clark Mackin. Read More

Photo by Mike Brothers
County Board Chair Dave McCabe presents Ron White with plaque.

•February 21, 2018•

Moultrie County Board members honored retiring member Ron White at the regular meeting Feb. 15. Chairman Dave McCabe presented White a plaque for his 15 years of service, noting that he served during the building of the county jail and health department.

White and wife Sharon attended the meeting with her joking that she needed his nameplate from the county board to help keep track of him in the future. “It’s been a pleasure to be of service to the people of Moultrie County,” White concluded.

Following the presentation McCabe proposed that the Budget and Finance Committee, which White chaired, become a committee of the whole with meetings prior to regular board meetings until fall elections and White’s permanent replacement is seated.

Kevin McReynolds was nominated and approved unanimously as vice-chairman of the county board. Read More