Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Pastor Brandon Zoll and wife Jeanette with Lucas, Phoebe and five-month old Obediah.

•May 9, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

The Sullivan Ministerial Association is holding a benefit cookout for Pastor Brandon Zoll and his family from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, June 2 in the Sullivan IGA parking lot.

It was a cool November day when Pastor Brandon Zoll of the Church of God went for a run in preparation for an upcoming marathon.

In his mid-thirties and a longtime runner, he had always enjoyed good health and the day’s run had gone well. A short stop at the IGA and then he would return home.

When he came to, he was lying on the floor in the IGA break room surrounded by concerned people. He tried to stand up but lost consciousness again. He thought he hadn’t eaten enough breakfast.

An ambulance was called, and he was taken to the hospital where a CAT SCAN showed a tangerine-size mass in his brain. An MRI and a biopsy confirmed a grade II astrocytoma- a very aggressive, malignant brain tumor or, as his surgeon said, “a time bomb ticking in your head.” Read More

•May 9, 2018•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond School students will be changing their style in physical education starting next school year (2018-2019). It will be required that students wear uniforms in class.

“It will make the program more inclusive, and everyone will look the same. We won’t have to worry about students wearing shorts that are too short or other clothing malfunctions,” stated high school principal Steffanie Seegmiller.

Students will have a chance to order uniforms each semester. They may purchase multiple ones if needed.

Principal Seegmiller also spoke about a new form that will be made available for students who might be questionably under the influence. The school nurse will be responsible for analyzing students and filling out the form. If it is found that a student is under the influence, parents will be called and shown the data on the form.  Read More

Photo furnished. Pencil Pals Ellen Ferrera, Landon and Charlie (l to r) get acquainted.

•May 2, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

The Sullivan Elementary School gym was filled with first and second graders on April 25 as they met with their volunteer Pencil Pals for the first time.

My little scribes, Charlie and Landon, were sitting in one of the 20 circles and began chatting away about their pets, siblings and other things we have shared in our monthly missive exchanges. Landon is moving to Florida, and Charlie has dogs and cats that he loves. The gym was abuzz with the sounds of laughter and conversation from the over 120 attendees.

Pencil Pals was started 25 years ago by Mary Lou Kidwell mainly to connect first and second graders with senior volunteers but also to help children improve their writing skills.  Read More

•April 25, 2018•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

The membership rates at the Sullivan Civic Center was one of the topics of discussion during the most recent Sullivan City Council meeting.

While the rates were slightly adjusted four to five years ago, they had not been significantly changed.

A rule for residents and non-residents was put into action back in 1998 which assigned those with the zip-code 61951 as residents and those without as “non-residents.” This rule determined membership fees. Read More

Photo by Mike Brothers
Amy Rickelman and Amy Conlin are working to provide the Nohren family, who lost everything in a 2017 fire, this home, but volunteers are needed.

•April 18, 2018•

By Mike Brothers

Everyone feels good when they are helping someone in need.

It is that good feeling Kristen Conlin and Amy Rickelman are starting to get with the Nohren project.

Joined by partner Andy Pistorius in Fireside Investments, the two hope to turn their normal house flipping operation into something good for Matt, Nikki, Hayden and Whitney Nohren.

In October 2017 the Nohren’s lost everything in a fire that destroyed their Sullivan home.

Since then, the First Apostolic Church has offered the church parsonage as temporary residence for the family, but it will take a lot more to get the family back on their feet again. Read More