Category Archives: News

Bethany Board Accommodates Affected Businesses

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•May 20, 2020•
By Ellen Ferrera
For the News Progress

The May 14 agenda for the Bethany Board of Trustees was full with some 20 items for discussion but most were tabled or postponed due to the uncertainties and unknowns surrounding corona virus regulations.
The Board voted to extend shut-offs and penalties for utility bills to July 1. Many closed businesses are maintaining utilities even though they have no income and many people are still out of work prompting the extension of the original May 1 date. There has been a small uptick in unpaid utility bills. Read More

Sullivan Council Approves Titus Demolition

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•May 13, 2020•
By Mike Brothers

Sullivan City Council authorized Milano and Grunloh to start Elizabeth Titus Home demolition procedures during the May 11 meeting.
Commissioner Peggy Hargis moved for the engineering company in Effingham to prepare a demolition plan with Commissioner Mike Fowler seconding the motion.
Commissioners Abbey Sherwood, Chuck Woodworth and Mayor Richard Glazebrook unanimously approved.
City administrator Dan Flannell explained the next step was for the RFP, Request for Proposal. Read More

Moultrie County State’s Attorney Won’t Prosecute Those Reopening

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•May 13, 2020•
By Tracy Weaver
Mo.Co. State’s Attorney

In light of the most recent executive order issued by the Governor, the Moultrie County State’s Attorney’s Office has received many questions regarding the reopening of local churches and businesses.
I, like other state’s attorneys and many of our citizens and government officials, have concerns about the constitutionality of the executive order and the authority for such order from laws previously passed.
When considering the issue of religious services, for instance, something we as citizens have a fundamental right in which to engage, I cannot agree that the current executive order is the least restrictive and most narrowly tailored option for addressing the COVID-19 outbreak. Read More

Sullivan High School 2020 Graduation Car Parade Rolls Sunday

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•May 13, 2020•
Instead of the community gathering for graduation the graduates of Sullivan High School have a parade of seniors.
The Sullivan High School graduation car parade kicks off at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 17 from the school parking lot.
With Pomp and Circumstance playing on the radio, live Honor guards Mallory Nichols and Reagan Crouse lead the seniors vehicles, arranged in order with police escort, south on Hamilton St. to Jefferson around the courthouse and exit on Main St. returning to the high school. Read More

The Spanish Flu Pandemic of 1918: What Have We Learned?

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Questions Still Remain

•May 6, 2020•
By Ellen Ferrera
for The News Progress

In a recent conversation a friend related the story of her German grandfather and the flu pandemic of 1918. His family sacrificed everything they had to send their 19-year-old son to America so he wouldn’t be conscripted into the Kaiser’s WWI army.
Her grandfather came full of promise and hope but died three years later at the age of 22 – one of the estimated 20-50 million victims, including 675,000 Americans, in one of the deadliest epidemics in human history. It infected 500 million people. It killed l00 million people or 5% of the world’s population in just over a year.
Over 100 years later researchers and scientists are still seeking answers to many questions such as where did the virus originate, why were the healthiest young people ages 20-45 the largest number of fatalities and how was it spread so quickly?
First of all, “Spanish Flu” was a misnomer. During WWI Spain was a neutral country and its newspapers were free to report on the epidemic’s effects in Spain. Read More

Okaw Valley Baseball: Dealing With the Season that Didn’t Happen

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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

Moultrie County Relay for Life Donut Day Helps Raise Funds

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Photo furnished
At the SBL Clinic in Sullivan IL: Beth Cook and Brook Seaman receive donuts from Heather Dendy, Relay for Life Event Leadership Team. Thanks to the Vineyard Church, Sullivan Campus for purchasing donuts from the Traditional Sullivan Bakery.

•May 6, 2020•
The Relay for Life of Moultrie County will be having a DONUT DAY on May 26th. to raise money for the continued care of cancer patients, their housing during treatment, and cancer research.
Relay for Life Moultrie County Event lead Adam McReynolds explained that Cancer patients need your support more than ever. As COVID-19 spreads, cancer patients are more vulnerable than ever.
“We need your help to support them during this unprecedented crisis,” McReynolds said.
“While we may not be able to gather survivors and supporters together for public events to raise money, we can still do online fundraisers.”
Search in your internet browser for Relay for Life Moultrie County or on Facebook to follow our online information. Read More

City Improves Sidewalks, Discuss Revolving Loan Fund to Help Small Businesses

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•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

Acts Of Kindness During A Time Of Quarantine

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Alli Harbarger delivers cupcakes to Norma and Tom Standerfer at Mason Point.

•April 29, 2020•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

When the going gets tough the tough get going and that was certainly true last Friday when several hundred seniors and nursing home residents were remembered in unique and thoughtful ways.
Friday morning Activity Director, Alli Harbarger, donned a whimsical unicorn costume and, with other staff, delivered cupcakes to all the Mason Point residents.
“It was such a surprise and the costume was so cute,” said Ruth Beals.
Norma and Bill Standerfer were equally surprised and enjoyed the diversion from their month-long confinement. Read More

Early Publicist for Little Theatre Helped Put Sullivan on the Map

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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