Photo by Ellen Ferrera
To your health-(from left) Mr and Mrs Ryan Whitten, Kurt Van Deursen, John Durbin and Bob Waelde.

•July 10, 2019•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

It all began when John Durbin and his wife Sue bought their farm in Lovington some years ago. There were Concord grapes on the property and John, not one to let anything go to waste, decided the grapes needed to be made into wine.
“Sue gave me the book, “The Art of Making Wine” by Stanley F. Anderson and said this is all you need to learn the process,” Durbin began. “The book tells you how to do it, includes recipes and information on how to get out of trouble if the process has gone awry.”
Since then, John has mentored several other aspiring winemakers – Ryan Whitten, Kurt Van Deursen and Bob Waelde. On a recent balmy summer evening we all gathered at Durbin’s house where they shared their vinification experiences as well as samples of their very fine wines.
As to the process, wine is usually made from grapes, but you can use anything that has liquid such as fruits and plants. Home brewing is completely legal, but individuals are limited to 100 gallons per year. It is, however, illegal to sell any home brew. You must either consume it or give it away. Read More

Dan Guillory’s Tenth Book

•July 10, 2019•
By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

Before there were tall buildings, before there were cities and before the hustle and bustle of life took over our everyday world, there was.... the prairie.
Author Dan Guillory has published his 10th book, “The Prairie: Then and Now,” which also includes artwork by his wife, Leslie Guillory. His book was released by Mayhaven Publishing, an award-winning small press located in Mahomet. The company has published several books on the history of Illinois as well as those about former president, Abraham Lincoln. Mayhaven Publishing has nearly 150 works in print to its name. Read More

Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Sullivan High School students Adalee Nichols(l) and Miriah Booker recently attended Girls State at EIU.

•July 3, 2019•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Adalee Nichols was elected a National Party Leader and Miriah Booker was elected State Sheriff at the weeklong Girls State convention at Eastern Illinois University.
For Nichols, it was the highest office anyone from Sullivan has achieved at Girls State.
“Each year we select and sponsor two girls who have just completed their junior year in high school to attend,” Melanie Byers of the American Legion Auxiliary said. “We look at their grades, their interest in politics and recommendations from their teachers.”
The American Legion Auxiliary Illini Girls State (ALAIGS) is a program of the American Legion Auxiliary which is the largest women’s patriotic organization in the world.
Illini Girls State was first presented in 1957 and is one of the most respected and coveted experimental learning programs presented in the U.S. The goal is to develop young women as future leaders and is grounded in patriotism and Americanism. Read More

Photo by R. R. Best
Firefighters from Sullivan and Arthur assisted the Lovington Fire District in fighting the fire at the corner of East State and North High in Lovington.

•July 3, 2019•

A 5:00 a.m. fire at the corner of East State and North High streets destroyed an unoccupied home in Lovington Thursday.
Assistant chief Bill Harlin said the two story frame home was totally engulfed when Lovington firefighters arrived at 5:06 a.m.
“I called Sullivan and Arthur for mutual aide,” Harlin said.
Sullivan was there with a water tanker by 5:15 and Arthur at 5:20. Read More