Photo furnished.
In addition to help from school staff and the community students got to see how the community garden grew. Student gardeners from left: Addy and Asher Hendry, Zaden Hissong, Aubrey and Alex Fultz, and Nora Becker.

•August 15, 2018•

By Turnip Sprout
for the News Progress

Starting a garden on school property began as a way to show city kids where vegetables come from, but it ended up yielding more than produce.
Sullivan Elementary School fourth grade teacher Nichole Hendry had wanted a garden at school for some time, and this year possibility became reality.
“At the end of winter we planted some seeds and placed them in the windows of the classroom,” Hendry recalled how the project sprouted.
When her students saw the plants developed, they pushed her toward finding a way to plant a garden.
“From the start the students wanted to raise vegetables to donate to the Food Pantry,” she continued, noting approval to replace one of two prairie garden plots with the vegetable garden opened the door.
With a lot of help from students, school staff, teachers and volunteers from the community the garden started developing. Read More

Townships Get Windfall

•August 15, 2018•

By Mike Brothers

The Moultrie County Board appointed Tracy Weaver as State’s Attorney to complete Jeremy Richey’s term to 2020, accepted Clint Robinson’s bid to rent the county farm and voted to limit the time shipping and storage containers may be in one place to 14 days.
County board chair Dave McCabe appointed assistant state’s attorney Weaver, noting the Republican Central Committee recommended the appointment at the December 3, 2017 meeting. Weaver previously practiced in Cole’s County and has moved to Sullivan to complete the term of office. Unanimous approval was given the appointment.
Building and grounds chair Gary Smith recommended Robinson’s bid of $379.17 per acre rent for the county farm be approved for the 2018-2020 term. Smith noted that four bids were submitted.The motion passed unanimously.
In the planning and zoning committee report, chairman Todd Maxedon recommended a change in the county zoning ordinance concerning accessory uses. Read More

•August 8, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Mel Brooks has always described ‘Young Frankenstein” as his best film. So, when he successfully turned his ‘The Producers” into a Broadway musical, it seemed only natural to follow suit with a musical version of “Young Frankenstein”.
This is vintage, madcap, bawdy Brooks with outrageous double entendres and asides aplenty. When Frederick arrives at his grandfather’s castle, he sees the enormous door knockers and exclaims, ‘Wow! What a great pair of knockers!” to which his voluptuous German assistant Inga coos, “Oh, zank you Doctor.” So, hold on to your sides and laugh the evening away.
Director Peter Marinaro has done a brilliant and masterful job of orchestrating this complicated musical with many scene changes, ensemble numbers, costume changes, hilarious props and pyrotechnics that all come off without a hitch. The use of the new screen for black and white background film is especially stunning. Read More

Photo furnished
Bradlee Todd greets Chicago Bears.

•August 8, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Bradlee Todd has been participating in Special Olympics most of his life. His mother Lisa is head coach for the Special Olympics Alpha Bears which his father Lester also coaches.
Bradlee also serves as a Global Ambassador for Special Olympics.
He was thrilled to be chosen recently to be one of the official greeters for the 50th anniversary celebration of Special Olympics in Chicago July 17-22.
It all started at the same place 50 years ago July 20, 1968 when 1,000 athletes from Canada and the U.S. competed in more than 200 events including swimming, floor hockey and track and field. The goal was to put a spotlight on ability, not disability. Read More

•August 1, 2018•

By Gillespie Roberts
for The News Progress

Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity is preparing for the 30th home build and is recruiting volunteers for ReStore in Sullivan, which generates the funds for Habitat homes in the county,
On Saturday, August 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity is hosting a volunteer recruitment event at the ReStore on Hamilton Street in Sullivan.
“We would love to sign up Friday and Saturday volunteers,” said Cheryl Thomas of the Habitat board. “Possibly families could spend a few hours on Saturdays maybe once a month.
“ReStore also needs people who could move furniture on a on-call situation or possibly a few hours a week,” Thomas said of the volunteering needs. Read More