Photo by Mike Brothers
Summer Refreshment
These Sullivan entrepreneurs decided to take advantage of extra traffic created this week due to Sullivan Independence Celebration setup across the street at the Sullivan American Legion Post 68. Above Alaina Moore (left) and partner Kendall Penberthy create a special mixture of grape Kool-Aid and lemonade as a signature summer drink. Lemonade, grape Kool-Aid or any mixture of the two is only 75 cents this week on Main Street in Sullivan.
Photo by R. R. Best’
Muddy Good Time!
Cody Carlson right and Wesley Bone put forth the true spirit of mud volleyball competition at the Bethany Celebration held this past weekend. The Friday and Saturday events also included three on three basketball and ended with Saturday evening fireworks at Crowder Park.
•June 20, 2018•
Eagle Creek Resort has been closed for nearly a decade, with the state still asking for ideas for the decaying resort along Lake Shelbyville
IDNR officials rejected the one proposal it recently received for the Eagle Creek facility according to IDNR’s Ed Cross. He said the state was still hoping to find a private developer for the facility in Eagle Creek State Park.
He said the department uses a scoring system to determine whether a development plan is viable. The one proposal received last time, from John Fayhee at Sullivan Marina on Lake Shelbyville, didn’t meet the needed score. Read More
Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Pictured is Dan Moschenrose.
•June 20, 2018•
By Ellen Ferrera
for The News Progress
Dan Moschenrose is a 21-year veteran whose passion is his love of the history surrounding the birth of our great nation.
He has been concerned, however, that children are not being taught early American history in schools. “ They watch the fireworks and the parades, collect the candy and enjoy the cookouts, but they don’t know why we celebrate the day,” Moschenrose said of Independence Day.
To illustrate his point Moschenrose once promised money to a student trying to fund a school trip if the student could answer a history question. The question was, “In what year did Elvis and John Wilkes Booth declare independence from China?” The student thought for a moment and then gave the year he thought was correct - 1783.
Moschenrose was stunned that the student didn’t even know this was a ridiculous question and is still puzzled by how little kids know about the Revolutionary War. Read More
•June 20, 2018•
By Mike Brothers
A Moultrie County Board motion attempting to reimburse the Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development $17,295 in expenses failed for lack of a second at the June 14 meeting.
Chairman Dave McCabe explained the county had previously approved $50,000 earmarked for SCED expenses relating to tourism in the county budget.
McCabe had presented the bill at the previous county board meeting with members delaying action until Executive Director Laurrie Minor updated the county on tourism efforts.
Minor appeared before the board explaining the SCED/Corp of Engineers Lake Shelbyville partnership had worked well at the Chicago Trade Show, and she had recently attended the Midwest Bloggers Convention to learn how to promote area tourism through traveling blogs.
Minor explained that since the county had increased its financial involvement, the chamber is expanding its reach to include Northlake Community Development which allows the promotion of all villages and businesses of Moultrie County.
Most recently SCED coordinated the Lake Shelbyville Crappie Classic and promoted area tourism at the Back 40 event held at the Great Pumpkin Patch. Read More
Photo furnished
First Grade Visits Ballard Center
Sullivan Elementary School’s first grade recently went on a field trip to Ballard Nature Center in Altamont. They spent the day exploring and learning about Illinois habitats. This is all thanks to the Illinois Biodiversity Grant—Daniel and Ada Rice Foundation, The Independence Tube Corporation, D.F. and M.T. Grohne Foundation and others.
Photo furnished. Pictured are Carol Elder, Simon Parri and John Durbin.
•June 20, 2018•
By Ellen Ferrera
for The News Progress
Some 42 people donated $25 or more for a free plane ride as part of the recent charity cookout for Pastor Brandon Zoll. John Durbin’s Super Hawk 180 is the plane.
John Durbin, a flying enthusiast since the mid-70s, supplied the plane and fuel for the outings on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, June 5 and 6. The flights were about 20 minutes and gave the flyers breathtaking views of Sullivan, Bethany and Lake Shelbyville. In response to the thanks for his charity, John simply said, “It was the right thing to do.”
Besides his recreational flying John works with young people in the Young Eagles program which has taught some 1500 kids about aviation safety and provided the first airplane ride for many of them.
Photo by Darian Hayes
Lovington Junefest
If it’s June, it is time for the annual Lovington Junefest Fish Fry. Above crowds braved warm summer temperatures to enjoy fish, fellowship, and this year the event was topped off with the annual fireworks show after dark. Above Ralph Zancha and Steve Fleming fry fish for an appreciative Lovington crowd.
Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Want a Durbin custom made pool cue? Get in line; there is a two year waiting list.
•June 20, 2018•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress
Few people know that about two miles north of Sullivan on Market Street in an unremarkable farm building Mike Durbin is crafting exquisite Durbin Custom Cues for professional pool players all over the U.S.
When a repair on his favorite pool cue didn’t meet Durbin’s exacting standards, he decided in 1995 that he could do better – and he has.
” We handcraft cues primarily for professional players,” Mike began. “Our cues start at $800, and the sky is the limit.”
The most expensive one he has made has emeralds and diamonds inlaid, and the customer provided all the exotic materials. It is valued at $12,000.
Because the cues are made only for professional players they are prized as collector’s items when a rare one comes up for sale.
From the selection of wood to the ebony and ivory on the shafts, Durbin has exacting standards that guide his craft.
He uses white maple wood grown near the snow line in Canada for the superior grain of the wood. Read More
•June 20, 2018•
By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress
City council members returned to their discussion on health insurance coverage for the retired city employees during the June 11 meeting.
This topic had been discussed some months ago with several of the retirees in attendance, but during that time, no definite decisions had been made. With the time to renew health insurance approaching, the council approved increasing retirees contribution level.
Presently, full time employees of the city are paying 40% of their contributions toward insurance and retirees are paying 15%. Rising health insurance costs prompted the city to look into equalizing the level. Read More