Photo by Jason Brown
Andrew Hagerman screams words of encouragement to his players during the super-sectional game against Ottawa Marquette in Bloomington’s Jack Horenberger Field on the campus of Illinois Wesleyan in May 2018. Timberwolves were two outs away from advancing to the Final Four for the second time.

•May 6, 2020•
By Jason Brown
News Progress Sports

When Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker implemented a stay-at-home order on March 21, Andrew Hagerman did not have to make many career adjustments.
Hagerman, who is Regional Sales Manager at Hagerman & Company, sells software in the tech industry and typically works from home during the high school baseball season.
“In reality, our entire company can function remotely at 100%,” he said. “So we are blessed with that fact. Nothing has changed from a standpoint of how I can do my job, and how busy I’ve been.”
What has changed for Hagerman this spring has been baseball. Or the absence of baseball.
Hagerman, who is coach of the Okaw Valley baseball team, misses the competition and day-to-day preparations.
“I miss seeing all of the players each day, working through the season and always focusing on how to get better,” he said. Read More

•April 29, 2020•

These streets are made for walking and downtown Sullivan is getting new sidewalks to make it easier.
At the April 27 meeting, Sullivan City Council approved a $114,539.48 bid from Esker and Walker Construction to replace the Harrison Street sidewalk to Madison.
The Teutopolis based company has completed the Jefferson Street sidewalk and was the only bidder for the Harrison street sidewalk replacement.
Street commissioner Peggy Hargis explained companies inquired, but the low bid from Esker on Jefferson sidewalk kept them from submitting proposals. That project was originally $101,107.50.
Commissioners Hargis, Chuck Woodworth, Abbey Sherwood and Mike Fowler, participating by telephone, voted for the bid along with Mayor Richard Glazebrook who directed the meeting from the Elizabeth Titus Library. Read More

Lee York

Directed SHS Band

By Durward Kirby
for the News Progress

In early days of the Little Theatre on the Square publicist Lee York wrote stories about the shows and escorted the stars to interviews.
Andrew Lee York, Jr. (85) died of natural causes early April 17th at Mason Point in Sullivan, IL.
York came to Sullivan as junior and senior high band instructor. His talent was a natural for the young Little Theatre and soon became publicist.
During that time of consistently large growth attendance gains under theatre founder/mentor Guy S. Little Jr. York arranged interviews and escorted 65 major radio, TV and movie stars for radio, TV and newspaper to outlets in Decatur, Champaign and Springfield. The White House and even in the D.C. Capitol office of Everett Dirksen, at that time the Senate Majority Leader, York appeared on behalf of Little Theatre on the Square. Read More

•April 22, 2020•
By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

Tentative dates for possible graduation ceremonies at Sullivan High School are Sunday, June 28 or Sunday, July 26th.
A plan is being made to hold a virtual award’s night on Wednesday, May 6 and a virtual Decision Day ceremony on Friday, May 16.
Prom is tentatively being rescheduled for Saturday, June 13 with a contingency date of Saturday, July 18.
“There are a number of items that are very much on the minds of our community and our school personnel that still do not have answers,” Supt. Ted Walk told the school board April 13.
“This is an ending to a school year unlike any that we could have imagined. Though we have planned for the end of the school year, there is still so much learning that is yet to take place. I continue to encourage all students to try their best. I continue to urge all parents to help to the extent you are able, but I want you to understand that we will have protocols in place over the summer or in the fall to help make certain your students continue to see the academic success that we expect from students at Sullivan Schools.” Read More