Category Archives: News Section

Steve Jenne Details Adventures of Nixon’s Buffalo Barbecue Sandwich in New Book

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Steve Jenne with his book “The Sandwich That Changed My Life” which he wrote with Scot England.

•September 23, 2020•
Steve Jenne, formerly of Sullivan, remembers when Richard Nixon visited Sullivan 60 years ago. Jenne’s boy scout troop was tasked with being security for Nixon as he sat at the picnic table at the buffalo barbecue that was held in Wyman Park on Sept 22, 1960.
Jenne doesn’t just have memories he actually was able to take the sandwich that at that time Vice President Nixon had taken a bite out of when no one was looking. He recalls his memories of Nixon’s visit to Sullivan and how the sandwich he obtained that day has changed his life in a book titled “The Sandwich That Changed My Life!” by Steve Jenne with Scot England.
According to a previous article in the News Progress a bunch of wild eyed 20 and 30 somethings sitting at a barbecue 50 years ago came up with the idea of trying to get presidential candidates Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy to come to Sullivan and debate. The debate was to be reminiscent of the historical Lincoln-Douglas debates, dreamed the young Moultrie County residents. Read More

Blood Drive Held In Honor Of River Helmuth

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Photo by Sonya Best
Blood Drive Held In Honor Of River Helmuth
An American Red Cross blood drive was held in honor of River Helmuth this past Saturday at the Sullivan American Legion Post 68. The blood drive collected 102 units. During the blood drive a certificate was presented to American Legion for 5,000 units collected from when they started keeping track. River’s mother Stephanie received a certificate for being the 99th donor. Terrie Punches was also awarded her 14 gallon pin. Pictured from left to right: Jeri Sanders Davis, Legion Commander Bob Sims, River Helmuth and Stephanie Helmuth.

ALAH School District Makes It Through During COVID Pandemic

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District is now officially a one-one device learning district 

•September 23, 2020•
By Ariana Cherry
NP Writer

At the opening of the most recent ALAH School Board meeting, a number of new teachers were introduced. Some were brand new to the teaching field whereas others had previous experience. At least half of the public “audience” for last Wednesday night’s meeting was made up of the district’s new teaching staff. Teachers were from Lovington Grade School, Atwood-Hammond and Arthur Grade School. They all introduced themselves and their positions with the district. Excited to be a part of a wonderful district, they were eager for their introductions and a few stayed behind for the remainder of the meeting.
After the warm welcome to the new teaching staff, a budget hearing for FY21 was in session. Shannon Cheek explained that nothing much had changed since last month’s meeting and that the budget had been available for viewing for the appropriate time. Afterward, the hearing was closed, and the board would go on to vote for the budget later in the meeting, which was approved. Read More

Special Olympic Athletes Hold Prayer Walk

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Special Olympics coach Les Todd of Sullivan, fourth from the left, receives a blanket from his athletes during a fundraising walk held this past Saturday at Peterson Park in Mattoon to help with costs he is incurring while battling cancer.

•September 23, 2020•
By Ellen Ferrara
NP Writer

On September 19, the athletes and families of Special Olympics held a Prayer Walk at Peterson Park in Mattoon for their beloved coach, Les Todd, who has been diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor. The walk was organized to help raise funds for the cost of his surgery.
Les and Lisa Todd organized the local Special Olympics nearly ten years ago to give their son, Bradlee, and other intellectually disabled children the opportunity to engage in sports and compete as other children do. They devoted most of their lives to coaching and training their wards in basketball, softball, flag football, bowling, bocce, swimming and track and field. Read More

County Board Approves Variance

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•September 16, 2020•

By Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The Moultrie County Board approved an application from Shady Crest Market for a variance to build 25 feet from the west property line for an addition to the existing business last week. According to Wilbur Gingerich, the expansion will be 13,000 square feet and will allow them to add on more deli, bakery and store space.
The board heard guest speakers Laurrie Minor and Cassie Yoder talk about Economic Development and COVID-19. Minor said that it looks different how they market the county now with Covid.
The Illinois Department of Tourism recently released some figures for the county. According to Minor, the travel expenditures went up by 3.7% and the local tax revenue went up by 4.8% but none of these correlate to camping, that is just what the hotel to motel tax generates. Read More

