•October 24, 2018•
Okaw Valley Community Unit School District invites all veterans and their family members to a Veterans Day program at Okaw Valley High School in Bethany Friday, November 9. Read More
Category Archives: News
Oktoberfest Chili Champs
•October 24, 2018•
Another Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development Oktoberfest is in the books with a good crowd attending the annual event on the square in Sullivan last weekend.
The Chili Cook-off Results— Judges Choice went to Ace Hardware in Sullivan. Read More
Local Author Publishes Fifth Book
•October 24, 2018•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress
Evelyn Burtcheard has published five books, but she is probably known to only a select few people in Sullivan. At age 83 she is still researching material for two more books and never stops reading.
When she was very young, her mother gave her a spiral notebook and a pencil with instructions to write something in the notebook every day. A dutiful child, she did just that and saved all of her journals which have served as inspiration for some of her books. Read More
Kids Carnival at Octoberfest
•October 17, 2018•
By Josie Orris
for SHS Entrepreneurship
The Sullivan Oktoberfest is always a fun event for families to enjoy. Oktoberfest has activities for everyone such as the bands and choirs performing throughout the day, inflatables, food trucks, and the Chili Cook Off.
The only problem is that once the kids finish racing through the inflatables or participating in the pedal tractor pull contest, what do they do next? Read More
Sullivan Spark Group Selects Improvement Areas
Photo by Sonya Best
Sullivan Mayor Ann Short participates in the Sullivan Spark project rating the various projects identified by the eight person groups during last week’s meeting.
•October 17, 2018•
By Sonya Best
for the News Progress
“Sullivan Spark is a group of citizens from the Sullivan area bringing a spark to ignite the future of Sullivan.”
At the last meeting the 80 area residents attending were randomly divided into eight person groups. From the ideas presented by those groups, four areas were identified on which to focus.
The group as a whole voted on four areas which they feel can be improved upon in no specific order; parks and recreation, entertainment and tourism, retail and dining, and housing.
About 80 area residents have committed to developing a strategic visioning for community and economic development. Spark meets bi-weekly to discuss the challenges of the community and develop ideas to enhance the positives. Read More
County Board Appoints Ethics Commission Members
•October 17, 2018•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress
The County Board met on October 11 with all but Bill Voyles and Kevin MeReynolds present.
Chairman Dave McCabe advised the board of a letter from hired legal assistance regarding a possible breach of computer files. The matter is still under investigation, but they believe no files were compromised. The board will be advised as the investigation continues.
A motion was approved to appoint Sam Scott and Tim Henderson to the Ethics Commission of Moultrie County effective immediately. Hollie Atchison has withdrawn, and a replacement will be voted on at next meeting. Read More
One Book One Sullivan Reveal Nears
•October 17, 2018•
One Book One Sullivan reveal time is near.
The group had a busy summer reading from the 2019 Rebecca Caudill List. Students and teachers met weekly to read and discuss books from the list.
The group narrowed the list of 20 titles to five books shortly after school began. They are always eager to choose a book both the students and community will love. Read More
Seventh Annual IGA Food Pantry Round up
•October 10, 2018•
It’s Round up time at Sullivan IGA from Oct. 28 to Nov. 3 giving every customer a chance to help buy turkeys for Moultrie County Food Pantry’s Thanksgiving.
“We are kicking off the seventh annual round up to go along with our four day meat sale from the 31st through Nov. 3,” IGA manager Pat Stinson said, emphasizing customers can take advantage of great meat savings and help a good cause as well.
During that week customers at Sullivan IGA may round up their grocery bill to the next dollar which goes toward purchasing Thanksgiving turkeys for the Moultrie County Food Pantry.
Those round up donations totaled $1200 last year and supplied 125 families with turkeys.
“We really appreciate the generosity of IGA customers helping supply turkeys to the food pantry for Thanksgiving,” Stinson said.
“The food pantry gives out Thanksgiving meals in November, and we count on the money raised from the Round Up to purchase the turkeys each year,” CEFS Food Pantry Coordinator Kristy Dawson said. Read More
Cake for Doughnut Lady Peggy Booker at IGA Party
Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Happy Retirement. Left to right: Asst. IGA Manager Karen Golden, Donut Lady Peggy Booker, IGA Manager Pat Stinson and Bakery Manager Angela Cuttill.
•October 10, 2018•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress
After 35 years, Peggy Booker, “the doughnut lady of IGA” will be retiring. The public is cordially invited to her retirement party 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, October 12 at Sulllivan IGA. Cake and punch will be served.
Peggy grew up in Sullivan and rode a pony to school. She had one brother 17 years older and another five years older to spoil her and take her places girls of her age seldom got to visit.
She graduated high school in 1952 and married William Booker the same year. Because she married she had to forfeit a scholarship she had won to Eastern Illinois University as was the custom in those days.
She and Bill raised five children including one set of twins. Read More
Early Voting Gains Momentum
•October 3, 2018•
Early voting gained popularity with numbers doubling according to Moultrie County Clerk Georgia England.
“September 27 was the first day of early voting, and comparing the number who voted Thursday to the number on the first day in November 2016, we doubled,” England said.
In November 2016 15 people voted on the first day of Early Voting. Read More