•January 16, 2019•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Ben Booker opened his original Second Chance Gym in Arthur and has now opened a Second Chance Gym in Sullivan.
With some parts still under construction inside the former Pamida location on Hamilton Street, the gym has a huge weight training room with weights and training equipment with personal strength sessions available from Booker.
He is a well-known strength trainer, but the journey has not been as easy as it might appear.
In 1999 just before the start of his senior year in high school he broke his back in a car accident, was bedridden for two months and had to learn how to walk again.
He could no longer play his favorite sports of football and basketball, but he found the weight room. While his classmates played sports, he lifted weights.
Booker entered college but dropped out the same summer he met his wife. He was 20 years old and fighting a demon – alcoholism. He found work in his father’s business where he could focus on the work and building his own home. He continued his weight training on and off between benders but knew he always felt better when he was training. Read More

September 2018

September 5

The Sullivan girls golf team split a pair of matches snapping an undefeated streak. The Redskins defeated St. Teresa at Red Tail Run in Decatur then lost to Teutopolis.
Addison Darush was the medalist and Alexis Britton, Erin Wallace and Esther Miller rounded out the team score in the St Teresa match.
In the Teutopolis match Darush shot a 48, Irie Dulin a 52, Esther Miller 57 and Erin Wallace 58.
Okaw Valley boys golf placed second in a triangular meet at Eagle Creek with Shelbyville the winner and Mt. Pulaski third. Case Crawford placed second shooting a 40, Beau Atchison was fifth with a 49. Addison Webner shot a 51, Miles Harlin 55, Seth Webner 56 and Hayden Carlson 62.
Sullivan golfer Gary Herschberger playing in the junior varsity match scored his first ever hole in one on the fourth hole.
The SHS golf team won 10 in a row. At Richland Country Club in Olney the team finished with a low score of 330. Caden Ellis was medalist with two over par, 73. Drew Rogers shot an 82 for fifth with Leighton Burcham shooting an 85 and Leyton Ellis a 90.
Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development has a new home at 101 W. Jefferson St. Coinciding with the new offices is a new approach to growth assessment. Sullivan Spark under direction of the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs at Western University is organizing and will involve local citizens to create a long range plan for the community. Read More

Photo by Señora King
Sullivan High School Spanish Club members delivered boxes of food, toys and caroled at local nursing homes during the club’s annual holiday community cheer program.

•January 2, 2019•

By Seth Mayberry
For the News Progress

On Friday, December 14 the Sullivan Spanish Club traveled to nursing homes in the community and caroled to the residents.
Afterwards, some members helped deliver food donations to families in need.
As the final service project of the semester, the Spanish Club sang carols in Spanish to the residents of two retirement homes in town. This is a yearly event for the club.
Members of the club were glad to boost the spirits of the elderly citizens by spreading some holiday cheer in the music.
Along with caroling, members of the Spanish Club donated boxes of food and other items to four families in need—as they did on Thanksgiving. Toys for the children of these families were included as well.
For two years, SHS student council has worked with the Spanish Club to collect and give toys to the children of families in need. Read More

•January 2, 2019•

April 2018

April 4

Seventy pieces of art created by area school-aged children were entered in the Sullivan Area Arts second Youth Art show held at Elizabeth Titus Library. K-5 grade students with awards presented to Macey Boddy, Lovington; Isabella Manna, Lovington; Zoey Crothers, Sullivan; Addisyn Ploski, Lovington; Austin Bates, Lovington; Elise Fleming, Sullivan; Connor Edmonds, Lovington; Janae Hopper, Sullivan; Karsyn West, Sullivan and Jessica Voyles, Sullivan.
Sullivan High School student Katie Webb was chosen one of 10 state winners in the Illinois Public Radio essay contest. Webb’s composition “This I Believe” competed with 200 entries, with the author receiving a $100 prize.
The Findlay High School Alumni banquet will honor the classes of 1948,58,68,78,88 and 98. The Distinguished Alumni award recipient is Chris (Eadie) Tippit for her service to the community.
Maranda Tarvin, a junior at Windsor High School recently made varsity first team all conference (NTC) in Scholastic Bowl. Sophomore Max Carr made the fresh-soph first All Scholastic Bowl conference team.
Sullivan High School juniors Spencer Johnson and Brody Goss have been selected by the Sullivan American Legion Post 68 to attend the Illinois Premier Boys State program at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston during the summer. Post 68 and the Sons of American Legion are co-sponsors for Johnson and Goss. Read More

•January 2, 2019•

An American Red Cross blood drive will be held 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. Friday, January 11 in the Okaw Valley High School gym in Bethany. Any healthy individual, age 16 through 75, who meets weight requirements may donate blood. Donors should eat a healthy meal and drink an extra 16 oz. of water and fluids before donating, and they must bring identification showing a picture and a signature.
All blood types are needed, especially Types 0- and 0+. Every 2.5 seconds someone needs blood; a friend, a family member, or maybe even you. The need is real. By donating at this blood drive, you are helping one or more graduating senior earn a scholarship. You can save up to 15 minutes when you donate blood by using RapidPass! Visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass for more information.
The drive is sponsored by the Okaw Valley High School Student Council. For more information or to make an appointment, contact Okaw Valley High School at 665-3631. An appointment may also be made online at www.redcrossblood.org. Walk-ins are also welcome.