Spaghetti Drive Thru Donations

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Photo by Crystal Reed
Green Gardens Assisted Living and Memory Care held a spaghetti drive thru dinner on Sept. 4 with donations going to the Moultrie County Restore. According to Restore manager Tara Reed there are plans to build two new Habitat houses next year. They were unable to build any Habitat houses this year due to COVID 19. Green Gardens raised $1,038 with their spaghetti drive thru dinner. Pictured from left to right are: Christina Arnold, Executive Director of Green Gardens; Tara Reed, Restore manager; and Kathy Hawbaker, Director of Operations/Community Relations at Green Gardens.

City Council Hears Sullivan PD Plans To Have K-9 Unit

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•September 16, 2020•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The City Council heard from Officer Tom LeHew during Monday nights meeting about plans by Sullivan Police Department to obtain a K-9 unit. He said that the unit would be self sustaining and the department is looking at fundraisers and grants to raise money for the unit.
So far $7,000 has been raised for the unit. Sullivan Police Department has never had a K-9, this would be the first in history.
In Commissioner and City Administrator reports, Commissioner Abbey Sherwood gave an update on the city building. She said that they talked to someone and not much can be done with the basement. Read More

Patriots Day Ceremony 2020

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Photo by R.R. Best
Patriots Day Ceremony
A 9-11 Patriots Day ceremony was held last Friday at Sullivan Elementary School. The program was organized by Jennifer Hobbs, a third grade teacher at the school. Students sang songs, presented colored pictures to those in attendance including National Guard members, fire fighters and police officers. Mr. Tripp, the music director from Sullivan Middle School and High School closed the ceremony by playing Taps.

Science Hallway at SMS Gets Facelift

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Submitted photo
Teachers painting the mural in the science wing of Sullivan Middle School. From left to right: Crystal Allen, Nicole Garrett, Marissa Wright and Troy Rogers.

•September 9, 2020•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer

This summer the second floor science hallway at Sullivan Middle School received a facelift. A 50 foot mural was designed, traced and painted on the wall from floor to ceiling.
The mural was the idea of teacher Troy Rogers and parent volunteer Megan Harden. The two stated that the project took about 43 hours total including sketching, planning and the actual application of paint to the wall. Read More

50th Anniversary of Sullivan Chiefs Winning Amateur Softball Association Class B State Tournament

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Submitted photo
This month marks the 50th anniversary of the Sullivan Chiefs softball team winning the championship of the Amateur Softball Association’s men’s Class B State Tournament. Members of the 1970 team first row, Joe Phillips, Dean Mitchell, Danny Green, Richard Maxedon, Shorty Cordray, Jerry Lane. Second row, Rodger England, Bernie Reedy, Larry Morrison, Ron “Sox” Sutton. Virgil Hooe, Charlie Bland, Mike Orris.

•September 9, 2020•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer

This month marks 50 years since the Sullivan Chiefs softball team defeated the Kankakee Cardinals with a score of 2-0 to win the Amateur Softball Association’s men’s Class B State Tournament in Casey. In April 2015 the team was one of five inducted into the Amateur Softball Association 11th Annual Hall of Fame at the Decatur Convention Center and Hotel.
Before winning the state tournament in 1970 the Chiefs began as a 4H club that slowly evolved over the next few years. According to Moultrie County News archives, a Sullivan Merchants softball team that played throughout the 30s but disbanded in 1964.
Larry Morrison stated in the April 15, 2015 article about the Hall of Fame induction that they started out as the Sunnyside Flea Flickers 4-H Club. Morrison said his father got sick after his freshman year of college so he came home and still wanted to play ball so they talked to Ed Dunphy and he sponsored the team when they started. Read More